Adam reached over and captured Tasha’s hand. She squeezed his palm before rolling her head toward him. They’d already been on the road for over three hours and they were both exhausted.
He’d made a stop earlier at a convenience store where he’d grabbed a large coffee while the women went to the bathroom to change into something more comfortable for the ride home. Apparently, Tasha had packed some of Crystal’s favorite lounge pants and T-shirts, which was smart. Adam hadn’t even thought about it. They’d left Crystal’s backpack back in the city with Mike but Crystal didn’t seem too upset about it. He’d also picked up drinks and snacks for them, as well before re-fueling his SUV for the long drive. He’d put a lot of miles in that day and he was ready for a bed, even if it was just turning dark.
Once he had Tasha and Crystal back in the vehicle, it hadn’t taken long for the teenager to fall asleep.
“You can close your eyes and rest,” Adam told Tasha quietly. He didn’t want to wake up Crystal although they weren’t too far from Gage’s house.
“If I fall asleep, I won’t be waking back up. It’s okay,” she said.
“We only have about thirty more miles if that helps,” Adam informed her.
“Should I wake Crystal?” Tasha asked.
“Nah, let her sleep a little longer,” Adam suggested. The girl had to be beyond worn out.
“I’m awake,” Crystal said as she popped up between their seats.
Adam went to let go of Tasha’s hand, unsure if she wanted her sister to know anything about them, but Tasha clung to him.
“Sit back and put your seatbelt on,” Tasha ordered.
The teenager sighed heavily before complying. Adam held in his smile. Tasha was such a parent. It was quiet for several minutes before Crystal cleared her throat.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just wanted to see what it would be like outside the Pack.”
Tasha glanced into the back seat. “I know, honey. But you can never do that again. You were very lucky that nothing bad happened.”
“I know,” Crystal said quietly. “I really do.”
“It’s over with,” Adam said. “But your sister’s right. You can’t ever run away again.”
“I wasn’t really running away,” Crystal said. “I was going to come back.”
“I had no way of knowing that,” Tasha told her. “I was so worried.”
“I won’t do it again, ever, I swear.” Crystal sounded sincere.
“Thank you.” Tasha turned back to face the front.
“I knew I’d made a mistake the minute I saw Mike, but I was too scared to call you,” Crystal explained.
“You can always call me,” Tasha said quickly. “Or your Alpha.”
Adam was pleased to be included.
The teenager looked up and he saw her eyes in the rearview mirror. “I’m sorry, Alpha. I know I have to be punished but please don’t blame Tasha.”
Adam tightened his hands on the wheel. “You could have been seriously injured or worse. Not only would that have devastated your sister, but it would have torn the entire Pack apart.”
Crystal gasped. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“No, you weren’t. However, I think you’ve been punished enough,” he told her. “That’s why I’m taking you to talk to a friend of mine.”
Crystal made a face before rubbing her eyes. “I don’t need to see a shrink.”
Adam chuckled. He would have probably responded the same way. “This woman isn’t a shrink. She’s the mate to an Alpha who happens to be a very good friend of mine.”
The girl looked confused but nodded. “Okay.”
Adam smiled at her. “I think you two have a lot in common. You’ll be able to talk to her about things you don’t to anyone else.”
“What things?” she asked suspiciously.
“Marissa is also a non-shifter.”
Crystal’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “She’s a non-shifter and she mated with an Alpha?”
“Yes. Her childhood was pretty rough, but I’ll let her tell you about that. The important thing is that you can tell her how you feel and she’ll understand.” He looked over at Tasha, hoping his words didn’t upset her.
Tasha nodded at him. “I think it’s a really good idea.”
“I guess I could talk to her,” Crystal told them.
Yeah, the girl might not want to admit it, but she was dying to speak with someone who might just understand what she was going through.
“We’ll be there soon,” he promised.
“Have you been before?” Tasha questioned.
“Yes, Gage has been friends with my dad for years. I don’t know if you met Logan, but he’s been staying at the house because he’s my dad’s best buddy. My dad is actually staying there now. He left this morning.”
“Logan?” she asked. “I don’t think I met him.”
Tasha touched his arm again. “You’re worried about your dad.”
Adam glanced in the rearview mirror again before he spoke. Crystal had put on headphones and was bopping around in her seat. He guessed they weren’t enough to keep the girl entertained for long. He peered back at Tasha. “Yeah, I am.”
Tasha moved her hand up and down his arm. “He’ll be okay. Your father was a great Alpha, smart, compassionate and kind. It’s no surprise he’s struggling with what happened to Mindy and feeling guilty, but he’ll see it wasn’t his fault. Just give him time.”
“I don’t know if he has the time,” Adam confessed. “I actually hadn’t even spoken to him in a week. He could have gotten worse.”
“He’ll come through this. He was right to turn the Pack over to you and give himself a chance at something else,” Tasha said, and the sincerity in her voice squeezed at his heart.
“Thank you,” he told her, and meant it more than anything. The tension that had built when he spoke about his father started to drain as they sat in silence. It was nice—the opportunity to sit quietly with someone. While it seemed people at home constantly surrounded him as the Alpha, he could get used to finding solace in Tasha’s company.
A short time later, Adam turned onto the paved road that would lead him to the gates to enter Gage’s territory. “We’re almost there,” he told her.
Tasha reached back and jostled Crystal and the teenager pulled off her headphones.
“You have to see the view from here,” he said.
The huge wrought-iron gates came into view and an audible gasp came from both women.
“It’s so big!” Crystal commented from the back seat.
Adam laughed at the girl’s excitement. “Yes. Gage has one of the most beautiful territories.”
Tasha shook her head while she stared out of the window. “This is nice, but ours is perfect.”
“Yes, it is,” he agreed. He hadn’t ever wanted to be in such a large Pack. Adam really liked the closeness that came from having small numbers. Adam stopped at the gate and rolled down his window. A young man, no more than twenty, stepped up to the car.
“Hi. Can I help you?” he greeted.
“Yes, I’m Adam White. I believe Gage is expecting us,” Adam told him.
The guard smiled and waved to another to let them in. “Yes, Alpha. Gage said to drive right up to the main house.”
“Thank you.” Adam nodded to the guard. He didn’t recognize him, but Logan had already explained that Gage had doubled the guards around the place. First, there’d been an attempted kidnapping attempt on Marissa from her old Pack, then the attacks on the females that had affected Adam’s people. With Marissa now expecting the couple’s first child, Gage was likely going nuts trying to keep her safe.
The man stepped back and Adam drove through the gate and along the drive. As he pulled up in front of the main house, the front door opened. Gage, Marissa, Logan and Adam’s father stepped out and approached the vehicle. Adam opened his door as Gage opened Tasha’s and Logan opened Crystal’s. After closing the car door, Adam found himself wrapped in his father’s arms and lifted off his feet in a strong hug.
Once he was released, Adam looked closely at his father. “You look great.” And he did. Christian had been hiding away so Adam had been imagining the worst.
“I feel great,” his father said, a huge smile on his face.
Adam threw his arm around his father and the two of them walked in front of the car where the others waited.
“I’m glad you made it safely,” Gage stated, offering him a hand.
Adam accepted it and bowed his head to the older Alpha. “Thank you for inviting us into your territory.”
Gage gave his hand a squeeze before letting go and stepping aside so his mate could greet Adam. Adam bent his head and accepted a kiss on the cheek from the beautiful, pregnant woman.
“Welcome, Alpha Adam,” she said softly.
“Thank you,” Adam replied, trying to hide the jolt of surprise at being called Alpha. It still made him feel uneasy sometimes. Especially in front of such a great Alpha as Gage.
Logan stood next to Gage and, pushing his uncomfortable feelings aside, Adam walked up to his father’s friend. Instead of shaking his hand, he gave the other man a brief hug and whispered, “Thank you.”
Logan patted his back. “You’re welcome. I told you he would be okay.”
Adam just couldn’t believe the change. He hoped Logan was indeed right about Christian already being on the mend and it wasn’t that Christian had needed to get away from him and the Pack. It would break Adam’s heart if it was his fault it had taken so long for his dad to feel better. Still, he was absolutely thrilled just looking at his father.
Noticing Tasha and Crystal off to the side, Adam motioned them closer. Tasha walked confidently up to him, but Crystal lingered behind.
“Let me introduce you all to two of my favorite Pack members, Tasha and Crystal,” Adam said to the group, hoping they would put in extra effort to make the women feel welcome.
Marissa, like a true Alpha’s mate, embraced Crystal and held the girl tightly. “I am so glad you’re okay, Crystal. Everyone was so worried about you.”
Once Marissa had released her, Crystal dropped her head. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused.” She spoke barely above a whisper.
With her arm still around the teenager, Marissa hushed her. “That’s all over now. If I told you how many times I ran away from my Pack—”
“Marissa,” Gage warned in a low voice.
Crystal moved closer to Marissa, and Tasha moved closer to Adam. He knew how scary Gage could be in Alpha-mode, but he was also one of the most honorable men Adam had ever met. He wrapped his arm around Tasha’s waist while Marissa waved a hand in the air at Gage.
“Oh, stop scaring her.” Then she whispered to Crystal, “He thinks he is big and bad, but you should see him reading all the baby books. It’s quite adorable.”
“Marissa!” Gage snapped at her.
Adam was really getting a good look at what happened when the toughest men he knew fell in love. First Cain and now Gage. It seemed the women were really the ones who ruled.
Adam embraced Tasha harder. He didn’t think he’d have a problem with that if he were lucky enough to win Tasha’s heart.
Marissa was laughing as she pulled Crystal toward the door. “I’m just saying that maybe you should calm down before you give yourself a stroke. I wasn’t going to tell her everything.”
Gage growled before following her into the house.
Adam held back his laugh until the three disappeared from sight. He wasn’t the only one laughing—Tasha, Logan and his father joined him. Wiping a tear from his eye, he looked over at his father, amazed. How long had it been since he’d heard Christian laugh?
“I can hear you three yokels,” Gage hollered from the house.
Logan sobered and pointed toward the door. “We should go in before he comes out to get us. Marissa doesn’t allow any roughhousing inside so we’re much safer in there. He can’t retaliate.”
“Logan!” Gage yelled. “You want to make a bet on that?”
Biting his lip to keep his amusement inside, Adam led Tasha up the stairs. Gage’s Alpha house was three times bigger than his own. Of course, having a smaller Pack meant Adam didn’t need as much space. Another thing he was thankful for.
Gage was waiting in the hall for them as they stepped inside.
Logan looked around frantically. “Where’s Marissa?”
“She’s showing Crystal to one of the spare rooms so she can get the girl settled and they can talk,” Gage said.
“Shit,” Logan muttered, then pushed Adam toward Gage.
Surprised, Adam went flying forward from the force of the shove. Gage caught his arm, helping Adam remain on his feet.
“Adam laughed first,” Logan accused.
“Really?” Gage let go of Adam’s arm as he glared at Logan.
Logan shrugged. “Okay, maybe not. But I bet you really missed me so remember that when you’re thinking about burying my body.”
Gage sighed, then turned his attention back to Adam. “I only thought I missed him. How much would it cost for you to take him back?”
Adam shook his head. “You don’t have enough money.” He was both amused and saddened by the play between Gage and his second. Adam really wanted to have that for his own.
“Figures,” Gage mumbled. “Come on, I’ll show you both to your rooms.”
“Uh,” Adam glanced back at his dad. As much as he needed a shower, he also didn’t want to let his father out of his sight until he’d found out why Christian looked so good.
“Go.” Christian waved him on. “We have plenty of time to talk. And we will. I promise.”
Adam nodded before holding out his hand to Tasha. She was smiling brightly at him and Adam knew she was just as pleased to see Christian in such good shape as he was.
They followed Gage up the stairs to the second floor. Adam secretly hoped that Tasha’s room wasn’t too far from his.
* * * *
Adam stepped from the bathroom into the adjoining bedroom in just his towel. The hot water had done a lot to reenergize him. He sat on the bed and picked up his cell to check for messages. He’d already called in to talk to his dad’s Beta, whom he’d left in charge. It seemed no one had really missed him.
No emergencies had come up and Adam was relieved. It showed that Logan and everyone else had been right. He didn’t have to be available twenty-four hours a day. He could perhaps have a life in addition to running his Pack.
It hadn’t been more than a few hours since Adam had been feeling overwhelmed and stuck, but now he was more excited about being the Alpha than ever. He hadn’t even felt this good when his father had first broached the subject. He didn’t know if any of the positive changes had to do with Tasha, but in his gut, he somehow knew they had.
Her influence and presence in his life just seemed to fit perfectly.
There would be a lot to talk to his dad about. Now that Christian was feeling better, maybe Adam could get his opinion on the possibility of Adam having a relationship with Tasha.
At the knock on his door, Adam turned and strolled to it. Pulling it open, he expected his father but found Tasha outside instead. Her eyes widened before dropping to his waist, reminding him he wasn’t dressed. Before he could speak, she licked her lips and his cock jumped beneath the material. She seemed to notice and grinned.
“Tasha,” he moaned. His body was reacting to her closeness and his control was on the brink of snapping.
She lifted her hand and ran a finger over the small scar he’d gotten as a child beneath his nipple. He caught her hand in his. Adam was becoming desperate.
“If you come inside, we won’t be talking,” he warned. He needed her to understand what he craved from her.
Her gaze met his and she smiled. “I hope not. You did promise after all.” She pushed him back into his room and closed the door.
Adam stood stunned as she sent him a seductive grin before reaching for the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head. He bit his lip to use the pain to ground him. He didn’t want to pounce on her and scare her away.
“I have too many clothes on,” she announced.
His throat had gone dry so all Adam could do was nod. Tasha ran her slender fingers over the waistband of her pants before pushing them down her hips. When she straightened, she only wore a matching pair of blue panties and bra.
“God, you’re beautiful.” Adam finally managed to speak. The light colors of her underwear contrasted with her tan skin tone. Adam fisted his hands to keep them off her.
She tossed her hair and laughed. “I could say the same about you. You have a gorgeous body, Alpha.”
Her use of his title had Adam’s skin cooling. In the past, women of the Pack would offer themselves to the leader as a gift. No Pack he knew of still maintained that practice, but he needed to make sure Tasha didn’t think she had to give him her body.
“You don’t need to do this,” he told her, even as regret coursed through his body.
She took several steps. “Oh, yes, I do.”
Adam backed away as she continued toward him. “No, you don’t. I don’t expect anything from you.”
She stopped and a thoughtful look crossed her face. And she laughed. “Do you think I’m only sleeping with you because you’re my Alpha?”
“I just want to make sure you know that being with me is your choice,” he told her honestly. He desired nothing more to than to take her and bury himself as deep inside her as possible, but he wouldn’t take it as a ‘thank you’ for finding her sister. He wanted Tasha to be with him because she just couldn’t stand not having him any longer. He needed her to want him as much as he wanted her.
She’d reached him when his legs hit the bed, stopping his retreat. “I get it. Now how can I prove this is something that I want?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief when he met them. She pushed him back hard, where he bounced on the mattress. “Oh, I know!” she said before dropping to her knees in front of him. She yanked off the towel and hummed her approval. “I see that no matter what you say, there is a part of you that wants me.”
“All of me wants you,” he assured her.
With a firm grip, she wrapped her hand around his ready cock. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said, right before engulfing him.
Adam cried out while burying his hands in her hair as she started a strong sucking rhythm. The wet heat that surrounded and teased his cock was almost too much. She used her tongue to massage the sensitive spot directly under the head. Unable to remain still, he bucked against her mouth. “Yes!” He couldn’t help lifting his hips off the bed.
Tasha made a sound at the back of her throat, sending vibrations through his cock to the rest of his body. He closed his eyes and just rested back on the bed. She was simply amazing. This strong, independent woman, who knew what she wanted. He found it sexy as hell that she was the one in control.
As Tasha continued to lick and suck him, Adam tightened his hold on her head. He pumped up, sliding his cock over her tongue until the tip brushed the back of her throat. She didn’t gag but instead urged him on by sliding her hands under his ass.
Adam braced the soles of his feet on the bed before driving deep again. He only managed five long, slow thrusts before he had to pull back. Tasha chased after his shaft. Not wanting to come before he was inside her, Adam yanked on her hair and held her away from him.
Still on her knees, she gazed up at him. Her lips were glistening and shiny. The sight of her before him was almost too perfect and he could barely keep from shooting his seed. He gripped the base of his cock and squeezed to hold off his climax. When he had control once again, Adam helped her stand with a hand on her arm and turned her until she was bent over the bed.
Tasha was already quivering and moaning.
Adam rubbed and teased her ass before pulling her panties down her legs. She was already wet when he briefly teased her folds. Her scent flooded all of his senses. There was no doubt that she wanted him, that she was ready to take him. He slipped his fingers inside her pussy and she moaned.
He brushed the hair off the back of her neck before he ran his lips over her sensitive skin. Tasha whimpered for more. Adam wanted every sound he could pull from her, wanted to hear her beg. He pumped two fingers in and out of her sex. She lifted her hips and pushed back, drawing his digits even deeper. Each time she pushed back, Adam twisted his hand, driving farther in and making her cry out in ecstasy. Almost desperately, she rode his hand and he knew it was almost time.
They were so consumed with passion that it wouldn’t be long before they both exploded. He pulled his fingers from her body and replaced them with the tip of his cock.
“Please, Adam!” she begged. “I want you.”
Adam rubbed his cock against her pussy, causing low moans to escape both of them. With shaky hands, he reached around and cupped her breasts through the silk that still covered them. He licked up her spine until he caught the back of her bra in his teeth and ripped the fabric apart.
“Oh!” Tasha cried as he removed the ruined lingerie from her. “Yes!”
“Now it’s time to keep my promise.”
Tasha pushed back against him, silently telling him she wanted him, too. With one hand pulling on one pert nipple, he moved the other down to play with her clit.
She rubbed shamelessly against him, trying to get enough pressure to make her body tingle. Catching her earlobe between his teeth, he slid both hands along her body to grasp her hips. He bit down, plunging inside. Tasha cried out as he went deep with his first thrust. Licking the small bite, he pulled out and slammed back in.
Tasha wasn’t a passive lover. She moved into each stroke and met him in every way. Her hot body accepted and milked him each time he withdrew and entered again. Adam had to hold on tight or risk being bucked off. It was amazing.
As Adam drove them high with his frantic thrusts, sweat began to cover their bodies. His hand slid off her breasts so he gripped her shoulder while still toying with her clit. Tasha’s sounds were growing in volume and spurring him on.
Each time he plunged his cock into her tight pussy, her inner muscles clamped down on him. He knew they were only seconds away from going over the edge.
Adam withdrew from her body.
“No!” Tasha screeched.
“Turn over,” he ordered. He wanted to be looking in her eyes when he came.
She complied quickly, twisting on the mattress so she was on her back. Adam pushed her thighs apart before grasping his cock.
“Tell me I can come inside you,” he requested.
“Yes!” she insisted. “I’m on birth control.”
Shifters couldn’t carry or pass on disease, so the only time he wore a condom with another shifter was when they had to worry about pregnancy. He hadn’t even thought about putting on a rubber or asking before he’d buried his shaft inside her.
“Thank God,” Adam murmured.
He leaned forward again so that he could slide the tip of his cock through her folds. “Kiss me.”
She raised her head and their lips met.
Adam licked and nipped until she opened up and he could push his tongue inside her mouth. At the same time, he drove his shaft forward.
Tasha screamed, but he swallowed the sound.
He continued to drive his hips hard and fast until she tightened around him. Her nails scored down his back as she climaxed.
He hissed but didn’t slow down or stop. Instead, he slid his hands under her butt and lifted her until he was able to mindlessly push his cock deep. Sweat dripped from his forehead onto her chest, but she still clung to him.
Adam threw back his head and howled as he came hard. He was panting and shaking, but even though completely sated, he didn’t want to slip out of Tasha’s body quite yet. Instead, he rolled until she lay on his chest.
“Wow,” Tasha said in awe.
Adam chuckled. Yeah, that had been pretty awesome. He couldn’t wait to do it again, and again and again.