Max took one deep breath before entering his house. He had been around Alicia all day. Her essence invaded his mind. Every time he heard her laugh his body sang. He found himself hanging on every word and it had him on edge.
He took two steps into the house before remembering he couldn’t walk to his room naked. He grabbed the pants he wore earlier and pulled them on before he slung his shirt over his shoulder.
And the view she gave him earlier. He grew hard remembering it. The scoop front of her long sleeve top gaped open and left nothing to his imagination. Her pink satin bra fit her like a glove, hugging her curves, showing her hardened nipples. It was an image he would never forget.
Imagining her in the Jacuzzi didn’t help his libido either. He could see her in his mind. Naked, water sliding against her limbs as she moved in the languid heat.
That wasn’t the direction he needed his thoughts to take. He could still feel the wolf in his blood. Control.
He had to maintain control. If the wolf were to surface while he was aroused… he shivered at the thought.
“We need to speak, sir.” Jacob came out of the kitchen just as he passed it.
“Sure, Jacob. What’s up?”
“I think I have the proof you need.” He gestured for Max to follow him back into the kitchen.
He froze for a moment. “Are we talking about Alicia? Where is she by the way?”
Jacob nodded. “I gave her the master bedroom to rest. My homemade tea made her sleepy.”
“You put her in my room?”
“Your parents’ room. It seemed fitting.”
“What did you learn?” He released a mental sigh. The thought of her in his room had him shaking. How would he have handled it if she had been in his room? Possibly in his bed?
“She told me why she was frightened of wolves. She was a child when her presence by the wolf den at the zoo affected the wolves.”
“A lot of people are frightened by wolves. It might point to her, but how could that be proof?”
“What happened when you went to the zoo when you were a child?” Jacob put the kettle back on. “Before you started shifting?”
“They all stopped what they were doing and came over to inspect me.” Max retrieved two cups.
“The same thing happened to her.” Opening the refrigerator, Jacob pulled out milk, and lemon. “They lined up and watched her. They sensed something about her.”
“What does she remember?”
“Not much.” The last thing he brought out was sugar and spoons. “She was only six so all she remembers is the fear.”
“You want me to hypnotize her? Help her remember?” He shook his head. “She’s resistant.”
“So you have tried?”
“A gentle push. Nothing drastic. She acted like nothing happened. There was no hesitation. Nothing.”
“That is also part of the legend,” Jacob reminded him. “The woman described can’t be hypnotized.”
“I need more than that.”
“Then why are you requesting her help? Because she is a jeweler? You don’t need one. The stones are real. All she is going to do is slow you down.” The kettle started screaming so Jacob took it off the fire.
“Jacob, you are treading on dangerous ground.”
“I know but I have kept your secrets for years. Have helped you cover up things the pack didn’t want known. Sir, she is an innocent woman. She knows nothing about this. Why get her mixed up in something so dangerous if she isn’t the legend.”
“Because she is the legend and Sonora is already on the scent. The best way to keep her safe is to keep her at my side.”
“Then you finally believe?”
Max nodded.
“Are you going to tell her the truth?”
“If she is going to be around us long enough I have to.” Max took a steaming cup of tea from Jacob and put a splash of milk in it. “But she doesn’t believe in shapeshifter and I don’t think shifting in front of her will be a smart thing until she does.”
“And how do you plan on getting her to believe in the legend too?”
“If I had that answer she’d already know.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Hopefully before it’s too late.”
***
Max walked past his parents’ master bedroom. He knew he couldn’t check in on her right now. He would just be asking for trouble. A change of clothes, a few moments to center himself and he’d make sure she made it home safely. Jacob had her Jeep brought to the house already, so all he had to do was walk her to her vehicle.
Then he heard her sigh.
He groaned. No. He needed to get to his room. Once he had a quick shower he could face her again. But his body ignored his mental plea and he used one knuckle to rap on the door.
No answer. Was she sleeping? He stepped back. The thick carpet didn’t reveal any lights on. Then he heard her moving about the room. So she was still awake. He knocked on the door once again. Max planned on letting her know he was going to take a quick shower then have her Jeep brought around.
“Yes?” Her voice sounded sleepy. It had a deep, sexy rasp that aroused him. No woman affected him this way. It couldn’t be good.
“Everything okay?”
“Sure is.” Her sultry voice wrapped around him.
Before he could move she opened the door. He swallowed hard. His shirt slipped to the floor. Alicia stood in front of him, wrapped in one of the fluffy towels, her hair wet and brushed back against her scalp.
The wolf howled inside him. He squashed it with a mental foot. “I see you found everything.”
“Oh, yes,” she purred. “Except for the bathrobe.”
“They’re in the other cabinet in the bathroom.” He crossed in front of her, went into the bathroom, grabbed both handles on the cabinet and pulled the doors open. Once she had the robe on, he’d make sure she was comfortable then seek the sanctity of his room. Maybe take a cold shower or twelve before he could face her again. “I see you used the Jacuzzi.”
“Yes, I couldn’t resist.” Her bare shoulders gleamed with water droplets. He watched as one rolled down her collarbone to be absorbed by the towel wrapped around her body.
Oh boy. “Here you go.” He held out the robe as a shield.
“It’s too warm for a robe now.” Her voice was deep and sultry.
He’d avoided looking directly at her so far but her words, the sound of her voice made him want to see her face.
Light surrounded her, giving her a soft backlighting that took his breath away. He inhaled a soft fragrance of lavender and her essence. He knew he was lost the moment he looked into her eyes.
She stepped toward him, her towel dropping to the ground as she did.
Max touched her face. The soft pads of his fingers slid against the velvet of her skin. He felt her pulse pound against the fragile tissue of her neck. He had to taste it. Even if he would regret it later.
Her life beat against his mouth as he kissed the erratic pulse. His tongue slid against the slim column of her throat. He nibbled along her jaw line to her lips.
A small gasp escaped her.
He smiled as he claimed her lips. His tongue danced with hers. She pressed herself against him, silently demanding more.
His fingers stroked her arms. Soft, like the hide on a fawn. He did little circles with his fingers as his tongue did little swirls inside her mouth.
She seemed to melt just a little more. Max kept his lips against hers as he backed her up to the bed in the room. He eased her down to the mattress. He had every intention of leaving her there and going back to his room before things got too far out of hand.
Until she wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed her body up against his.
She had been busy while he kissed her. Alicia undid his pants without him noticing. Of course, he had been preoccupied.
He should have put on underwear when he threw on his pants.
***
Alicia felt a blush spread across her body as she pressed herself intimately against him. Brazen hussy was new for her, but when she saw Max standing at the door without a shirt she couldn’t stop herself. She loved men with hair on their chest and Max was covered with a nice, thick mat of black, silky hair across hard pectoral muscles before it tapered down his well-defined stomach. Her eyes followed the trail only to be blocked by the edge of his pants.
All she could think was she wanted to see more.
And poor Max. She knew he was trying to be a gentleman. His body language telegraphed his thoughts. He didn’t want to take advantage of her. Tomorrow would be hell if he did.
Too bad. She was going to take advantage of him. Alicia knew she might regret it in the morning, but she only cared about right now.
That’s why she pulled his body against hers. There was no way he’d miss the signals now.
God, he felt good. All hard, yet satin smooth. She slid her hand along his length. A groan escaped her. She slid it back down.
It felt so good.
Max looked into her eyes and smiled. That one she loved yet hated because it always melted her bones. Now, it would remind her of this moment.
He wrapped his arms around her and flipped them over so she was on top.
It was her turn to have the cat-like smile. She wanted to keep control, but deep inside she feared he would take over before too long. As long as she was on top, she could do what she wanted to him, when she wanted to. Oh, the power.
She slid her hands up his torso as she repositioned herself on his body. He strained against her as she pressed herself against his shaft. A shiver ran up her spine at the delicious sensation.
A groan escaped him as her breasts brushed against his chest.
“Oh, you liked that, did you?” she smiled at him. She bet her smile rivaled his.
His hands palmed both breasts, rolling each nipple in his fingers.
Her moan filled the air. She arched backwards at his touch, giving him better access. As much as she liked foreplay she wasn’t in the mood. Alicia could feel him rubbing against her opening and she wanted to let him in. She shifted her hips and felt the heated length of him slide inside of her.
A sigh escaped her as he filled her.
“Like that, did you?” His words floated in her head, but she was too caught up in sensations to answer.
Her muscles contracted around him, squeezing him tight as she started to set a pace. She braced her hands against his chest so she could keep her rhythm.
She threw her head back as pressure mounted. Heat unfurled in her groin. The tingling sensation she always felt just before her orgasm followed the heat, filling her belly before erupting up through the rest of her body.
She didn’t know she could scream so loud. And did she hear him howl? Totally relaxed, she dropped onto Max. Her heart beat so hard she swore she had run a marathon. A sigh escaped her as she felt his arms wrap around her shoulders.
After a few moments she pulled up to look in Max’s eyes. He smiled at her and tightened his arms around her. With a quick flip he was on top. Still buried deep within he pulsed inside her.
“It’s my turn.”