Max saw surprise and a touch of fear in Alicia’s eyes before she gave him a sly smile. Now, he would see just how loud she could scream. She hadn’t lost control before and he wanted to make sure she did just once. And he knew how to make her lose control.
Being a werewolf had its perks.
He nuzzled her throat. “Do you trust me?”
“What?” She looked up at him, desire disappearing from her eyes.
“I want you to lie here and let me have my way with you.” He didn’t want her to think. If she thought then she just might say no. Max pulled out and surged back in. He smiled when her eyelids fluttered closed.
“If you become frightened you only have to say stop.” He licked the hollow of her throat. “But I promise fear will be the last emotion you’ll feel.”
She opened her eyes and nodded. Desire swirled deep in them again.
He arched one brow. His first thought was to relax her, make her feel safe. He placed soft kisses to her lids then kissed the tip of her nose. His lips sought one corner of her mouth then the other. The shell of her right ear called to him next and he nibbled his way from the bottom of the lobe to the top.
Bit by bit he felt her muscles relax beneath him. And he had only gotten to her neck.
Max liked the salty taste of her throat. He had never tasted anything quite like her before. A little of the wolf woke up, forcing him to push it away again. As long as he kept his humanity around him he would be safe with this woman and she would be safe with him.
“Alicia, grab the rails in the headboard.”
Once her fingers snaked around the rails, he started to use feather like touches against her pulse in her neck, then passed those caresses against her forearm and the soft bend at her elbow.
A groan let him know she enjoyed his touch.
“Next time we’ll have to make sure we have at least one feather.”
“And what would you do with a feather?” She squirmed under him as his fingers brushed against the underside of her breast.
“What could I do with a feather?” He slid his hand across her belly, soft and gentle. “Just use your imagination.”
“I think my vivid imagination has gotten me into enough trouble this evening. Thank you.” Her bright green eyes shined with humor.
“Not yet.” He rotated his hips against hers for effect. “But then it’s still early.”
Max lowered his head to hers, breathing deep. “You smell so good, Alicia. Like the forest after it rains. Fresh and renewed.”
He started to move within her. Slowly at first, but as she started to pick up his rhythm he picked up the pace. His hands roamed across her skin, the edge of her breast, her collarbone drawing a sharp intake of breath from her.
Her muscles tensed around him. He arched his back in response. As good as it felt he didn’t want it to end. Alicia hadn’t screamed yet.
His fingers continued their movements, brushing against her throat, her lips, then sliding back down to her hips. Her labored breathing proved he had found her hot spots so he continued with the slow torture. He knew she loved it.
Alicia started to squirm under him. Her movement caused him to hold his breath for a moment. “Woman, you inflame me.”
He started nibbling on one of her ears as he started moving inside her again. His hands continued to roam her body, tickling and caressing where they could reach.
A loud moan escaped Alicia. Max knew she was getting close. Small circles against her sides accented the pace he set for them. His lips pressed against her erratic pulse. Her scream had to be close.
“Oh.” Alicia shook in his arms.
He pulled out, paused for a moment then slid home. His movement swift and deep.
Her scream started deep in her chest, gaining momentum and volume. It sounded like music to Max’s ears.
He wondered if he would feel the same tomorrow.
***
Alicia rubbed her face with her hands. A yawn escaped her as she stretched. She stood up, allowing the throw blanket to fall to the floor. “Wonder what time it is?”
“About seven.”
She started at the sound of his voice. “I hate it when you sneak up on me.”
“I didn’t sneak. I’ve been leaning on this doorframe, waiting for you to wake up.”
“All morning?” She pulled the sheet up to her neck before realizing how silly she must look. Especially after last night. She dropped the sheet.
“Not all morning.” He winked at her.
“It’s seven?” Alicia wasn’t ready to talk about last night so she grasped the last thing he had said that was safe. She glanced out the window. “In the morning?”
He nodded. “Breakfast?” Max seemed to understand.
“No.” She stooped down to pick up the blanket. “I’ve got an appointment I need to keep.”
Alicia found her clothes neatly folded at the foot of her bed. Max must have put them there. She slipped everything on as Max watched. His silence surprised her, but she wasn’t going to question it. “I’m going to need to go home now. You know, to change, take a shower, that kind of thing.”
“That’s fine.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Great. Then I’m going to go.”
She looked around the room to find her shoes and purse. Alicia smacked herself in the head when she realized they were down in the computer room. She kicked off her shoes about an hour into her website searches. “Um, let me get my things.” Something she never got around to last night.
“I brought your things in here while you were sleeping.” He stepped to the side and she saw her shoes and purse on the small table behind the door.
“Thanks.” She gathered her things and scooted out the door.
“Jacob brought your Jeep here.”
“Great.” At least the office wouldn’t be talking about the fact that her vehicle had sat in the lot all night.
“Afraid of me?” Max asked.
“No.” But she was. Maybe not him but the lack of control she felt around him. She needed time to think about last night and she couldn’t do it standing in front of him. “I just need a little time to myself.”
“Then I’ll let you get back to your apartment.” He gestured toward the front door. “And I’ll stop by your office about lunch time.”
“Um, I told you I have an appointment.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Why?” She exploded. “I’ve asked for a little time to myself and you won’t give it to me. You always tell me what to do, invade my space and push me around. I can’t function this way.” She wrapped her arms around herself in agitation.
“I’m trying to keep you safe.” Max stepped back to give her space. Maybe he had pushed a little too much.
“Safe from what?” She dropped her shoes to the floor and slipped her feet into them. “All I see is you crowding my space.”
“And exactly what brought this on? Last night?” He could see the anger rising in her. That was the wrong question. Quick reflexes allowed him to catch her arm as she swung at him. Pulling her close he held her against him. “Talk to me. Tell me what is going on.”
She stared up at him. Fear raced through her to be replaced with determination. “I just don’t like people trying to control me.”
“Trust me, Alicia.” He wanted to tell her so much. Tell her of the potential danger she could be in from Sonora. Explain why he was pushing her so hard to learn more about the Tears. Tell her the truth about himself. He knew if he gave her all the information she wouldn’t want to continue to work for him, but by making her go after the information herself she’d be too intrigued to walk away. She had to learn it herself. He’d make sure she’d be safe. He’d protect her from any harm Sonora could brew up, and he would tell her everything when he felt it was safe. Right now, he needed her faith.
“I do, Max, but I’m not ready to talk about it. Give me time.” She looked up at him with solemn eyes. “We’ll speak when I’m ready.”
***
Alicia leaned into the spray of her shower, letting it pound against her face. Her body welcomed the stinging against her skin.
What should she do?
As she dried herself off with a big fluffy towel, Alicia tried to figure out how she overslept. She had fallen asleep late, but she had survived on a few hours of sleep for years. Her nightmares made that possible. What was different about last night? Was it because of what happened with Max? She had to admit it was the best sex she ever had.
She toweled her hair. “I wish I could go to the doing and work off some of this frustration.” Then she giggled. She wasn’t frustrated. Not anymore.
A quick glance at the clock made her pick up the pace. She had to dress fast or she would be late. Her hand hit a simple black dress. “Good enough.”
Ten minutes later, Alicia was in her Jeep, weaving through traffic and hoping she would make it on time. Luck was on her side when she found a parking space right in front of the building. She made it with two minutes to spare.
She stepped up to the small window.
“Ah, Miss Braswell. Go ahead in.”
She walked through the double doors and looked around.
“Alicia. Running a little late, aren’t you?” The woman held a watering can in her hand.
“My appointment was for eight-thirty, right?” She checked her watch.
“Of course, but you are the one who arrives thirty minutes early for every appointment. I half expected to find you sitting outside my door.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“So how has your week been?” She placed the watering can on the floor next to a ficus. The doctor ignored her comment. Instead, she turned on her recorder then sat in the chair opposite Alicia.
“Fine.” Alicia sat down in the plush overstuffed chair. “I mean it’s been the same as all the others.”
“You sure?”
“Doctor.” She fussed with the edge of her dress. “Why would it be any different?”
“Because you always show up early, today you raced the clock. You’ve had a problem sleeping more than four hours for years, yet you look well rested. Relaxed.” The doctor picked up her notebook. “Did you have the dream last night?”
“No.” Alicia looked at her psychiatrist in shock. She didn’t dream at all last night.
“What?”
“I’ve had the same dream for the last three years every night without fail.” Alicia stood up. “But not last night.”
“What was different about last night?” The doctor looked up at her.
“Oh, boy.” Alicia wanted to slap her hand over her mouth the moment the words slipped out of her mouth. She sat back down on the oversized plush chair. “You remember that new account I’ve been working on?”
The doctor nodded.
“I stayed at his house last night.”
“And how do you feel about that?” The doctor picked up her pencil and started to write.
“Oh, please don’t start asking those inane questions. You know how much I hate them.”
“All right.” The doctor sat back in her chair and put the notebook down. “Tell me about last night.”
She gave her doctor a glare before she spoke. “I went over to learn more information. My client is very secretive and didn’t want anyone to overhear our conversation.”
“You’ve never met a client out of your office.”
“I know, but this is a different client. He won’t follow my rules, only his own.” She held up one finger before her doctor commented. “I know I’ve never done that before too. But the project is something I can’t pass up.”
“I see.” The doctor opened her notebook to take a few notes. “I’m still surprised you’re working with him. You’ve had problems with clients like the one you just described. Normally, you refuse to work with them.”
“I know.” Alicia didn’t know how to explain what was going on inside her. “There’s something about him, Doc. I don’t know what’s going on, but I feel safe with him. He’s pushy and obnoxious, but there is something protective about the way he deals with me.”
The doctor took a few more notes without comment. “So why did you stay there all night?”
“I don’t really know. Karen, I lost control of the whole situation.” In more ways than one. Alicia wondered if she wanted to tell her psychiatrist about everything that went on. She also wondered if the doctor had already figured it out. “I went because he made me question if my office was safe. Once I got to his home he had ways to keep me there.”
“Like what?”
“The best computer system I’ve ever seen.” She couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. “I loved his system. It was by far the fastest I’d ever used before. He also had his own search engine that made surfing a breeze. I’ve never seen anything like it. It makes mine look like a dinosaur.”
“And you stayed on it all night?”
“No.” Alicia couldn’t stop the blush she knew was spreading across her face. “We stopped around nine to have dinner. Made sandwiches. Then he gave me a book to read.”
“A book?” Karen’s pencil scratched its way across the page. “You must have felt very safe.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You just said the same thing.” She absently tapped the pencil against the pad. “I meant nothing seductive or romantic. The other times when men have tried to seduce you with a romantic dinner you normally did them bodily harm.”
“Not all of them.” Alicia protested.
“Really? Let’s see, there was Mark who tried to kiss you in a movie theater. I believe you meant to elbow him in the solar plexus, but hit his ribs instead. He had to be rushed to the hospital because you cracked two ribs and collapsed a lung.”
“Yeah, well he startled me.”
“What about Adam?” The doctor sat back and smiled. “He tried to surprise you with flowers. One backhand later he was also raced to the hospital because you caught him in the neck. Crushed his larynx.”
“He did surprise me. I reacted instinctively.”
“I’ll remember never to sneak up on you.” The doctor crossed her legs. “Then there was Bob.”
“I get the point.”
“So you read the book all night?”
“Not really.”
“So what happened after you finished reading? Did you try to leave?”
Alicia nodded. “Sort of.”
“I can’t wait to hear this.” Karen continued to make notes.
Alicia chose to ignore the sound of graphite on paper. “He drove me to his house so I didn’t have my Jeep.”
The scratching of the pencil increased.
“I know, not my normal MO. But the situation forced it.”
“Hmm.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” Alicia hated the little comments like the hmm she just heard. It made her want to defend herself.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You hmmed.” Alicia smoothed her right eyebrow. “After I realized how late it was I did ask him to take me home.”
“Not demanded?”
“Anyway, we heard howling outside and he asked me to stay until he could check it out.” Alicia shook her head. Her turn to ignore a comment. “That sounds so stupid now, but when we heard the howls so close to the house I didn’t argue with him.
“He went to check out his grounds and I ended up being shown to a guest room where I ended up staying the night.” She listened to the sound of the pencil scratching across the paper.
“You were shown a room? Would you explain that?”
“Max has a butler, or a personal servant. I don’t know his real title, but he was there to keep me company while Max looked around. When he took too long to come back, Jacob noticed I was tired and offered a room to me.”
“Something else you have never done. In the past you would have raced out of that place.”
“They sounded like wolves.”
“Ah.” She wrote a little more. “So you felt that safe? How was his house different?”
“I don’t know.” Alicia didn’t want to tell her what she suspected.
“You stay the night at a house you don’t know and feel safe enough to sleep and have no dream. You’ve gone out of town many times and before you could stay in any room you had to change the locks to feel safe and always had the dream.”
The doctor looked up at her expectantly. When the moment came Alicia hesitated. Did she really want to tell her doctor everything? “Alicia, part of your therapy is to be honest with me. Keeping information from me isn’t going to help you make the breakthrough you need to stop the nightmares. You have a tendency to back away when confronted with information you don’t want to hear. You’re doing it now.”
“I know, but this is a bit personal.”
“Are you afraid voicing it will make it real?” The doctor pulled the notepad she held against her chest.
She nodded. Alicia took a deep breath. Now or never. “I had the best mind-blowing sex I’ve ever had with any man.”
“You haven’t been a saint the last three years.”
“Those men never made me scream or made me get hot just telling my psychologist about it.”