Alpha Wolf_A Paranormal Shifter Romance Page 6
“Okay,” she said meekly, trying not to make him angrier. Amelia was devastated though. The date had been going really well.
Kai stared at her for a moment and then his eyes softened. The door closed behind him and he crossed the living room in two steps. When he went to his knees she couldn’t help the small squeak of surprise. He took her hands in his and looked up at her, practically pleading.
“Would you go out on a second date with me? I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
Amelia was overwhelmed, but she nodded. If she didn’t do this, try to figure out what the hell was going on between them, she’d never forgive herself. Kai was a good man, and she had feelings for him she didn’t know how to ignore.
“I know you said no to camping, but my family has a cabin out in the Blue Mountains. Would you spend the weekend with me? We don’t even have to leave to do anything outside.”
Her heart rate ratcheted up and Amelia couldn’t keep her mind out of the gutter. “I don’t know,” she said. “That’s far and I don’t have a car.” Why was she saying no? God, she wanted so badly to say yes.
“I’ll give you the keys to mine, and you can borrow it for as long as you need,” Kai told her, placing his hands on her cheeks. He drew her in and kissed her sweetly. “You can leave any time you like. If you ever feel uncomfortable you have the wheels to bail.”
“Why?” she asked. Who just gave their car to someone they didn’t know?
Kai pulled the blanket from her lap and put his hands on her thighs. His touch was like lightning between her legs and instantly she was soaked. She wanted him bad.
“I have to go to work, but I don’t want to let you go just yet,” he admitted. “A weekend in the mountains would be fun. We could read and I’d make hot chocolate.” Kai kissed down her neck to her collarbone.
The baggy sweater gave him enough room to pull it off her shoulder and he kissed the bare skin there. Amelia practically panted with his slow, sweet kisses. He kneaded her thighs and ran his nose from her shoulder, over her breast, and then he nuzzled her belly. Her hands were suddenly in his hair as he moved lower, spreading her thighs with his hands.
Normally she’d panic at this point, but Amelia wanted Kai bad. “What are you doing?” she gasped when his nose hit her clit.
“I don’t want you to forget about me,” he murmured, rubbing his face against her.
It felt amazing and she spread her legs wider so he could settle between them. Amelia was grateful she’d taken a shower. She’d even shaved, just in case, but Kai didn’t seem to be in a rush.
“I want to take this slow,” he said, looking up and rubbing her clit with his thumb instead.
“Oh god,” she gasped, bucking up against him. Amelia felt like she had no control of herself whatsoever. Every touch from him set her on fire and she burned inside. She ached and pulsed with pleasure as he rubbed just right, exactly where she needed.
Her yoga pants had to be soaked too but he didn’t speed up or try to remove them. “I hate that I have to leave, but I can at least make you feel good.” Kai kissed her, slipping his tongue in her mouth and licking her own in time with his strokes on her clit.
Amelia’s hips rose with him, and when he palmed her sex she gasped and he devoured her. Kai kissed her like he was starved for her taste, rubbing faster and harder just as she needed until Amelia clutched his shoulders.
“I want you to come for me, baby,” he growled against her lips.
The gravelly sound of his voice set her off and she exploded. Amelia clenched her thighs together as he slowed down, but rode out her orgasm. Stars sparked in her vision and she felt lightheaded.
Kai’s lips were soft against hers and he seemed more relaxed. “Thank you,” he said. “I needed that.”
Amelia could barely speak, but she knew she should be the one thanking him.
Kai spread her knees apart and kissed her right on the clit and she shivered. She was surprised when he stood and readjusted, looking down at her with such hunger and lust in his eyes she practically ripped off her own clothes so he could take her then and there.
“I will text you tomorrow, Firecracker. Enjoy the rest of the food.” He leaned forward and pecked her on the lips. “I really am sorry I have to go.”
Kai strode towards the door and grabbed his jacket.
Amelia watched him go. “You’re really leaving?”
He paused and looked back. His eyes were sad, but determined. Kai nodded.
Amelia hesitated, but then got up and crossed the room to wrap her arms around his waist. She hugged him hard. Amelia had to ignore how wet she was and focused on giving him comfort. If she had her way she’d take him in her mouth then and there, but something in his face kept her from doing so.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’ve never been able to talk about it before and…for everything else.” The food, the orgasm, the patience, and the understanding.
Kai wrapped one arm around her and held her tight. They simply stood there for a few minutes and she felt his cock twitch. Amelia pulled back and placed a hand on him. He was massive. She’d forgotten exactly how big he was.
The groan that escaped his lips made her smile. “Are you sure you have to go right this very second?”
He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “Woman, I want to take things slow with you. Keep touching me though and I won’t be able to hold back.”
She ran one finger from the tip to the base over his jeans and he pushed against her hand.
“I’m serious,” he said. “I can only take so much teasing.”
Amelia felt powerful. Kai was a big man with muscles for days and he was practically shivering with need for her. It wasn’t the right time though. He had to work, and he had a point about taking things slow.
For the first time she was the one to initiate the kiss. Amelia was still unsure and shy, but she wanted to see him again. She wanted to make sure this was real, that it could actually work out.
“I don’t know what it is you do, but please be safe.”
Kai grinned and tapped her nose. “See you soon, gorgeous.”
Then he was gone. Amelia wrapped her arms around herself, it was cold in her loft without him. The noise from the T.V. too loud and the smell of the food was a taunt. It was stupid, but Amelia missed him already.
Chapter Eleven
Kai
“Dammit!” Kai practically ripped open the door to his car and had to take a moment to get his temper under control. Driving angry was dangerous.
The fucking timing though was unreal.
Shane’s phone call had put a real damper on his plans. Kai only hoped Amelia would forgive him. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back as he remembered the way she smelled, the sounds she’d made, and how she’d clutched his hair. God, she was so fucking beautiful. It had been physically painful to leave.
Kai had gotten her to open up to him, and now he had to leave to track down the rogue wolf. It put his mate bond at risk and his wolf hated that. He gripped the steering wheel and tried to convince his inner wolf that tracking down the savage one in the city would help keep Amelia safe as well.
The Blue Mountain Pack wasn’t new. It was actually ancient, but there had been problems with the last few alphas and when Kai had heard about the pack nearly dying out from all the challenges he’d stepped in.
It was his home and he’d grown up in the Blue Mountain Pack, but when he’d gotten older he’d taken a few years away and joined a few different packs as he moved from place to place, state to state, and even went across the ocean to Hawaii and Australia.
Then Shane had called and begged him to challenge the latest Blue Mountain Alpha, explaining what had happened. He’d won easily enough, but the pack was broken and small after so much in-fighting. Picking up the pieces after wasn’t easy. The entire Blue Mountain territory had been invaded thanks to the last alphas ignoring their territory and borders.
Kai drove the car to the address Shane had texted him. It was in the warehouse district down by the docks. His Second had tracked the savage loner there, but had lost him. Thankfully he was still in his wolf form, but Kai had to find him fast or at least push him back out to the forest where it would be easier to hunt him and take the wolf out.
The orange glow from the streetlights was rough on his night vision, but Kai parked and rolled down the window, sniffing the air with his eyes closed. He let his wolf senses take over and scent the frigid, salty air. There was barely a hint, but he could smell the musky wolf and a hint of the pine that always reminded him of Oregon wolves.
The sound of footsteps reached Kai’s ears and he searched the direction they came from. Shane gave him a nod before leaning on his car window. “I’m sorry I had to call you out, but I need someone to help me herd him. This wolf is one of the most feral I’ve ever seen.”
Kai nodded and checked his phone, fighting the urge to text Amelia. There was nothing he could say to explain why he’d left and he had already apologized. The mate bond had grown stronger from his time with her and until he claimed her the physical pain would only grow.
“Let’s get this wolf and finish this job.” Kai gritted his teeth as he got out of the car. The sooner he finished the job, the sooner he’d have to return home to his pack and unless Amelia came with him…mates never did long distance and if he wasn’t careful she’d start to feel the pain as well even as a human.
“Is everything okay?” Shane asked, keeping pace alongside him.
His Second was clear-headed, strong, and still emotionally closed off after the fuck-shit that had gone down with the other alphas. Kai trusted Shane with his life, but he still watched him closely to make sure he didn’t go off the deep end.
“Everything is fine,” Kai told him. He’d tell Shane about his mate later. At the moment he could smell the scent of the savage wolf getting stronger. “Let’s just get this over with.”
They hunted the wolf for hours, changing into their own wolf forms. They managed to chase it out of the city, but they lost its trail right on the edge of Portland. Kai huffed in annoyance. He’d have to spend all day tracking the thing tomorrow as well.
His paws ached as he jerked his head toward Shane to head back in the direction of his car. Kai looked back at the trees one last time and then the moon. A few more weeks and it would be full. The rogue had to be caught by then. Kai couldn’t miss the Wolf Moon, and they couldn’t afford any more deaths.
If Kai didn’t have the matter taken care of by the Wolf Moon, the Cascade Range Pack would take over, and steal his territory in the process. Kai snarled and changed back into a human. Shane was next and they both dressed in silence before going back to the car.
“We’ll get him,” Shane assured him. “Tomorrow we’ll follow the trail again.”
“This bastard is good,” Kai admitted. “He may be feral, but he knows how to cover his tracks and hide.”
“As long as we keep a human from killing him we can manage this,” Shane said, looking out the car window at all the city lights. “Then we can go home and rebuild.”
Kai nodded, hoping it wouldn’t just be Shane with him when they left for the mountains. Amelia was his and he wouldn’t give up unless she asked him to.
Chapter Twelve
Amelia
Somehow Amelia had gotten four whole days off starting Friday thanks to Bonnie saying she’d take on some of her work. She was going to spend four days in a cabin with Kai and she was actually excited. It was what Disneyland must be like for five-year olds, not that she knew many, but Amelia watched those cute videos online.
“Are you going to bring sexy lingerie?” Bonnie asked. She was sprawled out on Amelia’s bed, watching her go through everything she owned. “I strongly suggest buying more clothes. Always buy more clothes. It’s the right answer to everything.”
Amelia glanced back at her friend and rolled her eyes. “I don’t have a lot of clothes on purpose.”
“Yeah, yeah I know – you’re the minimalist, capsule wardrobe type. But you’re regretting it now, aren’t you?”
She was, but she’d never admit it. And it wasn’t like she could borrow anything from Bonnie. The girl was like five inches taller than her with an ass for days. Amelia sighed. After a year of squats her ass was nothing to sneeze at, but she just wasn’t as voluptuous as Bonnie.
She flipped through the clothes hanging in her closet again. Bonnie disappeared downstairs and then came back up with ice cream and two spoons. She threw herself on Amelia’s bed and then rolled over onto her stomach to watch the struggle.
“At least you have cute winter gear,” Bonnie said. “All that saving paid off.”
Amelia nodded in agreement. It had been expensive, but she’d been able to buy what she needed and have it tailored to her short frame. The knee high winter boots had been half her paycheck, but totally worth it for the fur lining. Amelia loved the cold, but she wasn’t stupid about it. It could easily kill you if you didn’t dress properly.
“I can’t believe you don’t have one sexy piece of lingerie.” Bonnie took a massive bite of the rocky road and watched Amelia rip clothes off hangers with amusement.
“I didn’t realize it mattered,” Amelia said. “I buy what I need and use it until I actually need more. You know that.”
“But still…no thigh-highs? You only have two sexy dresses for when we go out. How do you function?”
Bonnie had an entire room as a closet so her confusion was understandable, but Amelia just couldn’t handle that much stuff. Not when she could very easily have to move one day when the universe came back to fuck her. And it would, she just didn’t know how yet.
“I function just fine,” Amelia snapped, putting her entire wardrobe into her suitcase. “A black dress is timeless and so is a red one.”
“Everything you own fits in there,” Bonnie said, impressed. “I wish I could downsize like that.”
“My workout clothes are in the drawers,” Amelia muttered, finding her warm socks and pajamas – of the functional – not sexy variety.
“Still, I have way too many clothes. Here, come eat with me.” Bonnie patted the spot next to her.
Amelia sat, grabbing the second spoon and digging in. She was packed and ready to go, but she felt anxious.
“I’m really proud of you for going on this trip,” Bonnie told her. “That’s a really big deal.”
Amelia shrugged, going in for another massive bite. “I’m nervous. What if I do something stupid?”
“Well, he’s giving you the keys to his car right?”
“Yeah, but there’s probably no cell reception and what if he’s taking me up into the mountains to wear my skin or something?” Amelia’s mind raced with all the horrible, gory possibilities she’d ever seen in every movie or T.V. show.
“Just bring your gun then, you crazy gun lover. Those things make me so nervous.”
Amelia got up and took the locked box out from under her bed, plus the separate ammunition. It had been the first thing she’d purchased after getting her own place. Part of her had never felt safe living alone, no matter how much she loved the freedom.
“Didn’t you take self-defense classes too?” Bonnie asked, eyeing the gun case uncomfortably until Amelia slipped it in the suitcase and pushed both away.
Okay, that was actually the first thing she’d paid for. Then it had been a gun permit and safety classes to go with her shiny new pistol. She bought that before anything else, when she only had a mattress on the floor.
After David, Amelia had never wanted to be that helpless again. He’d never physically hurt her, but when she stopped and thought about it, how many times had she sat in his lap, let him grab her ass, or have sex with her because it would keep him from getting mad?
No wonder she’d lost it on that waitress.
“Yes, I did take self-defense classes, but we will be isolated and in the snow. I hate driving on a sunny day, let alone in two feet of snow.” Her parents had instilled a ‘healthy’ dose of fear in her.
Bonnie shrugged and put down her spoon. “Then don’t go.”
“Bon, you know it’s not that.”
Her friend crossed her arms in irritation. “I know you don’t want to let anything good happen to you in case it gets taken away, but that’s no way to live Amelia.”
The words stung, but Bonnie was right. Amelia took a bite of the rocky road and savored the chocolaty deliciousness while she considered her real issues. “Fine, I’m afraid we’re going to go on this trip and I’m going to fall in love with him and do something stupid like I did before. Then I’ll lose my freedom and independence.”
Then she flopped onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Why did she have to be so weird?
“Ground rules babe, all you have to do is give him your ground rules and you’ll be fine. The gun will keep you safe in case he does try to wear your skin, and you’ll have his wheels. I can come check in on you Saturday if you like.”
Amelia silently thanked her best friend for not asking what had happened before. She’d told Kai some of the details after a hefty dose of whiskey and the strange way he always concentrated so fully on her. She didn’t know how Bonnie would take the gory details, but Amelia wanted to work through it a bit herself first.
It was easier to talk to Bonnie than Amelia ever remembered it being. She knew that was Kai’s doing. “I’d actually love if you came up and met him. It matters to me what you think.”
Bonnie grinned. “To be honest I’m dying to meet him. I can’t believe he actually cooked for you. And seriously, I don’t think it would be a bad thing if you fell in love. You deserve something good. I’ve known you for a few years now and you’ve kept everyone at arm’s length. Kai sounds perfect for you.”