Lucy closed the letter. What a kind woman, to hold on to these things and send them after she’d lost a friend. “She said she married into the clan…is that common?”
“Pretty rare, but it happens,” Jason said. “And if she was already…basically an in-law, it would have been easier. It sure looks like Oliver and Ethan put a lot of work into what they had together. Kind of nice to see a love story like that.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I wish I could have met them. I’m glad that they had her, too. I…these help. They help a lot.” The clan letters had been full of gossip and politics, but it made the whole business seem real. She’d watched Oliver grow in confidence and authority as the letters continued—he’d chosen a good sample—and it had clearly gotten easier for him as time passed. Maybe she could do this whole Alpha stuff.
The clan alliance, now…she still wasn’t so sure about that. Jason was—well, he seemed completely perfect, but that was the problem. She’d fallen for him head over heels, but she’d been wrong about guys before. She didn’t want her hormones ruling her head. Giving everything over, so soon after they’d met, felt wrong. But if Jason was a good man—and everything inside her was telling her he was—they’d be able to take their time. She reached over and took his hand. “I’m hungry,” she said. “How are you?”
“I’m one kind of hungry,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.
She laughed. All right, she was a little hungry that way too. “We should probably eat first, then we’ll have more energy.”
“That sounds pretty good too. You want to go out or stay in?”
“Stay in, definitely,” she said. “There’s some take-out menus on the fridge, a couple deliver.”
“Any preferences?”
“If I didn’t like them, they wouldn’t be on the fridge.” She gathered the envelopes back together and carefully put them back in the box. She’d have to call Emily Lee soon, maybe tomorrow. Tomorrow she could deal with the clan, and telling her sisters the truth. Tonight she wanted to have a nice night at home with Jason. Maybe she was never going to be completely normal again, but she at least could have a normal date. “I don’t really dislike anything. Except broccoli. That’s gross.”
“Spinach okay?”
“I love spinach,” she said.
“Okay, I think I’ve got a plan. You’re not a vegetarian, you don’t mind spinach? I got this.”
They’d just gone to a diner for lunch, nothing special.
He picked up the phone. “I’ll gonna check on the back while I order. What’s your street address?”
“223 North, unit A.”
“Got it,” he said, and walked out the back door.
She looked through the love letters while he ordered. Just skimmed them, really, but it was enough. Enough to see the love between them both, what must have been little in-jokes. And Ethan hadn’t even been a shifter. Maybe it wasn’t that weird. Maybe Jason—
The door opened and he came back in. “Twenty-five minutes,” he said. “What should we do before then?” He lifted an eyebrow.
“Bedroom’s right there,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “If you’re out of condoms, I’ve got some in the drawer.”
“Well, if you insist,” he said, smiling.
“Will…will you show me? The teeth and claws thing?”
His smile…sharpened. Oh. Oh my.
“Don’t be afraid of the big bad wolf,” he said.
She feigned shock. “Oh, my,” she said, “what big teeth you have!”
“The better to eat you with, my dear.”
She ran to the bedroom, her heart pounding, overheated already. God, she was wet. She unbuttoned her jeans as she went, but she didn’t get them all the way off before Jason tackled her, catching her by the waist and carrying her into the bed as easily as a man lifting a kitten. How did he do that?
His hands roamed across her body, feeling her nipples through her shirt and bra, working down to her hips, sliding finally to her panties and pulling them off with her jeans. “And you smell delicious,” he said. She could still see how sharp and white his teeth were.
He dipped his head between her legs. Oh, God. Even though she was already dripping, his tongue felt wet. Delicious. Hot. She wanted to writhe underneath him, but she also wanted to hold still, wanted to see what he’d do, what he wanted to do to her.
Then he put his hands on her thighs, holding her steady, and she couldn’t move at all. She moaned, deep in the back of her throat, and she could feel him smiling against her skin, though she couldn’t begin to explain how. She reached down for him, touching his thick, dark hair.
His hair was so, so soft. Almost like fur.
His tongue teased gently against her clit, and pleasure ran through her with every gentle brush. “Come on,” she said. “Please. Please.”
He stroked her thighs with nails that had suddenly grown long, and sharp.
With most men she felt strange, fat, awkward. But with Jason—everything was right. Perfect. He made her feel so good. It wasn’t going to take long before—
Oh, there she was, coming, coming and coming in waves, her orgasm arcing across her body like an electrical current. Her body felt like it was stopping and starting all over again, like everything was beyond her control. When the echoes finally subsided and she could collect herself, Jason was there on the edge of the bed, propped up on his elbows, with the world’s biggest smile on his face.
All she could do was shake her head.
“Condoms?” he asked.
She pointed at the nightstand. He reached over. “You’re all right?”
“Yeah,” she panted. “I…please. Go ahead.”
“Okay,” he said. He put a hand on her knee as he slid the rawer open. “You’re so beautiful,” he said.
“You’re flattering me,” she said.
“Honest,” he said, and the way he was looking at her, she believed it. He opened the drawer one-handed and pulled out a condom. “You mind if I’m on top?”
She shook her head no. She was so shaky she wasn’t sure she could do anything else right now anyway. He pulled his shirt off, but kept his jeans on, just unzipping the fly and pulling out his cock. It didn’t look any smaller this time, that was for sure. She stretched her legs wider, ready to take him in.
“I hope you’re not expecting me to last too long,” he said, ripping the packet open.
“I…I don’t think I could ask for more than what I’ve already had,” she said. “I’m not sure you’ll get anything more out of me.”
“We’ll see about that,” he said, stretching the condom over his dick. She couldn’t take her eyes off it. Just her size, all right. Thick and hard and exactly what she wanted right now. “You ready?”
“I sure am,” she said.
When he sunk into her it was even better than what he’d done with his mouth. He felt perfect. Rock hard. His muscular body sunk into her curves like they were made to go together. She closed her eyes and let herself ride the sensations. His hands roamed her body again as he thrust into her. It felt so good. She wanted to stay here, in this moment, in this bed, with him for as long as she could. He was thrusting harder, faster, and she grabbed at her bedspread to keep herself from sliding too far back.
He’d been right, though; he didn’t last too long. He came with a grunt, his hips slamming against her. She’d never been with anyone so strong, so sure of himself. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, gently. “Thank you,” she said.
He slid from her body. “Thank you,” he said. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” He pulled the condom off and put it in the trash by her bed. He got back on the bed and put his arm around her waist. “I think I could stay like this with you forever.”
She closed her eyes and put her hand on his. She felt so warm and safe.
“What do you think,” he said. “Should we unite the clans first, or get married? Probably the clan alliance first. Then we wouldn’t have to sell the marriage. It would just seem natural.”
Her eyes flew open.
***