Chapter Eight
When Caleb finally took his hand out of the doorway, he eased the door shut, and Erica slid to the floor behind it. She drew her knees up to her chest and put her head down. Her wolf whimpered and urged her to go after him.
Mate.
No matter what she said to Caleb, deep down she knew what he was. She’d struggled to identify the strange connection she felt with him, but when he found her at the bus station today, her wolf had proclaimed it quite clearly. And though it scared the shit out of her, she found herself here at the hotel with him again. She’d been fine until he said it out loud and then she panicked. After everything she’d been through, why would the fates match her with another Alpha?
So what options did she have? She got up, locked the door, and curled up in the bed to think about it.
Option one: She could sneak out again now and hope their strange bond wasn’t strong enough for him to track her. She still had all his money in her backpack. But he’d backed off like he said he would, so maybe he was serious about driving her somewhere tomorrow. Of course, once he had her in the car, he could drive her wherever he wanted.
Option two: She could go back with him, but refuse to be his mate, and they’d go their separate ways. In the same territory. While their wolves did their best to bring the couple together. Or where she’d have to see him with whomever he ended up choosing, because the Alpha had to have a mate and heirs. That would be a different kind of torment she wasn’t prepared to deal with.
Option three: she could accept him as her mate and go back with him to obey his every command.
And invite all his buddies to have a go at her, too.
I guess I’m fucked no matter what.
On that note, she drifted off to sleep.
****
After waking up from a nightmare about Tank for the third time, Erica gave up on sleep. She wondered, not for the first time since she’d arrived in the city, if Tank was looking for her. She didn’t think it was possible. He might have tried to track her, but he would have had to leave the Demon Dogs for a while to do it, and illegal enterprises didn’t run themselves. Still, every so often she had the sensation someone was watching her.
Restless energy flowed through her, looking for an outlet. She needed to change and to go for a long run. Maybe not as long as the one from Michigan, but long enough to ease the tension in her muscles. She settled for getting up to get a glass of water. Or maybe a mug of hot cocoa would be better.
She cracked the door open and listened for Caleb. When she heard his soft, even breathing, she slipped out to the kitchen. She made herself a drink and sipped it as she looked out the window over the city. When she started to yawn again, she set the drink down and headed back to the bedroom. She’d just passed Caleb’s door when it opened.
“Are you okay?”
Erica glanced over her shoulder to answer and then did a double take. He stood in the door, hair tousled, in nothing but a form-fitting pair of boxer briefs. It did nothing to help her resolve. “I just needed a drink. I’m having trouble sleeping.”
“Me, too.”
Neither of them moved. Or they didn’t move apart, at any rate. Erica found herself leaning towards him, the heat and scent of him drawing her in. A tingling sensation started low in her belly, spreading outward as she got closer, until she had to take a step or lose her balance. He stepped forward at the same time and now they were within touching distance. Erica studied the line of his collarbone, trying hard not to look higher. Or lower. She smelled his arousal, the scent growing stronger by the second and mixing with hers to make a heady combination.
They each took another step closer. The pounding of her heart matched the throbbing between her legs, and she started to feel light-headed. Her wolf urged her on, and Erica knew there was only one way to satisfy the wolf and her body.
She tilted her head up and met his eyes. They’d started to glow a bit, a sure sign his wolf was near the surface. No doubt hers were the same. A few moments passed, stretching on between them until Erica lifted a hand and placed it on his chest.
Caleb didn’t need any more invitation. With a growl, he tugged her into his arms and brought his lips crashing down against hers. Their tongues struggled against one another, each trying to gain access to the other’s mouth, until Erica finally relented and allowed him to plunge inside. Waves of desire pounded through her with each stroke of his tongue, and she whimpered as he cupped her ass and pressed her against him.
Leaving her mouth, Caleb nipped his way along her jaw and down the side of her neck, each bite drawing a small cry from her. She couldn’t control herself. She couldn’t think straight. Couldn’t think of anything beyond him. This was how it was supposed to be.
She needed him. Needed to feel his skin against hers. Needed him to fill her.
“Caleb,” she gasped. “Please.”
He growled again and pulled away long enough to strip her shirt off before her breasts crushed against his chest, the delicious friction making her nipples hard as rock. He hoisted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. It only took a moment for him to toss her onto it, rip off her panties, and cover her body with his.
His lips captured one rock-hard nipple and bit down gently. The sensation zinged straight to her clit and she moaned, especially when his fingers found the sensitive nub a moment later and increased the stimulation. The tension wound tighter in her belly. How was it possible for her to be this close to orgasm already? But she was, and it only took another nip of his teeth on her breast to set her off. Erica shuddered and jerked under him, the spasms of pleasure rocking her entire body.
“God, you’re gorgeous when you come.” Caleb kissed her again, his fingers still working furiously between her legs.
She couldn’t stand it anymore. She had to have him inside her when she came again. “Fuck me. Please. I need you to fill me.”
With a groan, he got up off the bed and she cried out. She was so close and he left her hanging? A quick glance showed him stripping off his underwear and rummaging in the pocket of his jeans. A moment later he was back, tearing open a foil packet and rolling a condom down his shaft. Fuck. She’d been so eager she hadn’t even thought about protection. They couldn’t catch diseases, but getting pregnant was the last thing she needed.
He climbed on top of her and she spread her legs more willingly than she ever had. As he gathered her in his arms, he slid the entire length of his cock into her tight pussy.
“Oh, fuck, you feel so good.”
Erica had to agree as he pressed his lips to hers, the rhythm of his tongue matched to the rhythm of his cock. She’d been incomplete before, but he filled more than just her pussy. It was as though his soul had entered hers. Her pleasure built quickly. With each stroke, he managed to hit something deep inside, and their bodies were so close it created the perfect pressure on her clit.
He buried his head against her neck, teeth grazing the skin. Her wolf pushed her to bare her throat, allow him to mark her, and claim her as his.
Erica tensed and Caleb immediately lifted his head. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t claim me. Please. I’m not ready for that.”
“You want me to stop?” His brow furrowed and his shoulders tensed as though he was in pain, and Erica had no doubt they both would be if they didn’t finish this.
“I need to come on your cock,” she whispered. “But don’t claim me.”
“Oh, thank God.” He resumed thrusting into her, the pace frantic now.
It didn’t take long and Erica exploded around him, her pussy clamping down on his cock, gripping him as he stilled. Caleb threw back his head and groaned as he reached his own orgasm. Time seemed to still as she lay cocooned in his arms, the aftershocks of her orgasm lulling her into a bit of a daze. Was sex always this good with a soul mate, or was Caleb just that good? Either way, she couldn’t help but feel cheated at not having met him sooner.