Page 16 of Wedding for My Werewolf (Fairhaven Falls #7)

CHAPTER 16

E ric stood in the doorway of the living room, watching Robin eat the soup he’d made. The fire cast shadows across her face, rendering it mysterious and unreadable. His wolf paced beneath his skin, radiating waves of possessiveness that made his chest ache. The urge to cross the room and pull her into his arms, to press his face into her neck and breathe in her scent, was almost overwhelming.

He clenched his jaw and forced himself to stay put. She had trusted him with her story. The last thing she needed was him complicating things with his feelings, no matter how much his wolf howled for her.

She put the bowl down, the spoon clinking quietly, and reached up to undo her braid. The firelight caught sparks of gold in her auburn hair, and his breath hitched. Fuck, she was beautiful. Not just her face or her body, but in the strength that had kept her going all this time.

His fingers tightened on the doorframe. He wanted to be the one she turned to, the one she trusted completely. He wanted her smile, her laugh, the sharp wit she revealed in unguarded moments. He wanted all of her—not just as his mate in name, but in truth.

She looked up, catching his gaze. A small smile curved her lips, and his heart stumbled in his chest. How had this woman worked her way so deep under his skin? Their eyes locked, hers holding his with a hope that made his breath catch. The air between them grew thicker, charged with possibility. His claws dug into the wooden doorframe, anchoring himself against the pull of her.

Her scent shifted, sweetening with desire, and his nostrils flared. His wolf howled to claim her, to mark her as his own. But he couldn’t do that. She’d been through too much—he wouldn’t push.

“Come and join me,” she said, patting the place on the couch next to her.

He knew he shouldn’t, but he was halfway across the room before his mind registered the movement.

“Why don’t you have some?”

She handed him a glass of wine, her fingers brushing against his, then settled back on the couch, her knee resting against his. The heat from that small point of contact warmed his entire body.

“Thank you for telling me everything,” he said.

“Thank you for listening.” Her voice dropped. “For understanding.”

“You’re welcome. If I can do anything to help?—”

“There is something,” she said softly, and he held his breath. “Sleep with me.”

His hand clenched around the glass, and she shook her head, a faint blush rising in her cheeks.

“It doesn’t have to be like that. You could just… hold me. I’ve been so alone for so long. Ever since my grandmother died.”

“Is that why…”

He stopped, not wanting to pry, but she understood the question anyway.

“Yes. I was always kind of shy and bookish, not really interested in boys until I was, I don’t know, sixteen maybe? But that was around the same time Nana started having health problems. I had to take care of her. No, not had to. I wanted to. She’d raised me ever since my mother died. We kept hoping it would get better, but…”

A tear slipped down her cheek, and he put down the wine to take her hands.

“She managed to arrange it so I could go to college, but I still lived at home with her so I never had a chance for much in the way of a social life. Which was fine,” she added fiercely. “I’m glad we had that time together.”

He stroked his thumb across her wrist until her breathing steadied.

“She died right before I graduated so then I was dealing with that and starting my new job and I couldn’t really handle anything else. When I finally had time to breathe and started to think about dating I realized I didn’t have a clue about it. Or men. Or s-sex.”

She flushed, but didn’t look away, and his heart swelled with pride at her bravery.

“I was worried about finding someone who would understand why I couldn’t move fast, so I just… didn’t. And then I started running and now here I am. A virgin. A scared virgin,” she said sadly.

“Are you scared of me?” he asked, holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

“No, Eric. I’m not scared of you. Not even a little.”

She freed her hands from his and trailed them slowly up his arms, her touch feather-light but searing through the fabric of his shirt. The touch sent electricity racing through his veins, igniting every nerve ending. His wolf howled in triumph.

“I want to kiss you,” she whispered.

Moving slowly, giving her every chance to back away, he cupped her face in his hands. Her skin felt like silk against his calloused palms. Instead of pulling back, she leaned into his touch, amber eyes darkening with desire. Her lips parted, her breath mingling with his, carrying the promise of everything he’d been denying himself.

When he finally claimed her mouth, the kiss blazed through him like wildfire. Gone was the careful restraint of their public displays. This was raw, real, a claiming that spoke to the primal part of his nature. Her hands slid up to grip his shoulders, her fingers digging in as if to keep him from pulling away. As if he could.

His wolf purred with satisfaction as she pressed closer, fitting perfectly against him. Her taste, her scent, the soft sounds she made—everything about her called to both man and beast. Her pulse raced beneath his fingertips as he traced the curve of her neck. The sweet scent of her desire mingled with his, driving his wolf wild with need.

He pulled back just enough to study her face—the flush in her cheeks, the trust in her eyes. Something protective and fierce swelled in his chest. This was about so much more than physical attraction. He wanted to shelter her, cherish her, show her that she deserved tenderness after everything she’d been through.

His wolf urged him to claim her fully, to mark her as his mate where everyone could see, the instinct pounding through him with each beat of his heart. But he forced that primal need back down. She’d spent too long having choices taken from her. He wouldn’t add to that, no matter how much his inner beast protested.

But he couldn’t back away, not when she was looking at him like that.

He slid his hand down to her breast, lightly tracing the stiff little peak beneath her shirt. Her eyes went hazy with pleasure. She arched towards him, pushing herself more firmly against his hand.

“Little bird, what you do to me.”

He cupped her other breast, feeling the nipple harden under his palm, and her head fell back as she moaned. The sight sent another bolt of desire straight to his cock, and he couldn’t stop the answering growl. She looked up at him, her gaze heated and hungry, and his wolf preened.

“Can I… take care of you this time?” she whispered.

He groaned at the thought.

“What did you have in mind, little bird?”

Her hands moved hesitantly to the front of his shirt. She undid the first button, then the second, stroking tentative little fingers over each inch of skin she exposed. He remained perfectly still, letting her explore at her own pace. His wolf preened under her touch, savoring her every stroke.

“You’re so strong,” she murmured, her hands moving lower. “So warm. So… perfect.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he managed to say, then forgot everything but the feel of her hands on him as she reached the bottom of his shirt.

She hesitated, then tugged, the buttons popping free. His breath hissed between his teeth as her fingers trailed down his abdomen. Her touch was light, a barely-there stroke, and yet it set him on fire.

“Fuck, little bird.”

His claws extended and retracted, a sign of the struggle for control. He didn’t want to frighten her, not when she was doing so well, but her sweet caress was driving him wild.

“You can touch me too,” she said softly. “If you want.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Her cheeks flamed, but she didn’t look away. Her fingers traced over the hard ridge of his erection, the sensation sending lightning through his veins.

“You’re so big.”

She pressed down, and he swallowed a groan. His eyes closed, the world narrowing down to the feel of her hand on him. Then she began to stroke him over his jeans, her hand growing less tentative with each touch.

“Like this?”

“Exactly like that,” he managed.

He could smell her arousal, the sweetness of it clouding his mind, urging him to take what was his, what was waiting for him between her legs.

“Take off your pants,” she said softly. “Let me touch you properly.”

If he did, nothing would stop him from claiming her.

“Not yet. You said that I could touch you.”

“Yes, please.”

“Such a polite little bird,” he teased, reaching for her shirt.

He repeated her actions, taking his time undoing each button and stroking each inch of skin he exposed. Then he gently slid the sides apart to reveal her perfect little breasts, her nipples already flushed dark pink.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, cupping them in his hands, and her eyes closed in pleasure.

The sound of her sigh was the most erotic thing he’d ever heard. He played with her nipples, rubbing his thumbs over the tight little peaks until they stood out, begging for his mouth. The temptation was too great. He leaned down and closed his lips around the tempting little morsel.

“Eric.”

Her voice was husky, the needy sound making his cock jerk.

He licked and suckled, alternating his attention between her nipples. With each tug, each caress, she moaned louder, pressing her breasts closer to his face. Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding him against her. He scraped his fangs lightly across the tip of her breast and she shivered.

“That feels so good. Please. I need…”

“Tell me what you need, little bird.”

“I… I don’t know. help me.”

She sounded so desperate that his cock jerked painfully against his jeans.

“Can I take these off?” he asked gently, tracing his finger along the waistband of her jeans.

She nodded and he undid her pants, then drew them slowly out from under her, taking her panties off at the same time. He went down on his knees in front of her, and she blushed from her cheeks all the way to the top of those sweet little breasts as he parted her legs.

Fuck, she was beautiful. Her pretty little pussy already flushed a deep pink beneath the small patch of bright red curls. The heady scent of her desire filled the air, making his head spin.

“Little bird, I’m going to taste you now. Is that okay?”

“Yes, please,” she whispered.

He parted her folds, his gaze locked on her glistening pussy. The scent of her arousal was even stronger here, and his tongue lengthened in anticipation.

“Look at how wet you are,” he murmured.

“Is that good?”

“Fuck, yes, little bird. It’s fucking perfect.”

He couldn’t wait any longer. He licked her, a long, slow glide from her entrance up to her clit, and she cried out.

“Oh, God.”

“Mmm, yes, little bird.”

He did it again, and again, the taste of her coating his tongue. The soft little sounds she made, her obvious pleasure, had his cock thrusting painfully against his jeans. By the time he circled her clit, she was rocking towards him, her body begging for more. He flicked her clit and her body shuddered, her breathing hitching as her climax built.

“That’s a good girl. Let’s see if you can take a little more.”

He slowly slid a finger inside her, and her body clenched around him, as hot and tight as it had been the previous time, and she moaned.

“More, please.”

Fuck, she was sweet.

“I’ll give you anything you ask for, little bird.”

He added a second finger, her body resisting until he sucked gently on her clit. Then sweetness flooded his tongue and her body gave way. She gasped as he began to pump his fingers into her.

“Yes, oh yes, please, don’t stop.”

Her words were breathy and broken, the sound going straight to his cock. She was so close. He could taste her approaching climax. He sucked her clit harder, then swirled his tongue around it.

She came with a soft cry, her body bucking against him, her muscles spasming around his fingers. He worked her through her orgasm, prolonging the pleasure. She cried out his name, and his wolf howled.

This was the way she should always sound, coming apart for him, his name on her lips.

Her breathing gradually slowed, and her body relaxed, the sweet scent of her satisfaction filling the air. She blinked up at him, her eyes still dazed.

“Is… is that one of the private places to put a mating bite?”

“Yes, little bird.”

His fangs lengthened at the thought and her eyes widened.

“Then why didn’t you… I thought…”

He pulled her closer, breathing in their mingled scents.

“Because it has to be your choice. Not something that happens in the heat of the moment.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “When you’re ready—if you’re ever ready—I’ll be here.”

She shifted to look up at him, big amber eyes searching his face. Whatever she found there made her smile, soft and genuine. She curled into him again, fitting perfectly against his body.

A profound sense of peace washed over him. His wolf, usually so restless, settled contentedly. For the first time in his life, everything felt right. Complete. As if the missing piece he’d never known he needed had finally clicked into place.