God, my Granny loved me something fierce. Standing up to your alpha was serious business. “What did Dwayne tell you?” I asked as I felt my cheeks heat.
“You’ll have to ask him.” He gave me a half smirk that made me want to weep with joy and tackle him to the ground at the same time.
We stared at each other for a long time. I literally ached to touch him, but I still wasn’t sure what the ground rules were. Did I have to pay penance? I was willing to do anything to regain his trust.
“You’re going to have to make the first move, Essie,” he said quietly and leaned back against the wall.
He was right and I was scared. Maybe he and Granny were correct. Maybe I did have to grow up. I was no longer just the alpha’s gal pal. I was my own woman—an agent, a strong, whole person.
His green eyes turned a silvery blue and I felt wanted for exactly who I was—the crazy girl who would continue to attract trouble and make mistakes. The one who could love him like no other and the one who could finally accept his love in return.
I stood slowly and slipped the straps of my sundress off my shoulders. His body tensed, but he stayed still. I let it fall to the floor and I giggled.
“I’m still wired.” I grinned and approached him. My insides danced wildly and the scent of cinnamon filled the room. I was wearing a bra, panties, kick ass wedge Pradas that belonged to Dwayne, a wire and a small gun strapped to my inner thigh. I had never felt sexier in my life.
“Officer, I’m going to have to ask you to remove your weapon,” Hank said in his sheriff's voice.
“Wait, isn’t that my line? I’m the agent,” I answered as I bit back a laugh.
“True, but I’m the sheriff…and your alpha. I trump. Remove the gun. I plan to spend some time there and I prefer to keep my manly parts.”
“I prefer that you keep your manly parts too,” I said and stopped a breath away from him. His body went as tight as a drum and his Mr. Happy was very happy. I knew it took everything he had not to lunge at me. I marveled at his control and quite honestly at mine too.
Carefully, I unstrapped my gun and put it on the coffee table. “Will you help me with the wire?”
“Please?” His lopsided grin melted my insides.
“Please,” I whispered.
Having tape pulled from one’s body was not the usual foreplay I was used to with Hank, but it rocked my world at the moment. He ran his fingertips gently over the reddened skin and followed it with his lips. Somehow my bra and panties disappeared too. How had I not noticed that? Wait, who the hell cared?
I stood before him in only my borrowed heels, feeling shy yet sexy. “You’re a little overdressed,” I murmured as I slid my hands under his shirt and pushed it up over his broad and familiar chest. The light sprinkling of dark hair tickled my fingers and the growl low in his throat made me grab onto him for balance.
He did nothing to help me as I pushed the material over his head. The only clue that he wasn’t as in control as he pretended to be was his heart. It beat rapidly in his chest and his breathing was labored.
With shaking hands, I undid his belt and eased his jeans to the floor. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his jeans. Clad only in tight gray boxer briefs, there was no denying he was as attracted to me as I was to him.
“Am I supposed to do everything?” I asked, unsure of how to play.
He put his arms up and locked his fingers behind his head. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll stand still much longer…but for the moment, I’m finding this interesting.” His voice was husky and it sent tingles to my dancing insides.
“Interesting?” I rolled my eyes and decided interesting was for textbooks, not seductions. I clearly needed to amp up the action.
I quickly grabbed the elastic of his boxer briefs and pushed them down. Coming face to face with one of my favorite parts of his body, I gave it a kiss and was rewarded with a harsh intake of breath. I refused to be interesting…
“Essie,” he warned. “I won’t promise to be gentle. I want you too badly.”
His arm muscles bulged and I could tell it took all he had to keep them locked behind his head. My heart pounded hard in my chest and I realized this was the first time I’d ever taken the lead and I liked it.
“I don’t want gentle,” I purred. “But if you move your hands, I’ll get dressed and leave.”
His eyes flashed. His wolf was so close to the surface, I almost took back my threat. However, my inner wolf was so excited I borrowed her confidence and continued.
“Go to the couch and sit,” I instructed and waited to see what he’d do.
“Yes, ma’am.” His grin was so evilly sexy I almost knocked him to the floor and yelled “Game over.” But I held on and followed him.
He was such a beautiful man. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes roamed every inch of his body. I felt alive, sexy, naughty and very, very happy. Crawling on top of him, I straddled his legs carefully, making sure no lady parts touched any man parts. His moan unfurled a hot coil of lust low in my belly and I was unsure how much longer I could tease him.
Leaning forward, I traced his closed lips with the tip of my tongue. He tasted of man and sin. I coaxed his lips open and slowly explored his mouth. My eyes fluttered shut and my body clenched in anticipation of what I knew would happen…of what I wanted and needed to happen.
“No more,” he ground out as his strong arms trapped my body against his, crushing my breasts to his chest and my pelvis to his. “Open your eyes, Essie. See me. See what you do to me,” he demanded.