Melinda's Wolves Read online

  She stopped fighting him and flopped back against the mattress. His breath wafted across her sex as he exhaled, making her clit pulse with need.

  Keegan planted one shoulder on her thigh, freeing his hand to touch her. When he spread her folds open, exposing her more thoroughly to his gaze, she held her breath. “Keegan. Please… I’m not used to…”

  “I know, honey. And I want you to get used to my gaze on you. I like to look at you spread out before me.” He stroked through her wetness. “I love how wet you are for me.” He tapped her clit, making her buck and moan. “I love how your sweet little nub swells under my gaze, my fingers, my tongue.” His mouth descended, capturing the object of his affection between his lips.

  Her eyes rolled back as he sucked. She came hard and fast, almost instantly. He suckled her through the entire thing, drinking from her pussy and lapping at her clit until the tremors subsided.

  “I’m the luckiest man alive,” he whispered against her sensitive skin. “Although Trace may disagree.”

  “Trace may have trouble concentrating at work if you two keep that up,” their other mate communicated to both of them.

  Keegan touched her spread pussy again. “I love the way your moisture trails down between your ass cheeks after you come hard.”

  “Keegan.” Trace’s voice was harsh. “Stop with the play-by-play. I’m not kidding.”

  Melinda knew they would be connected telepathically after the claiming, but it was unnerving hearing her mate in her head from twenty miles away in human form. “Don’t you need to get to work or something?” she asked Keegan.

  “Yep. In a while. It’s early. I called and said I would be late.” He climbed up her body finally, making her relax marginally. Even though he lay against her pussy, her legs still spread wide, at least he was no longer staring at her so intently.

  His lips took hers in a deep kiss that consumed her, extinguishing all thought. Like a starving man, he held her against him and tipped his head one way and then the other, claiming her with his lips alone. Her body melted under him, coming alive again with total disregard for the orgasm she’d had a minute ago.

  She couldn’t breathe. Suffocating in need, she broke away to gasp for breath to one side.

  And then his cock was at her entrance, and he pressed into her in one thrust.

  She should have ached, but instead all she knew was the tightness that she craved with every cell. She lifted her hips, grabbed his biceps, and thrust upward. “Move,” she pleaded.

  Keegan smiled. He cupped her face, his expression much calmer than the fire she felt inside. “Let me enjoy a moment deep inside you. We’ve always been so frantic. I’ve never taken the time to feel you wrapped around me.” His fingers danced over her cheek, his eyes darting around to take in every aspect of her. “Fuck, I’m lucky.”

  He was not alone in the thought. A tight knot formed in her belly, begging for release. How many times would she feel this need in a day? It obliterated all else, dissolving the universe and shrinking it down to one thought—the need to be fucked in any position. Again and again.

  Just like they said.

  She closed her eyes, tipped her face into his palm, and kissed his skin. “Move,” she repeated. “I need the friction.”

  Finally, he relented, but not fast enough for her taste. He eased out and slowly pushed back in.

  Her frustration rose with every pass, her pussy gripping him, the muscles pleading in their own way for him to fuck her harder.

  When she couldn’t take any more, she caught him in a languid moment and bucked him off her, flipping him onto his back and climbing over him to straddle his waist.

  He chuckled, a deep sound she loved hearing.

  She wasn’t stupid enough to think she’d managed that feat on her own. He’d let her take the upper hand. He was three times her size. No way was she going to be controlling the sex in this bed with either man—at least not without their consent.

  The silent permission was all she needed. She thrust down on his cock, nearly screaming at the intensity. And then she fucked him harder, rising and lowering over and over, her breasts jiggling between them. She didn’t care. All she cared about was the friction. The fucking enormous need.

  And then she was right there. Right on the edge. No sound came out of her mouth as she crested the peak at the same time Keegan grasped her hips and held her against him, his own orgasm pulsing deep inside her.

  •●•

  Keegan lifted his gaze as his mate stepped into the kitchen. After worshipping her amazing body, he’d left her limp on the bed so he could shower and then returned to haul her ass toward the bathroom next. “Feel better, hon?” He smirked.

  She didn’t respond, her lips pursed tight as she shoved him out of the way and grabbed a plate from the counter to fill with the contents of the pan behind him. His mate was shy. He wished he could bottle that up and keep her that innocent. But it wouldn’t last long. Soon she would be more open to them. Less hesitant. Her embarrassment about nudity would be obliterated.

  And he looked forward to that too.

  He’d cooked for her. And now he took the plate from her shaking hands and filled it himself. Bacon. Eggs. Toast. He carried it to the table, gripping her hand in his to drag her along behind.

  He set her plate on the table, pulled out a chair, and settled himself in the spot.

  She started to speak, but he cut her off, tugging her onto his lap sideways and handing her a fork.

  He didn’t care that he was putty in her hands. He wanted her touching him while she ate.

  “Did you already eat?” she mumbled around the first bite, her sexy ass squirming on his lap.

  “Uh huh.” He held her still. “Stop moving, imp.” And then he nuzzled her neck. She smelled of her shampoo and the body soap she’d used in the shower. Her hair was damp, lying in ringlets down her back.

  He eyed her chest from over her shoulder. She wore a tank top. No bra. Her nipples were puckered against the fabric.

  She was going to be the death of him.

  She squirmed again. “You rattle my brain. I can’t think.”

  “It’s normal, hon.” He held her tight, his arm around her waist, brushing the underside of her breasts.

  “Don’t you need to go to work?” she asked, taking another bite.

  “Yeah.”

  “I should probably go to the shop for a while.”

  “Nope.”

  She stiffened. “What do you mean, nope?”

  “You should probably go with me today. I won’t be able to get anything done otherwise.”

  She giggled. “And you think you’ll be able to work with me in the vicinity?”

  “Nope. But at least I can pretend better. Without you, I’ll just stand around running a hand through my hair. I have no idea how Trace is managing.”

  Trace didn’t comment. Keegan was glad he’d managed to block him from his thoughts. It would be hell the first time Keegan left Melinda with Trace for the day.

  When she set her fork down, he was at war with himself. Make love to her again and be even later to the job site? Or get dressed and get out of there?

  She pushed off his lap, grabbed her plate, and headed for the sink. “What time do we need to leave?”

  “As soon as possible,” he muttered, eyeing her pert breasts as she turned around. He stood and stalked toward her.

  Melinda was a sharp woman, though. She dodged him before he reached her, ducking under his arm and running down the hall.

  With a sigh, he followed in her footsteps. He leaned on the doorframe to his bedroom and watched her bend over her suitcase and rummage for clothes. The inside of her suitcase looked like the floor of her condo, a jumbled mess. He had no idea how she found anything. But somehow she managed, and then evaded him again to duck into the bathroom.

  Before he could protest, she locked the door.

  Keegan headed for his closet to grab a polo shirt off the hanger. He whipped his T-shirt ove
r his head and traded it for the nicer work shirt. Jeans were fine for the casino site where he needed to be today.

  As he grabbed his work boots, he hesitated.

  Shit.

  Melinda was going to blow a gasket over his job today. The woman hated that casino. But she also had some sort of insight. And he needed to hear what she thought when he showed her around. He didn’t quite understand how her gift worked yet, but he figured he was about to get a crash course: Medicine Woman 101.

  He scrunched up his face, half considering letting her go to her shop after all. But that wouldn’t change anything. Maybe if he showed her around, she would see his way of thinking.

  Right.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Melinda sat on her hands as Keegan drove. The drive to Sojourn would take almost half an hour.

  “You’re nervous,” Keegan said.

  “A little. I don’t want to pick a fight with you twelve hours after mating.”

  “I appreciate that.” He glanced at her, smiling. “Look, this is my job. It’s what I do. It won’t always be this particular site, however. And I wouldn’t ask you to go with me if it weren’t important. You were the one who insisted something felt off. You should be glad I’m open minded enough to bring you with me and see what it leads to.”

  She looked out the window, watching the world go by, seeing nothing. “I am.” There was a war of emotions going on inside her. On the one hand, she was glad Keegan was trying to take her seriously. On the other hand, she didn’t want to go anywhere near the casino project or its developers.

  They hardly spoke during the rest of the drive. An amazing feat for two people who just fucked more times than she could easily count.

  She stared out the window as Keegan jumped down from his truck and rounded the hood.

  The air caught in her lungs as she looked around at all the employees working in the area. She couldn’t do this. She didn’t have the brave, fake face she needed to put on in order to pretend she was who Keegan needed her to be—his sweet loving mate. No part of her screamed sweet and loving in the vicinity of this casino.

  And she wasn’t accustomed to doing “fake.”

  He opened her door and reached for her.

  She brushed him off, crossing her arms. “Might be better if I wait here. I can get plenty of vibes from the car, and it will keep us from arguing.” Now that they’d arrived she was even more concerned about losing her cool. She didn’t think she could descend from this truck and traipse around the framework of this monstrosity without sticking her foot in her mouth.

  He furrowed his brow. “That’s crazy, Melinda. It’s going to be a long day. And it’s too hot. Besides, half the reason I brought you is because I want you with me.”

  “Why? So you can point out the merits of destroying this beautiful land all day? No thanks, Keegan.” She was being overly harsh, she knew that. It wasn’t his fault he’d been working somewhere she didn’t approve of when they met. And, he had a point. She couldn’t sit there in the truck. She wished she didn’t have to play nice. His friends were in for a rude introduction—literally. How many mates started World War III the morning after the claiming?

  Surely not many.

  And the worst part? She was horny from sitting in the cab with him for the last half hour.

  Frustrated beyond belief both sexually and emotionally. It was like a war going on in her head between her environmental stand and her libido. She couldn’t win if she tried.

  At least they were in public now, so she wouldn’t have to worry about having sex with the man she currently wanted to scream at.

  “Melinda, honey…” He set a hand on her thigh.

  “Scoot back. I can get out of a truck without help.” She immediately winced.

  He looked like he’d been verbally slapped.

  And he had. But he stepped back as she climbed down from the cab.

  She avoided his gaze, hoping they wouldn’t have to spar right then. She didn’t think she could take fighting with him. What she really wanted to do was remain mute the entire day and leave this subject for some other time.

  Apparently that wasn’t on Keegan’s agenda. In fact, he stepped into her space as he shut the truck door, pinned her to the warm metal at her back, and set a hand on both sides of her head. “Look at me, hon.”

  She lifted her gaze, pretending to squint even though the sun wasn’t directly in her eyes. She tried to look bored.

  “You’re my mate. I know we don’t see eye-to-eye on this project, but please do me a favor and keep that to yourself this morning. Try to be cordial to my men. I’ll be the laughing stock of the job if they catch wind that my woman doesn’t agree with my beliefs.”

  She narrowed her eyes further, this time for real. “Keegan, step back. You’re crowding me with your insults.”

  “Melinda.” He moaned around her name. “Hon, I’m not trying to be a jackass.”

  “Good to know how little effort it takes. At least now I know it comes naturally.” She shoved his chest, mostly to get his scent out of her face. If she breathed in one more whiff of him, she would lose all her resolve and haul him close for a kiss instead of pushing him away.

  Her heart and her mind began a battle that was painful.

  Keegan sighed loudly, muttering under his breath as she followed him to a trailer where several people were coming and going. He took her hand without a word as they stepped inside.

  “Hey.” A tall slender man about their same age lifted his gaze from a spread of blueprints. “’Bout time you showed up,” he teased, winking at Melinda.

  He stepped forward, holding out a hand. “I’m Braden. Welcome.”

  “Melinda.” She took his hand, immediately emitting a light gasp no one noticed. It happened sometimes when she touched another person. Perhaps the person was stressed about something or fake or in a bad mood. She didn’t think Braden was inherently bad, but she stared at him a moment longer after releasing his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Braden rounded the enormous table back to his spot. She watched him move, light, intent on the designs spread across the desk.

  Keegan set his hand on the small of her back. “Braden is the foreman on site.”

  Melinda nodded. “Got it. Hope there won’t be a name quiz later after I meet several people.” She tried to shake off her weird feeling.

  Braden chuckled. “As long as you remember mine, it’s all good.”

  She lifted her gaze to Keegan, playing the sweet new mate. “I need to make a few calls. Is there some place I can do that?”

  “Of course. Use my office.” He seemed relieved as he ushered her to a door on the short hallway. “Make yourself at home. It’s sparse, but let me know if you need anything.”

  She felt like one of his employees instead of the mate he’d fucked this morning.

  The second he shut the door, leaving her to herself, her spine went stiff. She glanced around the room. Something was off. Not surprising. This wasn’t an unusual feeling for her, and she’d known it would happen on this site. But it was more intense than she’d expected. There was a small window on the outside wall, and she took the few strides to it and looked out. It faced the casino.

  A shiver raced down her spine. Something was definitely off. Imminent danger made her skin crawl.

  Not for the first time, she cursed her weird ability to detect almost nothing but unease in some instances. What was she supposed to do with that? Run out there and tell everyone to get back?

  Nope. She couldn’t do anything of the sort. She needed to pull herself together and take a chill pill first. Later.

  She slumped into the uncomfortable plastic chair on the back side of the desk, shaking off her premonition as she pulled her phone from her purse.

  Sherri answered on the first ring. “Hey, boss. How’s it going?”

  “Okay, if you don’t mind spending the day at the casino site.”

  “The casino? That monstrous eyesore that’s going to block the
view of the lake and bring unwanted drunk people to Sojourn and probably run your shop out of business? That one?”

  “The very one.”

  “Pray tell, why?”

  “Apparently my mate is the building inspector on the job.”

  “No.” Sherri gasped.

  “Yes. Definitely yes. And it must be super humorous to bring me here for the day to keep an eye on me. If that man thinks he’s going to convert me to his way of thinking, he’s got bigger issues than just his warped idea of progress.” She realized her voice had risen, and she twisted to look at the door. It remained closed.

  Plus, she had another problem. Her thoughts weren’t her own. Either of her mates could prod into her mind at will. And she seriously doubted she had the skills to block them well with her emotions running as high as they were this morning.

  Her leg bounced up and down as she tried to rein in her anger.

  “Sweetie, calm down. He’s your mate. Like it or not, you’re going to have to work this out. Or at least agree to disagree.”

  She knew that. But easier said than done.

  Deep breaths.

  “I just wanted to let you know I won’t likely be in today. You guys okay without me?”

  “Of course. Take as much time as you need. It sounds like you have your work cut out for you. Take it easy on your man. Don’t rip him a new asshole the first day after mating him. You did let them claim you, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good.” Sherri giggled. “Talk to you later.” She hung up before Melinda had a chance to respond.

  She set her phone on the desk and leaned back in the horrific chair, tipping her head back and closing her eyes. More memories flooded into her mind from last night and this morning. Unbidden, but there all the same.

  The small office suffocated her. It smelled of Keegan, and the confined space made her legs bounce. She lifted her sandaled feet and balanced them against the side of the desk. Why had she chosen a sundress today?

  It was warm out. And the forecast called for higher temperatures as the day wore on. She grabbed the dress, thinking she would feel more in control if she didn’t have a denim seam between her legs rubbing against her pussy all day.