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  Evan made his way back to Ashley’s studio after he saw Samantha out and set the alarm.

  She was dipping her brush in a jar of water as he entered. “Just finished. Wanna see?”

  He stepped farther into the room and kissed her messy forehead, sure to have smeared blue and yellow paint on his face. How did the woman manage to make such a mess of herself when she worked?

  He turned toward the canvas and gasped. “Ash, that’s fantastic.” A park scene on a sunny day. A child ran through the grass, his little head tipped back to watch the kite streaming behind him. His parents sat on a bench nearby, his father’s arm around his mother as they watched with obvious love and admiration.

  It was so alive, colorful, perfect.

  “Do you like it?” She nibbled on her lower lip when he turned toward her.

  He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her in close even though he knew his clothes would be ruined. “Love it. It’s so expressive. It seems like the child is actually moving through the scene.”

  “You have to say that.” She slapped his chest with one hand. “But I’m glad you like it.”

  He backed her up until her ass hit the edge of the desk. “It seems to me I promised to paint you one of these days.”

  “Ah, that’s too bad. I don’t have any free canvases available right now.” She giggled.

  “I never intended to use a canvas.” He leaned in to take her mouth in a thorough kiss that past experience told him would leave her mind spinning. When her eyes glazed over, he knew she would be putty in his hands.

  Hardly breaking the kiss for one second, he pulled her smock over her head and dropped it on the floor. Next he tugged her T-shirt out of her jeans and whipped it away to join the paint shirt.

  Each time he settled his lips back on Ashley. She moaned into his mouth. He could taste her need. She was always so quick to bring to the edge. Not that he was any different. His cock ached. It seemed like he’d been gone a week instead of twenty-four hours.

  Evan popped the button on her jeans and lowered the zipper. The sooner he got her naked, the sooner he could make a canvas out of her body. She had no idea what ideas stirred in his mind.

  Ashley wiggled her hips as he tugged her jeans down and off. Her feet were bare underneath and as soon as she stood in nothing but her matching pink lace panties and bra he held her away from him for a moment. “You’re so gorgeous, baby.”

  Her stomach dipped as he let his gaze wander over her entire frame. “You aren’t so bad yourself,” she muttered.

  He lifted his hands to cup her breasts and then expertly popped the front clasp and whisked the lace away.

  “We never make it to the bedroom,” she teased.

  “I don’t care. Do you?” He lifted one brow and glanced at her face.

  Her cheeks were their usual aroused pink. Her eyes were starting to glaze with lust. She shifted on her feet and he knew her pussy would be wet for him. “No.” She whispered that one word with some effort.

  Evan dipped his fingers under the thin lace of her thong and slowly, deliberately removed the scrap of material until she stood completely bare to him.

  “You’re always dressed and I’m always naked,” she mumbled. She grabbed his T-shirt and pulled it over his head.

  When she reached for his fly, he stopped her, wrapping his hand around hers and pulling it up to his chest. “Not ready for that yet. I can’t go slow when you let my dick out. It’s too hard.”

  She laughed as his unintentional pun. “Isn’t that the idea? And who said anything about going slow?”

  He tapped her nose. “I did.” He lifted her onto the desk with both hands at her waist. It was a huge surface. The mahogany would be protected from what he had in mind by the glass top covering the wood. “Lie back, baby.” He watched as she gingerly lay against the cold surface, flinching as the glass touched her skin.

  “What…?”

  He set a finger on her lips. “No talking. Just feel.” He turned to the paint pallet behind him and grabbed a brush from the jar next to the bright colors.

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Shh,” he admonished, trying to arrange his face in a stern look and sure he failed miserably. “I said I was going to paint you.”

  He dipped the brush in the pink and held it over her navel. With the tip angled straight down, he waited, watching the drop of paint as it collected at the very end of the brush. Ashley flinched.

  “Hold still, baby. Don’t move.”

  She did as he said, but she screamed when the drip finally broke off and landed in her belly button. It was so erotic the way it affected her even though she’d known what was coming.

  “Lift your arms over your head.” He watched her comply with his wishes. Her shaky hands drifted up above her and landed in the spray of her curls where they lay spread against the desk.

  Evan dipped his brush into the drop of paint in her navel and painted a spiral out from the center.

  Her stomach hollowed as he worked, and her head rocked back and forth. She squirmed, but not enough for him to admonish her yet.

  Loving the look of the deep pink against her skin, he reached for more. This time he started under one breast, slowly swirling a circle of rose around the entire globe, working his way painstakingly toward her nipple.

  “Evan…” She gasped as he teased the areola, not quite touching the tip. Instead of giving her any satisfaction there, he gathered more of the acrylic and switched to the other breast. Even without touching the gorgeous tips, they stood more erect than he’d ever seen them. She was the sexiest creature alive.

  Her arousal filled the room, her scent making him breathe through his mouth to avoid coming in his pants. He could still taste her on his tongue, but it wasn’t as intense. He licked his lips, drawing in the remainder of her flavor from their kiss.

  Finally he flicked the soft bristles directly over her nipple. Ashley screeched and bucked her chest. He repeated the action on the other side and then switched back and forth, coating both nipples until all he could see was dark pink paint, made deeper by the rosy color of her areolas underneath. The tips stood tight and firm. He wanted to suck them into his mouth, but not now. Now was for creating his masterpiece.

  “Spread your legs, Ash.” He dragged the brush in gentle stroked down her thigh as he spoke. “Open for me, baby. I bet this pink will look lovely next to your pussy.”

  Ashley moaned. Her knees shook as she parted them. The desk wasn’t long enough to accommodate her entire body, so her feet remained settled against the glass only a few inches from her center. When she splayed her legs, she opened like a butterfly to his gaze.

  She was already so wet, he could see her moisture running down toward her rear hole. Had she ever been taken there? He hoped not. He wanted that tight bud for himself. If it was a trigger for her, he would never force the issue, but he prayed she hadn’t been violated in that way. Later. This sexual escapade of theirs was just beginning. They had their whole lives to experience everything they could.

  Evan painted a stripe down the inside of both thighs, watching her flinch with each stroke of the brush. He loved the way she remained as still as she did. Even though she thrashed about, her movement was marginal and expected.

  He painted the dip behind her knees next, making her lift and lower the butterfly wings of her legs. “Ah ah ah. Stay still. Your canvases don’t move around while you work, do they?”

  He chuckled and took a moment to watch her face. He adjusted his cock and tried to ignore the demands it screamed in aggravation. The fellow could wait. He was busy.

  Another dip into the pink paint and Evan traced a half moon around her pussy on her thighs. He didn’t dip too close, knowing she would come the instant he touched her clit. He wanted her to writhe first.

  “Evan… God…”

  He grinned and painted her outer lips, tiny strokes, just the tip of the brush barely touching her skin. Her pussy grew a deeper pink by itself from the blood that rushe
d to the surface. He didn’t need more paint. The brush strokes alone drove her crazy.

  With one hand, he peeled her outer petals apart until he could see her glistening entrance. She panted heavily as he stroked his brush against the sides of her channel. And then he released her.

  She heaved for air. “Evan, please…”

  “What, baby?” He reached for more paint.

  “I need to come so bad. Please.”

  “Soon. Not yet. I’m not done.”

  She groaned, her head flopping to one side. Her fingers were balled into tight fists above her head. It was a wonder she was able to hold this position.

  Evan let the next drip of paint hover over the hood of her clit. She wasn’t looking this time so when the tiny splash finally made contact, she bucked her hips and gasped. “Evan,” she screamed.

  He set a hand on her lower belly to steady her back against the desk and then circled the paint around her nub as the little tip emerged from the hood all by itself, engorged beyond the norm.

  It seemed to pulse in front of him and the dark tip of it actually bobbed as he teased her to within a millimeter of direct contact, his expert strokes circling the tiny nub of need mercilessly.

  Finally, he put her out of her misery, brushing firmly right against her clit.

  She moaned and squirmed, but he held the brush directly on the sensitive center of her arousal. He released her belly with his other hand and switched the hand holding the brush so he could drag his fingers through her wet folds.

  She stiffened immediately, her legs rigid in their splayed position, her ass lifted off the desk. The second he pushed two fingers into her she shattered. Her entire body participated in the orgasm, shaking and convulsing as though much more than her pussy were involved.

  As the tremors subsided, her hands flew down and pushed the brush from her clit. “Too much,” she mumbled.

  Evan set the brush aside and eased his fingers from inside her, continuing to sooth her skin as she regained her breath. “That was amazing,” he said. “Thank you.”

  She chuckled, deeper than her usual laugh. “Thank me?”

  “Yep, I’ll never tire of watching you come. It humbles me.”

  “It makes me crave your cock when you do that. It feels so good, but it isn’t enough.” She squirmed around to see him better. “Why are you still wearing your jeans?”

  He released her folds, kicked off his shoes, and shrugged his pants off, and then lowered his underwear to the ground. “What jeans?” He leaned down to tug off his socks and then stood completely bared to her gaze.

  “How do you stay so tight and firm?” she asked and she pulled her languid body upright. She wasn’t looking at his crotch. Her gaze wandered his shoulders and chest.

  He didn’t point out her mixed message. “I work out.”

  “When? I never see you.”

  “I’ve been to every gym in the country while traveling.” He grinned as he took her into his embrace, her legs straddling him as she scooted to the edge of the desk. “And I run.” He let his gaze land on hers.

  “I haven’t seen you run.”

  “I don’t do it very often in human form.” He brushed her hair from her face. “I have a quiet spot I like to go to and shift,” he added, watching her reaction.

  “Oh, right. That.” She bit her lip and tried to kiss him, but he held her back.

  “Soon, Ash. I want you to run free with me.”

  She nodded. “Soon.” She wouldn’t make eye contact this time. She still insisted she wasn’t ready. He knew she felt very safe when she was with him, so he doubted her reluctance had as much to do with Damon still being on the loose as with her fear that after so many years she wouldn’t be able to shift.

  It was rare for a wolf to go so long without shifting, but it wasn’t unheard of. And she was young. He knew if he got her over her mental hurdles, she’d be fine. It would be so freeing for her to shift and let herself go.

  But, that was for later. Right now he needed to be inside her. And without another word, he pushed himself into her warmth.

  She squeezed him to her as though she needed the most contact she could get with his body. He understood completely.

  The desk was the right height for him to stand and take her. He held her thighs as he pushed into her again and again, keeping her from scooting back against the slick surface.

  “Look at us.” He angled his gaze down to where they connected. Paint smeared both of their chests and thighs.

  “That’s hot.” She reached between them and stroked her clit while he held on to her. She’d never been that bold before, and he was glad to see her blossoming and taking the initiative to ensure she got what she needed.

  “Does that feel good, baby?”

  “So good…” She tipped her head back, making her chest arch. She was a vision with her swan neck extended and her dainty fingers stroking herself perfectly. “Harder,” she demanded.

  Evan closed his eyes and concentrated on her wishes. He increased the pace and luxuriated in her tightness. It was hard to hold on. They were both so slippery.

  Ashley scooted forward several times. Finally she went stiff and he opened his eyes to find her pinching her clit between her fingers. Every time she came, it pushed him over the edge. He couldn’t swallow past the love he felt for her as his orgasm swept through him, forcing itself against the end of her passage.

  She released her clit and ran her hands up his painted chest, smearing the pink over his shoulders and down his back. “Pink is good on you.” She giggled as he caught his breath.

  He didn’t want to pull out of her. If he could, he’d stay inside her warmth forever.

  But the reality was, they were a mess.

  In order to cut down on the cleanup, he heaved her off the desk. “Wrap your legs around me and hold on.” Still embedded inside her, he padded down the hall, into the master bedroom, and straight for the bath. He flipped on the shower with one hand and leaned her back against the shower door while he waited for the water to heat.

  He gazed into her eyes, deep green pools of love. Before he opened the shower and lost the moment, he nuzzled her neck and inhaled the scent of their lovemaking mixed with the distinct smell of acrylics. He never wanted to forget this moment.

  •●•

  Damon slammed the last of his things into his bag and looked around the ragged hellhole he’d been living in for the last week. His life was a wreck. Ruined by whoever ran the fucking Romulus.

  He’d given up on them and their promises. Perhaps they would be glad for him to go rogue so they didn’t have to bother with him anymore.

  Were there others like him out there? Other shifters in the same predicament who’d fallen for the empty promises of home, hearth, and happiness from these bastards?

  He may never know, but at this point he was too tired to continue to care.

  He was going it alone. He’d already smashed the cell phone and thrown the pieces into the toilet. The phone number to the Romulus would forever be burned into his head, but those fuckers had no way to get ahold of him.

  Damon had no idea what he would do first, but he had every intention of finding a giant vacant stretch of wooded land in the Midwest somewhere and spending a great deal of time in wolf form. Hell, maybe forever. He could shift and reclaim his life as a wolf. It would be easier than trying to find work and sustain himself in human form.

  He shook his head as he heaved his duffle off the bed. Nope. That would be too easy. Besides, he had a grudge to avenge. No matter what else had happened and under what pretenses, that bitch Ashley started all his problems with her unwillingness to comply as a good mate should.

  Who the fuck did she think she was denying she was his mate and torturing him with her whining for all those years? She should have known her place, drugs or no drugs, Romulus or not. Neither of those factors should have played a role in her job as his mate.

  She’d failed him. And she would pay.

  As soon
as he could get his feet under him and gather his wits, he would find that bitch and make her sorry she’d ever left him…

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Two months later…

  Ashley stood at the doorway to Evan’s office, watching him work. She leaned against the frame and crossed her legs. She thought the smell of coffee wafting up from the mug in her hands would lure him to look up, but he was so intent on his research he didn’t budge.

  His shoulders must hurt from sitting like that for so long, peering over documents or staring into the computer.

  She was on break between classes and planning to take a full load the next semester. She intended to take several classes at the local campus, if she could build up the nerve. Her counselor was impressed with her progress. She’d even gone so far as to tell Ashley she hadn’t seen anyone in her sort of predicament come around so fast.

  Ashley knew she owed every step toward freedom to Evan.

  She cleared her throat and waited. Finally he glanced up. A smile spread across his face, erasing the furrow in his brow. “Hi, baby.” He motioned her forward. When she reached his side and handed him the mug, he pulled her into his lap. “I’m sorry I’ve been so reoccupied lately.”

  “Are you close? Have you found more of the women?” She knew a little about his work, not everything, but enough to grasp the seriousness of the job.

  “Eleven so far. We are hoping for a few more before we move in.”

  “And by ‘we’ you mean…?”

  “The hired professionals. Not me.” He kissed her lips. “Ready to go?”

  She narrowed her gaze at him. “I suppose, but it would be nice if you told me where we’re going.” Surprises weren’t her favorite and he’d given her very few details about his plans for today. The most she’d gotten from him was it didn’t matter what she wore and they’d be taking the car. That wasn’t much.

  “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it?” He stood, depositing her on the ground and taking her hand. He grabbed the coffee with his free hand and tugged her from the room.