Lindsey's Wolves Read online

  The episode was so erotic, a book could have been written about that kiss alone. Her entire body trembling with need, she’d gripped his forearms until her nails nearly dug into the skin. After what seemed like an eternity, he’d gradually pulled away, raining kisses along her cheeks before settling his forehead against hers.

  “Mañana entonces, cariña? Until tomorrow?”

  Why did his words in Spanish sound so much more lyrical? Those beautiful words meant “until tomorrow?”

  “Yes.” It was all she’d been able to articulate at the time, and she hadn’t improved much since then.

  If only he would kiss her like that again…

  And please, God, let me enjoy this without enduring flashbacks from my childhood.

  She deserved it. It was time to move on.

  *

  Alejandro gritted his teeth all during the short drive to the restaurant. Please, if there is a God, make this evening perfect.

  He’d driven over to the quaint corner location earlier in the day, seen the inside firsthand, and made a reservation. It had the appeal of home and made him anxious to get a taste of the delicious aromas floating among the lunch crowd.

  Home.

  He actually felt the pangs of missing his family today for the first time in months. He’d come to America in the early spring on a whim. His cousins had been begging him for years to join them in Washington. The timing couldn’t have been better. Two of his cousins, Mariam and Sean, had married in the last year and moved farther away from the farm. The family was a bit shorthanded, and their call had coincided perfectly with Alex’s recent ugly breakup. Not to mention a restless need for a change of scenery.

  Alejandro was settled. Happy. Loving the change. And living in the sprawling ranch home owned by his mother’s brother had proven to shake any doubts he’d had before leaving the vineyard about living with family. The house was enormous and there was plenty of privacy. At twenty-eight, Alejandro hadn’t looked forward to the possibility that there’d be restrictions, rules, questions.

  His mind was at ease. He’d slid right into Sean’s old quarters and was enjoying himself immensely.

  However, he’d been completely unprepared to run literally straight into the woman he would spend the rest of his life with during a quick stop at the grocery yesterday to grab a few items for his Aunt Stacy. The poor woman hadn’t said a word when Alex had returned three hours later, empty handed, preoccupied, and begging forgiveness when he saw her face.

  The awaited flour and eggs were forgotten, the “fried” chicken baked, and his aunt, without asking a single question of her normally extremely thoughtful and considerate nephew, had spent the evening biting her tongue, a sparkle in her eye that expressed her amusement at his floundering actions.

  The cause of this distraction now sat next to him with a slight smile curving up the corners of her luscious pink lips. She’d let him grasp her hand when he’d climbed into his truck beside her and had even scooted his direction across the bench seat, as much as the seat belt would allow.

  Lazily drawing circles across her palm with his thumb was now driving him mad. Her skin was so soft and warm, her grip on his fingers making him long to have her grip other parts of his body with the same passion.

  Again he prayed to a god he’d suddenly found himself taking a keener interest in. Please, just help her understand.

  Alex knew he’d eventually have to confront her. She was his mate and that was fantastic. But … she was human. She had no idea what was about to happen to turn her life upside down.

  He had no idea when he might go about telling her the details of the unimaginable world he would open up to her, but it would have to be soon. He didn’t know how many days he could go with cold showers and the constant need to adjust his cock in his pants. Even masturbating twice last night after he’d excused himself from the family had done nothing to ease his discomfort. He was still hard nearly twenty-four hours later.

  “So, why have you never been to this restaurant before, Alejandro?” When she spoke his name, with an accent that sounded almost precisely like a native of his country, it made him almost groan out loud with visions of her screaming the word in passion as she came. And she would. He’d make sure of that.

  “I have been so busy since I got here in the spring, I guess I just haven’t had the chance. My cousins have eaten there and they tell me the menu is authentic and delicious. I hope they are correct. It’s really tough to find the cuisine of España replicated in the States. A rare delicacy.”

  “I’m sure it will be wonderful.” When she smiled at him, one sweet dimple exploded on each cheek, begging him to run his tongue through the indention. He glanced her way to catch this expression, wishing he could stare at her forever without running off the road.

  Two more miles and then you can sit across from her at the table and look to your heart’s content.

  He’d purposefully selected a specific corner table when he’d been there earlier, slightly out of the way where they’d have some privacy to get to know each other.

  Although, he felt like he’d known her for years after last night. They’d practically spoken on top of each other the entire time, laughing and joking about their different life experiences.

  It was with great relief that Alejandro pulled into a parking spot and turned to stare into those gorgeous brown eyes that hypnotized him with their warmth.

  He practically flung himself around the front end of the truck to reach her side, bereft of the feel of her soft fingers in his.

  As she stepped from the car, he caught a significant glimpse of the V between her legs. Her short dress couldn’t hide much as she was forced to put one foot down and then the other. She reached to adjust the front, even tugged the fabric with both hands to more concisely cover herself before raising her face back to stare into his eyes. She was clearly unaccustomed to dressing in such a short skirt. Her cheeks were flushed. Was she embarrassed? Did she feel self-conscious about what he might have seen between her legs during the brief exit?

  She’d have to get over that fast, but the idea of her being shy about her body made him almost tremble with the anticipation of ridding her of any preconceived notions she may have acquired about sex in her twenty-two years. Why did the idea of her initial timidity only make him harder?

  “Shall we?” As soon as she’d adjusted her dress to her satisfaction, Alex once again grasped her hand and guided her toward the entrance.

  “It’s lovely. I don’t know why I haven’t been here before myself. Maybe it’s fate that we are to experience it for the first time together.” Lindsey sucked in a breath on the end of that sentence, and he looked at her with a smile. She shivered beneath his touch, turning her face toward the ground.

  Alex pulled her close as they reached the door, wrapped his arms around her to stave off the chill she’d experienced, as though caused by the evening air, and kissed the top of her head. “I’m certain you are correct, cariña.”

  Her hair smelled of the floral shampoo he would never forget from yesterday. The soft strands glided across his lips as he pulled reluctantly away, wishing for all the world they weren’t in public, it wasn’t their first official date, and he didn’t have to spend the next week going through the formalities dictated by human society to court and woo this woman before he could divest her of her clothes and delve into all her glorious wonder.

  Would the bronze skin of her arms and legs extend to her entire body? Was it natural? Or did she have tan lines? Perhaps tiny straps of a string bikini would extend across her shoulders and reveal smooth white breasts that would contrast with ripe pink nipples.

  Again, he gritted his teeth as he guided her through the front door.

  “Good evening, Señor Ramos. We have your table ready. Right this way.”

  “How did they…?”

  “I came by earlier to make a reservation. So we wouldn’t have to wait,” he explained.

  “How thoughtful.” She beamed at him.

  “¿Está bién, Señor?” the maître de questioned, his eyebrows raised.

  “Is this okay?” Alejandro turned to Lindsey.

  “Of course. It’s wonderful.”

  “Perfecto, gracias,” he said to the polite man.

  He released the breath he’d been holding as she eased into her chair. He didn’t know why he’d been holding his breath. She didn’t seem the type who would have complained about the location of the table.

  He just wanted everything to be … perfect.

  And it was panning out that way.

  The table was small, which had attracted Alejandro right away. He wanted to be able to touch her across the tablecloth. Hoped to share morsels of food. Hell, he wanted to be able to kiss her if he desired, lick dabs of garlic and olive oil from her lips. He wouldn’t, of course, but he wanted the possibility to exist nonetheless.

  “The ambience is so … romantic,” she stated, peering around the room. “They even have a little band wandering around. What do you call that?”

  “Mariachi. They’ll meander from table to table during the evening. It’s actually a Mexican tradition, but fits in perfect here.”

  She was right, of course. He couldn’t have chosen better, assuming the food was as good as the service and atmosphere. Dim lighting interspersed with candles provided the perfect setting for the seduction he had planned.

  By the end of the evening, he wanted this woman to be so comfortable with him she wouldn’t balk at seeing him every opportunity they had. He knew it wasn’t customary in the U.S. for new couples to see each other so frequently, among humans that is. But lupines knew in an instant when they met their mate, and Alejandro was as warm-blooded as any American wolf when it came to claiming his woman. He wanted her fast, soon, often, and aggressively.

  Now he just had to convince her.

  “Their music is wonderful.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He reached across the table and took both her hands in his. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

  “I believe you did, but thank you.” A pink blush once again crawled across her cheeks, making Alex wonder if he’d see that same flush across her breasts in the near future. Would her skin blotch in the telltale sign of a satisfied woman after she orgasmed?

  Releasing only one hand, he angled a menu in front of her and then opened one for himself.

  Five seconds went by before she looked back up at him. “I’d love for you to just order for both of us, if you don’t mind. I have no idea what anything is and I bet you have excellent taste in food.” She bit her lower lip between her teeth and grinned.

  “I’d be honored.” Alejandro couldn’t keep himself from reaching up and running the pad of his thumb along her bottom lip, gently releasing it from the clutches of her perfect straight white teeth. “If you don’t have any preferences, I’ll order an assortment of tapas to start. That’ll give you a smattering of foods to explore.”

  “Tapas?”

  “They’re kind of like what you call appetizers, only smaller. Just a few bites on a small plate. Extremely common and popular in Spain.”

  “Sounds heavenly.”

  “Is there anything you don’t like?” He gazed into her deep brown eyes, hoping she wasn’t a picky eater. Spaniards loved their food with a passion unmatched in other countries.

  “Not at all. I eat everything.”

  A shadow fell over them as the waiter approached.

  “Good evening. I’m Raúl. I’ll be your server tonight. Can I interest you in some wine?” The waiter had arrived on the tail end of their conversation as though planned. “We have a wonderful house vino from Rueda.”

  He had yet to question Lindsey about her preferences when it came to wine. Again, the stars would be so very nicely aligned if this seemingly perfect mate of his also enjoyed the vino rojo of his home country. “Do you like red wine, Lindsey?”

  “Sometimes. Let’s try it.” She may have been a bit reserved about the feelings she felt slamming her concerning having met him only yesterday, but he’d have to give her credit for being adventurous. She wasn’t backing down.

  “Dos vasos, por favor. Or better yet, just bring us a bottle.” He didn’t want to have to wave someone down for more wine if they found themselves enjoying the delicious flavors of Castilla y León.

  “So, tell me more about your family. What made you decide to leave Spain?”

  “Pretty simple, really. Our families are very close. Ever since I was a small child we took turns every other year visiting each other. One year they came to La Rioja and the next we came here. I’ve always found the dairy life intriguing. Acres of open land. Even though this is the U.S., my aunt and uncle have always lived a life similar to that in España—as laid back as you can get in this country.” He grinned. “When two of my four cousins married and moved away, they needed some extra help. It was a great opportunity for me.”

  “You must be a wine snob.” She giggled when she spoke, and he loved the sound of her voice traveling across the table and tempting his libido. “You didn’t tell the waiter you knew his selections better than he does or even look at the menu.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘snob’ as you say, but I do know something about wine and grapes. You can’t go wrong with a nice bottle of red from Rueda.” He grasped the hand he had released earlier and resumed his gentle grip, trying to keep it light and not scare her off. What he really wanted to do was pull her around the table, situate her straddling his lap, and kiss her senseless while reaching between their bodies to finger her to orgasm right here in the restaurant. The burning need to have her, naked and at his mercy, would not remain simmering on the surface. It kept rearing its head and making him squirm with as little notice as possible beneath the maroon tablecloth, attempting repeatedly to adjust his growing hard-on.

  Down, fella.

  “I haven’t been much of a wine drinker as of yet. I hear it’s an acquired taste.”

  “Definitely. I’ll be honored to guide you on the journey. You’re with the right man.” That was an understatement. He was without a doubt the only man she’d ever be with for the rest of her life, and he’d most assuredly be “guiding” her on so many “journeys” in the next few weeks, her head would be swimming. Hopefully in sexual satisfaction.

  How had he gotten so lucky?

  He hadn’t ever quite pictured himself ending up with an American woman, but fate had a way of dropping the unexpected right in one’s lap at the most surprising moments.

  Fate had done well by him in the last twenty-seven hours.

  “So, where is your vineyard in Spain? Tell me about it.”

  “It’s in La Rioja, in the North. Running a vineyard is a year-round experience. There is always a new step involved in the making of wine. Just when you get bored of watching grapes grow, it’s time to harvest them and start the winemaking process.” He smiled across the table at the oversimplification he’d just described in about two sentences. He wanted to know more about Lindsey. Everything about her.

  “What do your parents do? You said you’re from Seattle?”

  “Yes. I’m from Seattle, but my parents aren’t living.” She looked down at the table as she said the words.

  “I’m so sorry, cariña.” Alex’s heart squeezed as she spoke the words. He couldn’t imagine life without his parents, his huge extended family. It saddened him to think of her, anyone really, alone in this world.

  He squeezed her hands tightly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Could we not? It’s a long story. Some other time?”

  “Of course, mi alma.” No sense spoiling the evening with sadness. He wanted to know everything about her and grieved for her loss, but her eyes were downcast. Now was not the time or place.

  Alejandro had to let go of Lindsey a moment later when Raúl returned with their wine. With efficient precision, he presented the bottle and then removed the cork and poured a splash of deep red heaven for Alejandro to sample. After a long inhale with his nose inside the wide glass, he took a quick sip and declared the wine excellent.

  The waiter poured them each a glass. “Can I interest you in some tapas to start off?”

  “Actually, we may order so many tapas we won’t have room for a meal.” Alejandro glanced at the menu and quickly made a few selections. “Let’s start with solomillo al ajillo, tortilla española, calamari, y ensalada de papas rusas.”

  Raúl memorized the order and nodded before heading for the kitchen.

  “I have no idea what you ordered, but if it tastes half as good as it sounds, I’ll be in love.” Her gaze was back on his, the sorrow of a moment ago forgotten.

  “I ordered the most common things you might find in a tapas bar in Spain. It’ll give you a sampling. You’ll love it.” He grabbed her hand again. He couldn’t seem to keep himself from maintaining contact. “Try the wine.”

  He watched in anticipation while she sniffed and then sampled the dark red wine. “Mmm, it could grow on me.” She smiled and took another drink.

  “You’ll love it paired with some cheese and jamón serano, a Spanish ham. We’ll order that next.”

  “I’ll be stuffed!”

  “I don’t like my dates to end the evening hungry.” Not that he had any intention of ever having another date. Well, with anyone but her.

  Diós mío, she is so gorgeous.

  Her cheeks began to glow, probably from the influence of the wine she was sipping. It was a beautiful look on her, but he didn’t want her drunk either. “That wine is strong. Be careful not to drink too much before the meal. I’ll be … how do you say? Scraping you off the floor?”

  Lindsey laughed and set her glass down. “That would be embarrassing. I’ll try to avoid it.” Her eyes nearly danced. She seems relaxed. Happy. Thank God. Now if he could just win her over completely with the food of his home country, he’d be a satisfied man.

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