Tarnished Read online

  She giggled, a nervous sound that sobered her when she heard it.

  Drake pulled her shirt over her head and stared down at her lace bra. He traced the edge along the center with one finger until he dipped the digit inside and flicked her nipple. “Take this off,” he muttered. “I want to see you in the light of day.”

  She leaned up on her elbows and reached behind her to flick the hook. The lace fell away from her instantly, and she shrugged out of the straps. Flopping back against the sheet, she felt the chill of the air wafting over her skin.

  “So smooth.” He traced a line around her chest as though connecting the numbers on a dot to dot. She had no idea where he would trail next. Each line was a surprise.

  As he clasped one globe in his hand, he dipped his head to suck the other nipple into his mouth. She moaned, remembering this feeling from last night. Wetness pooled in her panties, and she squirmed to press her pussy against the seam of her jean shorts.

  Drake released her breasts, straddled her body, and hovered over her. She sucked her lower lip into her mouth as she watched his cock bob above her waist. A drop of moisture eased from the tip and landed on her bare stomach.

  When he stroked himself, she gasped. He was so gorgeous and confident. She wanted that strength inside her like a drug. She’d never needed anything so badly before.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered.

  “Are you sure?” He froze, squeezing the shaft near the tip.

  “Positive. I need you inside me.” She shivered when she spoke the words. Fear crawled under her skin.

  Drake scooted down her body, popped the button on her shorts, and dragged the zipper down. It sounded loud in the silent room. Definitive.

  She lifted her torso as he tugged the denim and lace together over her ass and down her legs. When he tossed them aside, he glanced at her face. “You can still say no at any time, you know. Nothing is mandatory. Just because we start this process doesn’t mean you have to be committed to going all the way, Kenzie.”

  How did he know those were the exact words she needed to hear?

  She swallowed and nodded at him. Moisture pooled in her eyes at his sensitivity to her needs and fear, but she didn’t let the tears fall.

  For moments, he sat beside her and danced his fingers over her skin. Gentle, dainty touches that reached into her soul and made her crave more. Why didn’t he reach between her legs?

  “So gorgeous, baby. I love your skin.”

  She stared at his face and then down at his fingers where they trailed paths around her nipples again. With each passing minute, she needed him more. And she began to realize his intentions. “Please, Drake…”

  “I’m getting there. I want to go slow. We aren’t in a race here.”

  It seemed like a marathon to her. She clenched her butt cheeks to try to keep from squirming. The friction would intensify the need between her legs.

  Finally, he moved down to her thighs, just the tips of his fingers driving her insane. He drew circles on her skin, inching up and up until he was so close to the juncture of her thighs.

  She gripped the sheet again with both hands. She couldn’t touch him because she didn’t have enough brain cells to communicate with her arms. All her energy was focused on her pussy.

  When he crawled down the bed, her eyes shot open at the loss of contact.

  “Spread your legs for me, Kenzie. I want to see you.”

  She shook, her entire body in tremors, but she did as he said, opening her legs several inches.

  It wasn’t enough for Drake, apparently. He pressed her knees apart with both hands and climbed between her legs. She gritted her teeth as he let his gaze land between her legs and then shuffled lower until he lay on his chest between her splayed thighs, his face inches from her sex.

  What the hell? Her exposure level amped up ten notches as he stared at her most private parts. Even if it had been dark, she’d have gasped, but it was the middle of the day.

  She squirmed backward to give herself some distance, even though she realized she was hornier than ever under his gaze.

  “Don’t.” He set a hand on her thigh. “I want to look at you.”

  She froze. Her need to please him overshadowed her need to squeeze her legs together against his perusal. Her knees shook as he pressed them open wider. “Drake, I…”

  “You’re so fucking sexy. I love this.” He touched her mound. “You shave.”

  She flinched when his finger tapped her pussy. She couldn’t form the words to respond to his comment. Her sisters shaved. They told her it felt good to be smooth. So, she’d done it too. They’d been right.

  Oh… God… She tipped her head back when he stroked a finger through her lower lips, drawing out the moisture pooling between them.

  Instinct drew her knees together, but Drake caught them and pressed them open.

  “Drake—”

  She was cut off when his tongue landed on her pussy and dragged up through her arousal and over her clit in one long swoop. “Delicious.”

  She grabbed his head with both hands, pushing him away from her center. Holy shit. She couldn’t think with him licking her pussy.

  He did it again. And again. Until she needed to come so bad she bit her lip.

  Just when she was about to beg for relief, he sucked her clit into his mouth and flicked his tongue over the swollen nub rapidly.

  Fuck. She released his head, partially because she couldn’t hold on to him any longer and partially because she didn’t want him to stop.

  Her heart beat rapidly. She flung one arm over her eyes and concentrated on the intense sensations in her pussy. She squeezed the muscles inside her channel, grasping at nothing and wishing he would fuck her senseless.

  She also wanted him to keep doing whatever magical thing he did with his tongue. If he never stopped that, she’d be a happy woman.

  Her torso shot off the bed when he pressed two fingers inside her without warning. He didn’t relent. Instead, he rocked with her up into the air, not releasing the suction on her clit.

  His fingers dragged over a spot inside her that must have been her G-spot.

  Heaving for air, she tensed, her entire body rigid and her pussy clasping around Drake’s fingers. She came. So much harder than she had this morning. That had been a teaser. This was the real thing.

  On and on she milked his fingers, feeling the grasp of her pussy and the throbbing of her clit. When the feelings finally subsided, she relaxed into the mattress, still jerking involuntarily as the aftershocks racked her body.

  Drake licked one long line across her pussy and lifted his gaze as she stared at the juncture where he’d taken up residence.

  She flushed, feeling the heat rise across her cheeks. She’d just come—hard—on his face.

  “That was so beautiful, baby.” He stroked her thigh. “I’ll never tire of watching you come. It’s so raw. I love how you lose yourself in the pleasure and enter into your own little world.”

  She flushed deeper, the heat bringing sweat to her brow.

  His words made her self-conscious and raised her arousal once again at the same time.

  Drake climbed up her body until he rested on top of her. He held his chest up with his elbows, and his cock rested against her pussy.

  God, she wanted him. Could she do it? Now? Let him take her, claim her, mate her? It was forever. There was no going back. What if she hated sex? Would he still want her if she didn’t enjoy the act?

  Good grief, Kenz. Do you really think that’s a possibility after that orgasm? You know you’re going to lose your mind when he gets inside you. Just because other people don’t like having sex doesn’t mean you won’t. It might be marvelous. Oh, who was she kidding? It was going to be so fantastic she’d want to do it again and again. And she couldn’t wait another second.

  In fact, she detested that she’d ever been so tarnished where it came to sex. It hadn’t been her fault. She’d been unduly influenced. Had she become misinformed by
what she’d witnessed? Four years she’d feared this day. And now she doubted all the reasons why.

  Drake adored her. He’d done nothing to tarnish that reputation. And she wanted him more than she wanted her next breath.

  “What are you thinking so hard about, Kenz?” he whispered, nibbling across her chest and up her neck.

  “I want you to claim me. Now, Drake. Do it now.” She didn’t want to lose her resolve.

  He lifted his head and narrowed his gaze at her. His cock pulsed against her pussy. “Are you sure? I don’t want to rush you. This is for life. There’s no going back. Once I claim you, you’re mine. Forever. Do you understand that?”

  She nodded.

  “Say it out loud again.” He smiled. “I want to hear it.”

  “Claim me, Drake Spencer. I can’t stand not belonging to you for another minute.” Did she just say belonging? She was so screwed. Literally.

  Drake reached between their bodies with one hand and held himself aloft with the other. He positioned his cock at her entrance and rubbed the tip through her wetness. “It’s gonna hurt just a bit at first, baby. Look at me…” He waited for her gaze to land on his. “I’ll go slow. Tell me when to stop. I don’t want to hurt you. It will only last a moment, and then you’ll feel so good as your pussy stretches around me.” His arm shook with the effort to hold himself off her.

  “Shut up, Drake. Do it,” she demanded.

  She’d heard all that before from other girls. She didn’t need an anatomy lesson right now. She needed his cock inside her pussy. Now.

  He grinned and pushed just the tip inside before he eased back out. On the next pass, he went a fraction farther, his eyes glazing over. Again, and he squeezed his eyes shut and pursed his lips as though in pain. She imagined it was pleasure instead, or his concentration to avoid pressing into her too fast.

  On the next entrance, she lifted her ass off the bed just as he entered her, impaling him in one thrust. She sucked in a deep breath at the pressure. Slow hadn’t been her desire, but holy fuck, he was huge.

  Remaining fully seated, Drake lowered his body to the bed as she did and held steady. He brushed loose hair from her face and kissed her lips. “Baby. God. You okay?”

  “Yes,” she mouthed. Had he heard her?

  “So tight. So fucking tight. Jesus.” His jaw was rigid.

  She gripped his biceps and squeezed as she concentrated on the pressure, the delicious feeling of being filled by him. “Move,” she finally whispered when she needed more.

  Slowly, as though she were a delicate, blown-glass ship, he eased out of her and then back in. When he did it again, she felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach. It drove her to move with him, rock up when he came down. The rhythm seemed so natural, as though rehearsed.

  And the pressure inside her built, needing to explode. The detonation would be so welcome. She just needed a little more … something. Desperately.

  When Drake reached between their bodies and pinched her clit, she tensed. She couldn’t lift into him any longer. Too many brain cells needed. All of them were busy. Dedicated to the delicious stretch of her pussy and the pressure against her clit.

  “Come, baby. Again. Come for me, so I can watch you this first time before I explode.”

  She shattered before he could finish his sentence. And it felt so fucking good she never wanted it to end. That tight pressure in her pussy yielded to contractions. She milked his cock, unable to watch his face. Even if she’d stared straight into his eyes, she wouldn’t have been able to see. Her vision was clouded.

  She moaned so loud, she even heard herself through her blocked ears that seemed to be underwater. The pulsing went on for long moments before she floated back to earth. Drake held steady, deep inside her throughout. When she finally wafted back toward earth, he moved again, thrusting harder, faster. He pounded into her in a manner so wild, she finally understood what all the hype was about.

  The connection with him was mind-boggling. She seemed to be inside his head as he finally came, pausing deep inside her, his cock pulsing streams of cum into her womb.

  It felt like home.

  If she died now, it would have all been worth it.

  And she never wanted to leave this place again.

  Home.

  Chapter Eight

  Hours later, Drake lay draped across his mate’s body, staring at her face as she slept. He caressed her skin, brushing strands of her curls away from her temple.

  With his leg flung over one of hers and the sheet tangled between them, he mused that they looked like they were posing for an ancient nude statue. Aphrodite. And her Adonis.

  She slept deeply. He smiled. He loved her. There was no doubt. He’d known he loved her yesterday, but that feeling went even deeper after what she’d given him and how hard he’d known it had been for her to do.

  He needed her again. His cock ached. He’d slept only minutes. He wasn’t sorry, though, because he’d relished his ability to lie and stare at her while she slept. The sun was still high in the sky. It was approaching dinner time. He didn’t care if he never ate again if he could just lie here and watch his mate sleep.

  On the flip side, his cock was achingly hard again. Would she mind if he took her again so soon? She’d been entranced the first time. Would she look like that every time?

  Hmm. How to wake her up.

  Deciding to surprise her, he grasped her wrists and pulled them over her head while he lowered his body onto hers and leaned his face down to take her lips.

  When she bolted awake, her reaction was unexpected.

  She shrieked and struggled against him with all her might.

  He released his grip and leaned back, surprised to have frightened her so badly. “Kenz, it’s me. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” You dumb ass. It’s not like she wakes up every day from a deep sleep with a man poised above her.

  Kenzie scrambled off the bed and stood naked beside it before she even realized where she was. Her eyes were wide, and her gaze roamed the room. The moment she caught up with her circumstances was as obvious as day is to night. Her eyes widened further, and she grabbed for the comforter to cover her nudity. Her chest heaved as she did so.

  It all happened so fast.

  Drake sat up and then stood next to her, reaching for her.

  “Don’t,” she muttered. She turned and fled the room, dragging the deep blue comforter behind her.

  Drake ran his hands through his hair. Well, that didn’t go as planned. He grabbed his shorts from the ground and stepped into them. Seconds later, he padded down the hall.

  Mackenzie sat curled up on the couch in a fetal position. Her head lay tucked low, her face almost covered with the blanket. The only sign she was even awake was the rapid rise and fall of her body as she breathed.

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I wasn’t thinking. It was a dumb idea.”

  She didn’t move. He inched toward her and sat at her feet.

  “Talk to me.”

  Moments passed. Just when he thought she’d never say a word, she muttered, “It’s not your fault. It’s me.”

  He chuckled. “Sounds like one of those break-up speeches where the girl says ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ just before she dumps the poor bastard.”

  He stopped laughing when she didn’t respond. Fear clenched at his gut. What had he done?

  Her breathing steadied while his life flashed before his eyes as though he were about to die a horrible death. He didn’t take his gaze off her.

  Minutes passed again. Had she fallen asleep? He sat very still, afraid to do anything. He didn’t dare touch her, and he couldn’t bring himself to move.

  Finally, as his heart squeezed to the point of pain, she spoke again. “It happened four years ago … at the gathering.” She paused.

  He held his breath. What happened? Would she finally tell him whatever made her so skittish? He waited. It was her story to tell in her way on her timeframe.

  “I hated even then the en
tire concept of matings. It seemed like arranged marriages to me. I was only nineteen…” She swallowed so hard he could hear her. Her face was buried under the blanket. He ached to hold her.

  “I didn’t realize how it would be … this thing … between us. It seemed like randy teenagers just used their hormones as an excuse to … fuck.”

  It was true. Until a wolf met his own mate, it could look that way. The feeling—the connection—to another being that knocked shifters off their feet and left them staggering was unimaginable before that precise moment.

  “I was scared and not ready, so I snuck away from the singles meeting the first evening and ducked into a dark, quiet room to think and be alone. Hide.”

  He smiled, picturing his skittish mate in her late teens sneaking away to escape the mayhem. But his face felt tight. He knew his brow was furrowed as he waited for the anvil to crash.

  “It was a den of some sort I fled to. I sat curled in a chair in the corner. It was situated at a diagonal, so I could see the room but also stare out the window at the night sky and watch the stars twinkle. I was so peaceful. Happy.” Her last word faded as he imagined her sensation of pleasure had at that same moment in history.

  He held his own breath as he waited to hear what happened next. Please God. His hands were sweating, and he wiped them on his shorts, trying not to move any more than necessary and risk breaking her train of thought with his presence.

  “I didn’t see who came in, and I never want to know. A deep male voice filled the room as the door closed with a bang. I flinched, but I was too stunned to speak, and before I knew it, the scene unfolded so fast I’d missed my opportunity. I sat in a tiny ball in that armchair, and no one was ever aware of my unintentional eavesdropping.” Her breathing hitched as she spoke.

  His did too. Whatever she was about to say was going to change his world and hers. He hated this pivotal moment in their lives more than he’d ever hated anything. Although he was certain he was about to hate one fucked-up wolf even more.

  “A squeal followed by a slap told me the man wasn’t alone. I guess I was tucked away in the shadows enough they couldn’t see me, or they possibly didn’t consider the likelihood of an intruder in the room witnessing their private disagreement.