Annie Nicholas: The Beta

He rewarded her with a small, crooked smile.

She grinned back. “What now? I mean, how long does it take for me to—to change?”

“Everyone is different. It all depends on how much virus transferred into your system. Usually, it takes a week to a month before you can shift shape.” He looked at the floor and cleared his throat. “There’ll be nightmares. It’s how the beast develops, and you’ll be on probation for a year, living with a mentor so you stay in control.”

She blinked at him, her mind gone blank. A mentor? Live somewhere else? What about her apartment in New York?

“If your beast takes over completely and you kill someone, no jury in the world will have mercy. They’ll destroy you. Having a mentor is important and non-negotiable with the Vasi.”

Overwhelmed, Esther nodded and stared at him, unable to ask the thousands of questions racing through her mind.

He must have sensed something, because he looked up from the floor at her. “If you want to be part of a different pack I’m sure my alpha can make arrangements. Don’t feel like you have to— I mean, I’d—we’d never force you to stay.”

Stay? Rob kept her safe, he understood her. Why would she go anywhere? “Can I stay?”

Relief flooded his expression. “Yes, of course.” He hugged her. “You’ve got time to adjust. It’s a big change, but we’ve all been through the same process. You’re not alone.” He squeezed her. “I’ll be there for you.”

Those five words were the nicest things anyone had ever said to her. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him back. “Can you be my mentor?”

Stroking her hair, he leaned away and gave her a shy smile. The same one he’d given her the night they met. “I hoped you would ask. You’ll have to live here with us. I can move into the office across the hall, and you can have my room.”

“Your room? But I want…” She couldn’t finish her sentence. No matter what she did he wouldn’t ever trust her.

“What do you want?” Pushing some loose strands of hair behind her ear, he gazed into her eyes.

“You.”

Robert released the breath he’d been holding. The drumming of his heart was the only thing he could hear. It made him lightheaded. “You say and do all the right things but…” There was always a but with Esther. Could he live with buts complicating his life?

Vulnerable, she clung to him, pleading with her eyes, not even trying to defend her actions. He didn’t think many people ever saw this side of Esther, his hardcore slayer.

He didn’t want a difficult relationship. “Are you going to break my heart, Esther?”

“What?” The shock on her face appeared genuine.

“I could fall in love with you.” He cupped her beautiful face within the palms of his hands. “I’m willing to take that leap and place my faith in you. Just—answer my question honestly.”

She placed her hands on his. “I’d never hurt you. Not on purpose, not even if you broke my heart.”

She was going to become a werewolf. Her life would change, which meant no more slaying. She’d come to his aid when it was a three-to-one fight. Maybe he should trust her now.

He tossed his doubts out of his heart and mind. Esther belonged to him and he to her. As she developed into a werewolf their bond would grow and he’d have a true mate. Something he never considered possible. He grinned as he drew her mouth to his.

Dropping her towel, she draped her limbs around him.

The sharp flavor of mint greeted his tongue as he slipped it between her lips. A thousand pounds of responsibilities, anxiety, and stress dissipated with her taste.

With an aggression born of her nature, Esther tore at the buttons of his jeans.

Groaning as his erection strained in their confines, he removed her hands, not wanting their first time having sex to be on the bathroom floor. In a few hours Eric would be home and nothing short of the end of the world would take Robert from Esther’s side.

When he stood, she clung to his hips and ground her pussy to his hard, needy cock. It pulsed. Damn, he would so fuck her senseless.

She squirmed in his arms while he hurried to the unmade bed, her soft, warm flesh inviting his hands to explore. With his knees, he hit the edge of the bed and he set her down.

Lying back, she stretched along the mattress in all her glorious nudity.

Robert stared. Words didn’t exist for the gratitude he felt toward the odd series of events that led them to this moment. He undressed, then crept over her body.

Skin slid over skin. Her hard nipples traced along his chest, and she arched her back with a low moan.

He loved the way she reacted to his touch. It nurtured his confidence and hell, boosted his ego. She’d climaxed for him last night and called out his name. Tonight he would make her beg for it to never stop. Although, with the way she stared at him at the moment, it was possible he might end up being the one on his knees begging.

Cupping her breast in his palm, he brought her tight nub to his mouth and sucked in hard draws.

She grasped his shoulders, digging her nails into him. Her breaths came quickly.

The sharp pain aroused him more. It called to his beast who recognized the act as possessive. He growled his approval and worked her other firm mound. The scent of her arousal grew stronger. Dipping his hand between her thighs to her wet pussy, he slipped his fingers into her hot velvet.

Her moans grew louder, more desperate, while he thrust his digits inside. With his thumb, he searched for that special spot, the elusive clitoris. Her sharp cry signaled his discovery and he massaged the spot, taking it for a test drive.

Her hips rolled in an inviting manner. Rotating and grinding, she helped him stimulate her pleasure point.

The beast and human side of Robert shared his body equally, both wanting Esther. Instinct became logic as her new scent carried the innate flavor of pack, and more importantly, she smelled like his. He nipped the bud he suckled with his teeth, experimenting with the fine edge of pain and pleasure.

The muscles in her pussy clenched around his fingers, wetness soaking his hand. Her moans became higher in pitch as she achieved her climax. The first of many, he hoped.

As if melting, Esther’s body molded to the mattress and pillows. Pride swelled his chest as a lazy smile graced her face.

He finally understood why some wars were fought over women. Nothing would take her from him without a fight. His cock pressed against his abdomen, demanding attention.

Esther spread her knees. Glistening and slick, her nether lips were flushed the same shade of pink as her cheeks. “Do you need a written invitation?”

“Anxious?”

She gave a deep laugh. “Damn right I am. I’ve wanted you since the day we met.” Reaching between his thighs, she stroked him with a feathery touch.

A shiver shook his body. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead on her shoulder while he growled his approval.

“Three days is a long time to wait, Rob.” Esther’s advances grew more aggressive. Stroking with both hands, she showed no mercy and milked his cock.

Of their own accord, his hips thrust in time. He gripped the bedding and tried to catch his breath. By some miracle he kept from coming, even though her hands felt so fucking great. After a few more strokes he noticed his erratic breathing, and he sat back between her bent legs and removed her hands.

She was perfect for him, driving and challenging him in life and in bed. He grabbed her ass and lifted her pussy to meet his cock. The heat of her cream slipped over his tip and he rubbed his stiff rod at her entrance, barely penetrating.