Lisa Kessler - Moonlight

The corner of his mouth tilted up into a crooked smile that melted my heart. “I’m going to hold you to that later.” His gaze slid over my entire body. “I’m going to do more than kiss you.”

I wet my lips. “Promise?”

When we heard a car drive up Adam groaned. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“I’ll be here.”

He turned and jogged back up to the house. I walked farther into the barn, chatting with the horses that put their heads over their stall doors to visit. I could see why Adam loved it here. It was peaceful and simple.

Too bad I couldn’t stay.

I couldn’t wait to have Lana back in my arms. After nearly two hours of assisting Jason with Aren’s ankle, I was emotionally and physically drained. The bone had fragmented into several different pieces, and he should’ve had surgery, but Jason did the best he could. It wasn’t life-threatening. Not worth the risk of taking him to a hospital.

Before tonight, I felt like the Pack would be fine without me. When it came time, Aren would ascend to the Alpha. But now there were questions I couldn’t answer. What if something happened to Malcolm before Aren’s ankle healed? What if his ankle was never right again? Would someone else in the Pack challenge him for the Alpha position? It would be within their rights. He might not be able to win if they did, especially not now.

I ground my teeth together and walked faster toward the horses. Toward Lana.

“Is everything okay?”

Without hesitation, I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight as I kissed her hair.

“It will be, but Aren’s ankle may never be the same.” I loosened my grip enough to look down into her eyes. “Jason did the best he could. I guess we’ll know in a few weeks when he takes the cast off.” I paused and corrected myself. “I mean, they’ll know.”

“You can’t leave this place, Adam. They need you and you need them.”

“I don’t need anyone who can’t treat you like part of the family.”

She kissed my chest. “Jaguars haven’t been very good to your family.”

“You’re more than a jaguar. You’re my mate. You saved my brother tonight. And even after you did, he still won’t speak to you. I can’t stay here and subject you to that.” I shook my head. “I’d end up hating every one of them for not accepting you. It’s better to leave before that happens.”

She looked up at the moon. “Isn’t the moon full tomorrow night?”

I nodded.

“So you should stay and run with the Pack.”

I shook my head. “We’ve gotta get going. It’s only a matter of time until Sasha is back on our tail. Sebastian may be helping her for all we know.”

“Don’t break their hearts on a full moon. You should run with them.”

I stared into her dark eyes, unaware until this moment that I could love anyone so much. I brought my hand up to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing over her soft skin. “How did I get so lucky? I have the most beautiful, sexiest, and bravest mate a wolf could ever hope for.”

She smiled and nuzzled into my palm. “Too bad I’m the wrong species.”

I bent to kiss her and whispered, “There is nothing wrong with you, Lana. Nothing.”

A tear rolled down her cheek as she pulled me closer. My hand slid back into her hair, holding her close as the kiss deepened. God, I could not get close enough to her.

Our tongues tangled, and I growled into the kiss when I felt her hands glide up my stomach and across my chest. Every muscle in my body reacted to her touch. She set me on fire, until my jeans were way too tight and confining. When her hand wandered down, stroking my rock-hard erection through my pants, I broke the kiss. I couldn’t take much more, or I was going to take her right there in the barn aisle.

“Aren’s in the house resting.”

“I need you,” she whispered, nibbling at my neck. “Now.”

Just when I thought I couldn’t get harder, I felt myself pulsing, aching for attention. My lips fused to hers as I walked her backward into the tack room. The rich scent of clean leather surrounded us as I backed her up to the saddle rack. Her nails scratched my skin while she struggled to yank my shirt off.

Knowing that she wanted me as desperately as I wanted her was making me crazy. Instead of pulling away to lift her T-shirt over her head, I grabbed the neckline and tore it down the middle. I’d buy her another shirt later. I needed her bare skin against mine.

I kissed down her neck as I unhooked the front clasp of her bra. Feeling the weight of her perfect breasts in my hands made me growl against her skin. When her back arched toward me, offering her body to me, I bent to take her breast into my mouth. Her skin was so soft, with a faint salty taste, and the sound of her gasping my name made me want to take her even higher. I wanted her to shiver with desire when she looked at me later. I wanted to see her glow and know it was because of me.

I licked each nipple slowly, watching her mouth while her fingers clenched my hair. She ran her hands down my back and around my waist to unbutton my jeans. I groaned with hunger when I felt her slender fingers slip inside to stroke me. I couldn’t take any more teasing. I needed to be inside of her.

I opened her jeans and pushed them down her hips. I knew she was wet and ready for me. Her lace panties were next. Kissing her hard, over and over, I lifted her onto the side of a saddle.

She broke the kiss with a gasp. “It’s cold.”

I grinned, hooking her leg over the saddle horn so she was totally open to me while I freed myself from my jeans. “Want to stop?”

Her eyes sparkled as she watched me move closer. She wet her lips and shook her head. “Never.”

I kissed her again, humming into her lips as I brushed against her. Slowly I rocked my hips, rubbing, teasing, enjoying the way she moaned and clutched at my ass trying to force me into her. When I couldn’t wait any longer, I drove my hips forward, moaning as I felt her surround me inch by inch.

I stared into her eyes, watching every emotion play across her face as I sank deeper inside her. The cool evening breeze teased our skin, and the moonlight filtered through the open door. I worked into her, harder, unable to take my eyes off of her perfect body as she tipped her head back.

“You are so sexy, Lana.”

She opened her eyes, looked up at me, and hooked one leg around my waist, grinding her hips into my thrusts. I could feel the pressure building, but I wasn’t ready for this to be over. Not yet.

I slid one hand between us, teasing her until I found the right spot. Her entire body shuddered as she gasped, “Faster!”

Her hands kneaded my buttocks as I slammed into her hard, my fingers working faster until I thought I was going to ignite. “Let go for me,” I growled. “You’re mine.”

And she was. In that moment we were one. Every muscle in my body contracted as I felt her orgasm seize around me. I peaked with her, rocking until I couldn’t move anymore. I held her close, fighting to catch my breath. I felt her lips kiss the left side of my chest, right over my heart.

“I love you, Adam,” she whispered. “Forever.”

I closed my eyes and kissed her hair. “I love you too, Lana. Always.”

…

I watched Lana sleeping in my bed and my heart felt too big for my chest. I’d carried her up from the barn after we made love and dozed for a couple hours. Her black hair was strewn across the white pillowcase, and her face looked peaceful. For a second I caught myself wishing we could just be normal people. No wolves, no jaguars. Just people. We could get married and have a family. There would be Little League, horseshows, and Lana could write the novels she dreamed about.