Vivian Arend: Black Gold

Evan settled her against his torso as he leaned back, drawing her face closer. His lips hovered near. A slow approach, maddening.

His fingers in her hair, chest to her breasts. She closed her eyes as their mouths connected.

Gem was so dainty as she plopped into his lap. Evan had to admit this was the most interesting meet-and-greet he’d had in his relatively short time as Alpha for the Takhini pack.

The scent of her desire rose around them, making him feel slightly dirty. Oh, he liked having a long, lean honey panting over him. Especially one like this, with her soft brown skin, huge dark eyes that had grown even bigger when she’d caught a whiff of something in the air. Only, while she was delightful to look at, all smooth hourglass curves with endless legs and an elegant neck—she wasn’t his type. Too delicate, too fine, and definitely not catching his notice in terms of being his mate.

Which is what he’d picked up from her stumbling question. Something made her think he might be the one, and while he had no interest in forever, he’d be happy to let her be the one to call it quits today. Shouldn’t take too long—once he didn’t make her motor run, she would no doubt stop their intimate contact.

Of course, if this was some southern custom of greeting the ruling Alpha with a tumble—hell, who was he to argue with tradition? It wasn’t as if he didn’t get all kinds of intriguing offers from the local wolf ladies, based solely on his position. Having a visitor to do the mattress mambo with would be far less complicated than his current dilemma of keeping the power-seekers in check.

She kissed him back. Innocent, chaste, lips closed and pressed to his.

Forget that. Even if they were mates, a simple kiss wouldn’t be enough to confirm or deny their connection. While the scent on the air told him she was turned on, her reaction wasn’t in response to his touch. He needed her to know for sure—as in no way in hell are you my mate for sure.

A little more thorough encounter was required.

He grasped the back of her neck as he angled her head to the side, teasing the seam of her lips with his tongue until she opened to him.

Hmm, much better. With a hesitant touch, all warm and soft, she explored his mouth, her hands rising to cup his face, and he smiled. The kiss grew more heated, teeth and lips getting involved as she twisted in his lap, her chest rubbing his.

Oh, nice. Maybe she wasn’t too delicate after all. Evan withdrew his right hand from her back, sliding up her torso to cup one perfect breast, and she gasped against his lips. He soothed her, even as his thumb brushed the tightening tip of her nipple. She had nice firm mounds that he was sure would look spectacular if he stripped her. He gave a brief moment to consider what colour her nipples were, but his curiosity was nothing more than a typical male reaction to a desirable female. Nothing earth shaking or undeniable.

As far as he was concerned, this was fun, but not a forever mate-need-want-gotta-have situation.

Gem planted a hand on his chest and pushed, her lips separating from his with a soft sigh. There was a crease between her eyes and confusion on her face. He froze his hand and smiled back at her.

The little throat clearing that followed was kinda cute. “I…don’t feel anything.”

Hell, hiding his smirk was going to kill him. “Nothing?”

Her mouth opened to a shocked O. “It’s not that I don’t find you attractive, and I was enjoying—” Her gaze dropped to where he still grasped her breast. Embarrassment poured from her far stronger than lust, and Evan relented and withdrew his hand without a word.

But when she would have squirmed away he held her for another moment, releasing a trace of his wolf power to calm her. She lifted her gaze to meet his, and he touched her cheek. “You’re a lovely wolf, but you’re not mine. Don’t worry, we’ll figure out what’s up. Please, though, allow me to offer the protection of my pack while you’re in the north.”

Her brown eyes were enormous as she stared back. Making her part of his responsibility wasn’t necessary, but the offer felt right, especially after groping her. She might have walked into his office looking as if she owned the world, but she was a long way from home. Whatever physical mischief was happening—she needed a little reassurance and his Alpha genes had kicked into high gear.

Evan expected her to retreat as quickly as possible, but she surprised him by leaning in and kissing his cheek. “Thank you. For the offer of protection, and for allowing me to…satisfy my curiosity. I’m not sure what’s wrong.”

He helped her rise, supporting her until she regained her feet. “Anything unusual happen on your flight? You come in contact with any other wolves between arriving and now who caught your interest?”

“Nothing on the flight. I got a ride here with the cabbie, David, and I didn’t react to him at all. Since then I’ve been in my room waiting—they told me you were busy.”

Oh hell. And who had he been busy with? The only other wolf who’d been in his office today for long enough to leave a scent signature was Shaun.

Evan kept his face blank as the possibilities smacked him up the side of the head. This was getting more and more interesting. Was the princess panting over Shaun? “I think…”

She had taken a seat across from him on the couch, and watched with keen interest. Knees together, ankles delicately crossed, back straight. Add a china cup and a fancy hat, and she could have been at home having tea with the Queen. How was she going to take the news that her potential mate was three-sheets-to-the-wind at the moment?

How bad was Shaun going to flip? The guy had been almost crying like a girl over the fact he was all alone, but what kind of a woman had he been imagining as a mate? Evan eyed Gem again, and his sense of humour poked him hard. Maybe he should send her to Shaun’s room. Instant contact was the simplest way to figure out if there was some mate-ish stuff in the cards for the mismatched couple.

His common sense battled back and hog-tied the hysterical images of Gem and Shaun meeting right now, and forced him to consider the good of the pack and his commitment as Alpha.

Damn, sometimes having to be a grown-up sucked.

Gem waited for him to finish speaking, curiosity and more in her expression.

Evan rose to his feet and held out his hand to her. “I think the answer will have to wait for a little while. Come. I’ll buy you a late supper, then in the morning I’ll take you to someone who should be able to answer your questions.”

She hesitated before nodding. “If you think that would be best.”

His timing wasn’t what she wanted to hear—Evan sensed her frustration. But waiting was all he was willing to provide tonight, and she was far too polite to make a fuss. Lovely thing about well-bred young ladies, that. He led her to the bar, and let the anticipation of the fun and games coming tomorrow entertain his imagination.

Lordy, but she ached. The scent that had been driving her mad dissipated once they left Evan’s office. The kick-start to her libido was more difficult to turn off. Tucked into the corner of the pub with the music pulsing in time with the beat raging between her thighs, she was hard-pressed to remain aloof.

“Wine?”

Gem dragged her attention back to Evan. Wine? Oh, that was a question. She nodded.

Evan spoke to one of his waitresses, turning back to raise a questioning brow. “Would you like bison? Or salmon?”

Her mind whirled too hard to concentrate. “Please—whatever you decide will be fine.”

He patted her hand, nodding as if he understood her dilemma. Her gaze returned to the room around them as he finished ordering. Everywhere she looked there was something to catch her interest and increase her arousal. At the table opposite them a couple kissed, long and slow, infinitely erotic as their tongues brushed together. An electric tingle struck deep inside as she spotted two wolves leaning against the wall, one covering the other as he nuzzled his partner’s neck. The dance floor was filled, body to body, all gyrating and pumping in a wild enthusiastic celebration of life.