“I can’t pretend that I’m not jealous of my wolf.” She sobbed quietly. “I wish things were different. I wish I had the freedom to feel what I feel.”
He swallowed audibly, cleared his throat. “What do you feel?”
“I’m falling in love with you, Jason,” she said, the words tumbling out all at once. “For the first time, I’m questioning what I want for my future. This isn’t supposed to happen. I’m supposed to keep a professional distance. But every time I close my eyes, I see you.” She turned her head to look away from him. “I’m a terrible person. I’ve betrayed my role as an acolyte.”
A shadow passed over her face, his hand hovering, almost as if he were afraid to touch her. She thought he might pull it away, but then he wiped her tears with his thumb. He stroked along her jaw, encouraging her to face him.
“You are not a terrible person,” he said quietly. “Why does this have to be a mistake? Can’t you see that I’ve fallen for you, too? I don’t care if it’s because of the therapy or if we were just meant to be together. By the goddess, you’ve gotten under my skin. If you feel the same way, don’t we owe it to ourselves to see where this goes?”
Selene blinked up at him and scoffed. “You don’t understand. I can’t just try you on for size. If I pursue this, there’s no going back for me. I’d have to give up my status as an acolyte.”
Jason’s brow furrowed. “I’m not suggesting youtry me on for size. I’m talking about something exclusive and permanent. I’ve never had that before. I know it won’t be easy, but I want to try with you.” He removed his hand from her face and shifted as though he might get up and walk away.
Goddess help her, she couldn’t deny this anymore. Selene reached out and caught him behind the neck. At first he looked surprised. He gripped her wrist, searching her face.
“Try,” she whispered. “I want to try.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I’ve learned to restrain myself around you, Selene, but make no mistake, I’ve wanted you, my wolf has wanted you, since the moment I saw you standing under that tree in Red Grove. You don’t know what you do to me. You’re playing with fire.” His eyes flared amber. His presence loomed like a growing hunger above her. “Do you know what you want? Because I do, and I don’t think I can resist you anymore.”
In answer, she pulled his face toward hers. A rumble came from deep inside his chest and his mouth slanted across hers, the kiss warm and soft, a question instead of a demand. Her arms snaked around his neck, gripping him tighter. He licked the crease of her lips, an invitation she was more than happy to accept. The erotic feel of his tongue stroking against hers made a rush of heat flare inside her. With a sharp inhale, his body responded to her arousal, covering her, surrounding her. His elbows landed on either side of her head as his fingers buried in her hair.
Her hand stroked along his side, skimming over his warm skin, then up and over the peaks and hollows of his back. She used her nails to pull him closer, scoring his skin. He groaned into her mouth.
Breaking away, Jason panted, his chest heaving. “This isn’t the right time or place. Not here. Not now.” She was surprised that it was Jason who said it. Wasn’t she supposed to be the one to protest? “I want it to be special for you. Our first time should be memorable.”
Only, she didn’t want to wait. She didn’t want the opportunity to think or to change her mind. “Please,” she said against his lips. She guided his hand down her inner thigh and between her legs.
Amber eyes flashed, a growl vibrating against her chest. His fingers stroked her, circling her opening with a tantalizing rhythm. By the time he dipped inside, she was quivering. Her body rolled beneath his touch, his expert hands coaxing a rush of pleasure from her core. She arched, creating counterpressure against his hand.
His thumb circled and his fingers thrust before he dipped his head. She felt his lips below her belly button, his tongue tracing circles toward his fingers. It was too much. Her face blazed thinking of himdown there. But if her mind wished to protest, the rest of her suppressed that urge as Jason’s tongue licked up her center.
She spread her arms on the soft moss and arched into him. Two more languid licks and she shattered, her body clenching around his fingers, tiny sparks of pleasure blowing out through her fingertips before echoing back to her core.
He held her as the aftershocks rocked her body. Stroking her hair back, his hips settling between her legs. He hesitated to enter her.
“Let’s make this real. I don’t want shadows or secrecy with you.” His eyes pleaded with her. “I want the world to know you’re mine.”
“I’ll have to step down from my position.”
He searched her face, his jaw tightening. A deep breath moved in and out of his lungs. He suddenly looked gravely serious. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You don’t have to. I want to. It’s the right thing to do. It’s time to make a choice, and I…” She ran her fingers across his chest. “Well, I already have. I choose you.”
A smile spread across his face—until Silas’s burly hand clamped down on the back of his neck and lifted him off her in one swift movement.
“What have you done?”
20
Jason’s back slammed against the nearest tree, Silas holding him there with a stiff forearm to his neck.
“No. Stop!” Selene cried.
Silas ignored her. “You fucking asshole. Taking advantage of an acolyte! I should beat you senseless for this.”
Jason tried to speak but his windpipe failed under Silas’s crushing weight.
Selene shoved against Silas’s massive chest as she wedged her waifish body between the two men. “Stop! It wasn’t Jason. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
