The next morning,light poured over Selene’s body, heating her skin and creating a pleasant backdrop to the scent of new grass filling her lungs. Spring signified new life. Tiny hatching eggs deep within fresh earth. Budding green things. Blooming moss. Fresh dew. But it was another smell that made her heart twitter—the warm spicy scent of male, musky cloves and chicory, a male whose arm draped across her stomach.Jason.
Being this close to him was the stuff of dreams, a world-tilting high that required no drugs or alcohol. With a sleepy grunt, he pulled her tighter against his wide, muscled chest. His hand pressed between her naked breasts, dark hair dappling the thick cords of muscle in his forearm. The contrast between his darker skin and her light sent a current of desire straight to her core.
She shouldn’t want him. It was her responsibility to move away.
A werewolf was not responsible for what he or she did in wolf form. It was commonly accepted that a person’s wolf had a mind of its own. But lying here in Jason’s arms, every second brought her deeper into the realization that it wasn’t just her wolf who’d enjoyed Jason’s company. As wrong as it might be, she refused to deny herself the pleasure of this moment. It was too perfect. Too good.
They were inside a closely set group of trees, and they were alone. She pretended to be asleep and snuggled in, closing her eyes as the feel of his breath on her hair sent tiny sparks of longing down the length of her neck and across the surface of her skin.
His hand coasted over her nipple, along the flat length of her torso and rounded the curve of her hip. Goddess, it was delectable. A warm ache ignited in her core, her need opening like a flower. She pressed her thighs together against the feeling, suppressing the moan his touch elicited.
She sensed the moment he woke, the realization of her closeness causing his body to tense. He removed his hand from her hip and whispered, “Sorry” into the back of her head. As he rolled away from her, she knew she should act as though she were sorry too, cover up, move away. She should deny that even the blood in her veins was singing for him, delighting in the energy of his touch.
She didn’t. She wouldn’t lie.
Instead, she rolled onto her back and gazed up at him, naked, vulnerable. He was balanced on his elbow beside her, hovering but not touching. When their eyes locked, her longing was so intense she began to tremble. Tears streamed down her face.
“Oh goddess, I’m so sorry. Did my wolf hurt you? Should I get help?” Jason whispered, his hand floating near her cheek as he studied her.
Selene shook her head and wiped under her eyes. “It’s not you or your wolf,” she said softly. “It’s me. Lying here next to you, I can’t pretend anymore.”
He swallowed hard, a spark of heat and yearning parading across his features. “Can’t pretend what?”
“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 blinked as if her admission sincerely surprised him, then cleared his throat. “What do you feel?”
“I’m falling in love with you, Jason,” she admitted, 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’re not a terrible person.” He shook his head. “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 fated to be together all along. By the goddess, you’ve gotten under my skin. I felt it, Selene, the moment I saw you. We’re potential mates. We have a bond. If you feel the same way, don’t we owe it to ourselves to be brave enough to admit it?”
A hot tear escaped the corner of her eye. “It’s...complicated. I can’t date you. I can’t give you time to try us 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 licked his lips. “Oh sweetheart, I’m not suggesting wetry this on for size. I already know that it fits.” He brushed her hair from her forehead. “I’m talking about something exclusive and permanent. I’ve never had that before. Maybe it won’t be easy, but I want it. I want to have it with you.” When she couldn’t respond immediately around the lump that had formed in her throat, 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.
“I want it too,” she whispered. “Goddess, I want it too.”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I’ve learned to restrain myself around you, 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 youknowfor sure? 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, as their mouth’s collided, 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 within her. He must have scented her arousal in the air because he inhaled sharply against her lips and stretched out over her, covering her, surrounding her. His elbows landed on either side of her head. His fingers buried in her hair.
It had been so long since she felt desire for any man. She was no virgin but she couldn’t ever remember feeling this, this wanting, this fire pooling deep within her. She stroked along his side, delighting in his slightly rougher, warmer skin, up and over the peaks and hollows of his back. She drew him down on her, nails grazing his flesh. 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 to her breast, to her pounding heart.
Amber eyes flashed, a possessive growl vibrating against her chest. Jason’s beast had come out to play. He captured her jaw in his hand, stroking along her neck until his hand lightly gripped her throat. Her swallow pressed into his palm. She wasn’t afraid. She wanted this. Wanted to be claimed.
Like a long lick of fire, his fingers swept slowly between her breasts, along her abdomen, and sank between her legs.
She gasped when his touch parted her slit, another growl rumbling through him. She was wet, soaking with need, and she moved her hips to strengthen his touch. His thumb began to circle the tangle of nerves at the apex of her thighs as his adept fingers stroked her damp heat. By the time he slid a digit inside and curled his fingers, she was quivering. She arched into him, gasping, needing more. A heady ache had begun low within her, building toward something she desperately wanted.
“I can make you feel good. I want you to feel good,” he murmured. He lowered his lips to her stomach, then trailed kisses lower and lower until his lips took over where his thumb had been. At first, her cheeks blazed thinking of himdown there. After so many years of celibacy, she hadn’t expected it. But if her mind held any reservations, the rest of her suppressed that urge as Jason’s tongue licked up her center, sending her senses swirling.
