He blinked. “We wouldn’t want that.” Then he shoved inside her with one powerful thrust, knocking the headboard against the wall.
She gasped. Pain and pleasure blasted together inside her. She dug her heels into his lower back.
His tongue plunged deep within her mouth and then moved in sync with his cock, shooting even more hunger through her. Then, he settled into forceful, rapid movements that pounded all the defiance out of her. She just needed to feel. She started to climb, hard and fast, as live wires uncoiled deep inside her, flashing fire in every direction.
Tension swelled, too sharp-edged merely to be pleasure. Her body contracted and then released, detonating with an explosion that stole her breath and forced her to close her eyes. The waves took her, tumultuous and powerful. Shuddering, she came down, her body going limp with satiation.
Seth slowed and then powered hard inside her again, holding still and shuddering with his own release. His kiss became slow and thorough as he lazily explored her and then finally released her hands.
She caressed the hard cords of his arms down to his wrists and then back up.
When he leaned back, still inside her, she saw that his gaze remained intense. His nostrils flared, and his chest filled as he inhaled, scenting her, and for the briefest of moments, she saw the wolf inside him. The beast was possessive and deadly, and he considered her to be his. “Now you get me,” Seth murmured. “And I have you. Forever.”
Even relaxed, unease trickled through her. She cared about him more than she thought she could love anybody, but she couldn’t be who he wanted. Couldn’t bewhathe wanted. Not when a killer was out there. “Seth.”
He lifted his head and turned toward the window.
“What?” she whispered, forgetting about her thoughts for now.
“Stay here.” He rolled from the bed.
She sat up. “Not a chance.”
Seth caughtwind of his brother, and his muscles slowly relaxed. “It’s just Erik.”
Mia paused in getting from the bed. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Seth yanked his jeans up and ran a hand through his hair. “Why don’t you go to sleep? I’ll see what he wants.”
She looked toward the window. “It’s after dawn. The sun is coming up. I usually work better at this time, and I want to make breakfast for Mom and Aunt Dotty.”
“All right. Take your time, though.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead before silently padding out of the room and down the stairs. He noted that both older women were still sleeping soundly in their beds before moving into the cool morning air to find Erik on the deck. “What are you doing here?” he asked his brother.
Erik set down a backpack. “I brought putty and wood chips to cover the bullet holes before Gena and Dotty wake up.”
Warmth filtered through Seth. “Smart.” He actually hadn’t thought about the bullet holes.
“Damn straight,” Erik said. “That’s what Enforcers are for, right?”
Seth didn’t remember giving him the Enforcer position, but so far, the guy was earning it. “I think you’re supposed to take a bullet for me.” He smiled and reached for a can of putty.
“I plan to do that again, as well,” Erik agreed, not smiling.
Unease filtered through Seth. The last thing he wanted was his brother getting wounded defending him. “I don’t mind you protecting Mia, but I can cover my own back, brother.”
“Not now that you’re Alpha,” Erik returned, pulling out wood chips to begin plugging the holes nearest the window. “You need an Enforcer because every Alpha does. Who better to protect you than your brother?”
He wasn’t wrong. Seth nodded. “I’m also thinking about having you sign on as a deputy in town while the FBI is here, just to cover Mia’s back and keep me informed.”
Erik frowned and reached for a can of putty. “I don’t mind protecting Mia. In fact, I insist on it, but somebody has to be at your side, Seth. You’re not the Enforcer any longer. You have to realize that.”
“I do,” Seth said. Even so, he didn’t need anybody taking a bullet for him.
“Stop being an ass,” Erik muttered, jumping up to hit the holes above the windowpane. His movements were graceful and accurate. The guy would probably make an excellent Enforcer.
The wind picked up and scattered pine needles across the deck. “I’m not being an ass,” Seth retorted, though he was. “If you take the job, what about Emily? I don’t want to cause her any problems. You two became engaged just for me.” He gingerly pressed the wood chips into the holes.
“We didn’t get engaged for you,” Erik disagreed. “We got engaged because it was the right thing to do.”
