Wolf in his Heart (Salvation Pack) (10 page)

Tonight had been glorious. And she had Sage to thank for it. She hadn’t been alone, but among her own kind.

She went straight to the patio outside his room and waited until he opened the screen door. There were lights shining from a window on the other side of the house. Rina was grateful that Sage’s room was on the opposite side of the house from the rest of his family. She was also grateful he had a separate entrance. She didn’t want to run into anyone else and have to answer any more questions. Not tonight.

Sage moved around her, went to the nightstand, and clicked on the light. She blinked against the sudden illumination. Sage stood by the side of the bed and stared at her. She fought the urge to fidget under his regard. His blue eyes seemed to deepen in color and his nostrils flared slightly.

“Let me look at you.”

She sat and stared back at him. He leaned down and rubbed his hand over her neck and flanks. “Your fur is like your hair. Brown with hints of red, like the finest mahogany. You’re sleek and slender and powerful at the same time.”

He sighed and straightened. She missed his touch. “I wish I could shift. Wish I could be the wolf you want me to be.”

His soft confession hit her with the force of a sledgehammer, and she reacted instinctively. She embraced her human form. Her bones cracked and reformed, fur receded to reveal smooth skin and her jaw shrank in size. She pushed herself to her feet and met his troubled gaze.

“You are all the wolf I could ever want or need.” And deep in her heart, she knew it to be the truth.

Chapter Ten

Sage wanted to believe Rina, he truly did, but he worried his inability to shift would always stand between them. Running with her, watching her race through the woods with such joy was an experience he’d never forget. Yet for the first time in years, he’d felt lacking, something he’d thought he’d gotten over as a teenager.

Old insecurities, it seemed, died hard.

“Sage.” She trailed her fingers down the side of his face, and he swallowed hard. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to the center of her palm.

He didn’t want to talk about things. Not now. Not with Rina standing naked in front of him, so proud and fierce. He inhaled deeply, breathing in her fresh wild scent. Her perfume was a combination of the fragrant flowers and leaves she’d brushed up against, the dry heat from the dirt she’d trod upon mixed with just a hint of arousal. It mingled with the sweat from his skin and the sandalwood from his soap.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips to her forehead. She closed her eyes, sighed and moved closer. He loved the way her breasts pillowed against his chest, but he hated having even a thin layer of cloth between them. He reached behind, grabbed a handful of fabric, and dragged his tank top over his head.

This time, when Rina leaned against him, it was skin against skin. She fit him like she’d been made for him. Seeing her in her wolf form had only made him want her more. He might not be able to shift, but he was all wolf at heart.

His bed was only inches away. He wanted to lay her down there and make love to her all night long. And if he did, his Uncle Elias would hear every sound, despite the soundproofing in the walls. It was summer, so all the windows and patio doors were open to let the air flow through. If it was winter, they’d have a lot more privacy.

She stroked her hands up his chest. He caught both of them and kissed her knuckles. “Not here.”

She frowned, and he could tell she didn’t quite understand. “Sound carries though open windows and doors.”

Her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink and she nodded. Sage grabbed a quilt off the end of the bed. “Let’s go.”

Rina shifted again, going from woman to wolf in a matter of seconds. He was glad she’d shifted. Werewolves were more casual about nudity than most regular folks were, but he really didn’t want Cole or Gator or whoever was patrolling to see her naked. He had to swallow back a growl of possessiveness.

She was waiting by the door for him. He shook off his overprotective urges and opened the screen. She padded outside and he followed her. The yard was quiet, the area still. They weren’t going far.

“This way,” he told her. She padded along by his side as he led her away from the houses and past his gardens to a lovely natural meadow just beyond. A stream trickled in the distance, close enough to add music to the night but not so close that they’d have to worry about animals trekking by them on their way to the water.

“Here is good.” Sage snapped out the blanket and settled it on the grass. It made a scrunching sound as the vegetation was dry and brittle. They’d had a lot of sunshine and heat the past two weeks and no rain.

He kicked off his shoes and shucked his jeans before sprawling onto the blanket. Rina stood nearby and watched. He wished he knew what she was thinking. “We don’t have to do anything but talk if you don’t want. I just want to hold you in my arms.”

He wanted her against his body, skin to skin, their breath mingling. He wanted to lie with her beneath the moonlight and watch the sunrise over the mountains.

The air shimmered around her and he watched as her wolf gave way to her human form. She didn’t shy away from him even though she knew he could see her perfectly in the dark. Like some moonlight goddess, she walked toward him. He held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to guide her down beside him.

He settled her against him so her head was resting on his shoulder and her hand was on his stomach. The night air was warm but cooler than his body. He welcomed the breeze against his skin.

“Are you cold?” It was a nice evening, but she was naked.

“No. I’m okay.” She moved restlessly against him.

“What is it?” he asked.

“You’re—” She stopped, swallowed, and tried again. “You’re aroused.”

“Yes, I am.” He captured her hand and brought it to his engorged cock. “I want you, but only if you want it. No pressure.”

She gave a half laugh and tightened her fingers around his erection. “No pressure.”

He grinned and then groaned when she moved her hand up several inches. Accident or on purpose, he couldn’t say. All he knew was that it felt amazingly good. What had he been saying? “I have no expectations other than to lie here in this meadow with you in my arms until the sun comes up.”

“Sage.” The way she said his name made his balls clench.

“I’m here,” he assured her. “Whatever you want. I’m yours.” He wanted to roll her beneath him, mount her, and fuck her until they both screamed their release. But no matter how incredible that would feel it would be a mistake. Rina had to make the first move.

Rina’s pack and family had tried to take away her choices and she’d run rather than stay and cave to pressure. It was up to her what happened tonight.

His cock flexed as if in protest of his thoughts, and her fingers around it. He groaned and she started to release him. “No,” he protested. “It feels good.” Good. What a lukewarm word to express the ecstasy shooting through him.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she protested.

“You aren’t hurting me. Just the opposite.” His voice was low and guttural, but he couldn’t help that. He was lucky he was able to string enough words together to make a complete sentence.

She released her hold on him and rolled up, coming to sit on her knees beside him. “Why?”

He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. He knew what she was asking him. Why her? Why was he doing this? It might be more expedient to lie but he couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t lie to Rina.

“I want you in my arms tonight and every night to come. I want to mate you and mark you. I want to watch you smile for years to come and I want to be the shoulder you cry on, the one you turn to when times get tough.”

She shook her head, and he could see her bewilderment. “How can you say that? You barely know me.”

He heard her underlying insecurities and wanted to kiss them away. How could she not realize how special she was?

“You’re strong and courageous,” he began. “You survived when many would have given in and gone back to the pack, even if it meant doing something they didn’t want to do.” Sage would bet his last dollar that her alpha and parents had expected her to do just that, which was probably why she’d been banished instead of forced into the mating. If she’d come crawling back, it would have been her decision to mate with the wolf she didn’t love. He bet they’d been shocked when she’d disappeared instead.

“I’m not,” she protested. “I couldn’t go back, and I’ve been scared.” She gave a ragged laugh. “I’m still scared.”

He pushed up off the blanket and knelt in front of her so their knees were touching. She looked mysterious and powerful bathed in the moonlight. “It’s okay to be scared, Rina. That doesn’t mean you’re not brave. You’ve been alone in the world for more than a year, and yet here you are. You’re smart and not afraid of hard work.” He ran his hands up her forearms, past her elbows, and all the way to her shoulders.

“I think you’re fucking amazing.” She started to deny it, but he stopped her. “No. You’re all that and more.”

“I wish I could see myself the way you see me.” The longing in her voice made him want to wrap her in his arms and promise to keep her safe forever.

“You will,” he promised. “In time.”

“Time.” She sighed and shook her head. “We don’t have much time.”

“We have all the time in the world.” He ignored the frantic racing of his heart and the panic surging inside him. “You have a home here.” He wanted her choose him, to stay with him and his pack.

“I have trouble on my tail,” she reminded him.

“If and when it comes, we’ll deal with it.” He spread his knees and moved closer. “You belong here,” he told her. He kissed her temple and then her cheek. “With me.”

“Sage.” His name was little more than a sigh.

“I want you,” he reminded her. He slowly slid his hands down from her shoulders until they were covering her breasts. “I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you.”

The softness of her breasts in his palms almost made him forget his promise to let her take the lead. He brushed his mouth over hers. She gave a tiny gasp and parted her lips. He took advantage of the invitation and slid his tongue into her mouth. He kept his eyes open, watching her for any sign of distress.

She brought her right hand to his cheek, her touch soft and gentle. He rubbed his thumbs over her distended nipples. Rina gasped and then moaned. He swallowed the sound and deepened the kiss.

Every cell in his body screamed for her touch. His cock was close to exploding. He ignored the needs of his own body and focused all his attention on Rina. The feel of her smooth skin under his hands, the bold thrust of her tongue in his mouth, the tender touch of her fingers.

It was torture to pull away when all he wanted to do was lift her and deposit her on top of his hard shaft. The thought of her wet heat grasping his dick almost made him come. He clenched his jaw and mentally ran through a list of chores he had to do. Anything to distract him.

“Your choice,” he reminded her. His movements were stiff, but he forced himself to lie back down beside her. His cock flexed toward her as if beseeching her to touch him. He wanted to reach for her but fisted his hands by his sides. What happened next was up to her, even if it killed him.

Rina was bemused and incredibly moved by Sage’s actions. There was no denying he wanted her. The heat flowing off him was making her sweat. He was so hard. Everywhere. He was all sleek, sculpted muscle, thick bones, and slick skin. There was a thin line of hair arrowing from his navel to his groin. She followed the trail to his engorged cock. It was big, just like the rest of him.

She’d seen naked men before. She’d grown up in a wolf pack, after all, and such things were commonplace. But never had she wanted to run her hands over a man’s muscled chest before, to slide her palms over his corrugated abs, and wrap her fingers around his erection.

He lay before her with his hands fisted by his sides, waiting for her to decide what she wanted to do. The wall of protection she’d built around herself this past year shattered. Pressure would have only reinforced it. His gentle acceptance had smashed it into a million pieces.

She wasn’t sure she’d survive if he betrayed her.

“Rina. Baby, what’s wrong?” He sensed her inner turmoil and swore. “I’m being an ass. We don’t have to do anything. Come here.” He opened his arms to her and she almost dove into them. Sage was quickly becoming her refuge in the storm of her emotions, even though he was the cause of the most unsettling ones.

She shook her head. “I want to touch you.” He lowered his arms, and this time he clasped his hands together behind his head, resting on them. She knew it was so he wouldn’t be tempted to grab her and take what he wanted.

A part of her wished he’d do just that and take the responsibility away from her. Another part of her couldn’t wait to get her hands on him.

She licked her lips and was startled when he groaned. When her gaze flew to his, he grinned and shrugged. “Everything about you is sexy. And watching you lick your lips just gives me ideas.”

He might not be touching her, but he was seducing her all the same. She was quickly learning that Sage had a silver tongue. And that gave her ideas, made her wonder just what it would feel like to have his tongue on her body.

Her breathing quickened and her pussy clenched.

“I wish I knew what you were thinking.”

Feeling aroused and sassy, she put her hands on his chest. “Maybe I’ll tell you.” She spread her fingers wide and enjoyed the flexing of his hard muscles beneath her palms. “You’re so strong.” All the men she’d known growing up had been strong and fit. They were werewolves. But there was something about Sage that made her want to touch him. Inside, her wolf was rolling around in pure sensual joy.

The fact that her wolf accepted him was telling.

She, however, was only willing to think about the here and now. She didn’t want the problems of the past or the future to taint this special time.

A slight breeze wafted over her skin like a sensual caress. Her nipples tightened and sent a bolt of pleasure through her. Sage’s cock twitched, brushing against her arm.

Wanting a better angle, Rina threw one leg over his heavy thighs and straddled him. Sage’s entire body turned to stone, every muscle tense as he waited to see what she was going to do.

What was she going to do? His cock was long and thick, the bulbous head wider and darker than the rest of his shaft. She leaned down and gently blew over the tip.

Sage groaned and his hips rose. She grabbed his hips so she didn’t topple over. She slid a little lower on his legs and found a more comfortable spot. Then she wrapped her hand around his erection. He moaned her name when she pumped her fist up and down.

She liked the sound but wanted more. She licked her lips and slowly lowered her head. “Rina.” He growled her name and stiffened just before she blew once again on the damp head of his cock. “Fuck,” he swore. The muscles in his arms bulged with the pressure he was exerting to keep from touching her.

Suddenly, she wanted to break his control.

With that in mind, she swirled her tongue around the bulbous tip, just as she would if it were her favorite ice cream cone. Sage panted heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

Rina opened her mouth and took him inside. The sound he made was somewhere between a growl and a howl. She’d never done this before but liked the taste of him, salty and warm.

“Mmm.” The humming sound she made sent vibrations through his cock. She knew he liked it when his fingers were suddenly tangled in her hair, holding her to him.

She experimented, moving up and down at a slow pace and then faster. She took him deep and then concentrated on the tip only. It was fascinating to listen to Sage’s moans of pleasure, to hear his whispered pleas.