Page 14 of Hunter

“Real life isn’t too far off from fairy tales. Quint. Vik. They’re thousands of years old. So when I say ‘ancient’, they are the beginning of their species. I’m not saying they’re the only ones. But those two…they’re the real deal. Blood brothers. Same sire. They’re close. Quintus just found his mate. There’s no way I could let him go to Hell. He’d just found her, and she needed him. Open that portal and you never know when you’ll get back. When Viktor was kidnapped, I had no other choice.”

“We all have a choice. You made the choice to sacrifice your life. For your friends. For me. I’ll always be grateful.”

“I would never have left you.” Unfamiliar emotions stirred in his chest as a shy smile crossed her face and she tilted her head, flashing her demure eyes at him. Hunter sucked a breath and rose, gathering the dishes. “Sometimes life is about doing the right thing. The universe placed you in my path. It’s no accident.”

“Let me help you clean up,” she insisted.

“No way. You’re a guest. Besides Paul will be by tomorrow, and he’ll take care of all this. He usually watches my place when I’m gone. Since I’ve been away, he’s been off seeing his cousins in New Orleans, but he’ll be back tomorrow.”

“A butler?” she laughed. “Fancy.”

“Who? Paul? Sort of, but I like to think of him as more of an assistant. A jack of all trades. Keeps things in order.”

“I can help you though.” Willa reached for the silverware but stilled as Hunter placed his hand upon hers.

As Hunter’s palm rested over her delicate fingers, his body stirred in awareness. He attempted to ignore it and focused on his words. “I mean it now. Not only are you a guest but you’ve had a rough go. I’m not going to let anything else happen to you. This will just take a minute and then I want to talk to you about this leaving business again. Go on now. Have a seat on the sofa and I’ll be right there.”

Hunter’s chest tightened as she smiled at him, and he quickly removed his hand as if he’d touched fire. Jesus, there was something about her energy that drew him, confused him…aroused him.

Shoving the feelings away, he returned the smile and set off to pile the dishes in the sink. He began rethinking his grand plan to have her stay in his house. It’d been weeks since he’d been with a woman, and that alone should explain his attraction. But there was something about her that stirred his wolf. He didn’t want to have sex with just any woman. The Alpha craved Willa, the hunger burning deep inside his gut.

He reminded himself that she planned to leave. His wolf urged him to chase her, but much as he was tempted, his responsibility was to his pack, not a rogue wolf he’d picked up in Hell. He should show her the guest room and go for a run with his beta.

The sound of tinkling piano keys caught his attention. He smiled as the familiar classical music began to fill the room. The beautiful she-wolf was full of surprises.

He studied her as he made his way over to the piano, watching her delicate fingers effortlessly drifting over the ivory. Her expression was relaxed, lost in the music. As he sat down next to her, she smiled at him. When the music ended, her hands rested on the keyboard.

“It’s beautiful. Please. Don’t stop.”

She nodded and took a breath, her fingers depressing the keys. Hunter brushed his hands beside hers and began to play in unison. He’d learned the romantic duet nearly a hundred years ago. Willa’s pace slowed as he joined her and she smiled, her eyes on his. Several minutes of pure bliss passed as their fingers moved in tandem. The rhythm danced, escalating into a crescendo, ending with a whisper of a note.

Deafening silence filled the air. Hunter’s blood raced. As her pinky brushed his, his cock stirred.

“You play,” she whispered.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Sorry?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played…the piano.” Cared about a woman. Hunter closed his eyes. The closeness of being next to her tempted him. Fuck. No. Don’t do this, Hunter. He knew it was wrong. He’d just met her. She was leaving. Getting involved with a rogue wolf was trouble. There was always a reason they left a pack, and whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Tell her goodnight. Don’t be stupid.

As her eyes met his, his arousal spiked, and his judgment wavered. Just a little taste.

“Alpha.” Willa lost her words as her gaze fell to his lips.

“Willa…” Hunter knew everything about kissing the beautiful she-wolf was wrong. But as his lips brushed hers, he was convinced nothing could be more right. His hands gently cupped her face, his mouth dancing with hers, his tongue probing. The sweet taste of her essence drove him wild. As he deepened the kiss, Willa moaned, her hands wrapping around him. Blood rushed to his cock and his hands reached for her waist.

His wolf sought hers. His beast told him this stranger, this gorgeous woman was pack. He shoved the piano stool back, devouring her mouth. The temptation to make love to her surged, and he lifted her by her waist onto his lap. She wrapped her hands around his neck, their lips crushed upon each other’s.

As she writhed on his rock-hard erection, his cock throbbed in arousal. His hand drifted under the fabric of her shirt, finding her breast. Hunter grazed his thumb over her taut nipple. She arched her back, her chest thrusting toward his, and moaned.

What am I doing? Hunter knew he should stop, but his beast went feral as her lips moved to his neck, and she nipped at his skin. His palms slid down from her breast over her belly, teasing the waistband of her pants. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he slipped his fingers beneath the soft fabric and delved them into her slick folds.

“Alpha,” she cried.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, his lips on her neck.

“Ah…I…” Her forehead fell to his chest as he plunged a thick finger inside her tight core.