Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
I put my hands on his chest and push myself back, desperately needing space. “Probably,” I mutter, turning away. “I didn’t mean to let her out again. I don’t plan to stay in Wolf Ridge.”
I hear the catch of his breath when I deliver that news, but I don’t see his reaction because I walk out of the bathroom to my dresser in the studio, where I pull out a fresh pair of panties.
Asher follows, watching me with those glowing wolf-eyes as I slip on the panties, a cami, and pajama shorts.
“Well, you need meat. I’m sure you know that.”
“I know, but meat’s expensive. I can’t afford it.”
Asher’s eyes narrow, and he looks toward the French doors that open to the pool and my parent’s million dollar property. “Why not?”
I’ve recovered now. My strength is back and so is my determination.
I march over to Asher and stop in front of him with my hands on my hips. He’s a foot taller than I am, so I have to look up to glare at him.
“All right, here’s the deal. You brought my wolf out. I clearly need” –I stop and wave my hand in the air, trying to conjure the right words– “sex now.”
Asher’s eyes light with new interest. “Now? Did you stop having sex for five years, too?”
“No!” I try and fail to give him a shove. I only succeed in knocking myself backward. “Listen, Asher. We need some ground rules.”
I’m surprised when he nods. “Okay. Like what?”
“One:” –I hold up my finger– “Never at school again. That cannot happen.” I hold up another finger. “Two: No one else knows.” Alarm suddenly rings through me. “Have you told anyone?”
“That I fucked you?” He scowls, that sculpted chest stiffening. “Of course not.”
“Good. Keep it that way. And three:” –I add a digit– “Only here, only after dark, and no one sees you coming or going.”
Asher catches the wrist of the hand I’m holding up and brings my knuckles to his mouth. He bites them–harder than a nip, but not actually painful. “I agree to your demands. Here are mine.” He sucks one of my fingers into his mouth, and my body’s instantly on fire again. I still feel the twinges between my legs from our previous two rounds today. My body can’t possibly crave more.
But it does.
He releases my finger from his mouth with a pop of his lips. “Your body belongs to me. Anyone else touches it, they die.”
The intimate muscles between my legs lift and contract. My heart inexplicably starts to pound.
He sucks another finger and releases it. “I get to do whatever the fuck I want with you. If I want to kiss you–” He loops a hand behind my head and lifts my face to his. His lips descend and hover, millimeters away from mine, his hot breath feathering across my face. “—you open these lips for me.” He attacks my mouth, his tongue sweeping between my lips, possessing me.
I struggle–or rather, part of me struggles while part of me submits. And the third part of me just ignites into white hot flames.
He breaks the kiss by dragging my lower lip between his teeth.
“If I want to fuck you, you open those legs.”
Said legs wobble, barely holding me up. The worst part is that I’m sure he knows his effect on me. He can smell my arousal. Feel the way I melt into him despite my deep desire to resist.
“And if you ever slap my hand away again when I want to caress you, I will spank you until you cry. Understand?”
My nipples pucker. A powerful shiver rolls through my body. I’m equal parts furious and turned on. I want to knee him in the balls. I also sort of want that spanking.
Why does that turn me on so much? Do I desire his punishment for what I did?
Face hot, palms wet, the best response I can manage is to spit out three words: “I hate you.”
A slow, smug grin spreads across Asher’s face. “Believe me, that’s a two way street, sweetheart.”
For the second time in twenty-four hours, Asher walks out of my place leaving me hot and unsatisfied.
He turns in the doorway and pins me with a cocky look. “Oh, and I want a key to your place.”
Chapter Thirteen
Asher
I toss and turn all night. I can’t stop thinking about Lotta’s empty refrigerator. It doesn’t fit the image I have of her–of the spoiled pack princess who gets everything she wants or needs handed to her on a silver platter.
Why would her pantry be bare? Why would she say she can’t afford meat? She has a job. She has rich parents. She just graduated from an expensive private college.
But she’s been denying her wolf for years. That came as a total shock. That level of self-denial… it says something about her. Who she is. The amount of self-control she must have. But also, of her inner conflict. There’s a literal war going on inside her. Her wolf refused to stay sublimated when she got in the proximity of her mate. But she doesn’t want a mate. She especially doesn’t want me.