Ruthless Read online

  It should have been creepy. Any other guy sniffing me would get throat punched. But Rand… that wasn’t what I had in mind.

  “I picked up a couple sandwiches while I was in town.” He set the bag of take-out on the kitchen table and the hardware bags on the counter. “I also bought more smoke alarms for the place. I don’t like the idea of you being alone in this tinderbox without proper safeguards. I should stay here until the electrical is fixed.”

  “Um, wow. Um, that’s… okay.” I blinked. I was right, he was into me.

  I tried to ignore the crazy fluttering in my chest. I wasn’t used to a lot of male attention. I’d had a couple boyfriends in college, but I’d never had a near stranger act so darn interested in me. Sure, we’d met before, but I’d just been a kid. Back then, I’d considered him cute before I even had a flutter of newfound female interest, but what did a ten year old know? Any crush I may have had ended when I watched him turn into a wolf. Thankfully, Uncle Adam had believed me then validated what I’d seen. Even told me Rand hadn’t been the only shifter around.

  Over fifteen years later, the same was true. Rand was still handsome, still a shifter and still not the only one around. My property was right next door to Wolf Central.

  That meant there was so much I didn’t know about the guy. Yup, near stranger. Near stranger who looked at me like he was hungry and not for a sandwich.

  It was downright weird the way he expressed his interest in an over-the-top, protective way. And very flattering. And bossy. He wanted to move in with me?

  Maybe that was how wolf-guys rolled. Maybe Rand was a big player with the ladies. He even said we were neighbors. I was a right-place, right-time convenience fuck.

  I couldn’t forget, even after all this time, Uncle Adam’s tragic personal story. It had set me straight on guys like Rand. Wolves couldn’t be with humans. Not permanently, anyway. It was forbidden. Hookups were probably fine, and my pussy was thinking that wasn’t a bad idea. Except—

  When he was still in high school, Uncle Adam had been in love with Maggie, a female shifter from Wolf Ranch. But she hadn’t been allowed to date him. A human. Even back then, it went against pack law. He’d told me they’d met in secret and shared a mad love, but one that had to come to an end when they graduated.

  Maggie’d been forced to break things off. Not long after that, Uncle Adam had heard she’d left the pack to marry—no, mate—a wolf shifter in Nebraska. Some kind of arranged marriage thing.

  It was a sad story of unrequited love and the reason Uncle Adam never married or had kids. He’d had a far off look in his eyes when he’d told me no one could hold a candle to his sweet Maggie. It was also why he’d been fiercely protective of the pack that lived next door and the secret Maggie had shared with him. He wasn’t supposed to know about shifters, but he had and kept that to himself for the rest of his life.

  When I’d told him about how I’d seen Rand hurt by the tractor and turn into a wolf, he’d included me in the secret and shared his own personal story with shifters. After, Uncle Adam had sworn me to secrecy, too. Told me to never talk to Rand about the fact that I’d seen him shift or let on that I knew anything about their kind, that he and the rest of his family and everyone at Wolf Ranch were shifters. “They deserve that peace,” Uncle Adam had said.

  I remembered his soft, raspy voice telling me that, how I’d nodded solemnly in agreement. How I’d felt special to be responsible for something so big. That summer had been the last time I’d come to the ranch, and it had been easy to keep the secret. No one at home, especially my parents, would have believed me. I’d kept it all this time. Even when Rand had appeared in wolf form on top of the waterfall watching me skinny dip.

  Even now with him as my contractor. I had to pretend I didn’t know the truth about him and Nash, that they were shifters.

  “Turkey or roast beef?” he asked, making me startle. He’d washed his hands in the sink and used a dish towel to dry them. Pulling wrapped sandwiches from the bag, he looked to me. “Are you hungry? You’re not a vegetarian or a vegan or something like that, are you?”

  I laughed, going to the sink to wash my hands, too. “No. Although I did eat a lot of mac ‘n cheese and buttered noodles to get me through college. Turkey, please.”

  “No more noodles for you. I’ll make sure you’re well fed, darlin’.” Rand flashed a grin, and when I noticed he had one dimple in his cheek, my panties melted on the spot. God, this was going to be hard, having him in my house doing the remodel projects, plus being hot, plus being a shifter…

  He took a deep breath, and it seemed as if his blue eyes got darker.

  I wanted him. Maybe he’d been in the back of my mind all these years, but there was a pull between us. Shifter or not. As if the secret I kept, the one he wouldn’t say, made me feel more connected to him.

  I had no problem with a cowboy-wolf hookup. A fling with the contractor was what pornos were made of. I didn’t come to Cooper Valley looking for a husband or long-term boyfriend. If Rand liked to sow his wild oats with humans before he got mated off to some other pack or whatever it was they did, I was down.

  Totally down. I just had to remember not to get my heart involved, like Uncle Adam, because Rand wouldn’t stick. Just like Uncle Adam’s Maggie.

  Rand took a step closer. Somehow, he seemed bigger. Was he big all over? I had to wonder if wolf cocks were bigger than a regular guy’s. Was he proportional? Extra proportional? Oh God, my mind was one hundred percent in the gutter.

  Clearing my throat, I opened the ancient fridge and pulled out a jug of lemonade I’d bought at the store. “Want some?”

  “Sounds great, Red.” He winked.

  I melted some more at the nickname. He used it like we were close and not just strangers who barely remembered each other from fifteen years ago. But the fact that he remembered all these years… I was going to be a puddle of goo by the time lunch was over.

  I took a sip of the tart drink, licked the drops from my lips. My gaze whipped to his when I heard a rumble. Had he growled?

  “You’re hungry, huh?” I asked.

  The corner of his mouth turned up. “You have no idea.”

  He took a step toward me, as if he was hungry for—

  “Upstairs,” I blurted. Oh my God, what did I just let fall out of my mouth?

  He stilled, a dark brow arching and the corner of his mouth tipping up.

  “Upstairs? What do you want to do upstairs?” he asked, his voice somehow deeper than before. Huskier.

  I wanted him to strip me bare and fuck me hard, but I couldn’t say that. Ever.

  “Red?” His knuckles stroked down my cheek, and my eyes fell closed. “You need something from me? All you have to do is tell me, and I’ll take care of it.”

  I bet he would. My pussy clenched at all the possibilities. I opened my eyes, and I realized he’d moved even closer. I tipped my head back to meet his gaze.

  “Before we eat, could I have you, um, do something big and manly for me?”

  Big and manly? Out of all the things that could be wrong with the house, why couldn’t there be a sinkhole?

  Rand shot me a cocky grin. “Darlin’, I would love to do manly stuff for you. Show me what you need.”

  It was the first thing that came to mind, besides sexy times. I felt even more stupid than before, but I couldn’t just say nevermind. “Come on.” I beckoned to him with a crook of my finger, heading out of the kitchen, sandwiches forgotten.

  His smile was decidedly wolfish as he took off his hat, set it on the kitchen table as he followed. My nipples reacted to the way he was looking at me. They grew tight and heavy because of it.

  I led him up the stairs, once more acutely aware of his presumed gaze on my ass. “In here.”

  I led him to my bedroom and pointed to the window from a distance.

  He looked from the window to me, a bit puzzled. “What is it, darlin’?”

  “In the corner.”

  He went in that direc
tion. I flinched as he got closer. “The spider?” He turned and grinned over his shoulder at me, that dimple knocking me on my ass again. “Are you scared of spiders, Red?”

  “Yes,” I said immediately, nodding my head, so he knew there was no doubt. “I’m fine with anything else but spiders… ” I shuddered.

  Rand grabbed the empty water glass by my bed and put it over the spider on the wall then carefully carried it to the open window. This one didn’t have a screen, so he shook the glass outside then turned back around.

  He hadn’t killed it. He’d let it go.

  “All gone, darlin’.” He set the glass back beside the bed, but I wouldn’t be drinking from it again until I washed it. No way.

  He came over to me, wrapped his arms around me like we were already lovers, like he’d done it hundreds of times before. “No need to be afraid,” he murmured, eyes crinkling as he smiled down at me. “I’ll take care of all the spiders around here.”

  I suddenly found myself shivering. Most houses in Montana didn’t have air conditioning. This one especially, since it didn’t even have up-to-code electrical. It had to be over eighty degrees on the second floor. I wasn’t the least bit cold. It was from the closeness of Rand, his strong arms banded around me for the second time today.

  Rand was smooth—very smooth. He knew how to make a girl feel comfortable and at ease. What woman didn’t want a spider tamer as a lover? I had to bet he woke up in a different woman’s bed at least twice a week. I shoved that mood dampening thought out of my mind.

  I was in his arms now, even if I’d be another human notch on his belt. Did I want that? My pussy didn’t care. My mind had different thoughts.

  Of course, I’d love to be the special one, but I was smart enough to know that wasn’t a possibility. I just wanted in on the experience, knowing he was in the same headspace as me. Temporary. Scratch an itch. Let off some steam.

  I bet he was incredible in bed.

  Probably one hundred times better than my past boyfriends. With his arms around me, I couldn’t even picture any of them in my mind.

  Rand’s hand dipped lower on my back, cupped my ass and squeezed. “What other manly tasks do you have for me, Red? If you need some help coming up with ideas...”

  I was suddenly breathing like I’d jogged up three flights of stairs. Our gazes tangled and locked, his blue one intense and wild. I reached up and ran my fingers through his dark curls as I’d wanted earlier.

  “Well, there were a few things…” My voice came out husky and low. I started walking backward toward the bed. Yeah, my pussy had won the battle with my mind.

  He fell easily in step, not releasing me from his embrace. “Oh yeah?”

  The hand not on my ass wrapped around my nape, holding my head captive. I felt his dominance, that unleashed power in the hold. It was gentle, but I knew who was in charge. He lowered his lips toward mine.

  “Tell me all of them,” he murmured, his lips so close they brushed against mine.

  I swallowed hard. “How are you with your tongue?” I asked.

  His mouth descended on mine at the same moment he pushed me onto my back on the bed. He caught his weight with one hand, still cradling my neck with the other as his lips slanted across mine. His tongue swept into my mouth at the same moment the bulge of his erection found the cradle of my legs.

  I gasped, opening my mouth wider for him, rocking my pelvis up to meet his. I felt how big he was. How hard. How much he wanted me.

  “Were you thinking you wanted my tongue here?” He licked at the corner of my mouth then pulled away enough to cup my mons with his hand. “Or here?” He dragged a knuckle over the seam of my shorts, sending shockwaves of pleasure to my clit. If it felt that good with his clothes on, then I was in big trouble here.

  He bit the fabric over one of my breasts. “Or maybe here?”

  I tugged at the hem of his shirt, dying to see if he had washboard abs. I just knew he had to.

  Yep.

  He did. He helped me by reaching back and doing that sexy one-handed shirt-removal thing that I thought only the guys in movies knew how to do.

  Oh glory be to Jesus. The man—wolf—whatever, was beautiful. Gloriously solid muscle, a hairy chest that just begged to be scratched with my newly grown nails. Nails that weren’t good for playing the violin.

  “How about all the places, darlin’? You want my tongue everywhere?”

  “Yes, please.” I sounded completely breathless.

  He rubbed between my legs again. “Seeing as how you asked so nicely…” He trailed his tongue from the hollow of my throat down between my breasts.

  He pushed up my tank top. “Can I take this off, Natalie?”

  Oh God. Hot and respectful. This could be a simple make out session if that was as far as I wanted it to go. He’d stop. He’d kiss the hell out of me, maybe even get me to come with his hand over my shorts like we were teenagers.

  That wasn’t what I wanted. If I was to have him for just a little fun, I wanted all the fun. I owed it to women everywhere to see this guy naked. Get that dick in me and take it for a ride.

  “Mmm hmm.” I lifted my torso up a bit, making him shuffle up onto his knees, so he had room to tug the shirt over my head, and I waited for him to unhook my bra while he was at it. “I love that you asked, big man, but, um—you’ve got the green light.”

  He stroked my hair back. “Aw, darlin’. Are you telling me I’m in charge?”

  I was pretty sure I blushed to my roots, but I nodded. I figured he had way more experience than I did. I definitely didn’t want to be driving this show. Not when he obviously had the moves.

  “I always was.” Cocky bastard.

  His eyes took on that curious otherworldly glint as he took in my breasts. I wasn’t big, but he didn’t look put off. Far from it.

  My gaze tracked down between our bodies to the bulge in his jeans, and I noted two things. One—wolves definitely were bigger than humans. Two—he was rock hard for me.

  He didn’t rush. No, Rand gave me everything I hoped for, lowering his mouth to my right breast and licking and teasing my nipple as he squeezed and kneaded the left.

  I moaned, finding his beefy shoulders with my fingers and hanging on for the ride. “Rand,” I cried out when he bit my nipple. That little bit of pain went right to my clit.

  “Aw, fuck, darlin’. Keep calling out my name like that in that sweet, needy voice of yours, and I’ll give you everything you want.”

  I nearly came right then. This was so much better than all the lights-off, awkward-polite couplings I’d had with musicians or artists. Rand was all alpha male—confident in his sexual prowess and swoon worthy in his approach… even after gently putting a spider outside.

  He switched to my other breast, giving it the same treatment, but he moved his hand back between my legs. I squeezed my thighs together around his fingers, needing more there. More pressure. Penetration. Satisfaction.

  “Unbutton those shorts, darlin’,” Rand rumbled when he lifted his head, briefly. He flicked his brows and grinned at me. “See? I’m not asking this time.”

  A zing of pleasure went straight to my core, as if the mere suggestion of his sexual dominance would make me come. Had he known I wanted him to take charge or was it a given? If I’d been bossy, would he have let me dominate him?

  Yeah, he’d have let me. I knew he was in charge, and I wanted him that way. It got me hot.

  I reached down, fumbling hurriedly to open the shorts. I shoved my own hand down them, shocked at how swollen and wet my folds were.

  Rand captured my wrist and pulled my hand out then brought my fingers to his mouth, holding my gaze as he slowly sucked my juices from the tips. “Mmm. I knew you’d taste good, Red. But I didn’t know how good. But see, pleasuring you is my job. And you’re creeping in on my duties. So I think punishment is in order.”

  Punishment? My belly flipped but not with fear. Totally with excitement. If anyone had asked me yesterday if I was into punish
ment sex, I would’ve said no freaking way. But Rand was showing me a side of myself I didn’t even know I had. Desires I’d never glimpsed before.

  He rolled me to my belly and pulled my shorts and panties all the way off. He slapped my ass lightly.

  Too lightly. I moaned, arched my back.

  I looked over my shoulder. “Harder,” I whispered, half frightened of what I was asking for.

  Rand’s wolfish grin appeared. His hand smacked down before I even had time to rethink my request.

  “Oh!” I slammed my inner thighs together, unbelievably turned on.

  Rand chuckled darkly. “I’m not gonna ask if you want more, darlin’, because you told me not to, so I’m gonna spank you until I think you’re good and wet.”

  Oh. Gawd.

  I was already good and wet, but his suggestion that I could be wetter seemed to make it so. His hand smacked down, hard and fast. He popped my ass, alternating cheeks, right and left for eight spanks, then slid his fingers between my legs.

  I came on a harsh gasp.

  Just like that—embarrassingly wet, clenching under the tips of his fingers, which weren’t even inside me.

  “Oh, goddamn, Red. That is so fucking hot. You liked your spanking, didn’t you?”

  I made an unintelligible sound as my head flopped down. I was embarrassed but still so freaking turned on. “More,” I murmured.

  Rand uttered a curse and returned to spanking me, increasing the intensity slightly, so I started to squirm before he stopped to rub over my core again. “Roll over,” he commanded but didn’t wait for me to comply. He gripped my hip and pushed me onto my back then spread my knees wide and settled between my legs.

  “Rand,” I warbled. I was trying to catch my breath, get my mind to focus, but he was making it impossible.

  “How quick are you going to come for me this time, Red?” He lowered his head and slid his tongue between my nether lips, parting them and tracing around the insides.