Page 21 of Wolf Desired
“Unlike the other shifters here, I need to guard my identity.”
“Why?”
“They will return to their packs when their commitment here is done. If an enemy seeks them out, they will be protected by the pack, and not stand out, isolated and alone like a lone wolf.”
“Does that mean you’re a lone wolf?”
“No. My alpha sent me here. I have a pack. But if I screw up. . .” He blew out air. “My pack has a history of exiling wolves. And my family name would make things difficult here.”
Ah, so he was hiding from something.
“I’m Maddox Novak,” he said, unexpectedly.
Warm, dark eyes watched and waited for her reaction. She hadn’t asked for his secret. Yet, he’d offered it after stating it would put him at risk. Wow. That took balls. Or an immense amount of trust, considering how little he knew of her.
Maddox. She liked the name. It fit him, but he didn’t play fair.
“I didn’t agree to give you my name,” she said.
“You will.”
“You’re rather arrogant, Maddox. Like Rafe.”
“I’m nothing like Rafe. Or any alpha,” he bit out, his jaw tightening.
She’d struck a nerve.
“Again, tell me why you’re here, Max,” she said, using the name she’d chosen for him. That didn’t seem to anger him, not in the least, but comparing him to Rafe, to an alpha, was a definite trigger.
“I was heading out for a run when I caught your scent on this level. Are you down here because of Kingsley?”
“There weren’t any rooms left and I’m not sharing. Especially with Kingsley.”
“I don’t believe in sharing either,” he said as he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers.
He shouldn’t be touching her. Hell, she shouldn’t belettinghim touch her. But it felt too good. She envisioned his arms around her and liked the idea. It had been a long time since anyone had held her, just held her. She didn’tknowthis shifter. Except for his name. Maddox. A secret he’d shared with her.
“Why did you give me your real name?”
“Because you asked, angel,” he said, blowing little puffs of air into her ear, causing her to squirm. Damn, but she wanted to lean into him and feel the pleasure of skin against skin. His warm breath fanned over the shell of her ear, then behind, tossing the hair there as his lips lightly skimmed down her neck. Goosebumps dotted her skin, as the need for more of this man stirred within her.
“I’m no angel,” she answered in a breathy voice she barely recognized as her own.
“Neither am I.”
Warm lips met hers in a decadent kiss. He took his time, running his tongue over her upper and lower lips, periodically nudging the seam, coaxing her to open. The man was patient and delicious. There was no tree blocking her retreat this time, but she didn’t want to escape him. She wanted to feel more of him.
His hand wove through her hair, tangling in it, wrapping the loose tendrils around his fingers until he locked her to him. Then that hand cupped the back of her head, a mixture of possession and gentleness as he held her. For once, she pushed her thoughts aside and let her body react, to do what felt right.
When she parted her lips, he explored slowly, as if trying to learn every nuance of her and more than just her tongue and mouth. He pressed his body against her, slowly rotating his hips, making sure she felt his hardness.
For as fit and tone as she was from working out and running, she felt like soft bedding against the hard muscles that covered his torso. When he brushed his hard chest against her breasts, her nipples tightened, and little jolts of pleasure traveled straight to her core, making her wonder what else he could do to her.
She was tempted to ask him, but good sense finally kicked in. As difficult as it was, she pulled away. He released her tongue, her hair, all of her. Too easily. She meant nothing to him. Nothing more than his next conquest.
“It’s getting late. You’re running out of light for your run,” she said, hoping to spare them both the awkwardness of whatever excuse he planned to use to escape the situation.
“I don’t need much light.”
