Page 26 of Forbidden Virgin Mate

"You need to talk to Saffy," Tanya finally says. "But I think you should know it's not just you people are pointing the finger at."

My gaze snaps to hers as her words settle on me like a red mist. "Are you saying they think Saffy's involved with this disaster? Who the fuck is saying that?!"

She steps back, physically shrinking from me. I put my hands up to calm both her and myself. "Sorry, you're the last person I should be yelling at," I say. "But who is saying it?"

She shakes her head, still wary of me. "I really don't know; she didn't say. But the kids at college are obviously getting it from their parents. People here love to gossip."

I sigh, running my hand through my stubble and trying to calm myself. The last thing I want is for her to be scared. "Thank you for bringing her home,” I say again. “I hate to think of her being upset."

"You're a good brother." She smiles sadly, "We had a chat. I know something about being gossiped about because of my family."

I nod thoughtfully, remembering the looks she got at the fair and the local gossip about her parents being banished. "Yeah, you sure do. How do you cope with it?"

She laughs darkly. "I was gone for twenty years, so I guess I didn't have to cope with hearing it until recently." She pauses as if she's about to say more.

"But you're hearing it now?" I probe, suddenly concerned about her, too.

She looks at the ground and sighs, placing her hands on her hips and seemingly searching for the right words. "The specifics don't matter," she finally says, "It's just weird how it seems to be the people who knew us best are the worst."

"I guess friends feel the betrayal worse," I say, stepping toward her.

"Perhaps it's my parents who are right in feeling betrayed by them," she replies quietly.

Despite how close we were getting, at least until recently, we haven't properly discussed the situation with her parents. It begins to dawn on me that she must think they're innocent. I don't know the full facts, but it's unusual for wolves to be banished if it's not absolutely certain they're guilty. I can't blame her for standing by her parents, though.

"It must be hard coming back here," I say, putting my hand on her shoulder. It's weird, but I feel a deeper connection to her. There are not many people who could possibly understand what Saffy and I are dealing with right now. But I have the feeling Tanya gets it. Gets me.

She looks smaller than ever, standing out here in the cold. Her wavy blond hair is partially tucked into her coat, and she rubs her hands together to keep them warm.

I reach out and take her hands in mine. My large, worn hands dwarf her soft, delicate fingers, and I feel a jolt of electricity race up my arms at the contact. She looks so achingly beautiful, and I can't tear my eyes away from her pink lips. I already know how amazing she tastes, and I feel my wolf blaze through my eyes as I release her hand and wrap my own around the back of her head, crashing my mouth down to hers and pulling her body against my bare chest.

It's not a gentle kiss; it's full of frustration and anger at the situation I'm in. Yet, it also has gratitude for the woman in my arms.

I walk Tanya backward until her back is against the storage unit door. We tumble through the door, kissing, my hands roaming her body and her hands gripping my shoulders.

We break apart for a moment, both breathless. I wait for a sign to continue, and as she slides her hands down my bare chest, I begin to trail kisses down her neck as I unbutton her coat, pushing it off her shoulders. She gasps as my fingers find the hem of her shirt and lift it slightly so I can stroke the incredibly soft skin underneath.

My hands travel lower, tugging at the top buttons of her jeans until there's enough space for my hand to slip into her underwear. I groan into her mouth as I feel her folds, my fingers slipping easily across her wet, sensitive skin.

She grips my arms, digging her nails in almost painfully as I finally slip a finger inside her, moaning as I use my thumb to massage her clit. I add a second and then third finger, feeling her tight channel convulsing against my hand, turning me on even more. I know I'm a large man, so she has to wrap her thigh around my body to grant me better access as I pump my fingers in and out of her wet core.

She quivers beneath me, and I can feel the heat radiating between us. I kiss along the curve of her shoulder before standing up straight and pulling away from her slightly so we're looking into each other's eyes.

"I'm going to make you come," I whisper before burying my fingers deep inside her again, flicking her clit with my thumb.

She lets out a strangled cry as she finally releases all over my hand. I can still feel her body trembling against me as she reaches between us and palms my hard length through my jeans. My hips begin to grind against her, and I want nothing more than to bury myself deep inside her.

Instead, I still her hand. “Not here, not like this. I'm not sure I've got it in me to be as gentle as you deserve." I look around the storeroom. "I'm also sure you deserve better than my store."

She laughs against my lips. "What if I don't want gentle?"

She nearly unmans me with those words, and her hand runs firmly up and down the length of my cock. The man within me is practically hypnotized, but my wolf demands more. He wants to mark every part of her, to take her and make her his. There would be nothing gentle or quiet about it.

I groan, stepping back. She looks so incredibly sexy and disheveled, I'm fighting hard not to throw her down on the floor and take her completely.

"There's be nothing gentle about what I have in mind, that's for sure," I say, watching her eyes flash with desire. "But I don't think we'd be quiet, either, and I don't fancy Saf walking in."

"Oh my god." Tanya laughs, nodding as her cheeks turn pink. "No, we don't want that."

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