Then he kissed her, and Sophia forgot all her good intentions.
Screw waiting ’til she knew and chose him. When Aidan sensed her coming out of the bathroom, and, even better, smelled her desire, he couldn’t feign sleep. And once he’d looked at her, so soft and alluring, her eyes clouded with longing and confusion, he couldn’t help himself. To his surprise she’d obeyed his order to approach even if trepidation had made her hesitate about joining him in bed.
He would make love to the witch who would be his mate. He’d enjoy it, and so would she. He just wouldn’t mark her as his mate-yet. He could control himself that much. He hoped.
The first taste of her lips set him afire. Hunger of the carnal kind raced through his body and imbued his kiss with some of his urgency, an urgency she returned as her lips clung to his.
“We really shouldn’t,” she murmured as her hands roamed over his back.
“Shh. We both need this,” he replied, settling himself firmly between her legs and grinding himself against her mound.
She gasped and arched beneath him, her nails digging into his back. Aidan almost bit her then and there.
Shit. He was in trouble already, his wolf awake and pacing, waiting to take over and mark their woman. Maybe if he made the pleasure all about her, he could hold off biting her.
His lips slid from hers and made their way down the smooth skin of her neck. He could feel her pulse under her skin, fluttering. With no control over it, he felt his canines descend, the urge to bite almost overcoming his will.
Oh, fuck. He moved down lower, away from the temptation that beckoned. The fabric of her T-shirt impeded his view of her breasts. With an impatient growl, he tore the cloth apart only realizing at her cry that perhaps he’d been too hasty. A quick look revealed her to be more impassioned than ever, with her eyes heavy lidded with desire. He turned back to look at her breasts, heavy and round. Her big nipples puckered at his view and begged for his mouth. He obliged, tucking one taut peak in his mouth and sucking hard. Frantic hands clutched at his head, tugged at his hair, the pain heightening his desire.
He bit down lightly on her nub, and she let out a small scream. Once again, his canines tried to descend to the sweet flesh in his mouth that was tempting him.
No, he had to be stronger. Build her trust. Get her to accept him. Fuck her brains out ’til she’d do anything he wanted.
With a groan, he moved down her body again, his mouth moving like a heat-seeking missile to find her core. Perhaps if he relieved her of her lust, he’d be able to think more clearly and control himself. Her shorts covered her mound, and his hands tore them apart as well. Her thighs fell to the sides, and she exposed herself to him with a breathy sigh. He moved his face in closer for a taste.
Bad idea.
With his face between her thighs, the scent of her was overwhelming and his canines descended again, their sharp points almost nipping his lip. He took several shuddering breaths as he tried to regain control, but all that did was draw her scent deeper into him.
She noticed his lack of action and with a sound that was part-mewl, part-moan, she said “Please.”
What could he say? He didn’t have the willpower to refuse his mate. Screw his good intentions. He’d give her what she wanted and deal with the repercussions later. “Your wish is my command, sweetheart.”
Sophia froze at his words, her ardor dampened as if a cold bucket of water had doused it. Damned persuasion spell. This wasn’t right. She couldn’t do this to him. What if he had a wife or girlfriend? How could she know this was what he wanted and not the spell getting mixed-up signals from her desire forcing him to do something he possibly didn’t want?
“I can’t do this.” She scooted off the bed and streaked to the bathroom, grabbing her purse on the way. Only when she slammed the door shut did the shaking start.
A second later, a knock sounded. “Sophia? Are you okay? I’m sorry if I was moving too fast. Don’t hide, sweetheart.”
Sophia didn’t answer, she just shook harder. What was I thinking? Well, she knew what she was thinking: Ride him like a cowgirl ’til the cows come home. Bad witch. It didn’t matter if he seemed a willing participant. Her spell had skewed his normal responses, made him somehow think he also had to fulfill not only her verbal commands but her unspoken bodily ones. I almost took advantage of him. While she could excuse using him as a chauffeur, using his body-that crossed a moral line.
“Open the door.”
“No.”
“I’ll kick it down if you don’t come out here and explain what’s wrong.”
Sophia laughed hysterically even as tears streamed down her face. How do I explain? By the way I’m a witch and I’ve cast a spell on you, so while you think you’re horny right now, it’s probably actually my hormones you’re feeling. Sorry for messing with your brain.
She screamed when the door splintered open. Aidan looked huge and angry; his form filled the doorway. At the sight of her huddled on the floor, his face softened.
“Aw, sweetheart, don’t cry. I’m sorry if things moved so fast. Come back to bed. I promise I won’t touch you.”
She wanted to tell him he was wrong, that he wasn’t the one at fault. She was the one who couldn’t be trusted-no better than a bloody nymphomaniac. But she said nothing and didn’t protest when he scooped her up to carry her back into the room. He placed her gently on the bed and eased onto the bed behind her. A heavy warm arm came over her waist and spooned her back into the scorching warmth of his body, and she let out a whimper.
Oh, why does he have to feel so good?
He misinterpreted the sound and shushed her. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Go to sleep. I promise to behave.”
Sophia lay stiffly in his embrace and struggled to understand this enigmatic man. To her puzzlement, she still felt the evidence of his arousal against her bottom where she was snuggled into him, and this even without her pawing at him. Is it possible he actually wanted me and not because of the spell? Not that it mattered. She refused to take the chance.
Besides, it wasn’t just the spell that made her leery, it was her whole reaction to him from the moment she’d met him. While she’d found herself attracted to men in the past, desire had never completely overwhelmed her before. She was acting as if bespelled-or maybe I’m falling in love, she thought-and it scared her.
Witches aren’t supposed to fall for humans, no matter how sexy. And chanting that rule to herself over and over, she finally slipped into a restless sleep.
Chapter Four
The next morning, even though he moved cautiously, she woke when he left the bed to closet himself in the bathroom. If she were smart, she’d leave right now. But she still needed to get to the gathering, not to mention make him forget. The sound of the shower galvanized her, and after pulling out clean clothes from her seemingly bottomless purse, she dressed quickly. When he emerged, his hair damp, she’d managed to compose herself, a state of mind she almost lost at the sight of him.
Why does he have to be so bloody gorgeous?
All the explanations she’d prepared to justify her hysterical actions of a few hours ago ended up unnecessary, for when he spoke it was only to say, “Ready to go? We’ll grab some food on the way.”
Then he walked out of the motel room to the truck. After taking a deep breath, she followed, only shivering slightly when he gave her a boost into the passenger seat.