Lining the bulbous head with her opening, he rammed it inside, not stopping until he was fully embedded. She let out a keening cry at the delicious pleasure-pain of it. “You like that, don’t you? Take more.”
He withdrew and slammed home again, and again, until he was pounding inside her. It still wasn’t enough. He lifted her legs and instantly went an inch deeper.
“Harder. Fuck me harder, please,” she demanded.
He gave her what she asked for, plunging rapidly inside her with the full force of his body. Ashley screamed and clawed the table as she came. He kept battering at her, wringing out another orgasm.
As she came down from her high, she felt his body tense as his cock expanded. “Pull out,” she quickly reminded.
Another two pumps of his hips and then he pulled away, shooting his seed on the floor. She rose onto her elbows. “Did you get any cum inside of me?” They couldn’t afford for his scent to be recognized on her.
He stood there shuddering as he jerked on his erection, loosing the last of his release. Gazing at her through slitted eyes, he admitted, “I’m not sure. But just to be on the safe side…” He went to his knees and buried his face in her cunt.
Shay clumped down the stairs sporting a red T-shirt and red and black cammies, mind still troubled. If their relationship was to work, Rory would have to learn not to disregard her insights and to respect her opinions. Simply because she was a novice at being a shifter didn’t make her an imbecile. She was highly intelligent and had good instincts. She knew what she saw and what she smelled. Ashley’s actions weren’t simply that of one shifter seeking ordinary affection from another.
Shay had watched enough nature documentaries to know that wolves in the wild often rubbed against other pack members for affection, belonging, and as a means of identification. Pack had a smell. What she’d seen was none of that.
She thought back to Conor’s statement about treachery surrounding them and that they’d have to stick together in order to be victorious. Hard to do when your mate thought you were a naive twit.
Earlier this morning her furry counterpart had taken a stand and earned Rory’s respect. The woman could do no less. While her wolf relied on sheer dogged determination, Shayla would use the one thing that had never failed her—her brain.
She needed a plan, but before she could come up with a course of action, she needed information. In a sense, Rory was right. There was a lot she didn’t know about being a shifter or being a Sparrowhawk, but she would learn. She would watch, take notes, and not take anything at face value. She didn’t know who the enemy or enemies were, but when the time came, she’d be ready.
In the meantime she was here to do a job. It was time to get busy on it.
“There you are,” Rory said as she entered the kitchen. “I was getting ready to come and get you.”
She took a seat at the table and waited until he’d placed a plate in front of her to say, “Where’s the equipment you set up? I’m ready to begin work.”
“You need to rest,” he stated as he set a glass of juice and another of milk in front of her before sitting across from her.
“I’ve rested,” she said around a mouth full of bacon. “That’s all I did yesterday and this morning. Now it’s time to do what you contracted me for."
“Your work doesn’t officially begin until Monday. If you’re feeling energetic, why don’t you take today to settle in? Unpack and I’ll throw your suitcases in the attic, then give you a tour of the house.”
She thought about it for a moment, not telling him she’d seen every room in the house yesterday when she searched for him. “And where do you suggest I put my clothes?”
He stared at her, nonplussed. “In our room, where else?”
“So it’s our room?”
His eyes narrowed. “You try sleeping somewhere else…” He shook his head. “What’s wrong with you? What happened to the woman who calmly announced that she lived here and wasn’t leaving?”
“Last night you were being stupid, and I was mad.”
He crossed his arms and settled back in his chair, rocking on its two hind legs. “And today?”
Shay shrugged one shoulder. “Today I’m wondering if you were right.”
His chair landed on all fours with a bang. “So you do think I’d hurt you.”
She glared at him for being dense. “No, asshole, I don’t.”
Now he just appeared confused. “Then what’s the problem?”
Shay took a deep breath and set her fork to the side. “No problem. I simply think we should take one day at a time, one step at a time. At least until we see where this is going.”
Rory studied her while she played with her toast. “Finish eating. Shifting consumes a lot of energy. With the babe, you don’t have any to spare.”
So no protestations of dying devotion, Shay thought cynically as she resumed eating. Figures. Get a grip. Shannon already told you the man has issues. Between his issues and your hang-ups it’s a wonder you two have made it this far. With a sigh, Shayla conceded that this was true. If they didn’t get their act together, this was going to be one messed-up child, she mused.
When she finished, Rory took her plate and utensil and loaded them into the dishwasher. “Drink your milk,” he commanded.
Shay screwed up her face and did as he commanded without complaint, something that would have shocked everyone who knew her.
“I need to call the pack’s midwife and have her check you out. You haven’t seen a doctor yet, have you? Prompt medical attention is essential for a healthy pregnancy.”
Shayla’s temporary obedient streak came to a halt. “No.”
“What do you mean no?” he asked, his eyebrows scrunched.
“Just what I said. N. O. You need it in another language? Nein. Nyet.” She crossed her arms over her chest and settled more firmly into her seat.
His mouth opened to say something, closed, and then he shut his eyes and appeared to be counting under his breath. “Why, Shay?”
“I’m not opposed to medical treatment, but when it comes to my health and the welfare of this child, it will be handled by someone with a string of letters behind their name, preferably OB-GYN.” Her set gaze dared him to state differently.
“Shay, our midwife has lots of experience. She’s been delivering pack babies for over twenty years. She knows what she’s doing. You think I would trust you or our child to simply anyone?”
She shook her head. “Not happening. I don’t care what you say. You want me to see someone, take me to Alex. I know he’s certified. Checked him out myself.”
“Fine,” he growled. “I’ll take you to go see Alex. Get ready. We roll in five.” He stalked out of the kitchen.
Chapter Seven
A brooding werewolf. Now there’s an interesting sight. Shay watched Rory’s reflection in the window.
“Shouldn’t we have called first and made an appointment?” she asked.
“No. Your cousin’s his mate. He’ll see you. Besides, I’d rather Kiesha not know we’re coming. She’s a bit…bloodthirsty,” he finished with a grimace.
“That’s what happens when you act without thinking, dumb-ass.”
“Evil bastard, asshole, and now dumb-ass. Any other names you’d like to call me, mate?” Rory asked in a silky, if menacing, tone of voice.
Shay pretended to think on the matter. “Hmm, that’s it for now. At least it is until the next stupid thing you do,” she finished.