He took his time traveling from her lips to her toes, and by the time he once more lay over her with his mouth mere centimeters from her own, her senses tingled with pent-up desire. But neither did she want to just take and not give, so she pushed him on the shoulder and smiled when he rolled to his back.
His cock stood proud and more than ready to finish what they’d started, but she aimed for other targets as she laced their fingers together and kissed him breathless. The sweet friction of her nipples rubbing against his chest drew a deep moan of longing from her lungs.
Teasing him, she inched down his body, planting licks, nibbles and kisses along his flesh. His soft bass rumbles of encouragement were music to her ears. But when she bypassed his eager cock to kiss his thigh, he growled with frustration.
“Heidi...”
She gave in and drew nearer to his heat. Taking his ball sac in her hand, she licked the length of his erection, pressed a soft kiss to the tip and tasted his salty essence.
“Heidi.” His tone was more urgent, so she sucked in as much of his cock as she could and tilted her face up to look at him.
His dark, passionate gaze burned into her memory before he turned away to press his head back on the pillow. He freed her hand to grab the back of her head and hold her in place while his hips lifted.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he said before pulling her off him a mere two strokes later.
With impressive strength, he raised her up and rolled her beneath him in one quick motion.
A smile tugged at her lips. “You didn’t like that?”
“I liked it very much...too much.” He kissed her hard before she had a chance to draw breath, but the kiss was short-lived. “Stay there.”
He climbed off the bed and retrieved a condom.
She wanted to ask him to leave it off, to give her the children only a male shifter could, but she bit her tongue, refusing to voice such needs when he’d made it clear he would leave her tomorrow.
Still, she couldn’t hide the tear that escaped a corner of one eye.
After he crawled over her, he thumbed the dampness from her temple and stared into her eyes, a frown of unease on his face. “Do you want to stop?”
She shook her head and cringed when a second tear fell. He began to push up. “No.” Unable to say more, she cupped his nape and pulled him down for another kiss. She didn’t want her emotional turmoil to ruin her last chance at happiness, if only for one night.
After a brief, heart-stopping hesitation, he settled over her again and returned her kiss with keen interest. His entry was slow and tender and brought renewed moisture to her eyes.
“Shhh... God, Heidi, please don’t cry.” He cradled her head in both hands and kissed her eyelids.
“I can’t help it.” She drew in a shaky breath. “You feel too good.”
Unlike the fierce outer shell he showed the world, the tough alpha unwilling to let anyone near his heart, he could be so gentle with her. He was a contradiction that confounded her, attracted her and destroyed the defenses she’d erected around her own heart.
He nudged deeper even as he kissed that most sensitive of spots on her neck, beneath her ear.
“Your tears unman me, chata.”
She wrapped her legs and arms around him as if she could hold him to her forever. “You don’t feel unmanned.”
His chuckle was a deep rumble against her chest. “What am I to do with you?”
She hugged him closer. “Just love me, Javier.” Her voice dropped to a needy whisper. “Love me.”
He kissed her then, her eyes, nose and mouth. And he rode out his passions within her body, driving her own arousal to new heights, until they each found the physical release they sought...if not the poignant bond of a true mating she desired.
Chapter Twelve
Just before sunrise, as dusky light seeped in through the partially opened curtains, Heidi awoke and wondered for a moment if she’d ever actually fallen asleep. Her body was pleasantly achy all over, and her tummy rumbled from the lack of dinner. The burgers they’d purchased the night before had been left untouched on the dresser, and she decided she’d toss them on her way out. But first, she spent several minutes staring at the deliciously naked man beside her.
He slept peacefully, his handsome, almost exotic features softened in slumber. She was glad whatever nightmares normally plagued him had left him alone overnight. Perhaps their exhaustive sexcapade, which had stretched into the early morning hours, had helped him find one night’s peace.
A part of her wanted nothing more than to remain exactly where she was, maybe wake him up and...
But no, she couldn’t. Axel, and even Javier himself, had made it clear their time together was limited. And that time was up. Deciding not to remain for a painful goodbye, she slipped from the bed, dressed and left without a word or note of farewell.
Two hours later, she walked into the clinic. Having showered, dressed and grabbed a bite to eat at her dads’ house, she felt somewhat refreshed if not prepared to face the day...without Javier. She missed him already but was determined to go on with her life without him. She had no other choice.
Was he already gone? Maybe. Would she ever see him again? Probably not.
She wished she’d at least gotten his cell phone number or an address where she could write to him.
Then again, a long-distance pen pal wasn’t what she wanted either. Better to make a clean break, let him go and move on.
Best way to do that was to keep busy.
Mrs. Blake greeted her with a smile. “Good morning.”
Heidi took a stack of mail from the pleasant receptionist, combining it with a couple of personal letters she’d brought from home and had not yet had the chance to read. “Thank you for opening up this morning.”
“No problem, dear.”
“Where’s Beth?” Her sister-in-law had left home a while before her. She should’ve arrived already, but her vehicle wasn’t parked outside.
“She called to say she was dropping the boys off at the outfitters, and I asked her to pick up some office supplies. We’re out of paper clips and manila envelopes.”
“Ah, okay. Pretty slow this morning,” Heidi said, noticing the empty lobby. It was still early.
“When’s our first appointment?”
“Not for another hour, but there was a gentleman who stopped by right after I opened up.”
“Oh?” Heidi held her breath but couldn’t prevent the sudden, hopeful acceleration of her heartbeat.
“Who?”
Before Mrs. Blake could answer, the door chime sounded and Heidi turned to see who the customer was.
“Javier,” she whispered, praying he wasn’t a hallucination.
As thrilled as she was to see him, his enigmatic expression confounded her. Questions flooded her brain. Why was he here? Why did he not look pleased about it? Had Axel done something stupid? If her brothers had threatened him...
“Where is he?” He took a deep breath and eyed her with such seriousness, Heidi quivered.
“Where’s who?”
Instead of answering, he stalked past her into the hallway that led to the back of the clinic and took another deep breath. He looked at Mrs. Blake. “You said a gentleman was here.” His tone made the term sound more like a curse than compliment.
“You heard that?” the bewildered receptionist asked, and Heidi realized Javier had heard their conversation before he’d even entered the clinic.
Javier didn’t answer the woman’s question but asked another of his own. “How long ago?” His stance and expression—hell, his entire demeanor—dominated the space and brooked no argument.
Flustered, Mrs. Blake glanced at Heidi, who nodded. “Well, I’d say about twenty-five or thirty minutes ago. He arrived right after I turned on the Open sign.”