Sweat popped out on his temple as he slowly ran a finger over her bare shoulder, down her biceps and back up again.
“I shouldn’t,” she began, and he knew she was going to say no.
He forestalled that by putting one hand on the small of her back and urging her closer. She put a hand on his chest in protest, and he captured it and began to sway with her in his arms. “Just one dance,” he murmured.
She bit her bottom lip. He could practically hear her mind working through the pros and cons of the situation. He held his breath and breathed a sigh of relief when she finally nodded.
She didn’t look at him, but stared at his chest as if she found it totally fascinating. The tension gripping him eased slightly as they began to move, their bodies swaying easily as though they’d danced together a hundred times. There was none of the awkwardness usually associated with a first dance. The floor wasn’t quite full, but there were other couples taking advantage of the final song. It was slow and mellow, with an undertone of sensuality that stoked the already burning embers between them.
He nuzzled her hair, loving the feel of the silky softness against his rough cheek, the fresh scent of her shampoo teasing his nose. It was something floral that made him think of a patch of wildflowers in a summer meadow. His palm made circles around the small of her back, urging her even closer.
There was no way she couldn’t notice his rather large erection pressing against her belly. She swayed and her breasts rubbed against his chest. He caught his breath and gave a low growl.
Her head came up and her lips twitched. The little she-wolf was laughing at him. She knew very well how damn aroused he was. In retaliation, he released his grip on her hand and ran his fingers down the thin silver strap at her shoulder, following it down the slope of her breast and into the deep vee of her cleavage.
Her lips parted on a low moan and a surge of arousal hit him. He could smell the sweet cream dampening her panties and knew it was because of him.
Isaiah danced her to the edge of the floor and beyond, tucking them into a dark corner behind a post. She tensed, but she didn’t protest. He leaned down and touched his lips to hers.
This was crazy. Meredith had no idea what madness had led her to agree to a dance with Isaiah. Not that she’d actually agreed. It was more that he’d pulled her into his arms and started moving. Not that she’d protested.
There was something about the tall, pushy male that drew her. She’d watched him sitting alone at his table, all the while doing her best not to let him or any of her pack know what she was doing. He, on the other hand, made no pretense that he was doing anything else but watching her.
For hours, she’d felt his eyes on her body as she moved through the club. It had been as potent as a physical caress.
Although she’d smiled and chatted with customers and friends, her breasts had swelled until her dress felt unbearably constricting and confining.
And her sex. Dear heaven, she ached so bad she wanted to scream. Her underwear was soaked and every step she took was torture as it rubbed the crotch of her panties against her swollen clit.
By the time Isaiah had put his hand on her, she’d been ready to jump him and climb on top of his rather impressive erection. It didn’t matter how many times she told herself it was simple biology. She wanted him.
Dancing with him simply continued the foreplay they’d been indulging in all night long. Because that’s what this was, and they were both mature enough to understand that.
She’d made sure he was able to watch her as she’d chatted and worked tonight. All but taunting him to come and get her. A male in less control of himself would have either left or made an overt play for her. He’d done neither. It was then she’d known she was dealing with a mature male, one who was a skilled tracker and hunter, able to wait patiently for his prey.
Knowing that, she’d have been much better off leaving the floor of battle and retiring to her room for the night. But she’d never been a coward, not since the day she’d taken her sons and run, and she had no intentions of starting now.
And, if she was being honest with herself, there was a part of her that enjoyed being chased by such a virile male. For the first time in her eighty-five years, she felt a longing for a particular male. It scared her even as it lured her.
By the time he drew her into the darkness, she’d expected him to ravage her. He’d surprised her yet again by barely touching his lips to hers. Bastard. He knew that would make her want even more.
Even knowing that it was a sensual trap set by a master, she went up on her toes and deepened the kiss. He made a low growl that went right to her core, making her inner muscles clench with need.
She touched her tongue to his and he slid his along hers and into her mouth. His large hand cupped the back of her head, tilting it slightly for a better fit. Oh, he tasted fine. Hot and masculine. Relentless.
She loved his eyes. They were the color of bittersweet dark chocolate—her favorite kind—and fringed with thick lashes that did nothing to detract from his masculinity.
His heart was pounding beneath the hand she had pressed against his chest. He was as aroused as she was. She could feel the heat coming off his big body, the tension in his thick muscles.
Raising her hands, she glided her palms over his heavy biceps and shoulders. His hair was down around his shoulders and she sifted her fingers through it.
He responded by yanking her lower body more firmly into the curve of his. Her mound rubbed enticingly against his erection. Oh, that feels so good. She hooked her right thigh over his hip, grateful for the slit in her dress that allowed the motion.
With his hand on her ass guiding her, she rubbed her mound over his hard shaft, imaging how good it would feel if they were both naked, her pussy gliding over his thick shaft.
She sucked in a breath and started to push away, knowing she had to stop this madness, but Isaiah worked his hips against hers. The movement sent his erection sliding over her sex in such a delicious way she gasped. She tilted her head back as she tried to get enough air into her lungs to keep from passing out.
It was too good. It wasn’t nearly enough.
The band stopped abruptly and some of the houselights came on. Meredith gasped again, this time with dismay instead of arousal. She pushed on his chest. “We have to stop.”
She pulled her leg down and her dress settled around her. Isaiah’s grip tightened briefly and she held her breath. Would he release her or would he try to hold her? After what seemed like an eternity but was probably only a few seconds, he dropped his hand by his side. Immediately, she felt cold without his touch, even though it was what she’d wanted.
Flustered, she brushed a hand over her hair and straightened her dress straps. Anything but look at Isaiah. His hair was slightly rumpled where she’d run her fingers through it and his eyes were slumberous and inviting. There was no mistaking the hard-on pressing against the front of his jeans.
“You have to go.” It seemed as though she was a broken record when it came to Isaiah. Not that he ever listened to her. But she had to get him out of here before she did something stupid like invite him up to her apartment. That would not go over well with the rest of the pack.
He frowned and raised his hand to touch her face. She took a step back.
“I was hoping we could continue this at your place.” His voice was thick with arousal and steeped with sensual promise.
She pressed her thighs together to ease the ache that never seemed to leave her these days. Being around him seemed to heighten it. But that was no surprise. Mother Nature did her best to make certain the male and female of the species wanted to mate.