“I’m sorry if I scared you. When I heard the alarm, I thought something was wrong.” His heart began an erratic rhythm once again at the mere thought of anything harming Karen.
“No. You didn’t scare me. I mean, well, to be honest, you did a little, at first. But, when I realized it was you . . . well, I don’t know how to explain it. But, I wasn’t scared any longer. Not really.”
He hugged her to him, and her fingers danced over his back, reminding him he was naked. His cock jumped at the feel of her touch on his skin and he took her mouth in a demanding, possessive kiss while he hugged her tightly against him. She moaned and he growled. The woman drove him crazy. He wanted her constantly. He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m going to go shower and get dressed.”
Her gasps feathered softly against his cheek and he nearly pushed her to the floor and buried his body in her, knowing he’d find her hot and ready for him. He still felt guilty for scaring her, though, and wanted to give her a little time to adjust to what she’d seen. She already had enough to deal with. Her first change was coming at some point later tonight. He kissed her on top of the head.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Okay. I’ll cook us something to eat.”
He eyed her one last time, hungry for her and not food. “You should be able to find whatever you need in the kitchen.” He watched the gentle sway of her hips as she walked away from him, and noted she had on yet another pair of his socks. Memories of the previous night and her with only those socks on flashed through his already overheated brain. He’d have to buy damn stock in those socks and make sure she had a pair to wear at all times. He took a deep, calming breath and turned to go take the coldest shower of his life.
She’d never been much of a cook, but she knew how to fix a scrumptious grilled chicken sandwich. Luckily, he had chicken breasts in the fridge and a fresh loaf of ciabatta bread in the pantry.
She had just finished piling the sandwiches high with tomatoes, lettuce, and her secret sauce—which really only consisted mayo, Ranch dressing and a tiny bit of horseradish for kick—when Anthony strolled into the kitchen. She eyed him when he came and stood next to her, checking out the plate with the sandwiches. She’d never seen a man even close to as gorgeous as Anthony. He could let his hair grow out and not shave for a month and he’d still be magnificent. He wore a pair of faded blue jeans, again with the top button left open, and a dark blue shirt that hung open, unbuttoned to expose his muscular chest and ripped abs.
Her mouth watered, and she knew it wasn’t because of the food. She unconsciously leaned close to him and took a deep breath of his clean scent laced with a hint of sandalwood.
Anthony tensed. “Stop doing that, Karen, or I’m going to be eating something other than this food you just cooked.”
Her eyes widened, and she blushed a little when he caught her smelling him. She picked up the plate and sidled around him to set it on the counter. She sat on one of the stools, and he followed her. No. Stalked would be a better word to use. He was sleek, graceful, and his fluid movement screamed sex. She wanted him. She knew he wanted her. She knew he knew she wanted him. What the hell is wrong with me? Ever since she’d met this man the first and foremost thing on her mind at all times seemed to be sex.
She watched as he picked up one of the sandwiches and took a big bite of it. He closed his eyes and chewed. “God, this is good.” She watched his throat muscles work as he swallowed and wished her mouth were on his skin. His eyes snapped open and he caught her staring at him. “I told you to cut it out, Karen. I’m not joking. If you don’t stop, I’m going to have you right now on this counter.”
“Then why would I stop?” The words had barely tumbled from her mouth when a deep growl reverberated through the room, two big hands grabbed her, and she was sprawled on the counter with Anthony between her legs.
“You make me so damn hot.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest while keeping his fingers twined with hers. “Can you feel how my heart thunders when I’m near you?” He pulled her hand lower to his crotch. He squeezed his eyes shut briefly. “Can you feel how hard you make me?”
She swallowed hard and licked her lips. Suddenly, clothes were torn off and scattered everywhere, and Anthony yanked her bare bottom to the edge of the counter before burying his cock inside her. She let out a small cry of pleasure and opened her legs wider to allow him to go even deeper into her snug, wet sheath. He picked a lazy rhythm that increased in intensity with each thrust. Faster, harder, his hips rotated and she arched into him, begging for his possession. He wrung every inch of pleasure from her, and when she lay spent on her back, him draped over her, she thought she’d never be able to move again.
His head rested on her chest, and his ragged breaths tickled her nipple. “I think we ruined the food.” She tilted her head to the side and laughed when she saw the empty plate and the sandwich pieces scattered on the counter and floor.
She smiled and hugged him. “Yeah. I can make us some more.”
“As good as it was, I think I’d rather have something else to eat right now.”
“I can make you whatever—”
“I’m not talking about food.” By the time she understood what he meant, his face was buried between her legs and she was gasping in pleasure once again.
Chapter Eight
Later that evening, as Karen lay curled against Anthony, a tickling sensation erupted along the surface of her skin. Her body heated and sweat dotted her brow. She sat up. “Anthony, I feel strange.”
He sat up beside her and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to his chest. “It’s the change, baby.”
“It feels like bugs are crawling under my skin. I don’t want this to happen, Anthony. Please!”
He held her tighter to him, put his mouth next to her ear, and whispered, “It’s going to be okay, Karen. It’s normal. After you’ve changed a few times, you won’t even notice it any longer.”
The muscles under her skin rippled, and thousands of new, tiny, golden hairs erupted through her skin,. She looked at Anthony in horror. “My God! This can’t be happening.”
“Karen. Look at me, baby. Focus on me, okay?” He continued to urge her until she finally focused her attention on him. “It’s okay, baby. I’m here with you. Don’t forget that. I won’t let anything bad happen to you, okay? I swear it.”
Before she could respond, her body convulsed and Anthony cradled her to his chest like a newborn, rocking her, comforting her the best he could. “Come on, baby. Take some deep breaths. We’ll get through this together.”
His chest ached in response to her fright. He’d be with her every step of the way, and next time, she wouldn’t be scared because she’d know what to expect.
The first time he’d changed, he’d been petrified, even though he’d been raised around other lycans and had known his whole life that he’d turn someday, as well. He’d been alone and remembered longing for someone to hold him, to tell him it would be all right. And it had been all right, but it was still not something he would wish for anyone to go through the first time alone. Knowing he was here for Karen gave him some semblance of peace.