He gave a ragged sigh, hating that she'd garnered others' interest as well. "Your pheromones, looks, actions. You caught his attention, but he's cautious in taking you because he's a beta."
He kissed her lips, possessively, craving every inch of her, to hold, to protect, to keep her for his own forever.
"Ahh, betas, of course. Your sister and Cara are alphas, aren't they?"
He groaned inwardly. Some part of his brain realized it was important for her to talk about this, but he sure as hell wanted to get on with what his other brain felt was important. "Yeah."
"And Rourke and Ashton?" Her fingers slid over Hunter's arm, her gaze focused on the way his muscle tensed.
"Betas."
"What would I be?" Her eyes shifted to his, and he could see the concern there.
Hunter took a deep breath. "All that I want in a woman."
Her jaw tightened, her green eyes spearing him with a determined look. "I'm an alpha," she said, with great conviction. When he smiled, she pinched his pebbled nipple with a gentle squeeze. "You don't think so?"
He nuzzled her face, wanting to make love, but wanting to clear the air between them first. "Sometimes you're definitely an alpha." He couldn't lie to her and say she was always one, because he wasn't sure how she'd fare among the alpha of his kind, but he hated the way her brows pinched together, when he wanted to reassure her instead.
"A beta's not good, is it?"
He cleared his throat. Without betas, a lupus garou pack would constantly be in turmoil, alphas butting heads, what a mess. "Betas in a pack are fine. Alphas must lead the pack though."
"So if I were a beta and you turned me, I'd be stuck with someone like Rourke?"
Hunter tightened his hold on her. Hell, no way.
"Or someone of Devlyn's choosing," she whispered.
"We'll talk about it later." He ran his fingers over her smooth cheek and kissed her velvety lips, loving the way every bit of her felt to him, melding to him.
She parted her lips for him and touched her tongue to his, a sexy dominating caress, and then thrusting into his mouth, exploring, conquering, nearly undoing him.
He moaned and pushed her onto her back, her silky hair falling against the sheets, and he couldn't deny she was the most sensual and intriguing woman he'd ever met.
With a gentle push of his knee, he spread her thighs, opening her sweet body to him, her short red curls drenched, her swollen pink lips wanting. Her eyes half-lidded, she more than obliged, her hands tugging at his hips to join her.
Sliding his engorged arousal into her tight sheath, he savored the way her body stroked him as he thrust into her, clenching, tightening, wringing him to the nth degree, heightening the exquisite pleasure. He cupped her face and conquered her mouth with his, her lips and tongue fueling his desire. Tightening her hands on his back, she arched against him, deepening the bond, their hearts beating hard, their breathing heavy and ragged.
For the moment, she was all his, but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough unless he could have her for all eternity.
As if she felt it was her last chance at convincing him she wanted him to choose her for his mate, she wrapped her legs around his waist, her heels digging into his ass, pressuring him to deepen his thrusts. And he gladly did her bidding, diving deeper, craving completion, wanting to find release in the only woman he'd ever desired making his own.
She moaned, her orgasm gripping him with waves of pleasure, pulling him to the edge, and he quickly followed with a staggering climax that left him sated, but he knew it would never be enough.
Before he could roll off Tessa and pull her into his arms to enjoy the afterglow, someone pounded on the bedroom door as the wind roared over the house. Ignoring whoever it was, he shook his head and drew Tessa on top of him, wanting to snuggle and sleep, to recharge their batteries before they faced much more trouble.
"Hunter, I got through on the phone to the sheriff's office. Wind's are gusting up to one hundred miles per hour. Tessa's roof sounds like it's about to go. The sheriff's department wants everyone evacuated from the coastal areas," Rourke warned.
Tessa kissed Hunter's cheek, her hand caressing his chest. "Maybe it's time to go to Portland."
Hunter agreed. "Pack two vehicles, Ashton's pickup since it made it before, and Meara's SUV. We'll be out in a minute, Rourke."
He yanked the covers aside and grabbed Tessa's clothes and handed them to her, taking a long look at her tantalizing body, her breasts heavy, her nipples taut, a slight sheen of perspiration making her skin shimmer, and slightly red from all the hot friction they'd created. She gave him the same kind of salacious look, grinned at him when he caught her eye, and dressed.
When they entered the living room, something crashed outside and Tessa jumped. Ashton and Rourke ran to the front window and peered out.
"Ah, hell," Ashton said. "There goes my new truck."
Hunter shook his head, not happy about having to take Rourke's truck instead.
"We'd better hurry before another tree comes down." Rourke jerked on his parka. "Do we take my truck now?"
"Yeah. Ashton can drive if he's more used to the conditions." At least Hunter hoped so.
Rourke scowled as if Hunter had unmanned him. "No one can get 'used' to these conditions."
Tessa handed him an armful of blankets for the trip, and Rourke carried them out to his truck.
"Cara, you and Rourke ride with Ashton. He'll lead the way." Hunter turned to Meara. "You and Tessa will ride with me."
"Why two vehicles?" Cara asked. "Wouldn't it be better if we all stayed together in the SUV?"
"If one of us has trouble, the other can pick up the stranded passengers. Let's go." The way things had been going since they had arrived here, he had hopes for the best, but planned for the worst.
Shingles on the ridge of the roof flew off, and Tessa rushed to lock the front door. Then she and the others climbed into their respective vehicles.
Once they were on the road, Hunter hoped Rourke's truck would hug the road better with Ashton driving it.
"What are you going to do about our pack?" Meara stretched out on the middle seat, covered in blankets with a pillow underneath her head.
"Force them to leave the city. Either they'll return with us or they'll have to go elsewhere. Staying in Portland is not an alternative."
But only three miles from Tessa's house, Ashton slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching, the taillights coloring the snow cherry. The vehicle slid perpendicular to the road.
"Oh, oh," Tessa gasped.
His skin prickling, Hunter pumped the brakes and tried to avoid colliding with Rourke's truck. Tessa gripped her seat. The SUV slid to a halt. Rourke's pickup tore off the road, plowing into saplings down the steep incline.
"They'll be all right," Hunter said, his voice gruffer than he intended. At least he prayed they were all right. He cut the engine. "Stay here."
Tessa pulled on her parka. "You might need my help."
Not only did he not want her to see what had happened in case anyone had died, he didn't want her injured. Hunter grabbed her hand and shook his head, his look meant to make her obey. "Stay, Tessa. They'll be all right. We heal quickly, remember? If you become injured, we might not be able to get you any medical attention for some time. So stay." All he needed was for her to get hurt. No way was he going to permit it.
She pursed her lips, and then gave him a tight nod. He wanted to reassure her further, but time was of the essence and despite her noticeable reluctance, he was glad she'd listened to him.