Alpha Ever After (Midnight Liaisons Book 5) (13 page)

“You like that?”

I nod and shiver as he brushes his lips against the cord of my neck again. I had no idea my neck was so sensitive, but it feels like…well, like he’s brushing his lips over every erogenous zone in my body with that tiny caress. He licks and sucks at my neck, and his teeth scrape against my skin. A throaty moan escapes me, and I want to die of embarrassment.

But Connor doesn’t comment on the noises I’m making. He smooths my hair back over my opposite shoulder and presses another kiss to my neck. “Why don’t you lie back on the bed, baby? That way I can worship all of you.”

Worship? An interesting word to use, but it makes me melt like chocolate in the sun. His hands slide away, carrying my ugly bra with it. I sit down on the edge of the bed, gazing up at him and waiting for him to touch me again. Already I’m craving more.

The mattress sags as he sits next to me, and he moves in to kiss my neck again. Mmm. I cling to him and my fingers curl against his skin. One hand goes to his thigh and I knead it as as he licks and nibbles at my throat, holding my rounded body against his harder one.

His mouth moves to my ear, and I think I might die from the pleasure. “Want me to take my jeans off?”

I nod. I remember the feel of his hot skin against mine and I want that again.

When Connor gets to his feet, he doesn’t move back. It puts him practically in my face as he slowly unzips his jeans and pushes them down, revealing boxer briefs with a large tent in front. My lips part as he kicks off the jeans and then drags the boxer briefs down after them. His cock bursts free from the fabric and I can’t stop staring. This is my first time up close and personal with Connor’s equipment. I’ve seen naked guys before; you can’t be a shifter and not get a close and personal look at every guy in your clan. But this is the first time I’ve really eyeballed a guy. Really, really eyeballed a guy up close.

He notices me staring and bends down to take my hand in his. “You want to touch me?”

I…kind of do. I admit I’m curious. His scent is thicker here, as if all his musky ‘Connor’ scent was concentrated in one area. I glance up at him but his face is impossible to read. Now’s probably not the time for virginal exploring but he doesn’t look as if he minds, so I shore up my courage and put my hand on him.

His skin is scorching hot along his cock. Scorching hot, and velvety soft. I gently stroke my fingers over his length, amazed. It feels a bit like steel under his skin, but I can smell his scent and hear the pounding of his pulse, so I know it’s all Connor. His length is thick, and I circle him with my fingers, trying to touch them on the underside. Can’t quite reach. I stroke him gently, noticing that the head of his cock is a little thicker than the rest, the crown prominent. Beads of pre-cum dew the darker skin. I reach out and touch one, and am surprised when Connor’s entire body shudders.

I look up at him in surprise. Connor’s eyes are closed, face drawn. “Are you okay?”

“Just feels…really good.” His hands are clenched at his sides. “Keep doing what you want. I’m fine.”

Hmm. I rub my finger in the pre-cum, gliding it over the head of his cock until it’s gleaming wet. I…kind of want to lick it, but I hold off. I’m curious if I can get more reactions out of Connor. I slide my hand up and down his length slowly, almost thoughtfully, and then move down to his sac. They’re, well….balls. I guess. It’s not a particularly exciting or pretty part of a man, but I am fascinated at how soft the skin is under his pubic hair. I brush my fingertips over them and he shudders again. I look up and his jaw is clenched.

This is…kind of fun, in a sadistic sort of way. I lightly rub one of his balls, then roll it in my hand, trying to elicit more of a reaction from him. When that doesn’t get much of a response, I go back to petting his cock. Sliding my hand up and down the underside makes him bite down a little harder on his lip, so I do that a few times before curling my hand around him again and then stroking his entire shaft.

His hand closes over mine a moment later.

“Too much?” I ask him, a little disappointed that playtime is over.

“I’m going to explode on that pretty hand of yours if you don’t stop, and I want to come inside you.”

Oh. Well, I want that, too. I pull my hand back and slide my fingers over his taut stomach, instead. Once upon a time, my stomach was as flat as his. Well, almost. I never had these fascinating six pack muscles.

Connor’s hand goes to my shoulder and he gives it a nudge, indicating I should go onto my back.

I clutch a hand to my stomach and shake my head.

“You want to stop?” he asks.

“Um, no. I just…pregnant women shouldn’t lie on their backs.” It’s one of the million things I’ve read I’m not supposed to be doing.

His lips thin with concentration and then he reaches past me, grabs a few pillows, and then puts them down behind me. “What if you prop up?”

I shrug. “I guess it’s fine?”

“Good, because I intend on eating your pussy.” His eyes gleam. “So lie back for me.”

I blink at his bold words, and feel a flush coming over my face. That was…direct. I bite my lip and lie back onto the pillows, though I feel a little weird, especially when Connor leans over me and helps me fluff them to just the right spot.

When I’m reclining to his satisfaction, he leans in and kisses me again, his warm skin brushing over mine. I curl my arms around him, but he isn’t content to stay near my mouth. Instead, he continues to kiss downward, moving to my neck and then to my breasts. He brushes his knuckles over one, and watches the nipple pucker in response. “Your breasts are bigger.”

I chuckle. “I don’t know if you noticed, but everything’s bigger.”

He grins down at me, and for a moment his expression is so boyish that my heart squeezes. His thumb lightly flicks at my nipple and it goes from being an exciting sensation to too much sensation. I pull back a little, and Connor immediately slides a hand to my belly and caresses it instead. “Too sensitive?”

“A bit,” I admit. “Some days are worse than others.” Today seems to be a sensitive day, which disappoints me. I wouldn’t mind a little more breast play.

“Guess we’ll just have to do other things,” Connor says, and stands up. I feel weird looking up at him, because I’m propped up with all the pillows, naked, and my legs are hanging off the edge of the bed. I start to get up, but he drops to his knees in front of me and his big hands go to the tops of my thighs.

Oh. Right. He’s going to eat my pussy.

My entire body flutters with nervousness. All the pregnancy guides are clear that this sort of thing is fine, but I feel a little strange. Like a buffet laid up for his pleasure. I do my best not to wiggle as his hands stroke up and down my naked thighs and then he gently pushes them apart.

I can’t see a friggin thing over the mountain of my belly. So I lie back and stare at the ceiling, trying not to squirm even though it feels like every nerve in my body is about to jump. I’m nervous. It seems silly to be nervous, but I am.

Then, a finger rubs up and down the lips of my sex. A breathless moan escapes me, because I can feel how wet I am just from the way he rubs me.

“You smell amazing,” Connor murmurs. “Can’t wait to bury my nose there and just drink in that sweet scent.”

His words make me shiver, and my skin prickles at the mental image. It’s amazing how badly I want that. I
need
it.

But he doesn’t do what he promises. Instead, he just continues to rub my wet, aching slit with a knuckle. I squirm, but he doesn’t move. He doesn’t do anything. Just rubs up and down as if waiting for something. My nipples are pearled and aching, and my hands clench in the bedsheets. A small “please” escapes me.

That gets his attention. Connor growls low in his throat and then I feel him push apart the lips of my sex. His mouth is on me then, hot and wonderful, and I feel his tongue drag over my clit. My legs jerk in response and I suck in a breath. It feels incredible.

“Put them over my shoulders, baby,” he tells me and nudges one leg. I do as he commands and one hand grips my hip to hold me steady. One of his fingers from his other hand penetrates me, and he begins to thrust with it while his tongue plays with my clit.

Oh, god. It feels like sensory overload with all of that going on. My hips rock in time to the flicks of his tongue and my hand twists in the blankets, over and over. It’s like I need something to hold onto while he makes love to me with his mouth. My body’s so sensitive right now that I can tell it won’t take me long to come. Every time his finger pushes into me, his tongue flicks at just the right spot on my clit, dragging me higher and higher towards an inevitable orgasm. As if he has all the time in the world, Connor licks and sucks and dances his tongue along the hood of my clit, rubbing it in just the right ways that make me crazy with desire. The curls of need in my belly keep growing, until I’m practically riding his face with every thrust of his finger and keening with need. My hand clenches at the blanket hard, my fingernails dragging against the material.

Then his hand that was holding my hip reaches out and takes mine. He holds my hand as he licks my pussy, and it’s the sweetest and most erotic thing I’ve ever felt. I come hard, my hand in his.

He continues to lick me, his tongue moving over my pussy until I’m shuddering with each aftershock and feel the need to push him away. I release his hand - and feel rather empty as I do - and reach down to gently push him away. “Enough,” I say, breathless. “Please. Enough.”

Connor slides out from under my limp legs and gets to his feet. His mouth gleams, wet, and he licks his lips as I watch, which sends another shudder of need through me. “That was beautiful.” His gaze devours me as I lie on the pillows, and I feel sated and sensual all at once. He leans over me and for a moment, I think he’s going to cover me with his body and we’ll get it on - which will be weird with my gigantic belly in the way.

But he only reaches out and smooths my hair away from my flushed face. He carefully finger-combs it outward from my head, so I imagine it looks like a halo on the pillows. And then he gives me a small smile. “Did I ever tell you that you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen?”

“I don’t know.” It’s hard to think when my brain is complete mush. I could cheerfully slither off this bed and land in a puddle at his feet and wouldn’t care one bit.

“Well, you are.” He leans in and kisses my forehead. “And I should get that shower.”

I sit up as he turns and walks away, propping up on my elbows. “Um? Are we finished?”

He glances over at me. “For now, we are.”

“But we didn’t have sex.”

A small smile curls his mouth. “Yeah, but you’re tired. Did I make you feel good?”

A hot blush scorches my cheeks. “Any better and you’d probably have to scrape me off the floor.” His pleased look makes my insides curl with pleasure. “But what about you?”

“It’s not always about me, Savannah. But I wouldn’t mind holding you while you sleep tonight, if that’s all right.”

“Um, sure.”

I watch as he heads into the bathroom, his ass flexing. There is no mistaking the enormous erection he has. But he’s right, I am tired. I mean, I’m kind of game for sex, too, but the baby kicks and I yawn and I pull myself up off the bed thinking maybe he has the right idea. We can have morning sex or something. As he starts the water, I replace the pillows on the bed, crawl under the blankets, and almost immediately drift off to sleep. I’m barely conscious of him turning off the lights, or his big body sliding into bed next to me.

All I know is that I’m sleepy, and his warm skin feels good against mine.

I
wake
up early just so I can watch Savannah sleep. She’s utterly beautiful, curled in my arms with her belly pushing against mine. Her hair’s a tousled mess and her mouth is slightly open, and every so often she snores, just a little. It’s adorable. I could watch this for hours and never get enough. The only thing that bothers me about the picture is when her lovely neck is exposed and I don’t see my mate mark there. I’m tempted to lean over and give it to her while she sleeps, but I know she’d never forgive me then.

Her stomach kicks and mine growls. If I’m hungry, she will be too. I slide out of bed, careful not to wake her, and ignore my morning wood. She’s pregnant and probably tired more often than not - my own needs don’t matter when it comes to her. If needed, I’ll gladly eat her pussy every day and be content with that. As long as I get a piece of Savannah Russell, I’m happy.

I make a huge breakfast of rare steaks, hash-browned potatoes, bacon, eggs, and toast. I debate coffee, but I don’t know if she’s going no-caffeine for the pregnancy or what. I debate milk or orange juice, but I’m pretty sure some of those are probably bad for pregnant ladies, too. Fuck it. I pour her three drinks, one of each. She’s a goddamn adult and she can decide what she wants.

By the time I set the table and butter the toast, Savannah shows up in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. Her hair is a mess and she’s wearing the ugliest robe I’ve ever seen, but I love the sight of her. “Hey,” I say, grabbing the skillet and sliding the eggs in it onto her plate. “Sit. I made you some breakfast.”

She licks her lips, smiles at me, and sits down at the table in front of the food.
Score one for Anderson
, I think. I’m pleased when she immediately cuts a big bite of steak and then moans with pleasure. “You make your steaks better than mine.”

“The trick is searing them.” I’ll gladly make her steak every day if she wants it. Fuck, I’ll run down a cow and cut her a fresh one right off the hoof if I have to. Whatever my girl wants, she’s gonna get. I quickly make my own eggs, slap them onto two pieces of toast, and sit down across from her. I notice she takes sips of both the juice and milk and avoids the coffee. I file that away mentally. “Also, I stocked up on oysters for you. I know some of the baby books say you shouldn’t eat them, but I asked Dr. Lamb and he said it’s fine for wolf shifters, so I’m guessing it’s fine for you, too.”

She glances up at me and then goes back to cutting her steak. She chews in silence.

I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I scarf down my sandwich and then nudge the rest of the bacon in her direction, just in case she wants it. I wish she’d say something. She can’t still be mad about the baby cribs, can she? Maybe I won’t tell her about the fact that I’ve enlisted Tony to bring her lunch every day. He went to culinary school and can bake a mean chicken parm. And since he’s not working, I figure he can feed my woman every day even if I’m not around for lunchtime.

“By the way,” I begin, since I don’t like how silent she is. “I’m flipping a house that’s got a really nice fridge if you’d rather have that one. I can swap them out. It’s got stainless steel, french doors, the works.” Nothing. “Just say the word and I’ll get the boys on it.” Still nothing. “Since I’m flipping it, the new one doesn’t have to have a swanky fridge. New owners won’t even notice.”

She eats a piece of bacon, sips her milk, and then shrugs. “This one’s fine.”

My heart’s thudding like I’ve been chasing jackrabbits. “What’s wrong?”

Savannah’s gaze flicks to me, then back to her plate.

I feel sick. “What is it? You might as well say. Did I do something to offend you? Did you not come?” But I’m pretty sure she did. I felt her clench around my fingers when I was thrusting into her.

Her cheeks get pink and she shoots me an annoyed look. “That was fine.”

“Then what is it?” I lean forward. “Savannah, you’re my world. You have to tell me what’s bothering you. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine.” She ties her ugly robe shut and then sighs. “I just…I don’t think this is something we should do on a regular basis.”

Is she crazy? She has to eat every morning. “If you’re worried about gaining weight, I’d find you beautiful no matter what. And your metabolism is a shifter, so you’re fine. I—“

She shakes her head and interrupts me. “Not this,” she says, indicating the plates. “This.” And she points at me, then at herself.

My good mood shatters just like that. “Why?”

“It’ll be confusing for the children.”

Just like that, my heart squeezes as if a fist clenched around it. Last night was a fluke, then. There isn’t any ‘us.’ There’s just me, the sperm donor to her children, and Savannah, who doesn’t want me to be a part of things. She’s afraid that if I’m around, it’ll confuse the kids into thinking they have a dad.

Heaven fucking forbid. “Why’s it so bad if I’m in the picture, Sav? I’m not a terrible guy. I have a job, I don’t have a prison record, and I like kids.”

She chews on her lip for a moment, and then says, “What if I start dating someone else?”

Like that Craig guy? I snort. “You’re not.”

I can see her back go up. She practically bristles. “You’re so sure about that? After yesterday?”

“If that guy’s what you have to pick from? Yeah, I’m not worried about it. Craig’s a douche.” She can do better than that. Especially with me around.

Her face flushes with anger. She stands up and throws her napkin down on her plate. “Maybe I want my children to have were-cougar parents.”

“Don’t see why,” I drawl. “Seeing as how they’re gonna be wolves.”

Her nostrils flare and she storms past me, heading upstairs. I rub my face and don’t get up from the table to chase after her. Damn it. This was not how I wanted to start the day. I think of Savannah, sweet and sleepy before waking up.

Then I imagine her in the arms of that Craig joker and I want to break the dining room table in half with my fists.

* * *

“
S
aid
she didn’t want your food, bro. Turned me away at the door,” Tony tells me over the phone. “It’s all getting cold, too. You know lobster ravioli is no good if it’s cold.”

Fuck. Savannah’s being stubborn. “She already had lunch? Or just didn’t want what I’m providing for her?”

“Didn’t want anything that had to do with you,” Tony says, and there’s a little perverse pleasure in his voice. That shit. “Said you could go fuck yourself if you thought you could control every aspect of her life.”

Huh? That wasn’t my intention at all. I ignore Tony’s sniggering and Wade’s chortling on the other end of the phone and hang up. Let them laugh. I drum my fingers on the granite countertop installed not five minutes ago in the flip house. The contractors are still outside, and I can’t leave.

My phone immediately dings with a text.

Go ahead
, I send back, just so he’ll shut up and leave me alone.
And then call Alice and see what she needs help with today.

That was what I thought. Tony whines a lot, but he’s a pretty loyal wolf to whoever’s in charge. They all are, really. They just need a firm hand. Uncle Levi let them run roughshod and they turned into bullies. I’m keeping them on a tighter leash and they’re slowly going to learn how to behave.

The food is the least of my problems. Last night had been amazing, and now that the sun was up, Savannah is determined to fight me again. I don’t understand her. I don’t understand why she hates me so much that she’d rather raise our children alone than have me around. She sure didn’t hate me last night when I was between her thighs. It’s clear she regrets it now, though.

It’s also clear to me I can’t let this sit. I need to talk to her. I check the time on my phone. Four in the afternoon. Savannah eats lunch late because she works the night shift at Midnight Liaisons. I knew that when I sent Tony over. By six, she’ll be starving and she usually doesn’t bring a lunch.

I know this because I watch her a lot.

As the men come in with the next counter, I nod at them. “Can we hurry things up? I have someplace to be soon.”

By the time I sign off on the counters, two hours have passed and I’m antsy as hell. I drive to the nearest deli, order a bunch of sandwiches and soups of every kind, and then add a bunch of cookies and brownies too, just in case my girl has a sweet tooth. I drive over to the dating agency and, with my enormous lunch-slash-dinner in tow, I head in to the office.

The first thing I notice is that it’s crowded. Three of the big, hulking guys that have been accompanying Savannah are present, seated with picture books in their laps in the waiting area. Two more sit at her desk, and I hear Dora the Explorer’s voice coming out of the computer. “
Bienvenidos
,” one man repeats after the computer program. Savannah’s sitting at Ryder’s desk, the phone pressed to her ear as she scribbles notes.

All heads turn as I walk in, no doubt smelling the hot sandwiches and soups I’ve brought with me.

“
Bienvenidos
,” says the other man at the desk. His buddy nods at him as if he’s done a good job.

One of the men with the picture books sniffs the air and then nudges the man at his side. “He’s one of the tiny wolves.”

Tiny wolves? What the—

Savannah puts her call on hold and gets up from the desk. Her eyes are wide with…relief? “Connor, thank god. I—”

Thank god? For me?

She rushes on. “—I need your help. Can you talk to the person on the phone for a few minutes? She’s trying to figure out how to reinstall her web browser and I’ve been stuck with her for forty minutes, and Lir’s been in the bathroom for nearly that long and I need to check on him.” She gives me a pleading look.

The sandwiches are forgotten, the arguments from this morning pushed aside. I don’t even ask why she’s checking on a grown man in the bathroom. “Of course.”

The look she gives me is full of relief and she rushes down the back hall while I put down the bags of deli food and pick up the call holding. “Tech support, how can I help?” I lie.

“The computer’s asking me if I want to run. Do I want to run?” The elderly woman’s voice on the phone sounds confused.

“To install your new browser? Yes ma’am.”

“I don’t need a browser. I need a Google.”

Oh boy. I start to launch into an explanation of computer programs versus computer websites, when one of the big guys comes sniffing around the food. I glare at him as I help the woman on the line, but he only glances at the bag and then looks at his friends.

“He’s feeding her,” he tells them. “I do not smell pizza.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know the trick,” says another.

Trick? I want to hang up on the caller and figure out what the hell they’re talking about, but Savannah needs my help, so I resist the urge. Of course, it’s hard to concentrate when they’re all wandering around the office. One starts playing with the Scotch Tape dispenser, and then the next few minutes are full of the noise of tape being yanked off and stuck to things, and then ripped back off again.

Just when I finish the call, Savannah comes out of the bathroom with another man, her hand holding his elbow like a naughty child. He’s extremely tall and muscular, the stranger, but that’s not surprising. They all are. This one’s also got wild blond hair, dark eyes, green marker smears on his temples and bright red lipstick plastered all over the bottom half of his face.

I can’t help it. I stare.

Savannah’s busy handing him more wet wipes. “I can’t believe you, Lir.”

“It looked good in the movie.”

“What movie?”

“The one with the man-bat with the funny voice.” He wipes at his face with the towelette, but it only succeeds in making a bigger mess.

Savannah makes an exasperated noise and takes the wipe from him and begins to clean his face. “I don’t care if you put makeup on. I don’t care what you do. The problem is that those things you used aren’t yours. You can’t just take things without asking. You have to get permission. You have to ask. People have to want to give you things.”

Her tone is gentle even as she scolds, and it hits me like a bolt of lightning.

You have to ask.

That’s it.

That’s why she fights me. She’s been saying it but I haven’t been listening. It’s not that Savannah hates me. It’s that she hates that all her choices are being taken away from her. She didn’t ask to be pregnant. She didn’t ask to be kidnapped, and she hasn’t asked for me to push my way into her life in an effort to make her see me.

I’m an idiot.

I’ve forgotten the oldest trick in the books. That if you want to win a woman? You woo her.

I need to change what I’m doing, starting now. I can woo. I can make Savannah see that I’m not the enemy. I’m just going about it the wrong way.