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  And now?

  She mentally shook her head. No, this wasn’t about Joe. Never had been. He was gone. This was about moving on with her life and finally getting what she wanted after her life had been torn apart.

  A knock made her startle. Checking the clock, she realized she had been standing there longer than she thought and padded toward the door. She took a breath, knowing that once she opened this door, there would be no turning back.

  “Hello, cher.”

  Her heart stopped for three beats when her gaze landed on his handsome face. She swallowed hard as she took in the sight of him dressed so casually in a black T-shirt stretched tight across his wide chest, tapering down to his slim waist. The moment she got a whiff of his scent, her wolf let out a low, longing yowl.

  “I didn’t have time to get ready.”

  His eyes moved along her body, and heat pooled in her belly at the lazy admiration. “You look ready enough.”

  “I mean, I should get showered and dressed.” She had planned to at least get cleaned up and change out of her usual office attire of a blouse and pencil skirt and into the little red dress she had brought. Not like she needed to seduce him further, but she thought it would be a good incentive in case he changed his mind.

  “Dressing up would seem unnecessary, though I appreciate the thought.” He cocked his head to the side. “Aren’t you going to let me in?”

  Wordlessly, she stepped back and gestured for him to come inside. “Do you want a drink? Or food? I can order—”

  “Non.” He cleared his throat. “No, thank you. Perhaps we should just skip the preliminaries and—”

  “Get this over with?” she snapped, then regretted her words. While she was eager for what would happen after, truthfully, the thought that this was some kind of transaction between them stung. But that was all that it was, right?

  “Cher,” he began. “If you’ve changed your mind—”

  “I haven’t,” she stated. “You’re right, we should just get it over with.” She turned around so he couldn’t see her face, but he caught her arm.

  “Those were your words, not mine. I want you, Mika,” he growled. “And I intend to have you. You’re mine. This body”—he ran his hands down to her hips and pulled her ass flush against his hips—“is mine.”

  “For tonight.”

  “Until the morning.” He was already hard, as evident by the thick bulge pushing up against her ass. God, she’d been imagining his cock since last night when he did the exact same thing and then rubbed himself against her until he came. “I’m going to do whatever I want with this sweet little body. And you’ll let me. Do you know why?”

  She shook her head, unable to speak.

  “Because you’ll want me to do those things.”

  A shiver ran through her. Maybe this was a mistake. But her body was singing with need at his words, her pussy growing wet in anticipation. The bastard must have smelled her arousal because he gave a little laugh. “So sweet.” He turned her around again and lowered his head.

  “No kissing,” she warned.

  “No kissing on the lips, you said.” He wrapped her braid around his fist and tugged, pulling her head to the side before pressing his mouth to the pulse at her neck.

  “That’s not—Oh!” He nipped at her, and pleasure sizzled straight to her core. She tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t budge and continued his assault. He mouthed at the sensitive skin of her neck, the soft hairs of his beard tickling her as he switched from kissing to nibbling little bites. His tongue painted soft, sensuous strokes across her nape and shoulders. When his grip on her braid tightened and he tugged hard, she couldn’t stop the loud moan that escaped her mouth.

  “Please …”

  He continued to kiss her neck and shoulders, and laved her with his mouth and tongue. When he did pull back, she let out a needy whimper.

  Without a word, he lifted her and walked them toward the bed. He set her down, making her sit at the edge of the mattress, then knelt between her spread legs. Reaching toward her, he unbuttoned the front of her blouse slowly, parting the fabric to reveal her black lace bra.

  He whispered something in French she couldn’t understand, then leaned forward to press his hot mouth between her breasts, nuzzling her cleavage with his nose. Reaching up, he shucked the blouse and the straps off her shoulders, freeing her breasts so he could capture a nipple between his teeth.

  She hissed at the pleasure–pain and thrust her hands into his hair. Much to her surprise, it was soft at the nape. When she gave a tug, he growled and sucked her nipple harder.

  A thrill surged through her knowing she could elicit such a response from him. Hell, if she were honest, the fact that he wanted her so bad was exciting and added to her own pleasure.

  You’re doing this to get pregnant, her brain reminded her. But she couldn’t bring herself to care anymore.

  His other hand slid up her thighs and under her skirt. Oh God, just having his fingers near her pussy again was enough to soak her panties. Nudging her thighs farther apart, his fingers sought the damp fabric pushing it aside to touch her wet lips. The digits teased her, moving up and down her slit and barely missing her clit. She ground her hips forward, seeking that pleasure he had given her last night and more.

  “So impatient, cher,” he murmured against her breast. “I told you you’ll want it.”

  “Fuck you,” she spat. “I—”

  A hand reached up to collar her throat, and Goddammit, that act of dominance made her want him even more.

  “Don’t be ashamed, Mika.” He loosened his hold on her neck, but his other hand continued its ministrations between her legs. “It’s just you and me here.” He slipped a finger inside her. “I’ve been dreaming of your pussy since last night.” Another finger joined in, and he began to move his hand back and forth. “Merde, I’ve been dreaming of it since I met you.”

  She let out a strangled moan as his thumb brushed her clit, strumming it so expertly that her body tightened as it prepared for her orgasm.

  “That’s it,” he encouraged. “Come for me. You look so beautiful when you come.”

  Crying out, she grabbed his shoulders, digging into them with her fingers as a powerful orgasm rocked her body. He continued cooing to her in English and French, his hand working her until the waves of pleasure ebbed away, leaving her body limp.

  “Good girl.” He withdrew his hand, then popped his fingers into his mouth. “I’ll get a taste of you later. But for now …” Standing up, he towered over her.

  Her brows knitted together as she looked up at him, confused.

  “Come now, you don’t expect me to do all the work, non?”

  The smug shit. “Of course not.” She supposed he was right, but maybe she could have some fun too. That tiny thrill she got when he reacted to her was just a taste, but oh so heady that she could get drunk on it.

  Reaching for the bottom of his shirt, she rose and dragged it up, exposing his perfect six-pack abs. Damn, she wanted to bite them. Maybe later. For now, she continued to pull the shirt up, dragging it over his head with his help, and then tossed it aside. Her greedy eyes soaked in his naked chest, following the swirls of ink that dragged across his golden tanned skin, her fingers following in her gaze’s wake. When her thumb brushed a nipple and made him groan, a surge of lust gripped her, and she leaned forward and pressed the flat of her tongue against his nipple.

  “Mika …” His entire body tensed, and she continued to tease him, her mouth moving lower, over his rock-hard abs. Her teeth grazed over his skin, and he let out a hiss.

  Fuck, he was hot. She’d been around Lycans all her life and seen them in various states of undress, so it was nothing new to her. But Delacroix was an exceptional specimen, and at the very least, she acknowledged that she was lucky that he was attractive and sexy. No wonder all those women wanted him. The thought of him having sex with other women made an unreasonable jealousy rise inside—

  “Uh, cher?” He look
ed down at her expectantly.

  Right. There was a task at hand. She smirked up at him as she tugged on the fly of his jeans. One by one, she popped the buttons, then pulled them down along with his boxers.

  Oh, mercy me.

  He was already rock-hard, his cock thick and long and bobbing up and down as if promising her a good fucking. Jesus, maybe she shouldn’t have waited so long to have sex again. It would have been uncomfortable even if she hadn’t been celibate for over two years.

  Well, this is what I signed up for. Tentatively, she wrapped her fingers around the shaft, feeling its weight and girth in her hands. He jerked at her touch, a strangled cry coming from his throat as she began to move her hand over him, stroking him, feeling the pulse of his cock.

  “Jesu,” he moaned, thrusting his hips forward. It only encouraged her, and she gripped him tighter as her strokes quickened. “I … stop.” He grabbed her hand and pulled it away with a groan. “Sorry, cher. I can’t … it’s been too long.”

  Before she could ask him what he meant, Delacroix had hauled her up and pushed her back on the bed. She scrambled back as he shrugged his pants and underwear from his ankles, along with his shoes. He reached for her and tugged at her skirt, trying to find the zipper but gave up in two seconds and ripped it down the middle before doing the same to her panties.

  “Hey!” she cried, but damn, it was fucking hot.

  “Sorry … can’t wait to taste you.”

  “What?”

  The ripped fabric was cast aside as his head dove between her legs, his mouth pressing against her soaked lips. His tongue lapped at her, licking and sucking until she was moaning and clutching at the sheets. But he didn’t stop, and he continued to tease her, drinking up her juices and flicking her clit with his tongue until she was shuddering with another orgasm.

  “God … Marc … I …”

  Her heart pounded as he crawled over her like a looming shadow. Her legs spread to accommodate him, his weight pressing on top of her deliciously. He braced himself on one elbow and reached down between their bodies with his other hand.

  She sucked in a breath as she felt his blunt tip against her entrance. He pushed forward, and despite her wetness, there was still a slight burning as he fully seated in her. He looked down at her, and when she tried to turn her head away from him, he thrust his fingers into her hair and tugged at her scalp. Her gaze lowered.

  “Look at me.”

  Unable to disobey him, she did, slowly, until she met his dark, lust-fueled eyes. They were so magnetic that she couldn’t turn away even as he began to thrust inside her. Deeper, harder, faster. Her hips moved up to meet his in a frantic motion. Heat flushed on her cheeks as he continued to watch her as he was deep inside her.

  He rocked into her with a frenetic rhythm that was making her core tighten. She dug her heels into his lower back, trying to take him deeper. Her toes curled as she cried out, bowing her spine off the mattress, and her pussy fluttered around him. He groaned and broke her gaze, bending down to kiss and lick at her neck, moving down to suck on her nipples as he continued to fuck into her, moving with an incessant energy that seemed limitless.

  Her greedy little pussy wanted more of him, tightening around him as he thrust over and over again. He looked up at her again, his face tight, but those dark eyes just as stormy. A snarl escaped his mouth, and he pummeled faster, slamming into her hips with such force that it shook the bed.

  Her stomach clenched again, the tightness spreading out over her entire body. He must have sensed her impending orgasm because he kept up his pace relentlessly. She reached up to grab his shoulders, and her nails dug deep as pleasure tore through her body, and he let out a long, low grunt. His hands clamped around her hips to steady her, thrusting his pelvis tight as his cock pulsed inside her, flooding her with his seed as he came before collapsing on top of her.

  When the roaring in her ears stopped, she opened her eyes. Her vision returned to normal as did the feeling in her body. She gave herself another minute to recover and catch her breath, but her limbs felt too weak to even try to move.

  Fuck, that was amazing. She couldn’t deny that, no matter how she tried. Did he enjoy it as much as she did? Did he want to stay until morning as he said, or would he leave now that the job was done?

  He stirred, pulled away from her and fell to the mattress next to her. “I promise it will be longer the next time.”

  Next time. And longer? It had felt like forever. But at the same time, over too soon. “What are you—” An arm wrapped around her waist and rolled her to her side, then pulled her against him. “Are you trying to cuddle?” She wiggled, but his grip was like a vice. Then she heard a soft snore. “Delacroix?” Nothing. “Marc?” With a long sigh, she relaxed against him.

  Exhaustion was ready to take over as her lids became heavy. But before she gave in to sleep, she couldn’t help but smile as her hand crept down to her belly. Everything that had happened to her up until this point would have been worth it when she held her baby in her arms. Plus, her plans had already been set in motion, even before she came here tonight. She got what she wanted, and now, she had to fulfill her end of the bargain.

  She would worry about any consequences another time.

  Chapter Seven

  Despite having an entire night to enjoy her body, the need inside him didn’t abate. He took her on the bed, in the shower, and even pressed up against the glass window of the hotel room, but it didn’t seem enough. Only exhaustion kept him from reaching for her again after the last time. The clock read five o’clock by the time Delacroix gave in to sleep, rolling away from Mika, their bodies sticky with sweat as their scents mingled on the sheets.

  As soon as the fog cleared from his mind when he woke up, his arm stretched across the bed, searching for her warm body. When his hand felt only cool sheets, he opened his eyes.

  “Mika?”

  He sat up, rubbing his hand down his face. The clock now flashed eight thirty. Rolling off the bed, he stalked to the window and pulled the blackout curtains apart, his eyes shutting as the light temporarily blinded him. When he regained his sight, he glanced around and realized the room was empty and silent. She wasn’t buried under the covers, and his sensitive hearing could only detect silence from bathroom. Her scent was faint in the air, and he knew she had been gone a while.

  Fury coiled in his chest. Coward. She just left him without saying goodbye. Usually, he was the one sneaking out in the morning—and sometimes, he didn’t even wait until then. Now the shoe was on the other foot, as they say, and he found he didn’t like it.

  But this was their deal, right? She was his for one night. He wanted to be angry at her but found he couldn’t. His wolf, too, whined pathetically, sniffing the air to soak in her trace scent. Non, mon ami, she’s not here.

  Walking over to the bed, he grabbed his discarded pants and underwear. He really should take a shower but found himself unable to bear the thought of washing her scent away. Memories of last night flooded his mind—her sweet curvy body, her skin, her tight little pussy milking him—and he wanted to hurl something at the wall.

  One night? Who was he kidding? It wouldn’t be enough to slake his thirst for her. If anything, it only whetted his appetite. But damn, she already got what she wanted.

  She was pregnant. With his pup.

  The impact of it all hit him at once. When they were discussing it, it had been an abstract idea. A concept his mind couldn’t wrap around. He only cared about getting into her pants. And now …

  He raked his fingers through his hair. This was why he had forgone sex for the last year. It complicated things and screwed with his mind. He had to stay focused on his goals. Mika said he wouldn’t be responsible for anything. A sperm donor, nothing more.

  A bad taste formed in his mouth, and he held on to that thought. If he could just remember that that was all she wanted from him, it would be easy to forget last night. Yes, that was it. It was fucking, nothing more. He would do his time,
get out, and be free of anyone’s control. He should thank his fucking lucky stars.

  Delacroix spent the rest of his Sunday back in HQ, hitting the gym in an attempt not to think about Mika or last night. He ran for over two hours on the treadmill, hit every machine twice, and knocked down two punching bags in the process. It was only when he felt the need to sleep that he trudged back to his room and collapsed into bed.

  The next day, he went through the motions of his morning routine of physical conditioning, lunch, and then more training in the afternoon. But the entire time, all he could think of was heading up to the command room and seeing Mika. He thought of all the scenarios and what he would say to her, but each one seemed ridiculous. What excuse could he make to see her that wouldn’t sound contrived? He got what he wanted, her body for the night, and there was no need to see her.

  Despite all that, he found himself taking the elevator up to her floor anyway the first chance he got. Glancing over to her corner office, he saw the door was closed and the lights were out. What the hell? It was early afternoon, not even close to quitting time.

  “Hey,” he called to one of the pencil pushers walking by. “Where’s the boss?”

  The man shrugged. “She’s not in today.”

  A cold feeling gripped his chest. “Is she okay? Did she call in? What did she say?” He grabbed him by the arm and shook him, as if that would make him answer faster. “Tell me now or—”

  “I said, I dunno!” He pushed his glasses up his nose. “She just didn’t show up, okay?” When Delacroix released him, he scampered away.

  Mika didn’t show up to work. Was that her way of avoiding him? A thought popped into his head, one that made his mood grow even darker. Perhaps she despised him and was ashamed of what they had done. She knew everything about him after all and maybe realized she had been slumming it by fucking lowly bayou trash like him.