Free Wolf Tales Interlude: The Gift by Kate Douglas Page B

her.
    “Stefan?” She placed her other hand over his, stopping the motion before she embarrassed herself and jumped him right here in the kitchen.
    He covered her hand so that he knelt there, their hands sandwiched together as if he were proposing. His eyes were luminous, his expression troubled.
    He licked his lips. When he swallowed, she watched the muscles of his throat contract, mesmerized by the fluid motion. He was beautiful… every bit as gorgeous as Anton, just as sensual, just as caring, and Lord help her but she loved the man. Not in the same way she loved Anton, but the feelings were there, so strong and true it made her ache.
    “Keisha?”
    He looked troubled. Almost sad. She tilted her head, studying him, not daring to read his thoughts. His hands were warm, strong, holding tightly to hers.
    “Sweetheart, have you ever talked to anyone about what happened to you? Have you told Anton, your therapist, anyone, about the wolf? About your attack?”
    What ? She hadn’t expected that question. Not in a million years! “Of course I have.” She tried to tug her hands free, but he held on. After a couple of tugs she gave up. “Anton knows I was raped. So do the police, the therapist, and after that newspaper article, half the known western world.” She choked back a sound that could have been a sob… she hoped he’d think it was laughter.
    Stefan stared at her a moment longer, then he smiled and stood up. Held his hand out to her. “C’mon. We don’t need to have sex, but I want you beside me.”
    “You sound like Anton.” This time the laughter was easy when she took his hand. “That poor man… he was so frustrated and all I wanted to do was snuggle.”
    “Snuggling’s good. Fucking’s better, but snuggling works.”
    He grinned at her, perfect white teeth, brilliant amber eyes, the most gorgeous black hair shot through with silver… a body to die for. Without a doubt, the sweetest, most lovable guy she’d ever not fallen in love with…
    But I do love him .
    Not the way she loved Anton. No, though just not as deeply, every bit as fiercely. “How’d I ever get so lucky?” She flashed him a smile as she let him pull her to her feet. “Let’s finish the dishes first. I hate to leave a mess for Oliver.”
    She watched him, sneaking glances to her right as he carefully dried each dish she handed him. Maybe her brain wasn’t too sure, but her body definitely wanted more than snuggling. By the time the counters had been wiped down and the last dish put away, Keisha’s taut nipples were rubbing themselves raw against her sweater and she was afraid her jeans would show the dampness between her legs.
    Stefan flipped off the light switch, turned and took her hand. His nostrils flared. She knew he’d caught her scent, knew just how aroused she was, how much she wanted him deep inside her. Keisha felt the awareness leap between them, felt it curling hot and live in her belly, flowing through her veins like liquid fire.
    A low growl slipped from between his lips. Slowly he tilted her chin up, positioned her perfectly for his mouth, then took her in a long, slow kiss. He brushed his lips across hers, dampened the seam between her lips with the tip of his tongue.
    She opened for him, suckling his tongue into her mouth, tasting the flavors so much like Anton, yet so unique to Stefan. He slipped his arm beneath her hips and lifted her easily, still kissing her, his tongue a warm and welcome violation.
    She moaned. Could she come from just kissing? Stefan shoved the bedroom door open with his foot and deposited Keisha on the bed. Still fully dressed, he lay over her, kissing her mouth, the part of her throat exposed by her sweater.
    There was something wonderfully decadent about making love fully dressed -- decadent but woefully unsatisfying. Keisha tugged at the soft flannel shirt tucked into his jeans, felt the pressure of his hips against hers as he kicked his shoes and socks off, slipped out of his