Free Force of Nature Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4) by Kathi S. Barton Page B

of gobble gobble when Austin took her bottle. “Hey! Give me that back. I offered you a bone. Me and the flowers are gonna have a cella…celler…party. And you aren’t invited. Go home. Or do you live in a cave?”
    She’d been thinking about him and his living arrangements too much, she thought. Actually, not so much where he lived but how he slept. She really wondered if he slept in the raw. After he had left last night, she’d hoped he’d come back with a condom, or a case of them. But he hadn’t. That’s when she’d gone back down to the bar and gotten another bottle.
    When Austin started pouring the rest of the liquor down the sink, she stood up, and that’s when she noticed the box on the counter. She picked it up and read the description. The words “extra-large” caught her eye, then the claim “for her enjoyment.” She looked up at him when he cleared his throat.
    He looked every bit the wolf he claimed he was. His eyes, a warm brown normally, were now a dark, almost black. His face looked tense, like whatever he was holding back was causing him intense pain. Looking down his body, she felt her own react, sort of swell with need of her own. But when she looked at his groin, she moaned and stepped toward him.
    He put out a hand and she simply moved it away and put her hand on his cock. She felt it harden beneath her. When he covered hers with his own hand, she leaned into him and did what he had done to her…she licked his neck. When he jerked her away from him, she stared at him.
    “You’re drunk. And we aren’t doing this,” he snarled with a shake of her shoulders. “I won’t have you claiming later that I took advantage of you.”
    A slap couldn’t have sobered her more quickly. She felt the pain of his words rip through her and was suddenly glad he had stopped her. With as much dignity as she could summon, CJ walked to the door and opened it. She could feel the tears fill her eyes and moved away toward her room.
    “Lock the door on your way out, please. Have a nice Thanksgiving,” she told him quietly. “And don’t forget your protection when you leave.”

 
     
    ~ Chapter Eight ~
     
    Austin stood in the dark kitchen. He didn’t want to leave, and he knew if he left her, he’d never get to come back…she’d make sure of that. He did the only thing he could think of. He put the box of condoms in his jacket pocket and went to her room.
    He wasn’t surprised to find the door locked. A simple foot to the lock fixed that issue very nicely. She was standing near the window and turned when he entered. He began unbuttoning his shirt as he spoke.
    “You are going to bed now, I take it? I sleep in the nude, but for tonight, just because I’m not going to take advantage of you while you’re inebriated, I will leave on my briefs.” He pulled off his t-shirt after he’d removed his shirt.
    “You so are not sleeping in my bed. You just put your shirt back on and get out.” He watched her swallow hard before she continued. “This is not funny, Austin. I mean it, get out.”
    “No. After we get a good night’s sleep, you and I are going to my house to have dinner with my family. I think it’s important that you like them, don’t you? I mean, we will be spending the rest of our lives together.”
    “I’m not spending any time with you. You are replacing my door too.” She moved toward the bathroom and he pressed her against it when she opened it, slamming it shut again. “Let go of me.”
    He rocked his cock against her ass and smiled when she shuddered. “You want me, don’t you, CJ? And don’t lie to me. I can smell your arousal as sweet as perfume.”
    “So what? I’m horny. You think you’re the only one who can want to be fucked? I was just on my way out to take care of that when you—”
    He jerked her around to face him. “You’ll be careful what you say, CJ. Alphas are an extremely jealous species. And when another male, whether knowing or not, touches what’s