Free Wolf's Ascension by Lauren Dane Page A

reason to reject them all.”
    Kari snorted with amusement. “Of course she has. She’s not confused, Andreas. She knows what she wants and that’s you.”
    “Ah, but, little wolf, I’m taken.”
    “Yes, but that doesn’t matter to her. I hope there won’t be trouble,” she said.
    His smirk told her he’d pretty much only heard the part where she’d agreed he was taken.
    They walked arm in arm awhile longer, until Kari got tired and they went back to the house so that she could take a nap.
    “Shall we nap together?” Andreas asked, standing outside her bedroom door.
    “Well—” she arched against him, unable to resist touching him “—I’m not going to sleep with you but I wouldn’t say no to some snuggling.” Kari’s voice was teasing until Phillip sat down outside of her door.
    “What’s this?” she asked, face hardening.
    “Kari, he’ll always be your bodyguard.”
    “You don’t trust me. You think I’m going to run. I gave you my word and clearly that’s not enough.” Her arms crossed over her chest and Andreas felt that wall start to build back up between them.
    Praying for patience, he sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t think you’ll run. I just want you to get used to Phillip at your door.”
    Kari raised an eyebrow at him. “Prove it, then. If you lock that door, all bets are off. You got me? If you treat me like a prisoner, I will not feel like a member of this family.”
    “I wouldn’t dream of locking you in, sweetheart. Now, will you let me at least lie with you for a while until you fall asleep? I want you to rest. Laurent says that several more Pack members will be arriving by dinner.”
    She looked up at him through her lashes and stepped aside, motioning him into the room. He nodded once at Phillip, then closed the door behind himself.
    Kari kicked off her shoes and noticed the room had been tidied for her. Bed made. The flowers made the room smell springlike. She’d worked hard for most of her life. Even when she was a very young child she’d had to take care of herself or Jack did. Just having someone taking care of the basics was luxurious, but slightly uncomfortable all the same.
    “Is something wrong?” Andreas moved toward her as she backed onto the bed.
    “I...uh, no. I was just surprised to see the room cleaned up and the bed made and stuff. You know, I may have lied about not having sex with you.” She blurted it out, but looking up at him as he loomed over her, she couldn’t help herself.
    He stalked to the bed, his body pushing hers. The mattress dipped under his weight as he followed. The way he moved—crawling to her, eyes locked on her—was feral and all barely leashed sexuality. It rendered her speechless, dry-mouthed and wet.
    Stopping when he was over her on all fours, he looked at her without speaking for long moments. “I want to kiss and lick and bite and rub all over every inch of your body. I want to possess you and make you weep with desire. I want to make you beg and watch your face when my cock is deep inside you and I make you come so hard you scream.” He paused, a smile curving his lips. Her heart stuttered and a hot flush worked through her.
    “But for now, you’re tired. You ran eight miles just a few days after being bitten.” Disappointment tempered lust for a moment until he moved again, leaning down and kissing her. Softly at first, gentle and slow, then deepening in intensity and pressure as the time passed.
    All she could feel, sense, was him above her, over her. His lips were on hers, and then, with consummate skill, he opened her mouth under his. His tongue swept inside and he possessed her. There was no touch of his body to hers other than there. But it was more than enough to make her weak with want.
    This kiss was much more than the one outside by the lake. This kiss was the kiss of a man who knew he was going to get naked and hot and sweaty with the person he was kissing. It was a sex kiss, plain