My Neighbor is a Wolf

Chapter Four

Rachael

H unter blinked up at me, still kneeling on the floor next to the bed. At least this time he had on shorts. I couldn't judge the man if he walked around his own place naked. After all, I was the one intruding.

Unidentifiable sounds came from Hunter. His mouth opened and closed several times. “What?” he stammered.

“I mean, aren't you? A wolf? Or a werewolf I guess. Right?” I picked at my nails, avoiding the cuticles so I wouldn't bleed all over the poor man's bed. He had already done enough for me.

I met his eyes once more. They were still wide and his lips were pinched together. I had no idea why I was still here. It was obvious this man felt some sort of obligation to take care of me but that simply wasn't the case. Everything that happened last night was my fault. Chad wasn't a good person and I should have made sure he gave me back my key.

The back of my throat burned. I was thirsty and needed to cry which was never a good combination. I pushed the cover off my legs and swung them around until my feet hit the ground. As I attempted to push myself off the bed, Hunter stood to his full height and blocked my path.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I should go.” I pulled myself up, my foot screaming in pain when I put weight on it. I did my best to ignore it by trying to take a step, but it was useless. My foot couldn't support my weight and I fell forward, straight into Hunter’s naked chest.

He didn't miss a beat. His hands grabbed my hips and steadied me. I gave in, pressing my palms and forehead into the warm skin in front of me. The hair beneath my fingers was thick but soft.

“Rachael…” My name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine. It was filled with so much emotion. I tilted my head back, needing to see Hunter's face at that moment. He stooped down, our noses brushing together. The softness in his eyes made my heart skip a beat. Our lips were inches from each other and every nerve in my body demanded to know what it felt like to be kissed by him.

But the spell was broken when he lowered me back to the bed. “Rachael, please. I know you must be scared but I just need you to listen.”

“Hunter, I'm not–” I tried to interrupt but it was like he couldn't hear me. His hands grabbed mine, squeezing them gently.

“Yes, I'm a wolf. But not a werewolf. I'm a shifter. I have control over when I do it. Well, ninety-nine percent of the time. High stress situations tend to trigger my fight or flight response, which is why it happened after you hit me with the baseball bat.”

Well that made sense. Mostly.

“Oh, I'm s–”

“No, don't apologize. Seriously. I was this stranger who came into your apartment and you had every right. I'm the one who should be sorry. I mean, I am sorry. I broke into your place. It's my fault you hurt yourself. Not to mention I practically kidnapped you. And now I’ve put you in this tough spot.”

Hunter kept talking, saying more and more things that I couldn't keep up with. Something about magical apartments and his friends I met earlier also being supernatural beings. But I was still trying to process the first thing he said. Hunter was a wolf shifter. What did that mean?

“Hunter?” I wanted to get his attention but he was in his own world.

“Rachael, I promise I will never hurt you. I don't think I could even if I tried. I'm serious. Please don't leave. I mean unless you really want to because I don't want to kidnap you for real. Benny said he would handle fixing your apartment and changing the lock to your door. I'm not sure if it's done but I could find out.”

Before I realized what I was doing, my hands gripped Hunter’s face and pulled him to me. My lips met his and the only thing I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears. It was a quick kiss, nothing to write home about, but it did the job. Hunter’s eyes met mine and they were wide with surprise.

We stared at each other, my fingers intertwined in the strands of his beard. I really wanted to kiss him again. Longer this time.

Hunter cleared his throat and I dropped my hands to my lap. I squeezed my eyes shut as embarrassment turned my cheeks red. That was probably the stupidest impulse I had ever acted on. “I’m sorry.”

The room was still, the soft hum of the air the only sound filling the space. My chest tightened with each passing second while I did my best to control my breathing. I expected to hear retreating footsteps, or feel the sharp sting of his hand.

Just when I was about to collapse into the bed and hide from the world, calloused hands gently cradled my cheeks. He tilted my head up as I blinked open my eyes. There was a fire in his gaze, one that had me clenching my thighs together. “I really need you to stop apologizing, sweetheart.”

Then he was on top of me and the world melted away. The only thing that mattered was the way Hunter gathered me in his arms, my lips parting to allow his tongue to explore my mouth. He guided me backwards onto the bed and settled between my legs.

“Tell me to stop,” he mumbled against my lips.

“Don't stop.” I shook my head while my fingers threaded through his hair.

My eyes closed as I pulled Hunter back to me. He kissed down my neck, finding the sensitive spot behind my ear. One of his hands traveled down to the waistband of my pants. His fingers brushed along my skin, lighting a fire within my stomach. I let out a moan as Hunter bit down on my skin, scraping his teeth along the sensitive flesh.

“Rachael…” he growled. “Do you know what you do to me when you make sounds like that?” He pressed his hips into me as he went back to exploring my mouth and there was no mistaking it. I may have seen his cock earlier but there was no denying how huge it felt as it dug into my lower abdomen. Desire pooled between my legs and I wanted nothing more than for Hunter to discover it.

I was seconds from begging him for more when something licked my bare foot that was dangling from the bed. It felt like wet sandpaper rubbed over my skin. “What the hell?” Startled, I pulled my leg up, kneeing Hunter in the back of his thigh.

“What is it?” Hunter moved, sitting on the bed next to me, and peered over the edge of the bed. As I sat up onto my elbows, a black cat jumped onto the bed beside us. It stared at me for a second, green eyes peering into my soul, then strutted over my legs to sit in Hunter’s lap. “How the fuck did you get in here, Thor?”

Hunter picked up the cat and dangled it in front of him. Thor let out a small set of meows as if he was actually answering Hunter’s question. His eyes narrowed at the cat and I was convinced the two of them were actually having a conversation. Hunter sat Thor on the ground, pointing to the open bedroom door. “Well, leave the way you came, please.”

We both tracked Thor as he walked out of the room, tail swishing through the air. When the black fur had disappeared fully, Hunter turned to me. “Sorry about that.”

“I didn't know you had a cat.” That was a stupid thing to say. I didn't know anything about this man before tonight.

“He isn't mine. Thor belongs to Benny, the redhead guy you saw earlier. But he's obsessed with me for some unknown reason and always finds a way into my apartment.”

“Oh…” I tried to keep a straight face but failed. The absurdity of everything finally got to me. A laugh escaped and my hand flew up to cover my mouth. Hunter looked me up and down, a smile threatening the corners of his lips.

He gave in and we both fell back onto the bed, laughing until neither of us could breathe.

Some time later, I was wrapped in a blanket cocoon with a mug of delicious tea. There was a cheesy fall Hallmark movie playing on the TV. We had both slowly regained our composure earlier. Our conversation drifted to his apartment and I learned about the magical barrier that hid these units from the humans. It made sense. Even I could admit to being a bit nosy when I shouldn’t be.

I could feel that Hunter was still holding things back. He was worried and that was understandable. After a bit of back and forth, I convinced Hunter that there was simply no way I was going to be able to fall asleep after all the excitement that just took place. Truthfully, my entire body felt sore and I was starving.

Hunter carried me to the couch and, as if he could read my mind, told me he would go make us some lunch. I offered to help but he told me not to move then came back with the large steaming mug. Sure, there was a small part of me that really liked being taken care of. But there was also the voice in the back of my head telling me I was lazy and unworthy of this treatment. It stood to reason that it sounded a lot like Chad telling me how useless of a girlfriend I was. I closed my eyes, hoping it would help stop the tears that were forming.

“Hey,” Hunter pulled me from my thoughts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouching before me. He reached out, his thumb catching a stray tear that was running down my cheek. “Where’d ya go?”

“It’s stupid,” I half chuckled, trying to convince myself more than him.

“Nothing is stupid when it comes to what you’re feeling.”

No one had ever made me feel like my feelings mattered. I was so used to bottling it up and shoving it down that it felt weird for someone to actually make a point at giving me the space to talk.

“You're being really nice and I don’t know why.” Not exactly the whole truth, but I didn't want to ruin whatever Hunter and I had going on by bringing up my shitty excuse of an ex.

“I call this being a decent person.” He tucked some loose hair behind my ear then stood. He grabbed a bowl from the coffee table in front of me and offered it to me. Inside it was some kind of soup that smelled heavenly. “It’s chicken noodle. The best kind of soup to eat when you’re sick.”

“I’m not actually sick.”

“Well you aren’t healthy either. I feel like sick is an overarching term that covers a lot. I’d definitely refer to all of this,” he waves to me in my bundle of blankets, “as sick.” He swapped my nearly empty mug for the bowl then sat down sideways on the left side of the couch facing me.

Hunter still hadn’t put on a shirt, not that I was necessarily complaining. He could go back to walking around naked if he really wanted to. I forced myself to focus on the bowl of soup in my hands instead of the half naked god beside me.

I brought a spoonful to my lips and the liquid slid down my throat easily. An involuntary moan slipped past my lips. It was hands down the best soup I had eaten in my life. Not even my grandma's recipes lived up to the foodgasm I had just experienced.

“Sweetheart…” In the middle of a bite, I turned my head to Hunter. His eyes were narrowed and the corners of his mouth twitched into a smile. He leaned towards me, his breath warming my chilled skin and causing goosebumps to form. “I’m going to need you to stop making that sound if you actually want to finish your food. We've already discussed what those moans of yours do to me.”

When he pulled back, his gaze flickered between his lap and me. I looked down to where he had gestured and saw the unmistakable outline of his erection. My cheeks grew hot, a rush of warmth spreading across my face.

I hadn't thought it was loud enough to hear. But if the display before me was the effect I had on him, I would happily accept the consequences of my actions.

Setting my bowl on the table in front of me, I let the blanket wrapped around my shoulders fall. Confidence fueled my actions. I sat back and turned to Hunter.

“Kiss me.”

“Are you sure? We really should talk more.”

“I swear if you don't kiss me–” My sentence was cut off by his lips claiming mine. Any thoughts tumbling around my head immediately disappeared. One of his hands cradled the back of my head, but my skin was on fire, begging to be touched.

Hunter broke our kiss. He moved to my neck, running his teeth over my pressure point then kissing down to my collar bone. A low moan escaped from my lips and I didn’t stop it.

He slid his free hand down my side, urging me back onto the couch. My head rested on one of the small pillows. He pulled back and kneeled over me. His eyes were wild while his lips pressed together in a line, forcing his breaths to come out harshly through his nose. A sense of pride rushed over me knowing that I was the one doing this to him.

“You’re fucking gorgeous, Rachael.” Both of his hands ran along my body, sliding over every curve.

My heart hammered in my chest. Would he still feel that way when he saw the stretch marks? While my thighs weren't toned by any means, they didn't have nearly as many as my stomach.

I breathed a silent sigh of relief though when his hands went to the sweatpants around my waist instead of my shirt. His fingers teased the waistband, sliding them down my hips. “Is this okay?”

I nodded, unable to form words. He pulled the fabric slowly down my legs and tugged it off. Then his hands kneaded my calves with expert fingers, working his way back up. I melted into the couch as more moans expressed my gratitude. When Hunter reached my knees, he pushed them apart and settled between them.

His hands danced over my thighs and up to my hips as he leaned over me, pressing a kiss to my lips. When he pulled away, he gazed down at me with desire in his eyes.

I reached up, running my fingers through the hair that covered his chest. I wanted this man. But was I ready for all of him?

“Hunter…?” I whispered.

“Yes, sweetheart?” His fingers caressed my thigh, causing my mind to go haywire.

“I… We… Us…” What the hell was I trying to say?

Hunter chuckled lightly. A single finger slid through the wetness that had gathered between my legs, spreading it up to my clit. He circled the sensitive nub with light pressure. My breath caught in my lungs as a wave of pleasure spread through my body.

“Right now is all about you. We don't have to do anything you aren't comfortable with. But I'm not going to lie and say that I don't want to hear what you sound like when I make you come.”

He slipped a finger inside of me, my hips immediately bucking to meet his hand.

“So eager, sweetheart.” He kissed along my jaw and I turned my head to give him better access. “Do you want me to make you come?” As he nipped down my neck, he added another finger and curled them inside me.

“Yes,” I breathed, ready to combust after just a few strokes. It had been too long since someone took the time to explore my body and give me what I needed.

“Go on then, baby. Soak my hand.” He stroked that spot inside me that not even I could reach and I saw stars. All thought left my head as Hunter worked me through my release. He pulled out his fingers and stuck them in his mouth, cleaning his fingers in the process.

“Hunter…” I trailed off, stopping myself before I could thank him for the mind-numbing orgasm. That would turn this from sexy to awkward real fast. I went to sit up, suddenly feeling the need to cover up, but Hunter’s grip on my thighs stopped me.

“You taste like heaven, Rachael.” He lowered himself to the couch, head between my legs. “And I’m fucking starving.”

“Hunter, you–” I was cut off by his tongue licking from the base of my pussy to my clit. When he reached the sensitive bud, he pulled it into his mouth and circled it with his tongue. I squirmed underneath him, the sensations almost too much.

He held me down, his fingers digging into my thighs. Every swipe of his tongue sent a fresh flood of arousal between my legs. My fingers threaded through his hair. I was stuck between wanting to hold him in place so he would never stop or yanking him away because it was too much.

His teeth scraped my clit and I came undone. He fucked me with his tongue, lapping up every drop of my release. When he finally pulled away, my arms fell to my side. I looked up at Hunter to find his eyes shining, his lips turned up in a smile, and his clean cut beard glistening.

“I'll be right back.” Hunter pressed his lips to my forehead. All I could do was offer a soft hmm in response. My arms and legs felt like limp noodles. I was still floating somewhere above us on cloud nine.

A wet cloth touched between my legs. My heart squeezed from the attention he was giving me. Not only had he just given me two mind blowing orgasms in the span of a few minutes, he did it all without any care for his own pleasure. That paired with this after care, I might never be able to leave this man.

When he had finished, Hunter gathered me in his arms and tucked me against him. He grabbed the forgotten blanket, draping it over the both of us. I rolled over to lay my head against his chest. My fingers ran through the hair that lined his pecs as he ran his hand along my spine.

My body relaxed further into his hold. I knew sleep would claim me at any moment. Right before it did, I heard Hunter whisper against my temple, “I'm falling really hard for you. I hope I don't screw this up.”