27. Rowan

"I'm sorry about the rain."

He'd apologized for the downpour at least a dozen times since they sought shelter in the bookshop. All the exterior awnings around Firewater were filled to capacity seconds after the first drop fell, forcing the rest of the party to hide in the various eateries and stores.

But those places weren't an option for his girl, and he'd hauled Annabeth through what was nothing short of a monsoon to the only place she would feel safe.

"And I'm sorry we had to run all the way over here," she replied, pushing herself up to sit on the edge of the counter as the power flickered and then went out totally. "Thank you for knowing I couldn't be crowded in with other people."

Rowan raised the wolf mask to settle on his forehead, unable to stop himself from staring at the tops of her exposed thighs. The dress, the boots, that come fuck me grin she'd worn all night were wreaking havoc on him. "Where did the witch hat go?"

"Lost in the rain."

Lightning danced around the shop, the thunder rattling the windowpanes and bookshelves. "Mother Nature is on it tonight," he said, going from window to window and lowering the shades. They didn't need the wind to join in on the action and send something crashing through. "As was Jamison. What the hell was up with that dress?"

They shared a smile. Jamison wasn't known to be subtle.

"Did Liam react when she walked into the room?"

Rowan rolled his eyes. "That's one way to put it."

"Some outfits are created to drive a man crazy."

Like the one she was wearing. He didn't dare approach her as he finished with the windows. In the dark, the shop bordered on small, and he needed some space, or else he might do something that would delay their departure even longer.

At a loss on what to do with himself, he caroused the shelves of books lining the walls. There was always the sofa in the back of the shop where he usually sat, but he didn't want to get it wet. She was hosting a book club at the end of the week, and his soaked clothes would ruin the antique.

"What all kinds of books are over here?"

"Mainly romance. Historical, paranormal, contemporary." She pointed at the shelves as she listed each genre. "Then we have the ones that are trending currently, like why choose, stalker, and mafia."

"Why choose?"

"One girl, multiple guys."

Rowan quirked an eyebrow, leaning in to look at the titles more closely. Jesus. He'd never thought of himself as sexually inexperienced, but the cover of the book on display appeared to have what very much looked like a couple of spider humanoids surrounding one woman.

"These are spiders." He pointed to the book. "Spiders can't have sex with human women."

"Oh, whatever. People love it. I have an entire section on monster romance."

"Monster romance?" Rowan tried keeping a straight face. "You're joking."

"Don't kink shame!"

"That's a kink?"

"Of course, it is. Where have you been?"

"Obviously not fucking monsters." He grinned at how serious she was being. "Do you want to fuck a monster?"

"No," she replied, not at all amused. "That's not what I'm into."

"What are you into? The whole multiple partner thing?" He searched more of the shelves, the thoughts of sharing her poking at his territorial side. "And is it one at a time or all at once?"

"You're being judgmental again."

His brows drew tight, and he turned to face her. "But are you into it?"

"I like reading about it." She shrugged. "But I've never tried it."

And she never would.

"So, what in all these books would you, Annabeth Howard, like to try?"

He already knew she enjoyed a little dirty talk and being bossed around. On Friday nights, she did anything he demanded with a yes, sir, and a smile on her face.

"I'm kind of into the whole mask thing." Her gaze snapped to the wolf mask resting on his forehead. "I just read a book where the male character wore one while he and the woman did their thing."

Mask. Dirty talk. Being dominant. He filed the list away. Those things were easy to give, but he couldn't do it now. The phone in his pocket was buzzing away with messages. They had to get back.

"Rowan?"

"Yeah, sweetheart?"

"Will you kiss me again?"

Hell.

His brain gave him a hundred reasons to stay where he was, far away and distanced enough that he couldn't touch. But the rest of his body parts told it to fuck off and sent him on his way.

Approaching slowly, he came to lean on the counter. Nervous and—if he didn't know any better—almost shy, she licked her lips, weakening his resolve a little more.

"You probably don't want to." She stared at the floor. "I bet I look like something from Night of the Living Dead."

She didn't, and even if she did, he would still want her. For once, he wished she could see herself as he did.

Strong.

Brave.

Brilliant.

Cupping her jaw, he stroked a thumb over the streak of mascara drying on her cheek. "I will never not want to kiss you."

They were alone, locked in a dark bookshop. A place where she was comfortable. A place far from the prying ears and eyes of Haven House. This was the first real chance he'd had to push things between them without the threat of someone barging in.

Time was the only issue. They didn't have much.

Better make it count.

"Open your legs."

It took a second, but just when he thought she was going to say no, her knees parted, allowing him closer. "Is the door locked?" she asked.

The breath in his lungs snagged. "Yes, ma'am."

Her legs spread further, the already short dress rising to her hips. No underwear. Rowan thought he might die. His girl had no underwear on, and the sight nearly finished him off.

"Where do you want to kiss me?"

The warnings that they didn't have much time went silent. His mind was stuck in a trance as he openly stared at the bare flesh begging to be licked and sucked and properly fucked as only he could do.

"I have a list." Gently, he reminded himself. Annabeth talked a big game, but he didn't want her to become skittish. As lightly as he could, Rowan traced her thigh with his finger. "Would you like to hear it?"

She bit down on her bottom lip and nodded.

"Those beautiful lips of yours are first, and once I'm finished there, I'll make my way to something sweeter." Trailing upward, he brushed his fingertips along her inner thigh, the skin softer than he imagined. "Here."

Greedy, she scooted closer, wanting his hand higher. With a brush of his knuckles, he tested his limits, and fought the urge to fall to his knees. "And here." Back and forth he stroked, applying light pressure. "I would spend an eternity here."

She squirmed closer again. "What else would you do there?"

Not willing to take the bait yet, he moved on. "Next would be these." Cupping a breast roughly, he massaged a groan out of her. "They're mine to do whatever I want with."

"I've never done that before," she rushed out, more than a little excited by the thought. "A man has never… you know… with them."

With no bra in his way, he gave her nipple a pinch. "Baby, there's not a single part of your body that I'm not going to fuck, and if you have a problem with that, you need to say so now."

Their faces inches apart, he held his breath, waiting for a reply.

"I do not have a problem with that." Eyes wide, she nodded enthusiastically. "At all."

"Did you see that mark on Jamison?" he asked, burying his face in her neck. "The one left by Liam?"

"Yes."

"That's nothing compared to what I'm going to do to you. I'll try not to leave bruises, but the marks made by my teeth you'll wear proudly. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Well, there went his limits. The fine line of control he was holding slipped, and Rowan hoped to God he didn't sound as chaotic as he felt. Those whimpers coming out of her weren't helping either.

"You can mark me everywhere." She propped a booted foot on the counter, hooking a heel on the edge before adding a second foot to join the first. "Any place you want."

He leaned back, unable to resist the urge to look. To see what was being offered. "You haven't kissed me yet." Wider and wider, her legs spread. "Please kiss me, Rowan."

And with that, his brain checked right the fuck out.

Their lips collided, tongues sliding in harmony with the strokes of his hand between her legs. Making circles with two fingers over her clit, he gave up when the temptation became too much and sank one in deep. She shuddered and grunted against his mouth, those little claws of hers digging at his shoulders.

"Want one more?" He nibbled on her lower lip. Slow. They should be going slow, but God damn, the way she was grinding on his hand didn't leave much choice. "Or two?"

"Two." Releasing his shoulders to brace her hands on the counter, she arched back, lifting her hips to roll in time with each thrust. "Give me two more."

He slipped a second one in, stretching her for a third, but impatient as ever, she grabbed his wrist, urging him to go harder. "That's only one more, Rowan."

"Greedy girl." He pulled her tight against him and drove a third finger in, all the while using his thumb to rub circles on her clit. "Is that what you want?"

"I'm cl-close." Eyes rolled upward to where only the whites could be seen, she moaned. "Fuck. Oh, fuck. I'm going to come."

He kissed her, quick and light, and withdrew his fingers. "No, ma'am." Dragging her from the counter, he set her to stand on wobbly feet. "The first time I make you come, you'll do it on my face. I want that sweetness dripping down my throat while you scream."

"Ok-kay." Heavy-lidded with lust, she swayed as if drunk. "Okay."

Reaching behind her, he ripped the zipper down on the dress. Annabeth gasped, and he winced. He hadn't meant to be so aggressive, but his hands were shaking, and if he didn't get his mouth on her in the next second, he might die.

Sliding the dark material from her shoulders, he lowered it to hang around her waist. "You are so beautiful."

Her cheeks went red as he took his time memorizing every curve and inch of her body. Bending down, Rowan ran his tongue over a nipple and sucked the tight bud between his teeth for good measure.

As he sucked, she shoved at the dress until it pooled at her feet. "The zipper for my boots is in the back. You'll have to help me."

"No, sweetheart." Rowan kissed his way back up, abandoning the most perfect set of breasts he'd ever seen. "The boots stay on while I fuck you."

She shivered, planting her hands on his chest. "Can I take your shirt off?"

Once he got naked, all bets were off, and he wanted to make sure they were near a piece of furniture that could handle what was about to happen. Swooping her up with one arm, he carried them to the sofa, kissing her as he did.

The press of her naked body burned through his clothes, and he deposited her as carefully as he could on the couch, tossing off the wolf mask. "I'll put it back on in a second."

She reclined on the cushions to watch him undress, plumping her breasts and giving him a show.

"That's it." He reached behind him to yank off his shirt with one hand and went for his pants next. "Don't stop."

Once only in his boxers, he slid them lower, goosebumps trailing down his legs as he listened to her excited groans. By the time he straightened again, she had perched herself on the end of the couch with her hands planted on her knees, mouth wide, and tongue sticking out as if she expected him to ram himself right down her throat.

And while grabbing her by the back of her head and fucking the hell out of her mouth was a fantasy he dreamed of every night, this wasn't about him. Tonight needed to be about her. She needed to understand what it meant to be treasured.

Placing his two fingers under her chin, he applied pressure until her mouth closed. "Turn around. Knees on the couch. Legs apart."

Obedient.

His girl was so fucking obedient.

Annabeth did as she was told without an argument and gripped the wood frame at the top of the couch with two hands. "This way?"

Her ass was divine. Ample, yet toned from all the hard work she put in. "Yeah, just like that." He grabbed a handful of flesh and then gave it a sharp smack. "I need those knees wider, though."

Taking one of the decorative pillows, he tossed it on the floor and sat propped against the sofa. Tilting his head back, he rested directly between her knees. Above him, heaven waited, and stretching his legs out, he licked his lips.

"Sit."

She trembled with anticipation, hovering just above his face. "What?"

"Sit, sweetheart."

"Are you sure?"

With two hands, he roughly hauled her down, and she cried out, rolling her hips erratically over his tongue. "Don't stop this time," she begged, finding a rhythm. "Let me come."

Planning to do just that, he became unrelenting in his work, and as she rode his face, his hands explored. The backs of her thighs, that perfect ass, and then onward to her breasts.

"Do I taste good?"

Rowan laughed low in his throat over the question, yanking her down further to devour his feast. Lips and tongue and teeth, he used every weapon—every technique in his arsenal—to drive her wilder.

But that's not what she wanted. She wanted him to respond like he did on their Friday night dates. Where sometimes, his words alone would kick her straight into an orgasm.

Lifting her slightly, he brought a hand around to give her two fingers to ride. "Good doesn't cover it." He flicked his tongue over her swollen clit, grinning when she shouted and clenched. "You taste like you're mine. Are you mine, Annabeth?"

"Yes." Her hips picked up speed when his fingers curled. "Oh fuck, Rowan."

The violence of her release had him bearing down, flicking his tongue so fast he forgot to breathe. She screamed and convulsed, shaking above him as she fought not to collapse. The beauty of it had him seeking some relief, and he fisted his cock, groaning at the contact.

The sound drew her attention, and she snarled. "That's mine."

Air. There was suddenly cold air flooding his wet face. "What?"

She was scrambling off the couch and down his body to kneel on the floor between his spread legs. Holding his gaze, she bent forward to swirl her tongue around his tip, lapping at the moisture beading there. "This. This is mine."

Fucking hell.

If he thought he was already in danger of this ending too soon, he was sorely mistaken. As her lips closed around him, Rowan realized this was the moment he was going to lose it. A moan tore from somewhere deep in his chest, the sound loud enough to echo in the empty bookshop.

Pleased with herself, she knocked his hand away, and replaced it with her own. Pumping with a steady rhythm, she took him in deep until he was hitting the back of her throat.

Rowan let out a curse, the muscles in his stomach spasming as he fought to control himself. "Stop, sweetheart."

But she didn't stop. Bobbing her head faster and faster, she continued to suck his soul right out of him. Her throat contracted with every hit, and when he could take no more, Rowan tangled his fingers in her hair. "Annabeth."

When she still didn't listen again, something in him snapped. If she wanted him to dominate, his girl was about to get her wish. Digging his fingers into her hair, he yanked her off his cock and brought her face up to his. "Lost your listening skills?"

Her full lips, glistening from their work, smirked at him. "Am I not being a good girl?"

"No, you are not."

"Well, can I do this?" She ran her tongue over his lips. "Or this?"

Popping up on her feet, she placed a booted foot on either side of his waist, and, using one hand to grip his shoulder and the other to press his cock between her thighs, she dragged her wet heat along his shaft.

Up and down. Up and down, she moved. Rowan closed his eyes, needing to block the sight before he came all over them both.

"Yeah, I think you like me doing this." She tipped forward to brush her nipples against his chest. "This too?"

His eyes opened, and whatever she saw there had her freezing. "You are in so much trouble," he whispered. "Do you understand?"

She swallowed and nodded slowly.

"And what's about to happen is all on you." Tilting his head back, he stared down at her. "Do you have condoms?"

"In the drawer under the counter."

Jealousy curled in his gut, and he snapped his teeth. "Why do you keep condoms in the shop?" He hadn't let go of her hair and gave it a sharp tug. "Have you fucked someone in here?"

Blushing, she tried to shake her head, but his hold was too tight. "It's always been a fantasy, but I've never done it."

He bared his teeth. "Why not?"

"Because in my fantasy, the only person I want to have sex in my shop with is you." She smiled sheepishly at him. "I also have another fantasy where we have sex on the back of your bike, but I'm not sure if that's even possible."

"It's possible."

He cut off whatever she was about to say with a kiss. The moment on the beach earlier was their beginning, the spectacular start that would one day evolve into a story they told their kids, their grandkids, and anyone who would listen. But the small, intimate times like tonight would become the heartbeat of their life. He would use them to help her realize that even if they did remain in one spot for the rest of their years, there were still adventures to be had. Wild ones, where they had sex on his bike or were able to screw their brains out in her bookshop after hours.

"Get the condoms." He released his hold, tracking her as she hurried across the room. "The whole box."

He stood as he waited, watching her sweet ass as she bent to dig out condoms from a drawer in her filing cabinet. Easy. He would need to go easy on her this first time, but he meant what he said. There wasn't a place on her body that wasn't going to be ruined by him at some point.

Rushing back over, she placed the box on a bookshelf and presented him with the largest size. "Put it on me," he ordered. "How many of this size are in the box?"

Tearing at the foil, she rolled it on. "Three, I think?"

"Hmmm, that's barely enough to get us home." Her eyes went wide, and he chuckled. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"You mean, am I ready for your monster-sized cock?"

"At least I'm not kink shaming you." Her comment reminded him of the wolf mask, and he swiped it off the couch. "Get into the same position as before."

"But—"

"No arguing, Annabeth."

She moved into position, and he kneeled behind her. "You're still in trouble. That little interruption is going to cost you." Spreading her cheeks apart, he nuzzled with his nose, gaining a squeak of surprise. "Pick a safe word."

"A safe word?" Exhaling a sigh, her head fell forward, dangling between her shoulders as he flicked his tongue. "Wh-why do I need a safe word?"

Rowan rose up to whisper directly in her ear. "Because I am about to fuck the hell out of you, and I need you to pick a safe word so I'll know if I'm giving you too much," he explained calmly. "Don't question me again."

"Wolf?"

He kissed her temple. Yeah, he liked that too.

"Wolf it is."

Returning to work, he dropped to his knees, gorging himself on her a little longer. But since this was a punishment, he kept release just out of reach, driving her to the edge before pulling back again and again.

"Rowan!" she growled at him as if she were the one wearing the wolf mask. "Let me come."

"Remember your safe word?"

Arms braced and ready on the back of the couch, she nodded. "Wolf."

He stood, and without giving himself time to calm down, notched the head of his cock at her entrance. "Half of me doesn't want you to have a safe word." With a slow push, he gave her an inch, and they groaned together, the feeling of completeness overtaking them both. "Half of me wants to fuck you to the breaking point, Annabeth. I want this body to crave nothing but the pleasure I give it."

Sliding back, he thrust again, making it to where he could already feel her tight channel contracting around him. She rocked on her own, the orgasm hitting just right. "Rowan!"

He smiled, having planned this from the beginning. It might be their first time together, but he'd spent those date nights studying her body. Mapping out all the ways to make this happen and not hurt her.

"That's it, sweetheart." Using the pull of her orgasm, he worked himself deeper. "Give me what I need."

The cries coming from her urged him on, and he dared a single hard pump of his hips. She grunted, a guttural sound of demand. "Do that again."

He wanted to see her face. Needed to watch the pleasure he was giving her play out across it. Yanking her up, he brought her back flush against his chest and gave another heavy thrust.

"Again." She gasped, the draw of breath dragging into her lungs. "Again, Rowan."

Not yet. They would be lost if he let loose on her now, and he wanted to savor this.

Holding her by the throat, he didn't apply pressure. Too much too fast might knock her off balance and spoil their evening.

"Do you know what I'm about to do to you?"

"Fuck me." Her voice shook, and it was the most exquisite sound. "You're going to fuck me."

"No, sweetheart." His devilish smirk widened. She still didn't get it. "I'm going to own you."

The hand on her neck moved lower—down, down, down—until it reached the soaking wet heat between her legs. Using the pads of his fingers, he rubbed, making her shudder. "I'm going to own this."

She tried to move, to create more friction, but he wouldn't allow much. Dipping his hand lower, seeking the spot cradling him so deep, he massaged the muscles that would ache and burn by the time he was finished. "And this."

"Ah, God." Her head fell back, landing on his shoulder. "Please."

The tight squeeze of her pulsed around him, and he moved on, not wanting her to come again so soon. Trailing his damp fingers to her belly, Rowan spread his hand to lie flat on the muscles there. "And those butterflies that flutter when you're happy? They belong to me. I'll own them too, and they will only dance for me."

Her head rolled to the side, and their gazes met. The honesty shining in them striking sharper than any blade. She wasn't going to fight him. She was going to let him take whatever he wanted.

Trekking higher, his hand rested on her heart. He shouldn't ask. Shouldn't demand it from her yet. But he couldn't stop. "And this. I own this."

Restraint when it came to Annabeth was almost an unfathomable thing, but he waited as he always did. Watching and waiting for her to acknowledge that he was speaking the truth.

Turning her face to the ceiling, she nodded, her dry throat working to swallow. "Yours."

"That's my girl." Shifting his weight, he bent her forward, forcing her to grip the wood trim of the sofa again. "Put one hand on the back and another on the arm," he ordered. "And keep them locked."

Annabeth did as she was told, wiggling her hips to tease him. "I'm ready."

Lowering the wolf mask, Rowan bent forward to nip her shoulder with his teeth. "Is this what you wanted?"

She glanced back, her lips parting in shock at him in the mask. "Hell. Yes."

"Such a dirty girl." Straightening, he retreated slowly to pull almost all the way out. "Are you a dirty girl, Annabeth?"

Slam.

She breathed through the rush and nodded. "Yes."

Hands gripping her waist and everything in him screaming to fuck, he breathed through it with her. "Do you want me to do dirty things to you, Annabeth?"

"Yes."

Slam.

Her spine bowed, her beautiful breast swaying.

"Do you want to be fucked hard?"

"Yes."

Slam.

"Fast?"

"Yes."

Slam.

"It seems you've forgotten your manners, Annabeth." Slam. "I have yet to hear you say please." Slam. "Can you say please fuck me hard and fast, Rowan?" Slam.

Her chest heaved when she tried to speak, the words hoarse from her cries. "Please fuck me hard and fast."

Slam.

Watching his cock plunging deep, he clucked his tongue on the final strike. "Rowan," he growled, his rational side gone. "You will say my name when I'm inside you."

"Rowan."

He needed a second. Buried to the hilt, he needed time to relish the calm before the storm. But he couldn't do that. He couldn't wait.

Scanning her arms to make sure they were locked one last time, he inhaled, filling his lungs to capacity.

And with that, Rowan let go.

Unleashing all the repressed need he'd held back for far too long, he fucked without mercy. Bucking and driving into her at a punishing pace. Made for him as she was, Annabeth took all he was giving. Her spine curved, and she screamed for more. Begged for more.

"Oh, fuck yes." Her words came out broken from the force of his thrusts. "This. This is what I want."

The sound of the couch's legs scraping on the hardwood floors mixed with Annabeth's shouts, pushing him to ride harder. So damn hard that his teeth rattled, and he was pretty sure his heart stopped.

He wanted to talk her through it, give her the words she was desperate to hear. But the pleasure was too great, robbing him of speech. The couch beneath them moved again, and as he increased his speed, continuing its progression until reaching the nearby wall.

"You feel so good," he growled. "So, fucking good."

The electric white-hot pull of his release tingled at his lower spine, and he fought it, not ready for it to be over. The strikes of the couch against the wall caused a few books to fall from the shelves, but the destruction hardly registered. No other world existed but the one he was buried in.

Her panting turned rough, the muscles in her body drawing tighter, and he realized the battle not to let this end was a losing one. It was his turn to beg, and he arched forward to sink his teeth into the soft spot on the curve of her neck.

"Fall off the edge with me, sweetheart."

She shook violently with his name on her lips as she came. She chanted it over and over until he followed. Jerking the mask out of the way, he gripped her hair and twisted her head around so they could kiss as he filled her.

The moans tearing out of his soul were muffled by her lips, but he refused to stop kissing her. Their tongues stroking in sync with his shallow thrusts, Rowan wanted her to know. He needed her to know. Love. Plain and simple. He loved her and wanted to shout it. He wanted to tell the world that this woman was his, and he would cherish her forever.

But he didn't.

A plan would need to be formed. A grand gesture to blow her mind. Once this Zanmi shit was over, he would come up with something. Something she would remember. Another story for them to tell.

The urgency in their kiss quieted, and he pulled out to dispose of the condom in a corner wastebasket. She collapsed on the couch, and he joined her, drawing her into his lap.

Coated in sweat, they stared at each other for a split second before bursting into laughter. "Were you thinking of remodeling?" he asked. "Because the couch goes really well over here."

She covered her smile. He always hated when she did that. Her smile was the most stunning thing he'd ever seen and should be shared. "You took out the whole shifter section, Rowan."

"But you're okay?"

"Okay?" She squirmed off his lap, and knelt on the couch, looking cute as hell. "I want you to repeat after me: I will."

Not sure where this was going, he did as she demanded. "I will."

"Fuck Annabeth."

He grinned, the heart in his chest beating only for her. "Fuck Annabeth."

"Like that."

"Like that."

"Every time."

God, he was going to love this woman forever.

"Every time."