Chapter 4

FOUR

Tara

My eyes pop open as I feel myself being pulled backwards against someone else, and then there's the obvious evidence of their arousal poking against my ass. The sound of someone breathing deeply against my hair cuts through the silence in the room, and, for some reason, makes my nipples harden. I turn my head to look behind me, expecting to see Garrick, and instead see Drogo, focused on me.

It's weird. He's so handsome when he isn't being a jerk. His short brown hair tempts me to run my hands across it, just to see if it feels soft or spiky, and his deep brown eyes always make me feel like he's got a million things running through his mind. His cheekbones are sharp and angular, and his brows are dark. All of it pulls together to make him feel as sharp and dangerous as broken glass.

His hands rub my hips, pulling me back a little harder. A gasp slips from my lips, and I realize that if we were naked, he'd be inside of me right now. Instinctually, I rub against him, just a little, and his eyes widen. His hands tighten on me, and he licks his lips, his mouth inching closer to mine.

"What are you doing?" I whisper, completely confused.

Drogo doesn't like me. He's made that much clear.

"You were up against Garrick, and I don't want another man's scent on you," he says, his words edged with something I can't quite figure out.

This man was never taught to share as a child, and it shows.

"Why?" I lay still as his hands rove over my body. He brushes my hair out of my face and smooths his hand down my arm and onto my hip, gripping it for a moment before continuing around my waist to my stomach. He holds his hand there, rubbing circles with his palm and pausing before inching a little further down. I suck in a breath, and he finally answers me.

"Because no wolf wants another man's scent on his woman." He slides his hand back up my stomach and stops right under my breast.

"Am I really your woman?" It comes out breathier than I intended.

His hands twitch on my skin, and he doesn't answer immediately.

"For now." His response comes out as more of a growl than spoken words. He tosses the covers to the side, careful not to jostle anyone else as he untangles himself from our pile, gets up to find his clothes, and leaves the room, growling and grumbling softly as he goes.

I sigh, forever confused by these men, especially Drogo, with his possessive nature and gruffness toward me. It's a huge contradiction. The man needs to decide what the hell he wants from me, and leave me alone until he does.

My gaze moves to Garrick, and I shift a bit on the bed, trying to get back to sleep. I was sleeping great up until I got felt up by a big bad wolf. Damn him.

Suddenly, Garrick's eyes pop open, and a smile spreads across his face. It kind of leaves me wondering just how long he's been awake. Did he see what happened with Drogo?

"Morning, beautiful," he whispers, making me blush.

"Good morning." I smile, because he's hard not to smile at.

"The wolf is so funny when he's jealous." Garrick chuckles lightly.

What? Clearly he doesn't know our dynamic.

I look in the direction Drogo left in. "He's not jealous. He doesn't even like me. He just doesn't want any other men's scents on me," I explain, even though it's painful to say.

The thing is, I feel a connection to Drogo and the wolves that feels important, unbreakable. Even Drogo, as much as I hate to admit it. He just doesn't feel the same way.

Garrick gives a little laugh. "Oh, he's definitely jealous. And to be honest, when he was touching you all over, I was too."

I'm blushing again, but I can't quite understand how Drogo could be jealous when he hates everything about me. The guy seems like he's always one wrong word away from tearing me to pieces. So, how can that connect with jealousy? It's all so confusing.

"You don't have to say that."

He gets a funny look on his face. "You're gorgeous, Tara. Any man would want you."

I shake my head. "You, Garrick, are good with pretty words. I haven't forgotten that."

A pained look crosses his face. "I know I broke your trust with that argument with the wolves, but I promise you I'm going to earn it back."

I don't know if I believe him, but I know I want to.

He sighs. "I still can't believe you're a witch. This is not how I pictured a witch." He waves his hand in front of my body in a way I don't understand.

"Do your people hate witches like the wolves do?" I ask, sitting up on one arm, my hair falling over my shoulder.

Garrick gently brushes my hair off my shoulder and meets my gaze. "Witches and bears have no issues since our land is on the other side of wolf lands, and we hardly ever deal with one another. There's no deep hatred. And even if there are a few isolated incidents, it's nothing compared to the battles between witches and wolves."

I nod, understanding. There's nothing like the feud between wolves and witches. Besides, I've never even heard bear shifters talked about. It might be that my people just lump all shifters into one pile, but it might also be just what he says: bears and witches are too far away from each other to have any real problems.

"I don't care that you're a witch. You're mine," he says, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Okay." I don't know what else to say. I believed his honeyed words before. I don't want to be hurt again.

"Can I hold you?" he asks me with soft eyes.

The picture of him holding me forms in my mind. I glance at Arlys and Rinan, still sleeping soundly, and decide to hell with it. "Yes, that sounds nice."

His big arms wrap about me, pulling me closer to him so that our bodies are perfectly aligned. I feel his strong, steady heartbeat against my back, and his breath against my ear. It's the safest I've felt since I've been here.

I sigh and melt into him, enjoying the closeness.

"Do you like being in my arms?" he asks, running his nose along my neck.

I sigh involuntarily. Way too much. Like, I want to demand that he always hold me like this.

Seeing no reason to lie, I tell him the truth. "Yes. I thought it would be weird to sleep with everyone in the bed, but I slept well. Better than I have in a long time." I turn to face him. "I feel safe and protected. And being in your arms makes it even better."

Even though I'm probably crazy for feeling this way.

Although, Garrick hasn't hurt me over and over again like the wolves. He was everything I wanted and more the instant I met him… until he slipped up. At least I hope it was a slip-up. Or his mask slipped. I haven't decided yet.

He holds me tighter. "Did you not feel safe and protected back home?"

My mind flashes to the discomfort I always felt at home and how I always felt like I didn't belong because I wasn't good enough. My body is suddenly cold. I didn't feel protected or safe. I felt like a burden. "Not at all," I admit to him.

Here, the wolves don't necessarily like me, but they keep me safe. They're so serious about it too. It's like they're the only ones that have a right to hurt me, which seems strange.

He sounds surprised. "Really? I'm sorry."

I shrug. "That's life."

I look back at him and see that there's something I can't read in his face. "I'm happy you feel safe. That's all I want for you," he whispers.

Garrick brushes his lips against the hollow behind my ear, making me sigh again and relax back against the bed. Then he gently kisses my neck. He travels down my neck with feather light kisses. Moving back up with the same gentleness, he kisses along my jaw, forcing me to face him.

"Do you like this?" he whispers.

I like it very much. "Yes."

I lean forward, pressing my lips against his, breathing more rapidly when his tongue darts into my mouth. His hands slowly slide from around my waist to my breasts. A soft moan escapes my mouth as I take in all the sensations I'm feeling. Sensations I like. Garrick's in control, not moving fast or being rough. He wants me to feel good, and he's doing a damn good job of it.

I never want him to stop.

He pulls my lip in between his teeth and nips me. Heat rises from my body, and I moan again. I love every single thing he's doing to me.

"You feel amazing, Tara." His gruff voice in my ear melts me even more.

I open my eyes to look at him, see Rinan's large back behind Garrick, and remember we aren't alone. I reluctantly pull away, silently sighing and wishing Garrick had been the only one in my bed.

"Tara?"

My gaze flickers to the wolf.

He follows my gaze and groans, followed by a soft mutter. "Damn wolves."

I turn away from him, and Arlys' angry face is the first thing I see. How long has he been awake? Arlys is many things, but not usually angry, and that's definitely what he is now.

Have I made this even worse? First Drogo, now Arlys. What have I gotten myself into?