NocC 010 - The Ancients 04 - Bonnie Vanak - Seduced by the Wolf - Harlequin 2012-03 by Nocturne Read Free Book Online

his toasty warmth, let the air cool the sweat on his body.
    And then she heard it.
    She twisted, startling him as he toppled off her. Ariel ran into the living room and ground to an abrupt halt. She felt Jarrett behind her, and his heavy sigh. He placed a hand on her waist.
    Around them echoed the sounds of lovemaking, skin sliding over skin, small excited cries mingling with harsh moans. On the floor, several couples were frantically copulating. Their clothing partly shed, as if they couldn’t wait. She recognized Sam, jeans down around his thighs as he covered his mate. His hips pumped hard and fast to the rhythm of Dina’s tiny, excited cries.
    Stunned with betrayal, Ariel turned to Jarrett. “You used me,” she whispered.
    Jarrett shifted his hold on her, his jaw tight. “I used the situation to our advantage. They need to have sex. My men have been too wound up. The timing was right. I had to do something to release their tension or risk them getting into fights.”
    “And me, Jarrett? What about me? What do I get?”
    He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Pleasure. I promise you, I will take good care of you. Very good care. I need you, Ariel. My people need you.”
    Pleasure. Her sensual side pulsed at the word. She felt a mixture of sad resignation and faint hope. If pleasure was all he could deliver, she’d take it.
    For now.
    But Jarrett underestimated the power of the Fae. She would dig past his layers to find the shifter she’d once adored.
    Jarrett didn’t realize it, but he needed her for more than sex. Ariel suspected he needed her to save him. Because she had a bad feeling about the darkness in the mine.
    It had something to do with him.

Chapter Eight
    Shafts of sunlight spilled through the lace curtains at the window and speared the hardwood floor. Ariel turned her head toward the sunrise.
    Jarrett still slept. One arm stretched above his head, one arm hooked possessively around her waist, he looked relaxed. Off guard. Gone were the lines of tension, the tight control he’d always held.
    Last night that control had nearly shattered. He’d made love to her with a wildness that echoed his wolf. Ariel rolled over, brushed a lock of blond hair off his brow. His mouth was parted slightly as he breathed.
    How long had it been since he’d been able to relax like this? She touched the firmness of his lips, remembering them caressing her skin, intent on making her feel pleasure.
    His eyes flew open. He turned, capturing her in his arms. Ariel gave a small squeak as he rolled over, his heavy weight pinning her to the mattress, his erection snug against her sex.
    “Look what my fairy godmother delivered to my bed. A pretty Fae shifter.”
    Rough with sleep, his voice was husky and sexy. Ariel laced her fingers through his.
    “You were incredible last night.” Jarrett gave a slow smile. “Care for a repeat performance?”
    The breathy excitement of last night faded in the growing sunlight. Ariel searched his face. She saw earthly passion, raw sexuality and male need.
    But no emotion. No tenderness. As if she were a stranger and had spent the night in his bed.
    “Making love with you was so intense.”
    Jarrett squeezed her fingers. “Best sex I’ve had in a long time.”
    Sex. Not love. He’d told her he had nothing to give. Nothing but his body and pleasure.
    Strength filled her limbs. In a sudden burst of energy, she twisted, throwing him off her. Jarrett’s eyes widened. Ariel ignored him, slid to the bed’s edge and went to the lace curtains.
    They were dusty and yellowed from age. She brought a panel to her nose and inhaled, detecting a faint scent of female.
    “Interesting curtains. You know, window decor has changed in the past thirty years. You might consider a decorator.” Ariel turned to him, hands on hips. “Unless you’re so mired in the past you can’t bear to change them.”
    Tension whitened his mouth. “I’ve always hated those curtains. Too fussy. Chloe made