High Voltage Read online

  "Slow,” he whispered.

  But Serena was much too caught up in the moment, much too captivated by the way her body responded to Garrett's to heed any warnings.

  She let her instincts take over. Let her desire for this man she didn't even know guide her. Drawing the rest of his hard member inside her, her eyes closed and she savored the feel of him. So strong and virile. So powerful. Life pulsed between them and the heady sensations coursing through her body intoxicated and thrilled her.

  Her eyelids opened and she stared at Garrett. “In my wildest dreams, I never imagined it would be this good. That having a man inside me would feel this wonderful."

  The expression on Garrett's handsome face indicated he, too, was surprised by their perfect joining. The way they fit together, the way they completed each other. It was erotic and beautiful at the same time.

  She rocked against him. Slowly. Loving how it felt to have him inside her. Garrett's hands gripped her hips and he moved in time with her. He didn't push too hard, too fast, and she silently thanked him for that. Instead, he filled her completely and let her ride him slowly, getting used to his length and width—and the absolute joy that consumed her as they settled into a steady rhythm.

  There seemed to be nothing rushed about their lovemaking. He wasn't impatient about quickening the pace, didn't seek more than the feel of being buried inside her while she slowly gyrated against him. Emotion welled within Serena as she gazed down at his handsome face and found his eyelids at half-mast as he watched her move above him. His hands slid from her hips to her breasts. Cupping them, he teased the centers with his palms.

  Serena's eyes closed and her head fell back on her shoulders. A soft moan escaped her lips. Nothing had ever felt quite so exquisite.

  Then Garrett shifted beneath her. He sat up, his hands returning to her hips. His lips swept over hers and he engaged her in another one of his all-consuming kisses. Serena's arms wrapped around his neck. She held him to her as they continued to move together, the tempo building naturally. Garrett's tongue tangled with hers, intensifying the kiss and the passion that arced between them. Within seconds, a hot, restless feeling claimed Serena. She wanted more of him. So much more.

  Her hands plowed through his silky hair as she returned his impassioned kiss. He thrust up into her, sending a surge of excitement through every inch of her. Her insides blazed, her heart hammered in her chest. The languid sensations she'd felt earlier were now replaced with a desperate, insistent need for satisfaction. Pleasure caressed every inch of her, yet it wasn't enough.

  Tearing her mouth from his, she said in a breathless tone, “I need more than this."

  In a heartbeat, Garrett had her on her back, with him between her legs, their intimate bond unbroken.

  Without a word uttered between them, he moved inside her quickly and forcefully. Serena's eyes closed. Her fingertips pressed into the hard muscles of his biceps. He thrust into her, his hard cock pumping in and out of her until she was writhing restlessly and moaning with the sheer pleasure that burned through every inch of her.

  "Oh, yes,” she whispered. “Just like that."

  Garrett's body was pressed to hers, and his mouth devoured her neck as he pushed deeper into her, harder. Instinctively, she wrapped a leg around his waist and held him in a tight grip. When her orgasm hit, she cried out. The fabulous sensations consumed her and Serena held onto them, grateful that Garrett continued to move inside her. On and on it went ... longer than she'd dared to believe was possible. For endless minutes, it seemed, she was swept away by the most incredible flood of sensations. They rushed through her, leaving every fiber of her being drowning in exquisite pleasure.

  How she managed to hang onto Garrett was beyond her. She couldn't relinquish her hold on him, yet her limbs felt weak and every inch of her tingled with heated pinpricks of desire. Still, she kept him pressed to her, her arms wrapped around him. She also held him in a death grip inside her, an intimate embrace that, within seconds, had him convulsing and surging inside her.

  Garrett let out a low growl as he came. His muscles tightened all around her. He seemed to expand inside her and push even deeper as he climaxed, and it sparked a new batch of electric sensations in Serena until she was coming with him, her inner walls clutching him tight, milking his hard cock.

  Her mind blurred. Her pulse raced. And her breathing escaped her.

  For the first time in her life, Serena finally knew what it meant to be thoroughly loved.

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  High Voltage: Chapter 6

  Garrett eased out of her and rolled onto his back, bringing Serena with him. The fire crackled and the faint scent of lovemaking lingered on the air. His arm tightened around her shoulder as her cheek pressed to his chest. His pulse had yet to slow, and his breathing was still labored. But Garrett had never felt so alive, so virile. Making love to Serena had been more exciting, more emotionally stirring than anything he'd ever experienced.

  He swallowed down a remaining lump of emotion. They had just formed an unbreakable connection. He knew it in his heart.

  Her hand gently caressed his abdomen and her warm breath teased his skin. “That was incredible. Even more so than I'd expected,” she said in a soft voice.

  He grinned. “Me, too. And my expectations were pretty damn high."

  Serena's head lifted and she stared into his eyes. “Is it always like that? So powerful? So ... moving?"

  His head rolled back and forth on the pillow. “No. What we just experienced—what we just shared...” He let out a long sigh. “That was..."

  A soft smile touched her lips. Her eyes sparkled in the dim lighting that filled the room from the flickering flames in the hearth. “Life altering?"

  His grin faded. “More than you know.” His fingers caressed her cheek before pushing into her unruly, silky hair. He pulled her head to his, their gazes locked. “What just happened between us was meant to be. I won't ever let anyone hurt you, Serena."

  Confusion clouded her blue eyes, but she didn't look away from him. “It does feel like this was meant to be ... But how is that possible? I mean, I don't understand...” She shook her head and let out a soft sigh. “I don't understand what happened tonight. Any of it."

  "I know.” His lips grazed hers. He only meant to give her a quick kiss—one of reassurance. But as soon as his mouth touched hers, he had to have her all over again. He held her to him and kissed her, long and deep. His cock swelled when she moaned.

  But then her hands pressed against his chest and she broke the kiss. Breathless and flushed, she sat up and stared at him. That she looked him directly in the eye and didn't flinch when he stared so intently back at her impressed and excited him all the more.

  "We need to talk,” she said. She shoved a hand through her tousled hair and then said, “Seriously. I've had some strange things happen to me in my life, but nothing like this. It's ... surreal. And I know there's some significance to it, I just can't figure out what."

  He nodded. “There's more going on than you know.” His fingers grazed her bare arm. She sat close to him and he wanted to keep it that way—wanted to keep her close to him. “The things I'm going to tell you aren't going to be easy to hear. But...” He touched her shoulder, then allowed his fingertips to sweep over her collarbone, down to the gentle slope of her breast. The pad of his index finger gently grazed her still-tight nipple and he groaned at the response he evoked in her. She shivered and her breath caught. Desire lit her eyes.

  Garrett knew he'd ensnared her as much as she had him. They were connected on a visceral level now, but the physical connection still burned bright. It always would.

  "But?” she prompted.

  Garrett sat up. He hated that they had to travel this path right now. What he really wanted to do was make love to her again. Solidify their bond and the connection between them. He wanted to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when he told her the truth about himself—and her role in his life—she would
accept it. He wanted to know she wouldn't turn away from him, reject what he told her and offered her.

  Yet, it was clear Serena needed communication of the non-physical variety right now. She needed to hear what had happened tonight. What it meant and how she was involved.

  Shoving a hand through his hair, Garrett said, “You have to have an open mind, Serena.” He speared her with a steady look. “What I'm going to tell you won't be anything you've ever heard before. It'll confuse you further, and it may also ... scare you."

  She shifted on the bed, getting more comfortable. She grabbed a fistful of the down comforter and yanked it toward her, so it covered the front of her. She clutched the thick material tightly to her chest, protectively, but she didn't break their eye contact. “Whatever you have to say, I want—need—to hear it."

  He nodded. Garrett honestly didn't want to hold anything back—he didn't want to keep anything from her. Still. She wasn't going to like what he had to say. Reaching for her free hand, he twined his fingers with hers and stepped off the cliff. “I was right about the dog and you were right about the wolf."

  Her eyes narrowed on him. He continued. “There was no dog in the back of the truck. You hit a wolf. And yes, he did leave the truck before you arrived here ... He just didn't leave in the way you think he did."

  She sucked in a sharp breath. Though, still, she didn't utter a word.

  Garrett said, “He was injured. The same place I was injured. He didn't jump out of the truck, he ... changed."

  Something flickered in her blue eyes, but she was clearly unable to make the full correlation. Reticent to do so, actually.

  "He changed form, Serena. He ... became ... a man."

  Her eyes snapped shut. She snatched her hand from his and shook her head. “No."

  "Yes,” Garrett insisted.

  Serena opened her eyes and stared at him. He couldn't read her expression, so guarded was it, but he was damn certain she couldn't get her arms around this explanation—no matter how much she wanted to.

  "Why are you saying this?” she asked. “Why is the truth so hard for you?” She slipped off the bed, still holding the comforter to her naked body, and started to pace by the fireplace.

  Garrett let out a long sigh. What had he expected, anyway? That she'd simply understand and accept what he told her? That she'd buy it with no proof? Nothing to back it up?

  But to provide that proof...

  No. Garrett wouldn't do it. He wouldn't shift in front of her. She'd been through enough this evening. He didn't want to freak her out further. Especially after she'd given up her virginity ... Christ, the last thing he wanted to do was show her who—no, what—she'd given it up to.

  "Serena—"

  "I don't get any of this,” she said as she pulled up abruptly and stared at him. Her hands lifted in the air and the comforter dropped to the hardwood floor, momentarily distracting him. “None of this makes sense."

  "I know.” He stepped toward her and gently held her toned biceps in his large hands. “I know.” He hoped his tone was soothing enough to ease some of her tension. “And the truth is not going to be what you want to hear. It's going to be very confusing. But you have to listen to everything I have to say. Can you do that?"

  Several moments slid by, but eventually, she gave a sharp nod.

  Garrett drew in another full breath. He relaxed his grip on her and said, “What happened between us tonight was just as powerful, just as meaningful to me as it was to you. Hell, maybe even more so.” He looked her deep in the eye and added, “You felt it, right?"

  "I felt ... something,” she admitted. “I don't know what."

  "Yes, you do.” He let go of her and took a step back. “My wound healed."

  Serena's gaze dropped to his right hip. She gasped audibly as she stared in shock. Clearly, she'd forgotten all about the injury and the blood. Her eyes lifted to his and she asked, “But how?"

  "I have the ability to heal myself. It's part of who I am, Serena."

  Her eyes closed. “I don't think I want to hear anymore."

  "You know, in your heart, what I'm trying to tell you."

  "No.” She shook her head vehemently. “It doesn't make any sense, and I can't even begin to fathom—"

  "Serena.” He gripped her arms again, stared deep into her eyes when they opened. “The wolf was me. I jumped out in front of your truck. I needed to keep you from entering the heart of the storm. It was the only thing I could do to keep you safe. And then..."

  "Stop,” she said on a sharp sob. Her eyes squeezed shut and she shook her head, sending long tendrils flying in all directions. “Please stop. Please. I can't hear this. I don't want to hear this. Just ... stop!"

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  High Voltage: Chapter 7

  Why the hell was he doing this to her?

  She wrenched her arms from his grip and, thankfully, he let her go. Reaching for the glass of wine she'd left on the coffee table, she wrapped her fingers tightly around the stem and drew in a long sip. She was in desperate need of a little fortification. Lord, was she in need! What he was saying to her—what he was trying to say to her, which she couldn't even begin to comprehend—was that he was some sort of creature of the night.

  Straight out of a horror film.

  And yet...

  There was nothing horrific about Garrett Slater. In fact, Serena felt sufficiently swept off her feet by him. She felt satiated and fulfilled in a way she'd never known possible. Her insides seemed to be electrically charged. Her skin tingled. Thoughts of the past hour left her drowning in erotic sensations she'd never experienced before.

  But his words were wreaking havoc on her psyche. What the hell was she supposed to do with the things he was saying to her?

  Believe him?

  Oh, hell no.

  She nearly spit out the last sip of wine she'd taken.

  Returning the glass to the table, she pushed a shaky hand through her hair and then turned back to face Garrett.

  "Is this your ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ routine?” She honestly couldn't think of another viable explanation.

  Except that he was telling the truth.

  But that was impossible. Despite all signs to the affirmative, she simply couldn't go there.

  "You turn up naked in the back of an unsuspecting woman's truck, seduce her, then tell her some far-fetched, completely absurd tale so that she'll kick you out. And what?” She placed her hands on her hips, cognizant that she was completely naked, but hoping to make her point and stand her ground, regardless. “You don't end up the bad guy this way? You don't have to ditch her because, of course, she's going to tell you to go to hell."

  His jaw tightened. Crossing his arms over his massive chest made him all the more intimidating. The beautiful green irises she'd swear she could gaze into for the rest of her life turned dark and stormy. They were almost black.

  Garrett radiated a primal heat that aroused her all over again.

  Serena let out a long-suffering sigh. Why did he make her so hot and bothered? Especially when he was fabricating the most ludicrous lie in order to extract himself from the situation he'd found himself in.

  The situation he'd initiated!

  With her shoulders squared, she glared back at him. “Well?"

  Garrett stared back. There was absolutely nothing in his intense gaze that told her he was lying. Nothing that would suggest this was all a ploy—a game. He didn't look amused, nor did he look too interested in being kicked out.

  But if that were the case ... If this really wasn't some sort of love ‘em and leave ‘em act as she'd initially suspected ... as she wanted to believe ... then that meant...

  "Oh, holy fuck."

  * * * *

  Garrett's arms were around her in a heartbeat as she literally began to wilt in front of him. Holding her close to him, he was surprised she actually allowed him to keep her steady. He could feel the tremble ripple through her from head to toe as she processed the evenin
g's events and the words he'd said.

  "Oh, my God,” she whispered, her breath tickling his neck.

  "So,” he said, ignoring the desire that rose within him again as he held her naked body. He fought all his basic, natural, primal instincts, forcing himself to remain focused on the discussion at hand. Not the fact that he wanted to make love to her again. “Your subconscious mind has made the correlation, but your practical mind isn't quite allowing you to go there."

  "It just can't be...” But even as she said the words, he could tell she'd already made the leap.

  In fact, her body relaxed against his. A sign of trust. It warmed his heart. “I'm sorry this is so difficult. I'm sorry this isn't ... perfect."

  Serena shifted in his embrace, so that she could see his face. Her eyes clouded and her head cocked to one side as she stared curiously at him. “Why?"

  Garrett drew in a long breath. “Because you deserve perfection."

  She smiled suddenly. It was a radiant, vibrant smile. Her white teeth gleamed brightly in the firelight. “You don't think what happened between us earlier was perfect?"

  He grinned, despite the tense moment and cryptic topic of conversation. “Well, sure, I do. But..."

  "I do, too,” she was quick to say. “Every single second of it, in fact. It's just that...” She shook her head, the smile fading from her beautiful face. “I'm so confused. And..."

  "Scared."

  "I don't want to be,” she insisted. “I mean, I'm not. At least, I'm not afraid of you. I don't know why, I just ... know that you're not going to hurt me."

  "No,” he assured her. “I'm not. Not ever."

  She smiled again, this time a bit more tentatively, but it was still a breathtaking sight. “Somehow I know that. I believe it in my heart."

  His body was close enough to hers that he felt the natural heat she emitted and it commanded his passion. Garrett's mouth grazed her temple and Serena let out a soft sigh that stirred his senses anew. Her eyelids fluttered closed a heartbeat before his lips touched hers. He kissed her softly at first, tenderly. Then she opened her mouth, inviting him inside. It was an invitation he coveted, one for which he would be eternally grateful.