GWEN POV

Once we were out on the sidewalk, Nolan took his arm away. His small burst of anger I noticed from before was completely gone. Now, he just looked calm and focused.

"Would you like something hot or cold?" he asked, his deep voice smooth.

I stared up at him, confused by the sudden normal question.

"The drink?" He lifted one dark eyebrow. It was a small movement, but it somehow made him seem a little dangerous. "Are you sure you're alright? You didn't hit your head when you fell, did you?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly. I needed to know why he'd hurried us away. "But why didn't you want to go eat with Ms. Shapy?"

The words fumbled out of my lips before I could stop them.

His lips curved up again. This time, the smile was bigger, like a flash of moonlight. It made the green in his eyes seem to glow. "Because she's Ms. Not My Type," he said, his voice dropping slightly.

"You don't like her?" I asked, feeling a type of bravery and fear. He honestly seemed like the kind of man who would like that kind of polished, perfect woman.

"Women like her can be okay sometimes," he said, but he looked at me, not her, and his strange look made my skin tingle. He nodded across the street. "How about that place? They have excellent hot chocolate, if you want something hot."

I looked across the street at a bar. It was one of those expensive, fancy places I'd only ever seen from the outside-a world away from my life.

He sighed, a low sound. "Come on. Don't make me a liar to Sandra. She'll be looking at us right now."

I laughed a little, imagining him making excuses to that woman we had just seen inside.

"Really? That's her name?" I muttered to myself.

"Really." He held out his arm in a polite, old-fashioned way. "Gwen, it's freezing. Let's get you inside before you turn into an icicle."

I looked at the bar again. Going in there felt like stepping into his world-a world of old money, dark secrets, and perfect tailoring. But going home to my empty, cold apartment felt worse.

"Fine," I said, trying to sound a little annoyed, but I couldn't hide the small smile that gave me away.

Ten minutes later, I was still trying to believe it. Instead of microwaving a cheap dinner alone, I was sitting across from the man who'd knocked me on my butt. I was sipping a glass of warm, rich red wine. It tasted like velvet. Nolan had a glass of dark scotch and soda.

"Tell me something, Gwen," Nolan said, leaning forward. His eyes had a serious, intense look, like a hungry beast watching his prey. His voice dropped to a low, smooth tone that felt private, just for us. "Do you believe in fate?"

I almost choked on my wine. "Fate? Like destiny? What does that have to do with you knocking me over?"

He chuckled, a deep sound in his chest. "Everything. It puts you right in my path. Now, tell me about yourself. What do you do when you're not falling in front of strangers?"

"I don't think so, Nolan." I remembered the woman at the shop calling him that name. He didn't seem like Nolan. He seemed more like a Mark or a Tyler-names of people who stepped on money and power.

"Okay. No sharing of personal information. I like that, too. Strangers in the night sort of thing." He watched me, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips.

I shrugged and sipped the most excellent glass of wine I had ever tasted. Nolan had insisted on ordering it for me. It had cost more than a full bottle of my usual brand. "Are you regretting not going with Ms. Shapy yet?"

"Not at all. Believe it or not, I'm enjoying your company. More than I thought I would." He picked up his drink and stared into the dark liquid, but his focus was still on me.

I shook my head, feeling brave again. "You're right, I don't believe it."

"The fact that you're still here," he pointed out softly, "suggests that maybe you don't mind me as much as you're pretending."

I shrugged again. "The wine is fabulous."

He smiled then, a full one, and it was breathtaking. This man could have any woman he wanted, perfect or not, so why was he here with me? Pity, I supposed.

"I thought you'd like that," he said, his smile never fading.

I had to admit he was right. Not just about liking the wine, but also about not hating his company. We didn't talk about our personal lives-no jobs, no family, no real history-but we still found topics to chat about that kept the conversation lively and interesting. He talked about cities with impossible names and places I'd only read about. It felt like talking to someone much much older, someone with secrets that stretched back decades.

"You've seen a lot of the world," I observed.

"Some of it," he agreed, his eyes distant for a moment. "I like places that still have wildness in them. Mountains, deep forests. Where things are still rough and untamed."

"I've never really traveled," I confessed. "Just small trips. My grandmother always told me the world was too dangerous for a girl like me."

Nolan's face darkened, and for a second, I saw something fierce... like a red flash in his eyes. It was a sudden, intense heat, like looking into a fire. "Your grandmother was right that the world is dangerous," he said, his voice low and serious. "But the danger often comes from what you can't see. And for a woman like you, you need someone strong to stand beside you."

"And you think you're that person?" I asked, challenging him, but my voice was shaky.

He leaned across the table, his scent-a blend of expensive cologne, old leather, and something earthy, like pine and wet sand-filling my senses. "I know I am. If I chose to keep you safe, nothing would ever touch you, Gwen. Nothing."

The intense energy between us tightened, making it hard to breathe. The air felt charged and completely heavy at that moment.

"That's a big promise," I whispered.

He just gave a slow, confident nod. "I keep my promises."

GWEN POV

Three glasses of fabulous wine later, we left the bar. As soon as we stepped outside, we found heavy, wet snow falling in big, sloppy clumps.

"Ugh. My old car won't make it home in this," I groaned, thinking of my beat-up jalopy.

Nolan looked up toward the dark sky, letting a few wet flakes land on his face. He didn't seem bothered by the cold, only thoughtful. "I can drive you. My car is built for this kind of weather."

"Nah. It'll be okay. I'll just drive slow." I started to walk toward the parking lot.

He stepped quickly in front of me, blocking my path with his solid body. "That's not good enough," he said, his tone turning into a command I felt deep in my bones. His hand reached up and gently pushed my hair from my face, his fingers brushing over my cheek. The contact sent a bolt of pure, unwanted thrill through me.

Our eyes locked. His green eyes were darker now, almost a deep amber in the low light, and they held a weird intensity. He let out a low, nervous-sounding laugh, though his eyes looked anything but nervous. "I find myself not wanting the evening to end, Gwen."

"Funny. Me neither," I heard myself say, and I realized I had said it out loud.

His gaze dropped to my lips, and his face was so close I could feel his breath-warm and smelling faintly of scotch-on my skin.

"Why are you looking at my mouth like that?" I asked, my voice thin.

"I've been looking at your mouth all night," he admitted, his voice rough. "I've wondered what it would be like to taste your lips. I've wondered if you taste as sweet as your fear smells."

"My fear?" I squeaked, confused and suddenly terrified. That couldn't be true, how could he even tell?

"Yes. You have a scent, Gwen, a very strong, sweet scent. A scent that makes me want to pull you close." He paused, before speaking yet again. "I suppose I seem like an old ogre to you."

I swallowed, the intense wave of energy between us almost hurting. I knew what lust was, but this felt like something else entirely-a deep connection to a perfect stranger. And he was perfect. And a stranger.

"No. Not an ogre," I managed.

He laughed again, a dark, rich sound. "But old?" He pressed his finger over my lips, silencing me. "Don't answer that. The snow is getting heavier. I'm going to taste you now, Gwen. Right here."

"Okay," I breathed, completely lost.

And just like that, his lips settled on mine. A sudden, wild heat blasted through me, stronger than anything I'd ever felt. My body felt like it was standing in the middle of a hot summer day, not freezing on a snowy night. I moaned as his lips swept over mine. They were soft at first, but his kiss grew firm, then demanding, like he was staking a claim. His arm banded around me, pulling me hard against his body. I gasped at the feel of his erection-hard and significant through both our coats and layers of clothing.

"I'd like to get you on your ass again," he murmured against my lips, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes, which were wide with desire. "Only this time, without those clothes. And with your permission."

My lower body clenched hard in a silent, powerful 'yes, please.' I gripped his expensive coat, feeling like my world was spinning away. I knew I shouldn't go with this man and let him have his devilish way with me, but I couldn't seem to stop the words.

"You think it crazy?" he asked, his lips trailing along my jaw, making it impossible to think.

"Well . . . uh . . ."

"We could get a room in the hotel over there. Wait out the storm. We could have room service dinner and that's all, or we could engage in more carnal activities," he suggested, his green eyes glowing in the dark.

"I am hungry," I admitted. Warning bells were clanging in my head, but they sounded very far away.

"Then let's get you some food. And maybe a little something else." He led me down the street to a nearby hotel. It was nice, but not overly flashy.

He booked the room, and we were silent as we rode the elevator up. The only sound was the soft ping of the doors and the pounding of my own heart. Nolan opened the door and let me in.

He walked over to a small table by the window. "Here's the menu. Would you like to eat now?"

I didn't know what came over me. I would never have done this on a normal day, I had foolishly agreed to follow a stranger into a hotel room.

He stood there in his perfect suit, his silvery-dark hair glistening from the melted snow, and his mouth smiling at me-a mouth I could still taste on mine. At that moment, I knew that food wasn't what I wanted. It was him.

He tilted his head to the side, reading my silence easily. "Want to work up an appetite first, Gwen?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

He strode over to me, his movement suddenly quick and fluid. His eyes were now fully predatory, burning amber in the dim room light. He maneuvered me back toward the large bed. "I told you I was going to knock you on your ass again. And I'm not going to be sorry about it this time."

"Uhh, okay." I stumbled over my words.

He pushed me gently back onto the bed. I bounced twice, which was definitely not sexy. A fresh wave of nerves hit me. I'd never done this kind of spur-of-the-moment hookup before. And I wondered if he'd still be attracted to me once all my layers of clothes came off. I wasn't a size two like the shapely lady. I was what my grandmother called thin-figured, and I wore plain, simple underwear.

He began to undress me, slowly and carefully. But as my shirt came off, I immediately crossed my arms over my plain white bra. He arched his brow. "Problem?"

"I'm not shapey," I whispered, embarrassed.

"Goddess," he breathed, a word that felt like a prayer on his tongue. He let me lie there, covering myself like a silly, scared girl. "I'm dying to see your tits, Gwen. You have a body that should be worshipped."

A wave of hot arousal shot through me from his simple words. I pulled my hands away, and his hands immediately took off my bra. Moments later, I was completely naked and felt completely exposed. He sat back on his knees, his intense gaze taking in every part of my body.

I shifted nervously. "If you don't like what you see-"

"You're joking, right?" He didn't let me finish. His fingers brushed over my nipple, making it instantly ache with need. He leaned over, pulling it into his mouth.

"Oh!" I gasped as a shockwave of pleasure tore through me.

"Fucking hell. This is going to be spectacular," he muttered against my skin. He stood, taking his suit jacket, shirt, and belt off, but he left his pants on.

"What about-"

"First, I'm going to taste every inch of your delectable body and make you scream with pleasure. Then I'm going to claim you. Are you okay with that?"

"Ah . . . yeah . . . okay."

He cocked his head to the side, his green-amber eyes studying me with a strange seriousness. "Are you new to this kind of thing, Gwen? Hookups? Or sex in general?"

"What?" My brain felt fried, and I couldn't keep up the conversation.

"Are you nervous because you've never slept with a stranger, or are you nervous because you're a virgin?" he asked simply.

My breath hitched. I had let a total stranger lead me to a hotel room because my body was burning up with lust, when I had never, ever been with a man before.

"Hookup," I managed, quickly. He didn't need to know I was a virgin.

"Okay. Good."

"What if I were a virgin? Would you have stopped?" The question popped out before I could stop it.

"Only if you told me to stop. I'd just be more careful," he said, his voice soft but firm. He arched his brow, a silent challenge. "Do you want to change your answer, Gwen?"

I shook my head. I didn't know why I lied to him. Maybe I was embarrassed that at twenty-one, I was still untouched.

"Okay, then. It's time for me to feast."

The minute his lips were on my skin, all my nerves and concerns vanished. There was only sensation. Each touch of his lips or hands sent sparks of electricity racing through me. I felt like a spring being wound tighter and tighter, preparing for release.

I might have been a virgin, but I knew what an orgasm was, and I knew what the pressure building in my lower belly meant. But touching myself was nothing-nothing-compared to being touched by Nolan.

He pushed my legs apart, settling his large body between my thighs. A last-second flicker of nerves broke through.

What if I was messy or weird down there? I tried to move but he held me captive.

"Relax, Gwen," he ordered, his voice suddenly gravelly. "And hold on. Because I'm going to make you scream my name."

I had just a moment to catch my breath before his mouth was on my core, doing the most unexpected, glorious things to me. I grabbed his head with one hand, a desperate, instinctive movement to make sure he never stopped. My other hand gripped the sheets as reality spiraled away.

There was only pressure, building, building, building, until it exploded. I screamed, a loud, raw sound that felt ripped from my soul, and my body flooded with pleasure. It vibrated. It shuddered. It was the most amazing feeling of my life. I finally understood what the big deal about sex was.

He trailed his lips up my body as I lay there, completely boneless and spent. "You taste fucking fantastic," he said, his words thick with desire. "You smell like what I imagined."

"Really?" I whispered, still dizzy.

"Really." He stood, and his intense eyes never left mine. He was completely naked now, and I saw power in his body that was truly wild, cords of muscle, dark, scattered hair, and a raw, powerful maleness that stole my breath.

"Now, I'm going to use my cock to mark that sweet pussy until you can't scream no more."

NOLAN POV

Christmas was only a few days away. I was trying so hard to finish my last-minute holiday shopping and get the cabin ready. I was rich, so I could hire people to do most things. But I never let anyone else handle tasks for my daughter.

I knew an Alpha who did that. He was always surprised by the gifts "he'd bought" for his wife and kids. Gifts should be personal. If a man couldn't buy gifts for his family, he was a terrible husband and father.

I had planned to finish everything yesterday, but I got sidetracked. Who would have thought the woman I bumped into could completely mess up my plans? I was already in a bad mood, just like now, because I had waited so long to shop. The holidays always seemed to sneak up on me. So, I was at the stationery store for little things to put in my daughter's stocking.

Yes, I still filled a stocking for her, even though she was a grown woman now. We were going to the house in the woods to have family time. I was set on making it special, just like I had done every year since I won custody of her when she was small.

Even if it meant knocking someone down.

I had stormed into the store yesterday but I knocked a woman down. It was my fault, but I was already angry, and I started to blame her. When I tried to help her she slapped my hand away and told me off, I was strangely affected by that small reaction when it should have made me angrier.

She was right that I usually dated women who were 'shapey'-meaning women with big curves, the kind who looked like models. Those women were simple. Shallow. Easy to have a night with and then forget.

Gwen was not like that. She was messy and complicated. It made no sense that the more we talked, the more I liked her. I thought she just wanted me to have a drink with her and then leave.

But I was surprised she agreed to have a drink with me, and then let me take her to the hotel. As I thrust into her tight pussy last night, I was shocked again to find out she was a virgin. She was incredibly tight, and she made me cum after just a few hard thrust. It was over too quickly, so I convinced her to stay for food, and then I took her again.

Just like outside the bar, I didn't want the night to end, even after we were done. It felt strange and a little scary that I wanted more. I actually thought about asking for her number so I could call her. If she had asked me to stay, I might have, and that was a rule I never broke.

Luckily, she said she had to get home. I offered to drive her, but she said she was fine. The snow had stopped, and her car, though old, had four-wheel drive.

The next morning, I woke up with a hard-on and happily thought about the night before as I touched myself. It was hard to decide what to think about most. I'd never been with a woman with her kind of soft curves before. It was a huge turn-on.

Her breasts were large, which wasn't new for the women I dated. What was new was that they were real. I focused on them, imagining myself covering her chest with my cum.

I got up, showered, and dressed. I made breakfast and tried to call my daughter. I loved her more than anything, but she was so hard to reach sometimes. Oh well. I would see her at the cabin. That's when I remembered I still had shopping to do. And that I had planned to go to the cabin today to decorate.

I was so tense from the experience that I went to the gym. The place was surprisingly full for two days before Christmas.

"Nolan." Watt, my business partner, my second-in-command (my 'beta'), and my best friend, came up to me.

"Watt, I didn't know you were coming here."

He shrugged. "I thought you were out of town with the clingy cat." That nickname was cute when my daughter was two, but not at twenty-two. But Watt was her godfather and closer to her than anyone besides me, so he got away with it.

"I'm leaving later. I wanted to get a workout first."

"Erica is here."

Oh, great. Erica was fit, strong, and looked like a doll. If I met her in a bar, I would definitely have gone for it. But I never slept with clients, and she couldn't seem to get that into her head.

"Maybe I'll work instead." I walked toward the office.

Watt followed me. "I tried to call you last night."

"I was out. I turned my phone off."

Watt laughed. "Only you would hook up with a woman while Christmas shopping."

I shrugged. "I'm lucky that way." I thought back to Gwen. Yeah. I was lucky to have found her.

Watt got serious. "Seriously, man, I need to talk to you. The guys are starting to ask questions."

I stopped at the office door. "About what?"

"About us," Watt lowered his voice. "The pack. You've been distracted lately. You smell... different. And that woman you were with last night. Did you notice anything... special about her?"

I opened the office door and walked in. "She was just her, Watt. That's about as special as it got. Tight, though. And she made me come fast."

Watt sighed, closing the door behind him. "Nolan, listen to me. I know your type. You like the easy ones. But you spent the entire night with this one. That's not like you. And last night was the full moon, man. You weren't here for the run."

I sat at my desk and rubbed my face. The truth was, I had felt a strange pull last night, a deep, animal hunger that wasn't just about sex. It was a need to claim. To claim Gwen as our mate.