The Restful Stay Motel was much nicer than Tara expected, certainly better than the dump Franklin had taken her to the night they first met. Alcide gave her a look of reassurance as he slid the clerk his credit card and the young man handed him the key. When they opened the door to their room and stepped inside, Tara was surprised by its extreme neatness. In the center of the room was an inviting king-size bed with a floral-printed bedspread, a bedside table with a small lamp and clock radio, a circular desk and two chairs in the far corner next to the bathroom door, and across from the bed was a large, oak dresser with an oversize, rectangle mirror hanging over it. This was better than some of the places she'd lived. Her gaze drifted back to the bed. Her stomach lurched. Was she really going to do this?

Alcide must have picked up on her hesitation because he turned to her and said, "It's not too late to say no, Tara."

He looked so sincere that her heart ached a little. "I'm alright," she said, hugging herself. She walked over to the dresser, putting some space between them. "Just a little nervous, is all. It's not everyday I agree to sleep with a man who happens to be a werewolf – at least none that I know of."

"Hey, you got no reason to be nervous," he said, placing the key on the bedside table. "Y'know, I thought about you a lot after I went back to Jackson."

"And Sookie too! She thought bitterly but managed to hold her tongue in check. So what if he has the hots for my best friend? Sookie's so strung out on Bill's dumb ass that she can't fucking see straight. Besides, he's here with me right now. Alcide's a good man—er, werewolf—whatever. There's nothing wrong with two consenting adults sharing one meaningless night of sex, right?

Why don't you ask Sam that question? said the tiny voice in her head. We both know how well that turned out.

Sam was complicated. This doesn't have to be. I'm leaving town in the morning, and he'll go back to Jackson. We'll never even have to see each other again.

Is that what you really want?"

The question stumped her.

"You're a hard woman to forget," Alcide said, interrupting her thoughts. He walked towards her with a sexy grin, closing the distance between them.

She gave him what she hoped was a seductive smile. "You're pretty hard to forget y'self."

He gently cupped the back of her neck, pulling her face to his. The kiss he gave her was tender and sweet, enticing her to respond. She did without hesitation, but soon the kiss deepened and passion took over. She felt his hand tightening around the base of her skull. His tongue flicked across her lips then plunged deep inside her mouth, exploring and demanding more. His intensity reminded her of Franklin. It was too much. She pulled away and stared up at him, her heart racing.

"Alcide, I—" she stumbled. She knew he could clearly read the doubt and fear in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," he said, releasing a heavy breath. "I got carried away."

Tara stared at the buttons on his shirt, instead of his face. Her voice broke as she uttered the words she never thought she'd say to anyone aloud. "I-I'm afraid."

There was a pause. Alcide lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Don't be," he said. He pressed his forehead to hers then gave her a soft peck on the lips. "I would never hurt you. You can trust me, Tara."

Trust? Tara never trusted anyone. She'd been screwed over too many times in her life for that.

"Trust is something I don't do too well," she admitted. "It comes with too many fuckin' repercussions."

He smiled down at her, his eyes full of warmth and understanding. "I'll tell you what. Why don't we just enjoy what happens between us tonight and worry about the rest tomorrow. Okay?"

She swallowed the last bit of her fear and nodded. "Okay."

He took his time undressing her, starting with her red jacket and pink knit top. He peeled the garments from her body and over her head as though he was opening a special gift and wanted to savor the entire process. Next, he bent down to remove her tennis shoes and socks before rising to his full height. Without breaking eye contact, he slid his hands down her belly to unfasten her jeans. She heard the sound of her zipper and the feel of his thumbs inside her waistband. Her breath hitched as he bent to push the jeans off her hips and down her thighs. He lifted one leg then the other to tug them off the rest of the way. When he was done, she stood before him in nothing but her matching white bra and panties. Her nipples pebbled against the lacey fabric. She held her breath and waited.

He leaned forward and kissed her again, this time showing more restraint. She placed her hands on his wide shoulders, nearly having to stand on tip toes to meet his lips. She closed her eyes, enjoying the languid way their lips moved against each other. She wasn't big on kissing. But the way Alcide brushed his mouth over hers, his tongue delving and exploring in ways that made her toes curl, she felt she could go on kissing him for hours.

The need for oxygen prevailed over passion and Alcide reluctantly broke the kiss but kept his face close enough that their noses were almost touching. "Turn around," he said in a hoarse voice. She slowly turned to face their reflections in the mirror. Her eyes locked with his.

"Look at you," he whispered into her ear. "So damn beautiful. It makes me ache just to touch you." She felt his erection pressing into the small of her back. His hands slid over her shoulders, down her arms and spanned over her hips and waist. He let out a slow, even breath, warming the nape of her neck. She could feel his body heat but couldn't stop herself from shivering.

She stared at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were half-lidded and gleaming with arousal. Alcide fully clothed behind her, his fingers splayed over her bare stomach, was one of the most erotic images she'd ever seen.

She leaned back against him, staring at the contrast of his pale hand against her cocoa-brown skin. "Y-your hands are so warm and big," she uttered.

He gave her a salacious grin then slid his hand further down. She watched it disappear behind the waistband of her bikini briefs.

She gasped as his fingers delved pass her springy curls into the moistness of her folds. His lips brushed the outer curve of her ear. "The better to feel you with…" he said in a deep, husky voice that sent heat straight to her clitoris.

She gave a half giggle, half sigh, at his reference to the childhood fairytale. But Alcide was no bad wolf, he was good, real good. And under his expert ministrations, Tara found herself edging closer to orgasm.

He held her tight against his chest, his index and middle finger moving over the hard nub in small, insistent circles.

She moaned.

"You like that?" he asked.

"Yesss."

With his other hand, he gently pulled her hair, forcing her head to tilt backwards, exposing her neck to his lips and tongue. "And this?" he asked against the crevice of her shoulder and neck. He pushed two fingers deep inside, moving them slowly in and out.

"I fuckin' love that," she answered breathlessly. Heat coiled at her center as she ground her hips in time to his movements. She was so very close now. It wouldn't take much to send her over the edge.

His teeth gently grazed her shoulder. She turned her head towards him so their tongues connected and circled each other. He licked and gently sucked her bottom lip, while increasing the tempo of his fingers. Tara's cry was swallowed by another mind-blowing kiss.

Oh God! Her body tensed, exploding in a wave of tingles.

"That's it," he said against her temple. "Don't hold back."

She moaned and shuddered until the last wave ebbed away, leaving her feeling limp and very satisfied. Alcide picked her up and carried her to the bed. She fell back against the bedspread, arms stretched over her head, legs slightly parted. He bent over her, supported by one knee, his weight indenting the mattress. With her assistance, he quickly discarded her bra and panties. His fingers traced an invisible line between the valley of her breasts, stopping to caress and gently pinch her taut, blackberry nipples. She gasped and arched her back. She was wetter than she'd ever been.

He sat on the edge of the bed to kick off his Timberland work boots. Tara rose up on her elbows to watch him take off his shirt. God! She loved the expanse of his shoulders, the way the powerful muscles bunched and flexed beneath them. He stood to unzip his jeans. Tara's eyes widened. She'd wondered if he was a boxer or briefs kind of guy, never considering he might prefer going commando. Then again, having to wear underwear probably wasn't all that practical for a werewolf.

She remembered the first time she saw him totally naked. At the time, she was so preoccupied with escaping from a madman that she was more concerned with her survival than his nudity. Now, her gaze feasted hungrily upon his perfect male form. He was all muscle and hard lines, broad and solid, not a trace of fat anywhere. His thick cock curved upward touching his navel, the red-tinged, bulbous head glistening with moisture. She felt her cunt throb with anticipation.

He stared down at her with—she almost laughed at the thought—a wolfish grin, his brown eyes sparkling. He fisted his hand around his cock and rubbed it slowly. "Open your legs for me, Tara."

She parted her legs and laid flat against the bed.

"You're so fucking hot and sweet, I could eat you right up," he said.

Tara felt an erotic surge like a hotwire charging her libido, making her feel bolder, uninhibited. "Then why don't you?" she asked with a suggestive purr.

Their eyes locked for a breathless second. He licked his lips and knelt on the carpeted floor. In one fluid motion, he pulled her towards him and placed her legs over his shoulders. He dived in, his tongue stroking languorously over her slit.

"Oooh…fuck!" she moaned. A tremble went through her body. His hands slid beneath her ass, lifting her off the bed. He sucked her clitoris between his lips. Tara bit her bottom lip, trying to keep from screaming from the exquisite pleasure coursing through her body. Her hands twined in his soft hair as he laved her sex, switching between slow broad strokes and staccato flicks of the tongue that drove her mad with desire. Her inner muscles quivered with the need to be filled. She jerked her hips upward, applying pressure to the back of his head, wanting desperately to feel his tongue inside her cunt. He must have known from the way her hips moved what she desired because the next thing she felt was his warm tongue at her opening, push its way inside.

"Yes…yes. Oh God! " she cried out, but it wasn't enough.

"Please fuck me…now!" she panted.

Alcide lifted his head, his lips moist with her juices, a predatory look in his eyes. For an instant, she was back at the mansion. A sliver of fear emerged in the back of her mind, but it was quickly drowned out by the desire to have him take her in the only way a man could. He lifted her leg from his left shoulder so he could grab a condom from his jean pocket. He deftly tore open the square plastic wrapper with his teeth then sheathed himself.

"You ready for me?" he asked, staring deep into her eyes.

"Yes," she said breathlessly. "Fuckin' do it!"

Tara thought she was could handle anything he had to give, but his girth was much bigger than she realized. She fought the urge not to crawl up the mattress as he inched his length inside her. He paused to give her time to adjust. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. He pulled out a little before thrusting forward again, this time going deeper. She felt his penis throbbing inside her. Her hands slid down his back and over his ass. His skin felt feverish to the touch.

He moaned, gritting his teeth. "Your pussy's so…so fucking…tight."

His hands splayed on either side of her hips, holding her in place. He pumped slowly, drawing out the pleasure, giving her the chance to find his rhythm. She did, meeting his thrust stroke for stroke. The tempo gradually changed, becoming more urgent, almost desperate in its intensity. Her fingers dug into taunt flesh. His nostrils flared. Sweat glistened on his skin. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead, his face set in deep concentration.

He lifted her right leg and somehow she ended up on her side. He went in deep then pulled out almost completely. Before she could feel the sudden loss of his withdrawal, he plunged back inside her, rotating his hips. He did this several more times until she felt heat moving up her channel into the pit of her stomach. The bed vibrated beneath her. He stood, maneuvering her onto her hands and knees, taking her from behind. His hand reached around to rub her swollen clitoris. Her muscles sucked him in, greedily, not wanting to let go as the wave of heat flowed outward, down to her toes. She dug her fingers into the bedspread, wrinkling the slippery fabric.

"Don't stop…don't stop," she panted, rocking back against his pelvis. His hand gripped her ass, spreading her wider.

She heard his throaty groan. "So fucking good…ohhh."

Her spine stiffened and she strained against him as her orgasm took hold. Her cries soon mingled with his, as he bent over her, his wet chest pressed against her back. He bit her shoulder and grunted, thrusting into her at a frantic pace. The pleasure-pain shot straight to the bundle of nerves igniting between her thighs. She could no longer hold back her scream.

Seconds later, Tara floated back to herself. She looked up and saw their reflection in the mirror. Alcide was holding her tight around the waist, almost lifting her upright, as he climaxed. He threw his head back and called out her name. His eyes closed and mouth formed into an O as he shuddered against her. Every sculpted muscle in his body looked strummed tight.

He pressed he head against the back of her neck, breathing like a man who'd just crossed the finish line after a long marathon. "Th-that was amazing," he said. He disposed of his condom in the wastebasket next to the bed then collapsed on the mattress beside her. She looked down at his flushed face, brushing a damp curl from his forehead.

Normally, this would be her cue to make up some excuse to leave, but she found that she really didn't want to, at least not yet. She leaned down and kissed him on the lips. He put his arms around her, gathering her close to his side. Tara rested her head on his chest and within minutes she drifted off to sleep.

In the middle of the night, they made love two more times, but instead of feeling exhausted, Tara woke up the next morning invigorated. Alcide was still asleep when she got in the shower and hurried to get dressed. She was standing in front of the dresser mirror, zipping up her red hoodie when she finally saw him stir.

"You're up early," he said, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

Damn! The man even looked good with bedhead.

She smiled at him through the reflection in the mirror. "I got to get up and back on the road."

There was a pause.

"Tara, why don't you come to Jackson with me? I got a spare bedroom—no strings attached of course."

She turned to face him.

"No strings?"

He looked a little nervous. "I mean if you don't want any."

She contemplated him for a moment. His offer was definitely tempting, but she'd made up her mind.

She closed the space between them and went to sit beside him on the edge of the bed. "That's sweet of you, Al. I really appreciate the offer, but I've decided to stay in Bon Temps."

Alcide looked surprised, if not a little confused. "What about all that talk of wanting to start new?"

"I am, but I can't keep running away from my problems. The only way I can really start new is by coming to terms with my past and dealing with everything that's happened. Besides, I got to watch out for Sookie and the rest of my family. As fucked up as they are, they're all I got. Like you said, if I don't keep 'em for doin' stupid shit, who will?

He smiled, but his eyes were serious. "Well, if you're ever in Mississippi, I want you to look me up."

She smiled back. "You know I will. And if you're ever in Bon Temps again—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Alcide leaned forward, covering her mouth with a passionate kiss. She closed her eyes. All thoughts, except for the man who was kissing her, evaporated from her brain. He pulled away, giving her an intense look. "You can bet on it, Miss Thornton."

Tara couldn't even form a coherent thought after that. She got up from the bed, went to the door, then turned back to face him. Their eyes connected one last time before she finally opened the door and walked out into the morning sun.

A smile curved her lips as she made the trek back to her car. Maybe one day soon she'd take Alcide up on his offer and make a special trip to Jackson, but for now Bon Temps was where she needed and wanted to be. And the new Tara was more than happy with that decision.

The End