Chapter Seventeen
Selene straightened from her position on the sill of the large bay windows when a shadow moved below. A light tingle crept up her spine, and she pressed her palm to the cold glass to peer outside. She’d grown tired waiting for him, and she could hardly keep her eyelids open.
To pass time earlier in the night after the men had left, she and Tamara had sat in the library together talking about absolutely nothing. Skimming the words in those old history books, but not really reading them. It had been evident that both had been on pins and needles worrying about their mates.
Now as she waited here, she wondered if it was in vain. Would Nick even return? She’d told him to his face that she planned to leave. What hope did that give him out there on the battle field?
The shadow moved again, and this time she came to kneeling position. Her breath tripped in her throat when she caught sight of a majestic wolf sitting on its hind legs right under the window.
Nick. Selene would have known her mate even with her eyes closed. A feeling of completeness washed over her whenever he was near.
His hazel eyes seemed to sparkle in the dark as he observed her.
‘Don’t just stand down there, Nick. Come up here,’ she surprised herself by speaking telepathically to him.
‘I was hoping you’d say that,’ was his reply.
He shifted then, unfolding to his full height. Completely naked, he stood under the full moon.
At just a few minutes until four hours past midnight, its colors burst with a mix of burnt red and orange. It would be morning soon. A fresh start. A peaceful, maybe…
When her gaze moved back to the spot on the grass, Nick was gone.
She scented him before he turned the door knob.
Before he could make it inside the room, she slipped off the window sill and rushed into his arms. She didn’t care about the dirt and grime marring his body or the fact that he was naked. He was back. Safe.
Nick kissed her deeply, wrapping his arms about her waist. He pulled away too soon. “You okay?”
“Yes. I’m glad you’re safe. Elisa? The child. Is she safe?”
“Absolutely. She’s in the care of her aunt now.”
She fell back into his embrace. “Just hold me.”
“I was in the lake, but I’m still dirty.”
“I don’t care.” She smoothed the side of her face with his palm. “I was being silly earlier.”
“I was wrong. I should have told you.”
“I wanted to know, but I understand now that it brought back painful memories for you.”
“It had,” he said. “That’s all behind me now.”
‘I love you.’
‘I love you back.’
“Come here,” she whispered.
Selene walked him into the bathroom that was adjoined to the bedroom. After turning the faucet on and placing the stopper over the drain, she led him into the tub. He sighed and his body relaxed as though a great weight lifted off his shoulders.
“Selene, I killed many wolves tonight.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “It was terrible.”
“We can’t change the past, Nick.” Taking a sponge, she drizzled some of the warm water across the welts on his back. “We can only live for the future. Our future.”
“I’m ready to see what’s in store for us.” He turned to kiss the back of her hand, as she kneaded the sponge over his shoulder.
“So am I.”
“I’ve dreamed many times about a woman who could sooth my scars with her touch,” he whispered.
She applied her bare hands to his back on the injury near the shoulder blades. Pressing her lips to his neck, she whispered, “You’re in good hands. Trust again, Nick. I will never fail you.”
“You are my dream come true.”
THE END
Wolf’s Touch (Caedmon Wolves, 3)
Coming January 2013
Visit the author’s website at http://ambriellekirk.com/caedmon-wolves.html for more information about upcoming books in the series.
About the Author
Ambrielle Kirk pens tales of romance in various subgenres. Her favorites are contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and urban fantasy. As a child, she never really dreamed of being an author. It was a destined path that chose her. Now she writes with her readers in mind, but the characters, of course, dictate the outcome.
Visit her website for more diverse, edgy, romantic fiction at http://ambriellekirk.com
Reader emails are always welcome.
Wolf's Promise (Caedmon Wolves) Page 12