Dire (The Dire Wolves Chronicles Book 1)

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “Are we that far off the road?”

  “There’s a layer of ice, and even with the chains it’s going to be tough. The snow is getting crazy out there.”

  “But we can still get out, right?” The temperature was only going to drop. Getting stranded could be dangerous.

  “I’m not giving up yet.” He tried the engine. It sputtered and then did nothing.

  I tried to stay calm. It was the twenty first century. You were never really off the grid. “Think anyone could come get us?”

  He shrugged. “It’s worth trying.”

  “I agree. Emergency vehicles in this area are equipped for the snow.” I pulled out my phone and noticed there were no bars. Still I tried information, road side assistance, and even 911. Nothing.

  “Let me try mine.” He pressed some buttons on his phone before tossing it on the dash. “Fuck.” Gage cursed more than I remembered, but then again I’d never been with him during a situation like this before.

  He tried the engine again. Nothing. Oh my god.

  “We’re stuck here.” He voiced the reality that was already swimming around me.

  “For real? As in we’re here for the night?”

  “Yes.” His lips were pressed into a firm line.

  “I knew this was going to happen. I should have listened to Genevieve. I never should have agreed to this crazy plan.”

  “Crazy plan? We were fine until that animal ran in front of us. We were moving slow but steady.”

  “Even if it wasn’t for the animal we would have gotten stuck anyway.” I balled my hands into fists. “And now what? We’re stuck in the freaking boonies during the biggest snowstorm of the decade.”

  “Looks that way.” He put his hands behind his head. “We’ll get through the night. I have a sleeping bag back there.”

  “You think we’re sleeping in the back of your truck? In one sleeping bag?”

  “It’s not any colder back there than here. At least we can stretch out.”

  “It’s going to be freezing. And I repeat. In one sleeping bag? What kind of stretching out do you expect to be doing?” Spending time in a car with Gage was intense for me, but in a sleeping bag? I couldn’t imagine.

  “Do you have a better plan? I don’t exactly see any.”

  “No.” I held my head in my hands. “We’ll just have to find a way to stay warm. It’s going to be close to zero tonight.”

  “You’re the genius, how are we going to do that?”

  Genius? Not exactly. “Body heat is the best method, so the sleeping bag it is.” The idea came to me and despite my usual nervousness with Gage I just went ahead and voiced it.

  “Body heat?”

  “Yes.” I touched the screen of my phone to keep it illuminated.

  He smiled. Considering the circumstances, that toothy smile said a lot. “I knew you wanted to get me naked.”

  “I never said naked.”

  “But isn’t that how body heat works? We can’t stay dressed.”

  “I don’t think underwear is going to cause a problem.” My body heated at the thought of being naked with Gage.

  “Do you want to move there now? It’s just going to get colder.” He switched off the light on his phone.

  “Let’s enjoy the residual heat that’s up here right now.” I wrapped my arms around myself. I was terrified of our predicament, yet excited about the prospect of getting close to Gage. My body and my mind were at war. Most of me was terrified, but a small part was jumping up and down screaming. I was about to get half naked and into a sleeping bag with Gage. The combination of feelings was intense.

  “Do you think it was a deer?”

  “The animal? I don’t know. All I saw was a blur.”

  “I’m sorry.” He shifted causing his jacket to make a rustling sound.

  “Don’t be. It’s just as much my fault.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “I agreed to come. I thought you were right, and we might beat the storm.”

  “We almost did.” He exhaled loudly.

  “Yeah. Almost.”

  We stayed in the cab until the last bits of heat disappeared. My hands got cold first. I’d packed my gloves in my suitcase.

  He switched on his light again. “Let me go set stuff up first. There’s no reason for us both to get colder than necessary.”

  “That’s not fair. It’s my turn.”

  “Save your body heat. I’m going to be using it.” He got out and slammed the door behind him. I was left in the darkness until I turned on the light on my phone. I heard him moving around in the back, and I waited a minute before getting out to follow him.

  My boots sunk into the snow as I made my way around back. I kept my head down, trying to avoid the wind and snow that swirled around me.

  He helped me up into the back and closed the tailgate. “It’s not perfect, but it’s going to have to do.”

  He used his phone to illuminate the back. He’d set the sleeping bag up on top of a blanket which was settled on top of a thick rubber mat that covered the truck bed. He handed me the phone so he could barricade the tailgate with our bags. The rest of the sides were already lined with the other random stuff he had in the back. The camper shell kept out the wind and snow, but it couldn’t stop the cold from seeping in.

  “Do I want to know why you have a sleeping bag back here?” The bag seemed even smaller than I pictured, my nerves picked up.

  “You never know when you’re going to need it.” He hesitated with his hand on the zipper of his coat. “Are you serious about this body heat thing?”

  “I think it’s the best option to stay warm tonight.”

  “I have no problem with it.” He unzipped his coat and kicked off his shoes.

  I still held his phone, and the light was giving me a clear view of him. I slowly unzipped my jacket as I watched him slide out of his jeans and pull off his shirt. I thought my heart might stop.

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying the show, but don’t forget you’re supposed to be getting naked too.”

  “We’re not getting naked.”

  “Ok, keep on your underwear, but body heat means stripping down.” Dressed in only a pair of plaid boxers he slipped inside the sleeping bag. He didn’t shiver, giving me hope that the lining of the bag was warm.

  “Could you turn around?” I still held his phone with the flashlight illuminated.

  “You watched me. Fair is fair.” He grinned wickedly. “And if you could go ahead and start the show now I’d appreciate it.”

  I tossed him the phone and mustered all my confidence. I’d wanted Gage to notice me. This certainly wasn’t an ideal situation, but it was probably the only one I was going to get. I tossed my coat aside and kicked off my boots. I let out a deep breath before pulling off my sweater.

  “Take it all off, baby.”

  “Shut up!”

  He laughed. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

  I unzipped my jeans and took them off, quickly moving to slip into the sleeping bag. “Make room for me.” He shut off the light while I struggled to find space in the sleeping bag.

  “We’re going to be close.” He adjusted himself so he had his arms wrapped around me. Close was an understatement. “I was wrong about you.”

  “What?” I held onto him, enjoying the warmth of his body.

  “You’re more than attractive.”

  “Oh.” I smiled. “Thanks.”

  “What about me?”

  “I’d already seen you without your shirt on.” I had every inch of his chest memorized; down to the little grouping of freckles I’d been dying to run my fingers over.

  “Oh?”

  “You take it off to run and play sports.” I was pretty good at randomly passing the playing fields at the right time.

  “So I’m in a sleeping bag with my stalker?”

  “Not a stalker.” I adjusted my head on his chest. “Just a fan.”

  “Are you a virgin?”

  “What?” Had
I heard him right?

  “I assume you know what the word means.”

  “Of course!” I tried to move away, but that was impossible in the small space.

  “So are you?”

  “Why does it matter?” My heart was beating erratically. Were we really having this conversation while almost naked?

  “I guess it doesn’t, except I’m wondering if you realize what you’re doing to me right now.”

  “What am I doing to you?” I knew exactly what he meant. The evidence of his arousal was pressed firmly against me.

  “You tell me. But first answer my question.”

  “I’m not a virgin.” Admittedly my experience was limited and nothing worth writing home about, but my answer was honest.

  “Good.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want to corrupt you.”

  “You’re not corrupting me. I’m not as innocent as you think.”

  “Oh yeah?” His voice was thick with curiosity. “When’s the last time you had sex?”

  “Do vivid sex dreams count?” Where was this boldness coming from? Maybe knowing how turned on I was making him had something to do with it.

  “They don’t count, but I’m curious who they’re about.” He tightened his arms around me.

  “Every single one of them is about the same guy.”

  “Yeah?” His breath was warm on my face. “Who is it?”

  “You.”

  His heart beat faster in his chest—I could feel every beat of it with us pressed so closely together. “You dream about me?”

  “All the time.”

  “And is it good? The sex?”

  “Yes.” So good I never wanted to wake up from the dreams. His body wasn’t the only one responding. His closeness was making it hard to think coherently.

  “How not innocent are you?” I could hear the struggle in his voice.

  “I’m not a virgin, I already told you that.”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you’re cool with something happening right now.”

  “I’ve wanted you longer than I’ll admit.”

  He groaned. “You’re killing me.”

  “Have you ever thought about having me?”

  “Yes. I mean not all the time, but the thought has crossed my mind.” His breath was warm on my face. “It’s definitely on my mind right now.”

  “Yeah, I figured that.”

  “Yeah… it’s hard to hide.”

  “At this rate you might as well not have those boxers on.”

  “Take them off me then.”

  “Take them off?” My voice wavered.

  “Yeah. You’re going to have to make the move here, Mary Anne. I need to know you really want this.”

  “I want this.” I reached down and grabbed him. He was already poking out of his boxers, so it wasn’t hard.

  He groaned. “That feels so good.”

  “Yeah?” He was as big as I imagined, and I felt powerful holding him in my hand. I was the one making him feel good, and it wasn’t just a dream.

  “Do you want me to touch you?” His voice came out breathless.

  “Of course.” Hadn’t I just admitted to having tons of sex dreams about him?

  “Where?”

  “Are you purposely making this hard on me?”

  “I told you, I need to know you want this. I’m not taking advantage of you.” He was struggling. He didn’t want to take things slow.

  I was going to have to move things along myself. “Fine.” I attempted to unclasp my bra, but it took three tries and an elbow to Gage’s face to manage it. “I want you to touch my breasts.”

  “Good, but the question remains, what you want me to touch them with?”

  I didn’t hesitate with my answer. “Your mouth.”

  Within seconds he had my bra discarded and his mouth settled on one of my breasts. He teased my nipple with his teeth, and I moaned.

  He picked his head up just enough to talk. “Anything else I should touch them with?”

  “Your hands.” Like he needed me to tell him that? I’d been imagining just how good his large strong hands would feel like on me for years.

  He cupped my other breast with his hand. The combination of his mouth and hand had me unable to keep my eyes open. “Do you have a condom?”

  “A condom?”

  “Yes… isn’t that the most likely next step?”

  “I have a few in my wallet.”

  “Ok, I’ll get your pants.” I shifted.

  “Wait. I took it out. It’s in the front.”

  “Darn it.” There went the evening’s plans. As much as I wanted Gage, I wasn’t having unprotected sex.

  “Are you on the pill?”

  “Nuh uh. Don’t go there. No sex without a condom.”

  “The chance of getting pregnant is really low if—”

  “Yeah, this isn’t just about pregnancy. I didn’t need to ask about your virginity.”

  “I’ve always used protection before.”

  “Do you want to have sex with me, Gage?”

  “Yes!” he practically screamed.

  “Do you want me bad enough to walk around and get your wallet?”

  He started moving out of the sleeping bag. “Yes.”

  He pushed away the suitcases, and when he opened the tailgate he let in a sharp gust of wind and snow. I was so hot that the cold gust didn’t bother me. I waited nervously for him to return. I slipped off my underwear and carefully placed them with the rest of my clothes. He got back in the truck and closed the tail gate again.

  “You’re going to have to warm me up.” He tossed his boxers as I held open the bag for him. His naked body was ice cold as he slipped in next to me.

  “Is this a bad time to tell you that I changed my mind?”

  “What?” He went still.

  “That’s a joke.”

  “Oh, thank god.” His mouth closed on my breast again.

  “You’d know that if you moved your hand down.”

  I didn’t need to tell him twice. His hand was between my legs in seconds. He lifted his lips from me. “You’re so wet.”

  “I did tell you I have constant sex dreams about you. The fact that I’m excited shouldn’t come as a surprise.”

  He laughed. “Everything about you tonight is coming as a surprise.”

  I opened up to him as I took him in my hand again. He fondled my breast while his lips attacked my neck. I moaned, overwhelmed by the sensations. “I want you so bad.”

  “Not as much as I want you.” He fumbled with the condom in the dark, finally unwrapping it and putting it on. “You promise you really want this?”

  “Yes,” I replied urgently. “And stop asking. I want you, and I want you now.”

  “Good.” He thrust into me, and I gasped. He moved slowly at first, but he gradually sped up.

  Suddenly he stopped. “Is this what it was like in your dreams?”

  “Kind of.”

  “Oh? What was different?”

  “You always do it harder in my dreams.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?” He thrust harder and deeper until I could barely contain myself. It had been long enough that it hurt a little, but adrenalin, mixed with fear and excitement set me on fire.

  “You feel so good.” He continued his fast and deep movements until he pushed me over the edge. He shuddered and remained on top of me. “Fuck, how did I not try that sooner?”

  I could barely catch my breath. “Uh, thanks, I think?”

  He didn’t make a motion to move, but I didn’t mind. I liked the feeling of his body on top of mine. “Are you still cold?”

  I laughed. “Not at all.”

  “Good. I have four more condoms, so that should get us through the night.”

  “You had five condoms in your wallet?” I guess the player reputation was an earned one.

  “Yeah, I like to be prepared.”

  I clenched my eyes shut. “And I become another notch on your belt.
Perfect.”

  He still remained on top of me. Inside me. “You’re not a notch. We have a date planned for tomorrow night.”

  “Oh yeah. Still think we’re going to make it?”

  “We’ll get back there. I mean we’ll have to when we run out of condoms.”

  He pulled out, and I found myself missing the sensation. He seemed to sense how I felt. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back very soon.”

  “How are you so confident? How do you even know I want you again?”

  “Are you going to pretend you don’t?”

  I sighed. “No.”

  “Are you tired?”

  “Are you kidding? After that?”

  “Good. Then I know the perfect way to keep us warm.”

  Chapter Six

  Gage

  “Tell me about your dreams. I want details.” I was already hard again, but I needed to give her a break. I still couldn’t quite believe what had happened, but I knew I wasn’t dreaming. After hours of resisting her in the truck, I had her nearly naked body pressed against mine. I lost all will power when I figured out she wanted me just as badly.

  “I’m not telling you that stuff.”

  I brushed my lips over the sensitive skin of her neck. “Nuh uh, you can’t get shy now.”

  “It’s not being shy. Those dreams are private.”

  “Private? What’s more private than having sex? Sharing your dirty dreams can’t be more private than that.”

  “They’re not dirty.” She attempted to roll away from me, but considering we were in a sleeping bag, she couldn’t get far.

  “So they were clean sex dreams?”

  “Just drop it.” She buried her face in the side of the sleeping bag.

  “Hey. Are you okay?” Fuck. Was she upset?

  “I’m fine.”

  She didn’t sound fine. “I thought you wanted that. You said you wanted it.”

  “I did. Just drop it.”

  “I’ll drop the dreams, but I’m not dropping what happened considering we’re still naked in a sleeping bag together.”

  “I feel stupid.”

  “Stupid? Are we back to you agreeing to leave during the storm?”

  Outside the wind howled, reminding me just how dumb I’d been. Putting myself in danger was one thing, but Mary Anne was another story. I already cared about her, but now it was different. We were involved on a whole new level.