by D M Shepard
Pulling back, he saluted each slender wrist with a kiss. She nibbled his neck as he pinned them above her head. The flowery fragrance of her hair stoked the fire in his blood higher.
“Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted you?” he whispered against her ear, finally answering her question as she whimpered and arched beneath him. He ran his tongue along the curve of her earlobe, her hard nipples grating against him as she gasped. He licked a path down her neck and collarbone, taking his time to savor the salty taste of her skin and its petal-soft texture. He took one hardened perfect peak in his mouth as he released her wrists.
“Ulrik!” she cried, whole body shuddering, as he suckled one breast while pinching and stroking the other. He worked his way lower, licking, sucking, caressing. He paused a moment to place a tender kiss on the bruise on her ribs before putting his hands on her hips and circling his tongue around her navel. She sighed and quaked under him, clutching the sheets as her head tossed on the pillow.
He brushed his mouth against the downy triangle of golden curls, inhaling her heady musk before moving lower. He parted her nether lips with his fingers and delved deeper, savoring the taste of her nectar. She pressed herself into him, moaning his name and running her hands through his thick, dark locks.
Finding her hard-little pearl, he stroked it with his tongue. She gripped his hair tighter, guiding him, tugging, urging him on.
He lapped at a new wetness and his erection surged. Licking harder and faster as she cried out, her thighs quivered, squeezing his shoulders. His erection throbbed in time with the rhythm of her body as he inserted a finger into her hot, tight depths.
“Oh Ulrik,” she moaned, both pressing into him and almost trying to move away. Her body tensed as she began to tremble. He snaked his arm around her hips, holding her against his mouth as her walls gripped his fingers, pulling, pulsing.
“Ulrik! Oh—Oh—Ulrik,” she cried over and over as she peaked, body spasming. She let go of his hair and sprawled back against the mattress, clutching fabric as she shuddered and quaked helplessly. He plundered her with his mouth and fingers until he extracted a final moan. She collapsed against the sheets, breasts rising and falling as she sighed. He worked his way slowly back up her navel, licking and kissing her lovely flushed skin.
Her golden eyelashes flickered, and she raised her head as he got off the bed. He eased his pants down, freeing his erection from the constraining fabric. Then he rejoined her on the bed, grinning as she wrapped her legs and arms around him. Her hair flowed like molten gold in the firelight, reflecting the flames in bronze and copper highlights. She gripped him with her thighs, as if to draw him in when he paused at her hot, wet entrance. His hard member throbbed, eager, but he leaned down and took her velvety mouth.
She writhed beneath him, grasping his shoulders. “Please Ulrik? I need you,” she whispered against his lips, eyes huge as she panted and begged.
He chuckled and nuzzled her neck. She moaned as he eased himself in just a fraction more. “I’ve waited this long for you. I want to savor every second.”
He moved slowly, her tight, wet, depths exquisite torture as she enveloped him. His eyes took in every detail: the delicate flush of her skin, her parted lips as she moaned and sighed beneath him, the tremble of her breasts as she cried out. Fully buried to the hilt, he groaned and gritted his teeth. She wrapped her long legs around him tighter and arched up to kiss him fiercely in return. She pressed her toned body against him and tugged at his shoulders, urging him on.
“You’re a naughty little bird tonight, trying to tempt me to lose control,” he whispered, his voice strained, as he pulsed his hips.
Her answer was a gentle mewl that further stoked the fire in his blood. She rocked her body in tempo with his, matching him stroke for stroke. He thrust faster and harder in time with her breathing and cries of pleasure. Her pulsing walls gripped him as she tossed her head and called out his name again.
“Ulrik! Oh my—”
He took her mouth in his, cutting off her cries. Her stifled moans mingled with his own as his peak crescendoed. Thrusting one final time, he collapsed against her, spent. A fine sheen of sweat condensed on his skin as his muscles quaked. He pressed his face once more into her mass of hair, reveling in the sweet clean scent. She panted, fingers tracing paths along his arms and shoulders.
He lifted his head and gazed at her, resting on his elbows. She opened her eyes and sighed. Stroking his beard, she stared back at him.
“You’re wonderful,” he said, kissing her forehead, her eyes, then the tip of her nose.
The curl of her smile and glow in her eyes warmed his heart. “So are you,” she said, touching his face. Her face blanched as he gave her a squeeze.
“Oh my God! Your ribs. Did I hurt you? I shouldn’t—” he said, as he rolled off to the side.
She laughed and turned over to face him. “I’m fine. It hurts—a little,” she acknowledged as she snuggled closer, draping a leg over his hip. “But it was totally worth it.” His erection sprang to life again as she rained tender kisses against his neck and ear. Her clever fingers tickled their way down his navel.
They both jumped at a tap at the door.
“Just a minute!” Ulrik shouted. Rose slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle her giggle. He disentangled himself from her and climbed off the bed. She rolled the other direction and snatched up her clothes. She dropped a quick kiss on his lips before sprinting into the bathroom and slamming the door. Tugging his pants and shirt on, he smoothed his hair then opened the door.
Edna’s knowing grin made the heat rush to his face. She motioned to the cart next to her in the hallway. “Supper’s ready for you two kids. I made good seafood chowder and toasted turkey and cheese sandwiches. The bread is fresh too. Dick checked the doors. Everything’s locked up tight tonight. I’m making breakfast tomorrow at seven. Think you two can pry yourselves out of bed in time?” she asked with a twinkle in her dark eyes.
Ulrik managed to grin back. “I think we can pull that off.”
“Good night sweetheart. Take good care of that sweet girl,” Edna said. The floorboards creaked as she sauntered down the hall and stairs.
“Thanks, I will. Goodnight to you too,” he replied, pushing the cart into the room. As he shut the door behind him, Rose emerged from the bathroom, eyes sparkling, face glowing.
“That smells wonderful. I’m starving. What about you?” she asked, beaming up at him. He took her in his arms and kissed her lips.
“Famished,” he whispered against her cheek. He brushed a lock of hair away from her forehead. “Can you set the table? I’m going to clean up—again, before we eat.” He kissed her once more and went into the bathroom.
Rose’s hands trembled as she ladled the chowder into two bowls and set them on the birch table next to the fire. She placed the basket of toasted sandwiches in the center, stomach rumbling from the aromas of fresh bread, cheese and chowder. The ruby burgundy sloshed in the crystal glasses as she poured, humming to herself. Her knees still quaked as she glanced over at the rumpled bed. She took a sip of wine to tamp down on the bubble of joy swelling in her chest. Had she really given herself to him so wantonly? If she weren’t so hungry, she was ready to do it again.
A dampness grew between her legs in response to the heat in his onyx eyes as he emerged from the bathroom. He took the chair opposite her and picked up his goblet. She watched fascinated, as he raised it to his lips in his large bronzed hands. It was amazing that those hands could be so strong and firm, and yet give so much pleasure. Her cheeks grew hot as she thought about how he had...
He chuckled, “I know you hate it when I call you Little Owl, but when you look at me like that, with your eyes wide and head cocked to the side, that’s what you remind me of. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
The burgundy sloshed in her glass and spilled down her chin and neck as she choked on the liquid. “Uhm—nothing. Hungry I guess.” She set the wine
goblet down and dipped a sandwich into the chowder. She shoved it into her mouth before she said something stupid.
He threw back his head, the deep chuckle issuing from his throat making her face grow hotter. He raised a black eyebrow as he put his own glass aside. “When you were a little girl, and trying to get away with something, your eyes always gave you away.”
She giggled at his observation and took a sip of wine before answering. “I could never hide anything from you. Penny, Nina and—Karen would let me get away with murder, but all you had to do was give me that look,” she paused and laughed again, “and I would confess to anything.”
“Well fess up then,” he leaned forward and touched her cheek with his thumb. “What’s on your mind? You’re not regretting…” he hesitated, eyes sliding to the bed.
Her face grew hotter, and she reached up and put her hand over his, shaking her head. “No—no. Not at all. I was just—uh—wondering. Um—I know we’re both tired, but could we do it again? After dinner?”
He wiped away tears as he laughed harder. He pulled her close and kissed her lips. “I love you, Rose. My beautiful bird. We can definitely do that again. Let’s fuel-up and enjoy some wine.
ATTACK ON THE LODGE
The bed frame rattled as Rose and Ulrik jerked awake in unison. A low, guttural growl from the dogs disturbed the calm of the night. In the red glow of the banked fire, Loki and Thor raced to the door. The animals whined, scratched and snarled, eager to get out as they pawed at the barrier. Rose and Ulrik rolled out of bed, tugging on clothes and reaching for their weapons. Ulrik pressed his ear to the door, but only silence prevailed. Rose peered out the back window, chest aching as her heart pulsed. Multiple tailed shadows slunk around in the sterling moonlight. The old lace curtains crinkled between her fingers as she watched the obscure forms slither between the outbuildings and trees. An occasional tail or claw glittered in the resplendent night, making her catch her breath.
Loki and Thor stood at attention, hum of their growls a steady harmonic in the otherwise quiet room. Rose glanced over as Ulrik stroked both of them with his hands, attempting to calm them down so he could hear better. A creeping movement outside caught her eye. She wiped the moisture from her breath off the glass and gripped the sill. Several creatures congregated near the diesel fuel supply tank for the generator. Another group infiltrated the clearing, slithering toward the lodge.
“Ulrik,” she said, voice cracking.
He turned his head toward her, lifting it from the door. “What is it?”
“I think they’re trying to damage the diesel tank.” he rushed to her side and looked out.
“Not the tank itself,” he said, “but the supply line to the generator. You stay here with Loki. I’m going to wake Dick up. See if we can stop them.”
“What do you think you’re going to do? Are you really going to go out there?” she asked, voice raising in pitch. Both dogs continued to growl and paw at the door.
“I just want to be ready—for anything.” He pulled on his snow pants, boots and parka. He slung his .338 over his shoulder and tightened his belt. The veins on his hands bulged as he clutched his Berreta at his waist. “Loki, stay with Rose,” he ordered.
The dog whined but walked over to where she stood at the window. He turned once in a circle then sat beside her at attention. She knelt down and patted his ruff, before going to the door and giving Ulrik a kiss.
“Be careful,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.
“I will. You as well. Stay here, don’t open the door unless you’re sure you know who it is.” He kissed her one more time. Keeping the security chain latched on the door, he unlocked the deadbolt for the room and peeked out into the darkened mezzanine. The railing cast a shadow reminiscent of the bars of a cage via the hazy moonlight.
“Ulrik? You awake?” Dick’s voice cut through the silence as footsteps clunked up the old staircase.
“Yeah, we’re awake.”
“My dogs woke me up. Have you looked outside?” His low, gravelly voice cracked with worry. Dick now stood just beyond the door on the mezzanine. The gas lantern in his hand bathed his grizzled, tired face in a harsh, ghostly glow.
“I did,” Ulrik said, undoing the chain and opening the door the rest of the way. “They’re out there messing around the fuel tank for the generator.”
“I saw that, fucking bastards. Fortunately, the line’s buried most of the way. If they manage to puncture the line, the system’s got leak detection, so the shutoff valve will close, but that means at these temps the lines will freeze. It’ll be hell to get’em unplugged later.”
“What time is it?” Ulrik asked as they crept down the stairs.
“Quarter to three. You’d think the bastards would have better things to do this early in the morning.”
“Guess not. I don’t think we should go out there. Maybe we should try to pick them off with the rifles. Can you turn on any lights?”
“Not without the generator on,” Dick said. “All my big outdoor floodlights are powered from that.”
“Do you think they’ve already severed the line?”
“I don’t think so,” Dick said. “I haven’t gotten a fuel trouble alarm yet.”
“Well, why don’t we fire it up?” Ulrik suggested. “Your generator’s in the garage, right? We can get there without going outside. Let’s start her up and turn on the floodlights and scare them.”
“We can do that kid. Let’s go.” Dick said with a nod. They rushed down the stairs, then toward the garage at the far end of the lodge. Their headlamps created bobbing shadows as they jogged along. Thor, Juneau, and Hoonah trailed at their heels. All three canines sniffed the air, their growls a continuous harmony as they made their way through the darkness.
The frigid night wind blasted them as they opened the double-insulated door to the garage. Dick’s dogs shot past them barking and growling. Juneau made a beeline to the backdoor that swayed in the wind. Hoonah bayed and darted after a shape lurking behind the generator control cabinet. Thor stood his ground next to Ulrik’s right leg, snarling, hackles raised to the fullest. Dick lifted his lantern, the black metal of his .357 revolver gleamed as he held it steady. Ulrik searched with his headlamp. He sensed something infiltrated the dark garage—multiple somethings.
“I’ll go close the back door, then I’ll turn on the generator,” Dick said. “Cover me.”
Dick hustled through the dark garage to where Juneau stood guard at the open backdoor. As he reached it, a pair of yellow eyes blinked at Ulrik from the corner near the door. He aimed his .338.
“Dick, hit the deck” Ulrik shouted. Dick slammed the door shut and lay on top of his beloved dog. The crack of gunfire was followed by a spine-chilling shriek as Ulrik opened fire at the eyes in the corner.
Multiple eerie screeches pierced their ears as Hoonah tore into whatever she found behind the generator control cabinet. Juneau wriggled out from under Dick with a howl and bounded away to join her sister in the fray. Dick rolled to his feet and sprinted to the controls. Red lights flashed as he slammed the button with the flat of his hand, commencing the start sequence. Ulrik kept his Savage steady, scanning the jarring shadows created by Dick’s bouncing lantern.
Thor panted eagerly to help his brethren but stood his ground next to Ulrik. Ulrik’s eyes scanned the shop, trying to pick out shapes in the obscurity. The generator ticked with aching slowness through its start sequence. The wound on his back itched as the head lamp darted back and forth.
A yellow flicker caught his eye off to his right and his skin crawled as a dark form moved behind Dick’s Snowcat. He couldn’t get a clean shot.
“Thor, attack!” he ordered. Thor leapt at the creature slinking in the shadows. Thor bayed as the monster snapped and hissed. The lights flickered as the generator finally roared to life. A dark mass hunched on the roof of the Snowcat. The humanoid face sneered back at him. Drool dripped from thick lips as it bared long, razor-sharp, jet-black fangs. Onyx claws gl
ittered as it tensed. Ulrik rolled and took aim. His shoulder throbbed from the recoil. Ears ringing, and head pounding, he shook his head. The acrid scent of gun smoke filled his nostrils. The creature screeched and jerked as he caught it mid-air in the side. Landing with a thud on the concrete next to him, it snarled. The putrid aroma made Ulrik gag. Before he could chamber another round, it tore past him through the open door. It disappeared into the dark lodge, leaving a dripping trail of black blood.
“No!” Ulrik bellowed as he scrambled to his feet. In his head he added, Rose! Please no!
His head turned as two shots rang out from behind the old diesel generator. Dick came running with his canine companions close on his heels, a heartbeat later. Thor cornered the other monster.
“Thor! Down!” he ordered. Fur standing on end, teeth bared, the dog obeyed. Ulrik raised his rifle and caught it between the eyes. Its oblong head exploded as it plopped to the floor.
“You okay, kid?” Dick shouted.
“I’m fine. One got past me—in the lodge. We need to move now.” Ulrik replied, already running. The animals sprinted away, baying and howling as they hunted the hairy Tailed-Man.
GENERATOR TROUBLES
Rose paced in the room, tugging on her parka. Loki trotted with her, bumping against her every time she stopped.
What’s going on? Why did he ask me to stay in this tiny room? She halted at the window once more and parted the curtains, eager to see what the creatures were up to. She flinched, heart pounding, as the generator roared to life. The floodlights flickered, then illuminated the yard in a bright glow. The Tailed-Men screeched and began to scramble away. A gunshot nearby made her clutch the windowsill. One after another of the creatures dropped to the ground.
Edna, she’s shooting them with her .306 from her bedroom window!