Winter Craving

by Marisa Chenery

  “We’ll shower together,” Cyrus replied in a husky voice.

  “Even better.” Shyla gave him what she hoped was a sultry smile.

  The sound of the bacon popping in the frying pan drew them apart. Cyrus moved it to the back of the stove where it wasn’t as hot. He took another pan out of the cupboard and placed it on top the woodstove.

  Cyrus turned his gaze on her. “I’d better watch it or I’ll burn our breakfast. How would you like your eggs? Scrambled, sunny side up or over easy?”

  “Over easy. Burning the food wouldn’t be good since I’m kind of hungry.” As if to prove her words true, her stomach loudly growled. Shyla put her hand over it and laughed. “That came close to sounding like the growls you make in bed.”

  He stilled. “I thought you hadn’t noticed.”

  “Oh, I did, but I liked it. I found them to be a turn-on. If I were able to purr, I’d be doing that right along with your growls.”

  Cyrus relaxed and chuckled. “A wolf and a cat. What a good combination.”

  “You did sound like a wolf. And speaking of that particular kind of animal, did you use the wolves who visited earlier to help look for me last night?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Nancy said you took one of the shirts I’d worn and hadn’t washed, and that you were going to use it so your hunting dogs had my scent to find me.”

  “Yeah, I did.”

  “I haven’t heard any dogs on the property. Just the wolves. You don’t have any hunting dogs, do you? If you did, you’d have been worried about them being outside in the storm.”

  Cyrus quickly grabbed an egg out of the carton that sat on the counter, then cracked it into the frying pan. Shyla waited for him to answer, but as he reached for a second egg, she surmised he wasn’t going to say anything else on the subject.

  “Cyrus,” she said to let him know she wasn’t going to let it drop so easily.

  He blew out a breath. “Aren’t you the observant one?”

  “Well?”

  He cracked the other egg into the pan. “Okay. Fine. I don’t have hunting dogs. Why I needed a piece of your clothing, I’m not ready to discuss that yet. More like you aren’t ready.”

  “You’re sure of that?”

  Cyrus glanced at her, his face serious. “Very. Can you let it drop now? I promise you’ll find out the reason soon. I just want you to get to know me better first.”

  Shyla met his gaze and slowly nodded. “All right. I’ll let it go.”

  She took a step back, then turned and went to the table. She sat and watched Cyrus finish cooking the food. After he filled two plates and joined her, Shyla’s thoughts drifted to what his possible explanation could be as to why he’d needed her shirt. She couldn’t come up with one. Well, not one that didn’t exist outside make-believe. Such as, his being able to shift into a hunting dog and using her scent to find her on his own.

  Chapter Five

  Bundled up in her winter outerwear, Shyla waited for Cyrus to take his snowmobile out of the shed where he kept it and his crossover parked. The loud engine started up, then the machine can roaring out into the yard.

  He shut it off and smiled. “I have to hook up the sled before we leave.”

  “Do you want some help?”

  “Nope. You can stay there. It won’t take me long.”

  Cyrus went to the side of the building and pulled down a handmade wooden sled that stood on end against a wall. He dragged it toward the snowmobile as if it weighed nothing. True to his word, it only took a matter of seconds for him to hook it up to the machine. He also loaded some items into it that he took out of the shed.

  Once they’d climbed on the snowmobile, Cyrus started the engine. Shyla held on to his waist as he drove out of the yard and into some of the bush that surrounded the cabin on three sides. The wind blew into her face as they cruised through a cleared path inside the trees. She took a deep breath. Even though she’d had a close call the night before out there, she still loved being in this environment. She couldn’t see herself ever going back to Chicago.

  It was some minutes before Cyrus brought the snowmobile to a stop and shut off the engine. “We have to go on foot to reach the first trap,” he said as he climbed off the machine.

  Shyla followed suit. “All right. Is it going to be very far? The snow has to be deep.”

  “No. It might be a little harder going than usual, but we should be able to manage.”

  Cyrus walked to the sled and took out a wooden box that had a long, thick strap attached to it. He shrugged it on over his shoulder and across his chest. With a motion of his hand for her to follow, he turned and headed into the thicker part of the trees.

  As predicted it was hard going, and she sunk almost up to her knees in places. Shyla struggled to keep up behind Cyrus, who seemed to have no trouble at all walking. He finally stopped at a thick branch of a tree that sloped toward the ground. He brushed off the snow, revealing a trap.

  Cyrus shook his head. “Nothing.” He reached into the box and took out a chunk of meat and tied it to a piece of wire attached to the trap. He then set it, pushing down on either side to open the jaws. “This is a jump trap. I’m sure you’ve seen this kind before. The animal steps on the metal disc in the middle, which causes the jaws to snap shut. I’m using it to get martens or fishers.”

  Shyla nodded. She already knew martens and fishers, members of the weasel family, were some of the animals trapped in the area. So were beaver and bobcat. She silently watched as Cyrus put a bit of snow on the trap to conceal it.

  They went back to the snowmobile and Cyrus drove to his next trap. It too was empty. He repeated the same process as he had with the first one. They continued down his trapline, stopping at each one. At the sixth, he had her help bait it. Shyla had to take off her waterproof mitts to do it, using her bare hands. She cleaned them in the snow before covering them once more. That hadn’t been so bad. She could handle doing the baiting no problem.

  The next trap had been triggered and had caught something. Cyrus pried open the jaws and released the long-bodied, almost black furry creature.

  “This is a marten,” he said. “Hopefully there’ll be a few more of these farther down the line. And a beaver would be nice. I have a body grip trap set up in some water close to where they have a den.”

  After Cyrus reset the trap, they headed back to the snowmobile. He put the marten into the sled. As Shyla climbed onto the machine behind him, she picked up that scent of his that made her insides turn to jelly, and her pussy ache to be filled. She had a feeling he’d always have this effect on her. She’d spent the night in his arms and she craved more of his touch.

  *

  Cyrus bit back a groan as he started the snowmobile. The smell of Shyla’s arousal washed over him. He knew it was mostly his fault that she’d come to be in that state. Having her riding behind him, holding on to his waist and her front plastered to his back, it turned him on. And of course that caused his scent to increase and have an effect on her. He had no control over it, and it’d continue to influence her until he claimed her as his mate.

  He pushed his need away. He had to finish tending to his trapline. It was his only source of income for the entire year, and he couldn’t afford to neglect it. There would be plenty of time to get his mate into bed once the work was finished.

  Cyrus kept telling himself that, but his hard cock was a constant reminder of what he’d do to Shyla once they were back at the cabin. A low growl rumbled out of him as her scent surrounded him once he brought the snowmobile to a stop at the next trap. He got off it, thankful his snow pants hid his erection.

  Shyla came to stand in front of him. Her cheeks were flushed, either from the cold wind and the ride or with arousal, he didn’t know. It was the look in her eyes, desire simmering in their depths, which had some of his control slipping.

  He wrapped his arms around her, carried her to the nearest tree and put her back against it. With a growl laced with need, Cyrus brou
ght his mouth down to hers. He kissed her, pushing his tongue inside. Shyla sucked on it and moaned, the vibration sending a jolt of arousal through him. If not for the fact it was winter and it was damn cold out, he would have had no problem stripping her and making love to her right there. She was his mate and he had the right to protect and provide for her. No matter how much his cock ached, he wouldn’t take the risk of her getting sick because he couldn’t wait to be inside her once again.

  They were both breathing hard as Cyrus released Shyla’s lips. Their breaths billowed around them. He rested his forehead against hers. “I couldn’t help myself.”

  “I’m not complaining. I think if you hadn’t kissed me then I would have jumped you.”

  He groaned. “That isn’t helping me. You tempt me to forget the rest of the work and take you back to the cabin so I can make love to you.”

  Shyla ran her mitt-covered hand down his back to his ass and gave him a squeeze. “How many traps do you have left to check?”

  “Six more land traps and the one water.”

  “Then let’s hurry and finish. I’m a little impatient to have you inside me.”

  Cyrus couldn’t hold back a quiet growl. “Yup, that just made it worse.” He stepped out of Shyla’s embrace. “We’d better get a move on or all my good intentions will disappear and I’ll take you right here in the snow and cold.”

  Shyla looked around. “If there was a little more of a sheltered area to keep out the wind, I’d be all for it.”

  He shook his head. “Stop being an enabler.”

  “I’m just saying.”

  She had no idea how close she was to pushing him over the line and have him acting on his thoughts. Especially since he knew where there was a rocky overhang that’d be perfect for outdoor fooling around.

  Cyrus took another step back. “We’re going to finish looking after the trapline, then we can do whatever we want.”

  “Oh, I already know what I want to do. Especially to you.”

  “You did it again. Let’s hope I can concentrate on more than my hard dick or I’ll end up taking a finger off in one of my traps.”

  The rest of their stops flew by in a blur. Cyrus went through the motions of unburying the traps and resetting them. By the time he’d finished with the last one, he was practically panting for Shyla. Never before had he’d ached so badly for a woman. The scent of her arousal kept his body ready and primed. Once they reached the cabin, he had no idea if he’d be able to hold back from dragging her to the floor and sinking deep inside her as soon as they cleared the doorway.

  On the trip home, he drove the snowmobile a little faster than he should have. After they arrived in the yard, Cyrus went as quickly as he could to put the machine in the shed, the sled away and store the few martens and beaver he’d caught until he had the time to skin them.

  Once they were inside the cabin, they both hurriedly took off their winter gear. Cyrus tossed his snow pants away, not carrying where they landed, before he dragged Shyla into his arms. He kissed her with all his pent-up hunger until he had her clinging to him.

  As he trailed his lips down the side of her throat, she said huskily, “I just remembered. Didn’t you want to stop in to see your parents?”

  “They can wait. Getting you into my bed again is more important at the moment.”

  She moaned as he nipped her. “Mmm, don’t stop. Okay, but I really need a shower.”

  “Far be it for me to deprive you of that.”

  Cyrus picked Shyla up. As he reclaimed her lips, he walked across the room to the bathroom. Inside, he slowly released her so she slid down his body. He stepped away only long enough to turn on the shower. Once it was at the right temperature, he returned to her and pulled her shirt off over her head.

  They tugged at each other’s clothes as they removed them one by one until they were both naked. Cyrus guided Shyla into the shower and closed the curtain. He positioned her under the warm spray before he grabbed the bottle of shampoo that sat on the edge of the tub in the corner.

  He washed her hair, sinking his fingers deep and massaging her scalp. She closed her eyes and groaned. The sound made his cock jerk in anticipation. Down, boy, he silently said to it. Cyrus was going to take his time with Shyla. He intended to clean every inch of her.

  After he conditioned her hair, he reached for the bar of soap. He rubbed it between his hands to build up lather, then returned it to the dish. Cyrus started at Shyla’s neck before he ran his palms along the tops of her shoulders. He looked at her and found her gaze locked on to him, her eyes slumberous-looking and the pupils dilated with her arousal. God, he wanted her.

  He stroked his soapy hands down her chest to her breasts. He cupped each one, and then plucked her nipples between his thumb and index finger. She sucked in a sharp breath. The taut peaks beckoned him to suck on them, but he wasn’t done washing her yet. He picked up the soap once more and rubbed it between his palms.

  Cyrus washed Shyla’s sides, then her stomach. He found out she was very ticklish there when he poked her and swirled a finger inside her bellybutton. She laughed and tried to jump out of reach. He held her hips to keep her in place before he continued his downward journey.

  He ran his fingers along the mound of her sex, and she audibly sucked in a breath. Cyrus bypassed her pussy and soaped her leg. He went down on his knees and lifted her foot to thoroughly clean it. He was almost kicked in the face as he ran his fingertips along her instep. Another spot he’d have to remember that was ticklish on his mate.

  After he’d washed Shyla’s other leg and foot, Cyrus worked his way up to the place on her body that beckoned him. He soaped up his hands once more before he slid them up the inside of her thighs. She spread her legs a little farther to give him better access as he brushed his hand against her pussy.

  With his soapy fingers, he caressed her folds, making sure not to miss anything. Shyla let out a whimpered moan. Once he was satisfied with the job he’d done, Cyrus pushed her farther under the stream of water to rinse her off.

  Cyrus remained on his knees and inched Shyla closer. After he had her clear of the water, he leaned in, spread her pussy and took a long lick. He growled at the taste of her. She was pure heaven. He licked and sucked, jabbing his stiffened tongue into the slick opening to her body. Her needy cries soon had him stroking two fingers in and out of her as he latched on to her clit.

  He would have worked Shyla into an orgasm, but she said, “Enough, Cyrus. When I come I want you inside me, but I want my turn to wash you as you did me.”

  That had him pulling his fingers out of her pussy and rising to his feet. “I don’t know how much of it I’ll be able to stand, but I want your hands and mouth on me.”

  Shyla worked the bar of soap between her hands, creating lather, then set to work. Cyrus forced himself to stay still and allow her to do whatever she wanted to him. A groan mixed with a growl pushed out of him once she reached his cock. It stuck out straight from his body, straining toward her. She wrapped her fingers around him and pumped up and down. As she did so, she dropped her other hand to his balls and washed them. It left him panting.

  It wasn’t until she went onto her knees in front of him and wrapped her lips around the head of his cock did he have to push back his urge to come. As Shyla opened her mouth and took more of him inside, sucking hard, he no longer could remain still. He rocked his hips, thrusting in shallow strokes. Her head bobbed as she took him in and out.

  She fisted what she couldn’t take. It wasn’t until she swirled her tongue around the head of his shaft, hitting a sensitive spot just under it, that Cyrus almost lost the hold he had over himself. He fought to keep his point of no return from rising to the surface.

  At his limit, he gently pulled away and tugged her to her feet. The need to claim her as his surged through him. His gums burned as his eyeteeth shifted to that of a wolf’s.

  Cyrus turned Shyla so she faced the back wall of the shower and placed her hands flat on the tiled surfa
ce. He held on to her hips and positioned her so she was slightly bent forward. He growled as he shifted closer so the tip of his erection brushed against her pussy from behind. She pushed back, and the head slipped inside her.

  He thrust more of his length into her, then pulled back. He continued the in and out motion until she’d taken all of him. Her inner walls gripped him, increasing the sensations he experienced. Her soft moans filled his ears. His mate gave him more pleasure than any other ever could. She was the one. They fit perfectly together.

  Shyla matched each of his strokes. Cyrus set the pace faster, gliding in and out of her, his cock growing even harder. He wasn’t going to last much longer. Plus, the instinct to bite her was getting harder to resist.

  He reached around her and found her clit. Cyrus rubbed his finger back and forth across it as he took her in harder thrusts. She panted, his name a whimper. He put his free arm around Shyla’s waist and bent over her back as he held her to him and pistoned into her. He gently bit where her shoulder and neck met, barely stopping from breaking the skin. His jaw ached from going against everything that screamed inside him to do it, to make them mates.

  Shyla moaned as her pussy clutched and released his plunging cock. His balls rose closer to his body and the point of no return slammed into him. Cyrus came, giving her everything he had, thrusting as deep as he could go.

  Once the last wave of pleasure ended, he pulled out of her, then turned her and held her close. He kissed her with all that he felt for her. He loved this human who meant so much to him. Even though it hadn’t been quite twenty-four hours since he’d come to know Shyla was his, he a hard time remembering what it was like without her being around. Kiel had said how fast he’d fallen for his mate, and it looked as if Cyrus was doing the same.

  Shyla reached up and stroked where his mate brand was on his neck and shoulder. “That was pretty intense. I don’t think I’ll be able to look at a shower the same way again.”

  He brushed his lips against hers. “I have to agree.”