by S. K. Yule
She gasped and rolled on her side away from him. She was furious when he chuckled, wanted to smack that grin right off his gorgeous face. Instead, she practiced some deep breathing exercises until she fell asleep.
* * * *
She ran her fingers along his side, down his ribs where she examined each and every one before continuing to his stomach where she treated each muscle there with the same thorough exploration. He knew this was a dream, but damned if he wanted to wake up from it. Her touch drove him wild, and he wanted to lick and kiss every inch of her.
Her green eyes were fixed on him as she continued traversing his body, treating it like her own personal playground. Her small teeth worked her bottom lip, and he ached to kiss her, but didn’t want to do anything to discourage her perusal of him. He wanted her to touch him, to feel comfortable that he would not do anything she wasn’t ready for. But, God, she was stretching his control.
When she touched him, his heart pounded, his chest ached, and everything in him demanded he claim her. She made him feel alive again, made some of the darkness he’d let engulf him over the years disappear. He’d seen so much sorrow, so many of his race needlessly killed because they’d gone rogue. Lycans were dangerously dwindling in numbers, and he feared they were fighting a losing battle trying to reign them in.
He already loved Sherry, but he wasn’t sure she’d believe him. It was too soon to make such declarations of undying devotion. Nevertheless, it was true, and would remain so until the day death came for him.
Her tiny fingers traveled dangerously close to the top of his jeans and he groaned.
“Please. You’re killing me. I need to touch you.” He barely got the words through his clenched teeth.
She smiled up at him and shook her head. Her silky hair bounced over her shoulders. “You promised, Piers.”
“Yes. I did, but I’m no saint, Sherry.”
“You won’t renege on your word.” She hesitated for a moment before sitting up on her knees beside him.
She bent and placed her lips against his. He bunched the blanket he was lying on in his fists, praying he was able to keep his word and keep his hands to himself. Why did he have to be such a noble bastard? She nibbled at him, and he yearned to taste her. Just when he thought she’d deny him, she slipped the tip of her tongue between his lips. He greedily met her tongue with his, and when she gasped, he unashamedly took advantage of the situation and deepened the kiss.
She supported herself with a hand on each of his shoulders, but he barely noticed her weight and wished she’d press her lush breasts against his chest. Her nipples were hard, and he’d bet they were as pink as her T-shirt. He ached to cup her in his hands, but vowed to keep his promise to her even if it killed him, and it might. When she finally rubbed the turgid tips against him, his heart stuttered and the sheer ecstasy of the intimate contact sent a shudder through him.
If he didn’t stop her soon, he would break his promise. The need to touch her burned through him with such urgency, he shook with the effort it took to keep his hands off her. He reluctantly broke the kiss.
“Sherry.” When she ignored him and continued to caress his body, he spoke louder. “Sherry.”
“Yes?” Her eyes locked on his.
“Either tell me I can touch you, or kill me now. I can’t take any more.” Her tinkle of laughter in response settled low in his groin, and his cock grew impossibly hard and throbbed.
She bent and touched the tip of her tongue to his nipple, and he nearly came on the spot. He almost stopped breathing when she looked up at him. Her green eyes burned with the same carnal need clawing at him. She wanted him as bad as he wanted her. He knew she wasn’t aware she was teasing him, and she wasn’t playing games with him. She was innocent, and had no idea of the seductive power she held over him.
She dipped her mouth back to him, and nipped him. “Sherry!”
She ignored his plea, and continued to torture him with her sweet mouth. She traced a wet path from his nipple down to his navel, leaving a trail of fire behind. He was clutching the blanket so hard, his knuckles were white. The wolf inside him howled, and the predator demanded its freedom to claim what was his. He wanted to scream in frustration at the unfulfilled need throbbing in his cock. He wanted to cry in joy and beg her to never stop touching him. He wanted to love her like she deserved.
“Please, Sherry. Tell me I can touch you, damn it.”
He groaned when her lips left his overheated skin. She sat up and stared at him for what seemed eternity. “I’m scared.” She eyed him from head to toe and back. “You’re so big.”
He sat up beside her and cupped her cheek in his palm. “I won’t lie to you. You drive me wild, and the last thing on my mind at this very moment is a gentle loving. I ache to feel you close around me as I sink into your hot, tight wetness. I want nothing more than to drive into you until we are both out of our minds with pleasure—until you have no doubt that you belong to me. But I swear to you that I won’t hurt you. I care for you, and I’ll take it slow.” Even if it kills me.
He yearned to give her the slow, thorough loving she deserved. No matter how they made love—quick and frenzied, slow and gentle—her pleasure would be his number one priority. However, he feared the blinding need clawing his insides would rip all rational thought from his brain and the wolf would take over. The wolf would never hurt his mate, but his main mission was to claim her, mark her as his own so that any other lycan would understand that she was taken. The wolf wanted to make it known that if another dared touch her, the consequence would be death.
The wolf wasn’t interested in slow and gentle. The wolf was interested in an animalistic, frenzied staking of property. Piers the man would never view her as property, but the predatory instinct was as old as time itself, and it was a part of him he could not deny. She was precious, and he would give anything for her happiness, including his life. He would always treat her like the queen she was to him and put her safety above all else for, if she died, his soul would be lost. If she died, he’d die, maybe not in the physical sense, but his essence would simply cease to exist. Now that he’d found her, he knew he hadn’t really ever existed without her. He’d only been a part of a bigger puzzle, or a two piece puzzle of which he’d found the other long lost piece.
“Damn it, Sherry. Please tell me I can touch you.”
“Kiss me, Piers.”
He captured her lips before she had time to change her mind. If pureness had a taste, it was Sherry. He scooted closer until their upper bodies were nearly touching and urged her back against the arm he’d just slipped behind her. She was at the perfect angle for him to devour her mouth and for the luscious peaks of her nipples to brush against his chest. She moaned and he thrust his tongue inside the heaven of her mouth.
The lycan in him let loose a primitive growl, and she surrendered to his urgently coaxing lips. He cupped her nape and tangled his fingers in her hair, holding while he devoured her. Within moments, her hesitation turned to driving lust that matched his own. She strained against him, giving him everything he asked of her, taking everything he offered. When she reached between them and dragged her fingers over his stomach, the last vestiges of his control snapped.
Her startled cry when he pushed her back onto the bed and covered her with his body should have warned him that he needed to slow down, but so lost was he in the maelstrom of need, he barely heard the strangled sob. He shoved his hand roughly under her shirt, cupped her full breast and rolled the pebbled nipple between his fingers until she arched against him, her body begging for more.
He bunched her shirt up, covered the peaked, pink nipple with his mouth, and sucked it deep before nipping it with his teeth then soothing it with his tongue. Her fingers tangled in his hair and pulled him closer. Her scent tore through him, imbedding itself in every cell of his body forever. He buried his face between her breasts and breathed her in with one long, deep breath before taking her other nipple into his mouth and paying it the homa
ge he’d bestowed up the other one.
He slid his hand along her ribs over the smooth, baby soft skin of her flat belly, and pushed his fingers under the edge of her pants. He froze when his fingers hit soft curls unhindered by panties, and groaned in protest when she suddenly sat up.
Chapter Nine
Sherry sat upright in the bed to the gray light of dawn filtering through the window. She was panting and her heart was pounding. The dream had been so real. Her nipples were hard and aching, her mouth felt swollen from Piers kisses, and she was so wet with need. She jumped when she turned to face him, expecting him to still be asleep. He was propped up on one elbow, staring at her. She couldn’t help but notice the huge erection straining against his jeans, and her body pulsed with need.
“I’m sorry I didn’t keep my promise.” His voice was low, seductive.
“Wh-what?” His voice rushed through her like wildfire, heating every nerve and cell in its wake.
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. It’s happened before.”
He was looking at her as if she was a five-star buffet, and he was a starving man about to quench his hunger. He took her breath away and she wanted him, but did she want to sleep with him knowing that she’d probably never see him again after he took her back to Sanctuary? She wanted to save herself for the man she’d spend the rest of her life with, and he didn’t strike her as the settling down type.
But damn. She couldn’t ignore the way her body came to life when he touched her. He scared her with his intensity, but at the same time, that same intensity, that raw passion he exuded, excited her like nothing ever had. For the first time in her life, she’d met a man who made her want to throw all caution to the wind. She wanted to make love to Piers. She wanted his mouth and hands on her body. She wanted him inside her. She wanted to please him, pleasure him, drive him crazy. She wanted to make this wild, huge, dominant man lose control.
The only thing that stopped her from doing so was the knowledge that once he did lose control, there would be no turning back. And she feared once that happened, her heart would suffer the consequences when he left her.
“You can’t be in my dreams, Piers. It’s not possible.” Yet, she knew it was. He had been there, and he’d been there the last time as well. There was no other explanation for him knowing about the first dream and, now, this one. He’d been there.
“It is possible, at least in our situation,” he mumbled under his breath.
“And just what is our situation?”
“I think you know.”
“Are you trying to say that I’m your mate?”
“I’m not trying to say anything. I’m saying it.” His golden brown eyes watched her as if he could read her thoughts.
“No. I’m not ready for this. It’s too much too soon. I just found out about this werewolf stuff, and now this.”
“I prefer the term lycan.” He frowned and his brows slanted down, then he got up off the bed, reached for his T-shirt and tugged it over his head.
Had she hurt him? She hadn’t meant to. Everything was just happing so fast.
“I’m sorry, I just—”
“I get it. You don’t want to be tied to an animal like me. I don’t need apologies. But you can’t deny there is a connection between us. When I touch you, I feel it. I know you do too.” He clenched his jaw. “Get ready, and we’ll go.”
The flash of pain in his eyes was unmistakable. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, and she certainly hadn’t meant to give him cause to think that she thought of him as an animal. Yes, he’d kidnapped her. Yes, he’d kissed her and touched her, but he’d done nothing to harm her, and she enjoyed the kissing and caressing part, thoroughly enjoyed it. And now he was taking her back to her sister. She’d felt the effort it had taken him to keep his word when things had gotten heated between them, yet he’d refrained from touching her as he’d promised until she’d given him permission. He cared about her feelings. He hadn’t tried to coerce or push her into anything she hadn’t wanted.
In fact, he’d stopped almost instantly every time she’d backed off. He was a man of his word and hadn’t lied to her. He was a dying breed. Most men would have gotten angry, called her a tease, but he understood that she was not playing games with him. She was pretty sure he knew she was innocent where lovemaking was concerned. She was insecure and unsure, but those reasons didn’t lessen the fact that she wanted him. And truth be told, when he touched her, she didn’t feel insecure and shy. She felt like a siren, like a woman luring her man to a promise of pleasure so intense it would blow both their minds.
By the time she’d donned her clean underwear, finger combed her hair, and rinsed her mouth out since she didn’t have a toothbrush, she felt a bit more human. They had a long ride back to her sister, and she would explain to him that she’d never had such strong feelings for a man. They were confusing to her, but she’d decided she wanted to see where they would lead. She cared enough for him to give him a chance—them a chance—if he was willing to take it.
She gasped when she saw him standing in front of the window. He’d opened the curtains, and snow fell heavy and fast outside.
“It’s snowing.”
“A lot.” He grunted.
“It’s too early for it.”
“Obviously Mother Nature didn’t get the memo.” He turned around and eyed her from head to toe. “It’s not that uncommon to have early snowfall in these parts.”
When he looked at her like that, she wanted to throw caution to the wind and jump him. His black T-shirt and jeans hugged him like a second skin, and she could see the outline of every mouth-watering muscle on his lean, hard body. He was so perfect that he could have been carved out of stone by the hands of a professional sculptor. His tanned skin and dark features showcased those golden brown eyes flawlessly.
“It’s coming down hard.” She eased closer to the window and him. When she stood only a few inches from him, she could feel the heat emanating from him.
“We need to get going. It’s looking bad. If you want to make it back to your sister tonight, we’re going to have to make some good time.” She didn’t miss the way a frown marred his full lips when he eyed the snow from the window again.
“Will we be okay?”
“I’ll make sure you get back safely, Sherry. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He shrugged and looked back to the bed behind them. “Or we could stay here and wait it out.”
“Let’s go then.” A huge part of her wanted to say hell with it and stay with him, but she couldn’t let her sister worry.
He looked disappointed by her decision, but didn’t say a word as he opened the door and waved her outside. She climbed into the Jeep and shivered. It was freezing. He got in the driver’s side, started the engine, and backed out of the parking spot. Within twenty minutes, they were on the highway heading back the way they’d came. The heat had kicked in and she turned the radio on only to turn it off after hearing more static than music. A few hours later, she was becoming alarmed.
The snow had increased, visibility had decreased, the wind had picked up, and a white blanket was quickly thickening over the landscape. They were in a remote part of Michigan, and she’d only seen one other car the whole time they’d been driving. The way Piers gripped the steering wheel only increased her anxiety.
“Piers?”
“It’ll be okay. See if you can find a local news station on the radio.”
She finally found one after several tries, but it was hard to hear through the thick interference. Only bits and pieces could be heard, but “blizzard,” “whiteout conditions,” “winter storm advisory” and “hazardous travel” were a few words that came through loud and clear.
“I can’t see anything.” She could barely see a foot in front of them, and dread slid down her spine.
“I can.”
“But how?”
“Because I can see a whole hell of a lot better than you.”
“Oh.” S
he was trying hard not to flip out, but her nerves were winning the battle.
“We will be all right.” Piers reached over and squeezed her hand. “I will keep you safe.”
An hour later, she wasn’t sure even he believed that they would be okay.
* * * *
Piers kicked the tire on the Jeep. The fucking thing had blown, and now they were in a steep ditch, pitching hard on the passenger side. At least they hadn’t ended up in a ravine somewhere. He snorted. Sherry was scared to death. Her skin was pale, and tears had been swimming in her eyes for the past hour. He was surprised she hadn’t let them loose since they’d landed in the ditch.
He tried his cell phone, but there was no signal, which was not surprising. He walked up the road a ways and back in the other direction, trying it several more times, but nothing.
He’d have no problem surviving a storm like this. His lycan blood would keep him warm, and he could hunt for food if it came to it. He could keep Sherry warm as well, but he wasn’t sure any of that would comfort her at the moment. They were getting close to Sanctuary, and he could go there and get them help, assuming he wasn’t killed on sight. Sherry would be okay in the Jeep for a couple hours, and he had no intention of leaving her alone for longer than that.
He took a deep breath, not wanting to tell her of his decision. She wasn’t going to like it, but it was their best option. He wanted to get her to safety. He opened the driver’s door and slid into the seat.
“Can you get us out?” Her green eyes were wide.
“Even if I get the tire changed, we’re too far in the ditch.”
“But it’s a four-wheel drive, for God’s sake.”
“Yes, but it still has its limitations.” He smiled because he couldn’t help it. She was adorable. “We are leaning quite a bit toward your side. I’m worried if I try to get us out we might slide further down and flip over. And, unfortunately, there is no signal on the cell either.”