by T. S. Joyce
He took a long swig of his beer and “aaaaah”ed dramatically. “Lost a bet to Stupid Gable.” He’d taken a liking to calling my father that lately.
I snorted and shook my head, went back to whittling for about three seconds before I had to look at Maya again. God, she was stunning. Trudy had brought her a dress to change into. A silver high-necked number that was fitted through the bodice down to her hips, flaring at the waist and with full skirts. The trim on the bodice was bright red, and she had a twig of holly pinned right over her heart. Her long, curly hair had been pulled back to the base of her neck, but a couple of curls had escaped in her kitchen efforts. That smile had barely left her full lips all day. And every time she looked over at me, I was struck by the dancing blue in her eyes.
“You got it bad, boy,” Luke muttered.
“Leave him alone,” my father said, sitting heavily in the chair beside Luke. “You still get that puppy dog look around your mate, too.”
Unwilling to conduct the mate-discussion in mixed company, I dropped my attention back to the howling wolf I was whittling.
Elias came in from the blustering cold, and the door caught the wind and yanked it out of his hand. It slammed against the wall, and scared Lucianna into a yelp. She dropped the bread she’d just pulled from the oven, the women all went to grousing, and while Elias tried to apologize, a sugar cookie came flying at his face. Jeremiah appeared out of nowhere and caught it easily, shoved it in his mouth and walked into the other room like nothing had been amiss. He’d been holding a mug of eggnog and hadn’t spilled it. The wide-eyed look on Maya’s face drew a chuckle from my lips.
Elias, used to being around the speed of werewolves, closed the door and said one last apology before making his way over to me. He stood at the hearth, warming his hands by the roaring fire. “I know what you’ve done.”
I looked up at him to see if he was talking to me. “What have I done?” I asked him. Direct was the best way for a man to be.
“Chester Finn told me you’ve been into the bank.”
I shook my head hard, and looked at Maya to make sure she hadn’t heard.
“Whatever you’re doing?” Elias murmured lower, leaning in. He nodded. “Well, it makes me like you more. I hope I’ve guessed what you’re up to, and if you need any help from me or Trudy, you let us know.”
I swallowed the yellow-bellied coward in me down and murmured, “Mr. Elias…would it be okay…if…” Shit, I didn’t know how to do this. The words failed me, as always. I could conjure them just fine in my language, but they didn’t make a lick of sense in English. I tried again. “Would you be okay if…”
“Ukiah,” Elias said, gripping my shoulder. His cheeks were flushed and his freckles stood out even more. “Me and Trudy would’ve always been more than okay with that.” He squeezed my shoulder again, clapped me on the back once, and began taking his coat off.
And that was that.
Utterly stunned, heart hammering against my sternum, I clenched the little wolf in my hand. Maya was drying her hands with a green cloth in the kitchen, watching me with a small smile tugging right at the corners of her lips. She gave this little wave that made me want to hug her up tight, and make her all the important promises she deserved.
Not yet though. Not tonight. Tonight, I just wanted to exist and witness her happiness. It was feeding my wolf on pure goodness, instead of the turmoil that always overpowered me when I was alone.
Tonight, for once, the wolf was quiet.
Because of Maya.
Chapter Seven
Maya
How could I possibly sleep? I hadn’t been so happy, and excited and just…just…full of joy in as long as I can remember.
Today had been perfect. My stomach hurt from laughing so much, and the smile on my face might’ve been permanent now. And then there was the thought of my future. I was due to leave for Boston in just a few days, but selfishly, I wanted more days like today.
The pillow smelled like Ukiah, and I hugged it closer. It had to be smack-dab in the middle of the night. It was well past midnight, so it was officially Christmas Eve. I wanted to see him again already. The kiss he’d laid on my lips when he’d said goodnight at the front door weren’t enough. I grinned up at the ceiling and kicked my legs about the bed. Look at the greedy little trollop I’d turned into—kissing a man so many times in one day.
My sleeping gown was long, but it was thin, and the cabin was getting too cold for comfort, so I got up and padded to the fireplace, and put another log on the fire to revive the embers. I loved Ukiah’s cabin. It was so homey, and comfortable here.
I touched my lips where he’d kissed me goodbye earlier tonight before he’d gone to Change into his wolf. I imagined the way his tongue stroked against mine. The way he tasted. The growl in his throat when he grew needy.
Right now, he was running around the woods somewhere, probably thinking of hunting, while I was here in his home, having fantasies about stolen kisses. Was he hunting another rabbit for me? That was a special gift…right? His wolf choosing to hunt for me? It wasn’t just Ukiah hunting and trapping for furs to sell in town. It was his animal choosing to hunt, and forgo consuming it, and bringing it to me. To make sure I was fed. His animal was putting me before himself, and that wasn’t lost on me. Ukiah the man had often done the same.
It was dark in here, only lit by the flickering yellow glow of the fire. Warm enough at last, I turned for bed, but the door opened. Before I could even be startled, Ukiah was here, clad in only his deerskin leggings. His hair was unbraided, and the olive toned skin across his chest smooth. I hadn’t seen him shirtless since we were kids at the swimming hole, and he sure hadn’t looked like this.
Under my searching eyes, he shut the door and stood up straight, lifting his chin. And he watched me as I took in every inch of exposed skin. His chest was muscular and his shoulders broad and strong. His stomach flexed with every breath, and his eyes were glowing that light gray that said his animal was still very much present. His powerful stride led him straight to me, and he lifted my hand to his chest, down the curves of his muscles, down his stomach, and then he lifted my palm to his cheek.
“You’ve already come back,” I murmured. “I thought you would stay out all night.”
“You’re a good reason for the wolf to give up the body,” he said low. “He let me come back to you.” And that right there was an I love you from the animal inside of him.
He touched my cheek, and I leaned into his palm. I should’ve been mortified to be in my thin white sleeping gown in front of him, but I wasn’t. There was no vulnerability with him, only warmth, and caring.
And those hands…they set me on fire.
He trailed his fingertips down the length of my neck, dragging flames down my skin. He gripped the back of my hair and angled my face up, where I had the perfect view of his wicked smile.
“You’re safe,” he growled. “But I think from the hungry look in your eyes, you know that. You want me?”
Breath shaking with need, I nodded.
He shook his head slowly back and forth. “I want you to say it.”
Oh, what a game he was playing. My body melted right against him, and the heat that radiated off him warmed me. My breasts were so sensitive this close to him. Only a thin layer of cotton fabric separated us.
He leaned down and kissed me, his lips forming the perfect complement to mine as he sucked gently. He’d been working me up all day, with every peck, every touch, and now my body wanted his in ways I didn’t understand.
The flow from the fire flickered across my vision every time I eased my eyes open, and as he pushed me backward gently, and untied the ribbon at the neck of my sleeping gown, I was stunned again by how handsome he was, especially in the glow of the flames. And who had the hungry look in their eyes now? Ukiah pulled my unfastened sleeping gown to the side, exposing my collar bone, the tip of my shoulder, my arm. And then he did something that drew a gasp of ecstasy from me. He pulled it down farther and cuppe
d my breast. His strong hand felt so good. My legs buckled, but Ukiah caught me, and lowered me gently to the bear-skin rug in front of the fire.
And where my skin was still exposed, he pressed his lips in soft, sucking kisses until I was arching my back, and pleading for more.
His weight on me was a comfort, and his bulge pressed between my thighs. I spread my knees wider, and he ran his fingertips from my ankle, up to my knee. Fire, fire, fire. His hand flattened and became firm as he grasped my thigh, so high up under my sleeping gown. Up…up…to my bare hip, where he gripped me again, digging his fingertips into my skin just right. I arched up again, rolling my hips against his because it felt good. His lips found my throat and sucked. Down, down he gently bit, and sucked, and kissed until he reached my breast and then I was utterly gone. I had to have more, I had to have everything. I wanted every inch of his skin pressed against mine.
Ukiah slid his hand that was under my gown to between my legs, and he moaned when he felt how wet I was there. He slid his fingertips up and down my slit, and right when he had me writhing against him, he plunged his finger inside of me, rolling his hips with his stroking. I panted his name, and he gave in at last. Ukiah pulled his finger out of me, and pushed his breechcloth down and laid his thick, throbbing member against me. He rocked a couple of times until I whispered, “Please, Ukiah,” and he gave me a hungry smile, his eyes sparking nearly white in the fire glow.
The head of his cock was at my slick entrance, and I was already so close, already wanted him so badly. I spread my knees wider, and he pushed into me and it…was…everything.
Head thrown back, I moaned as he pulled back, and pushed in deep again. And again. And again, his body pressed to mine. He ripped my gown down the front with little effort and shoved the fabric to the side, laid back on me until my breasts were flush against his stony chest. And he bucked into me again. This time he stayed deep, rolling his hips shallowly. “Come on, Maya,” he growled, and that was enough. My body convulsed around his cock, and I cried out over and over as he thrust into me. And right as I felt shattered completely from the inside out, Ukiah rammed into me hard and throbbed in me, and I could feel it—the jets of warmth he filled me with.
Body trembling and spent, I held onto him while he kissed my neck, my collar bones, the tips of my shoulders and back to my neck. The smile on my face had to be the silliest expression, but I couldn’t help it. Being touched by Ukiah was more than I could’ve ever imagined.
He rolled me over and cradled my back to his chest there in the heat from the fire, and traced the curve of my hip to my ribs and back with the softest touch. His face was pressed against my hair, and there was a smile in his voice when he said, “I’ve ruined you for anyone else.”
“You don’t sound very remorseful,” I said with a giggle, snuggling back against him.
“No. You were always mine. Why would I be sorry for touching what is mine?”
His. Ukiah’s. I wanted to cry tears of joy at how beautiful that sounded. To belong to someone was a very special gift, and my person was Ukiah, the man I’d loved since I was a child.
“Ukiah?” I whispered, smiling into the dark.
“Mmm?”
“I’m not sorry either.”
Chapter Eight
Maya
Christmas Eve
Ukiah had disappeared by sunup this morning.
I’d woken up back in bed, tucked tightly under the covers, the fire with fresh logs on it, and a scribbled note that said he would meet me at Christmas Eve services tonight.
I couldn’t help but feel a little abandoned though, and then disgusted with myself that I couldn’t even go a day without pining for a man. What had happened to the tough, independent woman in me? Well…I’ll tell you what happened. A handsome werewolf had taken me to bed and gotten me completely hooked on his touch and his constant care, and then left me out in the cold, harsh, world alone.
Okay, I was being melodramatic. The harsh, cold world was really a big beautiful cabin on the Dawson Ranch where we all spent the day baking and cooking for an obscene amount of people, apparently. I didn’t remember us cooking this much food for other Christmases, but then again, I had often been running around with Ukiah and his cousins instead of helping in the kitchen.
And really, I enjoyed it. The comradery, the catching up, the teasing and laughter. The boys sneaking snacks and Lucianna smacking anyone’s hand with a spoon who turned thief.
I just missed Ukiah and wondered where he’d run off to. He’d slept with me, and then…poof. He was gone. Had he given me his back again? Like he’d done all those times when we were younger? Was he second-guessing the affection he’d had with me? God, was he second-guessing me?
Kristina had packed me up on Timber, and sent me on my way, clad in the red saloon dress that showed way too much of my bosoms, but was easily covered by my thick winter jacket. Mother and Father had left early this morning, but for some reason, I wasn’t in a hurry to head back to town. The Dawson Ranch felt more like home now, but that part, I couldn’t explain. I had some shopping to do before the stores closed early, so here I was, bumping and bouncing along the snowy road, freezing my ears off and counting the minutes until I found myself in a store and out of the bitter wind.
Timber was fine with a quick trot, so it didn’t take us too long before I was searching for trinkets and gifts for Ukiah’s family and mine.
And in the very last store—the home décor shop, I stumbled upon Ukiah’s gift. My heart skipped two beats, at least, as I studied the small painted canvas. It was as if the artist had made this just for me to give Ukiah. I hoped he liked it.
Burlap bags of gifts in my hands, I hustled back home, nearly tripping twice on my skirts in the snowy street. When I made it to the front porch, ready to be in front of the fireplace of my parent’s home, there was something there, tucked into the corner by the door and wrapped in thick red paper.
I dropped the sack of gifts inside and came back out, knelt by the present. The tag was written in Ukiah’s handwriting. For Maya.
My stomach jumped this way and that as excitement flooded my veins. I pulled up the gift from the mound of snow it sat upon, and hurried inside. I was alone in the house, rushing to remove my mittens I’d borrowed from Lucianna so I could tear into the wrapping paper.
In desperation, I shredded the paper. Inside a long, rectangular box was a set of three knives, all of different sizes and shapes. They were kitchen knives. I removed one and turned the fine blade in awe. The light caught the sharp metal, and glinted off it. The handle was made of deer antler and had been sanded smooth. The knife fit my grip perfectly, and when I drew the steel through a piece of the thick wrapping paper, it cut it like butter, with no resistance. These were the highest quality knives I’d ever seen.
But…
They were a gift for my job in Boston. The restaurant I worked at required us to bring our own knives, a fact that I’d told Ukiah in a letter.
It was a gift for my new life, the one I would soon go back to.
And though it was a beautiful, and thoughtful gift, it made me a little sad. I would think about him every time I used them. I was going to miss him terribly.
The church bells rang out, signifying that Christmas Eve service would start soon. Anxious to see Ukiah again, I tucked the knives back in the box, and replaced my mittens, then bustled out the door and straight across the street for a shortcut through some of the alleyways to the church.
Ukiah was waiting at the end of the first one.
“I got your gift,” I said breathlessly. I stumbled right into a hug, uncaring if anyone saw my shocking embrace with him or not. “I love them so much, Ukiah!”
His deep chuckle reverberated from deep in his chest, vibrating against my cheek. He hugged me back. “I’m glad you like them.”
“Hey,” I said, easing back. “Where have you been all day?”
“It’s a secret.”
I frowned. “Hmp. Well, how did you k
now I was going to walk this way?”
“You always went this way to the church.” He offered his arm and I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow. “I remember everything.”
“I forgot you used to walk with me sometimes.”
He asked me, “Remember all scandalized looks we would get?”
I snorted and waved to Teddy Banks, who was sitting on a stoop, emptying a rock out of his boot. He was openly gawking at us. We were apparently still getting those looks.
“How have you been?” I asked politely, because the way to this town’s heart was manners and acting like nothing ever got to me. I’d learned that early on.
“Its…good…Maya. And Ukiah.” He pulled his boot on and stood, scratched his head. “I’ll admit I never thought I would see you two walking around here together again.”
“Mmm,” Ukiah murmured. “You have a good day, Mr. Banks.”
“You too, Ukiah. Uh, wait! Uhhh, tell your dad and Lucianna hello from me and the missus.”
“Will do. You and Mrs. Banks have a Merry Christmas,” Ukiah said, and Mr. Banks gave the same tidings back to us.
When we were out of earshot, I told Ukiah, “I think people would always look at us, but in this town, where so many people know us, and know our history, and know our parents, I don’t think it’s just because of our skin colors. I think rumors swirl around the Dawsons, and we were under that umbrella. People here can’t help but like them, but they’re also a little wary and don’t understand them. And we’re a part of that Dawson mystery.”
“Did you get stared at in Boston?” he asked low. “Were people rude about you being mixed?”
“Yes. But also no. There were other people who were mixed. Ladies, like me. Even if people in society were curious at first, they got used to me and I got used to them. Boston is more progressive than the small towns. You though,” I said with a giggle. “You would attract attention everywhere you went in Boston.”
“Why?”
“Because you wear a mix of white man’s clothes and Ute styles, and you have smooth dark skin, but bright eyes, and that long hair that men don’t usually wear. And you’re…you’re…” I swallowed hard and cleared my throat so I could try again. “Your physique is very healthy.”