by Wood, Vivian
“Do as I say,” Harlan warned. “Don’t let me turn you, Penny. I don’t want to have to live with that guilt.”
Penny stared up at him, dumbfounded, silly thoughts piling up in her brain.
What if I asked you to do it?
I wouldn’t mind it if I got to be with you.
Neither of us would be lonely anymore…
“Tell me you understand,” Harlan growled, giving Penny’s hip a gentle squeeze.
Penny stared at him, feeling for the first time his true depth, the hopelessly complex man that made Harlan so irresistible. She knew he needed to hear the words, even if she didn’t mean a single one.
“I understand,” she said, her voice a breathy whisper.
“You’ll protect yourself, no matter what?” His gaze was heavy on her face, his touch a heated brand on her skin.
“No matter what,” she said, hoping that he wouldn’t read her lie.
After staring into her eyes for another long moment, Harlan nodded and released her, turning away. Penny was conflicted, glad to be free of his scrutiny but sorry to lose his confident touch.
Her face flamed when she realized just how turned on she was right now, her core damp and wanting. If such a simple embrace excited her this much, what might it be like for Harlan to touch her boldly, seduce her?
“I’ll wait for you,” she said, surprising herself as much as Harlan.
He glanced at her, an unreadable expression flickering over his face. He turned away, shoving his feet into his boots and picking up his coat.
Then he was gone, the door slamming behind him, leaving Penny alone with her own suffocating thoughts.
Chapter Six
Penny rolled onto her side, the feeling of the hard floor beneath her makeshift pallet waking her from a light doze. She sighed and rolled again, restless, trying to find a comfortable position. It had to be well past midnight by now, though it certainly felt like she’d been barricaded in Winter Pass’s main lodge for decades.
She’d locked herself up tight in one of the empty, dust-covered bedrooms, selecting the biggest fireplace she could find. As soon as the sun dropped behind the horizon, the temperature fell with it… and then the power went out. Of course. Just her luck.
At any rate, Penny was glad she’d brought up a bunch of firewood. She lay before the big fireplace now, all splayed out and cozy. The only things the scene was missing were a bottle of red wine and some good-looking company…
Tone down the hormones a little, she scolded herself. Just because you and Harlan have some kind of spark doesn’t mean you need to lie around and think about sex all the time.
The fire had subsided a little, popping and crackling quietly. The sound had helped her fall asleep earlier, but now it was keeping her from falling into a deeper sleep. She squeezed her eyes closed and rolled away from the fire, wiggling out of the pile of sleeping bags she’d used for her nest.
She was all too aware of every sound in the lodge, every sensation in her body, every panicky thought in her head. She did a little deep breathing and managed to get herself to relax…
That’s when she heard a sound. A bang, something like a screen door slamming or a shutter hitting the side of a house. She’d been jumping at every little creak and groan for hours now, but this one was unmistakable. Penny jumped to her feet, uncertain what to do.
She put her shoes on first, then grabbed a huge flashlight she’d brought over from Harlan’s cabin. As an impulse, she picked up one of the handguns she’d convinced herself to load with silver bullets, tucking it in the back of her jeans.
Sucking in a big breath, Penny unlocked the door and snuck out into the long second-floor hallway. Darkness and silence reigned as Penny tiptoed toward the grand staircase that led into the grand entryway downstairs. The heavy beat of her own heart was all she heard as she progressed, and she started to feel silly and paranoid.
Okay, this might be the third time she’d crept down the hallway, sure that a hunter was about to break in and murder her in cold blood.
A faint scratch scratch caught her attention, stopped her in her tracks. Penny flicked on the flashlight, surprised at how the beam jittered all over the place. Oh, that was because her hands were shaking.
Without warning, a dark shape came bounding up the staircase. Its distinctive snarl scared her and she dropped the flashlight, which rolled to the side. For the blink of an eye, a massive gray wolf was outlined in the light, cruel white fangs bared as it shot toward Penny.
She gave a shriek and pulled the gun free from her waistband, focusing on the approaching shadow. She fired two shots before she even realized what she was doing. One went way wide, the other resulted in a satisfying yelp.
Then everything was still once more.
Penny held her breath for several long seconds. She was pretty sure she’d hit the wolf. Well, it sounded that way anyway. The chances that she’d taken it down with one shot were slim, but maybe the silver bullets really made a difference.
Heart in her throat, Penny crept over to pick up the flashlight. She shone the light around, catching a massive furry shape in the beam. The oversized wolf lay on its side, unmoving.
A horrible thought bubbled up in Penny’s overloaded brain. What if that wolf was Harlan? He might not have even meant her harm, for all she knew.
Unable to help herself, Penny inched closer and closer until she was only an arm’s length from the wolf. Under the flashlight, she saw the slight rise and fall of its big chest, and she was relieved that she hadn’t shot it dead on sight.
“Harlan?” she whispered. “Is that you?”
Setting down the gun, Penny nibbled her lower lip and reached out a hand, wondering if she should roll the wolf over, see the injury. It seemed so still, maybe it wouldn’t attack…
Fast as lightning, the wolf rolled to its feet, teeth snapping closed a scant inch from Penny’s fingers.
“Agh!” Penny cried, scuttling backward.
The wolf advanced on her, dripping with menace. She saw a dark, glinting patch on the floor, so she had wounded it, but the thing was far from paralyzed. This close, she could see the wolf’s glowing, ice-blue eyes. Not Harlan’s eyes, not even close.
Fear wrapped icy tendrils around her spine. This wolf wasn’t the least bit friendly, and it looked way too interested in Penny.
“No no no,” Penny wheezed, her back slamming into a wall.
It might be her imagination, but she could swear that the wolf had an evil-looking smirk on its lips. Like it wanted to bite her, infect her. Make her like him. She swung the flashlight at him, trying to scare him away, but it didn’t have much effect.
When the wolf was only a couple feet away, it paused and looked toward the staircase. Penny sucked in a ragged breath and watched as a massive, shadowy figure bounded up the stairs. The second the man looked up, Penny saw the green glow of Harlan’s eyes.
He’d come for her. To save her.
Her stomach twisted as she realized he was completely naked, his gorgeous body rippling with each movement as he dove forward to tackle the bristling werewolf. Harlan hit the wolf like a freight truck and their bodies rolled and skidded halfway down the hallway, slamming into a closed door with a sickening thud.
After a heart-pounding moment, Harlan managed to wrap himself around the wolf and subdue it as it thrashed and scrabbled for release.
“Go back to the bedroom,” Harlan growled.
It took Penny far too long to realize that he was actually talking to her. She sprinted past them toward the room where she’d bunked down earlier. She slammed the door behind herself and locked it. Turning the flashlight off and tossing it aside, she pressed her ear to the door to listen to the struggle outside.
It was mercifully brief. She heard Harlan’s muffled voice and the big wolf’s muted whimpers of discomfort. She heard the wolf’s claws find purchase in the hallway’s slick wood floors, heard its big paws thumping as it fled down the hallway and clattered down the stairc
ase.
Then silence. A long, long silence. For a second, Penny thought that Harlan had given chase, followed the wolf to ensure that it did not return.
A tap on the door made her jump, breath catching in her throat. Penny’s hand flew to her chest, covering her heart, which she was certain was about to fly straight out of her chest.
“It’s me.” Harlan’s gruff words raised all the hair on Penny’s neck and arms, but her fingers were already twisting the door’s lock, turning the knob.
When Penny swung the door open, she found Harlan filling up the doorframe, a thin cotton sheet wrapped around his waist. The muscular expanse of his bare torso alone was intimidating, forcing Penny back a few steps.
“I shouldn’t be here,” Harlan said, his voice gone to gravel. Even as he spoke, he followed Penny into the fire-warmed room, pursuing her step for step.
Penny’s eyes widened as the fire chased the shadows from his face. His expression was distinctly feral, those eerie green eyes lit up as they traveled up and down her body. He looked… hungry.
“Thank you for saving me, Harlan,” Penny said, resisting the shiver that eased up her spine.
The backs of her feet hit her makeshift pallet. Penny swallowed and sat down, thinking it might pacify Harlan. It seemed that his animal side was dominant right now, the full moon giving the wolf sway over the man.
Harlan didn’t acknowledge her gratitude. He towered over her for several long moments, staring down at her with the deepest longing. It resonated with Penny, that yearning in him. It was just as strong in her own heart, though she barely knew him.
Fire crackling and warming her skin, moonlight pouring in the windows and casting shadows on the floor, handsome Harlan staring at her with more desire than she’d ever seen in her whole life…
Penny couldn’t think to resist.
Raising her hand, she beckoned to him. She longed for him, longed to comfort and caress him, learn the nuances of his incredible body and the flaws of his heart. Something in her called out for Harlan, wanted him so badly it nearly hurt.
Harlan sunk to his knees, the thin white sheet around his waist threatening to come loose. Penny stared at him, swiping her tongue over her lower lip, anticipation simmering low in her body. When he reached out and tugged at the lower hem of her t-shirt, then pulled it up over her head, Penny’s heart began to pound.
Without speaking, Harlan stripped Penny’s jeans off. Eyes intent on Penny’s face, he unhooked her bra and slid it off, baring her breasts to the firelight. With each breath, her breasts rose and fell, drawing Harlan’s attention.
“Beautiful,” he said, reaching out to cradle one round globe, brushing his thumb over her dusky nipple. He paused, then withdrew his touch. “Penny…”
He seemed uncertain how to ask her permission. Penny rose on her knees and leaned forward, cupping his jaw and pressing her lips to his. He met her with a groan, his lips and tongue seeking hers, stoking the rising flames of her desire.
When Harlan broke the kiss, he pulled back with a wild, desperate look in his bright green eyes.
“There is no going back from this,” Harlan gritted out, looking nothing short of tormented.
“There’s nothing for me to go back to,” Penny said, unrepentant. “I want this, Harlan. I want you.”
“It’s not a fling, Penny. You understand? Wolves mate for life.”
A thrill of excitement trickled over the nape of Penny’s neck.
For life.
Something in her, some darkness seeking light, some old unhealed hurt, cried out for him. For everything his words promised. For a new life, with a man who would protect and cherish her. It wouldn’t solve all of Penny’s problems, but Harlan would be a foundation for her on which to build her new life.
Starting right now, with her lips on his.
“Yes,” was Penny’s only response. She leaned toward Harlan, offering her lips, and he gave a satisfied growl.
Harlan lay down on the pallet before the fire, bringing Penny down to sprawl over his body. Their mouths sought purchase, tongues dancing, breathing quickly growing ragged. Harlan ran his hands over every inch of Penny’s curves, scorching her breasts and hips, exploring the tender curves of her ass.
Penny couldn’t stop touching him, either. She curled one hand around the back of his neck, the other roaming over the sculpted planes of his shoulders and back. She braced the thick curve of his hip, thumbing the thick vee of muscle she found there, trailing down and down until her fingers found the loose cotton sheet that now barely covered his stunningly large erection.
Harlan grabbed her hands and moved them up over her head, his lips stealing her breath as they traced the sensitive shell of her ear, teeth nipping a trail down her neck. He stopped briefly to pull her panties down her legs, closing his lips over her aching nipple. His tongue swirled and worked her flesh as he parted her thighs with his hand, boldly stroking her lower lips, finding and teasing her clit.
Penny burned for him. His touch ruined her, killed her, made her crave release so badly she could hardly breathe. When he slid two long, thick fingers into her core, stretching and filling her roughly, she cried out and clenched, the thread of her hunger growing taut.
Harlan pulled his hand away, sliding his damp fingers into his mouth. His eyes closed for the briefest second and he groaned, his hips rolling as he licked her essence from his skin.
When he was done, he opened his eyes and pinned her with his gaze.
“I wish I could taste you this time, Penny, but I can’t wait. My wolf is too hungry,” he said, his eyes gone dark. He hesitated. “I’m worried I’ll lose control, take you too hard.”
Penny’s lips twitched. She arched a brow, the solution coming to her without a moment’s trouble.
“Let me start, then,” she suggested. “I can handle you, Harlan. All of you.”
Harlan’s face went hard. He snatched the cotton sheet off his body, giving Penny her first view of his massive, rigid cock. It was so long and thick and beautiful, it made her mouth water, her nipples tighten, her core grow even more slick.
“You can take me, huh?” Harlan asked, his amusement clear. A challenge lit his eyes, and Penny felt the need to prove she was very much up to the task. He was big, yes, but she knew that she and Harlan would fit together perfectly, two puzzle pieces made to grip one another.
Penny straddled his hips, kissing him deeply. One of Harlan’s hands gripped her hip, the other teased her breast. Penny didn’t miss a beat, grasping his cock and raising her hips, guiding him to her entrance.
Harlan’s fingers dug into her hip, a faint rattle issuing from his chest as Penny closed her eyes and threw her head back. Biting her lip, she eased down on his cock, taking him inch by slow inch.
Penny moaned as his cock stretched and filled her so full that it bordered on painful. She laid her hands on his chest, leaning forward a little, working her hips until the discomfort eased, leaving nothing but her want.
Ever so slowly, she began to rock forward and back, keeping her movements gentle. Harlan’s grip on her hip grew bruising, his expression close to agony. Every muscle in his body seemed strained as he held himself back, the effort of it obvious.
Penny abandoned her slow pace. Closing her eyes, she rocked her hips hard, taking him deep with every stroke.
“Mmm,” she murmured. He felt so, so good, but something was missing. Harlan was holding himself back. She wanted him to take control, give himself to her fully, pleasure them both.
She slowed and stopped, looking down at Harlan. He arched a questioning brow.
“It’s not enough,” she said.
A wicked smile flashed on Harlan’s face.
“You need the wolf,” was his non-answer.
In the blink of an eye, he lifted her and turned her onto her hands and knees. Penny trembled when Harlan traced his fingertips down her spine. Kneeling behind her, he grabbed her hips and nudged her knees apart.
One hand splayed across he
r upper back to give her a gentle push, and Penny let him press her face and chest down toward the bed. She was bare to him in every way, submissive to him in this position, and it turned her on like crazy. Never before had a man possessed her like this.
Harlan thrust into her with a single hard stroke, making her cry out. At this angle he was even bigger, going deeper than she’d thought possible. Harlan reached up and grasped a fistful of her hair, holding her still.
Then he well and truly fucked her. Harlan set a punishing pace, one hand shifting the angle of her hips as the other held her torso in place. At first, Penny didn’t understand what he was doing.
Then he tilted her hips just so, and…
“Oh my god!” Penny cried out.
The head of his cock was hitting this amazing spot inside her, again and again and again and again.
“You like that, darling?” Harlan rumbled. “That’s how I please my mate.”
Penny couldn’t answer, already seeing stars as her body wound tight with pleasure.
“I’m going to—” was all she got out before she exploded.
Penny felt a scream tear from her throat, her body burning as she soared, knowing nothing but release for long moments.
“That’s my girl,” Harlan said.
He released her hair and grabbed her hips, slamming his cock home a dozen times before he stiffened. A carnal snarl ripped from Harlan’s throat as he came, pulsing his release deep into Penny’s willing body. He leaned forward and sunk his teeth deep into the tender spot where Penny’s neck met her shoulder, startling her.
It hurt for a second, a bright flare of pain, and then a delirious, golden warmth washed through her whole body. It felt like a drug, like she was high as a kite, like nothing in the world could possibly be wrong.
Under all the ecstasy, there was something more, something deeper. A connection, a way of sensing another being that she’d never experienced. She actually felt Harlan, or a faint pulse of his energy, felt an echo of the exuberance and pleasure he felt.