Tall, Dark and Furry (The Elementals Book 1)

by Meredith Allen Conner

  His friends both grunted then Cam said, “I don’t see how. Regardless, even without our full strength, we’re still ten times more powerful than they are.”

  Mac nodded.

  A clap of thunder boomed in the distance.

  The werewolves all looked out the window at the darkening sky over the mountains. A jagged bolt of lightning flashed through the swirling clouds. The approaching storm looked worse than the weatherman predicted.

  “Even better,” Cam murmured to Mac, “You’re mate will have all the water she needs on hand.”

  ****

  The door slammed, letting Sela know Mac had arrived. She cocked her head, listening for his footsteps.

  “He’s not happy.” Livie said. The last echo of the slammed door died.

  Wonder if he cracked the frame?

  Sela opened her mouth and Mac appeared in the kitchen doorway. The man could move like an animal when he wanted - soft, silent and predatory.

  Well, duh.

  Mac glared at her. He stomped to the fridge and pulled out a bottle. He tossed the cap onto the counter top, leaned back against the fridge door and drank heavily.

  After downing half the bottle, his gaze settled on Sela. The angry longing that lurked in his amber glinted eyes made Sela want to go over and comfort him.

  Not being an idiot, Sela kept her butt parked on the barstool. She exchanged glances with Livie.

  Livie set her glass on the counter, tucked the plate of pasta in her arms and prepared to get up. Mac spoke up first.

  “You might as well stay, Livie. You need to hear the plan as well.” Sela could hear his beast prowling and snarling in his voice.

  “The info that Roc has all points to the Order arriving here tomorrow. We’ll have a couple men on alert tonight, just in case.” He took another drink. “There’s only one road into town and they’ll use it. No reason not to.”

  Abruptly, he pushed away from the fridge and stalked closer to loom over Sela.

  “We’re going to meet them at a fork in the road outside of town.” His chest brushed hers. His voice lowered until she heard the vibrations more than the actual words. “You’re coming too.”

  “Just me or Livie too?” Damn, but she deserved a lifetime supply of chocolate peanuts. No war whoops or booty shakes. Heck, she didn’t even stick her tongue out at him.

  Mac did not like being reasonable. It was all too evident in the swirls of amber increasing by the second and in his entire body that currently resembled a massive chunk of granite. Sela peeked at his hand. Yep. Claws curled around the bottle.

  Her big werewolf clearly did not like the plan.

  Sela wanted to throw a party.

  “Livie too.” Mac turned and glared at Livie.

  Cheeks puffed out like a squirrel that’s just been told winter starts tomorrow, Livie paused mid-chew. “Whmm ddnn ef ewf?”

  “Nothing, Liv,” Sela patted her arm. “You didn’t do anything. He’s just mad,” she paused, reconsidered and decided to stop there.

  No need to point out the obvious. As long as Mac could be reasonable, she didn’t have to rub it in his face.

  Light bulb moment, so this is how relationships work. You compromise.

  Sela mulled it over for a second. Not bad. She could do this. Not bad at all for a first timer in love. She wanted to give herself a big pat on the back.

  These past several days had allowed Sela the time to bond with Livie and get used to the idea that she planned to be in a permanent relationship. She still had a few bugs to work out, like informing Mac, but it got easier every day.

  Cam, Mac and Roc had spent all of their time preparing for the battle and digging up as much information as they could on the MIBs. Sela didn’t mind, she and Livie had so much to talk about, plus, she needed that time to set aside a lifetime of fear, to truly embrace the idea of being with Mac.

  Mac loomed closer, his chest pressed firmly to hers. Her nipples peaked. “I don’t like it,” he growled.

  Yesterday’s edition, big guy.

  “You will do as I say at all times,” he continued. “And stay behind me.”

  Screw compromise.

  Sela leaned forward until they bumped noses. “I do not hide from the MIBs.”

  “Eff ew dew.”

  Sela rocked back on her heels. She turned to give Livie a scathing look. Livie shrugged back at her in a “Whaaa?” manner.

  “I do not hide from the MIBs,” she continued, swiveling her head to rake both Mac and Livie with her eyes. “Not when the fight has already begun.”

  Livie snorted.

  Both Mac and Sela glared at her.

  “Let’s go upstairs and finish discussing this.” Mac cupped his hand around Sela’s elbow. He pointed a finger at Livie. “You finish that pasta. There’s more food in the fridge if you need it. Get a good night’s sleep. We’ll leave at six in the morning.”

  Sela pushed her shoulders back. She refused to soften over his care for her sister.

  He turned and Sela turned with him, his hand maneuvering her firmly. Sela marched up the stairs with him and into their room.

  Their room?

  These little things kept catching her off guard. Yes, she loved Mac and planned to stay, but . . . their room? She’d never had a room before, let alone one she shared with the man she loved.

  And it all seemed so very . . . natural.

  “Now,” Mac dropped her elbow and held her by the shoulders directly in front of him. “This is how . . . Sela?” Mac cupped her cheeks. He stroked his thumbs down her skin. “You okay, Lupa?”

  For the first time in her life, she just might be.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “I’m not mad at you, Lupa,” Mac stroked her cheeks, intent on reassuring her. “I don’t want you in the fight. Nothing can happen to you.”

  His gruff words washed over her. It didn’t matter anymore why he called her mate, just as long as he continued to call her mate for the rest of their lives.

  Her fears suddenly seemed like anthills, instead of the mountains they’d always formed in her mind. If he ever broke her trust, she’d make sure he paid for it. For a very long, painful and extended period of time. But she wouldn’t run away. She wouldn’t leave. She couldn’t.

  How could she leave this? This man cupping her cheeks as if she were something delicate and valuable, something to protect at all costs?

  He faced bullets as if they were nothing yet he trembled in fear for her.

  He rescued her from a torture chamber. He took care of her, kept her warm and fed. He didn’t bat an eye when she had a panic attack. He chased her down when she left his home. He scolded her half-starved sister into eating food and opened his home to Livie.

  He made love to her as if he couldn’t get enough. He craved her.

  He will always chase me down. He will always crave me.

  Those truths became the new foundation blocks to her soul.

  He’ll never leave me. He’ll always be there for me. I couldn’t escape him even if I wanted to.

  She didn’t want to anymore. She hadn’t really wanted to in the first place. She’d finally faced her fears and won.

  The MIBs had nothing on my fears.

  “Lupa?” Mac swung her up into his arms. Carrying her over to the bed, he laid her gently on the covers sitting next to her hip on the bed. He felt her forehead. “Are you sick?”

  Yep. A terminal case of love.

  Sela sighed.

  Mac stiffened. He leaned over her and sniffed. “You don’t smell sick.” Drawing back, he felt her forehead again and turned her head gently from side to side. He held up two fingers. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

  Sela laughed. “I don’t have a concussion, Mac.”

  “You’re acting strange.” Mac sniffed her again. “I don’t smell anything wrong with you.” He muttered.

  Sliding her hand into his thick hair, Sela said, “Nothing’s wrong. In fact I feel pretty darn good right now.” She tugged
his hair, lowering her voice to a husky drawl. “Why don’t you come a little closer so I can tell you exactly how I do feel?”

  Amber flecks exploded in his eyes like fireworks. Mac set his hands next to her shoulders and leaned over her, deliberately caging her. Little shivers ran down her spine.

  Never knew I could be such a sucker for bedroom domination.

  “Lupa, are you sure?”

  Sela didn’t wonder at his asking. She’d never initiated their lovemaking before. Heck, even this past week she’d done her best to put up as many roadblocks as she could, but not anymore, not ever again. She planned on steamrollering down any obstacles in her path to Mac, including the few fears she still battled.

  She wasn’t angry and she didn’t want to fight, she wanted to make love to Mac. No fears or worries, just the two of them.

  Sela batted her eyes at him and hooked one leg around his waist. “I know what I want big guy, how about you?”

  Approximately four seconds later, stripped of all clothing, hands held over her head with Mac spreading her legs, Sela had her answer. He nudged her hips further apart, the soft denim of his jeans rubbed against her tender flesh.

  Mac leaned on one elbow over her, the heat from his body poured over her. She watched his face tighten, his features sharpen in arousal. His amber eyes glowed fiercely down at her.

  He covered her completely. His legs lining hers, his hips tucked into the vee of hers so tightly she knew the imprint of the button on his jeans would be perfectly displayed on her belly. She could feel the individual muscles on his stomach and chest where they rested on her torso.

  Mac pulled on her hands, stretching her arms higher, until her back arched, thrusting her breasts upwards. He emitted a soft purr and lowered his head to take one stiff nipple into his mouth.

  Sela screamed the moment his wet tongue pushed her nipple towards the roof of his mouth, tugging and sucking hard. His tight grip on her wrists held her in place allowing no room for her to escape the pleasure.

  Almost too much already, her emotions softened, her defenses down, Mac’s physical touch swept her away in a violent hurricane of desire. She didn’t have time to brace herself against the storm. Shed’ wanted to tease him a bit, but hadn’t been prepared to be caught in the vortex immediately.

  Mac let go of her nipple, his tongue licked its way over to her other nipple. Heated, wet swipes of pure tingling pleasure tormented their way between her breasts. Sela tried once more to move, to arch her body. She couldn’t decide if she wanted escape the lash of need flicking at her, or curve into the next sting of pure want.

  Mac’s tongue circled her other nipple, tightening the bead further, sharp, wicked pricks zinged between her nipple and her clit. He latched onto the taut tip, drawing it in with a force that bordered on pain.

  Sela shrieked. Holy Hannah, the things this man did to her. She felt like a race car, going from zero to one hundred and sixty in five seconds flat. Her hips bucked and met his solid erection. Her womb tightened. She was going to climax already.

  She didn’t want to go alone. She wanted Mac to be inside of her, sharing this pleasure, this joining of their bodies, this giving of her heart.

  “No,” she moaned. She rolled her head back and forth and pressed her hips into the mattress.

  Mac pursued immediately like a true predator, following the trail, chasing his quarry down and cutting off all avenues of escape. He spread his hips slightly, forcing hers to open wider. She’d thought he couldn’t get any closer without being inside of her. He proved her wrong.

  His hard cock butted up to her entrance so tightly that her lower lips spread and his jeans pressed just inside, the ridged seam of his fly brushing sensitive nerves all along her opening to her clitoris.

  Sela stilled. She pushed her head into the pillow, but that only forced her breasts further upwards, her wrists tighter into his grasp.

  She closed her eyes. Her breath hitched. “Mac,” she pleaded. Everything within her gripped tighter and tighter, fast approaching the mind numbing end.

  She didn’t want to go over without him. This wasn’t a crazy, Mac induced, world exploding orgasm. This wasn’t sex. It wasn’t even making love. It had gone far, far beyond that. Sela had gone far, far beyond that.

  This was life. Her world. Everything she had to give,and things she hadn’t ever known she could give. This was the moment when everything else disappeared and the only things that mattered, that could ever matter, twirled and wrapped and bonded together until it became just them. The two of them. Mac and Sela. Nothing else.

  Mac released her nipple. The tension in her body eased momentarily.

  “Shh, Lupa. Don’t cry.” Mac murmured. His breath flowed over her cheeks followed by his tongue. Sela hadn’t realized she was crying until then. His tongue gathered up her tears, licking the salt from her skin.

  “I’m right here,” his words ghosted over her, barely audible to her ears, but not to her heart. Mac knew what she wanted, what she needed, what she craved. He knew her.

  Mac lowered one hand, his knuckles rubbing her clitoris rocketing the tension higher as he moved his hand between them, wrenching open his jeans. He cursed, jerking his hips away. Sela cried out, hating the distance between them. Before the last notes of her cry finished, Mac was back, the mix of cotton and hot skin telling her that he simply pushed his pants down as far as necessary.

  His thumb swiped through her wetness, dragging the moisture up and over her clit. Her entire body throbbed with that one caress. “No,” she sobbed. Too much. She couldn’t hold back anymore.

  At that moment, Mac surged inside her. All the way inside with one hard, swift thrust. He invaded her, pushing into her until she couldn’t tell where he began and she ended.

  Tremors started in her toes, winding their way up her legs. Mac tugged her wrists. “Lupa,” he growled. Sela opened her eyes to see his blazing down at her.

  The pulsing and clenching continued as her climax washed over her until her entire body shook, her wrists chained in his hands, his hot weight blanketing her, surrounding her, protecting her.

  “My Lupa,” he shouted. His cock surged inside her, swelling and lengthening even more, before the hot, wet, spurts of his seed pulsed inside of her, setting off another round of tremors and clenching.

  “Mine,” he stated.

  Sela stared into the swirling amber of his eyes as her climax continued. She watched the heat in his eyes as his climax took him over. She stared, losing herself, blending with him, becoming one until the white heat of pure need, pure Mac, blinded her.

  She lost herself, her fears, her everything in him and became part of him. As he became part of her.

  And in that ending a new growth began, stronger, fiercer and more than she had ever been before.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Mac stood in the grove of Aspen trees and watched the road. Thick, dark clouds hung low in the sky and lightening snapped across the mountains followed closely by rolling blasts of thunder. The eminent weather fit his mood perfectly. They’d been waiting nearly two hours without any sign of the Order.

  The past week had pushed him to the edge.

  Impatient, Mac shot out a hand and wrapped it tightly around a branch about five inches thick, shaking the branch. The dew-drop shaped leaves quaked, their rustling grated down his nerves.

  Fuck, he hated waiting. Neither he nor his beast had the patience. Wolves caught a scent and stalked their prey. They stalked, chased and pounced. They did not wait in the middle of a dense covering of trees for their prey to come to them.

  Fuck.

  Mac clenched his fist and the branch snapped. The startling crack split the quiet morning air. Silence, as loud in its own way as the crack, followed the last vibrations of the branch’s echo. A loud boom of thunder broke the quiet.

  Uncomfortable heat crawled up Mac’s neck. Cam turned his head to look at him. Of course, his Wolven would be standing next to him when he lost control. Again. After the l
ast couple of weeks, he wouldn’t blame Cam for giving another Were his position in the pack.

  The heat wound its way around to the tips of Mac’s cheeks.

  “Good idea,” Cam said, grabbing a branch and breaking it off. “A nice spear in battle never hurt anyone.”

  Cam began stripping off smaller branches and leaves and then started slashing one end of his branch with his claws to form a sharp point. His lips twitched periodically.

  Mac latched onto the life preserver and began forming his own spear. There were rewards for living for hundreds of years. Mac had always thought of electricity, running water and sexual independence for women as being the best of them. Now, he could add rescue from pure embarrassment to the list. They’d used spears in battle a lot during the old days, so maybe it wouldn’t seem too suspicious to Sela for them to make a few extra weapons for the upcoming skirmish.

  Behind him, Sela and Livie resumed their low conversation.

  Mac stretched his shoulders, flicked his claws out and sliced through the end of the branch. Actually, spears for Sela and Livie couldn’t hurt. The Order wouldn’t be expecting the women to be heavily armed and any surprise in battle could easily turn the tide.

  Mac also liked the idea of the women having another weapon period. Anything to protect them. He and Cam had already outfitted them with knives, throwing blades and Tasers. In Livie’s case it was more like more knives, throwing blades and an additional Taser. He planned to teach Sela how to shoot as soon as the weather cleared up. He still could not get over the fact she didn’t know how to shoot. He would have thought owning a gun would be automatic given her life. But Livie had informed him that Sela never did like to fight much and the gunshot wound only re-enforced that as a teenager. Worrying about her sisters, hiding and keeping out of reach of the bad guys was more her thing.

  Sela had bopped Livie on her head for that bit of information.

  Mac eyed the sisters out of the corner of his eye. Sela and Livie had been sitting against a large tree trunk since they’d arrived two hours ago. They hadn’t moved, hadn’t seemed nervous about the upcoming fight or even slightly worried.