by Mel Favreaux
“It went well. Your mother is very kind.”
He kissed her before closing the door and walked around, slipping into the driver’s seat. “Something’s troubling you.” A statement, not a question.
She nodded, tucking her hair behind her ears. “The Silver Wolf.”
“Why should that bother you?” Braedyn’s brows furrowed. He turned in his seat to look at her.
“Why shouldn't it?” She gripped her thighs to keep her hands from fidgeting. “The mother of all Weres? Why on earth, out of all of the people out there, would this spirit choose me?”
He put a hand on her shoulder. Casey closed her eyes, feeling the simple comfort from his touch. “Of all spirits, the Silver Wolf is the most special and coveted. Her rebirth has been prophesied for two thousand years. Every pack and clan may scramble to try and woo you, or may try and join this one to make a better unity. The gifts she possesses are second to none. Supposedly, she was strict but a loving and peaceable ruler. Many of the packs, clans, and prides have all felt lost since her passing.” Braedyn looked in her eyes. “I don't believe anyone is foolish enough to cause you pain. But there will be those who won’t believe.”
She knew her worry reflected in her eyes. “It’s a story. Like most people don’t believe in werewolves. It’s a myth.”
“It’s one of the Were myths. One I didn’t believe until I saw you change. Amber telling me of Tamara’s dream only confirmed it.”
Casey sighed, shaking her head. Exhaustion crept around the edge of her thoughts. She was tired and hungry.
“Lets get you home, fed, and into bed,” he said gently. “It’s been a day for you.”
Casey nodded and leaned back in the seat while he drove them back to his house.
Their house.
Braedyn tossed together a simple meal. Thick pork chops and seasoned quartered potatoes with onions, carrots, and celery. The food was delicious. She yawned and rubbed her eyes while helping him wash the dishes and put them away.
He smiled, watching her stretch. “How does a bath sound?”
“Mmm...divine.”
“I'll go run you one.”
Casey smiled. “I've never had a man run me a bath before.”
“Oh.” He walked over and put his arms around her waist. “Have you ever had a man give you one before?”
She grinned and shook her head. “No, I haven’t. That may turn out to be very, interesting.”
“Hmm.” Bradeyn kissed her.
Looking in his eyes, Casey stroked his cheek. This was happiness, right here in his arms. Could the fates be understanding of the level of love they felt for one another? She prayed they would.
“Don't fret, things will work themselves out in the end, you'll see.” He led her to the master bathroom where he drew the water for her bath.
Watching him fiddle with the water temperature, Casey wondered if they could both fit into the large tub.
“Please...I am trying to remain civil here,” Braedyn said turning to look at her.
Casey couldn’t help but laugh. “Are you reading my mind?”
“I don’t have to. I can tell the difference in you when you think of sex. I can smell your arousal.” He smirked when she pretended to glower at him. “You can too, you just don’t realize it yet.”
She smiled when he walked over, slipping his arms around her again. Casey ran her hands up his muscular shoulders. He was wearing a flannel he’d rolled the sleeves up on while preparing dinner. The tanned muscles beckoned to be caressed. She felt ruthless in her need to feel him and be touched by him. It was a need she’d never known before. Casey had taken the contact of previous lovers for granted. This was something she craved now, as much as food and sleep.
“Would you like me to undress you?” His voice was husky near her ear.
She couldn't control the shiver that ran down her spine. “I could become very used to this, you know?”
“So could I.” Braedyn kissed her neck and began to unbutton her shirt and slide it off her shoulders, kissing the bared areas while he went. Dropping to his knees in front of her, he kissed her belly and unfastened her jeans.
Casey curled her fingers in his hair, his teeth tugged at her panties. “If this isn't heat...I can’t imagine what it’ll be like,” she groaned when his hands traveled up her back to undo her bra.
She closed her eyes while his hands roamed over her body. Feeling her need rise stronger than at any time before.
“No, this isn't your heat yet. If you were in heat, I wouldn't be able to hold myself back from you without a lot of discomfort.” His voice was rough with emotion when he rose to his feet and looked in her eyes.
“Is it that strong?”
He nodded. “It’s a powerful need that feels like it can drive you insane if the one you want is not near. It drives some women to settle for anyone just to get it out of the way.”
“How long does it last?” she asked. His finger tips brushed against her hardened nipples, causing her to moan. The muscles deep in her belly contracted.
* * * *
Braedyn grinned watching Casey’s jaw clench and her eyes turn golden when the Silver Wolf reared. “Three days.”
“God...you must be kidding? That's awful!” She hissed when one of his hands swept low and toyed in the crisp hairs below.
“No, not if you have the right companion. It could be heaven,” he whispered. She reached for the buttons on his shirt. Casey was able to remove his shirt but Braedyn stopped her before she unbuttoned his pants. “No, I'm going to give you a bath first...then if you still want me...”
Casey raised her brow at him. “When could I not want you to make love to me?”
Braedyn grinned and reversed their movement toward the tub and helped her into the hot water.
Taking a deep breath, she lay back. He placed a rolled hand towel behind her neck for comfort. Casey closed her eyes when the hot water enveloped her.
Her breasts floated on tiny, bobbing waves and her nipples drew into taut peaks, rising from the water. He stared at her for so long, she opened her eyes and looked up at him.
Braedyn felt the wolf looking through his eyes and watched her grin when Casey noticed.
“Are you okay?”
Growling, he nodded and reached for a large cup and dipped it in the water. “Sit up. I’d like to wash your hair first.”
She smiled, sat up, and then leaned her head back while he poured the water over her. His eyes travelled over her body, watching it run in rivets down her chest, dripping from her breasts.
He clenched his jaw and poured more. After her hair was saturated, Braedyn reached for a lavender shampoo. Marvelling over the silky strands that slid through his fingers, he lathered her hair.
Casey moaned while he massaged her scalp. She tembled.
“Are you all right?” He watched a grin lift the corner of her mouth.
“More than all right. I’ve had my hair washed in salons before, but your hands have to beat all.”
Braedyn fought the powerful urge to kiss her. “Okay,” he whispered. “Time to rinse.”
She kept her eyes closed. He poured a few cups over her head, finding himself distracted. Watching the water carress her in a way he craved to. The last just trickled over her.
Blinking water from her eyes, Casey lifted her head and looked at him. “Braedyn?”
His body warmed. Her expression scorched him though it was innocent, the scent of her desire tortured him. His hands shook when he set the cup down, and his gaze roaved up her body to meet hers.
“Just...admiring you.” Braedyn pulled out a washcloth and a bar of honey almond soap his mother had also made. Lathering it, his jaw muscles worked when she leaned back into the tub once more.
* * * *
The scent of his desire filled Casey’s nostrils and her mind bounded with naughty ideas. She traced a wet line down Braedyn’s bare chest and smirked at his reaction. Brushing her palm across one of his nipples, the muscles in
his chest twitched. A groan of pleasure escaped his lips.
Braedyn opened his eyes, they were golden again. “Not yet. Let me finish this first.” His voice was husky with arousal. She could see his labored breathing with his attempt at control.
With a pout, Casey pulled her hand away and waited for the torture to continue.
Starting at her shoulders, Braedyn gently began to massage the lather into her skin. He moved down her arms to her hands, then made his way around her breasts to her belly. Casey noticed his expression when he went back to her breasts again. She shuddered when the cloth made contact with her nipples. He licked his lips and continued down her tummy once more.
She squirmed and moaned the entire time. His motions were slow and deliberate when he dipped between her thighs. A half sigh, half groan escaped her lips at the intimate contact, his fingers working through the thin barrier of the cloth. Casey put a hand over his. “I think I’m clean now,” she ground through clenched teeth while her body moved in rhythm with his hand.
Braedyn smiled and pulled the cloth away. Rinsing it, he then began the torture all over again to wash away the soap. By the time he finished, she was aching to feel him inside her.
“Okay.” Braedyn stood, lifting a large towel for her.
Casey rose from the tub and heard his breath catch. When she looked at him, his golden eyes travelled over her, watching the water cascade from her body. He raised a hand to help her from the tub and wrapped the towel around her.
She groaned when it rubbed across her sensitive nipples, making them harder. Unable to control herself, Casey slid her hands up his chest and felt his muscles ripple at her touch. “I’m aching for you,” she whispered sliding a hand down his chest to caress the hot, hard length of him through his jeans. “I can feel you are, too.”
“I’m not through yet,” Braedyn whispered and lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom, laying her on the bed.
Casey ground her teeth when he leaned over her, only just able to restrain herself from ripping his jeans off.
Reaching into his nightstand, he pulled out a bottle of lotion. With a light tap on her hip, he urged her to roll over onto her belly.
“Oh Braedyn, this is pure torture.” Casey sighed and balled a pillow up beneath her head to get comfortable.
* * * *
Braedyn smirked. “Not yet.” He stood from the bed, removed his jeans and shorts, then returned to the bed once more. Massages were best performed while both parties were nude. Squeezing lotion onto his palm, he started with her shoulders. Feeling her muscles relax beneath his hands and made his way down her spine, working his thumbs out of sequence with one another.
“God, your hands are wonderful,” Casey groaned when they slid up her sides once more.
Satisfied he'd removed all the tension from her shoulders, he moved down her back, massaging her bottom with deep strokes. Braedyn maneuvered down her thighs. Urging her legs apart a little more, he manipulated the sides and front and then down her calves.
Casey’s deep sighs and soft moans while he worked on her feet then moved his way back up her legs, made him harden further. She was right, he ached for her, too.
* * * *
“Sleepy yet?”
Closing her eyes, Casey felt him slip between her thighs. Braedyn’s hot breath moved up her back. He brushed her hair aside, laying a gentle kiss on her shoulder. Hot and hard, his erection slid across the inside of her thigh. She groaned when he pressed the length of himself against her behind.
“Uhm...sleep is the furthest thing from my mind.” Casey wriggled her bottom beneath his weight and he laughed in her ear. Shivers ran down her spine.
Braedyn pulled back, taking her hips, urging her onto her knees. Wrapping his arm around her, he drew her back to him. “I've not finished the front yet.” His hands already slick with lotion, began to massage her stomach and slowly moved them around her breasts to massage her upper chest and neck.
Casey gripped his thighs and ground against him, gritting her teeth. She waited, anxious, for his teasing to end. It was torture, but she loved him touching her body.
He circled her breasts slowly before pressing his palms against her nipples then drew his hands away; his fingers brushed the tips. Casey shuddered. God, she ached for him. Biting her bottom lip, she writhed against him.
But she knew he wasn't done yet. After plying and pinching her nipples to make them even harder and more sensitive, his hand moved lower. She gasped, his fingers toyed with her, sliding through her folds. He continued to squeeze and pinch one of her nipples while stroking her.
Sighing, Casey reached up over her shoulder and slipped her arm around his neck, pulling his face toward hers. She kissed him and ground against him. “I want you,” she moaned into his mouth. Her fingers curled into his hair. She didn’t care how he took her so long as he did and soon.
Casey felt his finger slide inside of her. She trembled. Hissing through clenched teeth, he leaned her forward. He slid his hands up her arms, guiding her hands to the headboard. Braedyn postioned Casey on her knees before him.
Groaning, she felt his hot, steely, length brush her thigh and rise higher to tease her further. Closing her eyes, she tried to force herself to be patient. It would end well, it always did. Her hands shook when she gripped the headboard. His fingers laced with hers, and he pressed himself to her.
His chest rested on her back while he slid deep. Braedyn held himself there while she shuddered and whimpered through her orgasm. When she’d recovered, he drew out, and then back in again. His hands moved to her breasts once more, squeezing both nipples while increasing the thrusts. Casey’s body shuddered again, the pleasure built. Worrying her left nipple, his right hand drifted down to tease her nub, quickening his pace.
Casey hollered out when her orgasm rolled through her. The grip she maintained on the headboard made her hands ache.
Bradeyn pulled her away and rolled her onto her back. His lips found hers, branding them with passion. It frustrated her that he refused her tugging and instead moved down her body, licking and gently biting at her nipples. She tangled her fingers in his hair in an attempt to draw his mouth back to hers. His tongue continued to swirl around her nipples, followed with tiny bites. Casey couldn’t believe she felt another orgasm build simply from his mouth on her nipples.
She came in a rush. Her back arched, and her body shuddered.
“How did you do that?” Casey rasped, looking at him.
“We wolves love to lick and bite,” he growled and moved himself between her thighs again.
His eyes changed from pale grey to gold again, his wolf rising. There was no more time for play. Her wolf rose to greet him when Braedyn’s hips slammed into hers. Her breath came out in a whoosh and she lifted into him, arching her back, wanting more. Their movements were rushed and frenzied, striving to reach the same goal.
* * * *
Braedyn struggled to hold his pleasure back, waiting for her. Gritting his teeth, she pulled at him, slamming her hips into his, Bradeyn knew he wouldn’t last. Her body stiffened and her nails bit into his shoulders. Casey’s legs locked around his waist and she howled through another powerful orgasm. Fastening his mouth to hers, his vision went dark. He shuddered, his body quivering against her.
As Casey’s strove to catch her breath, he slipped onto his side next to her, curling her into his body. Closing his eyes, Braedyn nuzzled her neck, taking in their mingled scent.
“I just don’t understand how it keeps getting better and better,” she gasped, running a trembling hand down her face.
He laughed. “That’s a very good thing. I can honestly say you’ve brought out a side in me I never knew existed.”
“You have in me, too. I have become insatiable and I’ve never been that way.” She was warm and soft against him. “It has to be the wolf doing this to me. Sex has never been a staple of my day to day life until I met you.”
“Yes, we wolves are quite sexual. Raw feelings a
nd emotions have to be expressed one way or another. It’s either this or kill each other,” he admitted grinning at her. “I just have quite a bit built up over the years.”
“Hmm, I hope it continues.”
He kissed her again, and she sagged against him. Casey’d had an eventful day. In moments her breathing settled into the easy rhythm of sleep. Braedyn’s eyes closed and he held her close, his chest heavy with the love he felt for her. He only hoped she felt the same.
Chapter Eighteen
Casey woke with a start, something felt…wrong…off. Her wolf was at the surface, driving her once again from the warmth of Braedyn’s arms. She pulled on the robe from the night before and made her way to the front door.
Stepping out onto the porch she saw the white tiger leap the fence at the front of Braedyn’s property and glide through the snow drifts with such grace. Casey watched her make her way to the stairs and saw the flash of her eyes and heard in her head…
Had a bad feeling. Came to check it out.
Nodding, Casey pulled the robe tighter and fought against a shiver. “I feel it, too,” she said softly. “Come inside. Warm up and calm down.”
Casey watched the Tigress mount the stairs. Upon reaching the top step, she shifted to human form. The light of the moon illuminated the process beautifully for Casey to witness. When the white fur receeded and bare skin became visible, she saw the scars on Amber’s stomach and sides; claw marks. Long, dark, curly hair fell around her face and shoulders in bouncy waves. Clothing appeared on her body. Shivering, Amber wrapped her arms around herself.
Opening the door, Casey led her inside. She went straight to the fireplace to rebuild the fire while Amber shrugged out of her coat and boots. Moments later the tiny woman was on her knees, her hands outstretched soaking in the warmth from the meager flames.
The scars she’d seen bothered Casey, making her wonder just what horrors her new friend had endured in her life.
“I didn’t know where else to go,” Amber said, her voice shuddered and she shivered again. “The fear welled up in me so much I had to come. Aquene was sleeping. I-I don’t want to wake Braedyn...” She shook her head and tried to move back to the door.