Her teeth were chattering from the cold that had seeped into her despite the warmth in the car, nevertheless she couldn’t bring herself to regret her actions. “That should keep him occupied for a while.” She smirked, pleased that he hadn’t caught up to her yet. After having long talks with Alex and Erica she had realised just how important the chase was to Ryan and had begun implementing a plan to make it a good one for him. According to her new friends, the better the chase, the better the claiming. “After all that I’ve done, this claiming should be mind blowing.”
She had thrown her clothes away hoping to create a fake trail for him to follow before washing herself, masking her scent in the stream. She drove wildly, hoping to throw him further off he trail but as time continued to pass with no sign of Ryan, she began to think her plan had gone a little to well. She hadn’t seen any trace of him and was beginning to grow apprehensive as darkness pressed in on her. Regardless, she continued driving, the longer he chased after her, the better things would be for him and as she was fast learning, what was good for him was inevitably fantastic for her.
A loud howl filled the air and she knew without a hint of doubt that he was coming for her. The howls grew closer despite the pressure she was putting on the accelerator before a large brown wolf appeared directly in her path. Unlike the last time they had gone through this, she eased up on the gas and pulled the car to a halt. The wolf grinned at her, at least she interpreted the wide display of sharp teeth as a grin, before transforming into a human as it approached. Chloe eased herself out of the car, trembling as the cold air blew over her still damp body but as Ryan’s eyes took in her exposed body, she shivered for an altogether different reason.
“What are you doing?” he snarled, ripping his shirt from his body and wrapping it around her.
“Making the chase better for you.”
His frown was severe. “At the expense of your health? Never do something like this again. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, you’re pushing my control to its very limits. How do you expect me to react when you’re wandering around here naked where anyone could see you?”
“I’m not naked,” she snapped. “Besides, I thought we were the only ones out here.”
“I hope so, but the forest belongs to no one.” He lifted her into his arms and his heat began to warm her instantly. He ran, his stride swift and sure, taking them back in the direction from which they had come. “I didn’t expect you to get so far away,” he commented casually as he ran, his breath calm and steady.
“I didn’t expect you to take so long to find me.”
“I was taking my time. Savouring the extent that you’d gone to to make this a good chase.”
“And what makes you think that I did any of that for you?” she smirked.
“Who else would you do it for?” he asked seriously, the menacing promise of retribution embedded in those few words.
“Calm down,” she laughed. “You’re the only one I’m willing to freeze my ass off for. There’s no one else. Now, just how far away are we from that cave? An open fire sounds like a great idea right about now.”
“We’re not going to the cave.”
She turned her head upwards to look at his face. “Then where are we going?”
“We’re already here.” Her eyes widened as she looked at the erected structure. “You didn’t think I’d allow my mate to suffer a second time now did you?” he purred, sliding her down his body and letting her feet touch the ground.
Chapter Forty One
She took in the wooden cabin with wide eyes, surprised at the presence of a man made structure so far from civilisation. The cabin was small, tiny even, and as she examined the wooden exterior she came to the conclusion that it was even smaller than the apartment she’d lived in before coming to live with Ryan. It couldn’t have housed more than a single room, two at an extraordinary push of the imagination. Nevertheless, it looked solid, a building with four walls, windows and a roof. A place where insects wouldn’t be swarming. She hadn’t thought it possible but in that instant her love for the man standing at her side multiplied.
His hand was soon cradling the small of her back, leading her into the warmth the cabin offered. Heat instantly engulfed her, warming her chilled body and drying the droplets of water still on her skin. Her eyes darted around the small room quickly, instantly locating the source of warmth. An open fireplace took up the length of one of the small walls and she pulled away from Ryan’s grasp, racing to the fire. The thick rug beneath her feet was a welcome cushion for her bottom as she sat down, extending her arms towards the flames. Ryan sat down beside her, giving her an additional source of warmth and she leaned into his solid body, resting her head on his muscled chest. When she was certain that she was no longer in danger of catching pneumonia, she began to properly examine her surroundings, absorbing everything with discerning eyes. Looking around the space confirmed the ideas she’d entertained about the smallness of the space. The cabin was made up of only one room, a bedroom judging from the large bed that dominated the space. Small windows were dotted periodically around the square room giving brief glances of the outside landscape. Despite the lack of furniture, it felt safe, comforting.
A frown quickly appeared on her face and she lifted her head to look at Ryan. “What’s going on? Why are we here and not at the cave? Aren’t we going through with the claiming?”
He growled angrily at her suggestion, momentarily frightening her as the loud sound rumbled through his chest and into hers. “The claiming is going to happen. Here.”
Her frown deepened. “I thought the claiming had to happen outside. What are we doing in here?”
“We are outside.”
“Don’t be stupid Ryan,” she scolded, slapping his leg lightly. “You said the claiming couldn’t happen indoors, that it wouldn’t work.”
“We aren’t inside stone walls, I don’t feel trapped right now. Everything that you see here I made myself, I’m providing for you, the instinct is satisfied. You were terrified when we were in the cave. I can’t take you screaming like that, as though you fear for your life. You’ve screamed like that far too many times since you’ve been with me. No more, not when I can prevent it.”
“You built this?” she asked incredulously. “Without any help?”
“Of course. If other people helped then I wouldn’t really be proving myself now would I?”
“How? How did you manage to get all of this finished in three days?”
“I didn’t. I’ve been working on this for a while now, almost since we got back to the estate after the full moon. I was cutting down more wood for this the day Lucinda attacked you.”
“Still…this is a lot of work to have managed in so short a time.”
“I work a lot faster than your average human. I was planning to do more, but I couldn’t take the separation from you anymore. As it stands now, the cabin isn’t very big so it didn’t take long to erect,” he leered, taking her hand and placing it between his legs where she could easily feel his prominent erection. “Just like it doesn’t take much from you to make me erect.”
The amber and brown shades that his eyes alternated between seemed to have reached an equilibrium and as she looked into them, Chloe felt herself being drawn in by the chocolate brown. She closed her eyes to better savour his rich scent. Remembering the many times Ryan’s hardness had pressed against some part of her caused her brow to crease as her mind worked frantically before a seductive smirk appeared on her face. Ryan deserved a little relief. Just because they couldn’t make love properly, it didn’t mean they couldn’t let off a little steam.
Her hand moved slowly, creeping up his length to reach the buttons on his jeans. The obstacle was quickly dealt with and her hand delved into his pants, coming into contact with hard, hot flesh. A harsh breath whistled through his teeth at the feel of her soft palm wrapped around his shaft, moving slowly up and down his length before she pulled him from the confinement of his trousers.
<
br /> He felt as though a fire had been lit in his veins, heat coursed through him like nothing he had ever felt before. The delicious friction of her soft palm against his hard flesh filled him with indescribable pleasure and yet he found himself questioning her actions, he couldn’t afford to jeopardise the claiming. If all went well, then in less than eighteen hours he would be buried deep within his mate’s body, taking her again and again. He thanked god for short days. “Angel, what are you doing?” he hissed.
“I would have thought that was obvious,” she purred, running her fingers over the engorged head. “A relationship is all about give and take. So far I’ve only taken, I’m giving back now.”
Her pace changed suddenly, catching Ryan off guard as her slow movements became quick, frantic encouraging a corresponding desperation within him. Suddenly it was no longer important why she was doing what she was doing, all that mattered was that she finish. He could feel his seed rising, moving up his shaft. His breath hitched, low growls slipping past his lips as he approached his limit. Her lips pressed hot, open mouthed kisses against his neck and a contented rumbled rose from his chest to fill the small space. Her tongue darted out of her mouth to taste his hot skin and she moaned in contentment. He tasted slightly salty from his exertions but beneath that there was a taste that was unique to Ryan. Much like his scent it was potent, raw and wild, perfectly suited to the man himself. Animal-like urges began to wrack her, demanding she take more. She had to have more.
The kisses stopped abruptly but before he could question the change, she nipped his skin with her small blunt teeth, sweeping the abused area with her tongue before doing it again. He roared, long and loud in response. His mate was marking him; claiming him as hers and he loved it. His thoughts became murky as pleasure built within him until there was only Chloe. His muscles tensed as his release inched closer and closer but her hand stopped suddenly and he snarled in frustration. He turned to look at her, the amber in his eyes more apparent than the last time their eyes had met, a silent question banked in the depths of his gaze.
“What?” she shrugged innocently.
“You’re killing me,” he groaned.
Her smile widened mischievously as she tucked the short strands of her hair behind her ear. “Am I?” Her head lowered, her warm breath feathering over his hot flesh. He stopped breathing as he watched the pink tip of her tongue leave her mouth, running over her plump lower lip before it swept over the rounded head of his throbbing erection, collecting the moisture that had gathered there. She glanced at him from beneath her eyelashes, her alluring smile causing his heart to beat frantically. Between his erratic heartbeat and lack of air, Ryan was surprised that he hadn’t passed out but as he was slowly engulfed in the heat of her mouth, he was sure he came close. Her mouth was hot, wet, and perfect as she took him deeper and deeper. If her hand had felt amazing, her mouth was mind-blowing. Her strokes were sure, fast and as she moaned around his length, Ryan realised that his mate enjoyed pleasuring him. The intoxicating scent of her arousal was beginning to fill the small space causing him to groan in frustration despite the pleasure coursing through his body. How he wished he could take her mouth from him and plunge deeply into her wet core, taking her over and over until he was properly sated.
Tomorrow, his wolf reassured, it’s tone lazy and content.
“Chloe,” Ryan growled in warning as his climax edged ever closer.
Her smile widened but she didn’t take him from her mouth, her pace quickening instead. He gave another, half-hearted, warning growl, disproportionately pleased that his mate was willing to take all of him. “Chloe. Angel,” he murmured before his body went tense, the force of his release stunning even to him. He fell back against the floor, his body weak. When Chloe pulled away from him, she was smiling, licking her lips as though trying to seduce him. She should have known better, she didn’t have to try to seduce him. Already his shaft was hardening in preparation for another bout. Reaching for her, he frowned when she moved out of his grasp.
“No Ryan. No touching.”
“Why?”
“Because anticipation makes things even better. I want to wait until we can finally be together before I let you touch me. We just have to make it through tomorrow and then we can both be satisfied. Can you wait that long?”
“It isn’t as though I’ve much of a choice now is it?”
****
Taking a final look at her watch, before turning to the sky to confirm the time, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a very, very long day, one where she had literally counted down the minutes until the day was over. The day had started reasonably enough, odd, but reasonable. When she had woken, Ryan, the man, was gone and in his place was Ryan, the wolf. Waking up to the sight of a very, very large wolf should have scared her and for a moment her heart had sped up in trepidation but when the wolf ran it’s thick tail up the length of her arm, making her body shiver in response, her fears had died instantly. Only Ryan could elicit such a strong reaction from her body with so little contact. Her body had been greedy for more since that moment, making her want darkness to fall that much quicker but the entire day had lain stretched out before her. She had run her hands over his thick fur, reassuring herself that the day would end quickly before he’d led her outside and it was there that the real problem had emerged.
Ryan had led her down to a cool stream to bathe and despite his lupine appearance, he’d once again prepared for her in advance. Towels and clothes had been waiting for her when she walked out of the water, dripping wet. Even as a wolf Ryan’s gaze was hot, searing as he watched her dress. She had frowned; baffled by the lack of underwear in the clothes he’d brought for her and had initially shrugged it off as a man’s ignorance. However, when she’d gone looking for the underwear she’d worn the previous day only to find it missing she had known it was all planned. The wolf had smiled in eager satisfaction when she had donned her clothes minus any under garments. The soft cotton of her shirt had rubbed relentlessly against her nipples making the already sensitive peaks even more so. She had cursed Ryan’s highhanded ways all the way to their next destination but stayed by his side. She wanted the claiming to go well, lecturing him could come after he’d satisfied her.
They stopped walking in an orchard, trees of all shapes and sizes surrounding her, their leaves varying shades of red, orange and brown. Away from Alex’s influence the plant life grew normally reflecting the emergence of fall. The branches hung heavy with fruit and after a few minutes of Ryan jerking his head in the direction of the trees, she’d understood that this was her breakfast. Her stomach grumbled and she dug in with gusto, eating her fill of the sweet fruits. The fragrant aroma of the fruits had however attracted unwanted visitors. Insects eager to find food had swarmed the area and Chloe had panicked. Wolf Ryan might be able to protect her from big predators but his ability to defend her from small insects was significantly reduced.
They had returned to the cabin, Chloe rushing inside to the safety and protection four walls offered but Ryan hadn’t come in with her. He had stared at her with longing in his amber eyes but didn’t cross the threshold to join her. She had tried to coax him into joining her but after he continued to shake his head she realised he wouldn’t be joining her. The cabin might not seem like a cage to human Ryan but to the wolf it was impossible for him to spend prolonged periods with her indoors. He had lain beside Chloe for at least an hour before she woke in wolf form and was at his limit. The walls had seemed to press in on him the longer he’d stayed within them but he had remained, determined to be there when his mate woke. Now she was awake, he needed to be outside in the fresh air for a while before he could return.
The day had passed slowly without Ryan’s constant presence at her side. He would occasionally return, looking at her with desire in his feral eyes. At those times she loathed his lupine form. Her body was on fire with need for him, a need he couldn’t sate as a wolf. She had quickly come to associate his amber eyes with an all consum
ing desire as when he looked at her, lust as she had never known beset her. Her over sensitised nipples were desperate for the heat of his mouth, her naked core was wet with need and dripping with desire as fantasies of her and Ryan locked in heated embraces ran through her mind. Just when she thought she could take no more, he would leave, leaving her alone with nothing but mind wracking fantasies that consumed her every thought leaving room for nothing else. As time continued to tick on, she came to resent two things. The wooden walls that kept them separated and her own ridiculous fears that prevented her from sitting outside with him and so it was with a sigh of relief that she welcomed the coming of night. Dusk had fallen, the moon was rising, the claiming could finally begin.
Chapter Forty Two
The door flew open, slamming against the wall under Ryan’s strength as he strode into the cabin. The potent scent of his mate’s arousal had been driving him crazy all day and it was finally time to act on his desires. Chloe would never know what hit her. She stood from her place in front of the fire and walked towards him, standing a mere few inches away from him. His eyes were that dazzling shade of amber she was beginning to associate with unrepentant desire and as he looked her over from head to toe, a throbbing ache began again in her core. She groaned softly, rubbing her thighs together trying to relieve the pressure. She needed him, what was he waiting for? He walked around her slowly, touching her with nothing but his eyes.
“Chloe,” he growled. “You’re soaked angel, what have you been doing all day?”
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