Drawn (Moon Claimed)

by Roux, Lilou

  The wolf looked at her. No teeth bared or anything. The opposite actually. He seemed calm, looking at her like a friendly dog would.

  Then he looked away and trotted over to the water, dipping his head down to lap at it, making the water ripple around him.

  Her breathing calming at his non-threatening behavior, she used the moment to take in the sight. God, the wolf was magnificent. He was big, probably reaching as high as her thigh, with white and silvery gray fur gleaming healthy, like silk, and mesmerizing golden eyes. That was when she realized she wasn’t scared anymore but curious. Smiling at the ridiculous thought – apparently she had gone crazy if she wasn’t scared by a wolf – she looked out over the lake, its deep blue contrasting with the forest’s strong green, freckled with gold. The mountains, the endless sky. She felt safe here, in the forest. With the forest, Nathan’s word echoed in her mind. Even though only in her head, the deep timbre of his voice caused a pleasant shiver to shoot down her spine aiming the core of her.

  That man was a danger to her senses, slowly taking up more and more of her thoughts. And to think, she only met him this morning. How could he have such an effect on her?

  Tess wasn’t quite sure she was strong enough to stay away from him. Or even whether she wanted to.

  She hadn’t noticed the wolf coming closer – and blamed Nathan for claiming all her attention once again, because otherwise she was sure she would have – and was startled as she saw the animal only a few steps away from her. Surprise, not fear, made her lose her balance and slip on a wet rock so that the side of her head banged sharply against the one she had used for a picnic table.

  Stars exploded in front of her eyes.

  SEVEN

  For a few moments Tess couldn’t see anything but the blinding stars in front of her eyes. But slowly, as she concentrated on her breathing, her vision returned. The wolf was gone, probably more startled by her reaction than she had been by him.

  Carefully scrambling to her feet she reached a hand up to her temple. Her fingertips came away bloody. “Dammit.”

  Tess moved closer to the edge of the water and crouched down to wet a tissue before trying to wipe most of the blood and dirt away. She assumed that it looked and felt worse than it probably was. She didn’t feel dizzy or nauseous and so she suspected she was alright. Some disinfectant and a band-aid and she would be as good as new. Nevertheless, it was time to head back. And this time she would take the direct route, the sudden idea of a long, relaxing and hot bath now urging her on.

  When she stepped back under the cover of the trees and back into the shadows of the forest her eyes needed a moment to adjust after having been used to the bright sunlight bathing the clearing and glinting off the lake, and so she didn’t so much see Nathan striding towards her as heard him.

  “Hi there, wanderer. I guess you found your lake.”

  Blinking her eyes and grateful she was finally able to see, she smiled at him. “I did.”

  His eyes zeroed in on her wound and he frowned, concern immediately filling his eyes as he stepped close to her. “Hey, what happened? You’re bleeding.”

  “Oh, that. It’s not as worse as it looks, I think. I just slipped on a rock, you know by the lake, and bumped my head on another.” She shrugged and waved it off. “No need to worry, Nathan.”

  “Let me see.” Standing face to face now, so that she could feel the heat radiating off him, Nathan gently brushed away her hair and inspected her wound. “The blood makes it look nastier than it is.”

  “Told you so.”

  “Best thing is to head back to my place to patch it up just in case, though.”

  Tess ignored the spike of interest at the possibility of discovering more about him and frowned instead. “Why your place?”

  “It’s closest.”

  After she nodded her agreement they started together on the hike back, easily falling into step beside each other.

  “So, other than your run-in with the stone, how did it go?” He asked at one time while giving her a hand to help her over a particular rocky patch that would bring them faster to his place.

  “I had no trouble at all finding it and it’s such a beautiful place. So peaceful. A squirrel even came along and we had a nice chat.”

  “A squirrel?” He looked at her and then laughed. “You’re quite something, Tess.”

  Hand on her hips, she bit her lip to stifle her own smile that wanted to spread over her face whenever he was smiling. “You find that weird? Well, what if I tell that I saw the lake in my dreams, that that’s the real reason why I’m here? My dreams.” Oh shit, she shouldn’t have gotten carried away like that, now he would think she was crazy.

  But his eyes were serious on her, not in the least disturbed by her confession. “You dreamed of this place? The lake?”

  She nodded, not able to look at him. “And before you ask, no, I haven’t been here before. Not as a child. Never.”

  “Well, my mom always says this place is pure magic. I believe that as well. Maybe you needed some of that.”

  Her gaze flew up to meet his soft, silver eyes. There was nothing malicious in them, just honesty and understanding. They tugged at her heart.

  They reached a wide clearing in the middle of which stood a cabin, similar to hers but so much more fitting as it snuggled close to the edge of the forest like it did.

  “The other cabins, including yours, are this way. Another five to ten minutes.” He pointed in the direction before opening the door and inviting her inside.

  The interior showed that this was the home of a man, but not in the sense of the messy bachelor cliché. It was practical, simple and even rough around the edges sometimes and yet sensual. Contrary to her cabin, the interior was made up of dark wood, which added even more to the masculine and earthy atmosphere. No superficial nonsense or knick-knack except for a few photographs and pencil sketches scattered on a desk. The only soft spots in the living room were a broad couch and a plush rug in front of the fireplace. Fortunately Nathan drew her attention before her imagination could run wild at the last sight.

  She followed him into his kitchen, where he pulled open a cupboard to get a first-aid kit.

  “How come you were in the forest? Don’t tell me Joanne sent you after me already?”

  “No, she didn’t.” Nathan pulled up a chair and motioned for her to sit down at the table and Tess did. “I was looking for wood.” When she frowned, he elaborated while he sat down as well laying out everything he needed to clean up her wound, “I work with wood. As a simple carpenter or even sculptor, whatever is needed. I was looking for wood or an interesting stump that I could work with.”

  That explained the woodsy scent of him and his callous hands. An image of his warm, strong and large hands caressing her body rose in her mind. Pinching her nipples, cupping the swell of her hip before plunging his long fingers into her. His eyes met hers and saw right to her soul. She sucked in a breath, and then dropped her gaze to the floor. Don’t go there, Tess! You hardly know this man.

  Her brain struggled for something to say especially when his hands fluttered like butterflies softly over her skin to patch up her wound with the greatest care. “Did you find something?” God, Tess hoped her voice wasn’t as breathless and husky as it sounded to her ears.

  Something wicked flickered in his eyes. “I hope so.”

  Somehow she had the feeling they weren’t talking about wood anymore but tried her best to ignore it.

  “So you’re saying everything in here is basically your work?” After his nod she continued, “The wooden tub in my cabin, you did that as well?”

  “Yes.” He cocked an eyebrow, an expression that was so utterly sexy on him it sent heat right to her core. “Do you like it?”

  Knowing that his hands had created the tub in which she had lain naked, even touched herself this morning, was playing havoc with her mind – and body. “Love it,” she purred before she could stop herself.

  The hand that had taken care
of her scratch moved into her hair, cradling her head, and pulled her closer. Her breath caught at the intense heat in his silver eyes, inflaming her, and her heart thundered in her chest. Her gaze dropped to his sensual lips and she licked her own.

  With a groan he covered her mouth. A brush of his tongue and she let him in, eager to taste him. The kiss started out as a mutual exploration but gained on heat and intensity with each discovery, soon turning into something wetter and…primal. She nipped his lip, almost breaking it, and he retaliated by sucking at her tongue in a way that made her believe his mouth was somewhere else on her body. One of his hands tangled in her hair, angling her for deeper access, while the other moved up over her thigh, her hip and under her shirt. His hand was hot on her skin, caressing her rips before cupping her breast and pinching her already pebbled nipple through the lace of her bra - hard. She moaned into his mouth, reveling in the mingling of pleasure and pain that was new to her. He captured the sound, then broke away to trail kisses along her jaw and under her earlobe. Hot shivers ran along her skin and she wanted nothing more than to slid onto the floor and be taken by him. Rough. That unfamiliar thought jolted her from the fevered haze she was in. She had never enjoyed rough sex.

  “Stop,” she breathed. Pulling away, she shook her head as he touched his forehead to hers. “Nathan, stop. I can’t do this.” She stood abruptly, on weak legs, needing some distance between them. “It’s too fast.” Running a trembling hand through her hair, she wondered, “Jesus Christ, what am I doing? I hardly know you.”

  Nathan got up. His eyes, though burning with desire, were calm and serious on hers and therefore even more captivating. “Sometimes in life you meet people and your heart recognizes them. You just know them. There’s a connection that goes deeper, and it shouldn’t be suppressed because of some socially imposed delusion that time has anything to do with it.”

  The rightness of his words floored her. Yes, there was something between them that logic couldn’t explain. And it scared the shit out of her. “Delusion? Try safety. Or would you prefer that I tumble right into bed with every guy that rubs me the right way?”

  Silver eyes blazed. “No. Just with me.”

  Her whole body flushed with new heat, pooling between her legs, and she almost moaned with need. But she ran for the door instead.

  His deep chuckle followed her and seemed to reverberate through her, igniting all her good-for-nothing places even more. “When you’ve tortured yourself enough, you know where to find me.”

  She slammed the door shut behind her, not sure the whisper carried by the wind was imagined or not. “Though there’s nothing like the chase.”

  EIGHT

  She was back in the forest, moonlight filtering through and casting her world in shades of silver and gray. This time there was no fear, only excitement, joy and thrill. She ran, her bare feet sure on the cool ground, the night and wind caressing her skin.

  She was being chased - and loved it.

  A bubble of laughter escaped her lips.

  When she reached the line of trees that bordered the clearing of the lake, she was out of breath and sweaty. The silver moonlight sparkled of the surface of the lake and she longed for its freshness. Without another thought she pulled of her nightshirt and slowly walked into it, enjoying the cool water lapping at more and more of her skin. She felt wonderful, at peace…and yet not quite complete. But looking up at the waxing moon, she knew that it would come soon.

  Then she turned to see her wolf had caught up with her, standing silently in the shadows of the trees. Watching her, waiting for her. She went to him.

  Dropping to her knees as soon as she was back on the shore she opened her arms to embrace him and buried her hands in his fur. God, the cool, silky touch of it. The wolf stepped into her, making her lose her balance so that she fell onto her back. Looking up at him, she saw a wicked smile in his all too intelligent and familiar golden eyes. Dipping his head he licked at her cheek and she started to laugh. His tongue was warm, a little rough, and felt almost human to her.

  She lay back, closing her eyes and felt him move lower, still sniffing her neck. When he licked her collarbone , she looked down her body. It wasn’t the wolf kneeling above her, but the man. The man of her dreams.

  He was naked, bathed in silvery moonlight that shadowed his face, but she saw the desire burning hot in his eyes. Her laughter died as his head dropped once more and his tongue awoke another kind of thrill in her veins. As if sensing it, he continued. His tongue slowly tracing her collarbone. Leaving delicious fire in his wake, that shot to her sex. When he lapped at her breast, she moaned. Heat and lust blossoming in her lower belly, making it clench as his teeth scraped her hardening nipple. Her blood sang, and wetness pooled between her legs. It felt so good, she closed her eyes.

  He took his time lavishing her other breast. She needed more. Her thighs fell open, and the cool night breeze kissing her clit drove her crazy.

  Sensing her mounting need he licked his way along her stomach until finally reaching the apex of her thighs. Then his hot tongue was on her. Lapping at her, delving between her wet lips, his teeth scraping the nub that had become the center of her being.

  “Look at me.”

  She did. Never taking his eyes off her he slipped his hand between her thighs, running his fingers slowly along the seam of her sex. Pure torture, pure bliss. Her hips jerked. Dipping his head he blew over her, making her whimper in anticipation. Then his mouth was on her, his tongue grazing her clit.

  “Oh god,” she moaned, running a hand through his soft hair, pressing him to where she needed him.

  A long finger slipped inside of her and her muscles gripped it, eager for more.

  “Mhmm, so tight and wet. Let’s see how much you can take.”

  Yes!

  Another finger joined and another, and then he began finger-fucking her in honest. His fingers were like magic, taking her ever higher. He toyed with her, expertly, always pulling back when she was close. Teasing and tormenting her. So close to that blissful abyss but never reaching it. She needed. More.

  “I need you. I need your cock inside of me.” She needed to be filled. Wanted to feel complete. Filled and deliciously stretched.

  “Soon,” he promised, his husky voice rumbling against her.

  His other hand caressed her inner thigh before moving down, a finger circling her anus, spreading her freely running juices there and slipping inside. She arched up, crying out at the new and intense sensations bombarding her. Oh God, the feelings were too much for her. Like he had done with her pussy he didn’t leave it at that. More fingers joined, thrusting in and out. He was using both of his hands now. Three fingers in each of her holes, stretching her. She could feel his fingers touch through the thin membrane separating them.

  She was crazy with lust. Her body burning from the inside out and reaching for the sweet release, but not quite there. It was heaven and hell and she didn’t want to leave, hoping she could float in this state of tortured ecstasy forever.

  “Look at me.”

  His silver eyes, filled with pure male satisfaction and dark with desire flicked towards her, holding her gaze. He had the power, and she loved it. She wanted to be toyed with. And he knew it.

  Another push of his fingers and a bite to her clit and then he finally send her over the edge. Soaring. The world exploded into a thousand sparks burning through her blood and molten heat flooded her, making her tremble.

  Tess awoke in her bed, sweating and panting and still throbbing with the force of her climax. Probably the most intense she had ever had.

  “Soon.” The deep voice whispered through her mind, much like after her last dream, and her lower belly clenched.

  Closing her eyes, she struggled against the lingering images, taken aback by the direction of her dream and most of all by her reaction to it. But one image fought for her attention - and won. Familiar short and yet mussed hair and smoldering gray eyes. She gasped as realization hit.

 
The man in her dreams was Nathan.

  NINE

  “Okay, so you had a kinky dream. Satisfyingly hot, but a little kinky granted. So what?” Erin’s raspy voice was calm and held a tinkle of amusement as it drifted to her over the phone.

  Tess was settled on the bed, leaning with her back against the headboard, and sighed. “I don’t know. It was weird. It felt so real and…I don’t know. I guess I’m wondering what it means.”

  There was a pause. “Sweetie, I love you. But you have to stop analyzing everything. Maybe it was just your body’s way of relaxing, of telling you ‘Yeah, I agree, I like it here, too.’ You feel good there and that’s a first in quite a while, if I may remind you. Just go with it. Don’t put new and useless worries into your head. Sort out the old ones, if you want or need to, but other than that…don’t go blowing everything out of proportion.”

  “You’re right.”

  “I am. By the way…how long has it been for you? When was the last time you got off?” When Tess was about to answer, Erin added, “And I mean by other hands than your own, girl.”

  Her mouth snapped shut.

  Erin chuckled. “Yeah, I thought as much. Now I’m absolutely certain that you don’t have to worry. The way you described the guy he’s hot and I’d have to seriously worry about you if he didn’t make an appearance in your dreams.”

  “Ha ha.”

  Erin’s laughter rang softly and Tess relaxed even more.

  “You have the hots for him, Tess, so it’s normal that you’re picturing him as the man of your dream, really. Now, tell me more about him. What does he do?”

  “He works wood, as a carpenter here, but apparently he also does sculptures. He’s good. There’s a wooden tub in the bathroom, feels freaking amazing, and he made it.”

  “So he’s good with the hands, huh?”

  The innuendo wasn’t lost on Tess. “Erin,” she chastised although she was laughing.