Rachel Van Dyken

by The Wolfs Pursuit

  When he pulled back, she leaned forward. He shook his head in amusement and offered his arm.

  They walked to the carriage amidst cheers from the crowds. Hunter helped her in. When the carriage pulled away, she sighed.

  “So, where are we going?” She hadn’t given it much thought earlier, but the last thing she wanted to do was spend her wedding night at Dominique and Isabelle’s house! Imagine! Everyone would know, and it would be… uncomfortable. They’d already decided to forgo the wedding breakfast.

  “Well…” Hunter grinned wolfishly. “Over the river and through the woods, of course.”

  “There is no forest, Hunter.”

  “Says whom?”

  “I say. This is London, after all.”

  “Ah.” Hunter tapped the side of her head with his finger. “But where is your imagination, sweetheart?”

  She lifted an eyebrow at him as the carriage pulled to a stop. They were at the same house Hunter had brought her to, not but a week ago, when he had tortured her. Lovely. “Last time we were here, you assaulted me,” she pointed out.

  “True.” He grinned.

  “Do you plan to whip me this time?”

  His half-lidded eyes smoldered. “Do you want me to?”

  “Only if I can hit back,” she countered.

  “But of course.” He chuckled. “After you.”

  Gwen approached the house with dread. Was this his idea of romance? Take her to an abandoned house he hadn’t lived in for over nine years? He did not even have a full staff!

  Hunter wrapped his arm around her as he pushed the door open and led her in.

  How the man had managed to bring a forest into his own home was quite beyond her. Everywhere she looked were different types of trees in pots, and hanging from each one of the trees were candles in glass jars.

  “A forest.” She breathed. “You actually have a forest.”

  “Don’t forget the river.” He pointed to a small water fountain that indeed resembled a river as it trickled beside one of the trees.

  “Why?” She quickly turned to Hunter, hands on hips. “Why did you do this?”

  He swallowed and looked down. “When I asked Gwen and Rosalind what to buy for your wedding gift, they said you already had all a girl could ask for.”

  Gwen nodded slowly. “I still do not understand.”

  Hunter cleared his throat and continued to stare at the floor. “I got to thinking, what do you buy for a woman who has everything? And then I overheard Dominique and Isabelle talking yesterday afternoon about your love for fairy tales.”

  Gwen froze. What the devil had they been talking about her for?

  “A specific fairy tale was brought up…” Hunter chuckled and raised his eyes to meet hers. “Though the end of that tale is quite alarming. I must say I finally understand how you chose your nickname.”

  “Red,” Gwen mumbled, and tried to hide her smile. “I thought it fit.”

  “It sure attracted the Wolf.” Hunter reached for her hand.

  “I assure you that was not my intention.”

  Hunter laughed. “Clearly. Yet at any rate, you caught one, and considering the Wolf is always painted as the villain, I took it upon myself to clear up the story a bit, do a little rewriting, if you will.”

  “So the Wolf does not attack the grandmother and Red in the end?”

  Hunter drew her into his arms and whispered in her ear, “I cannot promise not to attack you. What I can promise you is romance. Now, follow me through the forest.”

  Gwen’s heart beat out of her chest. “How do I know that the Wolf is not leading me down a path of destruction?”

  “Oh, you can be sure he is, but it will be such a lovely destruction, I doubt you will care.”

  “Oh?” Gwen bit her lip.

  “Yes. I aim to make you forget reality for a while, Red.”

  “And how do you plan to do that?” She placed her hand in his as he began leading her through the small forest in his entryway and farther into the house.

  “By becoming your dreams.”

  ****

  Hunter cringed when the words left his mouth. Becoming her dreams? Had he lost his mind? Since when had he started spouting such romantic nonsense? Perhaps it was just his heightened emotions.

  He felt completely drained. And irrevocably in love. Which was odd. He hadn’t planned for that to happen on his wedding day, of all days. Nor had he thought it would be so swift in taking him out. Wasn’t love supposed to develop? Or was it truly different each time?

  The way he loved Lucy did not feel this way. His heart had belonged to her, his soul had been hers, but now, as he looked into Gwen’s icy blue eyes, he felt lost, as if someone had pushed him from a cliff, and he was still deciding on where his body was to land.

  Everything about how he felt about her was raw, needy, and totally ridiculous! But there it was. His heart beat erratically when she smiled at him, and when his grandfather had claimed her, he had been so proud that she was marrying him that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to smile or break down.

  “Where are you taking me?” Gwen giggled behind him as he led her through the trees. It had taken over thirty able-bodied men at least six hours to create the forest in his house. Luckily for him, his house was nearly empty and quite dirty already, all things considered.

  “You’ll see.” He continued to lead her to the back of the house, where the ballroom was located. “Just in here.”

  She walked in behind him and gasped.

  He had to admit to being quite proud at his idea. Hunter had never tried to be romantic before and he was so nervous that she would not like what he’d done that he found himself trembling as Gwen took in the sight.

  Candles lit the entire room, basking it in a heavenly glow. In the middle of the ballroom sat a small table with a meal. But his genius did not stop there. He had strategically placed trees around the room in a maze. They had to find their way through the maze in order to get to their meal. Another maze led them to the grand fireplace, where he had fur blankets and dessert waiting.

  “Well,” Hunter stuttered. “What do you think?”

  “I think…” Gwen grinned and let out a small laugh. “I think I underestimated you.”

  “Music to my ears.”

  “Of course it is.” She rolled her eyes. “How do we make it to the food?”

  “The trail, you must stay on the trail.” Hunter pointed to the beginning of the maze. “And you must listen to my voice as I guide you.”

  “Listen? Whatever do you mean?”

  Hunter pulled out a blindfold and tied it around her head. “The last time you were here, I blindfolded you. I was a cad, an absolute terror, truly you should have shot me the second you found out, so I aim to earn back a little of that trust.”

  “By blindfolding me again?”

  “Yes.” Hunter chuckled. “Trust me to get you to where you need to go — trust me to guide you.”

  “You are asking me to trust a wolf?”

  “I told you I was rewriting the story, remember?”

  Gwen sighed and then nodded her head. “Alright.”

  “What was that?” Hunter whispered in her ear, allowing himself to nip her neck with his teeth.

  “I said alright,” Gwen said through clenched teeth.

  “Good.” Hunter sighed into her neck. He wanted to kiss every part of her, hold her close like this and never let go.

  “Take five steps and then turn right.”

  He followed as Gwen did exactly what he said.

  “Now take two steps and turn right again.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Am I wearing a blindfold?” He laughed.

  “No.” She took a breath and walked two steps ahead. “Now what?”

  “Patience.” He kissed her neck again. “We need to pause.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can take down your hair.” One by one, he pulled the pins out. Her dark hair cascaded down her back in wave
s. It was heavy in his hands. He closed his eyes and moaned.

  Gwen leaned back against him. He flipped her around and kissed her hard across the mouth, dipping his hands into her thick hair and gently tugging.

  “Are we there?” Gwen whispered hoarsely.

  “Do you care?” Hunter tilted his head and kissed the side of her jaw, then had to touch her lips again. His tongue trailed her lower lip then his teeth gently tugged it and sucked. Her flavor was so unique he couldn’t get enough.

  “No.” Gwen swayed toward him.

  “No, you don’t care, or no, the kiss was bad?” Hunter spoke against her lips.

  “Hunter.” Gwen sighed.

  “What?”

  “Shut up.” Her hands forcefully grabbed his head as she crushed her lips against his. Her arms went around his neck as she forced her body against his. He would happily die this way. He flipped her around and began unfastening her dress.

  He fumbled with the buttons and then with a curse finally got one loose. Blazes, how long was this going to take?

  Gwen cleared her throat and reached behind her to hand him her dagger.

  Clearly he had married a genius. He grabbed the knife and ripped the dress at the seams, not even thinking to ask her if she minded. After all she had provided him with the means to do so.

  The dress fell to the floor, leaving yet another battle for him to fight. The corset. Why the blazes did women wear those things?

  He sighed in frustration and then pulled Gwen back against him. “I should feed you before I ravish you.”

  “Should you?” she replied hoarsely.

  No. No, what he wanted to do was attack her in the middle of the maze, but he had promised to romance her. Romancing did not include a quick toss with one’s wife… besides, he had reason to believe it was her first time.

  “Walk ahead three more steps and turn left. It will lead you out of the maze.” Gwen stepped out of her dress and walked. He shamelessly watched her hips sway back and forth as she made her way out. Like a lovesick lad, he panted after her and quickly removed the blindfold.

  “It’s beautiful.” Gwen’s smile brightened as she looked at the food that had been prepared for them. “But…” Her smile faded. “You are missing something.”

  “Impossible.” Hunter felt panic rise in his chest. “I specifically asked for a full meal. Do you not care for duck? Should I have included soup?” His hands began to sweat as he took in the meal. What was lacking?

  “You are missing wolf,” Gwen said simply, and shrugged.

  “I’m right here.”

  “Yes. You are.” She beckoned him with her finger. Hunter did not have to be told twice. He took a deep breath and then kissed her as softly as he could. Again, he did not want to scare her. Poor thing was probably more terrified, knowing of his reputation.

  “Hunter, stop.” She pushed him away and leveled him with a glare. “You promised romance.”

  “I, uh…” Eloquent.

  With a grin, Gwen pulled a knife from the table, walked up to Hunter and held it near his throat. “Kiss me, Wolf.”

  Hunter looked away and then in an instant grabbed the back of her neck, pulling her forward. The knife clattered to the floor. Gwen wrapped her legs around him, and he found that he truly wasn’t hungry for food.

  But he had planned so carefully, all for her, to rewrite the fairytale to — “Oh, don’t stop.” He moaned as she licked his ear.

  Gwen’s nails dug into his neck as she pulled her body tighter against his. He was going to lose his mind if he didn’t get her naked. He could see it now: madness by desire.

  “Gwen.” He placed her on her feet and tried to shrug out of his tight jacket. Why did this always happen to him?

  With aching slowness she put her hands flat against his chest and helped push the jacket off, but not before nearly killing him in the process as she kissed and nibbled on his lips every few seconds.

  Her hands untucked his shirt and lifted it over his head. Those same hands explored his chest, his stomach, every part of his body that was exposed.

  “You are so strong,” she murmured as she kissed his shoulder. Hunter felt his chest puff up, unable to help himself. It was what every gentleman longed to hear, You are so strong, so large, so capable, so sexy, so… He chuckled and turned her around so he could rid her of her corset. His nimble fingers worked across the strings. Once loosened, he dropped it to the floor, and she stepped out.

  With a satisfied smirk he knelt down and slowly unrolled her stockings, kissing the naked skin on her thighs and moving down. He licked the smooth skin behind her knees, and bit along her tiny feet.

  Shaking with desire, he tossed the stockings aside and then tugged down her drawers. They fell to the ground, but his hands remained on her hips as he examined her ivory skin, glowing in the firelight. Her beauty was too much — it was all consuming. He closed his eyes and exhaled. Gwen reached down and ran her fingers through his hair and then tilted his chin up. He opened his eyes and rose to his full height, then kissed her briskly across the lips and stepped back.

  Naked.

  Finally.

  He grinned as he examined her nakedness from head to beautiful toes. Everything about her was perfectly proportioned to drive a man insane. And she was all his.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Red—

  For you… I’d wait forever.

  —Wolf

  Hunter appeared nervous and if there was one thing she knew about Hunter, it was that he was seldom nervous. This was the man who’d practically tossed women’s skirts in public and expected people to cheer for him in the process! His hands continued to shake in front of him as he brought each of her fingers to his lips.

  “You are still dressed,” she pointed out.

  “That I am.” He smirked.

  With a coy smile, she knelt down and grabbed the knife she’d previously dropped. She pointed it directly at his chest. “Remove them. Now.”

  “Remove what?” He tilted his head and smiled that wicked, beautiful, insane smile.

  “Your breeches. Now.”

  “So demanding.”

  “You think this is a game?” She grinned even wider and then walked behind him. And held the knife closer to his neck as she kissed and blew into his ear. “I’m not playing around.” His skin smelt like soap and leather. She breathed it in, causing the knife to tremble within her hand.

  “Oh, but I wish you would, sweetheart,” he drawled.

  Carefully, she lowered the knife to his pants. He tensed.

  “Afraid?”

  “You do realize you have a knife closest to what makes me a man.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “You ask me this now?” His voice was hoarse. She kissed his neck. He moaned. “Fine, yes, yes, oh, yes.” He tensed again, this time trying to reach for her, but she quickly turned him around and stripped him of his clothes.

  “I mean to repay you for tying me to a chair…” She hadn’t ever allowed any of her escapades as a spy to get further than this, in fact she had no idea what she was doing, but she wanted to be owned by him, wanted him to make her his. But at the same time, she had a strong desire to make him suffer.

  “I am not entirely comfortable with the look you have in your eyes, sweetheart.”

  “Rope?” She lifted an eyebrow.

  Hunter’s eyes widened. “We are both naked. And you want me to go searching for rope?”

  “Precisely.” She crossed her arms. He groaned, his eyes glazing over as he watched her chest rise and fall. “Hunter,” she interrupted. “The rope, please?”

  “Fine.”

  She watched him exit through the maze, his godlike body flexing in the firelight. So many muscles tensed and relaxed when he moved. She imagined she could watch him all day and never tire.

  Within minutes he returned. “Rope.” He lifted it into the air and then threw it at her feet. “Do your worst.”

  Gwen laughed. “You really should not h
ave said that.”

  “I do not fear little girls in red capes.”

  “I am not wearing a cape, nor am I a little girl.”

  “Believe me…” His eyes caressed her body before he smoothly turned his head to the side and answered, “I know.”

  She tried to ignore the way his look made her face heat. “Besides, I’ve never been afraid of the big bad Wolf, and you did say we are rewriting the story. I imagine the Wolf is about to be begging Red.”

  “I never beg.”

  “We shall see.”

  His eyes brightened as she grabbed one of the chairs and motioned for him to sit in it. He licked his lips and sauntered over to the chair.

  “Close your eyes,” she ordered.

  He did as he was told. Gwen smiled to herself, as she felt her body heat just watching her husband sit calmly, waiting for her. All hers. He was all hers.

  “Now…” She purred as she approached him and began wrapping the rope around the chair. “Hold your hands behind you, and press them together.”

  Gwen tied the rope firmly around the chair and then used the ends to bind his hands together. When she was satisfied, she pulled back and grinned.

  “Open your eyes.”

  Hunter smirked. “I’m not yet screaming, Red. Perhaps you are not as good a spy as you originally thought?”

  “What? You think all I wanted to do was tie you to a chair? Make you uncomfortable?”

  His mouth snapped shut, and he narrowed his eyes. “What is it you want?”

  Gwen carefully walked toward him, knowing full well that the sway of her hips had him hypnotized. When she was finally close enough to touch him, she leaned forward, giving him full view of her feminine body in the firelight, and brushed her lips against his ear. “I want to make you burn.”

  Hunter swore. His body flexed as he tried to get out of the bonds. Gwen wagged her finger back and forth in front of him.

  “Tsk, tsk.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and then slowly straddled him. She might be innocent, she might be a virgin, but spying had given her one skill that no innocent maiden possessed.