by Mac Flynn
"How can ya tell, Mark?" Clyde asked the stranger.
Mark rolled his eyes. "Because she doesn't look at me when she's lying, that's why."
"Ooh, that's pretty neat," Clyde chuckled.
Mark returned his attention to me. "What were you two doing in the woods?" he questioned me.
This one was craftier than the other two, though that wasn't exactly a compliment. I'd need to answer truthfully, and yet not. "Hiking. My companion's a wolf and he wanted a really long walk," I replied.
"A wolf?" Mark repeated.
"He's a hiking wolf," I commented.
Mark raised an eyebrow. "You were hiking with a tame wolf in this weather?" he countered.
I shrugged. "I would've liked a nice summer day, but the weather didn't want to cooperate."
"You're trying to obfuscate. Tell me why you and your 'wolf' were in the woods. Was it because you were following the ATV trail?" he persisted.
"It's either that or the brush," I quipped.
Mark ground his teeth together. "I'm asking you for the last time: why were you out here?"
"Hiking," I answered.
Mark narrowed his eyes and jerked his head to the two brothers. "You want me to let these imbeciles have their way with you?" The two imbeciles perked up at the thought of getting a hold of me. "Believe me when I tell you you don't want me to do that. The consequences would be most. . .tragic." My mind came up with a lot of horrible images, but none of them came to pass because a red-colored light bulb over the front door blinked. Mark turned in his chair and scowled at the light. "Someone's in the compounds. Go check it out," he ordered the brothers.
"Clem, you check it out. Ah'll stay here," Clyde offered.
"Hell no am Ah leaving ya with all the fun. You go, ya idiot," Clem insisted.
"He told yato go."
"No, he said go check it out, so you go."
"No, you!"
"You!"
"Enough!" Mark stood and slid his chair at the boys. It knocked into their legs and caught their attention. "I will go with the dogs. You two idiots stay here with the girl, but don't touch her until I get back," he commanded them.
Clyde furrowed his brow. "What are we supposed to do with her?" he asked Mark.
"I don't know, feed her or something, just don't let her go," Mark insisted. He stomped from the room and slammed the door shut behind him. In a few moments I heard the bay of the hounds, and the noise receded.
The brothers glanced between each other and me. "So what do we do with her?" Clyde wondered.
Clem shrugged. "Ah don't know. He took all the fun outta staying here by telling us we couldn't touch her."
While the two brothers tried to figure out what to do with me my mind and eyes furiously worked at an escape plan. I allowed my gaze to wander over the room, and my eyes fell on a cast-iron frying pan sitting on the stove. A brilliantly devious idea hit me, and I returned my attention to the brothers.
"Hey, boys," I cooed to the arguing brothers. My sultry voice caught their attention and they turned their eager eyes on me. I batted my eyelashes and smiled at them. "You could untie me and let me cook for you."
Clyde shook his head. "No sir, Mark told us not to let you go."
"Oh, but you wouldn't be letting me go. You'd just be untying me. Besides, I'd really like to get out of these wet clothes." I pushed my chest out for ample effect and strained against the ropes that chafed my wrists. "Of course, if you don't have any spare clothes I could make you some nice dinner in my underwear."
The boys couldn't climb over each other fast enough to get at the ropes around my wrists. In a thrice I was free, but in the process I was pawed by their greasy hands. I slipped from their over-eager grasps to stand between the kitchen and the door, and tried not to shudder.
Clem, who appeared to be the smarter of the two idiots, frowned and his eyes flickered between me and the front door. "Ya better not think about escaping," he growled.
I wiggled my finger in front of them and stepped backward toward the kitchen. "Now, now, don't be suspicious, boys. I'm just going to get the food cooking and I'll get these clothes off."
"And it better be good, or else," Clyde threatened me.
"Oh, it'll be good," I promised. I grasped the frying pan and glanced around. The salt and pepper sat on the makeshift counter two feet from me. "Could you boys pass me the salt and pepper?"
The brothers pushed and shoved their way to me, eager to assist so I would disrobe myself. Clyde reached the counter first and grabbed the pepper. Clem caught the salt in his hand. They presented them to me with wide, proud grins. I rewarded them with a whack across their faces with the frying pan. Their heads made distinct gonging sounds and they dropped to the floor still wearing those stupid grins.
"I've decided I'm not hungry," I quipped.
I grabbed my bag by my chair, hurried to the front door and peeked outside. Night had fallen and the snow had stopped. I slunk down a few creaky stairs and glanced around. The area around the wood house was a compound of sorts measuring fifty-by-fifty square yards. There was no fencing, but the thick brush provided natural protection. In front of me was a field of tall marijuana plants hidden from view by tall, ancient pine trees left standing to block any prying eyes from helicopters or mountain tops. Hot, glowing lights stood on tall posts and shined down on the tall, green-colored crop. The lights above the crop melted the snow and kept the plants alive in the snowy weather.
I glanced left and right. To the left was a large, empty kennel with dog houses, and to the right stood a power pole. On the pole was a fuse box and judging by the sounds the hot lights used a lot of electricity. I pondered for a moment about wrecking the box and their crop when the lights went out, but beyond the pole lay the ATV road along with the three vehicles parked close by. The road disappeared behind the right side of the field, and that was my ticket to safety.
My ticket had to be returned without a refund when I heard a familiar howl in the distance. It wasn't from the dogs, but from Adam. His howl was quickly followed by a scream and a gunshot. The dogs barked and yipped, and I heard something rustle the leaves of the crop plants. In a moment Mark the Marijuana Man burst from the field. In one hand was a rifle, but when he saw the cabin he dropped that in favor of speed. His eyes fell on me and took on such a venomous look that I prepared my pan weapon for combat.
A larger shadow broke from the crop, and I beheld Adam in all his furry glory. Gone was all but the bare minimum of his jeans, and in place of the clothes was thick fur that covered his ripped muscles. He landed on all fours a few yards behind Mark, who shrieked and tumbled to the ground. Adam stalked the terrified man and his yellow eyes looked down his long snout at the quivering Mark. My furry boyfriend stuck his face in Mark's and pulled back his lips in a drool-laden snarl.
"P-please don't hurt me!" Mark shrieked.
Adam lifted a pawed hand and extended his razor-sharp claws. I saw the deadly intentions in his furious eyes, and I rushed forward. "Adam, stop!" I shouted at him.
Adam whipped his head up, and Mark took the opportunity to squeeze his way from beneath Adam. Mark scuttled to his feet and raced the few short yards to me. I expected a thank-you, but what I got in return was an arm wrapped around my throat and a large Bowie knife pressed against my cheek. Now I knew who to thank for stabbing the love-letter on my door.
"Come closer and she gets cut," Mark warned him. Adam stepped closer and snarled. I yelped when Mark pressed the blade into my cheek. Hot blood ran down my face and into the collar of my coat. "I won't hesitate to do worse if you don't let me go."
I stiffened and glanced at my right where Mark stood. My eyes caught on the power pole with its fuse box. An idea hit me. I glanced back at Adam. "Singed hair!" I yelled, hoping I could reach my love through his carnal anger.
"Shut up!" Mark growled.
I ignored him and my eyes darted from the fuse box to the werewolf. "Doc and singed hair!"
Adam snarled, but stepped away from
us and within a yard of the power pole. Mark chuckled into my ear. "That's a good doggy. Now just step the other way into that kennel and it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel for me." Adam didn't stop backing up toward the pole, and Mark tightened his grip on my neck. "Get in the other direction or she gets cut!" he repeated his order.
Adam froze and a wide, long grin slipped onto his snout. In a flash he whipped his arm backward and his fist collided with the fuse box. There was a flash of electricity followed by complete darkness and the horrible smell of singed hair. I took advantage of the blackout to free myself from Mark's hold and race toward the pole. Mark dove at me and caught me about the legs which caused me to tumble to the ground.
A shadow flew over me and collided with Mark. His hand slid off my leg and I flipped onto my rear in time to see the shadowy form of Adam lift Mark by the neck two feet off the ground. Mark's legs flailed in midair and he choked out some indiscernible pleas. I cringed when I heard the sounds of bones creaking under the pressure of Adam's strong paw. He would make my kidnapper pay with his life, but I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let Adam become the monster he feared he was.
"Adam, put him down!" I ordered the beast. Adam's yellow eyes narrowed and Mark made a strangled sound. I leapt to my feet, grabbed Adam's arm, and pulled. "Please, Adam, don't be a monster! I don't know if I can love a monster!"
Adam froze and I felt a shudder run through his body. He dropped Mark to the ground and the man crumpled like folded paper. The bad guy was alive, but unconscious. I dove into Adam's furry chest and wrapped my arms around him as best I could. A few tears flowed down my cheeks and I gave a shuddered sigh. "Please, can we just go home?" I whispered. Adam's strong arms wrapped around me and he nuzzled my hair with his snout. I giggled when his wet nose brushed against my neck and pushed his face away. "That tickles," I told him.
Adam managed a toothy smile and scooped me into his arms. He took off into the darkness and I was never so glad to leave such a horrible little place.
Chapter 11
We made only one stop to fetch his bag from the cave, and then Adam ran along the ATV road for a couple of hours. I blissfully slept in his arms, exhausted from my harrowing ordeal. He never tired nor slowed until we reached the creek atop our hill. There he set me down and turned back to the Lost Valley. His eyes took on a melancholy look as he looked out on the wooded scenery.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," he gruffly told me.
I wrapped my arms around one of his and shook my head. "You protected me when I really needed it. I wouldn't have been able to escape without you distracting that Mark guy."
Adam lowered his head and raised one clawed hand so the palm faced upward. "Do you truly think me a monster?" he whispered.
"Did you kill that guy?" I returned.
"No."
"Then you're not a monster any more than I'm a fat, balding, forty-something year old man."
That got a small chuckle out of him, and he turned to me with a softness in his eyes that thrilled my heart. He reached up and clasped my chin in his hand. I smiled into his long-snouted face. "Will you never be afraid of anything?" he wondered.
"Oh, there's plenty of things I'm afraid of. Take taxes. Have you ever tried to file those things?" I quipped.
Adam smiled. "Only once, and then I hired an accountant."
I grasped his hand in both of mine and snorted. "You're a brave wolf, Mr. Smith." I glanced past him at the valley. "And speaking of brave, what are we going to do about those guys down there? Go back and keep beating their butts until they behave?"
Adam followed my gaze and shook his head. "No, we will allow the authorities to manage them. I will place an anonymous call telling them the coordinates of the road and compound, and who is responsible."
"And the stories Mark will tell about a werewolf with me?"
"They will believe he's mad, and you will argue it was a wild wolf that saved you."
"You know this isn't going to make the neighbors like us, right? And those Owens boys were so hoping I was going to cook for them," I teased.
Adam raised a bushy eyebrow. "'Cook for them?'"
I snorted and waved off his question. "It's a long story. I'll tell you when we're not standing on a mountain top in a couple of inches of snow freezing our butts off. At least, I'm pretty sure mine fell off a minute ago."
Adam grinned and reached around me. I yelped when I felt him pinch my rear. "I believe it is still there," he argued.
I rubbed the sore skin and glared at him. "You've got a hell of a pinch in those fingers. They better be useful for love-making."
He stepped toward me so close that our bodies touched and he pulled back his lips in a toothy grin. "I would be very willing to show you my skills in bed."
I snorted and pushed him away. "Only if you can give me a fur carpet as thick as yours to lie on. Until then I'm chilled to the bone and only wanting a warm fire and some hot cocoa."
Adam sighed and scooped me into his arms. "Your wish is my command, my love."
I wrapped my arms around his neck and rubbed my nose against the end of his. "I like the sound of that."
A half hour later found us at my cabin. Parts of it were still trashed, but with Adam's help a fire was started and we sat down in front of the warm flames each with a mug of cocoa in our hands. Adam reverted back to his human form and refused my offer of clothing. He sat beside me in only his ragged pants, and I couldn't help but cast a few longing glances at his muscular physique.
"Do you admire the view?" he teased.
I choked on my cocoa and turned away. "I didn't mean to-well, no actually, I really meant to look."
"And do you approve?" he wondered.
I leaned toward him and grinned. "Well, let me just say this: I'd be lying if I said no."
Adam took my mug and set our cups aside. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I snuggled against his side. "Do you still feel safe with me after witnessing my inner demon?" he wondered.
I leaned my head against his chest and shrugged. "I've dealt with worse."
He raised an eyebrow. "In what instance?"
"Have you ever woken up with a tangled mass of hair that would make Medusa jealous?"
"Actually, my fur does mat very easily," he revealed.
I snorted. "See? That sounds a lot worse than dealing with your inner demons. Nothing's as bad as waking up to a bad hair day."
Adam leaned down and nuzzled his face into my neck. "I wouldn't mind seeing your impression of Medusa."
"You say that now, but wait until you turn to stone," I countered.
"I'm willing to take that risk," he argued. Adam pressed his lips against mine. Heat spread from my head to my toes, and I deepened the kiss.
We separated only for air. My cheeks blushed crimson and when I looked into Adam's face I could see my lust reflected in his bright eyes. "You promise not to take too many big bites out of me?" I teased.
"I make no guarantees," he replied.
I closed my eyes and expected another kiss, but I yelped when Adam lifted me in his arms. My eyes snapped open and I glared at him as he carried me to my bedroom. "You better not have given me false advertising or I'll sue."
Adam chuckled as he set me on the bed and climbed onto the covers with me. He slipped his leg over both of mine and pressed himself against my side. His hot body excited mine and I wrapped my arms around his back. He left a trail of sensual kisses down my neck and I hardly noticed when one of his hands slipped inside my shirt. His fingers slid up my skin and caught one of my breasts in his grasp. He massaged my mound of flesh, but the bra frustrated me. I squirmed and whimpered, wishing to free myself of my clothes.
In a thrice my shirt was over my head and my bra was undone. I blushed beneath his heated eyes and tried to cover myself. He caught my hands and pulled them apart to admire my heaving, swollen breasts. "Beautiful," he growled.
I shuddered as Adam leaned down and caught one of my sensitive buds in his warm, wet
mouth. He toyed with me as he alternated between suckling and nipping at my flesh. I grasped his hair and found it was longer than I remembered. One of his hands slipped beneath the band of my sweatpants and brushed against my nub. I gasped and jumped into his hand, eager for more.
Adam raised himself on his arms and looked into my face with dark yellow eyes. His teeth were long and sharp, and he panted. "I. . .I can't hold back much longer."
I coyly smiled and massaged his chest with my hands. "Then don't."
My caress and words broke his restraint. Adam curled back his lips in a feral snarl and dove at me. My pants were torn from me and his flew across the room. His sharp teeth nipped at my trembling flesh. He was everywhere at once, touching, caressing, heating me and preparing me for his swollen manhood. It brushed against my inner thigh and made me tremble in anticipation. I groaned and gasped as each touch heightened the need that grew inside me. Our bodies pressed against each other in a sensual dance of flesh.
Adam parted my legs and pressed his tip against my wet opening. I wrapped my legs around him to show I was ready, and he thrust deep into me. He filled me, completed me, and I trembled as he pulled out and penetrated again, pushing deeper and rubbing against my nub of nerves. Thrills of pleasure raced through me and I gasped for breath. Each stroke was heaven on earth as he began the rhythm of our love-making. He was slow at first, achingly slow, but his beastial side wouldn't allow him to be gentle for long.
His swollen manhood penetrated harder and faster. I clutched onto him as tingles of desire and powerful need enveloped me in their lustful embrace. We pushed and pressed against each other in a furious fight to push one another into bliss. Our sweat-soaked bodies rubbed and pressed against each other as the tension inside us built to agonizing levels. I clutched onto his back and shouted my pleas to my lover.
"Yes! Oh god, yes! Faster! Oh god, faster!"
My groans fell on willing ears as my lover thrust faster than I could follow. I held on as he took me to dizzying heights of pleasure. Every muscle in my body screamed for release, for the bliss his penetrating manhood promised with each forceful stroke. Something inside me tightened. My eyes widened. I flung my head back and cried his victory to the world.