“Will this work?” she asked.
“Perfectly.” He stood a little too close.
“If you would like to wait downstairs while I dust—”
“No need, I assure you,” he interrupted.
She felt the heat radiating from his body, as if calling her to lean into him. Rachel studied the floor. She’d just had sex with one stranger. She wouldn’t be repeating the performance. She backed slowly away, moving out the opened door. “I’ll leave you to get settled then. Towels are in the bathroom down the hall on the left if you’d like a shower. The generator’s been on for a while so the water should be warm.”
He watched her with his dark, probing eyes. When he looked at her like that, he seemed to fill up the entire room. “Care to join me?”
She shook her head once in denial and hurried from his sight.
*
Douglas grinned. Every part of him wanted to go after her and play the role of predator to her prey. He resisted. Charging after a woman like a beast wasn’t his style—at least not at first.
He whistled lightly, stripping out of his clothes before walking towards the shower. Rachel was on her way up the stairs, carrying blankets. His grin widened as he stopped whistling. She skidded to a stop and stared at his naked body. When she didn’t look away, his cock twitched with interest. She gasped and quickly spun around. Douglas chuckled and continued on towards the bathroom.
*
Rachel peered out the window, using all her senses to detect William’s presence. He’d been gone for hours, more hours than a trip to town should have taken. Though, seeing him shifted and knowing he was a chief, she wasn’t worried about anything happening to him. She was more worried about being left alone with Douglas. The man was altogether too sexy for his own good. As she had listened to the shower, she couldn’t help but imagine beads of water flowing down that tight flesh, caressing each curve, molding wet rivulets and trailing down hot crevices.
If she was going to take a shifter lover, and she wasn’t convinced she would, she would have to pick the man she’d already slept with. Wouldn’t she? It’s not like she could have two. Rachel glanced over her shoulder to where Douglas lounged on the couch, book in one hand, drink in the other. He pretended not to look at her, but she felt his attention.
“No one is out there,” Douglas said, not looking up. “I promise to tell you if anyone comes within a ten-mile radius. You might as well take a seat.”
Rachel inched slowly across the room. “I think I need to buy a television for this place and some DVDs. Aunt Elvie had dial-up internet put in through the phone line, but it’s impossible to surf the net with dial-up these days and I canceled the service.”
“Hmm,” Douglas answered. He flipped a page in his book.
Rachel sighed, eyeing the room. Things had been so much different when Elvie was there. Rachel had never noticed the silence of the woods because there were always people around—telling stories, building metal sculptures in the yard, painting, writing, shifting, drinking and partying. She missed the noise, the smell of beer and cooking food. On evenings like this, someone would have the smoker going outside and the mesquite scent would hang thick in the air. A wave of sadness washed over her.
Instantly, Douglas’s book was down by his side and he stood. “What is it?”
“What is what?” She tilted her head to the side and listened to the distance.
“I felt your sadness. What is it?” He didn’t move.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was thinking of the silence.” She studied her hands. “This house always had so much life. It drained out the day Elvie died. People tried to stay, but she was the force behind this isolated world. Without her, it was too depressing, and one by one everyone wandered away like the wild animals they are. I think that’s why I don’t live out here. The silence is too much. I can’t stand it beyond a couple days at a time.”
“Silence or loneliness?” He moved to sit beside her.
“Sometimes I think they’re one and the same,” she admitted.
“You don’t have to be lonely. You could be the new life in this place. It would be what you make of it,” he said. “Shifters would come if you opened the doors and welcomed them.”
She looked at him, suddenly realizing how close he sat to her. “Elvie had a kind of magic I don’t possess. She was a light that drew people in like a beacon in the night.”
His hand brushed her thigh, and she felt the tingle of it all the way up her body. She looked at that hand, watching it draw a slow circle up her leg, imagining she could feel the scar on his palm through her clothing. For a long moment, he didn’t answer as his hand made its way seductively higher. She could smell the unmistakable interest of his desire. It washed over her, the pheromone nearly undetectable but incredibly potent. His hand slid over her lap to her hip. Fingers worked over her side, pulling her gradually closer to him.
His breath fanned over her cheek and ear. She forced her eyes away from where he’d touched her leg, away from the tingling nerves that remained there. She looked at his waist, not surprised to find the thick arousal pressing from beneath his slacks. She’d seen the thickness of his cock, the tight flesh of his body.
No one would know. She was an adult. He was… She swallowed nervously. He was a chief.
Perhaps it was the power of his position or the forbidden temptation of it that fueled her lust. Or, more likely still, it was his cologne-scented, pheromone-infused smell and fiery heat. Either way, she found her hand moving onto his hard thigh. Caressing him as he had her, she didn’t stop on her journey up. Rachel kept her eyes down, watching her fingers glide closer to the hidden prize.
His breathing became labored as she cupped his erection through the clothes. She explored the thick length of it. Her pussy ached, so wet and ready, as if remembering the intense orgasm William had given her and wanting the sensations again by any means necessary.
How could she do this? She rubbed his cock harder. How could she not?
She didn’t belong to any man. She could be with whomever she wanted. Douglas pushed his hand up into her shirt. Rachel unfastened his pants only to discover silk boxers. The elegant, black material suited him. He tugged at her cotton pants, easily removing them from her hips along with her panties when she lifted up from the seat. Her naked ass pressed into the leather couch. Douglas slipped a hand over her sex and rubbed.
Rachel pulled his boxers off his erection so she could return the favor. She stroked him, growing more excited with each pass. His finger pressed into her wet slit before dipping up into her body. She breathed hard, kicking the pants off completely and spreading her legs. Pleasure built where he touched, as if he knew exactly how to make a woman come. She bet he did. A man who looked like him probably had tons of experience.
His hand pulled away and she moaned in protest. He lifted up, pulled his boxers off his hips and then pushed her leg to the side so she was forced to turn on the couch. As she fell on her back, he came over her.
A low growl sounded in the back of his throat, and she saw the silver power flecking his eyes. He drew himself to her, as if propelled forward by urgent need. His cock rubbed up against her sex, not dipping inside, but simply gliding along her pussy. He groaned.
“Ah, your heat,” he whispered, as if that statement said more than it did. He jerked her shirt up and her bra cups down to bare her breasts. His lips parted, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he reached between them and angled his cock for penetration.
At first, he moved slowly, filling her so she could detect every hot inch. His thrusts were more fluid that William’s had been. William had been wild and hard. Douglas was smooth and controlled. He lifted above her, pressing his hips fully to her as he gave her his entire length.
“Oh, heaven,” he murmured. “Pure, wet heaven.”
She pulled his shirt out of the way so she could explore his waist and hips. Rachel pressed up as she pulled his hips down. He slid deeper, almost painfully so. Where William
’s cock had been thicker, Douglas’s was longer—though she’d definitely consider both well endowed.
Stop comparing them, her brain scolded, but she couldn’t help it. The differences were too marked.
His hips rolled in small circles as he thrust. His arousal hit all the right spots. Muscles flexed as he put his whole delectable body into it. Her bra pressed her breasts up. The nipples ached for attention.
“Oh,” she sighed, “you feel really good. Don’t stop. Just like that.”
He obeyed, repeating a particularly elegant move of his hips.
She sighed harder. “Where did you learn to do this? Oh. My. Oh, fuck. There!”
He grinned, a truly dominant and wicked look, as if he knew how good he was. “You like that, do you?” He did it harder and she gasped. “How about that? You like that?” She managed a weak sound of agreement. Suddenly, he pulled himself out to her entrance and stopped.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she tried to force him to continue. “Not yet.”
“You want my cock?”
She nodded. “Mm.”
“Say it. Say you want my cock. Say you need it.”
“I want it. I need it,” she whispered. Rachel pulled hard, trying to get him back inside her.
“Yell it,” he demanded. “I want to hear you scream for it.”
She opened her mouth but nothing readily came out. Her pussy ached. She’d been so close. She needed him to continue. When she didn’t answer, he began to move, as if pushing way from her.
“I need your cock,” she cried. “Fuck me, my chief!”
He grinned, but she had little time to wonder at the victory in his eyes as he plunged forward. Her nerves stung and he quickened his previous pace. Oh, but it was good.
“Yes,” she yelled, not caring at this point. All she knew was that she would die if he stopped. “There!”
His body tightened and he bit his lip. “Come for me, lass. That’s it.”
She came, shaking violently beneath him. He kept going, riding out the sensation several more times before letting loose. His yell was one of release and victory. For a long moment, he stayed inside her.
“There’s a good lass,” he whispered, finally pulling out.
She wasn’t sure she appreciated his words, but was too far gone in the aftermath of pleasure to argue. Closing her eyes, she didn’t dare move.
*
Douglas breathed hard, letting the pleasure of release claim him. Rachel lay sprawled on the couch, thoroughly spent. Grinning wickedly, he was far from finished with her. Since he sat up, he could see over the back of the couch. He looked towards the window a few feet away. William stood on the other side of the glass, eyes narrowed and chest heaving. Douglas had heard him coming and had made her scream on purpose. He wanted the man to be jealous, just as he had been. Douglas wanted William to know that he fucked Rachel and that she came for him, just as she’d come for William earlier.
Oh, but she’d been sweet. He didn’t want to share her. The only drawback to letting William hear her pleasure was that he knew Douglas had taken his turn. Now Douglas would be forced by honor to stand down until William found his pleasure. It was the agreement they had made after all, and one they would continue to honor until Rachel dictated otherwise. It was her pleasure they sought, and it was her command they would follow.
He glanced down, not wanting to wait. Already his shaft was starting to lift. Rachel’s eyes were on him. She looked down her body to his arousal and licked her lips. He swallowed hard, seeing her intent. Silver filled her eyes and he detected the creature he carried to be close to the surface. She wanted to suck him. Gods help him, he wanted to let her.
Douglas glanced at the window, almost ready to plead with William to let him have more. William, as if sensing what was about to happen was suddenly pushing through the door. Rachel gasped in shock. She quickly pulled down her shirt, stretching it so it hid her thighs as she looked for her pants.
“Wi-William,” she stammered. “This… It’s not what you—I mean, it wouldn’t matter—that is…was…is…rather not…” She moaned weakly. Her cheeks flamed with red.
“Don’t let me stop you,” William muttered, his tone a little dark.
Rachel must have missed the slight bit of sarcasm in his tone because she automatically looked back to Douglas’s cock, as if she was being instructed to suck him while William watched.
“Oh no, I mean, I can’t…” She held her pants to her chest, not bending over to put them on. She backed away so she could look at both of them. “I’m not normally so, um, sexual. I mean, in Europe you might all be into watching and, um, well, I’m not normally so…”
“Sexual?” William supplied.
“I would disagree,” Douglas said. They both eyed her retreat. He felt a matching beast within William. They both wanted to go after her.
William reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head. “We can smell your desire, Rachel. Don’t think we can’t. Don’t leave. Stay. Let me pleasure you however you wish.” He unfastened his jeans. “Or if it’s a cock you want to suck…” His words trailed off as he pushed his jeans down. Douglas watched, unable to move. His arousal throbbed jealously, wanting to be the one to feel her soft lips first.
“That wouldn’t be, ah…” Still, she wasn’t running away from them.
William fisted his cock. “Do mine and then his if you must.”
She licked her lips, glancing back and forth. Douglas couldn’t help himself. He touched his cock and stroked lazily. He wanted to speak but didn’t interrupt William. If the man was willing to let him stay in the room during his turn, Douglas would not complain.
“Ah.” Rachel looked back and forth between them. Then, turning, she sprinted up the stairs.
“Well done. Way to scare her off,” Douglas said sarcastically, letting go of his hard shaft. With Rachel gone, he’d lost interest in continuing. “You are such a dog.”
“You’re just jealous that I’m bold enough to offer, cat,” William answered. He strode toward the door. “The generator sounds funny. I’m going to go check on it.”
That’s when Douglas realized William only did what he’d done out of anger. He hadn’t appreciated being forced to hear Rachel’s cries of pleasure with another man. Muttering to himself, Douglas said, “Stupid mutt. You’ll chase her away from us both with your rash actions.”
Chapter Four
Rachel stood naked before her second story bedroom window. After the little performance in the living room, she needed to get away from the two shifters. She’d seen the look in their eyes. They were having a supernatural pissing contest over her. Both of them wanted her to choose between them. It wasn’t going to happen. Douglas was her clan’s chief. Surely he would have some expectations of her. William was raw and powerful. She knew he was no one she should mess with. The last thing she wanted to do was be the bait between two very hungry animals.
“They can stroke each other for all I care,” she muttered, torn between anger and extreme embarrassment. She tried to tell herself that it wasn’t her fault, that the men were carrying some powerful pheromones she couldn’t resist. In truth, that idea was an excuse. She’d been weak. She’d wanted them both. She’d given in to her very pent-up desires. They had exploded out of her, and she only had herself to blame for her actions. It wasn’t the sex that embarrassed her so much as the idea she’d taken two shifter chief lovers so recent to each other.
Rachel threw her clothes out the window and watched them land on the sharp decorative stones below. Then, perching on the window ledge, she spread her arms wide. She listened, making sure the men weren’t coming up the stairs. Then, keeping her arms extended, she dove towards the earth. Her flesh tingled, and she felt the air hitting her arms and legs seconds before her body took flight. The shift was painful, but fast, as she swooped past the ground. Her talons grasped her clothes into tight fists, and she flapped her long wings. Her heart raced and she knew that she couldn’t hold the s
hift for long. Already her body felt as if it was going to explode from within her bird form. Elvie had been the one to teach her how to fly, but said Rachel did not take to it naturally because she had too much energy pent up inside the smaller body. It was not easy carrying multiple forms inside one person.
Rachel shivered and swooped closer to the trail, dropping the clothes in an effort to land. Because the shift was so hard, she had never perfected the landing. Talons burst into feet and she was thrown forward. All she could do was tuck her head and somersault until she came to a stop.
Groaning and a little bruised, she rolled onto her stomach and pushed to her feet. She limped towards her clothes and somehow managed to pull them on with shaking hands. The instant she was dressed, her sneakers hit the ground and she was off and running—well, limp running anyway. She might never turn back. Let the naked chiefs take over her home. After the way they acted, she never wanted to see them again. Hell, after the way she acted, she never wanted to face them again.
The night air felt great against her arms and legs, and soon she was sprinting. Her cramped muscles stretched, the bruises faded and the scrapes healed. Her heart thumped in time with her steps. Everything came into perfect alignment as the miles melted beneath her feet. Her head cleared the further she ran. Maybe she had been too quick to blame herself for being weak. She realized her home must have been filled with male pheromones as they competed for her attention. Now that she could think clearly, it really was the only explanation for her mindless behavior.
“Damn shifter men,” she grumbled breathlessly. Without Elvie’s weekly cleansing spells, no wonder she’d been overwhelmed.
A strange smell penetrated her nose and she skidded to a halt. Smoke. Dust. Fire. It came from behind her. Her eyes blazing with the beast, she turned and ran back the way she’d come, harder and faster. The subtle glow of orange outlined the tops of the trees. The fire was big.
Let the Wild Out Page 4