Brody waited near a hidden path that wound up the cliff. He made a soft chuffing sound and moved up the rocky path.
“Where are we going?”
He flattened his ears against his head and nudged her again.
“You know if you’d change back I might understand what you want.” Her legs were tired and her body was sore. It seemed like they’d been on the beach for days instead of a couple hours.
Brody allowed her to get ahead of him. He hung back to watch and listen for anyone who might sneak up on them from below. He trotted back to her.
Rocks and pebbles continued to bite into the soles of her feet. The sand stung and she began to slow.
“I have to rest.” Nicole placed a hand on an elevated, flat rock next to the path. She lifted a foot to brush away the sand and inspect a cut.
He growled. When it got no response, he nipped her.
“Keep your teeth to yourself!”
The growl deepened. His ears were forward and both sets of teeth showed.
Nicole scrambled back to her feet and glared at him. “Okay!”
She rested a hand on his shoulders for balance. He padded beside her on all fours. They drew to a stop once a small cabin came into view. He tilted his head up as if to say, “See, I knew what I was doing!”
Brody raced toward the house. His body was low to the ground and his claws crunched across the sand. She watched his shadow circle the tiny cabin. Satisfied that no one was there, he called to her with another quiet sound.
She moved carefully onto the deck. To fall and break her neck in the dark would just be insulting after all she’d been through.
She ran her fingers over the door frame in search of a key, but came away empty. Under the mat proved useless too. He pushed past her then rose up on back legs.
Nicole crossed her arms over her chest. “This would be much easier if you could talk.”
He slammed his upper body against the painted wood. It splintered and the lock busted with a crunch of metal. The door banged against the wall and shimmed to a stop.
She shot a glance over her shoulder and prayed that no one heard the noise. He didn’t seem concerned.
She closed the door and glanced around. Ghostly sheets covered the furniture and the musty odor of disuse hung in the room. Her nose tickled with the threat of a sneeze. The main room was an open area that led to the kitchen. Beyond that was another door which she assumed was the bedroom.
For the first time since going furry, she was suddenly aware of her nakedness. Embarrassment crept over her and warmed her skin. Maybe the owner had a robe or, even better, clothes that fit.
Brody, who was still on two legs, shoved a massive curio cabinet in front of the door.
A jar candle and a matchbook lay on the table behind the couch. She lit it and the scent of vanilla wafted from the jar in her hand. The soft yellow glow lit the room and she spotted an antique clock on the shelf above the stove. She bent close to peer at the time. If it was correct, three hours had passed since she’d first arrived on the beach. They had a lot of time to kill until sunrise.
“Now what?” She sat the candle aside.
Brody didn’t respond. He didn’t offer a bark, growl or any of the other noises he’d made earlier. A trickle of apprehension cooled her skin. Goosebumps spread across her arms and the fine hairs on her neck stood on end.
He rested against the cabinet, eyes trained on her. Although he didn’t growl or snarl, she recognized the danger in his eyes. When the others had pursued her, she’d witnessed the same look on their faces. Aaron had informed her that he could still smell the pheromones she’d been given. It leaked from her pores, he’d said. In such close quarters, she could imagine what it must be doing to Brody.
She’d seen the same hungry expression on his face before. The difference was he’d been in human form. Lust, thick and cloying emanated from him. He wanted her, the evidence grew between them.
Her eyes widened and she dragged in a shaky breath. He wanted her and now she was trapped in a tiny space with him.
Chapter Twenty-nine
The expression on Nicole’s face was not unlike the fear she’d shown toward Stone and the others. Brody moved slow and hoped she’d understand he didn’t want to harm her. He wouldn’t do anything she didn’t allow. What happened next would be up to her. He just hoped he could quell his needs long enough for her to decide.
“No, not you too.”
He closed the space between them and folded her body against his. Thankful she was unharmed, for the most part, he released the tension in his shoulders. He held her there for a moment, nuzzling her hair and taking in her scent. The pheromones were still present, but had dulled. Beneath it, he could smell Nicole's natural scent and salt water.
She stiffened against him and her breath came in soft gasps. Was she crying?
Brody experienced a heady sense of victory. He’d come away the winner. He had the girl. The prize was his. Despite his best efforts not to, he grew hard with the knowledge.
Nicole’s skin was gritty with sand. He brushed it away with a gentle touch.
She made a noise of protest. Her hands pressed against his chest in an effort to push him away. Wide blue eyes stared up at him. Did she expect him to attack?
A wild and untamed hunger surged through Brody. It would be easy to lose control, to hurt her. He wanted to hurt her and to please her all at the same time. He battled the animalistic urges that arose within him. He didn’t want to admit it, but her fear turned him on. Nicole was soft and pliant in his hands. Terror and physical strain had pushed her past exhaustion tonight. It would be so easy to bend her to his will.
His clawed hands wrapped around her upper arms. He wanted to bite her, draw blood to establish that she was his. The beast inside him wanted to take her, overpower her physically. With great effort, he shoved the dark cravings to the back of his mind. He would not do that to her. He was not a mindless animal. He was not.
“Brody?” His name trembled past her lips. He eased her onto the cushions then turned away. To his annoyance, she sprang back up and reached for him. Her fingers were but a breath away. At the last moment, she dropped her hand to her sides. Perhaps she’d remembered he might bite. She picked up the candle instead.
Nicole’s upper body was cast in the soft glow. It gave her a wild and somewhat angelic appearance. Her hair was windblown and still wet in spots. A few bruises and scrapes lent her a vulnerable appearance. Her chest rose and fell. Each shaky breath allowed him a view of her exquisite breasts and their erect pink nipples. He had to get away from her.
“Wait, what happens now?” Nicole asked on a shaky exhalation. It sent shivers throughout his body. He held out his hand in a silent request for hers. She hesitated, but her fingers found his. His claws curled around her fingers. She glanced up at him. “Do we just wait here until it’s over?”
He moved toward the back of the cabin. Though the glow of the candle did its best to illuminate the area, it did not provide enough light for Nicole who resisted being led. Brody navigated around the sparse furniture that littered the way. Nicole stumbled along behind him and he was certain it was because she refused to use her wolfish senses.
He paused at the sight of the bed. She jerked her hand out of his, but he was much faster. Brody caught her by the arm and nudged her toward it.
“Not like this.” Her voice was broken by a sob. Moisture glistened on her cheeks. “I love you, but I can’t do it like this.”
She was in love with him? His heart skipped in his chest and he felt lightheaded.
He released her arm and waited. To say all he wanted was for her to rest was a lie and he knew it. What he wanted was to ravage her until neither of them could walk. He backed away instead.
Nicole breathed a sigh of relief. Her expression grew more trusting. She rummaged through the dresser against the wall. “There has to be some clothes or a blanket we can cover up with.”
He studied the shape of her ass. H
is groin twitched in approval. The curve of her back faced him and he wanted to fold himself over it and make her scream with mindless pleasure.
This wasn’t going to work. He’d physically hurt her if he attempted to make love to her in this form. He could only imagine what it would do to her emotions. She couldn’t even accept herself this way, why should her acceptance of him be any different? Besides, she’d made it clear hadn’t she? Not like this, she’d said. She found him repulsive in this form. If she couldn’t accept him like this, any relationship he hoped to build with her would never work. The problem was, he was too agitated to return to normal.
Brody whirled away from her perfect, beautiful body and stalked into the adjoining bath.
He left the door open so he could hear if someone broke into their sanctuary.
Brody leaned close to the vanity mirror. He looked terrible. Two of the hoops in his left ear had been torn away. Caked blood made a trail from his ear down the side of his furry face. Someone else’s blood had dried on his muzzle and chest. He could feel other hurts on his body, but couldn’t see them through the sand caked fur.
He stepped into the shower and wrenched the knob. Cold water soaked his fur and he shivered beneath the spray. He slid down the wall, curled in on himself and looped his arms around his knees. He concentrated on holding the beast at bay. The urges and hunger began to recede. Frigid water cascaded down his back. His teeth chattered and his body ached.
Gripping his knees, he allowed the changes to take place. Limbs twisted and slid into a more human shape. He bit his lip and tried to keep the groans of pain from slipping out. He struggled to his feet and removed a bottle of shampoo from the built-in shelf. He lathered and rinsed, unable to bear much more.
Brody twisted the knob to cease the frigid water. He watched the last blood-pink suds swirl down the drain. At long last, he wrapped blue terrycloth around his waist.
He moved toward the bedroom, still dripping from the shower. There was no movement within the cabin and that worried him. He called out to Nicole, but received no answer.
The candle sat on the bedside table. Its glow sputtered against the wall. A movement to his right whipped his head around. A shadow leaped from the wall, a weapon in hand.
Nicole lunged forward. She swung her arm upward and lifted the butcher knife. It came within inches of slicing him. He wrenched it from her grasp then tossed it onto a table.
“What the hell was that for?”
She ducked her head. “I didn’t know you’d be you.”
“Who else would I be?” He knew what she meant, but it still sounded odd.
Nicole had found a red, silk robe while he showered. It was tied tight around her waist, but he could still see the curves of her body beneath it. It didn’t quite reach her bottom and made her legs look damned sexy. Erect nipples pushed against the thin fabric.
Brody fought the urge to touch her through the whisper thin material. He was glad he had a towel to hide his hard on. “You should get some rest. I’ll sit out front and watch for trouble.”
He had just noticed that her hair was entirely wet again. The scent of soap drifted to him.
She touched her hair and smiled. “I rinsed off in the kitchen.”
“Oh,” was all he could think to say.
Her eyes were downcast. “I was going to ask you to save some water for me, but you needed it worse than I did. Are you okay?”
His cheeks colored and he looked away. So she’d peeked in and witnessed his inner turmoil. Had she guessed it was for her sake? Maybe she didn’t think he’d be able to control himself.
“Do you think anyone will find us?”
“I hope not.” Seeing her there, tousled and clothed in only a scrap of silk proved more than he could handle.
Her hand touched his shoulder. Hope swelled within him. His cock did the same. Brody knew he was in deep trouble if just a brief touch sent shockwaves of pleasure through him.
“Thank you, Brody. For everything.”
His voice was gruff, his expression was intense. “I should go take a look around.”
He took a step forward. Nicole shuffled backward, but did not move out of the way. He reached around her in search of the doorknob.
Nicole’s hand gripped his shoulder. “Don’t leave.”
Chapter Thirty
Nicole tilted her head to stare up at him. The doorknob creaked under the strength of his grip.
She knew what she wanted. “Stay with me?”
Beads of water glistened on his shoulders and dripped from his hair. His stomach muscles were tight and lean. The towel rode low to reveal cut hips and a fine trail of hair.
“Not a good idea,” he warned.
Her attention slid all the way down his bare calves to his narrow feet.
Nicole’s heartbeat pounded in her chest. Not because she was frightened, but because a new awareness tickled her senses. Fascination crept over her. Brody was gorgeous and wet. Pearls of water ran down his chest and urged her to lick them from his body.
Her fingers twined with his. His smile faltered and he drew back.
“Get some rest. I’ll be in the other room if you need me.” He focused his attention on the door behind her.
She pulled his hand up to her lips to kiss the fingertips. The movement of his forearm against the silk caressed her breast with whisper soft warmth. Heat from his skin penetrated the thin material and she trembled. Brody turned in her direction and cupped her cheek. His thumb brushed against her full bottom lip and sent a quiver of lust between her legs.
The clean scent of his body mingled with the vanilla of the candle. A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. He was hard beneath the towel.
The idea of sex, especially after the night she’d had, surprised her. Yet the desire was there, warm and insistent between her thighs. Perhaps it was an after effect of the shot Aaron had given her. Or maybe it was some screwed up response to almost being killed. Her mind and body demanded some kind of affirmation that she was alive, really alive. A rush of exhilaration surged within her. If she were honest with herself, she knew Brody had always elicited this kind of emotion within her.
She leaned against him and his body tensed. He didn’t pull away so she laid her cheek against his chest. His heart thundered against her cheek. Was he afraid he’d lose control or was he as excited as she was?
The tip of her tongue snaked out to taste the underside of his jaw. She delighted in the groan of pleasure this brought from him.
Brody released her hand and took another hesitant step backward. A moment’s worth of regret filled her. She’d been too bold. He would leave now, afraid to share himself.
“Don’t go,” she said in a thick voice. “Please?”
He cursed beneath his breath. One of his hands gripped her shoulder while the other cupped the back of her head. The firm presence of the door was against her back. Nicole’s hand rested against his chest now, the other caught lower between them. Brody’s mouth closed over hers and their tongues slipped together and tasted each other’s desire. It was over far too fast.
“I can’t control myself with you.”
Desire throbbed within her. “I don’t want you to.”
She didn’t register the scrape of wood against her back. There were far more delectable sensations coursing through her. Nicole gripped the towel with the hand caught between them. Her fingers brushed against his smooth flesh and he shuddered.
She released him from the terrycloth. The damp towel slapped against the floor and she made a sound of appreciation.
He was beautiful, just as she remembered him. His body was perfect and in the candlelight, each nuance of his muscular frame was highlighted and drew her eye. She couldn’t look away.
Brody’s quick fingers untied the knot at her waist and pushed the silk back to reveal her breasts. His warm palms cupped them, weighed both. He caressed the hardened nipples with his thumbs and made an appreciative noise deep in his throat. “Beautiful.”
She couldn’t get close enough. Her body pressed against him, eager for his touch. He lowered his head to hers and kissed her deeper than ever. The sensation of his lips and tongue caressing hers made her toes curl. She wanted so much more from him than just a kiss or a sweet caress. Nicole needed to experience wild abandon with him once again.
A dark notion shook her, forced her to pull away. What if he really couldn’t control himself? Sure, she’d told him it was okay if he lost control, but she meant his sexual hunger. The idea of making love to him in wolf form was different. She couldn’t do it—wouldn’t do it.
With much regret, she tried to hide the hesitant fear that crept into her voice. “Brody?”
He peered at her through lowered lashes. Lust had colored his cheeks a dusky pink. He held his breath at her uncertainty and his hands tensed at her waist.
She couldn’t look him in the eyes. Her voice was low and wavered with guilt. “When I said you don’t have to control yourself, what I meant was…”
“For you, I will.” He lowered his mouth to her shoulder. His tongue danced over the old scar. His honey colored eyes searched her face for any reaction.
Pleasure rippled up Nicole’s spine when he captured her mouth again. His erect penis pushed between them, anxious for some attention.
Nicole touched him. Her fingers curled around his girth and she sighed in satisfaction.
Brody trembled and it made her feel powerful and in control. Her fingers danced across his silken skin. Brody placed hands on either side of her hips. He lifted her with what could only be animal strength. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she twined her arms around his neck.
He held her there against the door, content to feel her wrapped around him. His tongue tantalized her, tracing a trail from her jaw to her ear. Nicole arched her back and reveled in the pleasure he brought.
His hands cupped her buttocks, holding her in place. His movement was rough, full of possession. She breathed his name, a soft whisper on a shaky breath. “Make love to me.”
Brody’s movements were fluid as he turned and lowered her onto the bed. Instead of following her down onto the mattress, he smiled down at her.
Bitter Black Kiss Page 24