by Dianna Love
Was that the nightmare?
Still out cold, Adrian started growling.
She considered her options. The door or ... help him.
Tarski came alert at that howl. She warned, If you drain your power and it does not fix those two, we could lose a fight with the red wolf.
Jaz kept her attention on Adrian and silently asked her wolf, What do you think of the red wolf? He told Adrian he would not harm you, then added he would also not harm your human. They sound so divided.
Red wolf is ... intriguing.
In what way, Tarski?
When we first fought days ago beside this shifter, red wolf protected us twice, putting himself at risk. When I gave him a lick of thanks, he ignored me. Rude. I bit his rump.
Jaz thought back and remembered that happening in a matter of seconds. She’d thought the red wolf had pissed off Tarski.
She found this new development intriguing, to use Tarski’s word.
Adrian quieted, but he panted hard. His legs moved as if he ran in his dream.
Her wolf continued, When I bit the red wolf, I felt their energy. I sensed two powerful beings in conflict, but much emotion, too. I believe the human. He said they were close at one time.
Her wolf came up with profound observations and had not been wrong yet.
I want to help them, Jaz said.
I know this. Tarski sighed and said, Go ahead. I will warn you if you go too far.
Jaz smiled, loving her always supportive wolf she’d been gifted to share a body with. Thank you.
As she stepped over to Adrian, he began yelling, “No! Stop it! No!” His head started changing shape.
She dropped down and put two fingers on his head, pushing energy in to seek the problem. “You’re safe. Calm down. Stay with me.”
He snarled.
She pushed more energy. This wasn’t working.
Tarski warned, Slow down.
Adrian twisted around and grabbed her wrist in a death grip. His jaws widened and fangs dropped into place.
Get away from human, Tarski yelled in her head.
She couldn’t, not with that grip he had on her wrist. She kept pushing her energy into him.
When she used her energy, it was to heal. This had to work or she’d have to let Tarski out.
When Tarski drew on the same energy, it was to kill.
Chapter 12
Adrian fought Mad Red, but his wolf kept forcing the change. They had to get out of this jungle. They had to find Jaz.
Why would she be here?
He didn’t want her in this hell hole.
Mad Red wrenched hard on their energy, determined to have control. His wolf yelled, Want out. Get away from you!
Adrian’s vision swirled and blurred. He couldn’t see. Couldn’t black out. That would be disastrous for everyone. What was Mad Red doing?
Sharp spikes poked him everywhere.
His wolf howled an insane noise.
Adrian clenched his fists and claws tore into his palms. He had to hold on and keep Mad Red locked down.
Jaz’s voice came from far away through a dark tunnel. You’re safe. Calm down .Stay with me.
He shouted, I’m trying. The words came out jumbled, because his head had warped out of human shape. He reached out for Jaz, but his body no longer belonged to him.
Mad Red fought his own demons and forced the change.
Pain from twisting muscles and bones breaking brought tears to the corner of Adrian’s eyes. Claws extended from his fingertips. He fought to free himself from whatever had him pinned down.
His wolf exploded from him and ran forward, banging into solid objects. Mad Red snarled and tackled anything in his way. Adrian shouted telepathically to Mad Red, Open your eyes. I can’t see anything.
Mad Red rammed something and bounced back.
Adrian kept pleading for vision.
His wolf yelled, Shut up.
Then his wolf broke free and raced downstairs, then out into the woods.
Finally Adrian could see through his wolf’s eyes, just like normal. Had he been in a nightmare and woke up, or was this a nightmare?
This felt real, but he couldn’t stop his crazed animal no matter what he said to his wolf. He pleaded, Don’t hurt anyone, Mad Red. I’m the one you hate, not innocent people.
This time he got a stronger order. Shut up, human.
To be addressed only as a human was another bad sign in a string of indications Adrian had no hope of saving his animal or himself.
Adrian forced all his energy into using his wolf’s senses and not be shut out. The woods came into sharp focus with saplings and thicker trees flying past while in a dead run.
Every smell intensified.
Every heartbeat boomed inside him.
Mad Red drew in a deep inhale and released the air. Adrian could feel his wolf’s elation, which meant only one thing. Mad Red held control and would do as he wished, damn the consequences.
Adrian let his wolf run, hoping the animal tired out and would listen once he dropped off this adrenaline high.
A howl followed them.
Mad Red put on the brakes and slid to a stop, plowing through vegetation. His wolf flipped around, ready to face a threat.
Having been in too many battles together, Adrian recognized the low snarl with each breath as Mad Red ready to kill.
Fifty feet away, a pair of glowing amber eyes broke through the endless darkness.
A growling golden wolf headed this way at top speed.
Jaz! Adrian yelled at Mad Red, Don’t hurt her!
His wolf took off, barreling toward his kill.
Chapter 13
Jaz watched through her wolf’s eyes as Adrian’s wolf ran at hers with fangs exposed and bright yellow eyes.
Her wolf had a one-track mind after the red wolf had bitten Jaz’s arm before she shifted. She warned Tarski, The red wolf might not be totally conscious.
Tarski said, He will be when I am finished with him.
Her wolf slammed into Adrian’s in a brutal crash, knocking each other over. Tarski suffered dizziness, but leaped to her feet and turned on the red wolf.
Adrian’s animal stood and rocked his head from side to side.
Jaz breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe getting his bell rung would calm the wolf down.
The red wolf shook it off and faced Tarski making guttural sounds any animal would take as a threat.
Or in Tarski’s case, she’d took those horrendous growls as a challenge. And her wolf never met a challenge she didn’t want to shred.
Jaz said, Try to calm down the red wolf.
Tarski sent back, Red wolf will only bow to respect.
The wolves tangled up again with claws. The minute Tarski clamped her jaws on red wolf’s shoulder deep enough to taste blood, Adrian’s wolf howled as if in pain.
What? Jaz didn’t understand.
Tarski had not hurt the wolf with one bite, but she released the red wolf immediately and jumped back. Even so, Tarski kept the crazed animal in front of her.
Mad Red quieted and tripped over his paws like a clumsy cub in his effort to get away from Tarski.
Adrian’s wolf didn’t act afraid. More like confused or ...
Tarski supplied the word. Embarrassed.
Jaz asked, You think that wolf is embarrassed?
Yes. Tarski seemed to find this amusing. Now he will have to apologize.
Jaz hoped her wolf didn’t let her guard down. Adrian’s wolf had attacked them. But now he hung his head and swung it from side to side, appearing to look anywhere but at Tarski.
Her wolf sat down, then dropped all the way to her stomach with her legs stretched out in front of her.
In a worried voice, Jaz asked, What are you doing, Tars?
Making red wolf come to me. I will only forgive him if he does.
In human form, Jaz would have held her breath, but Tarski seemed unconcerned. No increased heart rate. No jacked up pulse. No tension.
Not until
that red wolf meandered over and brushed his snout against her wolf’s head. Tarski never moved, but Jaz felt her wolf’s heart rate tick up.
The red wolf licked Tarski, who sat still until he circled around and dropped next to her with his massive legs and paws stretched out.
Tarski leaned over and licked him.
Jaz couldn’t be sure, but she thought Adrian’s wolf smiled. He definitely growled happily.
Well, hell.
This hadn’t turned out anything like the bloody image Jaz had been envisioning.
She asked, Do you think the red wolf will change to the human body if we shift, Tars?
Possibly, her wolf allowed. But I want you safe.
Jaz didn’t want to fight his wolf in human form either, but she suggested, Now that his wolf knows who you are, I think he’ll know who I am.
Yes. We can heal, her logical wolf stated, giving her agreement to shift.
Changing back to human went fairly well with the exception of Jaz’s human skin being chilled.
The red wolf watched the entire process without making a sound. Would he think she’d taken Tarski from him? And about that. What was going on with these two wolves?
Kneeling in front of Adrian’s wolf, Jaz extended her hand slowly.
The red wolf moved quickly, trapping her hand in his mouth.
She stilled.
His red wolf did not bite her. A rough wolf tongue licked her hand as if tasting, then released her. Had he recognized Tarski being present?
Speaking softly, Jaz said, “Hi, red wolf. My wolf is named Tarski. She seems to like you.”
The wolf’s eyes went from intense to relaxed.
Jaz continued. “We know you have nightmares and it’s okay. We like you anyhow.” She gave that a moment to sink in. “Would you please allow Adrian to come out? I’d like to talk to him.”
Adrian’s wolf cocked his head like he listened to something. Then he huffed a growl she took as annoyed, but he stood.
Jaz rose to her feet and stepped back as the change began.
It took a little longer than her and Tarski, but in the end, Adrian raised his head from where he was down on all fours.
With one look at Jaz, he jumped up and wrapped her in his arms. She leaned into him and circled his back with her arms. He turned his head and kissed her.
His mouth devoured her.
She pulled her hands forward and trapped his face between her palms, keeping him right where she wanted him. His fingers stroked her back. His touch woke every inch of her body, especially the parts that had been waiting on an official wake-up call.
Peeling his mouth off hers, he cupped the back of her head. “You scared the shit out of me when your wolf came running up.”
“Tarski would not have killed your wolf. She only wanted to wake him up.”
Adrian’s handsome face softened with a sweet smile. “I wasn’t worried about Mad Red. I was yelling at him to not touch your wolf, but he was so deep in that nightmare, I couldn’t break him free.” Adrian looked up and around, then back at her. “Please tell me this isn’t a dream. I live for the ones where you show up, but I want to feel you for real right now.”
She chuckled. “I’m real. It sounds like you got out of your nightmare. How’d you do it when your wolf couldn’t?”
Lines formed on his forehead as he thought on her question. He blinked and said, “You pulled me out.”
“How?” Rain began falling slowly.
“I heard you say ‘You’re safe. Stay with me.’ That yanked me back from the edge. I wanted to get to you more than anything.” Shaking his head at something going on in that head, he added, “But I think your wolf pulled Red back from the edge.”
Her heart tumbled around. “That’s nice.”
“No kidding. Your wolf did something I haven’t been able to do. He made it clear on the way here your golden wolf was his first concern. Not me.” Adrian sounded sad when he said, “I can live with that if it’s a sign of hope for the two of us.”
The drizzle soaked her hair and ran down her face. Nothing could distract her from Adrian. She touched his face gently with her fingers. “That’s not what I meant. I’m thrilled Tarski got through to Red, but it’s nice to hear you call your wolf Red and not Mad Red.”
Adrian dropped his forehead to hers and stayed that way a few seconds. “That’s what he’s been to me since I was released from that cage. He’d probably call me Adrian-hole if he thought of it.” Wet hair plastered to his face, Adrian lifted his head and gave her a sheepish look. “Guess I haven’t been any better to him than he’s been to me.”
“He might improve now,” she suggested and ran her fingers up through the wet locks.
“I’d love that to happen, but the two of us have more work to do first. I can’t make him do anything he doesn’t want to do, but I’ve never seen him come out of his nightmare this way. I’m gonna have to think about tonight and reconsider my part in this.”
Right now, she wanted him to think about her and the water running down between their naked bodies.
A million ‘what ifs’ jumped into her mind.
She shoved them aside.
Adrian had been ready to sleep in his truck or outside in human form to protect others. He wore his flaws for everyone to see and pulled on her heart strings with the way he battled his demons.
All her good intentions had been crushed when she fought Kaiser.
She refused to die with any other regrets.
Adrian had been spot on about her.
She made decisions and lived with them. She nipped his lip, not giving one damn about standing out in the middle of the forest naked with an equally naked man.
With the small encouragement, he lowered his head and kissed her tenderly, taking his time to give his full attention. Her body warmed up just fine being in his arms. She pressed her sensitive breasts against him and Adrian shuddered.
His hard-on seemed happy with being sandwiched between them.
She’d bet it would be ecstatic somewhere else.
He murmured, “Shit fire, woman. I want you.”
“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said since showing up.” She nipped his ear and felt his reaction against her stomach.
“No condoms out here.” He sounded deeply disappointed.
“I’m not in heat and we can’t get diseases,” she answered. “What’s your next excuse?”
He pulled back and stared in shock. “You think I don’t want to do this?”
“No, I think you do, but your head is full of crap like you’re worried about doing the wrong thing and if I’ll regret this after the heat of the moment.” She shook her head at him. “We’re not children. Nobody is drunk. The only thing holding us back is ... you.”
“I can fix that.” He cupped her bottom and lifted her up.
She wrapped her legs around him.
Glancing around, he said, “You know we’re vulnerable doing this out here, right?”
“My wolf stays on alert and I’ll bet yours does, too. But if you’re still afraid of someone walking up, I’ll protect you,” she bragged, laughing.
He smiled and shoved hair off his face, warning, “Then I apologize for nothing.”
“Well, that depends on how good this goes. By now, your mind should be on all the places rain is getting to touch me that you’re not.”
Widening his smile to a grin, he said, “You’re my dream woman, you know that?”
She couldn’t believe this sexy man saw her as a dream woman, but she heard respect in those words. He got that she took responsibility for her own decisions and laid no guilt on anyone for her choices. Giving him a sigh of pretend indulgence, she offered, “I’ll show you what you’re missing in those dreams, if you can take it.”
“I love a challenge, babe.” He kissed her and attacked that challenge by sliding his fingers under her bottom then up to stroke between her legs.
She hissed and locked her legs tighter. “Do that. Don’t stop.�
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“Not until I feel your sweet juices on my hand.”
She pushed up then leaned her head down and kissed him, giving Adrian even more access.
He rewarded her with his next move, pressing a finger inside then stroking again. Oh, yes. She kissed him harder, pushing him to do more. He stroked her close again and again, every touch pushing her closer to insanity.
She hadn’t been touched in so long. With Adrian’s clever fingers, her body strained, ready to let go.
Tension tightened every muscle. She held on, determined to ride this rogue wave as long as it would go.
When he switched the rhythm of his fingers, she dove over the curl and into the chaotic friction, lost to the world. Time passed at its own sweet pace. She didn’t care. Might never care again.
She wouldn’t give up this minute for anyone.
This belonged to her and Adrian.
His lips sweeping along her throat brought her back to consciousness. Then he lifted her up and sucked on a breast.
Heat rolled through her again.
He was her dream man. So much better to have the real thing than a fantasy. His mouth massaged each breast, then he raked his teeth gently over the tips before his tongue had its way with them.
Her thigh muscles clenched with every touch he made.
She moaned, “I want you inside me.”
The curse he spewed came out like a compliment. He eased her down until he started pushing inside. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation. Enjoying every inch of him.
When she opened her eyes, she stared into the gaze of a man bent on driving her wild and joining her on that trip. She whispered, “You’ve been nice and easy. Now I want everything you want to give me.”
His eyes blazed with heat. He started moving up and down, pulling almost out then ramming deep inside.
She dug into his shoulders. “More.”
That one word seemed to break something loose inside of him. Had he feared he’d hurt her by being too rough or did he no longer trust himself to let go?
He didn’t need to trust himself.
She had enough belief in him for both of them.
His movements turned fierce with him pushing harder and faster. She met him on each stroke and urged him on.