A sweet melancholy made his chest ache for something he’d never had, a mate by his side, and he couldn’t deny how perfect it felt to hold her.
Our mate. His inner wolf’s happy growl rumbled in his chest.
If only that were true.
Chloe inhaled a long breath, rousing from sleep. She raised her head, and her hand landed on his thigh. The warmth of her skin penetrated through his jeans and sent a jolt of desire coursing through him.
He stifled a groan and helped her sit up, the blanket slipping off her shoulders. “How’re you feeling?”
She blinked and peered around the room, her brow knitting together and accentuating the tiny freckles on her nose.
Beautiful…
“What happened? Did I faint? How did I end up on the floor with you?” Her eyes tracked back and forth as she studied him.
A few strands of her golden-red hair caught in her eyelashes. He brushed them away with the tip of his finger and stroked her cheek. The softness of her skin teased the sensitive pads on his fingertip, igniting a fire inside him.
Gods, he was in trouble.
“Sometimes the shift to human can be disconcerting if you’re not prepared. I should’ve warned you that you might faint. The pillows and blankets I gathered so you could rest.”
She wiped the back of her hand across her mouth then her eyes widened. “Oh, dear. Did I drool?”
He laughed, the sound bursting from him before he could stop it.
Chloe’s cheeks reddened, a beautiful shade of pink that accentuated her adorable freckles. She pushed his shoulder, her lip curling. “C’mon, it’s not that funny.”
Issac clamped his palm over his mouth to stifle the laugh. He met her gaze, and amused laughter erupted from her.
“Okay, it is. I give.” The smile that bloomed on her face took his breath away.
He glanced at her lips, memories of their kiss sparking in his mind. The urge to tug her close and pick up where they’d left off had him leaning forward.
She crossed her ankles and rose to her feet. “I need water.”
A moment later, the rustling of her backpack and the snap of the water bottle cap echoed off the walls.
He stared into the fire. The flames danced across the wood, red embers blazing from the center.
“Would you like some water?” Her soft voice tickled his ears.
He shook his head, grasped another piece of wood, and tossed it onto the flames. “Nah, I’m good.”
When she didn’t return, he turned to look at her. She stood with her back to him, her attention focused on the pictures along the wall.
“Is this your brother? He looks just like you.” She pointed to the photo of him and Jarik standing next to their twin Triumph motorcycles, helmets cradled in the crooks of their arms.
“Yeah. That’s Jarik.”
His chest tightened. They’d ridden their bikes all over the area that day, finally coming to rest at a spot along the main road that overlooked a valley. He missed his brother more than he could say.
Soon after, Jarik tore down his motorcycle intent on a complete rebuild and disappeared shortly thereafter. A few years later, Issac sold his own Triumph, but could never part with Jarik’s. What if he returned?
With a heavy heart, he rose to his feet then joined Chloe, standing behind her. The urge to wrap her in his arms flicked along his fingers. Instead, he pointed over her shoulder to the picture. “My brother was three years older than me. He and I used to ride just about everywhere, and when we weren’t on our motorcycles, we’d come up here. Dad owned the place, but rarely visited. It became a haven for Jarik and me.”
Chloe turned to face him, focusing on his eyes. “You said ‘was three years older.’ Not is. What did you mean by that?”
He shrugged and ran his fingers through his hair. Did he really want to get into this with her? Right now?
She placed her hand on his arm. “He’s dead. Isn’t he? I’m sorry.”
A pang struck him in the chest. The slightest breeze could’ve knocked him down.
He shook his head. “I wish I knew.”
Unable to handle any more, he stalked to the window and stared into the night. The snow no longer fell. Between the treetops, a few stars twinkled against the night sky.
A moment later, Chloe touched his shoulder and stood by his side. She didn’t look at him but joined him in studying the night’s beauty.
Except for the crackle and pop of the fire, soothing silence filled the cabin for several moments.
“Will you share what happened with me?” Chloe’s soft voice drifted across the space between them.
He hadn’t spoken about his brother to anyone other than Samuel in well over a decade. Like water bursting from a damn, he couldn’t stop the words as they tumbled from his lips.
“I idolized Jarik. From his boisterous laugh to his wild harebrained schemes to his ability to stand up to our father, he could do no wrong in my eyes. Unfortunately, my father didn’t appreciate Jarik’s fiery personality or the trouble that often followed.”
An owl’s dark shadow crested over the white snow in the small clearing.
Chloe rubbed her palm down his arm to his hand and gave him a gentle squeeze. “Please, continue.”
He inhaled and let the memories, as well as his sadness, wash over him. “My father was a control freak. You towed the line or paid the price. My brother pushed his buttons every chance he got. One day, shortly after he turned seventeen, Jarik just…disappeared.”
Chloe’s sharp inhale filled the room, and she placed her fingers to her mouth. “Did you ever see him again?”
Issac shook his head. “Never. I searched for him for years. Even hired a private investigator, but it was like aliens captured him or something. I keep hoping he’ll return someday.”
He curled his hand into a fist. The not knowing had always been the hardest part. Had Jarik finally had enough of their father and ran away? Had he met some untimely death? After fifteen years, Issac would probably never know.
“I wish there was something I could do.” Chloe placed her hand on his arm once again, the tender contact lighting up his skin and rousing his wolf.
A growl threatened, and he clamped his lips before it could escape.
“Is your father still around? What about your mother?” She trailed her fingers along his arm, teasing the fine hairs with each stroke.
“My father died two years after my brother disappeared, and good riddance to him. My mother,” he choked on the words, “died when I was born. Father blamed me for her death. I think that’s why he became so strict. After Jarik left, he took all his frustration out on me.”
“It wasn’t your fault your mother died. You can’t for one moment believe that.” She studied him with her bottomless green eyes.
He shrugged. “Mother was shy by nature. I must’ve inherited that trait from her. Father always hated me for it and tried to beat it out of me. In the process, I think he only reinforced it.”
“I admire your shyness and calm disposition. Even though we’ve only known each other for a short time, when I’m near you, it’s like you ground me and help keep all my anxieties at bay.”
Did he really do that for her? A glimmer of hope sprouted in his chest, and he latched on as if it were a life raft.
“I want to kiss you.” The words slipped from his lips before he could stop them.
She blinked, studying him with her round eyes. “Are you sure you want to? The last time you kissed me, you ran as if I had cooties. Not something a girl tends to forget.”
Heat flared up his neck and along his ears. His wolf had wanted to claim her, the urge so overpowering he’d broken the kiss and fled, but that wasn’t something he’d share with her. Nope. Even he wasn’t stupid enough to bring in that mood killer.
Instead, he shrugged. “As you’ve discovered, I’m a bit shy. Never seemed to live up to my father’s expectations, especially after Jarik left. I’m afraid I won’t measure up in
your eyes.”
Wasn’t that the truth. Big-time.
“Behind that shyness, I see a wonderful, kind-hearted man.” Chloe smiled, and a dimple formed in her cheek, one he hadn’t notice before. He captured her chin in his palm and stroked his thumb over the newly discovered divot.
“You are so beautiful. Radiant, like the sun.” His voice came out husky.
She leaned into his caress, pressing her cheek further into his palm. “What are you waiting for? Kiss me.”
Chapter Eleven
Moonlight filtered through the cabin’s tall picture window, illuminating Issac’s features. He cradled her head in his large palm, the intensity in his gorgeous brown eyes mesmerizing. Chloe had challenged him to kiss her. Would he? She wasn’t sure, and her breath bottled behind her tight throat.
On a brief intake of breath, Issac pressed his lips against hers. A thrill zinged along her nerves all the way to her core. Gentle at first, his kiss became more urgent, and he brushed his tongue along the seam of her lips. Her sensitive nerves tingled, and she opened to him.
He stroked his tongue against hers, lighting up her senses, and he ravished her with more kisses, as if she were his world. She wanted to believe someone as kind, attentive, and loving as Issac would care for her.
The rush of blood buzzed in her ears, and she massaged her fingers through his hair and over his scalp, holding him close. A soft rumble, part moan, part growl, vibrated in his chest.
He broke the kiss, cupped both her cheeks, and pressed his forehead against hers. Their combined breaths echoed in the space between them.
A moment later, Issac drew away enough to look at her. His gaze traveled over the bridge of her nose and down her cheeks, that shy smile tugging at his lips. He placed a tender kiss between her eyes then another on her nose.
The tenderness of his ministrations loosened some of the tightly woven strands around her heart. If she wasn’t careful, he’d unravel them all.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
“Kissing your delightful spots.” He brushed his lips over first one cheek then the other. “Your freckles remind me of a leopard. Sleek, beautiful, and so very sexy.”
Another string untangled around her traitorous heart, warming to this gentle man who’d found a way beneath her shield.
She gripped his biceps. Even through the soft cotton material, his muscles seemed as hard as steel. The sudden urge to feel his skin burned through her with such force, her fingernails dug into his shirt.
“Are you okay?” His brow furrowed.
“No. I’m not.” She glided her fingers to the top button on his shirt and released it from the eyehole.
Confusion drew his brow tighter, and he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“We’re both dressed and that’s a problem.” She smiled at him.
As if a gust of wind had blown across his face, his features brightened, his smile replacing his frown.
She continued her downward journey. With the release of each button, Issac’s breaths grew more ragged.
Like unwrapping a package and careful not to tear the paper, Chloe took her time undressing him. She caught glimpses of Issac’s smooth, muscled chest beneath his cotton work shirt. The increase in her pulse sent tingles of excitement along her nerves.
A low, needful growl burst from Issac’s lips. He tugged his shirt from his pants, raised his arms, and tossed the shirt through the air. The clothing landed on the back of the chair then slid to the ground with a soft plop.
“There, is that better?” he growled, his eyes alight with desire.
A laugh bubbled from deep inside, and she let it out. “Yes, much.”
The moonlight reflected on his broad shoulders, well-defined pecs, and the firm muscles of his abdomen. A slight dusting of dark hair trailed from his belly button to below his belt line, disappearing beneath his jeans.
She met his gaze.
Longing reflected in the depths of his dark eyes.
With deliberate intent, she brushed her palms up his biceps, over his shoulders, and down his chest, enjoying the firm muscles beneath her fingertips. She reached his belt buckle, and he gripped her hands, stopping her.
A flutter bloomed in her stomach. “What is it?”
He drew her toward the fireplace. “Allow me to please you.”
She inhaled, and her breath caught behind her throat. Chad had never wanted to please her before. He’d always expected her to pleasure him. Issac’s generosity toward her cut through a big section of the protective layer around her heart. Tears threatened, but she blinked them away.
Issac crouched on the floor, spread the comforter he’d cradled her in earlier over the faux fur rug, then threw two more logs onto the fire. The muscles in his back rippled beneath his skin, showcasing his immense strength. Warmth settled inside, a mixture of pride, desire, and hope. Could he really care for her?
“That should do for a while.” He rose to his feet and turned to face her.
With a look of reverence in his eyes, Issac slid his fingers along her jaw and cupped her cheek in his palm. He brought his lips to hers in a barely there kiss, leaving her shaking and wanting more.
“Issac.” She breathed his name on a sigh.
“I want to touch you, feel your soft skin on my fingertips.” He grazed the rough, calloused edge of his thumb over her lip, pulling at the taut flesh.
Chloe flicked her tongue over the tip. His eyes dilated and darkened into something primal.
A possessive growl burst from him. “You’re teasing me. I’m not sure how much of that I can take.”
Warm feminine pride swelled in her chest, and Clo whimpered in satisfaction.
Before she could tease him any further, he wrapped his free hand around her waist and tugged her close. He kissed her with the ferocity of a man starved for attention, for love. She ran her hands over his shoulders, up his neck and into his lush hair, relishing his possessiveness.
A fierceness seemed to overtake him, and he devoured her with every kiss, every nip, every breath he took. Lost in his kiss, she mewled her satisfaction, giving as much to him in return. After a long moment, she broke the kiss and fumbled with the edge of her shirt. The damn thing struggled against her, and she cried out in frustration.
“Let me help you.” Issac grasped her hands, and together they drew the material over her head. He threw her shirt toward the chair, but it skittered over the table before plopping to the floor.
His gaze lingered over her simple bra as he traced one strap from the tip of her shoulder all the way to the cup and brushed his index finger over the seam. Everywhere he touched, burned like a warm, sensual fire. He reached the juncture between her breasts, and he dipped his fingertip beneath the material and along her flesh. The rough, calloused edge tickled her skin, and a delightful shiver rippled over her shoulders.
“Very nice.” His low voice rumbled in the space between them.
With his free hand, he unhooked the bra clasp in the back and lowered the straps over her shoulders. The material slipped to the floor, exposing her breasts to him.
His attention flicked from her breasts to her eyes, and a low appreciative groan eased from his lips. “May I touch you?”
Her heart melted at his consideration. She could barely breath much less speak, so she nodded instead.
The glow from the fire reflected along one side of his face, casting shadows across his straight nose and the sharp line of his jaw. He was handsome beyond belief, and a warm kindness filled with desire burned in his steady gaze. Her heart stuttered that he’d want to be with her.
He trailed his fingers from her ribcage to the underside of her breast. With a gentleness that belied his strength, he cupped one breast in his palm. A tic flared to life in his jaw, his attention riveted on his ministrations. He flicked his calloused thumb over her nipple, sending a ripple of desire all the way to her core. She inhaled a sharp breath. What would it be like for him to touch her like that further south?
He laved his tongue over her nipple then sucked the taut end into his mouth. She moaned at the delightful sensations rippling from her breast to her core and entangled her fingers into his hair, stroking his scalp.
Issac gently nipped at her nipple, and she couldn’t take the intense pleasure anymore.
“Issac, please.” She panted and writhed against him.
He licked the bead of sweat between her breasts then captured her other nipple in his mouth. Tingles of pleasure rippled through her, and her knees trembled, buckling beneath her.
She slid down to the comforter, Issac guiding her every step of the way.
“I got ’ya.” His deep masculine voice carried a note of reverence. Side by side, front to front, he cradled her against him.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” She blurted the words before she lost her nerve.
He blinked and arched his eyebrows. “I want to love…to make love to you. I thought that’s what you wanted, too.”
Had he almost said he wanted to love her? Although they’d just met, it seemed like she’d known him for a very long time.
Mate… Clo whined in her mind.
Chloe bristled. She wasn’t sure if her wolf knew what she was talking about, but she couldn’t deny the attraction she had for Issac. He calmed her in ways no one ever had.
He sat up and ran his hand through his hair. A furrow formed between his brows. “Chloe. If you want me to stop, just say so.”
The hurt glint in his eyes just about broke her. She rose to her elbow and placed her hand on his bicep. The muscle flexed beneath her touch.
“Issac, I want you, more than I can say.” Not waiting for his reply, she straddled his legs and pushed against his chest. Not that she could ever move him on her own, but with gentle pressure, she encouraged him to lie down.
Dark Moon Falls: Volume 2 Page 122