by T. J. Finn
“What’s this all about Willow? This is more than just a dislike for a holiday.”
She blinked back the tears and took a shuddering breath, then shook her head. “It’s not about anything, Max. Really. I need a vacation, as you can well see, and I’ve been planning one for a long time.” She wiped away the tears on her lashes and looked up at the windows. “Max?”
He looked up, then down at her and nodded. The windows near the ceiling were completely covered with snow. “I think we’ll have blizzard conditions in a few hours.”
Taking her hand and led her from the room and to the gym. “Come on, let’s take a look and if I don’t think it's too bad you can go.” She responded with a deep sigh.
The gymnasium was a bit colder than they both expected and Willow shivered. When they got to the doors, Max opened them. They both looked out at what looked like whiteout conditions, his Explorer was barely recognizable and that had been less than an hour.
Max shut the door, cutting off the artic air that had been swirling inside the door, and turned to look at Willow. “What do you think now?”
4
Max
Willow looked at Max, huffed, then turned around to march back to the storeroom. He grinned as she did, his eyes looking at her ass. She’d always had a fine ass. Chuckling to himself, he followed her, shutting the door behind him. It was cold in the huge gym, but hopeful, with the door closed, the storeroom would stay warm.
“Well, you got your wish. I’m stuck here.” Max stopped in his tracks when he saw Willow taking her jacket off and rolling up the sleeves of her red flannel shirt. “Do you have the material to fix this?”
“Follow me.”
Max gave her a big grin and she narrowed her eyes at him. “This does not mean you are forgiven, Max Tucker.” Max started laughing as he led her to the back of the room where lumber and tools for the platform lay.
They carried what materials Willow would need to help her rebuild the platform as the storm howled outside. Max could tell with his wolf’s hearing how the winds were increasing, rattling the windows above them. Willow seemed oblivious to it all as she focused on what she needed to do with the platform.
Max looked at her as she bent over to inspect a piece of wood and grinned. He’d found every opportunity to touch her, brushing against her arm or accidentally bumping against her hip. He could smell her desire and hear her heart beating harder each time. Setting down the last piece of wood she needed, he walked up behind her, bending over her shoulder to see what she was looking at. She stumbled a little and he grabbed her hips, pulling her back against his thigh. Her earthy scent mixed with furniture wax and flowers surrounded him and his wolf yelped happily.
“What are you doing, Max?” Willow straightened and turned to face him. He reached out and grabbed her around her waist to stop her from stumbling back into the platform, pulling her against him.
“I’m trying to keep you safe.” He gave her his most innocent look. She laughed at his look and shook her head. “Not working? Well then maybe this is what I’m trying to do.”
Max dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers once, then twice before his arms tightened around her and he kissed her again. This was no quick peck but a kiss that had her whimpering and moaning a moment before her arms snaked around his neck. She raised on her toes when their tongues brushed against each other. He deepened the kiss, moving his hands down until they cupped her ass, pressing her against his hard shaft that threatened to bust through his jeans.
Suddenly her arms were no longer around his neck, but were pushing against his chest. He growled low and lifted his head, unwrapping himself from around her, opening his eyes. The sight of her swollen lips made him want more, but she shook her head as she tried to catch her breath. “Max, we can’t. No more kissing. I have to leave.”
As if on cue, the lights flickered twice and they both looked up to see them flicker again before going out completely. Standing silently for a moment, they looked at each other. “Um, Max?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll go check the fuses.” Walking to the bucket of tools, he found a flashlight it in. Checking to make sure it worked, then held out his hand when he heard Willow hurrying behind as he headed to the back room. Thankfully, his wolf’s eyes had only taken a moment to adjust to the darkness, but Willow was human and there were all kinds of boxes and shelves she could trip over or run into. He handed her the flashlight as they walked into the windowless room.
Max found the fuse box and, after tinkering with it a minute, he sighed. “Fuses all look fine. That means the electricity is out. I better call the station. I’ll drop you off at home and head in.”
He reached into his pockets, then cursed. “I left my phone outside in my Explorer. I’ll be right back.”
“I’d offer you mine, but I left my phone in the car with my bag. I thought we were just stopping in and then leaving right away or I would have brought it. Now what do we do?”
Reaching into his pocket, he grinned as he shook his keys.”Let’s go play in the snow.” Willow laughed shaking her head as Max took her hand and pulled her to him. He brushed a kiss over her lips before he spoke.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you warm up later.” Max gave her a wolfish grin this time, his wolf agreeing with him. He’d make sure they were both nice and hot and he’ll make her forget that she was supposed to leave town.
The gym was freezing since there was no heat. It was so big and hard to heat in the best of circumstances, but with the snow and the electricity out, it was quickly turning into a very large refrigerator.
“You ready for this? It's going to be really cold.” Max turned to her as she pulled her coat around her and nodded.
“I just want to go home. At least I have a fireplace and plenty of wood.”
Max nodded and pushed on the door to open it. But it didn’t budge. She frowned and stepped forward. “Is it locked?”
“No. It feels like something is blocking it.”
Willow stepped up next to him and they pushed it together, this time moving the door slightly open, just enough that they could see that the wind had blown the snow up against it and it wasn’t going to open any further. They pulled the door closed again and looked at each other.
“Is there a phone in the church office?”
Max sighed, scrubbing his hand down his face and shook his head. “The door leading to the main church is locked with a bolt lock and I don’t have a key.” She started to speak and he held up a hand. “And before you ask, the door is a metal door with no window to break.”
Willow shivered and her teeth chattered as she spoke. “Let’s go back into the other room.” Max nodded and led her back into the store room.
When the door closed with a decisive click, he pulled her to him, pushed off her coat and started rubbing her arms. “We’ll be warm in here. You stay here and I’m going to go rummage around the back room. The church keeps a lot of stuff in there. I might be able to find candles and things we could use to cover up with and stay warm.”
5
Willow
“Not on your life, Slick. Two can look faster than one.” She snatched the flashlight out of the tool bucket gave him a smile. “You’re a wolf. I know you can see better in the dark than I can. So let’s get this done. It’s starting to get cold in here.”
They made quick work of finding what they needed and carried out some candles, blankets and some mats that the kids used sometimes to put on the cold, tiled floor. Arranging everything on the floor, they finally settled down on the floor with the blankets. Willow shivered as a chill hit her then squealed when Max grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down on his lap.
“Cover us up, Willow. We’ll stay much warmer this way.”
Warmer? Willow swallowed hard. If she sat on Max’s lap like this, his arms tight around her, pulling her against his hard chest, she might spontaneously combust. But she didn’t try to get off, simply settled in against his chest.
“Wait until Ash hears this story.” Willow grinned as she felt Max’s chest move, his soft laughter echoing around them.
Max lifted her chin so she could look at him. The flecks in his dark green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness but it was his lips that caught her attention. From their earlier kisses she knew that they were silky soft and very sexy. “Let’s not tell Ash this story.”
Max dipped his head and kissed her, his tongue moving along the seam of her lips until she opened for him and he swept inside her warm mouth. She whimpered softly, returning his kiss, her heart beating like a drum in her chest. His hands lifted her shirt and his fingers found her warm flesh. Moving his hand further up, his thumb could trace the lace trim of her bra.
Willow whimpered again and arched into his body when his thumb moved to rub against her hardening nipple. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been in a full blown make out session and god only knew how many times she’d fantasized about making out with Max. Her body tremble as he slowly stroked her desire with his tongue and fingers. Her head began to swim with the desire that was building inside of her. Her blood ran hot through her body, pooling between her legs making her ache for more.
Max finally lifted his head, both of them panting. “I’ve wanted you for so long, Willow.”
She smiled, the fast rhythm of her heart made it nearly impossible to breathe let alone speak. “I can’t even tell you how long I’ve wanted to be in your arms like this but what would…”
He put his finger over her lips. “Don't say your brother’s name again. We are both adults. If we want this then we should…”
It was her turn to stop him from finishing his sentence. Willow moved so that she was now straddling his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers playing in his soft black hair. Licking her lips nervously, she felt rather than heard him groan deep in his chest. Hoping that was her encouragement to go further, she leaned in and kissed him.
Pulling away from him, Willow searched his eyes, feeling something shift inside her, all those feelings she had for Max filled her. She needed him. Electricity was sparking in her body filling every nerve endings firing. All this kissing and innocent, or not so innocent if she knew Max, touches while they worked had her on fire.
She kissed him again, he wrapped her arms around him neck again, and kissed him. Pulling away slightly, her eyes never leaving his, she unbuttoned her shirt and pushed it off her should. ers. She shivered as goosebumps suddenly broke out, spreading across her soft skin. “I’m cold, Max. I’m cold in so many ways.” She shivered again. “I need to be warm. Warm me, Max. Love me and warm me. Please.”
Max needed no more words. His arms tightened around her, holding her as he laid her back on the mats. He sat up and reached down to unhook her bra and pushed it aside to watch her nipples harden. She shivered again but she didn’t know if it was from the cold or the way he was looking at her. Reaching up, she grabbed his shirt to pull him down to her but he shook his head. Taking her wrists, he pushed them over her head.
“You’re not going to cover up until I’ve had my fill of you.”
Liquid heat rushed through her, pooling at the apex of her thighs at the promise his words held. Her whole body was trembling just from him kissing her and she ached, deep inside, wanting him to touch her. Her clothes suddenly seemed like wool scraping across her sensitive skin. They both had too many clothes on. Max must have agreed because he sat up and swept his shirt off, then reached down to unzip her jeans.
Neither spoke as he tugged her jeans off leaving only her white, lace panties in place. “I need to hear you say the words, Willow.” His voice was a warm, hoarse whisper in her ear. “I need you, Willow but I need to hear the words from you.”
She closed her eyes and brushed her fingers through his hair. “I need you too, Max. Make love to me before I spontaneously combust. Please.” She felt rather than heard his soft chuckle but it must have been what he needed to hear. Max trailed kissing down her neck to the junction where her neck and should met. She moaned when he nipped her skin there, then started made his way down her chest.
Willow arched her back when he suddenly sucked one of her breasts into his mouth, his tongue lashing her hardening nipple. He moved to the other breast, using his hand to twist and pull one nipple while his tongue teased and licked the other one. He lifted his head when she shivered and looked up at her. Giving him a shaky smile, she shivered again. “Sorry, it’s cold.”
Max chuckled as he moved up to kiss her again. “Take off your panties, Willow.” He moved and stood up after he issued that command and was taking his jeans off as she shimmied out of her panties. Laying back down, his body covered hers again, skin to skin, his erection pressing into her thigh. “I can smell how much you want me, Willow.”
“Max, please. I need you. I need you inside me. Please.”
6
Max
Max nearly came right then there when Willow told what she needed. Between the feel of her soft, silky skin against his, the smell of her arousal, and his own needs, he almost lost it before he had even had a taste of her. His lips found hers again as he lifted his hips and slowly sank into her hot, wet heat. Their collective moans filled the room as he lay there a moment, allowing her body to get used to him before he slid even deeper.
His head swam at the feel of her squeezing him, taking him in. This had to be what Heaven felt like and he never wanted to leave. She moved her hands up his chest and over his shoulders when he started to move. He pulled out slightly, then slowly slid back inside her, her body squeezing him tighter with each thrust.
His wolf let out a howl of approval, urging Max to mate Willow but he pushed back. He would not mate with Willow until they’d talked about what it really meant for them both. But right now, there was no way he’d be able to say anything intelligent. This woman who was cradling his body, holding him close to her, had turned his brain to mush.
Max felt Willow wrap her legs around his waist, her heels digging into his ass, pulling him deeper inside her. That almost took him over the edge again but he refused to allow the release that was rushing forward before she’d had hers. He couldn’t keep up the slow and sensual thrusts and finally, when he pulled out, he pushed back into with a wild thrust that sent them both on a runaway train ride to ecstasy. Each thrust was faster and harder than the last as he devoured her lips. He wanted this to last forever but needed to feel his seed filling her just as badly.
Lifting his head, he looked down into her eyes, getting lost in their dark amber depths. He would never get over how beautiful this woman was but he did know that he wouldn’t wait long to make her his. His hard thrust just then had Willow’s eyes close and arching her back. “Max please. I need…”
He cut of her words with a kiss then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Come for me, Willow.” With that he pulled out again then slammed back into her. He felt her body tighten around him, the walls of her pussy squeezing him and that’s all it took. Reaching between them, his fingers found her swollen clit and he rubbed as he quickened his pace. Suddenly Willow cried out, her body arching into him, taking him even deeper than before. He felt his own release suddenly explode inside him and he cried out himself.
When they were both spent, Max slumped on top of her a moment before rolling to his side, pulling her against him. She protested a moment and he let her go long enough for her to pull the blankets around them then pulled her back against him. They lay there in silence for a bit before Willow turned in his arms so she was facing him.
“Why haven’t we done this before?” Max blinked a minute then saw her impish grin and started laughing.
“We haven’t done this before because your brother was always around.”
They laughed They lay quietly for a moment, just taking in the moment, their hands moving lightly over each other’s bodies. Max loved the feel of Willow in his arms and so did his wolf. Now that they were laying there, his wolf had finally settled down and actually curled up and closed his eyes. The feeling was so foreign to him. It had been so long since he’d felt his wolf being this calm.
He knew why his wolf had settled down, of course, and it wasn’t just having sex with a
beautiful woman. Although though they lay on a mat in a church, this had been more than sex. For Max it had been love but had been something more for Willow? She’d said she wanted him but did she love him?
“What are you thinking about so hard, Max?”
He blinked a few times, getting out of his own head to truly focus on Willow. He gave his shoulders a slight shrugged as he touched her face lightly. Never one to hold back what he thought or felt, Max struggled a moment to find the answer to her question. Finally, he took a deep breath. If he were going to jump it might as well be a huge cliff that he jumped from and hoped that the landing would be soft.
“I’m thinking about you.”
Willow laughed softly. “It must be something bad by the look I saw on your face.” Her smile disappeared and she frowned. “Are you regretting this? Is it because of my brother? Did I do something wrong?” She tried to roll away from him as she rambled but he kept her close against him and kissed her.
Lifting his head he shook it as he tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t regret it and fuck Ash. I don’t care what he thinks. Besides, I’ve always been able to kick his ass. I’ll do it again if he goes ballistic about this.”
