Tall, Dark and Wolfish

by Lydia Dare

  She fit against him like she was made to be there. Ben turned her in his arms so that he could untie the laces of her dress. His lips pressed against her shoulder, tasting her skin as he slowly undressed her. She clutched her gown to her breasts when it would have fallen.

  “You will hide from me?” he asked, instantly worried for her.

  She let the dress fall and stood still and proud under the light of the moon, wearing nothing but her chemise. She tugged it over her own head and shed it, along with her drawers. Then she held out her hands to Ben.

  “I hide nothin’,” she said, smiling confidently. And she didn’t. The dusky rose color of her nipples, the same color as her beautiful lips, taunted him. He quickly peeled off his own clothes and lowered her to the soft earthen mattress.

  Ben allowed his gaze to drift over her unhurriedly. He wanted nothing more than to throw her legs over his shoulders and be inside her. But he tempered his lust; she was brand-new to this. She deserved the slow seduction that he wasn’t sure he was capable of.

  He bent his head and traced his tongue slowly around her nipple, which already stood, turgid and receptive, under the cool night air. Her hands threaded into his hair, her nails raking his scalp as he licked and suckled her nipple. With his free hand, he gently tormented her senses, drawing his fingertips over her skin slowly, until he reached her other nipple. She moved beneath him, gasping and arching into him.

  “If you don’t stop responding so readily, I’ll be done before we get started,” he mumbled.

  “I’m no’ supposed ta make noises?” she asked incredulously, raising her head to look at him.

  He laughed against her belly, where he teased her skin before coming up to kiss her softly.

  “You know I love the noises you make,” he said quietly. “But I’m afraid I’ll hurt you. I wanted to pleasure you before I am inside you.”

  She shook her head wildly. “That’s no’ what I want,” she said, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “I want ta share the pleasure with ye. Can we no’ do it that way?”

  “Yes, we can do it that way,” he said, breathing deeply. He would spill himself long before he got to be inside her if she kept moving around him.

  “Do ye want me ta do it?” she asked, breaking him from his thoughts.

  Only Elspeth would ask a question like that. But that was exactly what he needed. He rolled them over, quickly. Elspeth gasped as their positions reversed. She lay on top of him, her soft breasts against his chest, her hair hanging over him. He reached to push it back.

  “God, I love your hair,” he groaned.

  “Has a bit of a mind of its own,” she said as she flipped her head, trying to move the locks from her eyes.

  Her face shone in the shadows as the moonlight moved across her. “You’re so beautiful,” he said softly.

  Ben moved his hips so that his length pressed against her center. Elspeth gasped above him, then slid down his body a bit farther.

  “Ye may have ta tell me what ta do,” she said.

  “You’re doing it, love.”

  Her heat and wetness slowly overtook him as she sank down on him slowly. It was a exquisite torture.

  “You’re killing me, lass.” He groaned, raising one arm and covering his eyes with it. Perhaps if he didn’t look at her face as she was above him, he would be able to last longer.

  Elspeth didn’t take all of him. She stopped when she met resistance. “I canna,” she started, suddenly bewildered.

  Ben reversed their positions again, using his hands to cup her face. “Forgive me for being a coward, love.” Then he pressed himself home. She cried out, but Ben could not tell if it was from pain or pleasure. “Are you all right?”

  “Aye, I’m fine,” she said. “And ye?” she asked, as though they were in the parlor talking. Then she giggled.

  “Witch,” he reprimanded her, before he began to move inside her. He slowly entered and pulled out.

  “More,” she cried. “Please.”

  “That’s my girl,” Ben whispered as he set a rhythm and kept it. She was warm and wet and willing and… wed. To him.

  Elspeth cried out when he tilted her hips, taking more of her. “Please,” she gasped, reaching for that elusive climax.

  Ben reached a hand between their bodies and touched her center. “Ah!” she cried. If he didn’t bring her over soon, he would go without her. But she finally clenched and fluttered around him, crying out his name, just before he spilled himself inside her.

  Ben let some of his weight rest on her, his head on her shoulder. As their heartbeats slowed, a blanket of leaves covered their bodies. He smiled against her shoulder. This witch was his.

  Twenty-nine

  As they returned through the woods, Elspeth could hear the sounds of her friends and neighbors still celebrating. Ben squeezed her fingers and whispered, “Can we send them all away now?”

  She stopped walking and gazed up into his warm hazel eyes, twinkling in the moonlight. “Ye’re an abysmal host, Ben Westfield.”

  He lowered his head and gently kissed her. “They’re abysmal guests,” he complained. “They shouldn’t be standing around in our home the night of our wedding. They should come offer their felicitations in the morning.” Then he pulled her to him, and Elspeth sighed, feeling his hardness pressed against her belly. His desire to have her again was very obvious. “On second thought,” he growled, “they shouldn’t come see us for days.”

  She giggled. “Or maybe weeks?”

  “Months might be best,” he decided before kissing her again.

  When he raised his head, Elspeth tugged at his hand. “Come along; they’re probably wonderin’ where we are.” Or most of them. Sorcha and Rhiannon had a fairly good idea.

  They stepped into the clearing that led to her cottage, and Elspeth stopped in her tracks. Caitrin stood just a few feet away in the darkness, her arms folded across her chest.

  “Cait!” She rushed toward her friend. “I am so glad ye’re here.”

  With a pained smile, Caitrin hugged Elspeth to her. “I saw it as soon as I sent MacQuarrie ta check on ye. It was so foolish of me. If I’d just waited a minute longer, ye wouldna be in this situation.”

  Elspeth pulled away from her friend. “Cait, be happy for me. I like my situation just fine. Please be nice ta Ben for me. I want it more than anythin’.”

  Caitrin managed a tight nod. “I understand congratulations are in order, Westfield,” she bit out. There wasn’t an ounce of warmth in her voice, but for Caitrin it was a huge step.

  “Thank you, Miss Macleod. I’m sure it means the world to my wife that you’ve come.” His hand touched Elspeth’s back, and warmth spread throughout her. “Would you care to join us inside?”

  Caitrin shook her head. “I really shouldna let anyone see me. I’m supposed ta be recuperatin’. I doona want ta have ta answer any questions about my miraculous recovery.”

  Ben trailed his hand up Elspeth’s back, to squeeze her shoulder. “I’ll leave you for a minute, then. My wife thinks I’m a terrible host. I’ll go practice my manners.”

  Elspeth’s heart swelled at his generosity. She looked back at him and smiled her gratitude. “I’ll be along shortly.”

  When he disappeared into the cottage, Caitrin let go a huge sigh. “Blast him for bein’ gracious.”

  Elspeth couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s no’ as bad as ye think, Cait. He’s quite wonderful, really.”

  Caitrin walked farther into the darkness and kicked a pebble from her path, which skittered across the grass. “I suppose I’m selfish, El. I just dinna want the Còig ta fall apart. I hope it’s all worth it.”

  Elspeth shook her head, following her friend. “Cait, who said the Còig would fall apart? So I’ve married Benjamin. He knows who we are. He knows what I am. He doesna mind it, except when fireballs are thrown at his head or he’s held captive by vines.”

  Caitrin stopped walking, and in the moonlight El could see her friend’s incredulous s
tare. “Are ye daft, Elspeth Cam—” She took a deep breath. “Ye canna believe he’ll let ye stay here. He’s Sassenach. He’s no’ goin’ ta stay here. And ye think he’ll let his bride stay without him? He’ll take ye ta London, and we’ll never see ye again. And that’ll be it.”

  Elspeth didn’t believe that for a moment. “I am goin’ ta London, Cait, but only ta search out my father. Ben says there’s a man there who can help me. Ye canna possibly ken what this means ta me.”

  “And then ye’ll return?” Cait snorted in disbelief. “Somehow I doona think that will happen. He wants ta keep ye from us, El. I doona ken why ye canna see it.”

  “Ye’re wrong,” Elspeth whispered, though part of her wondered at that. He hadn’t mentioned them returning to Edinburgh. But he hadn’t mentioned them staying in London either. What were his plans?

  “I suppose we’ll see, then, won’t we?”

  Ben couldn’t hide his grin from Alec. His friend crossed the floor and removed a small vine of ivy that had somehow gotten wrapped around one of the buttons on his jacket. “Did you not think I’d notice your absence?”

  Ben ran a hand through his hair. “I thought you might be gentleman enough not to mention it.”

  Alec laughed. “You know me better than that, my friend.”

  Had the situation been reversed, Ben wouldn’t miss the opportunity to rib Alec. He clapped his hand on MacQuarrie’s back. “Do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of all these people? I’m anxious to have my wife all alone.”

  Alec glanced around the room at the other wellwishers. “So you haven’t lost interest in her, then?” he asked, avoiding Ben’s eyes.

  He shook his head. “I don’t see that ever happening, MacQuarrie. You can rest at ease. She’s the one.”

  “Take care of her, Westfield. She deserves better than her lot so far.” Then, without waiting for a response, Alec stepped away from him and spoke loudly to the room. “Tomorrow morning you’re all welcome to join me at my home for a wedding breakfast in honor of his lordship’s union.”

  A smattering of applause and a chorus of hurrahs broke out. Alec started toward the cottage door, herding the others out as he went. He threw a glance over his shoulder as the last of the neighbors left, smiling. “You owe me, Westfield.”

  Ben saluted his friend, just as Elspeth returned to the cottage. Alec dropped a kiss to her cheek. “Congratulations again, Lady Elspeth.”

  “Thank ye, Mr. MacQuarrie.”

  As Alec left, Elspeth turned her questioning gaze to Ben. “Everyone streamed out of here as if the place were on fire. I thought ye were goin’ ta work on yer hostin’ skills, my lord.”

  Ben stepped across the room and drew her back into his embrace. “I’d much rather host only you, my lady-wife.”

  A pretty blush stained her cheeks as she rested her hands on his chest. “Did ye ask them all ta leave?”

  “Alec,” he explained. “Apparently the only way to get hoards of Scots from your home is to promise them another party. I don’t know how he’ll get rid of them tomorrow.”

  Elspeth giggled and he scooped her up in his arms. “Benjamin, what are ye doin’?”

  “Taking my wife to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  She stared at him quizzically, which wasn’t exactly the look he’d wanted. “What’s tomorrow?”

  “After Alec’s impromptu wedding breakfast, we’ll start for London.”

  Elspeth pushed against his hard chest. “Put me down.” His hold tightened instead, and her temper began to rise. “Ben, I said put me down,” she said more forcefully.

  “What’s wrong, Ellie?” he asked, allowing her to slide down his body until she was back on her feet.

  “We canna start for London tomorrow.”

  He blinked at her, his hazel eyes shrouded in confusion. “Why not?”

  The man seemed so intelligent most of the time. Why had he picked now to play a dolt? “Have ye not heard a word I said, Ben?”

  “I hear every word you say. I like the sound of your voice.”

  So now he was going to try to be charming? Well, Elspeth wasn’t going to let him distract her. “I want ta go ta London. I want… no, I need ta find my father, livin’ or dead, one way or the other. But I canna leave tomorrow.”

  Ben frowned at her. So he had listened to her; he just didn’t remember what she’d said. Well, that seemed like something a wife should know. “Benjamin Westfield, I told ye this very mornin’ that I wouldna leave until ye were healed. Everythin’ I need is here—”

  “About that,” he interrupted, and his frown darkened. “There’s no need to wait, Elspeth; you won’t be healing me.”

  If he’d sprouted wings or burst into flame she wouldn’t have been more surprised. “I willna be healin’ ye?”

  He shook his head. “And I’d like to get a start on our journey ahead. I’m certain my mother will love you. I’m anxious for you to meet her. And…”

  Elspeth stopped listening and she stumbled backward. He didn’t have any faith in her. He didn’t think she could do it.

  A numbness washed over her and she blinked back her tears.

  “Ellie,” she heard him say, but she shook her head.

  She hadn’t thought anything through. She’d been so caught up in her feelings for him, she hadn’t asked the right questions or heard the right answers. And now she was married to a man who didn’t believe in her.

  Ben’s arm wrapped around her and kept her from falling. His concerned expression pulled at her heart, and she couldn’t look in his eyes for fear that she couldn’t contain her tears. “Let me go, Ben.”

  “You don’t look well, sweetheart.” He directed her to the settee. “Here, sit.” Then he sat beside her, clutching her hands in his. “Are you still feeling weak?”

  She shook her head, still not meeting his eyes. “I think maybe ye should go ta London without me.” Her words surprised her as much as they seemed to surprise him if his gasp was any indication.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Elspeth stared at their entwined hands. “Ye can talk ta yer major for me. Ye doona need me.” The last bit was especially hard to get out; the truth that he didn’t need her stung in her throat.

  “Elspeth Westfield,” he growled near her ear. “I’m not going anywhere without you. Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “People here trust me, Ben. They need me.”

  “Well, they can all hang. You’re my wife.”

  She slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. “I was a healer long before today.”

  A muscle twitched in his jaw and his eyes hardened. “Not anymore, Ellie.”

  The wind whooshed out of her lungs. Before she could find the words to properly thrash him, he continued.

  “I almost lost you today. Do you know what that did to me? Finding you slumped over Caitrin Macleod? And you were so cold, like a lake frozen solid. I could barely make out your heartbeat it was so slow. So no more healing. A doctor could have tended to Miss Macleod, and doing so wouldn’t drain his life force.”

  She gaped at him. He cared about her, even if he had no faith in her abilities. Still, it was disheartening. “I’ll have ye ken today was an anomaly. I’ve been helpin’ people for years, Ben. From time ta time I get a little weak, but with Cait… well, we’re so close, and—”

  “Sorcha explained all of that to me, lass. I won’t put you in danger, and neither will anyone else.”

  And that was why he didn’t want her to heal him. It wasn’t even the same thing at all. Stubborn man. He should have asked questions before making decisions that affected them both. “Ye told me from the beginnin’, Ben, that being a Lycan meant everythin’ ta ye. This mornin’ when I told ye I knew how ta heal ye, I’ve never seen yer face light up so. And now ye’re willin’ ta go through life like a human, turn yer back on who and what ye really are?”

  His brow furrowed and he looked at least a decade older than his twenty-six years. “I feel enough like my
old self when I’m with you, Ellie. I don’t need anything else.”

  “Ye told me ye needed ta be able ta change with the moon. Ye left yer home and yer family ta seek me out.”

  He rubbed his hands across his face and rose from his spot. “You’re close to Caitrin, Elspeth, and that closeness nearly took you from me today.” He stood over her glowering, his hazel eyes dangerously dark. “What we have, you and I, goes beyond closeness. We are connected in a way I don’t even understand, a way I didn’t even know was possible. So, no, you’re not going to heal me. Do you think I would risk losing you, just so I can change to wolf once a month and howl at the moon with my brothers?”

  As infuriating as he was, she didn’t think anyone had ever cared so much about her. Elspeth reached her hand up and caressed his cheek. “Ben,” she said softly.

  He closed his eyes and kissed her palm. “I won’t let you do it, Ellie.”

  She heaved a sigh. “It’s no’ the same sort of thing, Ben. I told ye this mornin’ I have my mother’s potions and spells. I ken how she fixed him, and if ye’d stop bein’ so stubborn and listen ta me, ye’d ken I willna be in any danger.”

  His eyes narrowed at her. “The extent of your healing will be potions and spells. You will not waste your own energy on me?”

  “Silly man. I plan ta spend some of my energy on ye, but not in that way.” She felt the heat creep up her face as he tipped her chin toward his and chuckled.

  He briefly touched his lips to hers before he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. “You can spend as much of that kind of energy on me as you like,” he assured her before he tossed her into the middle of the bed and shrugged out of his shirt.

  Thirty

  Ben stretched to his full height in the small bed, groaning as his head bumped the headboard and his heels hung off the end of the mattress. He lifted his head and looked around. If he spent any more time in Elspeth’s bed, he would have to purchase one made for a fully grown Lycan. Even a normal man would have been uncomfortable in her bed, which was just wide enough for her to sleep comfortably, alone.

  He smiled slowly to himself as he remembered adjusting her body during the night to pull her as close to him as he could. He had drawn her into the saddle of his hips, but then her beautiful round bottom taunted him. He had pressed her front to his, but then her nipples teased his chest. Finally he had roused her gently, pulled her atop him, and slid inside her. Then she’d fallen asleep in that position after they’d both found their pleasure, her cheek above his heart, her hair a fiery tangle around them both.