by Storm Savage
He crept up a long flight of stairs to the second floor, where he assumed the bedrooms would be located. After silently checking each room, he found the target sleeping in what looked like the master suite. Walking over to the huge elaborate bed, he kicked the footboard with force. “Rise and shine, cupcake!” Zale shot off the mattress in full panic. He reached for the nightstand drawer but Lorcan kicked his hand away. “Going for the little handgun, huh?” In two steps, he had Zale pinned to the wall by the throat. “I’m going to enjoy this. I love kicking the shit out of motherfuckers like you.”
“Look,” Zale squeaked. “The safe is behind the wall. Take the money and go.”
“How much is she worth?”
A dumbfounded look flitted through terrified eyes. “Huh? Who?”
“Your wife, asshole, how much would you pay to keep her around as your punching bag?”
“I-I don’t know who you are or what you think you heard, but I—”
“Save it!” Lorcan drove a fist into Zale’s jaw, then slammed a knee into his gut. “Stand up like a man, you pussy ass.” Lorcan jabbed him in the eye. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Can you only hit women?”
Zale slid to the floor and groaned. “Who the hell are you?”
Lorcan dropped to one knee, striking repeatedly with both fists. Rage engulfed him. He saw the enemy torturing their own women, using them as human shields—memories he longed to forget, yet the horror was never very far away. Zale cowered beneath his fury, covering his head with both arms. Lorcan never backed off. He pummeled Orianna’s abuser without mercy.
When the man appeared beaten into submission, Lorcan pulled him to his feet by his neck. Their eyes met.
“Please…no more…” Zale gasped for breath.
“Is that what Orianna said when you beat her?” Lorcan seethed.
A shocked look flooded the man’s eyes. “Y-you…know…my wife?”
“She came to me. She belongs to me now. You’ll never touch her again.”
“Keep your hands off my wife. I’ll kill her before I let her fuck another man.”
Lorcan shook his head. “That’s what I thought. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your widow.” He smirked.
He watched until the realization flickered in Zale’s eyes, followed by sheer horror.
“Yeah…” Lorcan muttered. “You get the picture now.” In two swift moves, he swung Zale around, then snapped his neck with ease. His body slumped into a lifeless heap on the carpet.
His thoughts came together quickly.
Lorcan called upon the Shasta Realm again for the power to shift. Instantly he was taken into the gap. The transition was quick and painless, yet nonetheless marvelous every time. Watching and feeling his human form shift into the powerful wolf amazed him. Fur sprung from his pores like goose bumps until a thick coat enveloped his body. Hands and feet transformed into large paws before his eyes. The last part to change was his teeth. Canines in his mouth grew into wolf fangs as the other teeth became sharper, too.
He exited the house the same way in which he’d entered, using his bushy tail to sweep his human tracks from the landing outside the door. The moon had dropped far to the west. Dawn would break soon. Lorcan made haste into the woods, anxious to see the beautiful woman waiting in his den.
Not far into the forest, he picked up the scent of another animal approaching. A few minutes later he heard something following him. His senses went on high alert but he did not slow down. Nothing would deter him from a speedy return home. Rapidly moving footsteps closed in from behind until he finally decided to stop and investigate this tagalong. He knew of no natural enemies in this area and the footsteps were not human. They were too light to be from a bear.
Veering off course, he slipped into the thicket and waited for his follower to catch up. She came into view not long after he hid. With her nose to the ground, the beautiful female wolf tracked his scent. He stared at her rich brown fur, caught a glimpse of her dark brown eyes as she sniffed the air. It can’t be. He traced his thoughts. There had never been another wolf in these hills, especially a female. A she-wolf’s presence would have surely drawn other males into his territory. This lady was new and her scent swirled around him, stirring his desire to mate.
She startled when he stepped from the thicket into her plain view. Their eyes met. He didn’t know how or when, but he’d know those warm brown eyes anywhere. Somehow, in some way, Orianna had shifted into the most beautiful chocolate brown wolf he’d ever laid eyes on.
Not wanting her to be afraid, he went to her without delay. They sniffed each other over. She clearly recognized him. He wanted her to know that he also recognized her. He nuzzled her neck, then rubbed his head along her body while growling softly. She responded affectionately by arching her neck toward his, curling around him in a sweet manner. Her body language indicated that she wanted to mate. They touched noses. He licked her face.
She stood up on hind legs and playfully pawed at him. They danced around one another in the snow, pouncing and leaping. The deep emotion shimmering in her eyes melted the walls of ice around his heart. He couldn’t believe Orianna had become a wolf, an answer to his prayers. Now there would be no gap between them. Her animal behavior gave every indication that she accepted him as her mate.
They nestled their heads side-by-side and raised their muzzles toward the sky. In synchronization, they released a long howl at the waning moon. Her wolf song echoed throughout the forest, caressing his soul, bathing his troubled spirit in serenity. Nothing or nobody had ever touched him as she did. Sorrow, longing, and the desperate need to be loved resonated in her howl. They bayed at the moon for several minutes, releasing their suppressed desires to one another in that incredibly intimate moment.
He nudged her to run with him back toward his den. She rubbed her thickly furred body against his in submission. They broke into a run and together dashed through the woods, heading home.
* * * *
Orianna followed her wolf mate into his den. She waited for him to shift before calling on the Shasta Realm to enable her return to human form. The shift was smooth and easy, just as it had been when going from human to wolf. Her first time as a wolf was exhilarating. Running free without fear, she’d felt completely at peace for the first time in her life.
Lorcan swept her into his arms. “How? When?” Curiosity and wonder brimmed in those shadowy, seductive eyes. He stroked her face with his hands. “Your bruises…they are gone.”
She realized that her transition must have healed her human flesh. “When I fell asleep after taking the pills, I had a very similar experience to the one you described.” She paused reflectively. “I didn’t remember it until you left the cave, though. While you were telling me about the Shasta Realm, I felt a connection, but it was more like a dreamlike memory. When I saw you in your wolf form, everything became much clearer.”
“Will you share your experience with me?” Anticipation hung on his voice.
She nodded with a smile. “I felt very cold. Then I was suspended in the most perfect place of peace I’d ever known. I wanted to stay there. I didn’t want to come back to this life and deal with Zale again. But a woman who introduced herself as the Goddess Shae came to me. When you mentioned her name, it triggered a spark of recognition in the back of my mind. Yet I couldn’t quite pull it all together.”
“I understand. I felt the same way after my visit to the realm.”
“She gave me a choice.”
“Really?”
Orianna smiled. “I guess each case is unique. She told me that I could go on to the next realm and leave this world forever, or that I could come back as a wolf because of my selfless act of saving one from the trap. I guess you know my decision.”
A soft expression traversed his handsome face. “You came back to help me? I did nothing to deserve your favor.”
“The Goddess Shae explained to me that even if I went on to the next world, my spirit might become restless, as I have nev
er known true love. Also, the situation with Zale could haunt me if I didn’t gain closure. She assured me that if I chose to return, a perfect mate awaited me.” Orianna reached up and caressed his face. “She was right.”
“I am far from perfect.”
“You are what I need.”
A genuine smile touched his lips. “I wondered how you so easily accepted my story about the Shasta Realm. I told one of the VA psychologists about it and they simply prescribed more meds to stop the delusions. You really do understand.”
“Yes, and I am not afraid of what haunts you. If you need to shift when the demons are too much, I will shift, too. You never have to face that hell alone if you’d rather not.”
“You are an answer to my prayers.” He placed a tender kiss on her lips.
“Some days, I may need to escape these human bonds as well. Will you shift with me, too?”
“You bet I will. Wolves mate for life.” He gave her a spirited wink. “You are stunning in both forms.”
“I never thanked you for eliminating Zale.”
“Yes, you did.” A look of pleasure swept over his face. “You met me in the woods as the most beautiful she-wolf in existence. I couldn’t ask for more. You took it upon yourself, from the kindness in your heart to bridge the gap between us.”
“Even in your darkness, I sense goodness in you.” She gave him a shy smile. “I want to know real love. I want to know you.”
He cupped her chin with a gentle hand. “You will.” Their lips met again, then those seductive eyes drew her deeper. “Did the Goddess give you a name?”
“Ria…she said it means enchanting song.”
“She gave you a perfect name.” His voice was low, sensually soft.
Curling her arms around his strong neck, she whispered, “Make love to me, Lorcan. Show me what it feels like to enjoy sex.”
He lifted her off the floor into his arms, staring down into her eyes. “I will never hurt you, Ria.”
She smiled as he carried her to the back of their den. He laid her on the thick bear rug. Out of habit, she flinched when he pulled the satin fabric off her shoulders.
“Relax, pretty baby,” he purred. “I’ll be intense, but I will always be gentle.”
With a relenting nod, she drew a deep breath and didn’t move as he eased the dress down. His lips began just below her ear, nibbling a trail of kisses down her neck, over her bare shoulders and downward to her breasts. She gasped and tensed when he took a nipple into his mouth. But she relaxed quickly as the gentle tugging of his mouth created pleasing sensations in her body.
He moved from one breast to the other, taking each tingling nipple between soft lips, sucking eagerly yet not too hard. A light moan escaped her. Dampness gathered on her panties. Her breathing quickened. She tangled her fingers in his silky hair and urged him on.
His hair brushed her midriff as he worked the dress past her hips, then down her legs until the garment fell completely away. She didn’t stop him when he dipped his tongue below her panty line. Slowly, he removed the lace underwear. His warm breath feathered her thighs, making her ache for more. Instinctively, she let her legs fall open. Lorcan shifted his position so that his face was right between her thighs.
“Ohhh…” Intense pleasure shot through her body as his tongue slid up the center of her sex. She arched her back for more.
He lapped between the sensitive folds and over her clit until she writhed beneath him. A rush of warmth pooled between her thighs and he quickly swept it away with his tongue. Every stroke of his long, hot tongue took her higher. The tightening inside her core rose quickly. Suddenly, spasms gripped her body. He groaned and intensified the delectable licking. She panted for breath, taken by surprise. Never had a man drawn a climax from her. This was something she’d only felt from pleasuring herself in private. But those secret moments paled drastically to what she felt now.
Still clutching his hair, she tugged him closer. “Please…more…”
He glanced up with a heated expression that left her breathless. “Come here, then.” After rolling onto his back, he guided her to kneel above his face. “I’ll eat your sweet pussy as long as you want. This way my hands are free to roam.” He cast her a wink that made her shiver.
His raw sexual manner didn’t intimidate her. Much to her pleasant surprise, she enjoyed this rugged male. He spoke with the sheer desire to please, not to take. This felt very good, utterly natural with him.
Bracing her hands on the rug, she lowered her hips until his mouth once again closed over her throbbing flesh. He caressed her breasts and manipulated her nipples with amazing skill. Every part of her felt alive. Straddling his face, she couldn’t stop herself from thrusting against him, silently pleading for that tantalizing tongue to reach deeper and stroke her into another wave of bliss. After a second, more intense orgasm racked her body with shudders, the craving for him flooded her.
Taking some initiative, Orianna pivoted her hips. She undid the fly to his pants. He wriggled as she pushed them down and away. His erection sprung free. The desire to taste him surprised her, yet she went with it. Everything about this superior male appealed to her and set her at ease. She bent forward, taking his long thick cock into her mouth.
“Fuck yeah,” he groaned then gripped her hips and pulled her down.
He tasted slightly salty and wonderfully masculine. She took her time exploring his magnificent length, letting her tongue trail along the underside, around the rim and over the velvety head. Drops of pre-cum glistened on the tip. She quickly lapped them up, flicking her tongue back and forth over his swollen head. His breathing became more erratic as they tasted each other, licking and sucking.
At her own leisurely pace, she took his length between her lips, easing his massive cock in an inch at a time as her mouth and throat adjusted to his size. She’d pleasured her former husband many times in this manner, but not willingly. This time, she thoroughly enjoyed the act. Lorcan’s sweetly protective demeanor and fearless nature turned her on immensely, stripping away her fears and inhibitions. The deeper they engaged, the more she craved.
“Ria…baby doll, I’m going to come,” he murmured. “You don’t have to…”
She went down on him hard, sucking his full length down her throat. He released something between a groan and a growl. His legs quivered as she drew hungrily on his cock. Seconds later a burst of semen flooded her mouth. Eagerly she swallowed, but his release was so intense that some oozed down her chin. She loved it, embraced it.
Her hips rocked against his face as another wave of blissful contractions clamped down. She could barely breathe from the thrill of it all. Drinking in his emission while coming in his mouth was unreal. Hunger inside continued to rise. Everything they did ignited another impulse, urges she’d been unable to release until now. She savored the taste of him, breathed in his scent, basked in this new freedom.
When both were completely sated, Lorcan pulled her into his arms. They lay beside each other panting as their climax made a gradual descent.
“You’re amazing.” He turned his head toward her.
She gazed dreamily into his eyes. “I was hungry.”
He let out a short laugh. “I noticed. I was famished, myself.”
“You taste good.”
A hot look filled those smoldering depths. “You have no idea how much that turns me on to hear that.”
“It’s true. I never enjoyed it before. I’ll go down on you anytime.”
“Damn, woman…” He rolled on top of her and sealed his mouth to hers.
She felt his erection return against her thigh as his tongue slid between her lips. They sank into a heavy French kiss, entwining their arms and legs. A session of rolling about on the blanket while tangled around each other brought their arousal back in full force. The ache for penetration welled inside. She longed for him to claim her as his own, to drive that amazing cock deep into her body, and relieve the burning lust she’d denied all her life. The animal she’d ke
pt locked inside needed to be unleashed.
He eased their lips apart and covered her body with kisses. His hands swept over her, teasing, stroking, and lovingly staking their claim. They rolled over with her on top. She lowered her upper body, offering her breasts to him, longing to feel his warm moist mouth suck her nipples again. A feral groan rose in his chest as he openly welcomed her aggression.
While he took turns tugging hungrily at each breast, she straddled his hips and gripped his thick erection with one hand. He glanced up at her face. Their eyes met. She smiled slightly while guiding his engorged cock into her sex, wet and swollen with need. Watching him suck her nipples as she rode his cock thrilled her. She loved that he enjoyed her this way and allowed her to take the lead. His easy lovemaking released her fears, conquered her inhibitions. For the first time, being with a man felt really good.
She manipulated her position above him to her ultimate pleasure. Lifting her hips just a little, she’d let his cock slide out far enough so that the head rubbed her clit, then thrust back down again. Each time, he groaned his pleasure. She loved the feel of him. His pleasing groans lulled her into a blissful state of mind. Knowing that she excited him delighted her in a new way. He was amazingly easy to be with.
An unfamiliar tightening rose in her core. She’d never experienced a vaginal orgasm. No man had ever taken the time. Is that what’s happening? The sensation mounted quickly. She discovered that by shifting her hips just right, the head of his cock touched a very sensitive spot inside her sex.
“Ohhh…” She threw her head back as the feeling continued to rise.
Lorcan didn’t try to take control, but let her ride him as she pleased. He held her breasts in both hands while continuing the delectable sucking. He seemed to understand what was taking place. Her body tensed. She didn’t want to lose the building momentum so she carefully kept to the exact same movements. Each time his slickened head stroked the inner wall of her sex, ripples of incredible pleasure washed over. Nothing had ever felt quite like this.
