by S. K. Yule
“Hey! I can walk on my own.” She squirmed to get down, but he held onto her firmly.
He laughed. “No sense in us both getting soaked. Anyway, the snow would probably come to your waist.” He tapped her gently on her cute little nose.
“No short jokes,” she scoffed.
He carried her to the front door, fished his key from his pocket, and unlocked the deadbolt. He let her slide slowly down his body, wondering if she could feel what she did to him. “I wasn’t making a joke, merely a statement. I like your size.”
She sucked in a breath when he pushed some of the pale, golden strands of hair behind her ear. He couldn’t resist the urge to sniff her, and he leaned close to her ear before inhaling her scent deep into his lungs. His heart pounded, and his skin grew hot while his cock demanded to claim her. He cupped her face and was encouraged by the way her pupils dilated at his touch. She was not unaffected by him, and that pleased him more than anything.
Her full lips parted when he rubbed his cheek lightly against hers. He had to kiss her. He couldn’t deny himself that one small pleasure any longer. He placed his mouth a breadth from hers. “Rindy.” Her name rasped from his throat in a desperate plea for her acquiescence.
She must have understood what he was asking by simply uttering her name. “Yes.”
He took her mouth gently, wanting to savor his first taste of her, and groaned. Her sweetness hit his blood like a drug. He cupped the side of her face with one hand and her nape with the other, pulled her closer, and deepened the kiss. She gasped, and he took advantage of the moment to dip his tongue inside. Her tongue touched his tentatively at first, but it grew bolder with each stroke, nearly matching the aggressiveness of his own.
He wanted to devour her, ached to be inside her. But he knew she wasn’t ready, yet would it be so bad of him to touch her just a little before he stopped? He slid his hand from her nape to cradle the back of her head. His fingers tangled in her thick mane of hair and anchored her to him. He glided his other hand from her jaw down the side of her neck, over her shoulder, and down her back. She rested her hands on his chest, and he trailed his fingers lightly down her ribcage, back up, and around, grazing the bottom of her breasts. Fire shot through him and overtook him, and savage need blinded him to all reason. He shoved her against the wall and blanketed her with his body. He growled as he kissed her and rotated his hips against her, leaving her in no doubt of his desire for her.
His breathing came in pants, and pure lust tore through his body as his hunger for her grew. Instinct to claim her chased all chivalrous thoughts from his mind. He had to have her. He devoured her mouth while he snaked his hand up under her shirt and pushed at the lace of her bra, until one small but perfect breast was exposed to his touch. The delicate nipple was budded into a tight peak, and his mouth watered at the thought of tasting it.
He left her lips, bunched her shirt in his hand then lifted it, and bent to fasten his mouth over her breast, sucking the nipple deep. She cried out and arched against him. Her skin was nearly as hot as his own, and he was so lost in the touch, taste, and scent of her, it took him awhile to realize her small hands were pushing against his shoulders.
“Please, Brent. Stop,” she gasped through ragged breaths.
He let her breast pop free of his mouth and got his own breathing under control before he pulled the fabric of her bra back in place and her shirt down. Her gray eyes were wide, and he slowly placed his hands on the wall, resting them on either side of her head.
“Rindy?” Damn. Even her name on his lips shot fire to his groin.
Her breaths came in gasps, and she didn’t answer him, just stared at him like a lost, wild animal.
“I’m sorry. I got carried away. I only meant to kiss you, but once I tasted you . . .” He shook his head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Can you show me where my room is now?” Her voice sounded small, fragile.
He sighed, backed up, and took her hand, knowing she wouldn’t accept it if he simply offered his hand to her.
* * * *
Rindy’s body quivered. She’d never been kissed like that before. In fact, her kissing experience had been limited to a few clumsy attempts by boys at school. Brent was no boy, and his touch had made her feel things she’d never felt before. Her body ached for something she did not understand, and it confounded and intrigued her.
The cabin was gorgeous, and she’d never seen any place as stunning. The snow-capped trees that made up the thick woods surrounding the cabin were at least eighty feet tall and towered over the log abode. She had imagined how lovely the sight would be if she sat on the wraparound porch.
It was no less impressive on the inside. The furniture was simple, yet comfortable- looking. Rich burgundy, green, and blue colored the rugs, couches, and chairs. And the woodwork was incredible. Everywhere she looked were hand-carved pieces, a table here, a chair there.
He guided her down a hallway past two doors on the left and came to a stop at the end in front of another door on the right. Her room was just as pretty with a bed that looked to be hand- made from logs, and matching nightstands and dresser with more of the same rich-colored blankets and rugs dotting the room.
“This is breath-taking.”
“Thank you. It took a long time to get everything just right.”
“You did all of this yourself?”
He nodded. “Yes. I built the cabin and all of the wood pieces you see.”
“Y-you built all of this?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
“People would pay a lot of money for your talent, Brent. Do you know that?” She could not believe that he’d done all of this. It was amazing.
“I don’t know about that. I wasn’t worried about what other people thought.” He furrowed his brows. “Well, maybe what one other person thought.”
He must be talking about his mate. She was beginning to think whoever she was, was going to be one lucky girl. Not only could he create some of the most gorgeous things she’d ever seen, but he was sexy as hell, and his kisses weren’t bad either.
“Well, it is stunning.” Brent Falls was one talented man.
He walked to a door beside the dresser. This is your bathroom. There’s another one down the hall, the second door on the left we passed. The first is my room. “Are you hungry again?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. I’d like to take a bath, if you don’t mind. After that, I might be.”
“Okay. I’ll find something to cook for us.”
“You cook, too?” How had he not found his mate yet? He was almost too good to be true.
He gave her a lopsided grin that made her feel a little tingly. “Not all males are useless, you know.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
He chuckled, and she laughed. It felt really good to laugh. He watched her with those smoldering eyes for a few moments before he left.
He called over his shoulder. “I’ll see you in awhile.”
“Okay.”
By the time she’d unpacked and taken her shower—which was in the biggest walk-in shower she’d ever seen—she was getting hungry. She’d towel-dried her hair, and it hung in loose waves around her shoulders. She’d thrown on a pair of her favorite faded jeans and a black T-shirt, slipped on some socks and her sneakers, and was ready to explore some more. She walked down the hallway and into the living room. A pair of sliding glass doors was in the far corner, and she went to check the view out.
“Oh, my.” A hot tub sat on one end of a huge deck that overlooked the forest. It was a stunning view, unmarred by the smog and buildings of the big cities she was used to hiding in. She’d prefer a place like this any day over a crowded town, but disappearing was much easier within a throng of people. She’d have been a sitting duck in a wide-open place like this.
“Hey.”
She nearly jumped when Brent put his hands on her shoulders. She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. She could see his reflection in the glass. He was so much bi
gger than her. She felt a little intimidated, but, peculiarly, his size also made her feel feminine.
“Hi.” How could she be guarded and drawn to him at the same time? It didn’t seem normal to her.
“I have dinner ready if you’re hungry.”
She turned around to face him, was startled when he didn’t move, and she came up against his chest. His muscles were hard, and his warmth immediately soaked into her. She had an unexplainable urge to run her fingers over his chest and shoulders and up to his jaw, which was covered with dark stubble. “Yes, I’m hungry.”
His eyes glowed for a moment before he answered. “I’m hungry, too.”
His whispered words slid over her like warm honey. She wanted to kiss him again, to stand on her toes and put her mouth against his soft, firm lips, but she resisted. Barely. After a moment, he turned, and she followed him to the dining room, which was an extension of the kitchen.
“Wow, I know I keep saying it, but this whole place is amazing.” She was impressed with the up-to-date appliances and hand-carved cabinets.
He pulled a chair out from the dining table. It, too, looked hand-made. “Did you make this as well?”
He nodded.
“Your talent is endless.” She ran her hand over the smooth surface of the table.
“You might want to hold back on the compliments until you taste the food.” He sat beside her.
He’d made grilled salmon, baby potatoes, and green beans. She forked a fluffy piece of the fish into her mouth. “Mmm.”
“I take it you like it?”
“Yes. It is scrumptious.” After she’d cleaned her plate, he picked up the dishes and carried them to the sink.
“Let me do the dishes. It’s the least I can do after the wonderful meal you cooked.”
“No. You sit and relax. I have dessert.”
He brought two bowls back with him and sat one in front of her before sitting with his own. It appeared to be homemade apple cobbler. She spooned a bite into her mouth. It was delicious.
“Where did you learn to cook like this?” She took another bite of the sweet, fruity pie.
“I’ve had a lot of spare time to learn many things.” He watched her eat. “Maybe after you’re done, we can take a dip in the hot tub.”
“Oh, um, I don’t know. I don’t have a bathing suit.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “You don’t need one. It’s just us out here.”
Warmth shot through her and straight between her legs. “I don’t think so.”
“You can wear shorts or a bra and panties. That’s just as good as a swimsuit. Trust me. Sitting in the tub outside while the snow is falling in the freezing cold, and the steamy water laps over your skin, keeping you toasty warm, is an experience everyone should have. ”
She really did want to try the hot tub out, but she knew it was a bad idea if Brent was involved. She was losing confidence in her ability to keep him at a distance. Every time he touched her, her resolve melted a bit more.
“I’m kind of getting tired. I think I’m going to go to bed. But, first, I insist on helping you clean up.”
He washed, and she dried. Within fifteen minutes the whole place was spick-and-span, and she headed to her room. “Good night.”
“Sweet dreams, Rindy,” Brent called.
Chapter Seven
He was in her dream. He’d tried to stay away but hadn’t been able to help himself. Lycans were able to visit their destined mates in their dreams once they’d found them, and that fact had proved too much of a temptation to resist. Brent chased Rindy through the trees as she laughed. She moved graceful as a doe. He caught her and tumbled them both to the soft leaves under the shade; he rolled her under him, and her eyes shined up at him full of trust. Oh, if she could only look at him that way while she was awake.
“Rindy, let me kiss you, love.”
She wound her arms around his neck and drew him to her. Their lips met in a kiss born of passion and desperation that had been denied for far too long. He tangled his tongue with hers, and she moaned his name. It was like music to his ears and heart. He cupped her breast in his palm and kneaded it. All the while his cock grew hard, straining to be freed, begging to be buried deep inside her hot sheath. He skimmed his hand over her hip, across her flat belly, and under the waist of her jeans.
He growled when his fingers nestled in the soft curls that protected the prize he sought. She rotated her hips, nudging him lower, and he slid inside her. She cried out as a storm built inside him, demanding to be freed to unleash its fury, demanding he claim her. His canines grew, and he nipped at the delicate skin between her shoulder and neck while she rode his hand. His need beat at him, heated his skin so hot he thought he’d go up in flames. He reached down and freed his cock from his jeans, but just as he yanked hers to her knees and settled between her thighs, she disappeared.
Brent jerked upright in bed. He was covered in sweat. He’d been so close to having her, and his cock throbbed and ached in protest. He took a deep, calming breath. She had awakened thus ending the dream. His acute hearing—ten times better than a human’s—picked up the rustling sounds of her moving about the house. He should let her be, but he yearned to see her, just to look at her to make sure she hadn’t been just a dream and was really here. The cold water he splashed on his face and chest before he went to find her did little to cool his need for her.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw Rindy sitting in the hot tub. She appeared to be naked. The back of her head rested on the lip of the tub, and her eyes were closed. Her creamy skin was pink from the heat, and he licked his lips as he watched random snowflakes fall onto her and melt. He slid the glass door open without making a sound, and hooked his thumbs in his boxers. They slid down his legs to the deck seconds before he stepped into the water, the sound of the rumbling jets masking his arrival.
Brent sat across from her. His fingers itched to trail over the slim line of her throat, and down to cup the small breast that had fit so perfectly in his hand. It wasn’t long before she opened her eyes, and let out a startled squeal.
“Brent!” She dipped lower into the water and glared at him.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was having a dream, and it ended before I wanted it to.”
She gulped. “I couldn’t sleep either.”
He scooted closer to her. “Were you dreaming, too, Rindy?”
“Stop it.” Her face turned from a light pink to deep scarlet.
He trailed a finger down her cheek. “Why? I know you can feel this pull between us. I’m not the only one.”
“It doesn’t matter.
He tipped her chin up. “It matters very much to me.”
“I can’t do this.” She started to get out of the tub, but quickly sank back under the water when she no doubt remembered she was naked.
“Turn around.” She demanded.
He shook his head. “No.”
She closed her eyes for a moment. “I can’t do this. I get so confused around you. You make me crazy.”
He inched closer to her. “Why does that have to be a bad thing? You make me crazy, too. The difference is, I like it when you make me crazy.”
She started to speak, but he placed one finger over her lips.
“Kiss me. Please. Just kiss me.”
He thought she’d refuse, but after several minutes of looking back and forth from the stairs that led out of the tub to him, she scooted closer. His breath caught in his throat when she pushed her fingers through his damp hair. His temperature rose to the point that he thought the water in the tub would start boiling at any moment. He dipped his head toward her and claimed her lips before she could change her mind.
She wound her arms around his neck, and he wrapped his around her waist and pulled her tight up against him. Her hot, wet body was pressed up against his. His cock hardened and hurt worse than when he’d awoken from the dream. He growled low in his throat and kissed her with the pent-up passion he’d been denied for years. He lea
ned back against the wall of the tub, pulling her with him. Her thighs rested across his, and he cupped her ass in his hands, plastering her tightly against him as he ravished her mouth.
“Rindy, I have to have you. You make me burn. I can think of nothing but being inside you.”
“Oh, Brent.” She kissed him and retreated. “I’m scared. I feel so hot and achy. I don’t understand the feelings I’m having. I’ve never had them before.”
He eased his fingers over one smooth thigh, and rested his palm over her mound. “Is this where you ache?”
She bit her bottom lip and nodded. He guided her hand to his cock, and she gasped. “I ache in the same place for you. Let me show you how we can ease the ache together.”
Passion burned in her eyes, but so did doubt and fear.
“I promise I won’t hurt you. Trust me, Rindy. Please, I’m begging you.”
She chewed her bottom lip and frowned. “I don’t understand why you affect me so. We’ve just met, yet I feel as if I’ve known you for a long time.”
“I feel the same way. I swear I will make it good for you.” He kissed her neck, and she wiggled closer to him, tilting her head to give him better access.
“Brent, I feel so strange. When you touch me, it’s as if my skin is heating from the inside out. I feel restless.” She leaned back and moaned as he continued nibbling on her sensitive skin.
“I know.” The taste of her was driving him wild. “But I also know what will make you feel better.”
He trailed his tongue along her shoulder, down her chest, and swirled it around a nipple that barely peeked above the water. The pink tip hardened against him, and he bit down gently on it before laving it.
She rested her head on his shoulder and strained toward his touch. “Show me, Brent.”
Her whispered words shot through him and straight to his groin, and he wasted no time taking her mouth in a demanding kiss. He dipped his tongue deep, tangling it with hers. Her scent and taste flowed through him, his cells drinking her in as if they were dying of thirst and she were a cool, clear stream. He’d be hers until the day his heart beat its last thump. She kissed him back, and her sighs and moans drove him wild. He needed her with a ferocity that awed him, but he wanted to take it slow for her. He ran his hands over her thighs, spread them wide, and pulled her over him so she straddled his lap.
