by Tasha Black
Tess opened her eyes.
Will was gazing down at her his eyes wide with desire.
“You’re beautiful, so beautiful,” he told her, running one hand through her hair and then using the other to pull her close so that he could kiss her again until she was breathless.
When he pulled away, she nearly screamed, then she realized it was only to strip off his own shirt, then embrace her again.
His skin was so warm against hers, he felt almost feverish. She remembered his wolf metabolism and stopped worrying. Shifters ran hot.
Will nuzzled her neck, licking and nipping gently.
Tess giggled at the tickling sensation.
Her giggling stopped when he went lower, licking the tops of her breasts.
She arched her back, feeling her nipples crinkle and press insistently against the constraints of her bra.
Will growled, wrapped his arms around her back and snapped the offending garment off.
Tess felt the smooth satin slide down her arms, then flung it across the room as soon as it hit her wrists.
“Lie down, baby,” Will said softly.
She did as he asked and he unbuttoned her jeans, then slid the zipper down.
Tess knew the easy thing to do would be to lose her cool about the fact that they barely knew each other, or that they were in the break room of the barn - not exactly the most private place in the world. She could even freak out about the fact that she was wearing cotton underpants or that she was practically basted in apples and cinnamon.
Problem was, she didn’t want to. And the only person she knew to her bones would care even less than she did about the cotton panties, was the man who was systematically removing them.
“Tess, oh god, Tess,” Will whispered.
He was looking down at her, his eyes glowing.
She reached up for him and he lowered his head to nuzzle between her breasts, his five o’clock shadow rough against her sensitive skin.
The table was cool beneath her. Will licked her right nipple into his hot mouth and she nearly melted.
His hand drifted up to her other nipple, tugged and stroked as he tormented her with his mouth.
She could feel her whole body begin to roll on waves of need. She closed her eyes but she could still feel him, smell the mixture of the cinnamon mess that was now on both of them, as it mixed with his masculine scent.
He abandoned her breasts and slid lower, pressing his face into her belly and tonguing her navel.
When he reached the apex of her thighs, Tess had her first moment of real doubt, and pressed her legs together.
“I’m sorry, love. I can stop. Do you want me to stop?” Will asked.
“No, I want you to do it. But I’m worried that we shouldn’t,” she replied immediately.
“Why shouldn’t we?” he asked.
“Because we barely know each other, because you won’t respect me, because that’s not what people do…” she listed.
“I respect you,” he said firmly, looking into her eyes. “I think you’re amazing. Will you respect me?”
“Yes,” she replied. “But that’s not how it works.”
He laughed.
“I’m going to change your mind on that. But let’s move on to the other problem. What do I need to know about you?”
“I’m loyal and I’m stubborn,” she replied instantly.
Huh. That was true, but she wouldn’t normally have thought of it. Maybe this truth thing had its perks.
“What’s your favorite music?” he asked, leaning down to nuzzle her belly again.
“Jocelyn Wilde,” she said instantly. Oh, man. That was embarrassing. Jocelyn Wilde was the teen queen of angsty break-up songs.
His eyes crinkled as he smiled.
“You’ve had a lot of break-ups, huh?” he asked.
“No, I just like her because she’s angry and she writes a good bass line,” she replied.
“Anything else I should know?” he asked, spreading her thighs wide.
For the life of her, she didn’t have the will power to stop him.
“I always fake my orgasms,” she sighed, letting her head drop back on the wooden table.
What??? Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit.
“Oh you do, do you?” he asked, a dangerous note in his voice.
“Yes,” she said immediately, blushing furiously.
“Not tonight you won’t,” he growled. “Tonight you’re having a real one, baby.”
Tess groaned and sank her fingernails into the wood plank of the table beneath her, closing her eyes.
How long could the magic possibly last?
Surely it would wear off before he could actually torture her to death trying to make her climax. Wouldn’t it?
Will’s tongue parted her sex and the feeling was like lightning striking a meadow.
“Oooh,” she moaned helplessly as he slowly licked his way up toward her clit.
Once there he paid it no mind, instead working his way down again, slowly.
Will was in no rush, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
Tess, on the other hand, needed all of her strength not to flop like a fish on the table. The desire was like a weight, pulling down on her.
She opened her eyes and saw his dark head between her thighs. The sight was so sexy she thought she might actually go over the edge right then.
But Tess never went over the edge, she held herself together too well for that.
Will licked and lapped, stroking her with his warm tongue.
It wasn’t until she lifted her hips to meet his mouth that he finally slid a finger against her opening.
“Ohh,” he sighed against her. “So wet, so sweet.”
Tess felt her whole body clench down on his long finger, but she knew she wouldn’t come. She never had at any man’s hands.
He was moving so slowly, licking tenderly like he would never stop.
The only other boy who had done this to her had gone so fast, she had been afraid he might hurt her.
Will was so deliberate, so patient.
Tess cried out and wiggled.
Will kept up his measured strokes.
The more she whimpered and lifted her hips, the more determined he seemed to take his time.
The pleasure built, first warming her insides, then bubbling over like a pot of apples, until her very skin seemed to be burning for more.
When she threw caution to the wind and tangled her fingers in his dark hair to pull him closer he groaned against her, maddening her with the vibration of his voice, and slid a second finger inside her to massage a place that made her want to scream.
“Please,” she begged.
Instantly his tongue was working her, rising to flicker over her clitoris.
“Ohh,” Tess moaned as her world spun on its axis and she came apart on Will Harkness’s hand and mouth, in a storm of helpless pleasure.
9
“Was that one real?” Will asked, as soon as her tremors had ceased.
Tess gazed at him, reeling. “Yes.”
He studied her suspiciously.
“Who’s your favorite Beatle?” he asked.
“Ringo,” she said, biting her lip in embarrassment.
Will laughed.
“Wow, it was real. Better get our money’s worth out of your last few minutes. Empire or Return of the Jedi?”
“Empire,” she said quickly, glad that her tastes in entertainment weren’t completely laughable.
“Good,” he replied.
But instead of asking another question he just smiled and crawled onto the table beside her.
She smiled back.
He wrapped his warm arms around her and cradled her to his chest.
It felt so good to be held, her skin still tingling from her climax.
Tess nuzzled Will’s neck. She could feel the hard ridge of his desire pressed to her belly through the fabric of his jeans.
He stroked her back with his rough fingertips.
“Don’t you want�
��?” she began.
“—Shh,” he whispered, holding her close.
Tess decided to close her eyes, just for a minute.
10
Tess awoke to the sound of a tinny radio.
“…record snowfall for Philadelphia: thirty inches at Independence Mall, thirty-two at the airport. An emergency warning is in effect…”
She opened her eyes, but it took her a moment to place where she was. Wood rafters above her gave her scant clue.
Then the scent of cinnamon registered and it all came back.
Tess sat up.
Will must have moved her to the lumpy sofa while she slept. She was relieved to see that she was covered with a blanket at least.
No. A tablecloth. Still better than nothing.
She wrapped it around herself with as much dignity as she could muster and found a note on the table.
Hey, baby,
Hope you slept well! The powder room is right behind you. There’s a hose and a floor drain behind the blue door. It’s for rinsing produce, but more timid people, with way less pie in their hair than you, have showered in it before.
These clothes will be big but they’re all I’ve got! Come have pie for breakfast when you’re ready!
Love,
Will
Tess smiled so hard she was embarrassed, even though no one was there to see it.
On the table next to the note sat a pair of denim overalls and a red flannel shirt. Not bad.
She used the powder room in the break room and then opened the blue door.
It really was just a hose and a floor drain.
Well, it was better than being covered in dried apple pie.
She grabbed the hand soap from the powder room and came back to tackle getting clean.
Fifteen horrible minutes later she emerged, chilled to the bone, but completely un-sticky.
It was weird to put on a flannel and overalls with no underwear, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.
She wandered out of the break area and into the kitchen again.
The fragrance of baking pies was heavenly. Someone was singing.
Will was singing.
A Jocelyn Wilde song.
Tess smiled to herself and stayed quiet as she padded far enough into the room to see that he was actually dancing a little, too, as he tossed the par-cooked apples in cinnamon and sugar. His big body weaved and swayed, looking pretty good in his tight jeans.
“Glad to see I’m not the only one who likes Jocelyn Wilde,” she said at last.
Will jumped a little, but didn’t spill his bowl. He turned to her, grinning as if he knew he should be embarrassed, but also knew how hot he was when he was dancing.
“You got me,” he admitted.
“Did you make pies all night?” Tess asked, noticing the big stack of boxes against the back wall.
“Pretty much. I don’t need much sleep. Plus someone doesn’t share the blankets,” he teased.
“For your information it was a tablecloth,” she corrected him, with great dignity.
“My apologies,” he said, winking.
Suddenly she remembered what they had done, specifically what he had done to her, and she blushed furiously.
“Come on, you need to do a taste test for me,” Will said quickly.
For one, beautiful moment, she thought he meant she should return the favor.
Then he gestured to a spot on the counter where he had laid out two plates and forks.
“Okay,” she agreed.
Will pulled up two stools to the counter and cut them each a slab of pie.
Tess took a bite. It was still warm, and so good.
“Good, right?” he asked.
“Yesshhh,” she replied through the bite.
“It’s Mom’s recipe, but I’m glad I can still do it. Usually Ethan comes by to help with the pies. He and Derek used to help all the time, before Derek moved out to Glacier City. Ethan still stops by when he can.”
Tess nodded, wondering if Will knew that Hedda wanted to set her up with Ethan.
“I guess your sister will be sort of disappointed in us, huh?” he asked.
He knew.
“She’ll be okay,” Tess said carefully, unsure whether they were going to pretend this never happened or… date. A guy like Will probably had plenty of casual encounters. Tess wasn’t exactly a casual encounter type of person.
“Good, because I’ll fight Ethan for you if I have to. But he’s pretty tough, so if it’s my beautiful face you fell for, you might want to take some pictures now,” Will said.
Tess was stunned.
He winked again and she realized he was kidding. Of course he was kidding. He wouldn’t get into a physical fight with his brother’s best friend any more than she would with Hedda.
“So, we seem to be having a little weather incident,” he said as she finished her breakfast.
She remembered the voice on the radio.
“Snow, huh?” she asked.
“Come with me,” he said, taking her hand.
They ascended the stairs into the store.
It was dark.
“What do you notice?” he asked.
“Um, nothing, maybe if we turn the lights on?” she suggested.
“Look at the windows,” he said.
Then it hit her. There was no light coming through the windows. It was dark outside, though she could swear she’d slept all night.
“Come on,” he said, grabbing her hand again.
They went back to the stair case and up to the second floor.
Here there was plenty of light. This was the Christmas-All-Year-Long Shoppe. Dozens of Christmas trees spread out along the open floor, each decorated with its own theme. One was filled with feathered bird decorations. Another was a German Christmas tree with all white balls and garlands. One was covered in gingerbread cookies.
Before Tess could take in the magic, Will was tugging her hand to the far wall. Between the built-in shelves of children’s books and hooks with hand-embroidered stockings stood a large window.
Tess looked out.
At first she didn’t recognize what she was seeing.
The window should have shown her the gravel lot between the barn and the house, the Christmas tree field to one side, the apple orchard to the other, the big old farmhouse and the tall sycamores lining the drive.
If she squinted against the swirling flakes, she could barely make out what looked like a small house in a flat white field with a few snowy trees.
“That’s the second and third floors of the farmhouse,” Will told her. “The snow is covering the orchard, the Christmas trees - everything but the sycamores.”
“Are- are they okay over there?” she asked.
“I think so, but the cell tower must be down,” Will said. “It’s worse than when I woke up.”
She could hear the worry in his voice.
“What can we do?” she asked.
“Bake pies,” Will said simply. “When it stops snowing, we’ll start digging.”
And bake they did - all morning and into the afternoon. Every time they took pies out of the oven and set them on the counter to cool, Will would go upstairs and look out the window.
Each time he came down, he looked more concerned.
“What should we do?” Tess asked, curiosity giving way to genuine concern.
“There’s nothing we can do until it stops,” he said. “There’s no trace of the road, and I can’t see more than ten feet. If we go out now, we could actually get lost trying to get there. They’ll be alright.”
But she could tell he didn’t feel good about it.
“Is it because tomorrow’s Christmas?” she asked suddenly.
Will nodded.
“Mom keeps the presents over here so the little guys can’t find them. She does the best she can all year round, but you can only stretch a dollar so far. There’s not much in the budget for toys. Christmas is a pretty special day at the farm.”
“B
ut what about your brothers?”
Johnny was a legit rock star. Chance was a successful fighter. And according to Hedda, Derek had more money than both of them put together.
“Mom would never take money from them.”
Tess’s heart sank. Of course she understood. Both the part he was saying out loud - about the kids not getting presents all the time - and the part he wasn’t saying, which had to be the worst of it.
Her sister had told her all about the special home for wayward shifters that Kate Harkness ran. Tess understood that these kids had been left behind by birth families that couldn’t deal with their animal natures. They needed reminders that they were cherished.
She wished like anything that she could do something, but…
“Will, can’t you turn into a wolf?” she asked.
“Yeah, but I can’t carry a truckload of toys,” he said sadly. “At least Derek got Mom a new gas furnace last year. Otherwise I’d be afraid they’d run out of oil.”
Oh, no.
“Will, is it a high efficiency furnace?” she asked, her imagination already concocting worst-case scenarios.
“What?” he asked.
“This is important,” she said. “If it’s a high efficiency model, then it doesn’t vent out the chimney, it vents out a pipe on the side of the house.”
“I have no idea,” Will said. “Efficiency sounds like something Derek would like.”
“If the heater is venting out the side of the house, then it’s covered in snow right now,” she explained. “And if it’s covered in snow, then carbon monoxide can be going back into the house.”
Will’s face went pale.
“You’re the most mechanically inclined person I’ve ever met,” he told her solemnly. “Do you think it’s likely to be that type of system?”
“Based on what I know about your brother - yes. He can afford the best and he knows your mom can’t afford high heating bills.”
“Then we need to get over there,” he said.
“How?” she asked.
“I would have said I could shift and carry you on my back. But we have to get the family back here too,” he said thoughtfully.
“So we need a way to get them back here,” Tess mused.
“I’m strong as a wolf, but I don’t know how many times I can make it over there and back,” Will admitted.
