Meadow smiled. “Oh, I don’t think you’d have to use much persuasion to get me to agree to that.”
“Hmm, then maybe that can be our after-dinner treat.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
Durlach bent his head, his lips just hovering above Meadow’s, when the doorbell rang. He straightened. “That must be Ryder. It seems as if everyone has bad timing today.”
Meadow chuckled and stepped out of his embrace. “Usually it’s pretty quiet around here. I’ll go let him in.”
It didn’t take Meadow very long to lead Ryder into the kitchen. The shaman didn’t so much as blink at Durlach’s state of undress. He held out the bag of clothes he carried and said, “Here’s a change of jeans and a t-shirt. Do you want me to take the dirty things home with me?”
Meadow spoke before Durlach did. “That’s okay, Ryder. I’m going to throw them in the wash right now.” She gathered up the dirty clothes, then left the room. Durlach heard her taking a set of stairs down to the lower level.
“Thanks,” Durlach told Ryder. He quickly pulled on the clean clothes.
“No problem. Your mate seems very nice, though I’m not too sure about the guy hanging out by the stable.”
“That’s Taylor. He works and lives here.” Durlach lowered his voice. “Somehow he knows about me being a werewolf, and doesn’t like the fact that I am. He’s already tried to warn me away from Meadow. Also there is something different about him. His scent smells close to a mortal’s but it’s not exactly the same.”
“Does he seem like a real threat?”
“No. I get the feeling he’s just worried I’ll harm my mate in some way, which I already told him was impossible.”
“I didn’t sense any dark magic around him so he’s not connected to the dark wolves in any way.”
“I knew it wasn’t that which made his scent different. I’ll have to watch him.”
Meadow came back into the kitchen. “Your clothes are now in the washer.”
“Thanks,” Durlach said. He turned his attention on to Ryder. “I guess I’ll see you later tonight.”
Ryder nodded, then smiled at Meadow. “I can take that as a hint to get lost. It was nice meeting you, Meadow.” He left the kitchen. A few seconds later, Durlach heard the front door closing.
“I better get back to cooking before it gets too late.”
“Do you need some help?” Meadow asked.
“No. Now that the wine is open you can pour us each a glass.”
She chuckled. “And I promise not to spill any more of it on you.”
Durlach gave her a quick kiss before he walked over to the counter, then chopped more of the vegetables he’d left on the cutting board. That task completed he set to work on preparing the meat. On his way to the stove to turn the heat on under the frying pan he’d set there, he looked out the window. It faced the back of the house, giving a good view of the yard and stable. He paused when he saw Taylor was indeed standing outside that building, facing the house. He met the other man’s gaze through the window, not letting Taylor think his intimidation tactics worked. Taylor was the first to look away.
Meadow came to stand next to Durlach after he returned to the counter and handed him his wine. He took a sip, then placed the glass next to the cutting board. After that, he really got down to the business of cooking their meal. As always when he worked in the kitchen, a sense of peace washed over him. It also made him think of what his life had been like during the ice age. They had counted themselves lucky to have meat to eat. In this modern world there was no threat of starvation if you weren’t able to go out and hunt.
Once everything was finished, Durlach dished up the food and took two plates to the table where Meadow sat. He placed one in front of her. “I hope you like it.”
She took a deep breath. “It smells really good. You’ve put me to shame. Next time I’m on a dig I should hire you as my personal chef and you can come along and cook for me.”
“I wouldn’t mind that.”
Durlach watched Meadow pick up her fork and put some of the steak into her mouth. He took a mouthful as well. He had to smile as she made noises of appreciation.
“God, that’s delicious,” she said after she swallowed. “Your friend’s wife must be a great teacher. You can cook for me any day.”
Once Durlach claimed Meadow for his mate he’d cook for her all the time. “I’m glad you like it. And I would love to make another meal for you again. Because of my friend’s wife Jaren being a trained chef, I don’t get to do most of the cooking at home. She’s basically claimed the kitchen as hers.”
“Well, when you make dinner for me again you can claim mine as yours. I don’t use it nearly enough.”
After they finished eating, and Durlach had helped Meadow clear away the dishes, they sat in the living room. They also took their wineglasses and the rest of the wine with them. He settled on the couch next to her, his gaze following her movements as she picked up the remote to the TV and switched it on.
Meadow channel surfed until she found a station she wanted. She drained what was left of the wine in her glass before she placed it on the coffee table. Much to Durlach’s surprise, she took his from him and put it with hers before she climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips, facing him.
She smiled as she tucked some of his long hair behind his ear. “I think it’s time for the dessert you wanted. Since I had mine before the main course, this will be all yours.”
Durlach looked at Meadow, a low, growling groan rumbled out of him. She’d positioned herself so her jean-clad pussy was right overtop his cock, which instantly came back to life.
“I made dinner for both of us,” he said with a husky voice. “Shouldn’t then dessert be for the two of us as well?”
“Not for this meal. This is also my way of complimenting the chef.”
“If you insist I won’t stop you.”
“Wise decision.”
Durlach let Meadow have the control as she lowered her mouth to his. She nibbled his lips until he opened for her. She thoroughly tasted him, her tongue stroking and exploring. He held on to her hips and ground himself against her. His erection throbbed in time with his rapid pulse. Being with his mate fired his blood like no other ever could. She pushed down on him, making him ache to be inside her, but he wouldn’t lose control. She needed time to get to know him before he took that big step to join their souls.
He hungrily returned her kiss. As his arousal increased he knew his eyes had to have taken on a muted glow, something they did when he was really turned-on or very angry. Durlach closed them to a mere crack to keep the change hidden from Meadow. She didn’t need to see them like this just yet.
She left his mouth and nipped his chin as she lifted the front of his t-shirt. Meadow shifted on his lap, then bent to place a trail of kisses across his chest. She worked her way lower, sliding down his legs until she kneeled on the floor in front of him. Her hands went to the fasteners of his jeans and undid them. A few tugs, and with his help, she had his pants and underwear down past his hips.
Durlach’s breath caught in his lungs as Meadow focused her attention on his jutting cock. She reached out with a finger, stroked up his length and circled the head, rubbing the pre-cum she found there into his skin. He forced himself to remain still, to not try to make her go faster.
“I think I’m really going to enjoy my dessert,” Meadow said, her gaze still locked on to his dick.
“I’m glad because I can’t exactly make a better one.”
“No worries. This is just perfect.”
Meadow bent her head and dragged the flat of her tongue from base to tip, moaning at the same time. That small sound vibrated against his skin and his cock jerked in response. She took a firm hold of his shaft and licked away all the pre-cum that had leaked from the head. A growl of pleasure punched out of him before he could stop it. She didn’t seem to notice.
After that, Durlach lost the ability to think beyond what Meadow
did to him. She opened her mouth and took his cock inside, her head bobbing as she slid him in and out. She sucked hard, her tongue sweeping the sensitive spot under the flared head. His eyes open a crack, he watched his mate pleasure him. His breathing became heavy and his shaft hardened even more.
Meadow took him almost to the back of her throat. She stroked what she couldn’t manage with her hand. She was driving him crazy with desire. And he liked it. He lifted his hips off the couch, fucking her mouth. His balls rose closer to his body as his orgasm edged nearer.
“I’m going to come,” he gasped, his hands fisted at his sides.
She didn’t pull away. Meadow just sucked harder, taking him in and out faster. His point of no return rushed up to meet him. Durlach kept thrusting, moaning and growling while waves of pleasure tore through him. His cock pulsed, and his mate took everything until she’d drained the last drop out of him.
Meadow released him and pumped her hand up him once. “You’re still hard. Even after coming.”
Durlach took her hand off his cock and tugged her up and toward him so she landed against his chest. “That’s normal for me.”
“Really? Well, it isn’t for most guys.”
“Then I’m gifted compared to them.”
Meadow laughed. “I have to agree with that.”
He put his arms around her and shifted her so he could reach her mouth. He brushed his lips across hers. “I don’t think we’re done yet. I still have to pleasure you.” The scent of Meadow’s arousal wafted around them.
She pressed a hard kiss to his lips, then slid off him to sit on the couch beside him. “No, you don’t. That was enough fun for today. I don’t sleep with men on the first date. If we were to continue doing what we’re doing, that’s where we would be headed.”
“Fair enough.” Durlach lifted his hips off the cushion and pulled up his underwear and jeans before he did them up. Once he finished he continued. “I want to see you again so I’ll play by your rules.”
Meadow smiled. “I definitely want to see you again as well.” She stood. “I’d better go switch your clothes to the dryer before I forget to do it.”
Durlach followed Meadow with his gaze as she turned and left the room. Having her make him come with her mouth had increased his mating urge as he’d known it would. It dug its claws a little deeper into him but it wasn’t ruling him.
He shifted to a more comfortable sitting position to wait for Meadow’s return. He was happy with the progress he’d made toward making her his mate. Having her in his arms showed him how much he’d been missing. He felt more complete now that he’d found her. Already he was falling in love with her. The quickness of it wasn’t out of the ordinary. At least it wasn’t for werewolf kind. If it hadn’t been possible Meadow would never have set off his mating urge. Now he had to convince her to see how perfect they were together and get her to accept an eternity with him.
* * * * *
Tanner had brought back a couple of male mortals when he’d returned to his small pack. Andre had deemed them not suitable for turning but had found them perfect for playthings. Even now Tanner heard their cries of pain echoing through the building. They would also keep his maker busy for hours, which gave him the opportunity to do a little research into things Andre probably wouldn’t want Tanner learning about. The other few members of their pack were off huddled in another room, probably afraid their maker would turn his sights on them next.
He headed for the room where Andre did most of his spells and made his potions. His maker had opened up about himself a little to Tanner over the last couple of years. Tanner knew Andre had been an ordinary werewolf before he’d found an ancient text on using dark magic. The first spell he’d ever done was when he’d turned himself into the first dark wolf, the pack leader.
Tanner needed to learn that spell. He wanted what Andre had, if not more. It was the only way he could think of getting out from under his maker’s control. He also needed to see if there was a way to reverse it. As long as Andre had his powers there was always the threat he’d pull his dark magic out of Tanner and end his existence. And that would not do at all.
A particularly loud scream echoed through the building. Tanner snorted and shook his head. Andre was well into his games now. Tanner didn’t have to worry about being caught snooping. His maker would be well and truly distracted for quite some time.
He walked over to the long worktable Andre used. There were dry and fresh herbs, bowls and jars full of things he couldn’t identify strewn across its surface. His maker wasn’t into organization, which worked to Tanner’s advantage. Andre would never be able to tell someone had disturbed his things. Not that Tanner planned to leave any telltale signs that he’d been there in the first place.
It didn’t take him long to find the ancient text among a pile of other books. Carefully, he pulled it out of the stack and thumbed through it. This was the first time he’d actually looked inside. Andre had shown him the book but had not allowed Tanner to touch it, let alone read it.
He skimmed the pages, looking for that one special spell. A large smile spread across his face when he found it. He took out a piece of paper and pen from his pants pocket and hurriedly wrote down the means to his freedom. It would take some work to prepare but it was doable. And surprisingly it described how someone could reverse it on another individual.
Tanner finished, then returned the text to the exact spot and position he’d found it. The paper and pen he returned to his pocket. Having gone several times with Andre when his maker needed supplies for his dark magic, Tanner knew where he had to go to get what he required for the spells he wanted to perform.
Satisfied with the outcome of his snooping, Tanner went to his room that he didn’t have to share with other members of his pack since he was Andre’s second. Behind closed doors, he took out the paper he’d written the spells on now that he didn’t have to worry about someone walking in on him. Tomorrow he’d make a start on collecting the things he needed. Very soon he’d become a maker and Andre would be no more.
Chapter Six
It was late when Durlach returned home after his date with Meadow. He wasn’t surprised to find Ryder still awake and watching TV. The shaman was a bit of a night owl. He stayed up until the early-morning hours most nights. Luckily Durlach wasn’t one for going to bed early. His old life he had. That had been the way things had been done only to awake with the dawn to begin the struggle of surviving.
“How did the rest of your date go?” Ryder asked once Durlach closed the bedroom door behind him.
He crossed over to his bed and sat. “Pretty good.”
“I’m glad. Are you going to see her tomorrow?”
“Yes, I made another date with Meadow. I’m to meet her at her place in the afternoon and we’re going to go horseback riding.”
Ryder smiled. “Have you ever ridden a horse before?”
“No, but it doesn’t look that hard.”
“Did you tell Meadow you didn’t know how?”
Durlach shook his head. “Should I have?”
Ryder chuckled. “Yeah. Some horses can be harder to control than others, depending on their temperament. She might stick you on one that would be best for an expert rider and the horse could take off with you.”
“As far as I know, Meadow only has two horses. Hers and the one Taylor uses so I’m not going to have much choice.”
“Well, let’s hope the one you have to ride won’t be a handful.”
“I’ll manage.” Durlach toed off his shoes and made himself more comfortable on the bed. “So what are you watching?”
“Some movie. To be honest, I really haven’t been paying too much attention to it.”
He gave the shaman a closer look and noticed the twin lines of strain between his eyes. “Something is distracting you.”
“Yes. I have a feeling there’s going to be a change with the dark wolves very soon, but I can’t focus my powers to ‘see’ what is coming. It’s bugging the s
hit out of me.”
Ryder was the strongest descendant of their original shaman when it came to inheriting his powers, but they could be spotty at times. Ryder had told them there was a way for him to truly come into his inheritance, though he wasn’t ready to do that yet. What their new shaman had to do to accomplish that, Ryder hadn’t said. They didn’t push him to explain. Besides, what he was able to do was more than enough for what they needed him for.
“It obviously won’t be anything good,” Durlach said as he pushed himself backward until he sat with his back against his headboard.
“With the dark wolves it never is.”
“No messages from your ancestor?”
Their old shaman had been the one to send a vision to Ryder when Kajakti had been under the influence of dark magic, showing his descendant where to find them and what he had to do to save Kajakti.
“None. He hasn’t sent me any more visions lately. I think he’s waiting for me to take the next step to come into my full powers. I was to have done that shortly after I joined your pack.”
“You’re obviously not ready for it.”
Ryder snorted. “I don’t think it’s that I’m not ready as I’m unsure of what I’ll be like after I do it.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain. I will do it, though. I won’t have any choice soon. If I don’t I could be taking away an edge you as sentinels would need against the dark wolves. I know what I have to do.”
“We would never push you into something you’re not comfortable with.”
Ryder nodded. “I know that. But as your shaman, I know it’s part of my duty.”
“We’ll all be there for you when the time comes. You won’t have to face it alone.”
“Which makes it a little easier to face,” Ryder replied with a smile. “Now enough serious talk. Let’s see if there is a better movie on than this one.”
Durlach turned his gaze to the LED television, which hung from the wall across from his and Ryder’s beds. The shaman switched channels until they both agreed on another movie that had just started. Talk of the dark wolves had Durlach thinking about Meadow. As his mate, she could easily be used against him if the enemy ever got their hands on her. They had tried using a mate to their advantage in the past. It also meant he’d have to bring Meadow into his world as quickly as he could. Until such time, she’d be vulnerable. At least her living on the neighboring property meant she wasn’t too far away if she ever had need of him.
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