That didn’t mean he would accept the full truth of her heritage. Or the distinct possibility that she wasn’t human. She had a hard enough time accepting that one herself.
“I, uh . . . about that, I” she stumbled. Inhale. Exhale. Get it together.
She opened her mouth and nothing came out.
Sela knew she didn’t have a future with him, but she still couldn’t bring herself to totally annihilate the possibility of one. Sometimes the remote hope of a normal life was the only thing that kept her going.
“It’s all right,” he soothed. “You’re safe now and with me. That’s the only thing that’s important. You can answer my questions later.”
She wouldn’t be around later to answer any questions.
Exhaustion swamped through her. When had she last slept? She couldn’t remember. The MIBs found her yesterday. The day before that? She didn’t know.
Large hands settled underneath her arms and pulled her from the water. She should protest. She was just using Mac. Not actually going to bed with him. Being naked in front of him was not a deterrent.
But would it matter? If she stepped outside of her rules? Let go of her control for an hour or so? Couldn’t she enjoy herself for once? She’d be on the run by daylight. A few stolen hours wouldn’t matter.
Beneath lowered lids, she watched Mac’s eyes travel her wet body. The pure masculine appreciation warmed her blood. She wanted to touch him, but her arms lay like lead weights.
Mac wrapped a heated towel around her. He used the warm cotton to dry her. He rubbed the towel across her shoulders and down her arms, not missing a spot. Her eyes slid closed, seduced by the unaccustomed care.
Mac eased the towel over her hand, gently spreading her fingers. He dried each one individually. Sela felt a corresponding tug in her womb with every pull of her finger.
She stifled a moan. Holy Hannah, she never knew her fingers were so sensitive. With Mac her body was a finely tuned instrument, long forgotten and now coming to life with each stroke of his hands, an erotic symphony of exquisite sensation.
Mac moved to her other hand and she couldn’t stop the moan this time.
Sela opened her eyes. Maybe if she kept them open, she wouldn’t feel everything so intensively. How crazy to be so overcome by a simple touch on her fingers? She glanced at Mac . . . sweet warmth flooded her. She thought his massage of her hands aroused her? It had nothing on the fierce need in his eyes.
Mac stared at her as if she was the most important thing in his life. Heated desire scorched her skin. Sela knew she wasn’t beautiful, but the look in his eyes said otherwise. It said he would travel the ends of the world to possess her.
All logical thought fled her brain. Her need to run, her exhaustion, her reasons for not getting involved – all vanished beneath the raw emotion she saw in his eyes. A few hours wouldn’t matter.
Sela gave herself up to the moment.
Mac lowered her to the heated tiles. He set her hands, palms up, next to her head. Sela tensed at the unexpected vulnerability. Uncertain, she waited for his next move.
Mac placed the soft cotton at the base of her throat. He drew the material down her chest, slowly, ever so slowly. Reaching her breasts, he stopped. He flexed his hands and circled his palms over her taut nipples, the soft cotton gently abrading sensitive skin. Sela arched up into his touch.
Her nipples tightened further into sharp points of need. Her stomach clenched with each velvet friction of the towel. “Mac,” she breathed.
Mac let go of her breasts and dragged the towel down her stomach. Sela caught her breath. She spread her legs slightly, encouraging him.
Mac slid the towel over to one hip and down one leg. Sela moaned. She reached for him with one hand. Mac caught her hand in his. He moved her hand back near her head.
“Don’t move,” he rasped.
Sela glared at him, frustration riding her. “Don’t play with me. I want you. I need . . .” Mac’s hand was suddenly between her legs. He spread her legs further apart and then thrust one large finger directly inside. “Ah.”
Sela tensed. She couldn’t help it. She might be on the verge of dying to feel him inside her, but the reality was . . . well, very real. And it had been a while.
Hell, did one sad experiment several years ago even count?
Mac pushed his finger deeper inside her tight heat. Sela raised her hips, battling excitement and discomfort. Mac gripped her left thigh. He pushed her leg up and out, completely exposing her. She jerked her head up. Scarlet red flags of embarrassment streaked her cheeks to see him looking at her.
Mac stared down, his gaze fixed at the sight of his hand between her legs, his face tight with arousal. He withdrew his finger slightly then thrust deeper inside her. Sela clenched tightly around his thick finger. They both gasped.
Mac lifted his head, amber flecks sparking and flaring in the depths of his eyes. His nostrils flared as if he were inhaling her desire.
“So hot,” he withdrew his finger. Sela whimpered. He pushed two fingers inside. Sela gasped, she tried to pull away but Mac tightened his grip on her thigh. He thrust his fingers deeper. The intense pressure burned and increased the throbbing. The sensations so twisted and confusing, Sela could not make up her mind if this was true pain or heady pleasure, the likes of which she’d never felt before.
“Fuck, you’re tight,” Mac growled. “And so damn wet. Open for me, Lupa, let me in.”
Mac pushed his fingers all the way in. Sela screamed. She arched in a bow, grounded by his fingers and her shoulders. Caught on a strange precipice, she strained for something that remained just out of reach.
Mac slid his thumb between her plump folds, finding the sensitive nubbin, he pressed firmly. At the same time he spread his fingers apart, stretching her inner passage.
“Go over now, Lupa.”
Sela shrieked. She tumbled head first over the precipice. Her climax roared through her body, milking his fingers with deep contractions that pulsated over and over and over.
Sela eventually landed. The insistent contractions slowing to a gentle pulse, her body completely satisfied.
Her emotions were another matter completely, a total mess of confusion, longing, happiness, fear and a crazy impulse to jump Mac and do it all over again. She wanted to laugh and she wanted to cry.
Just great, not only do I have to doubt my humanity, but now I’ve lost my mind as well. This sucks.
Mac began to pull his fingers out of her. Swollen with release, her body didn’t want to let him go.
“Shh, easy now,” Mac husked. Sela hadn’t realized she was making soft moans as he eased out of her. She tried to relax, but couldn’t prevent a wince as he pulled all the way out.
Maybe I need to reconsider the jumping him part. Holy Hannah - and those were just his fingers.
Sela wiggled her hips slightly. Yep, definitely reconsider. She kicked her inner hussy down and locked the door. She needed a lot more experience in these matters. Lots and lots of experience. Preferably with much smaller man.
She watched Mac raise his hand to his face and inhale her scent. He groaned huskily. He lapped at his fingers with his tongue, tasting her.
Sela gasped, shocked by his blatant action. Mac stared at her, eyes glowing and sucked his fingers briefly. “Damn, you taste good,” he said.
She didn’t know how to respond. Nothing in her limited experience with men taught her how to deal with such earthy, sexual behavior.
She finally decided she was . . . flattered. And totally turned on. Get a grip, Chickie. Remember those were just his fingers.
Determinedly she glanced at his lap. She sucked in a breath. That could not be comfortable.
Mac followed her gaze down to his lap. He grimaced, rearranging his erection. It didn’t look like it helped. Nothing short of release could possibly help.
Sela bit her lip. She should offer to help him out. She wanted to watch him find release, to caress that powerful body and feel him arch and shudder
beneath her hands. She wanted to hear him moan and know that she was responsible for it.
Just not at this exact moment.
Overwhelmed barely began to describe her emotions right now. A part of her was shattered by what had just happened. If they completed the act, merged their bodies fully, could she keep herself whole? Or would she give part of herself to him?
The very thought terrified her. She couldn’t risk it. This had been a very bad idea.
Her eyes watered. Sela sniffed. The tears spilled over anyway. Damn it all.
“Lupa?” Worried, Mac pulled her into his arms.
Sela swiped at the tears. Her back up and feeling cornered, she scowled at him, “Why do you keep calling me that? What the hell does Lupa mean?” Sela did not handle vulnerability well at all.
“It means she-wolf,” Mac eyed her closely. “In my clan it can be a term of affection.”
“Your clan?” she sneered, doing her utmost to ignore the heat and strength of his body. She did not need him. She lived her life by her rules. It had kept her alive so far. “I didn’t realize you were Scottish.”
Mac arched his eyebrows then amazingly he smiled. “Not sure how to handle your first climax, hmmm?” Sela gaped at him. “It’s all right Lupa. I don’t mind a few claw marks.” He kissed her, pressing his lips hard to hers. He thrust his tongue inside, dueling with hers briefly before pulling back. “I’m tough enough to manage a spitting she-wolf.”
Sela sputtered, slapped her hand at his shoulder and realized she was accomplishing exactly nothing.
Of all the arrogant, obnoxious, totally infuriating, totally male things to say! And it positively ticked her off that . . . he was right. Why couldn’t he just get mad so they could argue and she could storm out without dealing with what happened? Or face the desire to stay right where she was, in his arms?
Her eyes watered some more. She just needed some sleep. That was all. A little sleep and she would be back in control.
“Easy now, Lupa,” Mac swept her up in his arms. He carried her into the bedroom. Holding her against his body with one arm, he swept the covers down. Holy Hannah, the strength in his body.
He tucked her between the sheets. He pulled the top sheet and blanket over her nude body. Sela frowned at him.
“Just rest,” he brushed his hand over her cheek. “Sleep now, Sela. You’re safe.” Another stroke of his fingers. “My mate, in my bed at last.” The utter possession and satisfaction in his voice was vaguely alarming.
Mate. He’d said that before too. It meant something to him. Something more than a buddy. Something powerful. The only other definition of the word that she knew related to animals. Animals mated. But humans didn’t use terms like that. She needed to ask him what that word meant.
She sighed. She’d ask him in a few hours. Right now she was in a losing battle with sleep.
I just had my first climax. I should leave. Wow, my first climax. I really need to have more of those, I . . .
She fell soundly asleep.
****
Mac watched Sela’s chest, he studied the gentle rise and fall, oddly soothed by her even breathing. She would be out for a while. The soft swell of her small breasts barely made an impression against the covers.
Unable to resist, he lowered the covers to expose her beauty. Tender brown nipples, soft, silky skin. He ran a finger around one nipple. It hardened instantly. Sela uttered a husky moan and pressed upwards.
She suited him perfectly. Even in sleep her body responded to him. Mac grunted. She needed her sleep. He raised the covers again, tucking them over her shoulders.
She was exhausted. He might be hard as a rock and aching to thrust inside her, but he would just have to wait a little longer. He shifted, rearranging himself again. Looked like he was going to stay this way for a while. He could wait, he would have to, her needs came first at the moment.
Plus he had a phone call to make, to find a few answers. Answers she proved unwilling to share completely right now. He might not understand her fear, but he could still protect her.
He would not allow anyone to hurt his mate ever again.
He left Sela sleeping in his bed and headed downstairs so he wouldn’t disturb her. Her exhaustion came on so suddenly he suspected she’d been fighting it for days. He’d make his phone call while she slept.
Mac turned at the bottom of the stairs and headed towards his office. He knew someone who might have the answers to his questions.
Stepping inside the large room, he crossed to the solid, dark wood desk in front of a large picture window. He picked up the phone and dialed. He paced restlessly back and forth while he waited for his Wolven to pick up.
“Yeah?” a familiar surly voice growled.
Mac ignored the less than polite greeting. He was well acquainted with his King. “It’s me,” he said. “I need some answers and I think you might have them.”
Cam snorted. “Roc already called me. If you have questions about what to do with a new mate, you’re going to need a whole lot more than answers.”
“I know damn well what to do with her,” Mac muttered. He scrubbed his hand over his chin. It would not do to let Cam rile him up. Tempers flared easily in the clan. Especially in the unmated males. Mac may have found his mate, but Cam still had not.
“There’s a problem,” Mac said.
“They’ve got pills nowadays for stuff like that. Or so I’ve heard. I, myself, don’t have those kind of problems.” Cam stated.
Mac looked down at the large bulge in the front of his jeans that showed no signs of diminishing. “I definitely don’t have a problem in that area,” Mac said. “It’s my mate. And don’t even think of making any comments about her,” Mac threatened.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Cam said quietly. Mates were off limits.
“Tell me what the problem is,” Cam ordered. His voice switched, no longer teasing friend, but official Wolven of the clan.
Mac hesitated. He hated to hear the change in Cam’s voice. Since becoming king, Cam had become more and more serious. Mac understood all the responsibilities that rested on Cam’s shoulders. He didn’t want them. He was happy with his role as right hand man. He could fight all he wanted and not have any of the headaches that came with being the Wolven of their clan.
Cam dealt all day long with the irritating details that plagued every leader and the immense responsibility of seeing to the safety of their people. To top it off, he had to insure that the clan’s secret was never exposed.
They would be hunted down like wild animals if the humans ever found out about them.
Mac didn’t want to add to Cam’s burdens, but as Wolven he had access to information the rest of them did not. If that information could help him protect his mate then so be it. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to protect his mate.
“There’s a group of men after my mate. They call themselves “The Order of the Elements,” Mac said. “Does that mean anything to you?”
“Order of the Elements, huh?” Mac heard typing in the background. He could easily picture Cam sitting in front of his computer, more than likely with the ever present cup of coffee near at hand and hours cold.
“I’ve never heard of them but there might be something in the archives.” More typing. Cam had all of the clan’s history inputted into his personal computer several years ago. One of the computer experts in the clan had created a program to organize the information by year, names, subject matter, etc. Cam had centuries of knowledge at his fingertips.
“Yeah, here it is. We haven’t dealt with them in a while. Since the 1600s in fact.” Sela and Cam apparently had the same definition of “a while”.
“It says here that they somehow found out about our clan and tried to capture a clan member. Possibly for experimentation. It didn’t quite work out the way they planned.” Cam paused. Mac waited impatiently. “Other than some ancient crazy idea about controlling the earth through the four Elements of Water, Air, Earth and Fire, there isn’t m
uch else. They were only around for about forty years or so. You think these are the same guys that are after your mate?”
“Other than the fact that we haven’t heard about them in over four hundred years, everything else makes a strange sort of sense. The name is the same and my mate . . .” Mac trailed off. Not quite certain how to explain about the rain. They were all quite used to the strange side of life, but some things still took a bit to get used to.
“Roc told me about the rain inside the bar,” Cam sighed. “Kevin’s not going to be happy about that one. Can’t imagine the insurance company is either. Guess I’ll be talking to Kevin soon.”
Mac made a mental note to call Kevin first. He’d pay for the damages.
“She definitely has some control over water. I don’t know the full extent of her power and she isn’t willing to talk about it right now,” Mac said. “She also has a tattoo on her right arm. It looks like a Celtic knot with four intertwining circles. It started glowing the minute I touched her.”
“Roc mentioned she glowed. And the rain started right after you touched her?” Cam asked.
“Not right away. It started when she tried to protect us from the bad guys,” Mac still had trouble with that one.
“She tried to protect you?” Cam sounded just as disbelieving. One didn’t survive for centuries by being a wuss. Their clan was at the top of the food chain.
"She kicked Sam in the back of his knee and jumped in front of us when he went down,” Mac said proudly. His mate had courage. “She raised her arms and the tattoo lit up like a full moon. The rain started then. One of the guys chasing her called it her mark and sounded surprised that it was active.”
Mac had already drawn his own conclusions from that, but he wanted to get Cam’s take on it.
“Hmm,” Cam murmured. “Sounds like you sparked her power for some reason. Probably because she’s your mate. She might not be part of the clan but you both still respond to each other on other levels. Her power responded to you.”
That’s exactly what Mac thought.
“A Celtic knot with four intertwining circles?” Cam asked. Typing again sounded in the background.
Tall, Dark and Furry (The Elementals Book 1) Page 5
