by Bonnie Vanak
Overhead, pale stars danced in the moonlit sky. Kyle’s sensual promise heated her from the inside. She set down the cell and smiled, imagining what he planned. Her wolf had enjoyed the slow strokes of his tongue between her legs. Slow, sinful and deliberate. If only her Skin side could enjoy such pleasure as well.
For several minutes, she lay on her back, staring at the sky. A rare, peaceful feeling stole over her. Arianna closed her eyes, so relaxed she did not detect the two intruders until a rough voice broke her solitude.
“Little shits have to be around here someplace.”
Suppressing a startled yelp, she flattened against the roof. Fear-spiked adrenaline rushed through her veins, making her heart bang painfully against her ribcage.
They’d gotten the drop on her, the hunter who detected squirrels scampering across the forest floor a half mile away. They never would have gotten the drop on her wolf.
Moving quietly, she inched over to the voices near the front porch. Arianna raised her head and peered down.
Clad in dark clothing, two men stood by the shed. The second man turned, exposing his face in the moonlight. Arianna froze, a whimper rising from her throat.
A face from the past she remembered, the cruel tilt of his flat mouth, beady eyes narrowing as he set down the shotgun with a satisfied grunt.
Crimson staining pure white fur, trickling onto the ground...
Get a grip, get a grip. Nails digging into her palms, she forced herself to look again. No gun in hand. Shaky relief surged. Not the same Skin from long ago, but like him, perhaps a family member.
Old fears crested. Breath sawed out of her lungs, but she tried to keep quiet. If they couldn’t see or hear her, maybe they’d go away.
Please go away.
The men drew closer. One glance upward and they’d see her.
As the men began to turn, Arianna’s nerves snapped. Helpless to prevent the act, she shifted into wolf, remembering Tristan’s ominous warning.
Third time, you’re out.
Chapter 10
NO, ARI, DON’T!
Kyle watched in frustrated rage as the intruders started to look at the roof where Arianna transformed into a wolf. He shouted, jerking their attention toward him.
“Hey, assholes!”
Sure enough, they turned. Of course. They recognized their names. Gripping the shotgun he’d grabbed from the gun cabinet, Kyle advanced toward the Skin pair.
“Who are you, and why the hell are you trespassing on my land?” he demanded.
Lupine night vision enabled him to clearly see the shorter man’s derisive expression. “Your land? We ain’t seen no warnings.”
“Then you’re either blind or illiterate or both.” Kyle pointed to the No Trespassing signs nailed to several trees.
The shorter Skin scratched the stubble on his round chin, as if trying to puzzle out the words. “So? Signs don’t matter. Who says it’s your land?”
With one hand, Kyle racked the shotgun, the ominous clacking echoing through the glade. “I do. And so does she.”
A low growl rumbled from the shed roof.
Now the two did glance up, and Kyle swore they paled. Sharp white teeth glinting in the moonlight, Arianna looked like a Skin’s worst nightmare.
And his own personal wet dream.
“Meet Remington.” He pointed the gun at the men. “And his companion, Fluffy. Remington has a limited range, but Fluffy is pretty accurate from anywhere you stand. Unless you want Fluffy to tear you a new asshole, say, where your throat is, get the hell out of here.”
The taller man held out his hands as if directing an orchestra. “Say, hold on. Skip here didn’t mean no harm. He loses his manners when he gets impatient. We’re searching for a trio of younguns, kids who ran away. Got a fix on them a few miles back and thought they might have headed here for shelter. See any kids around?”
“Who are they to you?”
“Belong to friends of ours, lost hiking in the woods,” the tall man said.
Kyle narrowed his eyes as the unpleasant scent of something metallic hit his nostrils. Dark magick, he thought absently. “You with an official search team? Have identification?”
“What ID? Who the hell are you to ask?” asked the shorter man named Skip.
The taller one elbowed his friend. “Pardon my friend. He’s very worried about some strangers snatching them. Never know these days what some pervs might do.”
“Right.” Kyle’s voice deepened. “Maybe pervs happening to wander through the woods at night, looking for kids.”
Tall Skin gave a nasty smile. “Might wonder the same about a man out alone in these woods with a big wolf. But hell, I don’t care if you keep company with something that’s only good for skinning. All we’re interested in is those kids. Care if we take a peek inside your shed?”
“Yeah. I care. And so does Fluffy.” He whistled. “Fluffy, down, girl.”
Arianna jumped to the ground before the men, landing on all fours. The deep growl in her throat made them back away a few steps.
“Make yourselves invisible,” Kyle warned.
“What the hell you think, we’re magicians?” Skip spat out.
No, but you know someone who is. “You don’t want to hear my next words.” He gave a slow smile. “But I’ll say them anyway. Fluffy, sic balls.”
Jaws snapping, Arianna lunged forward. The men screamed and tore through the forest.
“Ari, stay,” he warned, as the wolf turned to chase them.
For once, she followed directions. Kyle cocked his head to listen, and when he could no longer hear the men, put the safety on the shotgun. Arianna trotted toward him, tongue hanging out, ears back and her tail tucked way down. Damn, she was scared. He crouched down and scratched her ears, glad to see them perk.
“I’ll get the phone.”
After retrieving the cell, he returned to the cabin, Arianna at his side. Taking the steps two at a time, he opened the front door. She loped inside and shifted back. Naked.
She always forgot her magick when spooked.
Arianna sat on the sofa before the fireplace, shivering violently. Adrenalin dump. He replaced the shotgun in the gun cabinet, locked it and put the key away.
Man, oh man, he wished she’d put on some clothing because her naked body made his dick stand up and salute the inside of his jeans.
Kyle took a fleece throw and draped it around her trembling shoulders. He forced his primitive, savage need into a deep, dark corner. Ari needed him sane and functional, not an animal bent on satisfying sexual urges.
He squatted before the fire, feeding it fresh logs and kindling. Finally he stood and dusted off his hands. Pale and shaken, Arianna stared into space. Kyle sat beside her and took her cold hands into his, chafing warmth into them.
“Little pint, what is it?”
A choking sob rose in her throat. “He killed them, Kyle. He killed them. That bad man, he killed them.”
Arianna barely felt Kyle’s warm, calloused hands rubbing hers. His voice was low and soothing, but it didn’t matter, because all she heard was screaming in her mind.
“Which one, sweetheart? The tall one or the one named Skip?”
“The shorter one. He looks like him. Oh, he’s not the same. The other one’s dead.” Arianna jerked her hands away and hugged herself, rocking back and forth.
“What other one?”
Mute, she shook her head, words caught in her throat.
“Oh no, Ari. You’re not shutting down on me again like you did years ago. You’re stronger than that.” His steady gaze burned into her. “Get it together, sweetheart. You can do it. You must, because what you remember can help those little ones. I know it’s tough, but you have to let it out.”
She didn’t want to. Wanted to remain shielded and swathed in oblivious amnesia. Let Kyle shield her from the past.
Deep inside, her wolf growled a protest.
It’s easy to hide because Kyle always protected you. You never had to worr
y.
She’d never had to deal with her feelings or worry about danger since Kyle had found her and brought her to Aiden’s pack. When would she finally cease hiding? How could she expect to have a real life if she never faced her fears?
Memories flashed through her mind like a shuffled card deck. But now they were clear; oh, so painfully clear.
When she finally spoke, her voice cracked. “The man called Skip, he must be related to Josh, the man who killed my parents. When he turned his face in the moonlight, he looked exactly like him.”
“His father?”
“No, younger. A brother, I think, who probably found out from Josh about the girl who ran with wolves.” Arianna clutched the fleece in a death grip. “I was in Skin form when Josh grabbed me. My dad tried to stop him, but Josh shot him and then shot my mom.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, blurring the crackling flames as she stared into the fireplace. “Josh dragged me off, said there was a crazy guy paying all kinds of money for the girl rumored to run with wolves.”
Closing her eyes, she remembered rocks, a cold cave and the Skin handing her over to the man with ice-white hair.
“And then we came to a cave on the mountain, in the dark forest rumored to have mythical creatures. The forest where we found the missing young in the cabin. There was a wizard with white hair. He killed Josh, and I was glad, so glad.”
Frost coated her skin again, filled her from the inside. Arianna shuddered.
“The wizard chained me to a wall for weeks. I lost track of time. When I refused to eat, he hurt me. It burned like cold needles. Then he captured another creature.” Arianna spoke in a small voice. “A male Satyr.”
Kyle went very still.
“He kept him chained up. The wizard kept giving the Satyr something that made him wild and crazy. He kept having...”
A blush heated her face as she pantomimed an erection. “Two days later, it was a full moon, and I was in heat. The man released the Satyr, but I was still chained to the wall.”
The nightmare returned in a haze of red fury and terror. She’d never seen a naked male and the swollen, red penis frightened her as much as the hard lust tightening his face, and then the Satyr transformed. Two bone-white horns grew from his skull, as a furry pelt covered his long limbs. A thick beard covered his face.
His thick penis jutted up from his groin. Terrified, she’d watched him advance, a growl ripping from his throat, lust darkening his gaze.
“The Satyr transformed,” she whispered. “I couldn’t move, I was so scared when he started coming after me, wanting to do things to me. The bad man.”
Kyle closed his eyes, staccato breaths whistling through his clenched teeth. A minute later, he opened his eyes. “How did you get away?”
“The chain on the wall broke. It’s a blur after, except I remember an opening in the cave and I ran through it, down the mountain. Running from the bad man.”
Into the mountains, not stopping except to drink at streams. Running until she collapsed onto the ground, shivering violently. Terrified as the thunder crashed around her, cold rain pelting her naked body, she’d hidden in the recess of a hollowed tree and whimpered. And then Kyle had found her.
From that moment, he’d declared himself her guardian, vowing to keep her safe.
Kyle clasped her hands and stroked his thumbs slowly over her icy skin. Slowly, her stomach unknotted. Arianna seized his hands, her fingers pressed tight against cartilage and bone.
When the tears finally came, Kyle gathered her into his arms, murmuring soothing assurances. “You did it, little pint. You remembered. It’s okay to cry. Just let it out.”
Finally the tears slowed. He left and returned with a few paper napkins. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Then he pulled her against him, his hand stroking her sweat-dampened hair.
Regaining her composure, she buried her face into his shoulder. “What do we do now?”
Sighing, he gently nuzzled her neck, as if his wolf wanted to reassure her as well. “Sit tight, guard the young and wait for their folks. Safest place is here.”
Warm breath feathered over her chilled skin. For a few moments she rested against him, relishing the steady beating of his strong heart. Arianna closed her eyes and ran her fingers through his thick hair. She pressed against him, needing this connection between them.
His breathing hitched. She looked up and stroked her fingers over the slight bristles on his firm chin.
He regarded her with a solemn look. “When I saw you shift on the shed roof, you took several years off my life, Fluffy.”
“Fluffy.” She made a face. “Did you have to call me that? Wherever did you come up with that name?”
Kyle sat back, arousal darkening his gaze, his mouth unsmiling. “I like Fluffy. Nice and soft, warm... When I dream of making love to you, I dream of you lying on a soft, fluffy bed, your hair spread out over a soft, fluffy pillow as I take you.”
Desire thickened his voice. “Fuck the bed. The floor would suffice. Especially for starters.”
Flames crackled and snapped in the hearth, the woodsy scent curling in the air, wending through the musky scent of growing arousal. A hushed stillness came over Kyle, and she was certain he could hear her heart banging against her ribcage.
Arianna moistened her mouth, watching his lips part. “What else do you dream about with me?”
A vein jumped in his temple. “Long massages until you’re slick and ready to take me. Licking you all over, like melting ice cream. Hearing you scream my name as I taste you and make you come. And...”
His gaze flicked to her bottom. “Pouring warm oil over your oh, so perfect ass, and then dragging your sweet cheeks open and running my tongue—”
“Kyle!” Crimson ignited her cheeks.
“We are Lupine, Ari. A very sensual people.” He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Does it turn you on? All those things I’ve dreamed of doing to you?”
A short, jerky nod sufficed, because hell, she was too breathless for a reply.
Maybe this time, she could do it.
But as he drew closer, his savage expression made her fear flare, just as it had in his truck. She trusted him, but did she trust him enough to allow him into her untried body to slake his male lust? Feeling vulnerable and scared again, Arianna shrank back.
Kyle gave her a long, thoughtful look.
Disappointment and shame cinched together, twin chains roping around her body.
“I want to touch you. I’ve dreamed of touching you, kissing you,” she whispered. “But sex still scares me. Why do I enjoy it in wolf form but not in Skin form?”
“Your wolf is your protector. She’s confident of defending herself. In Skin form, you’re more defenseless.” He considered. “Have you ever dreamed about touching me?”
She nodded.
“Would you like to touch me now?”
Chapter 11
TOUCH HIM. IT was so tempting, yet she feared unleashing his beast. Arianna moistened her mouth as Kyle closed his eyes. “C’mon, little pint. I promise not to move. I’m all yours. Explore your fantasies.”
Like a Skin approaching a fierce tiger under sedation, she inched closer. Eyes shut, he did not move, as promised. He smelled delicious, and his scent made her senses tingle, her blood hum in her veins.
She slid a hand over his, caressing bones and flesh, feeling the springy hairs feathering the back of his hand, the work-roughened knuckles. Arianna leaned into Kyle, nuzzling his neck and smelling his delicious scent. Kyle groaned as she kissed his throbbing pulse, her mouth trailing a line of kisses down to his collarbone. Salt and sweet, she thought in amazement. Arianna licked his collarbone, swirling her tongue around the knobby bone, sliding it along muscle and tendon.
An intoxicating scent of thick spice, as delectable as chocolate brownies, swirled in the air. His mating scent, she realized. It teased her body, stroking over her skin like a hand.
Frustrated, she pulled at the fabric barricading her from
exploring more of his muscled body. “Take off your shirt.”
With a chuckle, he obliged.
Arianna’s mouth watered. His body was smooth, tanned skin rippling over thick muscles. A triangle of dark curls stretched between two small brown nipples, marching down past the muscles ridging his abdomen and vanishing into the waistband of his jeans. A few crescent-shaped scars nicked the perfection of his skin, and she ached at their sight, knowing they testified to the difficulty of his childhood.
One resembled a nasty bite mark.
Arianna touched the scar with her forefinger, feeling the slight dip where it curved inward, tracing the mark like a blind person reading Braille. Her fingertips trailed over the delightful hills and valleys of each abdominal muscle, then upward, snaking through his thick chest hair. Playfully she yanked at a couple. Still, he did not move, just as promised.
Fierce hunger filled her as she gazed at the prominent bulge in his jeans. Not now. But soon, maybe, she’d find the courage to touch him there.
She sat back, hands in her lap.
Kyle regarded her with his steady gaze. “All good?”
She nodded.
“May I touch you now?”
Such a formal request, as if asking her to dance. Arianna squeezed her hands together.
He quietly regarded her with his steady gaze, then went upstairs. When he returned, he carried her fleece sweatshirt, sweatpants and a pair of her lacy mint green panties. “Put these on. I want you to feel comfortable with me.”
As she dressed, he fed more wood into the fire, not once sneaking a peek at her nudity. Then he joined her on the couch.
Her heart slammed against her rib cage. Would his beast charge forward again? What if he reverted to the savage sexual animal who’d pinned her down in the woods, only this time he did not control his lust? What was she inviting into her life?
This was Kyle, her friend, her guardian, the one who promised to keep her safe.
This was also the man whose beast turned him into a raging sexual animal.
Nails dug into her skin as she shrank back against the sofa. Kyle went to the cabinet, opened a drawer and fished through it. He withdrew a magazine and a pencil, closed the drawer, then set both on the coffee table.
