Destiny of the Wolf hotw-2

by Terry Spear

  His fingers parted her feminine core as his tongue touched hers. “Heaven on earth, love. That’s what you are.”

  “It’s not fair that my breasts are bare and my skirts are tugged up to my waist so you can have your fill of me while you’re dressed to the teeth.”

  “Complaints, complaints, woman.” He moved her hand from his waist to the crotch of his pants. “Release me and end my pain.”

  She unbuttoned his pants and reached inside and touched his rock-hard erection.

  “It’s all yours, madam.”

  “Then send me to the moon, sir. Make me climb the peak.” She stroked his member, long, hard, faster, soliciting a groan from deep within his throat, his eyes glazed over with lust.

  “Enough, you vixen.”

  He centered himself between her legs, then entered her, easing in at first, then thrusting hard.

  His hand closed on her breast, massaging the mound as his mouth sought her free breast, his lips suckling at the nipple.

  She arched against him, reveling in the feel of his hard thrusts, her pelvis meeting his with as much enthusiasm, her eyes closed so she could concentrate on the feel of his penetration, and of his tongue licking at her sensitive nipple. His heartbeat thundered in her ear, mixed with the sound of her own heart pounding. He gripped her bare shoulders as she slipped her hands underneath his waistcoat and yanked his shirttail out of his trousers. His eyes fluttered opened and he grinned, wicked, amative.

  She traced his abs, the muscles flexing beneath her fingertips. Closing her eyes again, she breathed in the wild, spicy scent of him, of the piney woods and spruce, and felt suspended in time between now and the past, the centuries bridged.

  “My princess, he mouthed against her lips, “my goddess.”

  His chest rubbed against hers, the satin fabric of his vest, teasing her nippies, and then the power of Niagara Falls washed over her in a rush of heated passion, carrying her over the edge, sweeping her toward... toward...

  She moaned as a second wave stole her thoughts, his hot seed filling her womb. “Adonis.” she gasped. “In the flesh, she breathed in his ear.

  He nipped her chin and squeezed her breast with one final thrust. “My... dreams... have… come... true... love.” His head sank next to her face, his hand cupping her breast. “I have died and gone to Valhalla.”

  Her fingers caressing locks of his damp hair, she gave a contented sigh. “I never want to move from here.”

  He chuckled. “Next time we’ll do it with fewer clothes. I would never have lasted with you in the earlier time. In truth, I’m glad the days of long gowns and the like are gone. He swirled his tongue around her nippie as if he was licking the ice cream on a sugar cone. “Though I like the cut of this gown on you.” His gaze shot up to hers. “But not for everyone in town to see. Silva is absolutely the devil.”

  He rolled off her, adjusted his pants, and tucked his shirt back into his trousers. He helped her stand. Pulling her bodice up. he covered her nipples, his thumbs rubbing the sensitive nubs underneath the lace-trimmed satin. Focusing on them, he let out a low growl. “Wear a shirt over them until they settle down.”

  Lelandi laughed. “It’s all your fault. Darien.”

  He kissed her lips, his tongue penetrating her mouth, his hands wrapped securely around her waist. “I love it when you call me by name. Lelandi, for all the times we made love together, and you didn’t know who I was.” He kissed her forehead and brushed his hand down her waist until his fingers reached the apex of her thighs. He cupped her mound through her skirts and rubbed and let out a husky breath. “Hurry home and I’ll join you.”

  “Hmm,” she moaned in response, then smiled and pressed her lips against his, nipping his lower one. “Don’t make me wait long.”

  I won’t,” he said with lustful promise and escorted her out of the storeroom.

  Sam stopped filling a mug and looked from Darien to Lelandi and gave a knowing smile.

  Some difference from the first time she’d been here, sitting at the table in the corner, an outsider in disguise.

  Darien kissed her cheek and left her behind the counter. “No more serving drinks to the tables.” He glanced at the table where the grays had been trying to get her attention. “I’ll have to keep you under lock and key,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Right.” she said. “As if that’s ever happening.”

  Trevor walked back into the place, but Tom and Jake took seats at an empty table also.

  “Killjoy,” she said to Darien.

  He gave her a smug look. “It’s for your protection, Lelandi. I’ve got some business I have to take care of. Let Jake know when you want to return home.”

  The humans talked like nothing had gone on. But every gray in the house watched Darien, and when he left, Tom and Jake would observe them next.

  Silva gave her a big smile. Lelandi tried to fill a glass, but it dropped from her grasp and Sam caught it.

  “You can put out some chips.” He gave her one of his wolfish grins.

  Silva joined her behind the bar and tsked. “Boy, you sure have a stranglehold on that man. I keep trying to learn from your example, but I’m not sure what it is you’re doing to garner his attention. Just when I think he’s going to confine you at home, he takes you in the back room and ravishes you.” She sighed. “Now half the grays in the tavern had their eyes on that door, just waiting to see what the two of you looked like when you came out.”

  Feeling sated, Lelandi poured chips into a bowl.

  “Darien’s chest was so puffed out, he looked like a peacock strutting out of there. And you, well,” Silva glanced down at Lelandi’s bodice and sighed heavily again. “A fresh bloom to your cheeks and lips, your hair tousled in the throes of passionate lovemaking, and you’ve even lost your hat. In the olden days, that would have been utterly scandalous.” She laughed.

  “For humans,” Lelandi reminded her, speaking low so only Silva could hear, although she imagined Sam was eavesdropping as well. “Not lupus garous.”

  “Ah, but most of these yahoos didn’t know you and Darien were mated yet. Besides, he’s the pack leader. Whatever happens in regards to him is important to them. When he’s happy…” Silva shrugged. “Makes him easier to live with.”

  Lelandi glanced in the mirror on the back wall. Most of her hair hung to her shoulders in curls, no longer bound.

  Silva gave her a hug. “I want to know all your secrets. Julia Wildthorn has nothing on you.”

  Lelandi smiled, brushed a curl of hair away from her cheek and returned to the counter. Conversation renewed and she could just bet the topic of conversation. Red wolf strikes again!

  Silva ran her hand over Lelandi’s arm. “Everyone’s glad for the two of you. Darien’s come out of his dark mood, except for the other deadly business. Soon you’ll be carrying his babies and the pack will be well on its way to mend.”

  “Triplets.” Carol raised her nearly empty container of bottled water, eyes glittering, but her expression was deadly serious.

  Leiandi stared at her, her heart nearly stopping. What had the woman overheard? Could she really see the future? More importantly, did she know about the lupus garous?

  Chapter 16

  WAS THE WINE TALKING OR DID CAROL WOOD REALLY SEE things that others couldn’t? Lelandi wanted to question her further—alone, but Silva stuck close to her at the bar.

  Lelandi gave a disgruntled sigh and handed her two bowls of chips. “Darien won’t let me serve anything to the tables or I’d help you out more.”

  Silva gave her a smirk. “I’m used to the crowds. Think nothing of it.”

  As soon as Silva skirted around the bar, Lelandi leaned over the counter and asked Carol, “Do you... see this for real?”

  “What?”

  Lelandi pursed her ups. “Do you see that I have triplets?”

  Carol waved her hand at the tavern. “Multiple births abound in Silver Town. Darien’s a triplet. You’re a triplet. So sure, you’ll hav
e triplets, too.”

  “How did you know I was a triplet?”

  Carol looked cross-eyed, then her blue eyes straightened. “Don’t you have a brother, too? I thought someone said you did.” She shrugged and rested her elbow on the counter, then leaned her head against her hand. “I think.”

  Lelandi poured chips into another bowl.

  “Your sister was pregnant with triplets. But you’ll be feeding yours at your breasts, juggling one after another when the time is right.”

  Sam had moved closer and although he hadn’t looked In their direction, Lelandi was certain he’d heard. “You’re probably right, statistically speaking,” she said, not wanting anyone to know if Carol truly had psychic powers. But could she know anything about the tragedy that had befallen her sister? She had to find out when the woman was sober, and without big ears listening in on their conversation.

  Silva came behind the bar and cast a glance in Trevor’s direction. He was looking their way, but Lelandi was certain he was watching her, not Silva. But Silva coyly smiled, then made her move on Sam. She kissed him on the cheek. Nothing too risqué or noteworthy, but Sam seized her arm, pulled her into a bear hug and started kissing her like they were in bed, getting ready for the big bang.

  At first, Silva seemed taken aback, stiff, but when Sam kept working on her lips, Silva melted in the big guy’s arms, giving him as much as she was getting.

  Lelandi glanced around at the now quiet tavern, saw Trevor watching, but no scowl marred his expression. Everyone else was rabidly entranced. Some amused.

  Jake shook his head and slugged down some beer.

  Tom took his eyes off Silva and Sam and smiled at Lelandi. Her body warmed with chagrin.

  “Man,” Silva said, her voice low but because Lelandi was close enough she heard her words. “You never told me you knew how to melt a lady’s core.”

  “Just needed the right woman to do the kiss justice.” Sam patted her rump. “Now get back to work.”

  With a grin stretching across her face, she grabbed up another tray. “Hmm-hmm.”

  Belatedly, several of the guys in the tavern whooped and cheered.

  Silva’s face turned crimson.

  “Wow,” Carol said. “Now, I wouldn’t mind a hunk like that kissing me either.

  Then her head sank to the counter.

  Lelandi shook her head and motioned to Jake, who hurried to the bar. “You want to go home now’?”

  “Carol Wood needs a ride home. “

  Jake waved at one of the grays at a table. “Take Ms. Wood to her place.”

  The guy looked pissed, but nodded and carried Carol out of the tavern.

  Right after that, a husky human male walked up to the bar and handed Lelandi a note. “Guy outside asked me to give this to you.”

  Before she could take it, Jake pulled it out of the man’s hand. “Thanks. I’ll give it to her.”

  Jake stood his ground as the man looked from the note to Lelandi. Finally, he shrugged. “All right. Whatever.” He gave Lelandi a sly smile, then sauntered over to one of the tables.

  Jake opened the note, then shook his head. “Time to go.”

  “It’s a note from...” She started to say, Darien, but then she realized Jake would have given it to her. Ural. She rounded the bar as if she planned to go with Jake, then snatched the note from his hand.

  He could have taken it back, but instead gave her a superior smirk while he watched her read it. Ural. She’d recognize his scrawl anywhere. I’m coming for you, Lelandi. Be ready.

  But he was in jail.

  Jake motioned to Trevor, talked to him for a minute, then the deputy went to a table of grays. All six rose and headed outside.

  “What if I wanted to stay longer?”

  “I can tell you. It isn’t going to fly with Darien.” Jake took her arm, and he and Tom led her to his SUV.

  “How did Ural get out of jail?” she asked.

  “Apparently he had help,” Jake said, his voice dark.

  When they saw Trevor and the other grays outside of the tavern, they shook their heads at Jakes questioning look. Maybe this time Ural had the sense to return home without her and leave well enough alone.

  On the drive back to Darien’s house, Jake wore a perpetual smile and Lelandi finally asked. “What’s so funny?”

  “You, for putting Silva up to kissing Sam at the bar. Won’t work, you know. Trevor won’t fall for it.”

  “That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”

  He glanced at her, his brow perplexed.

  “Trevor’s not the right one for her.”

  Tom laughed. “We have a matchmaker in our midst. Sonja said she’s getting too old to do it anymore. Now we have her replacement.”

  “Ha!” Jake responded. “Everyone was relieved when she quit matching bachelors up with their intended mates.”

  “The bachelors you mean were relieved,” Lelandi guessed.

  “Well. I for one am ready for a mate,” Tom said. ‘Human girls don’t have what it takes.” He winked at Lelandi.

  Having no plans to become Silver Town’s new matchmaker, she rolled her eyes. “I’m taking up psychology.”

  Jake glanced at her. “You’ve okayed this with Darien?”

  She folded her arms and stared out the windshield. If she wanted to become a psychologist, by god, she was going to do it.

  Jake shook his head. “Let us know when you talk to Darien about this so Tom and I can be at the factory or mine for the day.”

  She hmpfed. “I hope you weren’t too hard on Chester McKinley.”

  “Trevor said he got intimate with you. I don’t think I’ve seen Darien so mad. Not only that, but when we checked into it, we discovered he was one of the ones who sent a vase of wildflowers to you. anonymously.”

  Her mouth dropped slightly, then she recovered. “I’m not a member of this pack officially yet, and I damn well can do as I please. If I want to talk to Chester, It’s my business. And for your information he wasn’t intimate with me.”

  ‘We know you mated with Darien. It’s the real deal.” Tom said. “And that’s as official as it gets.”

  Lelandi glowered at Tom over the back of the seat.

  “Did you find out who the other anonymous guys were who sent flowers to her?” Jake asked Tom.

  “They were much more discrete. Seems Chester McKInley wanted us to discover who he was easily enough. But I did find out that Joe Kelly was another.”

  “Hell, what’s he up to?” Jake asked.

  “Found out he bought Lelandi her first drink when she arrived at the tavern, too. Sam finally told me. Said it had slipped his mind because of the shooting incident.”

  Tom chuckled darkly. “Darien better let everyone know she’s his soon or he’s going to be rescuing her from every bachelor’s clutches in the area.”

  Boy, that would really make her popular with the pack.

  When they arrived at the house, Jake sequestered Lelandi back in the guest bedroom. She guessed since Darien hadn’t officially declared they were mated, no one would put her in his room without his order. It really didn’t matter where she was. She Just wanted to be free to see her sister’s letter to Darien and locate her blasted gun. But Jake stayed with her and so that was the end of that.

  He finally brought her downstairs for dinner, but Darien was noticeably absent. And Tom and Jake were keeping a real close eye on her. Because of Ural?

  A shiver trailed up her spine. Who was here now who would have freed Ural? Had to be someone from her pack. And no doubt, to get into the jail, several had arrived. Which meant Bruin and his thugs must have found her. All of a sudden, she didn’t feel safe.

  She asked again, “When’s Darien coming home?”

  “Soon,” Jake said. He didn’t try to humor her, although Tom had tried to lighten the mood.

  Finally, Jake motioned to the stairs. “It’s getting late.”

  “I want to wait up for Darien.”

  “He’ll come to
you when he’s done with business.”

  Exasperated, she retired to bed. But soon, Jake left her alone. She listened for any sounds outside the door. A guard would be posted.

  She closed her eyes and listened, waiting for someone to come into the room. Then she inhaled deeply. Darien would come to her and wrap her in his heat. Then. nothing else would matter.

  Something woke Lelandi from a deep sleep. She listened closely. Branches scratching at the window. She stared at the midnight blue comforter and wondered what happened to her forest green one. Realization hit her with a sick thud that she was in Darien’s home and not in her family’s, that her parents and sister had died, that Bruin might be here.

  The scratching started up again and she glanced at the chair where someone sat during guard duty. No one still. Bathroom break?

  A gentle rapping at the pane forced her heart to leap into her throat. She climbed out of bed, then peeled back one of the blue velvet window panels.

  Standing on a ladder with his nose pressed against the glass, his hood up protecting him from the blowing snow, her cousin Ural scowled at her, motioned to the glass, and mouthed the words, “Open the damned window!”

  “Ural, she said under her breath.

  One of his eyes was swollen shut, his lower up was covered in dry blood, and he had a gash across his brow. She cursed and unlocked the window, then shoved it up.

  Took you long enough, he growled, climbing inside. He shook off the snow from his coat and slipped his hood down.

  “How did you know which room I was in? How’d you get out of jail?”

  “Woke up and the door was open. Walked right out.”

  Her skin grew clammy and she wrung her hands. “T—this is a setup.”

  “Come away with me. I’ll take you somewhere safe.” He reached for her hair.

  She stepped back. “Leave before they catch you.”

  “You can’t mate with a gray. And when Bruin learns you’re here he’ll send a delegation for you. You won’t stand a chance. We can go across country where he can’t find us, start our own pack.”

  Fearing he’d fly into a rage, she wasn’t about to tell him she’d mated Darien. “I’m staying here and finding out who murdered my sister.”