Healing of the Wolf

by Cherise Sinclair

  Margery slapped her hands over her mouth to smother her laugh. Fail.

  Totally not upset, Calum grinned. “Would you like to continue to live in Leo’s house? Rent-free?”

  She squeaked like a pup smelling milk. “Yes! That would be wonderful.”

  He inclined his head. “Then we are in balance for now and will reevaluate in a few moons.” After another quick smile, he moved down the bar to deal with a rowdy group of thirsty males.

  Margery wrapped her arms around herself. She’d get money, maybe not much, but real money for being a banfasa, and a house to herself.

  This was the best week ever. Donal saying he needed her help. Tynan kissing her. Cookies for doing what she loved to do. Friends who saved her a place at a Gathering. A house.

  She shivered in delight, wishing only that she had someone to share her good news with.

  And then…

  “Meggie.” Tynan stood beside her. He wore jeans and a blue shirt that matched the stunning color of his eyes. Eyes that were now alight with interest and amusement. “You look like the wolf that caught the breakfast bunny.”

  “I totally caught the bunny.” She bounced on her toes. “The Cosantir is going to give me a stipend and let me stay in Leo’s house.”

  “There’s good news.” He ran his fingers through her hair, and just like that, her body melted, simply melted.

  Whatever look was in her face drew him closer until she could feel the heat of his muscular body. Breathe in his woodsy scent.

  How could parts of her tighten in need while other parts felt like a molten lake?

  She set her hand on his chest and felt the rock-hard muscles tense under her palm.

  “Meggie.” He put his hand over hers, holding her to him. “And I have to ask now, lass, if you’d like to go upstairs and celebrate your good news?” The lilting Irish of his rich voice was a siren call of wicked desire.

  The blue in his eyes captured her, like falling into a warm sunlit lake.

  She tried to regain her footing. “Celebrate? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

  His quick smile lit his face, and he rubbed his cheek against hers. “With you? Aye, and it will be a celebration.”

  When he swept her into his arms, she squeaked and grabbed his shirt.

  Chuckling, he carried her up the stairs and pushed open the door to one of the tiny mating rooms. This one had no fireplace, and the cool air brushed against her heated skin.

  Candles in the wall sconces sent soft light across the brown velvet cushions covering the floor. Toeing off his shoes, he left them outside the door, crossed the uneven footing, and laid her on a pile of fat golden pillows.

  She pulled off her slippers and tossed them toward the door. Suddenly desperate to have him, she yanked off her shirt—and got caught up in simply staring.

  Tynan had closed the door and stripped. As the light rippled over his broad shoulders, he looked like an ancient Gaelic warrior with more than enough muscles to wield a claymore.

  Her fingers turned all fumbly as she tried to undo her jeans buttons.

  “Why don’t you let me do that, lass?” On one knee beside her, he brushed her hands aside and slowly undid each button. “I’ve been looking forward to this. I wanted to be with you earlier but got called outside to break up a brawl.”

  Sitting back, he ran his finger over the soft skin of her lower stomach, then up and over her breasts. “You are very beautiful.” His gaze said he wasn’t lying. That he actually thought that.

  The knowledge caught in her throat and squeezed her heart.

  Cupping the back of her head, he kissed her. Gently. Reassuringly.

  She didn’t need reassurance. In her veins, her blood was surging like the ocean tide, her need growing to unbearable heights. This was Tynan who’d run with her through the forests, who’d held her when she was frightened. Who she trusted.

  And he smelled like wolf and dark desire.

  Lying back, she pulled him down on top of her and ran her hands over his back. His skin felt like satin stretched over steely muscles. She hummed a song of need. “I want…”

  “Aye, of course you do,” he murmured. He took her lips, demanding her response, and everything in her lower half began to burn.

  “I will take you, lass, and it will be as hard as you want—but will last as long as I want.” His resonant voice held an edge of iron as he cupped her bare breasts.

  His palms were warm, the calluses slightly abrasive, sending wonderful warring sensations rippling through her. Her back arched, pushing her breasts into his palms.

  He responded by rolling one nipple between his thumb and forefinger and licking around the other.

  The sensations tangled in an overwhelming blast of heat, and she moaned, digging her fingernails into his shoulders, trying to pull him down on her.

  “Demanding wolflet.” He nipped a sensitive spot on the underside of her breast and continued in a heady circle around her nipple. When she began to whine, he closed his mouth over the nipple.

  The exquisite pulling on the sensitive nub almost sent her over.

  His tongue lashed a quick circle around the areola. Even as he sucked again, he molded her other breast with a powerful hand. And then he switched breasts.

  Back and forth, licking and sucking, nibbling and teasing.

  By the time he moved down her body, her swollen breasts throbbed around jutting, burning nipples.

  A brushed kiss against her belly button made her laugh. “Tynan.”

  With a quick yank, he divested her of her jeans. Breathing in, he smiled, then licked over the crease between her thigh and groin.

  “Oh Goddess.” She reached up and grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him upward. On top of her. “I want…need you inside me.”

  “And do you now?” He leaned forward and captured her face between his hands. “A leannán, you’ve only been a shifter for a few months. How much experience have you?”

  “Lots.” There, with that answer, he couldn’t stall any longer.

  Her gaze slid down his chest, his ridged abdomen to his groin and the trimmed brown hair. His cock was erect, long and thick and so unbelievably beautiful, and she had to have it inside her.

  “Any experience outside of mating rooms on a full moon?”

  She blinked, met his intent blue eyes. “Um, no.”

  “I know most shifters give in to a female’s demands, let her grab them, and yank them down. Aye?”

  “Yes. Do that.” Her entire lower half ached with need. She gripped his shoulders and tried to do exactly what he’d said.

  He grinned. “As your mentor, it’s my duty to broaden your education.” To her complete shock, he rolled her over and set her on her hands and knees.

  “What are you doing?” She tried to turn back over so he could take her, but he covered her with his body, limiting her movement.

  Then his cock pressed against her entrance, and she went still.

  There. Yes. She was going to get what she wanted…just different. Her ass tilted up.

  Slowly, he pushed inside, thicker than the others before, stretching her around his girth.

  Shivers coursed through her as her body welcomed him despite his size. “Yes. Yes. More.”

  He kept going, so big, filling her to a point where she wasn’t sure she could take him, but everything inside her demanded he continue.

  And then he was in, his groin hot against her buttocks, his thighs against the back of hers.

  She wiggled her demand that he move.

  With his chest tight against her back, she could feel as well as hear his rumbling laugh. He nipped her shoulder, sending goosebumps coursing over her arms. “Now, let me show you the advantages of this position.”

  He was thick inside her, but unmoving. She growled a complaint.

  “Mmmhmm.” Leaning his weight on one arm, he moved his free hand to her dangling breasts. Teasing and pulling. Pinching her nipples.

  Zings of overwhelming pleasur
e shook her whole body as, somehow, her insides clenched harder around him. She squirmed, needing, needing.

  His hand moved downward, over her stomach and…

  When his fingers slid through her wetness and over her clit, everything inside her exploded in pleasure as she spasmed around his shaft and shook with the incredible sensations. Coming so hard, she couldn’t breathe through the all-consuming waves.

  As the sensations slowed and the tingles of pleasure continued to run over her skin, she sucked in air. And realized…his shaft had never moved.

  “Mmm, that did feel nice,” he murmured in her ear.

  * * *

  Nice was an understatement, Tynan decided. The last few rhythmic clenches around his dick was damned fantastic—and required a tight grip on his control to keep from taking her forcefully.

  Instead, he sat back onto his feet and pulled her with him so her back remained against his chest. Now, not having to support himself, he could use both hands on her.

  Cupping her left breast with one hand, he felt how her heart still pounded. Her knees were widely parted, outside of his, and his cock impaled her nicely, further anchoring her in place.

  When she looked over her shoulder at him, he curled his other hand around her throat—enforcing the vulnerable wolf position—and kissed her.

  Her soft mouth opened to his tongue. Fuck, he loved kissing her.

  When he lifted his head, she squirmed on his dick and frowned. “You’re…you’re still hard. You didn’t come. Don’t you want to?”

  She was delightful.

  “Oh, we’re not finished. After you come for me again, I’ll indulge myself.”

  “B-but it takes a while before my need will rise again.”

  What in Herne’s hairy balls was wrong with her previous mates? He rubbed his cheek against hers. “It won’t take long this time, little wolf.”

  Rather than explaining, he started to caress her. Her lovely responsive breasts were already swollen and sensitive from his teasing before.

  Her gasp told him precisely how sensitive.

  Smiling as she began to wiggle, he bit down on the big muscle between her shoulder and neck. Another way to pin her in place while he learned her body. He rolled her nipples between his fingers. He pinched. He tugged. And he watched how her muscles tensed. How her breathing changed with each action.

  When her cunt tightened around him, he slid his hand down to cup her pussy.

  The way she jumped—and widened her legs farther apart—made him grin.

  Gently, he traced circles around the sensitive ball of nerves, took a moment to rub the tightly stretched flesh around his cock, and returned.

  Almost too quickly, her breathing sped up, and he could feel her temperature rise, her skin heat.

  He pressed against her clit more firmly as he tilted his cock to hit a new area, and suddenly he was holding a very squirmy female.

  “Tynan,” she demanded, wiggling more, setting off all sorts of sensations.

  “Now we will play again,” he whispered in her ear and leaned forward, dropping her back onto her hands. Staying inside her the entire time, going nicely deep.

  A tremor ran through her, and her fingers curled into the cushions.

  He braced himself with an arm on the floor, ran his free hand over her tightly peaked nipples, and down to her clit.

  “Now, this is wolf fun,” he growled in her ear, pulled almost out, then drove deep.

  Her head came up, and she gasped.

  Slowly, he pulled back and slammed in again. Opening his hand, he kept one finger rubbing her clit while using his palm on her pelvis to yank her back on his dick.

  Feck, she feels good.

  She dropped to her elbows, moaning in counterpoint to his thrusts.

  Her core tightened around him, her muscles tensing, her breathing almost coming to a halt.

  He rolled his hips to give her a change of pace and continued with hard, driving thrusts.

  With high-pitched yips, she came, the rolling, clenching of her cunt pulling at him.

  Now. With a groan, he let go of his own control, pounding in, long and hard. The tingling ache moved past the base of his spine as the pressure and pleasure grew. Heat rushed through his cock in surge after irresistible surge as he released his seed.

  She was still spasming around him as he recovered his senses and kissed her nape. With one hand around her waist, the other on her breast, he toppled them both over onto the cushions.

  Soft, giving female. No, more than that—his Meggie. Meggie mine.

  On his side, he was still intimately deep within her. And with a sigh of pleasure, she wrapped her arms over his, holding him tightly, keeping him wrapped around her.

  There was nowhere in the entire universe he’d rather be.

  Some time later, Margery pulled in a slow, contented breath. For a long, wonderful while, Tynan had held her against him, then turned her and pulled her on top of him and cuddled her some more.

  She could happily stay here forever.

  Sure, she’d never come so hard in all her life. But…it was more than that. After mating, her emotions usually felt storm-tossed, and the males always wanted to be done and move on.

  Tynan hadn’t. He’d pulled her to him, kept her in his arms, nuzzled her hair, stroked her back, held her hand. There had been a different timbre to his rumbling voice as he told her how beautiful she was, how pleased he was to be with her, and how wonderful she’d made him feel. A sound that left her feeling warm. Happy.

  The way she’d felt when her mother had told stories to her and her littermates, or when Grandmama had hugged her. Like she was special and appreciated.

  Even loved.

  “I suppose we have to get moving, don’t we?” she murmured unhappily.

  “Aye, lass. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to keep you up here all night.” Tynan gave her another slow kiss before rising and pulling her to her feet.

  “I wish I could spend the entire night with you, a leannán.” He touched her cheek. “But…”

  “It’s against the rules. I know.” She’d attended enough full moons to know the rules. After mating, a shifter had to return to the Gathering room. She didn’t have to choose a male unless she was interested in mating with him, but she still had to be there.

  After they showered, he walked her back down to the tavern.

  “Where would you like to sit now?” He glanced around the room. “I can stay with you until—”

  “You know that’s not a good idea.” Although she’d love it. Her over-protective warrior. She smiled up at him, surprised at his tender expression. “Emma and Heather are over by the fireplace. How about there? Or does that break some rule of no females together?”

  “It’s more of a tradition, but simply because when your heat rises, you’re interested in seeking out a male and don’t want to compete for one.”

  “Huh. That makes sense.” She grinned at him. “However, thanks to your…thoroughness…I’m good for a while. I’ll sit with them.”

  His laugh was like a slow stroke of pleasure deep inside her.

  At the fireplace, he saw her seated and kissed her, not the quick peck males usually extended after mating, but a long, slow, deep, almost possessive kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Meggie mine.”

  As he walked away, she couldn’t help but watch. Those long, lean legs, the way his jeans fit over his male ass. His… She realized the other two women were awfully quiet and jerked her gaze back. “Um. Hi. How’s your night going?”

  Heather burst out laughing. “Usually a female looks that lustful before a male takes her, not afterward.”

  Margery felt herself flush—and could only grin.

  “He’s well worth watching,” Emma said in her melodic contralto. “And is a good male according to my Ben and Ryder. It’s nice Donal has his brother home.”

  “It is.” Margery smiled. “Although they sure argue like littermates.”

  Emma leaned forward. “Really?
Tynan looks as if he’d be difficult to rile up.”

  “Donal’s talented that way.” Margery grinned. “Like yesterday, Tynan had given him grief for not cleaning up after himself, so the poor cop came back and all the wall paintings were tilted, the chairs and end tables way out of alignment, and the throw rugs crumpled up.”

  Heather and Emma broke into giggles.

  “Tynan said he spent the next half hour straightening things before he could even relax.” Margery snickered. “Donal’s one sneaky cat.”

  “A female they shared would be in for interesting times.” Heather’s comment made Margery’s heart give an odd leap.

  Share a female? Some littermates did that, not only as lifemates, but in mating rooms.

  Donal and Tynan. Together. Heat spread through her in a whole different way than the full moon heat. This was softer, more…glowy. More wistful, because she’d seen how popular both males were with the most beautiful of females.

  Margery didn’t even reach averagely attractive.

  Nodding at the lifemating bracelets on Emma’s wrist, she changed the subject. “Are your mates helping to supervise the Gathering like Vicki, Bree, and Darcy’s mates were?”

  “Ryder’s home with our cub, Minette, but Ben’s here. This late at night, Calum takes a break to join Vicki and Alec, so Joe Thorson supervises. Since there’ve been a couple of fights recently, Ben said he’d back Joe up.” Emma smiled. “No one messes with my grizzly cahir.”

  “Not anyone who wants a long life,” Heather said in a dry voice.

  “And after last night, they’re both keeping an eye on me—even though Donal fixed me up just fine.” Emma wrinkled her nose. “Margery, I’m so glad you were there.”

  “What happened?” Heather asked.

  “Darcy was giving me a ride home, but she swerved to avoid a fox. Well, she’s still a new driver, you know?”

  Heather lifted an eyebrow. “Lost control, mmm?”

  “Exactly. We skidded sideways, and it would’ve been okay, but Kepler and Norman had”—Emma rolled her eyes—“perhaps a bit to drink and roared up, hit us from the side. They slid into a tree. Kepler wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, I guess, and he got thrown out, so he was a mess.”