Rescue in the Smokies (Durham Wolves) (20 page)

Naked, he reached for her. She flinched. “It’s me, baby. I’m right here.”

Her pulse rate went down, and she relaxed into his touch as he reached for the ropes binding her, just as he’d done not an hour ago for another woman.

But this woman was his. His hands trembled and made it difficult to get a good grip on the knots. He squinted in the soot falling around them, his eyes so gritty they watered. As soon as she was free, she launched herself at him and wrapped her shaking arms around his neck, squeezing him as though her life depended on it.

“God. What happened? I couldn’t communicate with you.” Her words stumbled out of her mouth between gasps for air she used to keep from crying. Her fear was palpable.

“I’m here now. You’re safe.”

“McKinney?”

“He’s alive, I’m sure. But trapped on the other side of the mound of rubble. He can’t get to you now.”

“Won’t he just come back?”

“Yes. But we’ll be ready. Always. I’ll never leave you like that again. I promise. One day he’ll be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I’ll put an end to his charade.”

Epilogue

Two weeks later…

“Man, she’s beautiful.” Juliana leaned back against the fence and watched Sergius as he worked with the filly. It was a spectacular sight. The spring weather was gorgeous, and the wind fluttered Juliana’s hair around her face.

“Yes, she is. You want to pet her?”

“Can I?”

“Of course. Just always remember to come at a horse from the front so you don’t startle them. You don’t want to get kicked.” He reached for her hand when she jumped down and meandered toward him, slightly leery and apprehensive.

She’d never been around horses. But this was her life now. Three men, a ranch and a dozen thoroughbreds. No time like the present to get acquainted.

“How long will you keep her?”

“Just until she’s one. Next spring she’ll be sold.”

“That must be hard. Don’t you get attached? And what about the mother? They’re so close. She never lets her foal out of her sight. What happens when she leaves?” Juliana lifted a hand, spread her fingers and smoothed her palm down the hair along the horse’s head.

Sergius wrapped an arm around her waist and kept the other twisted in the reins. “Feeling maternal, are you?” He smiled down at her.

She startled. “No, of course not. Just thinking about the foal is all. Kinda sad if you think about it.”

“Are you sure that’s it? ’Cause—”

“Stop it.” She slapped his forearm. “I told you I’m not ready. And I expect you to honor that, Mr. We-Don’t-Need-Condoms-Because-I-Have-It-All-Under-Control.” She glared sideways at him.

“I was just going to say that, if you wanted to…you know…now’s the time.”

“For what? Sex? When is it not the time for sex with you?”

“Hey, you can’t deny you want me at least as bad as I crave you. Don’t even go there. I’ve seen the way you watch me when you think I’m not looking.” He leaned in close to her ear, his breath sending chills down her neck. “You can’t stand it when we don’t make love for more than a few hours. Your blood pressure increases…” he nibbled her pulse point, “…and you always reach for your clit.”

She gasped.
He knows that?

“I know lots of things, baby. You touch yourself under the table, in the bath, the shower and even in your sleep. Hell, you can’t even talk to your girlfriends on the phone without touching yourself. Your sweet little nub needs attention.”

Sweat broke out on her brow, and heat flushed her cheeks and neck. Did she have no privacy at all?

Only a tiny chuckle answered her unspoken question.

“I love you, Juliana. I love everything about you. I love the way you bite your lip when you’re uncertain about something. I love that your pussy gets all wet when you think about me. I love the taste of your skin and the smell of your sex. And I love the fact that you are all hot and bothered, more so than usual, when you ovulate.”

Jesus. He drove her crazy. She sucked in a breath and held it.
Ovulate
?

“Uh huh.” He placed kisses along her neck, and she tilted her head to the side for better access. “You want me so bad right now, you can’t even hold still.”

True enough, her legs were quivering. She hated he could read her so well. And loved it all at the same time.

“If you don’t want to get pregnant, we’re going to have to get creative for a few days, baby.”

“There’s always condoms…” What did the man have against latex?

“Nah, I prefer creative…” Without looking, he tied the lead rope off on the post next to him, let go of the foal and twisted Juliana around until they were smashed front to front and he was devouring her mouth. Making her hum deep in her chest.

When he came up for air, she was practically dizzy. She clenched her thighs together, her clit throbbing. “I…” Still a bit bashful about asking for what she wanted, she couldn’t finish the words.

“You never have let me shave you.”

She froze. Hadn’t he been kidding about that? “I’ve done an okay job myself, haven’t I?”

“Better than. But I still want a turn. How about you head for the house while I finish up here. When I come in, I want you stripped naked, sitting in the tub filled with warm water. It’s easier to shave after soaking anyway.”

He turned from her and left her standing there bereft of his touch, her breath coming out in short pants.

“How…?” She didn’t even finish the question. What had it been, anyway?

“Maybe we should make good use of that mirror again. It’s been a while. I think I’ll prop you up on that bench and tie you to it spread eagle so you can watch while I shave you until you’re so smooth I can rub my cheek against your pussy.”

She couldn’t walk. Her legs turned to Jell-O. Her clit throbbed harder against her jeans without any underwear. Most days Serg insisted she not wear any. He liked the thought of her bare beneath her jeans, her pussy rubbing up against the denim without any barrier.

It made her squirm. And today was worse. Ovulating did that?

“Better grab that post, baby. You look like you’re going to faint. You feeling okay?” His smirk told her he was teasing. Toying with her. “Hey, if you don’t want my cock in you, I’ll find something else to stuff in your tight pussy while you beg. It won’t be the same, but you won’t get pregnant either.”

Bastard
.

“I’m sure we can find a vibrator or two to do the job.”

Now her jeans were soaking with her arousal, her chest was pounding, and damn, she wanted to taste his cock, suck him into her mouth and swallow him until he was as aroused as she was. She stared at his crotch and smiled. He was hard.

He kept moving around as if this were a normal everyday conversation. Putting stuff away, stacking blankets—heck, she didn’t really know what he was doing. She wasn’t paying that much attention.

Suddenly, he was right in front of her. One hand reached to cup her sex while the other traced her breast. “You’re so hot, baby. So fucking sexy. Go inside and do what I said before I strip you naked right here in the barn and fuck you silly. I don’t think you want my brothers to walk in on that. And I know you don’t want my cock in your tight little pussy right now.”

She regained a tiny piece of her brain when he let go of her crotch, not before dragging his fingers across her clit. “Promise me you won’t get me pregnant before I’m ready. Please, Serg.”

The laughter on his face vanished. Serious as could be, he looked her in the eye. “Juliana, I’d never, ever do anything you don’t want. I swear, you will not conceive until you tell me you want to. Trust me?”

He cherished her. It was written all over his face. She knew it in her soul. “I love you, Sergius Durham.”

“And I love you, Juliana Durham.”

Stunned, her mouth fell open.

He grinned. “Sounds nice, huh? Want to make it official?”

“Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack. I know it’s fast, but it’s right.” He stared at her wide-open mouth. “What do you say?”

Her lips came together and she swallowed while he held his breath. “I say ‘yes’.”

Sergius lifted her in the air and swung her around. He kissed her senseless before he set her back on her feet.

“Bath,” he muttered. “Naked.”

“How long will you be?”

“Not long enough for you to get yourself off. Keep your hands above the water and wait for me. I want to watch you come. See your expression when you explode around my fingers while you’re at the horniest time of the month. Go.” He patted her ass and turned around.

“Promises, promises,” she said to his back before she sprinted toward the house.

About the Author

Becca Jameson lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two kids. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading, editing, scrapbooking, running, swimming, biking, or taxiing kids all over creation. She doesn’t sleep much…or sit down often…but she loves to be busy! Unlike many other authors, Becca had never written a single word until a few years ago. After enjoying several years on the editing side of the business, Becca decided to give writing a try. Now she can’t stop! And the voices in her head are clamoring to get out faster than she can get them onto “paper”! Still experimenting with both contemporary and paranormal genres, there is no telling what she may come up with next. To learn more about Becca Jameson, visit her blog at
www.beccajameson.com
, email her at
[email protected]
, or tweet her
@beccajameson
.

Cat got your tongue?

Wolf Nip

© 2013 Vivian Arend

Granite Lake Wolves, Book 6

Tessa Williams is looking to make her mark outside the family business, and the unusual landlocked paddle wheeler she spots in Haines, Alaska, strikes her as the perfect location. Only the owner is being difficult, refusing to sell. Still, she’s sure that replacing her written queries with a little in-person charm is all she’ll need to shortly have her Eco-tour B&B on the road to success.

Local wolf-slash-owner of said vessel, Mark Weaver, isn’t hanging on to the landmark building out of spite. There are more reasons for holding back the sale than are easily explained on paper. A face-to-face meeting to resolve the matter only confounds it—when Mark recognizes Tessa as his mate. 

But she’s a cat...and cats don’t do insta-mates.

The sexual attraction between them isn’t in question, just everything else. He wants her. She wants
twue wuv
. His wolf can’t figure out what the holdup is. Her cat thinks the entire situation, and the pack, are rather amusing.

Somewhere in here is the beginning of a beautiful relationship—if they don’t drive each other mad.

Warning: One hyper cat, one laid-back wolf. Inappropriate use of permanent markers, and a heaping side dish of cat/dog jokes. Shenanigans (read: nookie) in front of a roaring fire. Spiced liberally with sarcasm. Enjoy!

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Wolf Nip:

It took a moment to spot his mystery woman. She wasn’t where Mark had expected. For some reason she’d crawled on top of her car hood and was up on her tiptoes examining his house.

He’d never had a peeping tom like this one. He stepped across the lawn space. “Hello. Can I help you?”

She landed on her heels, her brilliant smile dazzling him. Bright green eyes snapped to meet his and somewhere deep inside his wolf rumbled awake.

“Are you Mark Weaver?”

“I am.”

She clasped her hands together and bounced, literally, setting the entire car into motion. “Awesome. I’m Tessa, and I’m so glad to meet you.”

Tessa. The name didn’t register, but he automatically accepted her outstretched hand intent on helping her down off the hood.

Only instinct kept him vertical as she jumped lightly and landed beside him. The rest of him was a bundle of unplanned reactions, his wolf lurching to the surface and damn near howling in delight. The wind caught her hair again, ruffling it around her face. The breeze also brought her scent to him, and his mouth watered.

His body grew tight with need. His legs quivered.

“Ahem.”

Mark jerked to attention. Tessa stood in front of him, her fingers caught in his, their bodies nearly touching. Sometime in the past ten seconds, he’d lowered his head toward her neck and taken a good long sniff.

It was like shooting a bottle of moonshine except the hangover kick arrived simultaneously with the pleasure buzz.

“Mark, if you don’t mind, I need my hand back.” She grasped him around the wrist and tugged herself free from his clasp.

Embarrassed and yet excited at the same time, Mark let her go and forced himself to stand in place rather than crowd forward. There had to be a protocol he wasn’t aware of that explained how you were supposed to react upon meeting your mate for the first time.

Mate
. Yeah, his once-and-forever, fated-and-soon-to-be-mated woman. Once he found out a few minor details, like who she was, they could get down to the important stuff. Like him carrying her inside, finding a bed.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and batted her lashes, and his heart raced.
Patience, Mark. Patience…

“Tessa. What brings you to Haines?”

“I’m here—”

He meant to give her time to answer. Meant to ask her in. Meant to do all sorts of things, actually, but what he did was lose control. He closed the distance between them, cupped his hand around the back of her neck and dragged them together so he could kiss her.

Whatever she planned on telling him was lost as his lips covered hers.

The taste of her? Ambrosia. The feel of her against his body? He’d died and gone to heaven. She nestled in tighter and her breasts rubbed his chest. His wolf nudged him harder, and he was powerless to resist the command, tangling their tongues until air became a dire need.

But the idea of stopping was unthinkable.

His wolf wanted more. Forget making it into the house and a bedroom, the beast wanted him to pick her up and wrap her legs around his waist. Lean her back over the car hood and take her right there. Strip her down and wallow in her scent and sex it up until they were both too sated to move.