Isabel and the Wolf: (Part 3) (9 page)

“What happened?” she yelled, running towards them. Rob was pale, but otherwise looked uninjured.

“A wolf jumped me,” he said. It came from behind, so neither of us saw it. It pretty much pounced on me and knocked me to the ground. It jumped on my back, and closed its jaws on my neck. To be honest, I thought I was a goner, but it didn’t really bite me.” He turned around and pulled the neckline of his polo shirt down, to reveal an unmarked neck. “It just gave this deep, long growl. Then, it picked up my sedative gun that I’d dropped in the shock, and it crunched it in its jaws.” Trey held it up as evidence. It was broken in half.

“It all happened so fast. I couldn’t do anything,” Trey said, shame-faced. “Even if I’d been able to shoot it, I was so shocked, I probably would’ve missed my aim and shot Rob instead.”

“Don’t worry, dude. There’s nothing you could’ve done. And I’m fine. I’ve got a couple of skinned elbows and I’m a bit shaken up, but that’s all.”

“Are you sure, honey?” Josie said, putting her hand to his cheek. “You didn’t hit your head?” “No, not at all,” he said, smiling down at her. “I’m ok, I promise.” She stood on tiptoes, and they touched lips. Isabel watched them, struck once again by the intimacy between them. She was waiting for Josie to tell them about their experience, but when she didn’t, Isabel said,

“We just saw a wolf as well. It was huge and black, and it climbed on the front of the truck and stared at us.”

“The one that attacked Rob was way bigger than normal, and also black,” Trey said.

“Do you think it was the same one?”

“When did you see it?”

“Right before you called us.”

“I called you guys maybe three minutes after it happened. I had to check Rob was ok, and I wanted to make sure it was gone before I contacted you.”

“It sounds like it attacked Rob, and then came to the truck. No wonder it was looking so pleased with itself,” she said, with a shiver.

“Was it threatening towards you?” Rob asked.

“No, not at all. That was the weird thing,” Isabel said. “It was just watching us pretty casually, and it kind of grinned, you know, like dogs do sometimes, but even more so. And then it ran off.”

“We’re so lucky you guys were in the truck by the time it came along. I never should’ve let you go off like that.” Rob said, his face a mask of self-recrimination. “Wolves are never dangerous to humans. This whole thing is, like, totally unheard of.” Isabel shot a glance at Josie, who’d been keeping quiet all this time. Her face was as pale as Rob’s.

“Yeah, it was really weird. Like something from a movie,” she said at last.

“A really weird movie,” Isabel added.

Josie threw both her arms around Rob’s waist. “Let’s get you back to the center, and then I’m taking you home, babe.”

“I’m fine,” Rob said, laughing.

“No, Rob. I’m serious. No more work today, and no more chasing these animals. You’ve had a big shock.”

“Ok, honey,” he said, which Isabel guessed meant they’d discuss it later, when she and Trey were out of earshot.

All four of them were silent on the way back to the center. Isabel’s body was swirling with adrenaline, a queasy combination of fear and an exhilaration she couldn’t pin down. Maybe it was because she’d seen one of the mythical beasts Rob had been obsessing over, she considered, as she was driving back home. She’d left quickly after they were back at the center, sensing that she was the odd one out, the only one who wasn’t directly linked to the strange happenings.

Chapter Five

When Isabel pulled into her driveway, there was a large, dark shape sitting on her doorstep. She froze, paralyzed by the crazy thought that the wolf from the forest had managed to find her home and was lying in wait for her. Then she laughed at her own silliness. It was another kind of wolf entirely. As she walked up to the bungalow, Peter unfurled himself into a standing position, walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her.

“Hi,” she said, confused. Peter didn’t do hugging. “Are you ok?” He brought his face down to hers and kissed her softly on the lips.

“Never better,” he said. “Have I caught you at a bad time?”

“No, not at all. Except that I feel like I really need to get in the shower,” she said, pulling at her clothes. She probably didn’t smell too good after her expedition.

“Relax; you smell great. Of the woods,” he said. Isabel smiled, far beyond being surprised at his sense of smell. “I’m possibly being presumptuous, and maybe you have plans already, but I thought we could have pizza and watch a movie together?” Isabel gaped at him, as stunned as if some average guy had said he wanted to spend the night camping in the middle of the forest.

“What, here? In my house?” she managed to say.

“Of course!” Peter shrugged, doing a very good impression of an easy-going, amenable dude.

“I don’t have plans, and that sounds great,” she replied.

He followed her into the house. “I need to get in the shower, like immediately,” she said. Can I get you a drink while you’re waiting for me?”

“Sure.” She went to the fridge and pulled out an ice-cold bottle of rosé.

“So, after I tried your lovely Romanian wine, I looked for some in the shops, but I couldn’t find any.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Peter said, smiling.

“But I found the next best thing – organic Californian.”

“I’m sure it’ll be delicious.” She poured two large glasses and left him with his glass in the living room, while she went through to the bedroom. She made a quick call to check that Rob was doing ok. Josie said he was fine. He’d issued a warning to all the park rangers and conservation centers in North America and northern Mexico, then she’d taken his laptop away from him. He was now watching TV with a cup of cocoa. Very relieved, Isabel stripped her damp and dirt-stained clothes off quickly and threw them in the washing basket. Then she walked across to the bathroom.

The rainforest shower felt amazing, as always, surrounding her in hot, invigorating jets that gently massaged her muscles. The rushing of the water was so loud that she didn’t hear the bathroom door opening.

“Bella,” Peter called, so as not to startle her as he opened the shower door. With her nerves still tightly wound, a small sound escaped her mouth, but this was soon followed by a grin. Peter was already naked, and he stepped into the shower behind her. She gave a little shudder as his hard, muscular body pressed against hers. His arms went around her waist, and he dipped his head and kissed the side of her neck, making a trail down to the edge of her shoulder, and up to her ear. His hands moved down to her breasts, cupping them lightly, and she moaned, loving the combination of his mouth and fingers, and the delicious slipperiness of their wet bodies. One of his hands stayed on her breasts, while the other moved further down, stroking the line of dark hair on her Mount of Venus, and running over her labia with the lightest of caresses. He kept his fingers just there, not trying to enter her, just teasing her, turning her on. Isabel felt Peter’s growing arousal too, his hardness pressing into the small of her back, but he ignored it, continuing to pleasure her, as the warm water beat down all around them, and steam began to rise. Isabel closed her eyes. It was so atmospheric and sexy.

Peter drew away from her, and gently pressed her against the shower wall. She shuddered at its coldness, but it was only cold for a moment, before it took on the warmth of her body. He crouched down in front of her, and placed his tongue exactly where his fingers had been. She sighed at the warm, wet touch. He licked up and down her cleft, not focusing on her clit, still teasing her. The familiar throbbing began deep inside her, and she instinctively spread her legs a little, wanting to feel him there. He resisted, continuing to lick her inner labia with the very tip of his tongue. Her clit felt swollen, aching. It was just visible when she looked down, erect and demanding his attention. Beneath her clit was his long, arousing tongue, feathering up and down her sensitive areas, and below that was his cock, springing up, big and hard, between his strong thighs. She thought about it being inside her again, and she cried out. Peter rewarded her with a firm lick, right on her clit, and her body jolted. It was almost too sensitive to be touched directly. Instead, he placed his mouth over it and sucked, very gently. It felt insanely good. A finger slid inside her, almost painful to her sensitized nerves, and her pussy became pure liquid. He added another finger, curling them into her, caressing the tender area that she hadn’t even known she possessed until she met him. His tongue delicately circled her clit, while his lips kept up that incredible suction, and his fingers made tiny, exquisite movements. Isabel threw her head back, clasping her breasts in her hands, breathing fast. He was driving her crazy. She was already very light-headed, and thought she’d pass out when she came. The first tremors began, deep inside her, and her hands came down and pressed Peter’s damp head hard against her, dimly aware that she was grinding on his face, but unable to stop it. He licked her hard, twice, and she orgasmed, in a seemingly unending series of blissful shockwaves. She clung onto his head for balance, her legs trembling, and no longer capable of supporting her. He adjusted himself so he was kneeling, and pulled her onto his thighs. She collapsed onto him, wrapping her arms around his back. The climax had left her spent. She felt sleepy, dizzy, but she was also aware of his cock, pressing against her belly. She lifted herself on her knees a little and positioned her pussy right over it, already feeling her muscles begin to slacken and welcome him in.

“Bella, I – ”

“It’s ok.”

“Ok, just for a minute,” he whispered. He held her hips, supporting her, and she slid down onto his cock. She gasped. It felt different from the other positions they’d done, the weight of her body creating new sensations. She couldn’t move much, her knees tender on the hard floor, instead letting him lift her up and down on his cock. She met his eyes, and they glowed with a wild, amber heat that was hard to look at, hard to look away from.

“We have to stop,” he said. He lifted her off him. As she straightened up, he turned her and pulled her back down, so her back was to him. He drew her back against his body, and, at the same time, guided his cock back into her. She let out a moan, his length hitting her insides in yet more different ways. Now, he began to move her faster, pulling her hips back and forth, pushing himself deeper into her with every stroke. His finger found her clit and he stroked it as he came, surprising her with a second orgasm.

After they’d recovered, Peter lifted her to her feet.

“Ok, we’ve got to get clean now, he said laughing. They soaped each other up, using Isabel’s shower sponge, giggling as they scrubbed each other, making sure they didn’t miss a single bit. They dried off together and Isabel wrapped herself in a fluffy bathrobe.

“Should I wear something?” Peter asked. Isabel glanced at him over her shoulder, taking in his flawless muscle tone, and that smooth olive skin.

“Not if you don’t want to,” she said, simultaneously making sure that all curtains and blinds were closed.

“Ok,” he said, with an endearing smile. He walked naked into the living room and took a sip from his wine. “Now, shall we order pizza?”

Two meat feast supremes chosen, Isabel opened her laptop for them to choose a movie.

“What do you like?” she asked, with action and sci-fi her top bets, while fervently hoping he wasn’t going to suggest a nature documentary.

“I like quirky, arty films. Often ones that don’t have a strong linear plot, but encourage you to think, or just present you with something beautiful,” he said.

“Me too!” Isabel exclaimed.

“David Lynch is one of my favorites, actually. But I know some people can’t stand him, so it’s ok.”

“No, I love him,” Isabel said, and together they agreed on one of his less eccentric options.

They sat on the sofa while they waited for the pizza to arrive, close together, almost snuggling. Pizza, movie, sofa.
The Wolf’s beginning to feel a lot like boyfriend.
Isabel shifted position so she could see him better.

“You seem different today,” she blurted out. “I mean, before, you were all, like, serious, and about being out in the woods, and we were just having this hook-up thing. But now you’re kind of soft…” she trailed off, realizing how awkward she sounded, but Peter laughed. He took her hand and examined her nails.

“You seem to be bringing out my softer side, Bella.” He folded her fingers so he was holding her hand in his. “But, seriously, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking while I was away.”

“And?” Isabel’s heart beat a little faster, but she kept looking at him calmly.

“Maybe I want more than to just hook up with you.”

“You do?”

“I do. But I know it’s too much to ask of you, so I never would.”

“What if I said I wanted to?”

“Bella.” It was his turn to shuffle on the sofa, so that he was looking at her straight on. “I’m afraid you have no idea what you’d be agreeing to.”

“So try me.” Peter’s eyes dropped to the ground.

“I can’t. I’ve wanted to try, Bella, but I really can’t.”

“I think Josie knows. But she won’t tell me either.” At the sound of her name, anger flashed through Peter’s eyes.