Winter of the Wolf (35 page)

Cahirs’ attitudes went way past macho.

He shifted his arm behind her back so his palm could He shifted his arm behind her back so his palm could curve over her ribs below her breast. If he moved it up…

She pushed at his hand but he laced his fingers through hers. Her every breath rubbed the underside of her breast against his knuckles, and arousal flared inside her.

How the heck could he turn her on when she was sleeping with Shay? Lo—cared for Shay?
Don’t go there
. “Uh.” What were the darned questions?

“Yes?” His half-smile was filed with satisfaction.

“If helhounds live in cities, how come the news doesn’t report torn-up bodies?”

“A helhound doesn’t leave anything alive. If it only kils one, it’l carry the body away to finish over the course of the night.”

Oh God, Ashley.

As she blinked back tears, he hugged her, and the slow thud of his heart was as comforting as his hard arms around her. “I’m sorry about Nora, cariad.”

He could be so sweet. She rubbed her wet cheeks on his soft flannel shirt. “How come helhounds don’t overrun the world?”

His right hand stroked across her hip and down her thigh.

Warmth folowed in its wake. “They’re only in helhound form at ful moon. Rest of the time, they’re human—and so violent that they tend to get kiled by your police.” When he stroked up the inside of her thigh, her body When he stroked up the inside of her thigh, her body seared with heat. His fingers paused an inch from her pussy to make teasing circles. Even though she wore jeans, she felt exposed. She tried to disentangle her fingers from his other hand, but he merely increased his grip.

“I touch only your leg, little female,” he murmured into her hair. “Or is my touch loathsome to you?”

She tipped her face up to answer, and his mouth came down on hers. Gently. Firmly. His tongue swept inside and out before she could adjust. He sucked on her lower lip, then traced it with his tongue.

Oh heavens.

He leaned her back farther, so he could take her mouth more fuly, nuzzling and sucking and penetrating.

Her body blazed, as a burning bal of need grew in her lower half. His hand moved up the final inch, palm pressing against her pussy, holding her open, while his thumb rubbed her clit. Exactly where she needed. Wanted. She moaned.

He chuckled, low and deep, and lifted his lips from hers.

To her dismay, his hand moved away to rest on her knee.

Her whole body felt sensitive and aching, and she looked up at him, feeling as if she’d stepped into a whirlwind.

His black eyes were hot with hunger, and her hip rested against a massive erection. He kissed her lightly. “I would taste you more…thoroughly, but this is not the time.” When he tipped his head, she heard the rattle of a car approaching he tipped his head, she heard the rattle of a car approaching the Lodge.

“Oh.” Oh God, what if it was Shay? Guilt carved a path through her pleasure. “What have I done?” How could she have been such a slut?

Zeb frowned. “What?”

She pushed at him. “I can’t believe I let you touch me like that. I’m sleeping with Shay.”

He plucked her hand from his chest and kissed her fingertips. “Brothers share their female. You know this.”

“Yeah. Vicki said, but…” But her knowledge—and reasoning—had disappeared under the onslaught of guilt.

“I knew you’d have a problem, little no-longer-human. I’d planned to stay away, but I saw you in danger.

Her mouth went dry. They both wanted her. And she—

she wanted them.

With his thumb, he tilted her chin higher and trapped her gaze. “This is not the time for me to take you, but it wil be soon. You decide how you feel about that.” He set her on her feet and went to answer the door, leaving her staring at his back. Was that a promise or a threat?

* * *

Bree aimed her revolver at the target and squeezed off a shot. As a hole appeared in the buls-eye, the sound roled through the mountains.
Look at that
. Her month off from practice hadn’t messed up her aim. Even better, her weightlifting had improved her muscles, and the revolver felt lighter.

After receiving her part of the barbeque profits, she’d bought bulets. Even if the chance of kiling a helhound was slim, she felt better knowing it wasn’t hopeless.

Yesterday, she’d received a notice that her Seattle lease would end in mid-May. The unexpected reminder had led to such a horrible nightmare that she’d taken a shower at three a.m. Her lips curved ruefuly. Shay’d thought she was crazy.

As she carefuly reloaded her pistol, she ordered her thoughts. She needed to return, pack up her apartment, and move out. But she wouldn’t go during the dark of the moon.

Nope. She took a shot and nailed the target. And moon or not, she’d be sure she could defend herself.

Aim…fire
. She frowned. Her living room was smal, and a helhound would be close. Why was she practicing on a distant target? And an eye was the size of a quarter, not a pumpkin-sized target like what she had now. She needed to rework the firing range.

By piling up logs, branches, and brush, she created something roughly the size of a helhound. So
big
. Cold slid down her spine.
Stop it
.

She secured two eye-sized targets to her helhound She secured two eye-sized targets to her helhound simulation, then backed up. Not bad. If it came through the glass door, she’d be about…this far away. She assumed the proper stance and fired. Missed the eye.

Again and again. One bulet hit. Zeb had made it look so easy, but criminy, an eye was a smal target. Mouth tight, she reloaded.

* * *

Sucking on a hard candy, Shay stroled down the dirt road toward the cabins at the end. They were the ones in the worst condition. As the previous owner had grown older, he’d maintained only the closest few. After fixing them first, Zeb was working down the line, grumbling as if the disrepair were a personal affront.

Hammering brought Shay to the current project. Taking a comfortable position against a tree, he breathed in the scents of freshly cut wood and damp forest as he watched his brother work.

A chittering sprite perched on a branch, throwing twigs at Zeb. When a tiny missile bounced off his back, he laughed.

Shay smiled. Damned if that wasn’t a fine sound. Cold Creek was good for Zeb. So was the brother bond. Then there was Breanne. Scratching his shoulder on the tree trunk, he turned over arguments in his mind. Would his brother he turned over arguments in his mind. Would his brother agree? And if he did, what would Breanne say?

“You going to stand there al day?” Zeb set down the hammer and turned.

“Heard me?”

“Fuck yeah. You move like a constipated moose.” Now that was an insult. As Zeb shifted his weight to a better fighting posture, Shay considered tackling him. But the ground was muddy and pounding on someone took effort.

When Shay didn’t move, Zeb relaxed and leaned a hip on the decrepit porch railing. “What’s up?”

“Nothing bad. The Arizona fishermen offered me a big fee to guide them to Eight Lake Valey. We’re leaving in an hour, but even if I trawsfur to return, I won’t get back before dawn.”

“Bree know?”

“Aye.” Shay hesitated. “She’s had nightmares since Nora died.”

“Want me to take the fishermen?”

“Hel no. They were barely brave enough to ask me. Just keep an eye on her.”

“Done.”

Shay didn’t move. How was he going to explain his sudden change of heart?

Zeb’s eyes narrowed. “More?”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“There’s a surprise.”

Not getting any response from Zeb, the pixie edged out farther on her branch and threw another twig. With a quick snatch, Zeb caught the missile and tossed it back. Giving a squeak of surprise, the sprite dodged, then chittered angrily.

“Never seen you play with one before,” Shay commented.

A flash of a grin, then Zeb said, “They remind me of Bree when she’s startled. Same little squeak.” Shay snorted a laugh, recognizing the sound.

But that introduced the topic he wanted to discuss.

“Speaking of Breanne…” He’d decided to voice his hopes to Zeb very slowly. He would ease around to the goal as warily as he’d stalk a badger.

His mouth took over and ruined his careful strategy. “I want to win her. For our mate.”

Chapter Twenty-five

Bree stepped closer to the sliding glass door, trying to
see through the darkness. Big. Four legs. Coming
straight toward the apartment. Glass shattered. A
horrible smell. She couldn’t move and
—

“Wake up, little female.” A deep rough voice. Strong

“Wake up, little female.” A deep rough voice. Strong hands puled her upright and shook her lightly.

She gasped. The foul stench was dispeled by the fresh scents of soap and pine. She opened her eyes. “Zeb.”

“Right the first time.”

“I had a nightmare.”

He briskly rubbed her arms, keeping her in the present. “I heard.”

“I made that much noise?” Had she scared every beast in the forest?

“I was awake.” He lifted the covers and slid in.

His legs touched hers. Bare legs. Bare chest. “You’re not wearing any clothes.”

“You’re wearing too many.” Before she could react, he yanked her T-shirt over her head. “Better.”

“Zeb…” No clothes. Big man. Fear slid up her spine.

Don’t panic
.

He lay back. After a second, he took her hand and patted it on his chest. “Your head goes here.”

They’d just snuggle? She stil had her panties on, she realized, and the ripples of fear eased slightly. He wasn’t going to jump on her. And she realy, realy wanted him here.

Sweat stil chiled her skin from the nightmare. No helhound would get past Zeb.

“Okay.” With a smal sigh, she let him tug her down and nudge her head onto his shoulder. He was heavenly warm, al nudge her head onto his shoulder. He was heavenly warm, al solid muscle and smooth skin.

He drew her closer until her breasts pressed his side. “You fit against me wel.” With her ear pressed on his chest, his voice sounded even rumblier. “Put your leg over mine.” She hesitated.

He nipped her fingers.

“Okay, fine.” She slid her leg over his. When her mound pressed against his hip, she stiffened, but he didn’t attack her.

His chest rose and fel in a slow, even rhythm. The coarse hair on his lower legs teased her foot, and she wiggled her toes, earning a grunt of exasperation. “Go to sleep, little female.”

She felt tugs on her scalp, and realized he was playing with her long hair. It was as soothing as being petted, and muscle by muscle, she relaxed and dropped off to sleep.

* * *

She was dreaming, she knew, and didn’t care as she ran out into the meadow. The wind from the mountains ruffled her fur, and the sun warmed her. Tal grass swished against her legs. She lay down and roled, and somehow Zeb was there. His hard hands ran over her.

Warmth pooled in her bely as she wakened to reality and a calused palm stroking up and down her back.

a calused palm stroking up and down her back.

“You are awake, little female. I deserve a kiss for my patience.”

She was stil curled against Zeb, and al her fears had evaporated during her sleep. “Um.”

He didn’t wait for permission. His fingers tangled in her hair, tilting her head back, and he took possession of her mouth, going from sweet to outright carnal within a breath.

He growled and a second later, she was flat on her back with him straddling her hips.

“Zeb!”

He paused, and the intensity of his gaze was like the sun.

After a long moment, his cheek creased. “You’re not afraid.” Bending, he nibbled on her lips, then her jawline. He kissed down her neck and licked under her ear to make her shiver.

His straight hair fel like a curtain around them, tickling her skin. He bit the muscle at the top of her shoulder and sent heat sliding after it. No, she wasn’t afraid.

With one arm under her back, he effortlessly raised her shoulders so he could pul her nipple into his hot mouth. He suckled, teasing with his tongue and roling the point against his teeth.

Need surged like fire through her body. “Zeb.” He left her breast to take her mouth deeply. As her pussy started to waken, her hips rose involuntarily.

Giving her a light kiss, he said, “I wil find my way there, little female. But I have certain other needs to fulfil first.” little female. But I have certain other needs to fulfil first.” She looked at him blankly. Other needs?

“To taste your skin.” He kissed her neck, then reached under her panties, touching her so intimately that a whimper escaped. Removing his hand, he licked the wetness off his fingers. “To taste
you
.”

No, wait
.Her legs slid closed, and he shook his head chidingly. With a quick movement, he grabbed her ankle…

fondled her foot…kissed her toes.

She tried to pul her leg away, but he held it with an unyielding grip and worked his way upward—calf, knee, tender inner thigh—using teeth and lips and tongue. Each inch made her skin more sensitive and increased the throbbing in her core.

She was so stil, he would have worried except for the scent of her arousal. Nervous, yes. Unsure, yes. The knowledge deepened his need for her, his desire to bring her satisfaction.

He moved up so he could slide his hands over her lush breasts, fondling her gently. By the Mother, she had lovely, large breasts. And sensitive.

He nuzzled between them, inhaling the light scent of vanila, then pressed them together so he could lick one nipple and the other, teasing them to hard points.

the other, teasing them to hard points.

The thudding of her heart skipped when he nipped a peak.

She gasped and fisted the bed sheets.

He didn’t take females between Gatherings—without the ful moon heat to drive them, females were afraid of him. Too scarred, too big, too rough. He hadn’t realized how the lack of a female’s urgency would let him slow down and savor everything.