Indecent Encounters (23 page)

Though she was eager to find out what he was hiding, she was still a woman with a healthy sexual appetite. Her eyes skimmed down appreciatively, and her heartbeat picked up speed in approval.

“Now don’t bother screaming,” Dihn’s voice interrupted her inspection. “There’s no one around for miles to hear you.”

Before she could think too much on that, Dihn turned his back on her and raced to the end of the porch. He leapt, and, in midair, his body seemed to turn to liquid. It shifted and moved, doing the impossible. In the moment it took him to hit the snow, his entire form had changed. Paws landed, and when snow kicked up, it clung to black fur.

“Oh my God,” she breathed in disbelief. She watched in awe as Dihn, in wolf form, began dashing through the front yard, excited yips and snorts fogging the air around him.

Without a word, Vanessa spun on her heels and ran back into the house as fast as her legs could carry her. “Holy shit. Holy shit,” she cried. She went straight to where Brenn still sat on the loveseat and stared down at him, her chest heaving. “The two of you are werewolves?” she screeched.

When he finally looked up at her, his expression was miserable. “I’ll drive you home now. Just give me a minute to find my keys.”

His reaction confused her. “Drive me home? Why would I want to go home?”

Brenn seemed, at last, to see her animated expression. “Wait,” he said, sitting up in his seat so he could study her face. “You aren’t terrified? You don’t want to get out of here as quickly as you possibly can?”

“Are you crazy?” She plopped down next to him and gripped his forearm. “I’m not going anywhere! I want to know all about you two. You guys are amazing. You know that, right?”

Brenn laughed in astonishment, his expression becoming completely open for the first time since she’d met him. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

Chapter Three

Vanessa gave a cry of alarm as her feet gave way underneath her, and her backside crashed to the unforgiving ice below.

Brenn skated to her side in an instant. “You really are bad at this,” he said with a laugh. “The first time we came out here, I thought you kept falling on purpose to get my attention, but you truly are a terrible skater.”

Vanessa let him haul her to her feet. She clung to his arms to keep from toppling over again. “I warned you!”

Brenn wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her upright. “Are you sure you’re Canadian?” She gave him a dirty look, and he grinned. “Have you had enough for the day then?”

“Yes. I don’t think my backside can take anymore.”

The past three days, she and Brenn had been going out to the pond that was a few hundred yards from the back of the house. He’d lent her his sister’s skates, which were a perfect fit. She’d felt like Cinderella when he’d knelt in front of her and slid the skate over her foot. Then he’d laced them up, telling her a tight, proper fit made all the difference.

Three days of practicing and she wasn’t much better, if at all. She continued coming out here, not for the lessons, but because she enjoyed Brenn’s company. He was sweet and attentive. Though he was broad and muscular, and his hands were like bear paws, he was as gentle with her as could be. Once again, she felt like a Disney princess, maybe Belle and her tenderhearted beast.

With his arm still wrapped protectively around her waist, Brenn guided her off the ice and over to an ornately carved bench near the pond. He sat her down and knelt in front of her. Crouched over her legs with his head low, he began unlacing the skates.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said with a little laugh.

He looked up at her through his hair and smiled. “I don’t mind.” He held her shoeless foot in his hand and gently massaged her ankle. “I want to make sure there isn’t any swelling. You took some pretty rough bumps out there.” He removed the other skate and repeated the process before directing her foot into a fluffy boot—also his sister’s. “It’s a good thing Lila left all this here.”

Nodding in response, Vanessa sat with her gloved hands resting on either side of her thighs on the bench. She watched him slide the second boot over her foot. Her heart fluttered, and she had to fight the urge to run her fingers through his loose, shaggy hair. The first time she’d laid eyes on Brenn, she’d found him to be unbelievably attractive. Now her attraction was much more dangerous, because it wasn’t just his body she wanted.

Finishing with the boot, he gazed up and caught her staring. He smiled before joining her on the bench. “I think you’re getting better,” he clearly lied, removing his own skates and sliding his feet into a large pair of work boots.

She laughed. “Don’t lie!”

Brenn tied the laces of their skates together and slung them over his shoulder. Offering her a hand, he pulled her to her feet and tucked her against his side. When he slung his arm over her shoulder, Vanessa slid hers around his waist.

“You’re right.” He guided her to a small building they used as a pool house, weight room, tool room, and storage facility. Basically, it was their place to escape and feel manly. “I shouldn’t lie. You are the worst skater I’ve ever seen.” He squeezed her shoulder to take away the sting of his comment.

“Hey,” she huffed, poking his ribs playfully as he opened the door and held it for her. “We can’t all have superhuman balance and werewolf grace.”

The room they entered had a large fireplace along the far wall. Brenn had started a fire before they went out, knowing they would be cold when they returned. He went over to it and tossed another log into the hearth. “The superhuman balance I’ll give you, but werewolf grace? How many dogs out there would you describe as graceful?”

Vanessa followed him to the fireplace and warmed her hands near the fire, rubbing them briskly together.

Brenn pulled his gloves off and sat them on top of the mantle to dry. When he spun around, he bumped into her. His hands shot to her shoulders to keep from knocking her over, but he involuntarily pulled back when he got a handful of snow instead. “Yikes,” he said, shaking the melting liquid off his hands. “We should get you out of all this gear.”

Vanessa held her breath as he stepped forward and, with sure hands, unzipped her coat. He slid it down her shoulders; his palms sliding along her arms, giving her warmth even through her sweater. She closed her eyes for a moment and leaned into his touch.

He didn’t seem to notice how much of an effect the simple action of removing her coat had caused. He was busy removing his own coat and tossing it in the same direction as hers. “Why is your stuff covered in so much more snow than mine?” he teased.

Vanessa took a relaxing breath as the heated moment passed. “Shut up,” she grumbled, though her smirk contradicted the harshness of her comment.

Turning back to her, Brenn grabbed her hands and pulled off her gloves, setting them on the mantle next to his. “You’re a mess.” He cupped her bare hands between his and rubbed them in an attempt to warm her up. “You’ve even got snow in your hair.”

“Yes, well…” She trailed off when he brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. She was once again very aware of his sexuality.

This time, he seemed to notice the heat between them. His hazelnut eyes darkened and stared intently into hers. “Ness,” he said softly, “I…”

She made it easier for him. She did what she hoped he’d wanted to do since first meeting her. Stepping closer, until her breasts brushed against his chest, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

His initial reaction was surprise. He sucked in a sharp breath and froze. When she giggled against his lips, he relaxed. His arm slid around her waist, and he gently pulled her closer to him. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he sighed.

“Probably as long as I have…about three days.”

He chuckled deep in his throat, the sound manly and rugged as he lowered his mouth over hers again. He was tentative at first, as if still unsure of her reciprocated desire.

The soft pressure of his hands on her hips made her crave more. With a whimper of need, she rubbed her body along the front of his, making sure there was no question of what she wanted. That little bit of encouragement was all Brenn needed. He deepened the kiss, spreading his feet so he could pull her in more comfortably against him.

Her hands skated up his shirt, over the abs that had been tempting her for days before sliding up his shoulder blades, nudging his shirt upward.

Taking the hint, he pulled it over his head and tossed it to the floor behind him. His mouth was on hers again the moment it was free.

What could have merely been a kiss transitioned into something more when Vanessa felt his cock swell and press firmly against her hip. She moaned and slid her arm around his neck, forcing him closer. She urged him down to the soft rug in front of the fireplace, her fingers splaying in and tugging at his hair. Overcome with arousal, she pulled him on top of her, their bodies a tangle of entwined limbs.

Brenn braced a hand on the floor, giving her just enough room to get her hands between them to explore the hard plains of his abdomen. His mouth never leaving hers, he positioned himself between her legs and pressed her lower body down onto the rug with his own, grinding his erection against her.

Vanessa whimpered in approval as his hand grazed along her bare stomach underneath her sweater. When he gave her breast a possessive squeeze, she pulled the sweater frantically over her head to give him better access, and reached for the button of his pants, unable to wait any longer to feel him hard in her hands.

She was just about to reach inside when Brenn’s hand closed over hers. “Wait,” he said breathlessly. “I don’t want to take advantage of you. It wouldn’t be right.”

Vanessa wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him tight, fearing he might pull away. “It isn’t taking advantage,” she was quick to assure. “Trust me. If you aren’t inside me very soon, I will go insane.”

His expression was still hesitant. “Are you sure?”

Vanessa arched up into the erection that was rubbing against the crotch of her wool pants, receiving a shudder from him for her efforts. “One hundred percent.” She drew him down for a slow, sensual kiss. “I want this.”

He pulled back to study her for a moment longer before his mouth was on hers again, fierce and persistent. Then he removed the rest of their clothes in record time.

Vanessa gasped, arching her lower back off the floor as he eased his cock inside her. She squeezed her thighs around his hips, amazed and delighted by the satiating thrust.

Brenn groaned low and hungrily as he sheathed himself as far as he could, obviously as fulfilled as she was by that first thrust alone. He pulled back slowly, letting her feel every long inch as he withdrew before thrusting deeper. He chuckled at her desperate cry of pleasure. “Damn. It’s been too long,” he grunted as he set to work at bringing them both unimaginable gratification. He made love to her there on the floor in front of the fire, shadows dancing off his handsome face, making their interlude seem almost mystical.

She whimpered and cried his name against his neck with her explosive orgasm, her body quivering and clenching around him just as he found his own release. When she finally came down from her high, Brenn was caressing the curve of her right breast, his large fingers as gentle as ever.

She blinked up at him through sleepy eyes and considered his offer. There was nothing she wanted more than to stay here with him, but that didn’t make it the right decision. “I wouldn’t want to impose,” she admitted softly.

“Impose?” he asked with a snort. “Please. We’re two grown men living alone together in the middle of the woods. Not to sound too desperate, but we could use the company.”

She gazed up at him, studying his face before she smiled. “I’d love to stay. That is, as long as you let me help decorate this place for Christmas.”

Brenn leaned down and gave her a firm kiss, his expression full of joy. “It’s a deal.”

Though she was delighted at the thought of staying with Brenn through Christmas, she couldn’t ignore the concern that dampened the moment. More time with Brenn meant more time with Dihn. She didn’t know how long she could fight her attraction to his best friend.

Chapter Four

Christmas Day came quicker than Vanessa expected. She awoke in Brenn’s bed, and not for the first time.

His warm body pressed against her from behind, his arm cocooning her against his naked body. “Good morning,” he whispered, pressing his lips gently to the spot just below her ear.

She made a happy noise and settled her backside against his groin. “Is it a solid nine inches and guaranteed to bring me to orgasm?”

His arm suddenly slid away from her as he rolled away and grabbed something from the nightstand. “Actually, it’s shiny and made of twenty-four karats.” He rolled back to face her, as she did the same. He propped his head on his hand and held out a velvet box.

Vanessa eyed the gift eagerly for a moment before taking it from his hand. “You bought me jewelry?” With one last look into his eyes, she flipped the top of the box open. Inside laid an ornately braided gold chain. At the end was a small, heart-shaped diamond.