Mated to the Wolf (7 page)

“Let’s go,” he said tersely.

The woods were thick with pine, oak and aspen. Wan sunlight dappled the leafless branches, the dead leaves and twigs on the pathway. He didn’t talk, but walked at a breakneck pace. Samantha struggled to keep up.

The climb upward was arduous, the altitude burning her lungs with each breath. Thick forest became less dense, strewn with granite boulders. By the time they reached the summit of the mountain, she was winded, exhausted and hungry. Samantha leaned against a sapling, her fingers stiff and cold in the black leather gloves.

Grayson held out a palm. “Let’s go. If you can’t walk, I’ll carry you.”

She struggled to leash her temper at his impatience. “I don’t need your help. Just food.”

“Food’s in the cabin.”

“What’s on the other side of this mountain?”

“You won’t find out if we don’t move.”

The pathway led downward this time and then out onto a wide, open valley. Yellowed meadow grass met the stark, bare aspen saplings. Ringing the valley were the whitened peaks of the Rockies. The sky above was a sharp blue, showing the emptiness below, broken by a collapsed log cabin.

“It’s just ahead.” He increased his pace, making her breathe harder. A painful cramp seized her side. Samantha grabbed his arm to stop him.

“There’s nothing but an old ruin.”

But five minutes later, a two-story house with a pitched roof and floor-to-ceiling windows replaced the battered ruin. Samantha gasped, impressed. “How did that happen?”

“I told you, my magick is powerful. Bastards can never find you here.” He gave a little laugh, so different from his warm, throaty chuckle. This laugh sounded malicious.

The cabin was larger than his home, with soaring ceilings and a wide, open living space with a kitchen. Sheepskin rugs scattered over the pine floor. A bank of glass windows overlooked the meadow below, and French doors opened to a small balcony with tables and chairs. Samantha plopped down on the leather sofa, rubbing her hands. She glanced at Grayson, rummaging in the cabinets. Soon the delicious smells of soup filled the air.

They ate at the kitchen table with full view of the valley. The rice and tomato soup was canned, but delicious and hot. He’d made ham-and-cheese sandwiches, too, and served them with hot chocolate.

She finished her last bite and pushed back the bowl. Strength slowly seeped back into her limbs, warmed her insides. But Grayson was flushed and ate little.

“You don’t look well.” Samantha went to him, put a hand on his brow. It was cool as the outside air.

“I’m fine,” he snapped.

“You keep looking flushed, and then pale. Maybe my demon powers are too much for you.”

He grunted and pushed back from the table. “I can handle them.”

“Being a demon isn’t easy,” she insisted, following him as he went down a long hallway. “Only a high-spirited person, who isn’t inclined to crankiness and being uptight, can manage the powers. Bottling it up inside isn’t the answer. Let loose.”

At a bedroom doorway, he turned. “Are you saying I’m uptight?”

“Take a deep breath once in a while. Maybe a vacation in the Azores. Let your hair down. The demon would like that. He’s never been to the beach. Be spontaneous.”

Grayson took a step forward, his eyes a little wild, his expression intent. “You like spontaneity, don’t you? It drives you, makes your heart beat, your breath catch.”

Samantha couldn’t move as he leaned forward, removed the clasp holding her hair pinned back. It spilled in a waterfall around her shoulders. He came so close she could count the stubble on his jaw, yet he’d shaved this morning. She’d heard the scrape of the razor over taut skin, seen the peppery stubble in the sink before he’d washed it away.

Dipping his head, he nuzzled her neck, his breath warm against her chilled skin. Breathing in her scent like an animal. Grayson’s fingers gripped her shoulders as he met her eyes, his expression wild. He seized her chin in his hand, his mouth hovering near hers.

“Maybe I should start being spontaneous right now. Starting in the bedroom.”

Was it a full moon? He acted as if his wolf had seized control.

A river rock fireplace faced the king-sized pine bed. Another bank of tall windows overlooked the serene valley. The view was lovely, but she was too caught up in the Ancient standing before her. Grayson pulled her into his arms. His kiss was rough, passionate. He tasted of soup and his own unique spice, and something darker, sinful. As his tongue plunged into her mouth, she wondered if her demon had taken over.

He gave her no time to think further as he fisted his hand in her hair, and deepened the kiss. Grayson stroked his tongue deeper, nipped at her lips. She teased and sucked, relishing the hot passion.

“You’re an animal,” she murmured.

“Naturally. With you my wild side comes out. Take off your clothes and lay down on the bed.” His deep velvet voice was a lick of fire between her legs.

She did as he asked, watching as he undressed. Naked, he moved around the bed to the dresser.

“I once entertained certain women here.”

“Lady friends?”

“Not friends and not ladies.” Grayson opened a drawer and removed a smooth gleaming phallus the size of his thumb. Samantha’s eyes widened.

“What…”

A wicked gleam sparkled in his gray eyes. The taut edges of his profile showed as he turned and removed a tube of lubricant. Smearing on the gel, he sank down on the bed.

“Roll over,” he instructed.

The authoritative tone brooked no discussion. Intrigued, she rolled over, felt his warm, rough hands part her cheeks. A furious flush ignited her face.

“Grayson…”

“Hush. Just relax. You’ll learn to enjoy it.”

Slick fingers caressed her bottom, stroked between the twin halves. He rubbed the puckered opening with a liberal application of lubricant.

The carnality of what he did with his hand sent heat rushing through her veins. Odd sensations filled her as he stroked the phallus across her cleft. He murmured to her, sliding the dildo in a teasing caress. Tension filled her body as he toyed with her like a wolf with prey. Her nipples tightened as she suppressed the instinct to squeeze down hard.

With one hand, he deftly lifted her hips, sliding a palm beneath her groin. Grayson played with her clit as he continued to stroke the phallus. She felt herself opening up. Blushing modesty capitulated to primal instinct as her legs spilled open in a silent plea.

Gently, he parted her cheeks and pushed the phallus inside her. Pressure increased. Samantha gasped from the strange fullness. It didn’t hurt, but stretched her as he continued to rub her clit. She rocked her hips against his palm, moaning. He pushed the phallus in further.

“On your knees,” he instructed.

The pleasure ceased a minute, then began again with the friction of his palm, and the incredible full feeling of the phallus. Grayson leaned over her, penetrated her vaginal opening with his thick cock. He rocked back and forth, his hand moving across her as he thrust.

Samantha screamed as she climaxed, the twin pressure of the phallus and his penis filling her completely. He grunted, slamming into her, flooding her with his warm seed.

Collapsing onto the bed, she panted, all inhibitions shed. Gently he removed the phallus, tossed it aside.

Amusement, not tenderness, danced in his gray eyes as he lay beside her.

Gulping for breath, her heart racing, she put a hand on his scarred cheek. He stiffened. So unlike his previous actions.

Confusion filled her. They’d had searing sex, and yet he acted as if she were a stranger. Samantha tried to lighten the tense silence. “I suppose you’ve had many lovers.”

His jaw turned to stone. “A few. Those who could stand me.”

This ugly side was new to her. Samantha’s stomach knotted. “There must have been females in your pack who found you irresistible.”

Her light, teasing tone did not coax out a smile, but a scowl. “My pack leader ousted me, the bastard. I’ve been banished for good.”

Naked, he rolled over and stood, pacing to the window. Between his splayed legs she caught a glimpse of his resting sex, his heavy sac. Grayson rested a palm against the window.

“I can’t let them get to me,” he muttered. “I’m going to kill them. Slit their throats for what they did to me.”

Fury snapped in his eyes as he turned. His stance was rigid, his muscles quivering as if ready to spring like a wolf on a deer. Samantha’s heart twisted. “What happened, Grayson? What’s going on between you and your pack? Be honest.”

“Honest? I’m supposed to be fucking honest? I was honest, damn it, and they punished me for it.” His expression grew cruel. “I’ll make them pay.”

Alarmed at his mood swing, she joined him at the window. Samantha touched his bare arm, hoping their connection would calm him. She sent pulses of soothing white light into her touch. “You live for duty and loyalty.” She softened her voice. “What did you do that was so terrible to them? You must have had a good reason.”

His jaw turned to stone. “Back off. You’re treading on dangerous ground.”

The white light had no effect. Samantha went to lace her arms around him, but he shrugged away, his gaze stormy as he stared outside. What would cause Grayson to go against his very nature?

Duty. Loyalty. She seized on these. “You can’t return. Leave me alone, unprotected? You swore to protect me.”

And I need protecting like a demon needs matches, but this has to work. Something’s very wrong.

He turned, sliding a palm over her nape. She shivered at his sensual touch. “I swore a lot of things, sugar, but a man’s got a right to change his mind. Though if you stay naked, I might change my mind. Stay here a while, in bed.”

Against her belly, his penis was hard as stone. He cupped her breast, squeezed the nipple as she cried out. “Not so rough.”

“Thought you liked it rough.” Lust darkened his gaze. He herded her backward, to the bed, and threw her down on her stomach. “I like it like this.”

Grayson cupped her ass, kneaded it. Then he spread her cheeks wide, sliding a finger down the crevice. “Such a tight, pretty ass.”

His hand dived between her swollen, soaked folds, drawing out moisture, sliding it over the pucker of her anus. He dipped a thumb inside as he played with her clit. She cried out with pleasured shock.

“Like that, sugar? I can do more. Much more. Maybe later, when I get back. For now, I have time only for a quick hard fuck.”

Gripping her hips, he stroked his cock over her dripping channel. The teasing motion had her moaning. Then he pushed at her, withdrew in a slow torturous stroke. Samantha wriggled her bottom in impatience.

With a grunt, he thrust deep inside. Their flesh slapped together, his swollen balls banging against her, his fingers digging into her tender skin. A climax shimmered just out of reach. She pushed back against him, then took his hand and guided it to her front. Grayson played with her clit, and the hard press combined with his excited grunts and aggressive thrusts built the pressure higher. She cried out, squeezing hard down on him, his shout mingling with her scream.

When he pulled out, he used the sheet to wipe himself off. As he dressed, she collapsed on the bed in a languid daze, shivering.

“It’s cold in here. Light a fire?”

He snorted. “What do I look like, a gods damned servant?”

Samantha raised herself up on an elbow. “Please.”

Logs on the stone fireplace lay ready. Grayson opened his mouth and a lick of fire ignited them. Weak with shock, she stared.

He had her powers, but hadn’t mitigated the demon. He shouldn’t have breathed fire…

What was he?

The bathroom was large and luxurious, but she cared only for the privacy. Samantha ran the shower as an excuse and sat on the tub’s lip. Demon strength had enabled her to survive. Maybe it was about time she tapped her angelic powers.

Closing her eyes, she envisioned Grayson’s home. The cozy interior, made warm by his heated, sexy smile. Saw him as he’d been, tender and funny, considerate…

White light shimmered around her, sending tendrils of heat curling through her body. She felt her mind drifting, soaring over meadow and mountain, until she could see the cabin. A high-pitched scream came from inside.

Her spirit floated through the closed door. In the living room, eight wolves surrounded a naked, cowering man on all fours. The man moaned as one delivered slow, methodical punches. Her spirit cringed at the cruel blows, but more so at the animal pain the man suffered.

Why didn’t he fight back?

She recognized the attacker from the bar. Must be Russell, the pack enforcer Grayson mentioned. Russell kicked the man in the ribs, gloating as he moaned. “Not so tough now, are you, lone wolf? Where’s your super powers? Or did you finally decide to come crawling back to us for obedience training, after you left?”

Her spirit ached at the man’s pitiful whimpers. His bare back was covered with darkening bruises, but the strong muscles, the scars looked familiar.

And then he raised his head, gray gaze dull and resigned.

With a low gasp, she fell back into her body. Breathing heavily, she hung her head, feeling weakened and sick.

The man in Grayson’s cabin was the Ancient himself. He collapsed under another well-placed kick. The shifters laughed, and ambled out of the cabin. “C’mon, leave him and let’s get back to town and fetch our leader. He’s not going anywhere.”

A hard knock at the door roused her. The knob jiggled. “Yo, Samantha, want to spare some water for me?”

She struggled to return to this plane. Samantha gathered her composure, turned off the shower as the door opened. Grayson’s appreciative gaze swept over her naked body. “Waiting for company?”

“Maybe.” She drew in a deep breath. “I have to tell you something. The other night when we fought outside, and my demon came out. The venom, in my talons, when I cut you, it got inside you.”

Grayson shrugged. “So?”

“The venom acts on your deepest fears like a drug. It doubles your pain, makes you feel like you’re split in half. In the forest, when you were sick, what happened? You were in agony. I heard you cry out.”