WeresDigest (5 page)

The wolf stood still, teeth bared. With its ribs
showing, it appeared it hadn’t had a good meal in a while. Max knew, in order
to save Carrie, he’d need to shift. He groaned since he remembered he’d used up
his allotted one night shift change!

“Carrie,” he said very softly. “Come toward me. Now.”

She frowned, opened her mouth, likely to protest when
she stopped at the sound of the wolf’s growl.

He saw her chest rising and falling quickly, praying
she wouldn’t panic. She started to turn her head but Max ordered, “Stop. Do not
turn around. Do not look. There is a wolf behind you who appears very hungry.”
Her eyes filled with tears but she stayed still, facing him, trembling in fear.
“Now do as I say. Walk slowly toward me.”

She did, thank God, one small step at a time. Just as
she reached him, the wolf pounced, his growl furious at having his meal taken
from him.

Max yanked Carrie behind him, bounded in front of her,
and held up his forearm, damning himself for leaving his gun in the coach. How
had he forgotten it? It wasn’t often he required one, but right now, he wished
he had it. The wolf landed a foot away from Max, growling fiercely. Max
maintained eye contact with the animal, and the wolf soon started backing away,
then paced side to side, eying Max.

After several moments of pacing and growling, the wolf
bounded away into the woods.

Max released his pent up breath and turned to find
Carrie slumped on the ground, back against a tree. He swept her up into his
arms, felt her shivering body, and held her tight. She clutched him around the
neck and he groaned at the feel of her breasts against his chest. Her grip nearly
choked him and he pulled at her arms, “Loosen them, sweet, or you’ll strangle
me. The big bad wolf is all gone,” he joked. “Come, I’ll take you home.”

“He’s gone is he? And what shall I do about
this
big
bad wolf?” she asked as she reached up and swept a curl off his forehead. He
groaned at the sight of tears tracking down her cheeks. “How did you make him
stop? The two of you met eye to eye, and…”

“You’re safe now. I’m a
good
wolf.”

Sniffling, she said, “I only live a short distance
from here. Will you take me home?”

 He gave her a long, level look, took in her frazzled
appearance, and sighed. He’d planned to bring her home with him, but hadn’t the
heart now after the fright she’d just had. While that inner beast protested at
the idea of escorting her home, he knew he had no other choice. He gave her a
devilish grin and held her high in his arms as he made his way out of the trees
and onto the road.

Up ahead, he saw his driver and coach. Lifting his
fingers, he whistled and the driver turned the carriage around and headed back
down the road toward them. At her wide-eyed, questioning look, he said, “I
informed him to wait for us down the road apiece. Glad I did.” The carriage
reached them. He helped her inside, cursing as her lushly curved bottom tempted
him.

Guessing she might not want him to touch her, he
started to take the seat opposite her, when she spoke.

“Please, Max. Would you…would you hold me? I’m cold.”

Breathing a relieved sigh at her invitation, he slid
onto the seat beside her, and put his arm around her shoulders. Her shivering
seemed to be increasing instead of abating, so he hauled her onto his lap,
surrounding her with his body heat. Heat. The need to mate ran rampant through
him, but he kept his senses about him with Carrie in his arms.

In too short a time, in Max’s opinion, they arrived at
her modest farm home. Once the carriage stopped, he opened the door and eased
her down to the road. His head shot up at the sound of a squeaking from the
porch. Must be her mother waiting up for her, he suspected. But the male voice
surprised him.

“I wondered why it took you longer to get home than
usual,” a man said as he rose from a rocking chair.

The chair kept rocking, breaking the silence of the
night.

“It’s not what you think, Brian,” Carrie said as she
swept up her skirts and headed up the steps to the porch.

Max stayed put, alongside the carriage as anger built
inside him. Hadn’t she said she lived with her mother? And if that was the
case, who was this man?

“Get to bed, Carrie. I’ll deal with your…escort.”

“Now, Brian, you stay put right here on this porch!”
Carrie shouted.

“Don’t wake up ma, damn it all. She’s been sick all
day with the influenza. Introduce me to your boyfriend.”

“He’s not my…”

By this conversation, Max was feeling more at ease. It
seemed Carrie had a brother. He stepped forward and said, “I’m Max Dalton. I
was heading down the road when I saw Carrie walking. Not a good thing to do so
late at night, wouldn’t you agree?” Max kept civility in his voice as he
wondered why in the hell her brother didn’t escort her home each night.

Brian shrugged. “Carrie’s an independent little puss.
She wouldn’t take to me or anyone else escortin’ her home. Tell him Carrie
that’s so.”

“It is. This is my brother, Brian,” she finished on a
whisper. “Good night, Mr. Dalton.”

Before Max could utter another goodnight, she
disappeared into the house.

“You heard her. Next time Carrie’ll find her own way
home.”

“It’s not safe, damn it, man!” Max exploded.

“She’s safe. Been doing it for a few years now. The
only unsafe thing I can see is a man like you pickin’ her up along the road.”
With that, he wheeled into the house and closed the door.

Max glared at the empty porch, at the door, noting
lights on inside the house. “Carrie, we are far from through, sweetheart,” he
said through gritted teeth. “Before the next fortnight comes, you’ll be mine,”
he declared.

Chapter
Four

Over the next several weeks, Max bided his time at
Darkwirth, as he tried to plan how to convince Carrie they should mate and then
he would court, then marry her, instead of the reverse. With the rising of the
moon each evening, drawing closer to a full moon, the pain was growing, close
to becoming unbearable. Which, actually, was another reason why he hadn’t
pursued her within the fortnight as he’d planned. He wasn’t certain if he could
contain himself around her with his body shifting each evening, and the pain to
mate growing.

He sat before the hearth in the library, off to the
right of the main hall upon entering the castle, yanking at his pants crotch.
He’d been big and hard for several days, damning his thoughts of Carrie. Every
time she entered his mind, his manhood grew and hardened, and there wasn’t a
damned thing he could do about it, except lose himself in his own pathetic
ministrations. He could have called in one of his favorite doxies, but he’d
lost all interest in any other female because of Carrie. She was the one.

He looked up when Jake sauntered in and took the chair
beside Max. Max didn’t like the gloating look on his brother’s face but
wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of asking why he wore it.

“You’re up late, aren’t you?” Jake sank lower in the
chair.

With a shrug, Max said, “I just returned from hunting.

“As did I. I didn’t see you anywhere. You find new
hunting grounds?” Jake queried.

“No,” Max said abruptly, flicking his gaze away from
his brother and back to the fire. He couldn’t tell Jake how he hadn’t been
hunting, but had been standing in the woods right outside Carrie’s house each
evening since they’d parted weeks ago, pining for a glimpse of her. Max
wouldn’t tell him how he waited outside The King’s Tavern and, in his shifted shape,
followed her home, protecting her each evening.

“How goes the hunt then?”

Max met Jake’s eyes and scowled. “Not great, but I’ve
a plan.”

“And that is…?”

“I’m going to court Carrie—woo her.” At his brother’s
incredulous expression, Max added with a sheepish shrug, “It’s what she wants
before we mate.”

“Damn, now I know this woman’s your mate, if you’re
willing to ignore your heat! For how long? How long will you be able to stand
the pain? Now that you’ve found her, the pain must be horrendous.”

“For as long as she wants me to wait…until she accepts
her place in my bed. I’ve no idea how long that will be.”Jake was right. The
pain had grown, but he lived each day, ignoring it, thinking of his final
reward of mating with Carrie.

“You’re a more patient man than I. What’s the first
thing you’ll do?”

“Invite her to a candlelit supper here in my rooms.”

Jake laughed. “Sounds like a perfect place to seduce
her.”

Max gave his brother a wry smile. “Carrie is a lady,
but a stubborn one. If I do manage to seduce her, and believe me, I plan on
giving it my best effort, then I will be one lucky man.”

“And if she holds you off, what then?”

With a sigh, Max said, “Then I’ll pamper her with
flowers, candy, jewelry, dinners, and nights at the theater.”

“Rather commonplace items, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Max growled, “But it’s what she wants from me
and I shall oblige.”

“Uh, don’t you think it might be a good idea, though,
to begin with the smaller things. The candy and flowers, instead of dinner in
your room?”

“No, that’s exactly what she’d expect from me.”

“What if she refuses to come to dinner?”

“She won’t,” Max said confidently. “I know Carrie has
feelings for me. I felt them, and read them in her mind, as I held her in my
arms.”

“What! And how did she react once she found out you
read her thoughts?”

She doesn’t know. She has no idea what
we
are.”

Jake was the one to frown now. “Uh, don’t you think it
might be a good idea to ‘fess up to her?”

“I will, eventually, once I’ve earned her trust—once
she realizes she can’t live without me.”

Doubtfully, Jake said, “I sure as hell hope you know
what you’re doing. She might think you deceived her by omission. Remember I
warned you.”

“It’s worth the risk.”

* * * *

Max slumped back against the wall outside the door
leading to the alley from The King’s Tavern as he awaited Carrie’s departure.
He hadn’t seen Carrie in nearly a month, and he couldn’t not see her anymore.

He looked at the spot on the ground where the slain
woman had laid, and thought about another recent similar death. A serial killer
stalking London’s streets was reason enough for Max to escort Carrie home. He
guessed now, after being separated from her for ten days, she’d be glad to see
him. He nodded in satisfaction then straightened up when he heard the door open.

He faced the door and watched Carrie exit, dressed in
her simple white blouse and brown woolen skirt, a cape over her shoulders. Max
imagined dressing her in better clothing—ones fit for a queen. She deserved
better. She closed the door, looked up, and emitted a small scream.

Max covered her mouth with a firm hand and grinned
down at her. “Will you scream if I remove my hand?”

Her blue eyes blazed furiously at him as she started
to nod then she seemed to think better of it, closed her eyes and slumped against
him, shaking her head.

Slowly, he removed his hand. She surprised him when
she kicked his shin.

“Ow!” He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her onto
her toes. “Why’d you do that?”

“For scarin’ the daylights of me! Max, why are you
here?”

His frown lessened. “I’m escorting you home, and I
have a proposition for you.”

She rolled her eyes, settled her reticule over her
arm, and headed out of the alley. “No. I’m not a bit interested in
your…proposition. “

“Why not?” he asked, stepping into step beside her.

“Because it’s likely the same as the first one you
offered. Which reminds me,” she said, coming to a halt. Carrie jammed her hands
on her hips and tapped the toe of one kid boot. “Where have you been for the
last month?”

He slid an arm around her waist and murmured against
her ear, “Missed me, did you?”

“Well…” He kissed her ear. “…perhaps a little,” she
gasped.

He tried, he really did, but he couldn’t stop himself
from reading her mind.

Oh, Max, I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know!
Why, why did you leave me alone for so long? Where have you been? Have you
taken up with another woman? Do you no longer love
me? Did you ever?

God, he hated how she doubted him and in silence
cursed himself for staying away for so long. A deep kiss would reassure her and
he pulled her against his chest, lowered his head, and kissed her full on her
sweet lips. His heart leaped when she returned the kiss and wound her arms
around his neck. He backed her up against the tavern wall, his mind only on
her. He ground himself against her in an effort to ease the ache there,
helpless to stop himself, praying she wouldn’t stop him. She didn’t for she
lowered her arms from around his neck, cupped his buttocks and pressed him
tight against her.

He released her lips and swung her high in his arms,
nuzzling the pulse in her neck. “You’ve no idea how I’ve missed you, darlin’.”

She tossed her head back and laughed. “Oh,” she
whispered, “Then you must tell me.”

Max growled, “I’d much rather show you. Come, my
carriage is out front.”

“Where are you taking me?” Carrie asked, then placed
small kisses on his collarbone, exposed now as she’d untied the tie holding it
shut.

“No more will you walk home alone each evening. It’s
not safe.” He didn’t tell her he planned to take her home with him, and she
thankfully didn’t ask. His manhood throbbed in anticipation of joining with
her. She was his—his mate—and he knew she felt that connection to him. She knew
he was for her, and she was for him. He thought about the fine dinner cook had
waiting in his bedroom for them, thought it a shame they likely wouldn’t eat
it.

She’d taken the first step by beginning to undress
him. Now her small fingers worked on first one button, then another. She paused
when Max reached the carriage and called up to his driver perched high on the
seat. “Tom, head home.”

Max settled her down on the cushioned seat and
followed her inside, sitting beside her. Then he whisked her onto his lap and
started in where he’d left off lavishing her lips, temples, and earlobes with
kisses. His fingers found their way to her blouse and he started unbuttoning several
tiny buttons marching down the front. He reached her navel and eased her arms
from the sleeves. The fabric slid down to her waist. He slid his hands over her
breasts, then cupped them through the cotton camisole and lowered his head.

He placed his lips around one nipple and suckled
gently through the thin fabric, thankful she hadn’t worn a corset. She gasped,
arched her back, and closed her eyes.

He paused when she begged, “Stop, Max! It’s too
sensitive!”

Obligingly, Max moved to her other nipple and suckled
until she squirmed on his lap. Soon he divested her of the camisole and her
hands clutched at the front of his shirt as she tried to remove it. He released
her breasts and eased himself out of his shirt, gasping with raw pleasure at
the sensation of her smooth, silky skin against his furred chest.

Lifting her up from his lap, he held her against his
chest and continued kissing her, as his hand slid up beneath her skirts.
Pantaloons blocked access to her, but not for long; easily, he undid the tapes
and her drawers fell to her knees.

She gasped and pressed her fists against his chest for
release but stopped and groaned when he cupped her woman’s mound. Grinding the
heel of his hand against her, he worked her quickly. She bounced against his
hand, moaning as she drew nearer to completion. Then she stiffened in his arms
and the hand he’d settled on her waist came up to cover her mouth just as she
climaxed. Her muffled shrieks vibrated against his hand and her eyes widened in
surprise as she stared at him. As she came down from heaven, she closed her
eyes and collapsed against him, her bottom settling on his lap—on his pulsing
manhood.

“Move back a moment, sweetheart,” he whispered as
excitement flared through him, vividly
aware of that always present pain
centered deep in his groin. Reluctantly, she moved back a bit and he reached
down and loosed the buttons on his pants.

She looked down then and her gaze widened when he
reached inside his underdrawers and pulled out his manhood. Gasping, she
started to leave his lap, when he held her in place.

“Don’t be frightened,” he said. “I won’t do anything
you don’t want me to do.”

Carrie shook her head and bit her lip at the same
time. “But…but I’m a good girl.”

His tentative smile turned into a grin. “Yes, you are.
And good girls always give their men what they need.”

“Am I your girl, then?” she asked softly.

“You are.”

“And you need me to…to touch you.”

“Most definitely.”
I’ll perish if you won’t.

“But nothing else, you won’t
do
anything else?”

It was hard for him to agree but he did, with a quick
nod.

“All right then,” she said.

Max nearly shouted when her small hand closed around
his rigid shaft, pointing skyward.

“Now what do I do?”

He groaned, “Just move your hand up and down steadily,
quickly.” His voice sounded hoarse to his ears, and he nearly came from the
first few quick pumps she made. He laid his head back against the seat and
lifted his hips up and down, mimicking the same motion from her hand. He felt
her move off his thighs. When he looked down, he saw her kneeling on the
carriage floor, between his widespread legs, her gaze still on his thickening
manhood. Her gaze met his then and she paused, a slight smile on her lips.

“Don’t…stop, please,” he whispered.

“You look to be in pain.”

“I am, so keep doing what you’ve been doing and it
will ease the pain.”

She continued the movement, even more quickly this
time when suddenly he erupted, all over her hand, bellowing at the same time.

Carrie immediately dropped him and cried, “Are you all
right, Max?”

Breathing heavily, Max looked down at her with a
smile, and picked up a lock of her hair. “I am more than fine, my sweet, and
you are a darling girl. Thank you. You’ve eased my…pain.”

She nodded, rose to her feet, and sank onto the seat
across from him.

“Why are you sitting way over there?” He laughed aloud
when he saw the impish smile on her face.

“Because I don’t trust you,” she said, even as she
stared out the window.