Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Luther knew it was better for him to let her go. She should return to her life and leave him in the darkness of his own soiled future. He’d likely end up in a prison somewhere, if whoever ended up hunting the werewolf didn’t kill him first. He’d be lucky to keep his head on his shoulders.

But when the sun hit her hair like that, turning her entire head into a forest fire, she burned down every last defense he had. He couldn’t be a good man. Not right now.

So he did what any good wolf would do when it saw its mate for the first time. He scooped her up into his arms and he brought her into the woods. The forest of Dead Man’s Crossing was known to be a dangerous place. The villagers all warned newcomers not to go into the shadows and darkness. But the forest was his home and had been since he was a little boy.

No one could convince him otherwise. Even his father, who had warned him of the temptations that lay within the dappled light.

Luna tilted her head back in his arms and laughed. “No one has ever carried me like this before. I hope you know that.”

“You’re not all that heavy.” It was a lie. She was heavy. Of course she was. She was a six foot tall woman packed with muscle built from a lifetime of labor.

Luther took pride in the fact that no one had ever done this for her before. He was the strongest man she’d ever entertained, and that was both a blessing and a curse. The wolf in him wanted to hunt down any man who’d ever made her feel too much for them. The man in him wanted to kiss her until she forgot there had ever been other men.

He supposed they both aligned in the same kind of thinking. She was theirs. His. The wolf’s. A convoluted tangle of hope and desire and ownership.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked again, her voice the light bubble of happiness that rained down a shower of giggles upon his head.

And damn it, he couldn’t speak. He didn’t know how to tell her where they were going because the wolf had already taken hold of his body. The creature wanted her to be surprised, he guessed. She’d like where they were going. They both knew it deep in the bottom of their hearts.

He was right. The moment they stepped into the hidden clearing that dripped with moss, she let out a little gasp and struggled to get out of his arms. He let her go and watched her explore the grotto that had gotten him through many hard times in his childhood.

Luna stepped into the thick bed of moss, then ripped her shoes off her feet. The thick moss reached all the way up to her ankles, and he knew it wouldn’t be cold or damp. It was always kissed by the sun this time of day, warm and welcoming. Trees had fallen long ago, now covered by more emerald thick moss that created something similar to chairs or seats. And the sunlight speared through the tree branches over their head. The dappled light tangled through her hair until it looked like a faceted ruby.

“This is where I used to come when I was a child,” he said, his voice a low growl. “I would hide here from my father whenever he was too angry with me.”

“So, this is your safe place?” Her eyes missed no details. She pointed to a small nook in the moss, a hole that stretched underneath the roots of a tree which had fallen. “I suppose that was your bedroom.”

“Hiding place,” he corrected. “I didn’t sleep here. No son of an earl was allowed to sleep in the forest like some kind of heathen.”

“Ah.” Luna should have pitied him. Many had when he told them that story. Instead, she tilted her head back and let the sun play across her cheeks. “I used to sleep under the stars with my mother. All the time. She liked the feeling of their light and filled glass jars with the rays of the moon.”

Oh, he could love this woman. The sight of her like this, knowing that she’d been raised the way he had always wished to be raised, made his heart thunder in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to touch her. Taste her. Give her all the things that she wanted.

If only...

No, he wouldn’t think about the questions that burned in his chest. They both deserved this moment where they were free from the chains of society and the expectations of all those around them. He refused to let old habits ruin this moment.

Luther released the chains on the beast in his chest and let the wolf take over. Immediately, he felt his shoulders hunch. His arms came forward and his head lowered as he hunted the woman he wanted.

“Luna,” he growled, stalking in a circle around her. “I didn’t bring you here just to show you the woods.”

“Well, I’d hope not.” She opened her eyes with a subtle flick, but she didn’t seem to care that he hunted her. “I know what you want, Luther. I want the same thing.”

“I promised you I’d see if there was a wolf inside you.” The beast rumbled deep in his chest, ready for the hunt, the chase, the satisfaction of catching what was his. “I’d suggest you run.”

“Why on earth would I do that?” She planted her hands firmly on her hips and shook her head. “I’m not your prey, Luther. The wolf would love to chase me down, but I’ll let you know right now I’m not running from you. Your wolf will have to get used to the fact that I’m its equal.”

Well, that brought them both up short. He’d never felt his beast so confused. It seemed to hesitate, then released all control back to him. Apparently, his personal demon didn’t know what to do with a woman like that.

Honestly, this might be better for both of them. Now he had her all to himself. Just the two of them.

“Luna.” He stepped into the clearing with her, holding out his hands for her to take. “I want you to know who you’re with right now.”

“I know who I’m with,” she replied with a laugh. And then she took his hands, and he knew he was right where he needed to be. “Why don’t you relax, Luther? You seem rather tense.”

“I’ve been with women before,” he muttered, “but never one that meant so much. I’m afraid that’s put me in a rather unusual place.”

“I guess I’ll have to take control, then.” She leaned forward and pressed their lips together. And suddenly, he knew nothing else mattered.

---

Luna hadn’t thought she would do this, but here they were. Together. In a clearing in the middle of the woods. And yes, she was about to let a werewolf bind their bodies together and no, she wasn’t afraid at all. She should be. Maybe. Perhaps this was what it felt like to touch boiling water for a second. Or maybe to snuff out a burning candle with her fingers. She knew how close she was to pain.

But he needed her. All he wanted was to hold her, to make sure she was safe, and knew she wasn’t being forced to do anything. What man was so kind? So good?

And here he was, thinking he was nothing better than a wolf. Foolish man. He was so much more than that.

“Taste me,” she whispered against his lips. “I want to feel you against me.”

In truth, she didn’t know what she was asking for. Luna had read the terms in a book once. She’d only slept with two other men and both were rather horrible, fumbling experiences in an alleyway where each time they were hoping they didn’t get caught.

This was different. So much different.

A low growl erupted from between his lips. “You are an answer to a prayer, Luna. I swear.”

His lips pressed harder to hers, and then he slid his mouth down her neck. Her shoulders. Pressing kisses as he moved down her body until he drew her onto the moss with him. She fell onto her knees without hesitation, wondering what he wanted from her.

Luther pressed a hand to her shoulder, shoving her back until she laid down on the emerald carpet. The sparkling light glittered in his eyes as he lifted one of her legs to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her ankle. “Whatever you want, my darling, my moon. I promise you, whatever you want.”

His kisses trailed up her legs and she couldn’t stop staring up at the clouds. At the leaves that danced in the wind she couldn’t feel and then suddenly his lips were there. His tongue pressing and smoothing and aching. What was he doing? Oh, she really didn’t care at all to know the mechanics of it when she couldn’t focus on anything other than what his wicked tongue touched.

Reaching between her legs, she tangled her fingers in his hair and forced him to stay where he was. Showing him with tiny tugs where she wanted him most, and then suddenly, he plunged his fingers deep inside her depths. The sudden shock sent an orgasm wildly coiling through her body, unbidden and shocking.

Her mouth dropped open with a sudden gasp, even as she arched against him.

Luther moved her skirts out of the way, sliding up her body with an all too pleased smile on his face.

“Stop grinning,” she muttered, pressing her hands against his glistening mouth and wiping him clean.

“I can’t. Sorry.”

She was the one who let out an animalistic growl this time. With quick movements, she struck his side with her larger thighs and forced him to roll. Seated atop him, this time she knew exactly what she wanted. How she was going to take what was hers.

It wasn’t how she’d dreamt their first time would take place. She’d thought it would be with more velvet and lace. Perhaps with candlelight dancing over his shoulders while she took her time to enjoy him. Not this which was... perfect.

She reached between them, finding him hard and hot already. Luna wrapped her fingers around him, stroking until he made a low sound in the back of his throat. Until his stomach muscles flexed against the backs of her fingers and she knew this was the moment. For both of them.

Leaning down, she kissed him again, lingering at the corner of his mouth. “Now?”

“Now,” he replied, breathless and hungry.

She slid down onto him with a sigh that came from deep within her. He stretched her to almost pain, but it was perfect, even as she worked herself down onto him. Her thighs tensed as she moved up and down, finding a rhythm that felt best. And it really was perfect. The exact right moment when she could feel something more than just hope. It was light and bright and blinding connection.

Luther pressed his fingers between them, cleverly touching all the right places until she felt as though her body wasn’t her own anymore. He played her like an instrument until her muscles tensed again. She tightened upon him at the same moment that he thrust up, groaning.

And she was delighted to see how wonderful he looked in this forest with his head thrown back and the cords of his neck standing out in sharp shadows and highlights.

He was stunning.

He was a wolf in the wild, with someone he’d never once thought he would meet. And yet, here they were. Together.

Tired, warm, and deliciously sore, she fell upon his chest with a heavy, but pleased, sigh. “So?” she asked. “Am I a wolf after all?”

“You are,” he replied. “You are my wolf and my moon.”