Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

O livia took her own advice, her hands going to the button of his jeans and he helped her to free it.

Once they both were naked, Tiernan stepped behind her and eased her hair away from the back of her neck.

She shivered when his lips settled there and his arm slipped around her, his hand brushing lightly across both nipples, puckering them more tightly than they already were. She gasped, feeling his teeth graze the back of her neck, then he began to nip as his fingers captured one nipple at a time to tease.

The combined sensation felt like a striking match, setting a flame to roar to life inside her, and his low growl only added to her pleasure. His light nips turned stronger, his teeth capturing her flesh firmly to tug at it. His hand explored, caressing her slowly and when his hand drifted further down, his fingers searching for that small nub of pleasure, his other arm wrapped around her waist and eased her back against him and she felt just how much he wanted her.

She went to turn around, wanting to explore him as he did her, but he kept her locked tight.

“Alpha male,” he whispered. “It’s in my blood, but then you know wolves, Olivia.”

He was right, she did, and she knew her moment of power would come as it did with all female wolves when he was locked inside her. She pressed her backside against him, enjoying the hard feel of him as she teased him with her movements.

After a few moments, he released her to bend her over the edge of the bed and come down over her, nudging her legs apart so that he could tease her with his penis as he continued to nip at the back of her neck.

“Not fair,” she said with a light chuckle since she was enjoying him too much to complain too strenuously.

He covered her hand that gripped the sheet with his, and she opened it for him to lock his fingers with hers.

“You are mine,” he whispered in her ear. “Always mine.”

At that moment, she was, and she would not think beyond it.

With one hand beneath her waist, he flipped her over and began to explore her with his hands, lips, and teeth. There wasn’t a part of her that he did not touch, did not taste, did not kiss. And she could not help but think that the wolf in him was marking his territory.

She explored as much of him as she could, but a slight growl warned her away now and again. She feared that she had flamed to life so fast that she might burn out quickly, but he seemed to understand her passion and eased now and again to let her desire cool before he continued.

She was lost in a haze of passion, never having a man move her around, lift her, position her with such strength and ease. He seemed to know exactly how to position her to bring her the most pleasure and to build a powerful need in her that had her begging for release.

She threw her head back and urged. “Please. Please. Please. I need you inside me.”

“An invitation I cannot refuse.”

At first, she thought he teased her, but he sounded far too serious, and she raised her head enough to look into his eyes to see if he teased, but her words died on her lips. His eyes shined a brilliant green like those of Laird’s eyes the night she looked out the window and saw him as a wolf for the first time. She stared and for a moment?—

“Never would I harm you, Olivia, and never would I stop loving you.”

She gasped when he slipped into her and then all was lost. His thrusts held strength, and she found herself locking her legs around him, gripping him tightly, refusing to let him go as her passion soared out of control. Nothing mattered but remaining locked together with him and feeling the might and pleasure of their mating.

Her climax built to such strength that she roared like never before when it hit, and he joined her, though his roar was far more powerful, and she thought it had to have echoed through the castle.

He lay beside her in silent repose afterward as breathless as she was, though he reached to take hold of her hand and lay it on his chest, and she felt the mighty rise and fall of his breaths.

As her breath began to calm, reality returned, and the pleasing warmth left her body leaving her chilled, and she shivered.

Tiernan was quick to spread the blanket over them both and to tuck her against him, his body still heated.

Enjoy this moment, the consequences will come soon enough , she silently cautioned herself.

“You worry needlessly,” he said and kissed her brow.

She lifted her head from where it lay on his chest to look at him.

“I can feel your worry along with the intense pleasure that continues to radiate in you. Don’t spoil this moment with worry. All will be well.”

“I want to believe that.”

“Figure out the puzzle and you’ll worry no more.”

“Why not just tell me?”

“Because you will never accept what you must see for yourself.”

“Do I get any clues?”

“You’ve had countless clues.”

Her stomach chose to protest in hunger at that moment.

Tiernan chuckled. “You need to eat and so do I.”

“You didn’t eat either?”

“I had no appetite. Now I am ravenous.”

They got out of bed, Olivia hurrying to collect her clothes as he slipped on sweats and a knit shirt. Wanting more comfortable attire to put on, she rushed out of the room and down the hall.

Tiernan quickly followed, calling out, “That is the best view I’ve had in quite a while.”

She dashed into her bedroom to toss her clothes on the bed and grab for her flannel pajamas, but Tiernan grabbed her first, swinging her around to land snug in his arms.

“You have a luscious body, mo ghràdh, ” he said as he nuzzled her neck.

“You’re not going to eat me, are you?” she asked jokingly.

He laughed. “Nay, I’m going to feast on you every chance I get, and you are going to enjoy every minute of it.”

“Promise?” she asked playfully, snuggling into his embrace.

“You have my word on it,” he assured her. “Now hurry and dress warm, I can feel your hunger.”

Once dressed in flannel pajamas and thick socks, Tiernan took her hand, and they hurried to the kitchen together. They raided the fridge and pantry, gathering an array of foods and enjoyed endless cups of tea as they ate, talked, and laughed over funny stories they shared about their life.

They shared several memorable times in their lives, but one such time captured Olivia’s attention.

“So, this woman, this Lady Dawn, could not speak at all and yet you understood her?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Aye. She was a remarkable woman for her time and easy for a wolf to understand and communicate with. If she hadn’t had a husband, a powerful one at that, I would have pursued her for a wife. My pack admired her strength and courage, and they feared her husband, Lord Cree. The man was a fierce and mighty warrior.”

“Did his wife fear him?”

Tiernan laughed as he shook his head. “Nay, she loved him beyond measure as he did her. A love as strong as theirs is rare. Actually, a decedent of theirs, the current Lord Cree is a generous supporter of the preserve, and he is married to a woman named Dawn, who is unable to speak, though communicates easily through sign language. I often wonder if their love transcended death and followed them through the years.”

“That would be an exceptionally strong and rare love.”

“Aye,” he said and leaned across the table to reach out and faintly brush his finger across her lips. “But not impossible to find.”

A ripple of pleasure raced through her from his touch or words or both, she wasn’t sure. Was he suggesting that they could have such a strong love?

They continued talking until Olivia began to yawn. They worked together to clean up after their meal, then headed to bed.

Olivia stopped at her bedroom door, ready to say good night when to her surprise he scooped her up into his arms.

“You sleep in my lair, beside me from now on,” he announced as if she had no choice in the matter as he walked down the hall.

She stuck her chin up. “What if I don’t want to?”

He laughed as if it was the most hilarious thing she could say. “I could remind you about the alpha male thing but that really doesn’t matter. Tell me you don’t want to sleep with me, and I will return you to your room.”

“When you say sleep with you, do you mean sleep or sex?”

“Both put you in my arms where you belong, where I want you, and I believe where you want to be.”

She sighed, unable to deny it. “Okay, you got me on that one.”

“Good, then there is no reason to debate it any further. You will sleep in my bed from now on.”

She yawned, too tired to argue any further and once he placed her on her feet, she hurried beneath the blankets while he shed his clothes and got into bed naked.

“Those pajamas and socks must come off,” he said.

She gripped her pajama top when he reached for it. “I get too cold. I need to keep them on.”

“My body will keep you warm.”

She shook her head. “Impossible. I sleep with extra blankets I get so cold in the winter.”

“Not anymore. My body produces more than sufficient heat to keep you comfortably warm. If after tonight, I don’t keep you warm enough, you can sleep in whatever clothes you want.”

Olivia was skeptical and worried about waking, shivering cold, during the night.

“Trust me, Olivia,” he urged. “I will not fail to keep you warm.”

“If you do…” She let her warning die on her lips as she released her grip on her top, and he helped her off with it.

“I won’t,” he assured her, helping her get out of her bottoms. “The socks.”

“My feet are cold.”

“I’ll warm them.”

“You’ll never warm them enough. My feet are always cold.”

“Not anymore,” he said and disappeared under the blankets to rid her of her socks.

His body slid with meticulous slowness over hers as he worked his way back up from beneath the blankets, nipping her body with his teeth playfully along the way. When he finally lay completely over her, he rolled off her, taking her with him. He tucked himself around her and she was surprised by the heat that settled over and through her. But she shouldn’t have been surprised. A wolf had no trouble surviving the cold.

And neither would a werewolf.

Try as she might to wrap her head around it, it was still difficult to believe, to accept, that she had sex with and now slept with a werewolf. She had to be completely out of her mind and yet she was finding it more and more plausible. So, when would she finally accept it as fact?

She knew the answer, but did not want to think about it. She did not want to see him change into a werewolf.

She woke with a moan of pleasure, Tiernan’s intimate touches doing the most delicious things to her and this time they didn’t linger. They joined quickly and fiercely and finished together in an explosive climax, then settled once again wrapped around each other in sleep.

Olivia slipped out of bed in the morning reluctantly, his satisfying and comfortable warmth threatening to keep her there. He’d been right. He had kept her more than comfortably warm. But she was eager for a shower, not that she minded his rugged scent that seemed to have seeped into her. Unfortunately, his intoxicating scent didn’t allow her to think clearly, and she needed a clear head if she was to solve whatever puzzling mystery would free her of worry and help her make sense of everything.

A chill gripped her by the time she reached her room, and she hurried to turn the shower on, hoping to get enough hot water to wash quickly. While the water warmed, she set a fire in the fireplace, where only a few embers burned, to heat the more than chilly room.

When she finally stepped into the shower the water was warm enough not to chill her, though she wished it was much hotter. She was washing her hair when she heard the floor in the bedroom creak with the strength of Tiernan’s steps.

He joined her in the shower without hesitation or an invitation.

Alpha male , she thought when his arms circled her waist.

“Use my shower from now on. The water is kept hotter there,” he said and kissed the back of her neck. Then he pushed her hands aside and began to scrub her hair.

His fingers massaged her head with a strength that had her inwardly sighing it felt so good, and she did not want it to end. But he made up for it when he lathered his hands with her soap and began to scrub her. Not wanting him to be left out, she did the same, pleased that she finally got to touch him all over.

It was obvious and inevitable that passion flared between them, and he soon had her braced against the wall, her legs wrapped around him and her arms around his neck as he pounded into her. She came so hard it left her weak-kneed, and he had to keep hold of her once he released her to stand or she would collapse.

They stood under the water, his arms around her and her head resting on his chest, more content, more satisfied than she had ever felt, and she realized at that precise moment that she loved him, and she didn’t want to ever leave him.

“Are you all right, Olivia?” he asked, concerned.

She looked up at him and smiled. “Better than I have ever been.”

He returned her smile. “That is good to hear since I feel the same. Now let’s get out of here before the water cools.”

Tiernan got done quicker than Olivia. “Take your time. I’ll go put the kettle on and make us some Scottish oatmeal for breakfast. There is nothing like it on a cold winter morning. Besides, it’s easy to make.”

It didn’t take her long to finish and she laughed softly when she entered the kitchen to the smell of burning toast.

“I was doing so good,” Tiernan said.

“I’ll see to the toast,” she offered, and he didn’t refuse.

“It stopped snowing,” he said when they were almost done with breakfast. “I thought you might like to go outside for a bit of fresh air today.”

“I would love that,” she said eagerly.

“You need to dress warmly. It’s cold out there.”

“Will I get to meet any of the wolves?”

“The wolves prefer the forest. You’ll find the werewolves lingering closer to the castle. You’ve already met two werewolves, besides me, Fay and Henry,” he reminded. “Or are you still finding it difficult to believe that you are amongst a pack of werewolves?”

“You have to admit that it’s a lot to digest, especially when science, research, and data is such a big part of my life.”

“Then you will be thrilled to visit my personal laboratory and view the research and data I’ve compiled through the years on my pack.”

“I am eager to see it. Can I see it today?” she asked, excited at the prospect.

“I’m afraid it will have to wait until a path can be cleared to it. The year-round crew has the snowplows ready and will start today, which means it will be done in a couple of days, if the snow doesn’t return.”

She asked a question that had been on her mind. “Do werewolves exist around the world?”

“Aye, they do. A group of us have made ourselves known to each other and share the data we’ve collected. There could possibly be more, but we are extremely careful about keeping our identity a secret, for fear of what might happen if we were discovered. We formed out of necessity when a few werewolves went rogue and created a potential problem. But that discussion is better left for another time. Let’s go and enjoy the snow. I’ll clean up here while you go get yourself bundled up.”

It didn’t take Olivia long to layer herself in warm clothes and slip on her winter boots and hurry back to the kitchen.

She wasn’t surprised that Tiernan wore no layers under his winter jacket, nor did he wear a hat, but he made sure to wrap a scarf around her neck.

“The snow is deep, but snowdrifts often leave a path on this side of the castle, so we should be able to get through,” he said.

Olivia smiled with glee as the gorgeous winter wonderland scene was revealed slowly as the garage door cranked open. “It’s beautiful.” She gasped when a red-haired wolf and brown-haired wolf skittered to a stop not far from the open garage door. They were beautiful.

Tiernan took her hand and walked out of the garage with her. “You know them.”

Olivia smiled and called out, “Fay. Henry.”

The red-haired wolf, who she assumed was Fay, ran right at her, and Tiernan went to step in front of Olivia, but she stopped him.

“I think something is wrong,” she said and saw she was right when Fay whined and turned her head toward her mate then back at Olivia. “Something is wrong with Henry.” When Fay took off, Olivia and Tiernan followed.

Henry approached them limping, Fay staying close to his side.

“He’s hurt,” Olivia said and was quick to drop down in front of him and run her hand down his leg and thankfully felt no break though that didn’t mean he hadn’t suffered one. “Your paw, Henry?” she asked, and he held it up to her. She probed the pad of his paw. “Sometimes the wolves where I worked would get something embedded in their paw and it would either work its way out or it would finally make itself known.” She examined his paw closely and, spotting nothing, she was about to release it when he yelped and growled at her.

Olivia fell on her backside when a vicious growl roared from behind her and Henry was quick to drop to the ground, his head down. Fay did the same.

Olivia looked up at Tiernan. “That wasn’t necessary. I must have hit the spot that is causing him pain.”

“You should know better than to admonish the alpha of a pack, Olivia,” he warned, anger gleaming in his bold green eyes.

The reality of her situation hit her then. They were wolves. He led. They obeyed. It was their way. But was it hers?

“May I examine Henry’s paw again?” she asked, wisely seeking permission.

“Henry, give Olivia your paw,” Tiernan ordered, and Henry held it out to her.

“I will do my best not to cause you pain, Henry.” He whined softly as she examined his paw. It took patience and a keen eye, but she finally spotted the offending sliver that was causing Henry the problem. “I see it,” she announced relieved. It took a bit of gentle probing with her nail, but she finally managed to get it out and held it up for all to see. “A sliver of metal.”

Fay rubbed her face against Olivia’s arm in thanks, and Henry licked her hand.

“You should heal quickly, Henry, and the snow should help ease any discomfort.”

“Go enjoy your much-needed run,” Tiernan ordered, taking the sliver of metal from Olivia to slip in his jacket pocket as the two wolves rushed off, snipping playfully at each other as they disappeared in the distance.

As Tiernan helped Olivia to her feet, she said, “I did not mean to usurp your authority. You are right. Knowing wolves as I do, I should have known better than to interfere. But I must make something very clear. You may command your pack, but you do not command me.”

Tiernan smiled. “I never expected that you would let me.”

“Good. I am glad we understand each other,” she said, rubbing her cold hands before going to slip on her gloves.

“You need warmer gloves than those knot ones. I’ll get you a proper pair,” he said and hurried off through the garage and into the castle.

Olivia lingered where she stood, taking in the serene beauty around her. It was a lovely winter scene, the snow pristine and weighing heavily on the branches of the pine trees while the treetops wore crowns of snow. It was postcard perfect, until she heard the growls. She turned slowly and stilled when she saw four wolves, their front legs spread, their gleaming eyes focused on her, snarling and baring their teeth.