Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

He tipped his head as though to ask a question.

"I couldna howl," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "So I called ta ye the only way I knew how."

His head straightened.

She held up her arm and was about to stroke across the mark again, but he suddenly raced across the clearing and stood before her. One corner of his mouth lifted in a fierce snarl.

She held up two hands in surrender. "I willna touch it anymore." He turned to leave. "As long as ye stay with me!" she called to his retreating form.

He stopped, but did not turn his head.

"Look at me!" she cried, frustration nearly ready to take over. He turned and walked back to her, his eyes half closed. She reached out a hand, but he skittered back out of her reach. "I want ta touch ye."

He didn't move.

"Ye willna let me do that, will ye?"

He still didn't move. She reached out a hand and stroked the silky fur on the top of his head. His eyes closed. Then she ran her fingernails down his back, scratching him gently.

Then, before her very eyes, he changed. His features shifted. He changed from beast to man. To man with a beast within.

Before she could blink, he shoved her back to the ground and spread her thighs forcefully so that he could settle between them. He covered her completely. A wild thing, hoping to dominate.

"What games do you play, Ellie?" he snarled against her lips as his hands slid into her hair and tugged.

"No games, Ben. I simply want ta love ye."

He dipped his head at her shoulder and gently abraded the skin with his teeth.

Heat pooled in her body where he insistently pressed his length against her.

"In me," she said, adjusting her body to lie directly beneath him.

"I cannot claim you." He closed his eyes. "You don't know how much this hurts me," he growled. "If you did, you would let me be."

"I'll never let ye be, Ben. I plan ta claim ye as my Lycan mate this night. And every day from this moment on."

Ben was startled when Elspeth pushed his shoulder, shoving him from atop her body.

Finally!

She saw reason. She recognized the danger. But she just pushed him onto his back then climbed her naked body atop him, straddling his hips.

Ben covered his eyes with his forearm. He growled and grabbed her hips to lift her off him.

"I am half Lycan, Ben," she said, pointing to the mark of the beast she wore on her wrist. "Just as ye are. And this night I plan ta claim ye as

my

Lycan mate." She smiled at him, but there was suddenly something wild in her gaze. Something

wanting.

Ben moved to slide from beneath her. "Ye canna leave me," she said as she covered her body with his. She lay along his length, her thighs parted to straddle him. Then her teeth touched the tender place where his shoulder met his neck.

"Ah, God. I cannot fight you." He wanted to scream.

"Then doona try." She licked across the sensitive skin and then moved to kiss his lips. Then she sat up and took him into her body, sliding down on him like warm silk, tight and soft.

He grabbed her hips and clutched her tightly. Then he remembered how he'd bruised her the last time and took his hands down. She lifted them, putting them on her hips. "Help me. I doona ken what ta do."

So he clutched her hips and set the rhythm, then she took over. The beast in him was content to let her ride him. And he reveled in the way she took him fully within her body with every stroke. He'd never have believed it.

Her breaths grew shorter and shorter. He knew she was close to reaching her peak. And the beast wanted to please her. He sat up to reach her breasts and drew her nipple into his mouth. All gentleness had left his body. He was afraid he'd hurt her when she cried out. But then she led him on when she said, "More," and pulled his head toward her breast.

While his mouth pleasured her breasts, his hand dove between her thighs and circled her center. As she cried out, she removed her breast from his mouth and bent her head to his neck. Then she exploded around him, and at the same time her teeth nipped the tender flesh of his shoulder. He stilled and threw his head back, growling as he enjoyed the supreme satisfaction he felt to have her claim him as her own.

When she stilled, he held her face in his hands and looked into her green eyes. "I love you," he said.

"Then take me," she laughed.

Ben wasn't gentle with her at all as he lifted her from him and set her on the plaid. He was rough and demanding. And she loved it. On his knees, he pulled her back against his front, rubbing his length along her slit. She spread her legs to give him entrance. The tip of him touched her but didn't slide inside. She wanted to shout to the heavens.

"Don't be so impatient," he growled as he cupped her breasts and teased her into a frenzy.

Sliding one arm around her waist, he pushed her shoulders down toward the blanket. "On your hands and knees, love."

"We've never," she started.

"Now we are," he growled.

She smiled. Maybe, finally, he would take her. Make her his in every way.

When he slid into her in one hard stroke, she cried out. The pleasure of it was nearly overwhelming. He commanded her body as his hips thrust into her, forward and back. She moved to meet his thrusts and he went harder.

Then he bent over her back to talk low in her ear. "I love being inside you. I love to feel you squeeze me, so wet and warm." He had never before talked to her about what they were doing. But it excited her even more. He continued to mumble in her ear as he took her to new heights. Then when she was ready, they came together, just as he pierced the skin of her shoulder with the most gentle of bites.

He sank to the ground atop her, and rolled to the side, taking her with him to cuddle against his chest. "That's all ye have for me, wolf? A teeny, tiny bite?"

"Yes, I found that I could control the beast more than I thought." He absently brought his hand to his own shoulder. "I think you bit me harder than I bit you." He chuckled and slapped her bottom so hard it stung.

"I wasna worried, even if I'd broken the skin. Because I ken I can heal ye."

"Heart and soul, witch."

Epilogue

"Good morning, William," Elspeth said brightly as she held open the door for her brother-in-law to enter the cottage.

His eyes swept across her, landing on the exposed skin of her neck and shoulders. His light blue eyes twinkled. "Found Ben last night, I see."

She couldn't hide the blush that warmed her cheeks. "I doona think he'd appreciate that."

Will laughed. "My dear sister, Ben rarely appreciates me. It's one of his flaws."

Elspeth shook her head and started back toward her small kitchen. "Would ye care for some tea?"

"No. I've just come to say good-bye."

"Ye're leavin'?" She stopped in her tracks to turn back and look at him. Will hadn't been in town all that long, and the journey was tiresome, as she well knew.

He shrugged. "I only came along because I didn't trust Benjamin to return my coach in one piece. I'd prefer it not be set aflame by your well-meaning friends in a fit of pique."

She couldn't help but laugh. "They'd never do such a thing. Ye've charmed them all."

"Ah," he agreed with a roguish grin. "It's a curse I have."

Elspeth gestured to the old threadbare settee. "Ben's asleep, let me wake him for ye."

"In a minute, lass," he replied with a smile. "Sit down."

Curious, she took the spot beside him. "Ye want ta talk ta me?"

Will nodded. "You're good for him, you know. I'm glad he has you."