N. Walters - Howl of the Wolf

Everything inside her stopped for a moment, suspended by sheer disbelief. That was it. He was just like the man from her dreams, except she’d never seen her fantasy man’s face before. But the build, the way he carried himself and the line of his jaw were identical.

“Who are you?” It was suddenly imperative that she find out his name and where he came from. She didn’t want him to disappear and have no way of finding him again, which was crazy, all things considered. “And why are you out in the middle of the bayou?”

“I could ask you the same questions.” He crossed his arms over his chest, making his biceps swell and ripple. The guy was built like a brick wall, hard and thick all over.

A blast of heat settled low in her belly as she imagined another part of his anatomy being hard and thick. Her pussy clenched and she barely bit back a low moan.

The stranger sniffed the air and his frowned eased, the corners of his mouth turning slightly upward. It wasn’t quite a smile, but she knew he was pleased by something. He didn’t keep her in suspense long.

“You want me.” It wasn’t a question.

Sabrina took a step back. “What?” Her voice was more of a loud squeaking sound then the authoritative tone she was going for. Whatever she’d expected him to say, it wasn’t that.

He took a step closer and sniffed again. “I can smell your desire, your heat.”

He couldn’t. Could he? No, it was impossible. He was just messing with her. “Tell yourself whatever you want. I’m out of here.” She needed to get to Granny’s house. The urge to go there was getting stronger and more compelling. She couldn’t shake the idea she needed to be there to be safe.

But safe from what? The stranger or whatever else was out here lurking in the woods. She wished the wolf was still here to protect her, but she was on her own.

The man was behind her before she sensed him moving. Damn, he was fast. He swept his arms around her, locking her arms by her sides and her back against his broad chest. He buried his face against her hair and inhaled.

Embarrassment warred with fear as she struggled to get free. Sweat had her clothing plastered to her body and she knew she didn’t smell the freshest. Which should be a good thing, as it would discourage him from holding her for long.

“Let me go.” She wasn’t fighting him, not yet, which didn’t make any sense at all. For some stupid reason she didn’t feel physically threatened by him.

“No.” He said nothing else, but he began to move his hands against her stomach, drifting upward to cup her breasts. A low moan of pleasure escaped her as he brushed his thumbs over her nipples through the fabric of her top and bra. “You are lying to yourself and to me. You want me.”

“Yeah, so what. I don’t have sex with every guy I’m attracted to.” Although she’d never been quite as drawn to any man like she was to this stranger.

He tightened his hands around the soft mounds and his entire body stiffened. Oh, he hadn’t liked her last statement at all.

“I am not just any man.” His breath tickled her ear as he whispered the words in them.

“Who are you?” she asked again, desperately needing to know.

“Arand.” He traced his tongue over the delicate whorl of her ear. Her skin tingled and her pussy clenched with growing need.

“I’m Sabrina,” she offered.

“Sabrina,” he repeated. Her name sounded different when he said it, more exotic. His hand left her breast to trail down her ribcage, over her stomach to the notch between her thighs. She sucked in a breath, knowing she shouldn’t let him do this, knowing it was a mistake, but doing it anyway.

“We have to stop.” There, she’d said it. Now if she could only make her actions suit her words. Instead, she found herself leaning into his touch, wanting more of it. Something hard and thick pressed against her lower back, and she knew he was more than a little aroused.

“No.” Arand was turning out to be a man of few words, more a man of action.

Gathering all her strength, she pulled away and was partly disappointed when he let her go. She turned and studied him, but his expression gave away nothing. She couldn’t tell if he was disappointed she’d made him stop or if he truly didn’t care. She glanced lower. His erection was still prominent. Whatever else he was thinking, he definitely wanted her.

He cocked his head to one side and the corners of his mouth turned down.

“What is it?” she asked. His tension was palpable and she feared whatever the wolf had chased off was coming back.

“Something…” As his voice trailed off, he turned away from her to study the thick trees and vegetation.

Sabrina gasped when she caught her first glimpse of his back. It wasn’t bare like his chest but covered in a colorful tattoo. A tattoo that was more than a little familiar. It was incredibly similar to the one that was centered in the middle of her back, except her tattoo wasn’t quite as primal and ferocious as his. The large black and gray wolf snarled back at her, his back haunches low as he readied himself to attack.

Arand whirled around at the first sound she made, swiveling his head from side-to-side. He raised his head and sniffed the air, his actions reminding her of the wolf she’d encountered earlier. The wolf that looked eerily similar to his tattoo.

She stiffened. What the hell was going on?

“What is it?” he demanded.

She heard it then, a voice demanding attention. It distracted her, and the bayou and the man began to fade. A wolf howled and in the far distance something else growled, something dark and menacing. A blast of fear struck her hard and fast.

“Sabrina.”

She jerked her eyes open and found Jessica staring at her, worry in her eyes. “You fell asleep. The café is closing.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Sabrina rubbed her hand over her face, giving herself time to try to get her bearings. Had she fallen asleep? She wasn’t sure. It had felt so real. A woodsy, masculine scent clung to her skin, making her frown. It was a dream. It had to be. There was no way it could be real. A cool breezed skated over her skin and she shivered.

“You okay?” Jessica asked. “You look pale.” She bit her bottom lip, pausing for a moment before adding. “And scared. You had another dream, didn’t you?”

Tilly joined them and pointed at the card that had fallen out of the tarot deck and onto the table. Sabrina hadn’t realized she was still clutching the cards tight in her hands. She set the deck aside and stared at the one card facing up. It was the devil. Usually, the card meant the person she was reading for was facing major decisions, having to face whatever devils they had plaguing them emotionally. But this time she didn’t think the card was meant figuratively but literally.

She’d feared to name the dark entity that had been stalking her dreams since her trip to Fargo, but she could no longer put her head in the sand and deny what she knew in her heart. She picked up the card and held it in front of her, staring at the image. Raising her head, she stared at her friends, reading the concern in their faces. “I’m in big trouble.”

Tilly swore. “This is bad. Very bad.”

Jessica was more practical. “We have a lot of work to do. Let’s get our stuff and get going.” She rubbed a comforting hand over Sabrina’s shoulders. “Everything will be okay,” she assured her, even though Sabrina knew her friend couldn’t make such promises.

Muttering under her breath about demons and protection, Tilly shooed the last of her staff out the door and finished closing down the café. Sabrina gathered her cards, stuffed them into her oversized purse and slung the bag over her shoulder. Jessica was waiting with a large bag in her arms, filled with whatever she thought they’d need for the night.