Let the Wild Out (3 page)

Rachel huddled naked in Elvie’s cabin for nearly twenty
minutes, listening to the forest outside, before finally trusting it was safe
to move about. The home was decorated like any self-respecting hunting lodge,
minus the animal carcasses hanging above the mantel. Dark browns, reds and
forest greens offset the medium brown of the log walls. The cabin had
everything a person might need—a generator and well, guns and knives, food
stuffs and furnishings, more liquor than twenty shifters could drink in a
lifetime. Rachel suspected there had been a moonshine still on the land at one
time.

Narrowing her eyes, she scanned the surrounding landscape
from the doorway before hurrying to the generator to turn it on. Shifters would
avoid an occupied house in the forest for fear of hunters, and in their
unshifted forms she’d just be another hard-ass homemaker with a rifle. So long
as she didn’t let them get too close, other shifters wouldn’t detect her recent
transformation.

Once the generator was running, she went back inside, locked
the doors and took down a rifle from over the mantel place to make sure it was
loaded. Since she was already naked and incredibly dirty from her run through
the woods, she hopped into the shower. The generator hadn’t been on for long,
and the well water was still freezing cold. She didn’t linger.

Is that you, baby?
Rachel
smiled at the memory of her aunt’s voice. She could still hear the exact tone
of it.
When did you get home?

“Long before you flew your way into bed, Elv,” Rachel
whispered to her reflection in the mirror. Then, breathing deeply, she imagined
she could still smell her aunt’s perfume.

That is a shame, baby. You should be in
the forest having fun. Let the wild out. It is in your blood.

Rachel brushed her hair and made her way to her old room to
find something to wear. Then, falling onto the bed that had cradled so much of
her teenage angst, she sighed heavily. Her thoughts turned to the shifter in
the woods. A wolf. She’d never met another wolf shifter. In fact, she’d been
sure she was one of the very few living in the Unites States. Most of the
“power animals”, as they were called, migrated to the homeland for they were
valued for their strong shifter genetics and were treated like kings in the old
country. For all her aunt’s guidance in taking multiple lovers, letting the wild
out, and the benefits of sleeping with the local law enforcement in exchange
for favors, Elvie had given Rachel one piece of very valuable advice—hide the
wolf from the others. If they knew, they’d take her to the European court where
she would be encouraged none-too-gently to mate with another powerful shifter.

But more than a wolf, the male shifter was a handsome man.
Her breathing deepened. Perhaps her suppressed wild had finally grown tired of
being chained up. The recent shift didn’t help. First, there was the chief who
followed her to the coffee shop the week before. Okay, so she’d barely looked him
in the face, but she remembered those strong hands, tapering fingers. In her
fantasies, she could be with him in a way her reality would never permit. She
hadn’t been back to that part of town since. In fact, it’s why she found
herself in the forest. She was hiding out until she was sure he’d moved on. Now
there was the wolf man—naked and primal, everything a royal chief was not. Had
she shifted into human before the wolf man, she had no doubt he would have
lunged for her.

Her stomach tightened. Thoughts of being taken on her hands
and knees pranced through her brain. The forest had been both open and isolated
at the same time. Wolf man’s naked state left nothing to the imagination, from
his strong limbs to his thick chest to his unmistakable arousal. There was no
doubt what kind of lover he’d be. In fact, she’d bet he’d take her so hard
she’d end up howling in pleasure. The shifter in her grinned wickedly at the
thought. The human in her wasn’t so sure. The few lovers she had in her life
were never other shifters.

And what about the Duncanis chief? She heard tales of his
prowess, mostly from Elvie who talked about their leader like he was some rock
star. Elvie said he shifted into the form of a black panther. Apparently, he was
graceful in bed, enjoying the chase and first conquest before moving on. Whereas
the wolf man would take a woman on the forest floor like a beast, the chief
would be the kind of guy who would prefer a lush penthouse and silken sheets.
Both fantasies held great appeal.

The longing she felt caused her to hit her stomach in an
effort to stop it. She pushed her thighs closely together, trying to will the
sensations away. It didn’t work. If anything, the sensations became worse until
every subtle movement felt like a caress. How could she resist two prime
fantasies?

Rachel squirmed on the bed. Her breathing deepened. Images
of a silken penthouse flipped back and forth with the image of the forest.
Before she realized what she was doing, her hands were on her breasts,
massaging them. Her hand dipped down, inching lower across her stomach.

William felt as if his insides were set on fire. He was already
aroused from the chase, and the strange sexual energy surrounding the isolated,
lodge-style cabin in the woods didn’t help him control the animal instincts. He
stepped from the forest, completely dressed in his previously discarded
clothes—knee-length shorts, a T-shirt, and running shoes.

Though some of the outside plants were overgrown, the home
had a wild beauty to it. Looking at the surrounding view, he could see the
appeal, especially for his kind. Well traveled paths encircled the place,
leading off to the generator shed and other outbuildings. It was the soft sound
of the running generator that drew his attention to the home’s location.

Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply. His flesh tingled.
This was a place of power, probably made so by generations of shifters living
on the land, working the old natural magic—protection spells and the harnessing
of primal sexual energy. The protection spells kept him from determining
exactly where the other wolf had run off to.

On the doorframe, old carvings marked the place as a
sanctuary. It wasn’t surprising, considering his old maps marked the entire
mountain as shifter safe. Without hesitation, he knocked loudly and focused his
hearing.

A faint gasp was followed by the sound of something falling.
He turned his attention up to the second level. Somewhere above, a woman
whispered, “Ah shit, what the—? Ow, damn it.” Another thud sounded.

William chuckled. Seconds later, footsteps were running down
stairs. By the time the door opened, he was grinning, truly curious as to what
would be on the other side.

Flush-cheeked and out of breath stood the woman whose
picture Douglas had sent to him. Her hair looked as if it had been wet, only to
curl around her temples as it dried. Wide, green eyes studied him, more stunned
than welcoming. She didn’t move to let him in.

“Sanctuary,” he said, though it was clear he wasn’t running
from anyone. He shifted his weight to the side.

“What?” She furrowed her brows. She had the cutest American
accent. So very puritanical.

“Sanctuary.” This time he pointed at the doorframe.

The woman blinked slowly and then leaned out of the door to
look at where he indicated. “Is that what that means? My aunt said it meant…”
She made a weak noise, her cheeks coloring. “Never mind. How can I help you?”

“You can start by inviting me in for the night.”

“Excuse me?” She began to reach for the door, clearly intent
on slamming it shut. He slid his foot forward, blocking it. She lifted her hand
to her side, revealing a rifle as she pulled the barrel in front of her.

“I take it your aunt hasn’t told you about shifter law.”

“Shifter?” The woman arched a brow, pretending not to
understand him.

He chuckled. “I smell a recent shift on you.” When the body
morphed, there was a subtle universal scent that lingered to help shifters
recognize each other. When she didn’t point the gun directly at him, he leaned
closer. “That’s not all I smell on you.”

Her breathing visibly deepened.

“I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” William inhaled
deeply, letting his eyes shift with silver. His tone lowered, as the beast
inside of him grew interested. Her flesh was clean, scented with a floral soap,
but he detected the subtle fragrance of sexual awareness. At his nearness, the
scent grew, as if inviting him in. His cock, already aching, nearly pulsed with
need.

“N-no,” she stammered.

William lifted his hand to the carved doorframe, caressing it
slowly. “This means this home is sanctuary to all shifters who would ask for
it. You cannot deny me,” his eyes moved down over her body, “entrance.”

Her fingers loosened on the gun and he reached to take it
from her. His eyes stayed fixed on her. He set the gun aside and stepped into
the home. It had been a long time since he’d taken a woman, since before his
ascension. Now, too many eyes were on him, wanting something from him, watching
him. This woman didn’t know who he was. He found her lack of knowledge aroused
him more. The pheromones were powerful between them. How could she resist them?
How could he?

He listened to the house. They were alone. He let a smile
creep over his features. “Was that you in the woods?”

“Woods?” she asked before shaking her head in denial.

Pity,
he thought. He would have
liked to meet the wolf woman.
Oh well, you will do, pretty one.

“There are people…” She made a move to gesture behind her.

“No. There is no one.” He lowered his jaw. The sweet smell
of her body let him know she was wet. The predator in him liked the game she
played.

“There will be,” she insisted. He let her have the lie. “So,
you see, there are no extra rooms. However, there’s a town about fifteen miles
west of here. You look well enough to jog the distance.”

He reached for her, touching her hair. “I’ll stay in your
room.”

“Oh?” she breathed.

He wasn’t sure if the look she gave him was interest or
embarrassment. William could only assume it was interest. He’d never met a
shifter embarrassed about sex. “I smell you.”

“I showered.” Her chest rose and fell.

“I smell your wet sex.”

“I…ah, shower—um.” She blinked, glancing back and forth as
if she might run. “I mean, I…you…no.”

“I, you, no?” He licked his lips. The sound of her breath
punctuated each second. “I, you, yes.”

“Yes?” Her lids fell lazily over her eyes and she leaned
into him, as if finally giving in to her desires. She breathed in his scent,
her shoulders lifting.

“Oh yes.” He nodded in agreement.

William slipped his hand behind her head to hold her in
place as he leaned over to kiss her. She didn’t instantly attack him, but
instead let her lips part as if she was unsure what to do. He took the hesitant
invitation by letting his tongue glide between her lips, forcing them to open
wider. Light moans escaped her, but William knew how to kiss a woman into
complete submission, and soon she was moving against him. He drew his tongue
into her mouth, rubbing it gently. Their bodies were drawn towards each other,
as if by an unstoppable force.

Soft breasts pressed into his chest. He ran his hands down
her back to cup her ass. Massaging hard, he pulled her flush to his cock. The
second he rubbed his erection against her, she let loose a small gasp of
surprise. The woman pulled at his clothes, forcing him to be rid of his shirt.
She drew her mouth to his neck, biting and kissing him as she explored his
chest with her hands. She seemed fascinated by the muscles, eagerly tracing each
one.

William growled. He ripped at her clothing, letting his
nails sharpen into claws so he could tear through the material. A lacy, pink
bra cupped her breasts. He groaned, seeing it beneath the wisps of torn fabric.

Letting go of her, he pushed the shorts from his hips. The
woman stepped back, blinking hard. She stared at his cock and slowly lifted her
hand as if to keep him away. “I can’t…we shouldn’t.”

“You were doing just fine,” he assured her. William wasn’t
sure how he’d stop himself, but he would if she commanded it. He kept his
movements slow as he inched closer. If she ran away, the animal in him would
want to chase. “Let us find pleasure.”

“I…but…” She again glanced down at his erection.

He refused to take himself in hand as she stared. Instead,
he pushed his hips forward so his arousal jutted towards her. “Feel me. Then
decide if you want me inside you.”

She turned her hand, reaching for him. He smiled. Her finger
pushed to the tip of his cock, and his whole body shivered in response.

“Ah, you are a magnificent tease,” he groaned, closing his
eyes. “If you tell me to stop, I will stop.” He again opened them as her hand
slid more fully onto his shaft. “Don’t tell me to stop.”

To his disappointment, she didn’t speak. He wanted to hear
her say she wanted him. What man wouldn’t like to hear such a thing from a
beautiful woman? Instead, she was silent but for the gentle rise and fall of
her soft breathing.