Ice Claimed (5 page)

“Sorry. I…oh god…I shouldn’t have…” Meadow couldn’t form a
coherent thought to save her life.

Durlach closed what little space remained between them.
“Shouldn’t have what? Looked? I would have been disappointed if you hadn’t. In
fact, I’m glad you did because it gives me a good excuse to do this.”

He took hold of her upper arms and lowered his head until
their lips met. A jolt of sharp desire surged through Meadow as Durlach kissed
her. She lifted her hands and placed them on his sides. His skin was smooth and
warm beneath her fingers. She returned the kiss as her body burned for his.

Their meeting of the lips became more passionate as Durlach
pushed his tongue into Meadow’s mouth, stroking hers with his. She moaned as
she skimmed her hands around to his back while she got lost in his embrace.

Durlach held her tighter, nibbled, licked and sucked,
ramping up the desire that already heated her body to boiling point. His hard
cock was trapped between their bodies. Meadow rubbed against it, her pussy
clutching on nothing. She no longer hungered for the food Durlach was going to
make. Her appetite had changed to the man who held her and kissed her as if he
couldn’t take his next breath without her.

She moaned again. That little noise was enough to have
Durlach backing her up against the nearest wall. Meadow raised her arms to
clutch his shoulders. He shoved his hands under her shirt, caressing her belly
before lifting to cup her breasts. His thumbs grazed her taut nipples through
her bra.

Durlach left her mouth and nibbled the side of her neck. “I
think you have too many clothes on compared to me. I need to take some off you
to make it fair.”

He grabbed the bottom of her shirt, then pulled it up over
her head and off. His head dipped and he swiped his tongue along the top of her
breasts. Meadow sucked in a breath. Durlach was moving fast, but it felt too
good to stop him. Her body in no way wanted her to slow things down, giving her
a resounding “hell no” just at the thought of it.

Her bra soon landed on the kitchen floor with her shirt.
Meadow could only hold on to him as Durlach once again bent his head. This time
he sucked a nipple between his lips. The wetness between her legs increased,
and the ache deep inside her pussy throbbed at a tempo she couldn’t ignore. He
switched to her other breast, and she thrust her hips toward him.

Durlach groaned as he released her nipple and returned to
nuzzling the side of her neck before dropping his hands to the waistband of her
jeans. With nimble fingers, he undid the button and zipper, then shoved a hand
down the front, caressing her pussy through her panties. Meadow pressed her
chest closer to his, her taut nipples rubbing against the hard planes of
muscle.

“I know I should be cooking our dinner, but I’m not going to
be able to concentrate until I’ve given you pleasure,” Durlach said against her
skin. “Will you let me?”

“The food can wait,” she replied on a gasp as Durlach’s
fingers stroked a particularly sensitive spot. “Pleasure first, then we can
eat.”

“Good.”

Durlach lifted his head but kept his eyes downcast while he
worked on freeing Meadow of her jeans. Once they lay in a pile on the floor, he
sank to his knees in front of her. He left a trail of kisses across her lower
belly and tugged her panties down her legs. After she stepped out of them, he
ran his hands back up her inner thighs, nudging her to spread them open a
little wider.

Meadow almost went on tiptoe as Durlach ran a finger along
her wet pussy before he replaced the digit with his mouth and tongue. He gave
her long, wet strokes, taking the time to circle her clit with each pass. She
moaned, her hands pressed flat on the wall at her sides. The knowledge that she
stood naked in her kitchen while she allowed a man, who she was on a first date
with, to eat her out flitted through her mind. But at the moment, all that
mattered was that Durlach continue what he was doing. There was no room for
embarrassment. Only pure pleasure.

Her orgasm inched closer to the surface once Durlach pushed
a finger and then a second into her pussy. His talented tongue continued to
stimulate her clit as he plunged the two digits in and out. Meadow squeezed her
inner walls around them, heightening the sensations she felt. No longer able to
hold still, she thrust her hips to match the pace he set.

Durlach worked her faster. He seemed to know exactly where
to stroke and lick to have her panting with need. After that, it didn’t take
much to have her whimpering his name while her body shattered into a million
pieces in climax. He didn’t stop sucking on her clit until the last wave hit
her, her moans increasing in volume with each contraction of her inner muscles.

Her body weak, Meadow watched Durlach rise to his full
height. He avoided looking her in the eyes as his gaze roamed her body. She
peered down to see the head of his cock peeked out of the waistband of his
underwear. She reached out and tugged the front of them down until she sprang
his shaft. He was thick and hard. She took him into her hand and pumped it up
and down.

The sound of the back door crashing open just before Taylor
came barreling into the room, looking as if he was ready to do battle with
someone, had Meadow’s head jerking toward the noise.

“Meadow, I heard your cries and…” Taylor’s words trailed
away as his gaze landed on her.

She let out a squawk and tried to cover her nakedness with
her arms. Durlach let out an animalistic-sounding growl and shifted to stand in
front of her with his back to her, shielding her from Taylor’s view.

“Get out,” Durlach said in a voice that still held a hint of
a growl.

Taylor didn’t seem intimidated in the least. “Back down,
wolf boy.” He then looked around Durlach at Meadow. “Are you okay? I know
you’re…you know, but if he did something you didn’t want I have no problem
throwing him out.”

Meadow pressed herself against Durlach’s back and leaned out
a little to see Taylor. “Ah no, I don’t need you to throw Durlach out. The only
person I want that happening to is you. Durlach did everything I wanted. Sorry
if I got too loud. I didn’t think I was, though.”

Taylor’s face reddened. “I would never have barged in here
if you’d been with anyone else but him.” He glared at Durlach. “I don’t trust
his kind.”

She’d had about enough of Taylor’s he-man, beating-his-chest
antics. His interruption couldn’t have come at a worse time. She’d had her hand
on the object she’d craved the most at that moment in time. Now the mood had
been broken thanks to the man who stood a short distance away.

“I have no idea what you mean by ‘his kind’, but I’m only
going to tell you once nicely before I’ll let Durlach handle you. Please leave,
Taylor. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“I can stay just outside.”

“Taylor!” she snapped. “Out. And go do something away from
the house.”

He nodded, then walked through the still-open back door.
Once he closed it behind him, Meadow let out a sigh of relief and leaned her
forehead against Durlach’s back. “Sorry about that,” she said. “I never
expected Taylor to do anything like that.”

Durlach turned to face her. “It’s okay.” He smiled. “Next
time we’ll have to remember to lock the doors.”

She chuckled. “I guess so. He was a good mood wrecker.”

“At least I got to make you come first,” Durlach said with a
smile. “I should start cooking. And I should probably call someone at my place
to bring me over some more clothes.”

“Oh god, I forgot about your clothes. They’re probably
stained for sure now.”

“It’s all right. You get dressed and I’ll make my phone
call.”

Meadow watched Durlach pull up the front of his boxer-briefs
before he went to his jeans and fished out his cell phone. As he made his call,
she quickly dressed. She and Taylor were going to have a little chat tomorrow.
She would obviously have to set some boundaries when it came to Durlach, and
Taylor would have to abide by them.

Chapter Five

Durlach ended up calling Ryder since the shaman would know
where to find Durlach’s clothes in their room. Ryder also wouldn’t ask a bunch
of questions as to why Durlach needed to change. As predicted, the shaman told
him he’d be over in a little while, then ended their conversation.

He turned his gaze on to Meadow and saw she was already
dressed. Durlach sighed inside. Taylor had ruined a perfectly good moment. If
the other man kept doing that, Durlach would end up with blue balls. Not that
having Meadow give him a hand job until he came would have done much about his
mating urge riding him. It wouldn’t stop until he’d claimed her fully as his
mate, but even though it would have made it ride him harder, he had wanted
Meadow to bring him to release.

“Is one of your friends going to bring you some clothes?”
she asked.

“Yeah. Ryder will be over shortly. We share a room so he
knows where to find what I need.”

“Good. I have to apologize for Taylor again. Because of him
you didn’t,” she glanced pointedly at his crotch, “get to finish.”

Durlach had basically lost his erection after Taylor had
come running into the room. “It’s okay. There’s always another time.”

“I’m glad you can be so calm about it. If it had been me, I
would have been really pissed.”

He closed the distance between them and put his arms around
her waist. “I would have been if there would never be another opportunity to
have your hands on me again. I intend to have you naked and in my arms in the
very near future. If you’ll let me, that is.”

Meadow smiled. “Oh, I don’t think you’d have to use much
persuasion to get me to agree to that.”

“Hmm, then maybe that can be our after-dinner treat.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

Durlach bent his head, his lips just hovering above
Meadow’s, when the doorbell rang. He straightened. “That must be Ryder. It
seems as if everyone has bad timing today.”

Meadow chuckled and stepped out of his embrace. “Usually
it’s pretty quiet around here. I’ll go let him in.”

It didn’t take Meadow very long to lead Ryder into the
kitchen. The shaman didn’t so much as blink at Durlach’s state of undress. He
held out the bag of clothes he carried and said, “Here’s a change of jeans and a
t-shirt. Do you want me to take the dirty things home with me?”

Meadow spoke before Durlach did. “That’s okay, Ryder. I’m
going to throw them in the wash right now.” She gathered up the dirty clothes,
then left the room. Durlach heard her taking a set of stairs down to the lower
level.

“Thanks,” Durlach told Ryder. He quickly pulled on the clean
clothes.

“No problem. Your mate seems very nice, though I’m not too
sure about the guy hanging out by the stable.”

“That’s Taylor. He works and lives here.” Durlach lowered
his voice. “Somehow he knows about me being a werewolf, and doesn’t like the
fact that I am. He’s already tried to warn me away from Meadow. Also there is
something different about him. His scent smells close to a mortal’s but it’s
not exactly the same.”

“Does he seem like a real threat?”

“No. I get the feeling he’s just worried I’ll harm my mate
in some way, which I already told him was impossible.”

“I didn’t sense any dark magic around him so he’s not
connected to the dark wolves in any way.”

“I knew it wasn’t that which made his scent different. I’ll
have to watch him.”

Meadow came back into the kitchen. “Your clothes are now in
the washer.”

“Thanks,” Durlach said. He turned his attention on to Ryder.
“I guess I’ll see you later tonight.”

Ryder nodded, then smiled at Meadow. “I can take that as a
hint to get lost. It was nice meeting you, Meadow.” He left the kitchen. A few
seconds later, Durlach heard the front door closing.

“I better get back to cooking before it gets too late.”

“Do you need some help?” Meadow asked.

“No. Now that the wine is open you can pour us each a
glass.”

She chuckled. “And I promise not to spill any more of it on
you.”

Durlach gave her a quick kiss before he walked over to the
counter, then chopped more of the vegetables he’d left on the cutting board.
That task completed he set to work on preparing the meat. On his way to the
stove to turn the heat on under the frying pan he’d set there, he looked out
the window. It faced the back of the house, giving a good view of the yard and
stable. He paused when he saw Taylor was indeed standing outside that building,
facing the house. He met the other man’s gaze through the window, not letting
Taylor think his intimidation tactics worked. Taylor was the first to look
away.

Meadow came to stand next to Durlach after he returned to
the counter and handed him his wine. He took a sip, then placed the glass next
to the cutting board. After that, he really got down to the business of cooking
their meal. As always when he worked in the kitchen, a sense of peace washed
over him. It also made him think of what his life had been like during the ice
age. They had counted themselves lucky to have meat to eat. In this modern
world there was no threat of starvation if you weren’t able to go out and hunt.

Once everything was finished, Durlach dished up the food and
took two plates to the table where Meadow sat. He placed one in front of her.
“I hope you like it.”

She took a deep breath. “It smells really good. You’ve put
me to shame. Next time I’m on a dig I should hire you as my personal chef and
you can come along and cook for me.”

“I wouldn’t mind that.”

Durlach watched Meadow pick up her fork and put some of the
steak into her mouth. He took a mouthful as well. He had to smile as she made
noises of appreciation.

“God, that’s delicious,” she said after she swallowed. “Your
friend’s wife must be a great teacher. You can cook for me any day.”

Once Durlach claimed Meadow for his mate he’d cook for her
all the time. “I’m glad you like it. And I would love to make another meal for
you again. Because of my friend’s wife Jaren being a trained chef, I don’t get
to do most of the cooking at home. She’s basically claimed the kitchen as
hers.”

“Well, when you make dinner for me again you can claim mine
as yours. I don’t use it nearly enough.”

After they finished eating, and Durlach had helped Meadow
clear away the dishes, they sat in the living room. They also took their
wineglasses and the rest of the wine with them. He settled on the couch next to
her, his gaze following her movements as she picked up the remote to the TV and
switched it on.

Meadow channel surfed until she found a station she wanted.
She drained what was left of the wine in her glass before she placed it on the
coffee table. Much to Durlach’s surprise, she took his from him and put it with
hers before she climbed onto his lap, straddling his hips, facing him.

She smiled as she tucked some of his long hair behind his
ear. “I think it’s time for the dessert you wanted. Since I had mine before the
main course, this will be all yours.”

Durlach looked at Meadow, a low, growling groan rumbled out
of him. She’d positioned herself so her jean-clad pussy was right overtop his
cock, which instantly came back to life.

“I made dinner for both of us,” he said with a husky voice.
“Shouldn’t then dessert be for the two of us as well?”

“Not for this meal. This is also my way of complimenting the
chef.”

“If you insist I won’t stop you.”

“Wise decision.”

Durlach let Meadow have the control as she lowered her mouth
to his. She nibbled his lips until he opened for her. She thoroughly tasted
him, her tongue stroking and exploring. He held on to her hips and ground
himself against her. His erection throbbed in time with his rapid pulse. Being
with his mate fired his blood like no other ever could. She pushed down on him,
making him ache to be inside her, but he wouldn’t lose control. She needed time
to get to know him before he took that big step to join their souls.

He hungrily returned her kiss. As his arousal increased he
knew his eyes had to have taken on a muted glow, something they did when he was
really turned-on or very angry. Durlach closed them to a mere crack to keep the
change hidden from Meadow. She didn’t need to see them like this just yet.

She left his mouth and nipped his chin as she lifted the
front of his t-shirt. Meadow shifted on his lap, then bent to place a trail of
kisses across his chest. She worked her way lower, sliding down his legs until
she kneeled on the floor in front of him. Her hands went to the fasteners of
his jeans and undid them. A few tugs, and with his help, she had his pants and
underwear down past his hips.

Durlach’s breath caught in his lungs as Meadow focused her
attention on his jutting cock. She reached out with a finger, stroked up his
length and circled the head, rubbing the pre-cum she found there into his skin.
He forced himself to remain still, to not try to make her go faster.

“I think I’m really going to enjoy my dessert,” Meadow said,
her gaze still locked on to his dick.

“I’m glad because I can’t exactly make a better one.”

“No worries. This is just perfect.”

Meadow bent her head and dragged the flat of her tongue from
base to tip, moaning at the same time. That small sound vibrated against his
skin and his cock jerked in response. She took a firm hold of his shaft and
licked away all the pre-cum that had leaked from the head. A growl of pleasure
punched out of him before he could stop it. She didn’t seem to notice.

After that, Durlach lost the ability to think beyond what
Meadow did to him. She opened her mouth and took his cock inside, her head
bobbing as she slid him in and out. She sucked hard, her tongue sweeping the
sensitive spot under the flared head. His eyes open a crack, he watched his
mate pleasure him. His breathing became heavy and his shaft hardened even more.

Meadow took him almost to the back of her throat. She
stroked what she couldn’t manage with her hand. She was driving him crazy with
desire. And he liked it. He lifted his hips off the couch, fucking her mouth.
His balls rose closer to his body as his orgasm edged nearer.

“I’m going to come,” he gasped, his hands fisted at his
sides.

She didn’t pull away. Meadow just sucked harder, taking him
in and out faster. His point of no return rushed up to meet him. Durlach kept
thrusting, moaning and growling while waves of pleasure tore through him. His
cock pulsed, and his mate took everything until she’d drained the last drop out
of him.

Meadow released him and pumped her hand up him once. “You’re
still hard. Even after coming.”

Durlach took her hand off his cock and tugged her up and
toward him so she landed against his chest. “That’s normal for me.”

“Really? Well, it isn’t for most guys.”

“Then I’m gifted compared to them.”

Meadow laughed. “I have to agree with that.”

He put his arms around her and shifted her so he could reach
her mouth. He brushed his lips across hers. “I don’t think we’re done yet. I
still have to pleasure you.” The scent of Meadow’s arousal wafted around them.

She pressed a hard kiss to his lips, then slid off him to
sit on the couch beside him. “No, you don’t. That was enough fun for today. I
don’t sleep with men on the first date. If we were to continue doing what we’re
doing, that’s where we would be headed.”

“Fair enough.” Durlach lifted his hips off the cushion and
pulled up his underwear and jeans before he did them up. Once he finished he
continued. “I want to see you again so I’ll play by your rules.”

Meadow smiled. “I definitely want to see you again as well.”
She stood. “I’d better go switch your clothes to the dryer before I forget to
do it.”

Durlach followed Meadow with his gaze as she turned and left
the room. Having her make him come with her mouth had increased his mating urge
as he’d known it would. It dug its claws a little deeper into him but it wasn’t
ruling him.

He shifted to a more comfortable sitting position to wait
for Meadow’s return. He was happy with the progress he’d made toward making her
his mate. Having her in his arms showed him how much he’d been missing. He felt
more complete now that he’d found her. Already he was falling in love with her.
The quickness of it wasn’t out of the ordinary. At least it wasn’t for werewolf
kind. If it hadn’t been possible Meadow would never have set off his mating
urge. Now he had to convince her to see how perfect they were together and get
her to accept an eternity with him.

* * * * *

Tanner had brought back a couple of male mortals when he’d
returned to his small pack. Andre had deemed them not suitable for turning but
had found them perfect for playthings. Even now Tanner heard their cries of
pain echoing through the building. They would also keep his maker busy for
hours, which gave him the opportunity to do a little research into things Andre
probably wouldn’t want Tanner learning about. The other few members of their
pack were off huddled in another room, probably afraid their maker would turn
his sights on them next.

He headed for the room where Andre did most of his spells
and made his potions. His maker had opened up about himself a little to Tanner
over the last couple of years. Tanner knew Andre had been an ordinary werewolf
before he’d found an ancient text on using dark magic. The first spell he’d
ever done was when he’d turned himself into the first dark wolf, the pack leader.

Tanner needed to learn that spell. He wanted what Andre had,
if not more. It was the only way he could think of getting out from under his
maker’s control. He also needed to see if there was a way to reverse it. As
long as Andre had his powers there was always the threat he’d pull his dark
magic out of Tanner and end his existence. And that would not do at all.