Trust: A Twisted Wolf Tale (8 page)

That kiss…

The kiss that seemed to change everything between us continued to fill my mind with hope and a newfound infatuation with Karoline.

My
Karoline.

Even though our lips hadn’t pressed together since that day, we were still thicker than thieves, eating our meals together and continuing to devour her library one amazing book at a time. She even took me out to her rose garden, where we were able to read and talk in peace. It was paradise. I even went as far as trying to talk her into publishing her books, to which she adamantly refused, saying no one wanted to read stories written by a beast.

But a few days after that magical moment that altered my existence, she demanded to be alone, allowing me to take my book downstairs so I could stay out of her hair. We’d come so far, so the fact she was pushing me away yet again was rather disheartening. I’d be crushed if we had to start building our trust in each other all over again.

I couldn’t help but sulk as I started a fire in the living room downstairs and settled into one of the plush chairs with my book in hand. It didn’t matter that the room was completely silent and I had no distractions to speak of, I still couldn’t seem to concentrate, my mind continually wandering to the enigmatic creature above me.

Placing the book on my chest, I hefted my leg up over the arm of the chair and settled in, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought.

What had I done to push her away? Did she finally realize how close we were becoming? Did it scare her to think someone could actually care for her?

I couldn’t help but compare the situation to the protagonists in her manuscript. A disfigured woman unwilling to perceive her own inner beauty, and an infatuated prince trying his all to prove to her he truly loved her.

My consciousness drifted along with my thoughts, and before I knew it, I was staring at my eyelids.

A loud thud startled me awake, my heart leaping from my chest before my body could catch up. Bolting upright, my book hit the floor as I gripped the arms of the chair and stared into the smoldering ashes of the fire. Not bothering to stoke it, I watched the glistening embers glow beneath the gray wood and tried to get a grip on myself. My pulse still thrummed through every nerve ending in my body as I tried to assess what had woken me.

It didn’t take long before another thud rung out over my head, followed by a loud scream. These noises were much, much louder than any I’d heard coming from her room in my previous nights under her roof.

“Karoline!” I hollered, jumping up from my perch and sporting a full-on sprint to the stairs. Reaching the bottom step, I looked up to the top and contemplated what she’d said mere hours before. She didn’t want me around.

Didn’t want me.

Another loud scream and several growls had me climbing the steps two at a time to reach her. Fuck the fact that she didn’t want me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to sit around and listen to her scream like she was in severe pain.

The house grew eerily quiet as I scaled the last few steps, halting me at the top, unsure of what to do next. I had to check on her, even if it meant making her angry. Those screams weren’t out of a fit of anger—she sounded truly injured.

My hand hovered over the knob to her bedroom door, doubt seeping into my mind. What would I find? If she were hurt, how would I seek help?

Readjusting my man card, I steeled my nerves and twisted the cool metal, the door clicking open on demand.

The room was dark, except for the bright illumination of the full moon through the windows. Feathers from one of the pillows littered almost every surface of the room, yet there was no sign of Karoline anywhere.

With cautious movements, I slowly stepped through the door, my eyes adjusting to the dim, moonlit space and searching for anything else out of the ordinary. A stack of books was toppled over in a corner, but not much else was displaced.

Then I saw it.

Several deep claw marks littered the top of her desk, the rose she had there now on the floor, its vase shattered into pieces. The gashes in the wooden desktop looked desperate—a plea of some sort—like she was being dragged away from her sanctuary and needed to hold on for dear life.

Something was up, but the more the silence grew, the more I became aware of my surroundings.

Picking up the rose, my gaze swept across the room, searching the corners, sensing she was somewhere in the dark space. It didn’t take long for me to settle on a figure huddled in a dark corner, my eyes squinting to focus on who—or what—it could be.

“K—Karoline?” I called out tentatively, my voice quivering even though I willed myself to stay strong.

Spine straightening, the figure stepped out of the shadows and into the stream of moonlight coming through the nearest window.

Instead of Karoline, it was the woman from the photo I’d found in that desk—the one I dropped and broke. While it seemed like ages ago, I knew it was the woman pictured. I could tell.

She wore a long, white nightgown, the wrinkly texture in stark contrast to her soft, silky skin. While the texture seemed to be completely different, the color matched well, almost making it difficult to see where the gown ended and her skin began.

She was simply breathtaking.

“There’s an additional detail to the story I didn’t tell you a few days ago,” she said, her voice unmistakably familiar to…

“Karoline?” I said, a gasp leaving my lips at the realization the girl from the photo, and the girl who stood before me, was that of my beauty.

“Yes,” she affirmed, a smile playing on her feminine lips. She was the most breathtaking woman I had ever seen.

When I stepped toward her, she held her hand up, stopping me before I could say or do anything.

“Wait, Beau. Please listen.”

I nodded, my tongue completely tied at the fact it was Karoline—in human form—standing before me.

“The curse has one exception, a single night where I’m reminded of what I once had—of what I lost,” she explained, walking closer to me and taking one of my hands in hers. Her skin was so soft, so gentile, no claws marring every surface she touched. “Every full moon, I become this,” she said, one of her hands gesturing toward her body. “But it won’t last. By dawn, I’ll turn back into a beast.”

Without speaking, I lifted a hand to her cheek, settling the rose behind her ear like the photo and brushing my fingertips along her soft skin, all while looking deep into her eyes.

“There’s more,” she said, her gaze downcast as if she were embarrassed by this entire situation, which, honestly, was beyond her control. I just continued to look at her, silently begging for her to tell me everything. I craved the sound of her voice more than my next breath.

“Actually, it’s nothing,” she added, backing away from me and never looking into my eyes.

I didn’t dare let her go. Holding her tight, I cupped her chin with my fingers and forced her to look at me. “Tell me,” I pleaded.

“I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. This beautiful face you see staring back at you right now is only skin deep—it won’t last. It never does.” Her eyes were glazing over, emotions getting the best of her at her obvious affliction.

“I think you’re beautiful, full moon or not. You’re absolutely stunning in my eyes,” I said, never allowing her to rip her gaze from mine.

Before she could respond, an argument on the tip of her tongue, I leaned in and brushed a kiss to her lips ever so gently, hoping the small act would open her heart and let me in, even a little.

The feel of her responding, returning the kiss with fervor, told me it was working.

I cupped her face with both of my hands, holding onto her for dear life as I deepened the kiss, tasting her, feeling her. Our tongues entwined, tangling with each other like we were both dying of thirst and each held the last drop of water.

“Beau,” she whispered between pecks, gasping and bringing my attention to her beautiful, rosy lips. “Make love to me… while I’m in this form, please,” she added, practically begging.

Little did she know, she didn’t even have to ask. I’d already fallen for her, and I definitely planned to love her from here on out.

Never responding verbally, I picked her up and stared deep into her beautiful, hazel eyes as I carried her over to the bed. She smiled, knowing my answer didn’t need words, only action.

Feathers puffed up in the air when I tossed her on the bed. The mess didn’t faze me in the slightest as I stared down at her, the thin, white fabric barely hiding her body from my eyes. Kneeling next to the bed, I took my time feathering my fingers over the curves of her legs, inching my way up under her gown and pushing it up as I went.

I was amazed at the lack of hair on her body, the exact opposite of her normal state. Then it dawned on me that I really didn’t care. Yes, in this form, she was beyond gorgeous. But, she was always beautiful to me, fur or not. True beauty wasn’t reliant on physical features—that much I knew. And Karoline was a prime example of that fact.

Beauty on the inside meant so much more to me than what was on the outside.

Obviously, she became impatient with how slow I was moving, because she huffed out a frustrated breath and sat up, yanking the white fabric the rest of the way up and over her head, her blonde hair falling like golden waves around her shoulders and the rose coming dislodged from her ear. A sudden blush coated her milky white skin, her embarrassment so adorable and completely unwarranted. As if it were second nature, she wrapped her arms around her middle, her biceps covering her breasts and her eyes never meeting mine.

Tugging at her chin, I forced her to look at me, picking the rose up with my other hand, and said, “Please don’t hide.”

“Sorry,” she responded. “I’ve just been shielding myself for so long, the night of the full moon makes me feel utterly exposed. I’m used to hiding behind that fierce mask, never letting down my guard. So, all I ask is that you understand that it’ll just take me a minute to adjust.”

“Take your time, Karoline. We don’t have to do this. I love just being here with you.”

“No,” she yelped forcefully. “No, please. I want this. I want… I want you.” Clawing at my shirt, she brought me forward, her lips landing hard against mine. Like a hungry tiger, she pawed at the fabric covering my back and only broke from my lips to lift it from my head, exposing my chest to her for the first time.

Still devouring each other with thirsty, passionate kisses, Karoline ran her fingers through the hair on my chest, causing a low growl to rumble beneath her touch.

Smiling and barely separating her lips from mine, she said, “Usually I’m the one to growl, but I never realized it was such a turn on.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her playfulness. I really enjoyed this confident, sexy woman.

Gently, I eased her back down onto the bed, sitting up just far enough to look at her. With the rose still between my fingers, I brought it to her body and gently allowed the silky petals to tickle the milky-white expanse of her skin, trailing it around her neck, down between her breasts, and to her belly. Her muscles tensed and writhed beneath the flower’s touch, the colors so amazingly stunning as the red stood out against her peach skin.

Karoline reached up, taking the rose from my fingers, and bringing it to her nose. The blissful smile on her face had me grinning from ear to ear as she tossed the flower aside, allowing me to lower my head to hers, kissing her as if my last breath depended on it.

My lips moved down her jaw like kissing her was second nature to me. I wanted to taste every inch of her, starting with her lips, down to her chest, over her stomach, and straight to her sex. Hell, I’d even kiss those dainty toes of hers if it meant it’d make her squirm.

An audible moan escaped her lips as I licked my way down the soft expanse of her neck, and I knew I’d hit the sweet spot. I made my tongue repeat the action, licking and sucking that same special spot, eliciting another sound of pure ecstasy from her.

I smiled against her skin, loving the fact I could drive her wild like this.

Using my teeth, I nibbled my way over her collarbone and slowly descended further. I couldn’t wait to wrap my lips around her tits, my mouth watering at just the thought I was getting closer and closer to my goal.

I allowed my mouth to hover over the center of her chest, that comfortable little nook just between her breasts, and placed several soft, adoring kisses there. The attention I was giving her had her squirming beneath me, an obvious tactic to get me to stop torturing her and deliver.

I bet she could sense I was smirking internally, because at that precise moment, she tangled her fingers in my hair and tugged, lifting my head and looking me in the eye with a fierce determination I’d only peg a wanting female to get away with.

“Quit toying with me, Beau,” she said as a warning. Her words, such a gentle demand, made her touch feel like a flurry of tingles over my scalp and down my back.

“Yes, ma’am.” A broad smile decorated her face in response to mine. Glancing down to her breasts and back to her face, I watched with excitement as her teeth clamped down on her bottom lip.

Knowing exactly what she wanted, I lowered my head and, with a light touch, brushed my lips against one of her nipples. Her sigh of relief was almost immediate as she held me to her, pushing her chest up to offer me more. It felt so good to have her soft flesh in my mouth, my tongue flippantly toying with the hardness of her nipple.

While I paid close attention to her needs, her fingers traveled from the roots of my hair to the muscles in my back, her nails digging deep into my flesh and sending a thrill through every inch of me. Her touch made the hardness in my pants tighten even further, and I knew I’d need to get them off soon. I also knew I wanted her to be the one to remove my clothing. We were moving at her pace, not mine—patience on my part was of the utmost importance.

After switching to give the other breast just as much attention as the first, Karoline thrust her hips and wrapped her beautiful, long legs around my torso, digging her heels into my ass and pressing me to her. With the feeling of friction against my shaft, I moaned around her nipple, the vibration sending all new sensations through her. The sounds escaping her made it obvious I was driving her crazy.

Her pout was comical as I broke away from her breasts and descended further down her body, my tongue leaving a slick trail across her milky skin and causing a peppering of goose bumps in its wake. I took my time, enjoying every inch of her, and paying special attention to the soft skin just below her belly button. Her stomach muscles fluttered beneath my mouth. Either I was tickling her or she was enjoying this just as much as I was.

My teeth and tongue continued to lavish her hipbones before she suddenly grabbed my hair and lifted my head to look at her.

“Beau, I—” she stuttered, smoothing my hair out to act a bit more gentle than she did just by nature. “I don’t know if—”

“Shh,” I hissed, hushing her as I laid my head against her hip and stared into her eyes. “I know you’re the one calling the shots, but I want to. Please.” I never understood why women were so shy when it came to a guy going down on them. Hell, I knew for a fact guys weren’t the least bit shy about a woman sucking them off, so why did females worry so much when all men made it very clear we enjoyed it?

A light nod of her head was all the confirmation I needed. With her acceptance, I continued my assault, kissing a trail across her stomach just above her thin triangle of curls. I made sure to make eye contact with her as I sloped further, her eyes wide and curious, watching my every move. Without making her feel even more self-conscious, I separated her lips with my thumbs and lowered my head.

As soon as my tongue met with her clit, her gaze relaxed, her mouth going slack, and her eyes nearly shutting as she threw back her head and moaned. I knew she’d like it—she just had to put a bit of faith in me.

Her whimpers filled the room, the slew of literary characters being the only witnesses within earshot. Each new sound that escaped her chest invigorated me, made me feel even more excited as I continued to pay special attention to her needs.

I pulled away a fraction of an inch, prepared to ask her what she wanted next. The action was definitely a mistake because, before I knew it, she gasped and said, “Don’t stop!”

I didn’t bother responding with words before I dove headfirst, the contact of my mouth on her making her cry out. Her warm clit felt so good on my mouth, so firm, yet soft—the sweetest of agonies.

I wanted her to grab onto my head and push me deeper, invite me to more of her, but as I peeked up at her prone body, I noticed she kept her hands above her own head, clutching at the sheet like it was the only thing keeping her anchored on this earth.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered, her body writhing beneath me as I continued to rain special kisses over her sex. Her eyes fluttered open, her head lifting to look at me. Her gaze was fixated on my tantalizing attentiveness to her. “You’re so amazing to watch,” she said, surprising me with her boldness. Just a few minutes ago, she didn’t even want me to go there, her bashfulness getting the best of her. Now, she was watching me, how I moved, how I paid close attention to her every reaction in order to make her come in my mouth.

Damn, it was hot to hear she enjoyed watching me, probably just as much as I loved doing everything in my power to make her writhe with pleasure.

As I pressed further into her and increased the action of my tongue, I looked up at her again, my stare meeting lust-filled hazel eyes—so warm, so sweet—they matched the taste of her to perfection. Even though my mouth was fully buried in her, I was sure she could tell I was smiling, forever pleased she trusted me enough.

“Oh, Beau. That feels so…” she mumbled as I began to move my mouth up and down over her clit. Clearly, she loved what I was doing, her words coming out in a rush only to remain incomplete.

Reaching up with one hand, I brushed my fingers up her side and around her breast, thumbing her nipple, hopefully to add to the overabundance of sensations she had to be feeling.

Her moans increased, an obvious claim of approval.

Her eyes closed and her head fell back as she began to tremble beneath me, her pending orgasm beginning to rise. As if reading my mind, her head suddenly popped up, her eyes snapping back open to look directly into my stare and watch me make her come.

Just seeing her watching me had my insides tightening with need like a million fallen stars, her climax surely springing to life with my continued assault.

“Oh, Beau!” she screamed as her muscles tightened from her breasts all the way to her feet, her legs constricting around me with each new quake coursing through her body. Her hands finally came down to tense in my hair as I laved up the last of her release, her eyes shut tight now as she shook freely with the blitzing feelings of post-orgasmic proportions.

I took my time lifting my head from her sex, wiping her juices on her thigh before crawling up her body so my mouth could land on hers. Her chest rose and fell in waves of pleasure, her tongue tangling with mine and causing a growl to escape me.

Between little pecks across my face, she spoke in a hushed tone, still attempting to catch her breath, and said, “You have way too many clothes on.”

I laughed, because it was so true. “I do? And what are you going to do about it?” I challenged.

“That’s easy… stand up,” she demanded, pushing at my chest and forcing me to stand beside the bed. Within moments, she was seated at the edge of the mattress, her legs spread wider than mine, and her fingers curling in the hem of my jeans. With a pop of my button and the slow, methodical descent of my zipper, she looked up at me, smiled, and added, “It’s my chance to return the favor.”

My excitement evidently couldn’t be hidden as I sprang free with her lightly yanking on my pants. The feel of the cool air hitting me was in stark contrast to the warmth of her breath inching closer to me. I couldn’t help but tremble, my ass cheeks tightening, when her soft fingers enclosed my length, the feel of her touch such exquisite torture.

I watched, enraptured, as she slowly brought her lips to my head and kissed me with the softest touch any woman had ever given me. The act was so reverent, so loving, yet also torturous in its obvious teasing manner. Her mouth pulled away, the slight drop of dew from my arousal now on her lips. She didn’t hesitate as she stuck her tongue out, first licking her lips, and then the crown of my shaft, causing an immediate thrill to spark in me.

Before I knew it, she wrapped her lips around me and took me in her mouth, the feel of her warmth causing me to throw my head back, a breath hissing through my teeth in a desperate attempt to control myself.

I wanted so badly to tangle my hands in her hair, cradle her head as I allowed her to take me deeper. But I knew this had to be on her terms, so again, I kept my cool and just enjoyed the slow pace she took, driving me insane in the process. My hands were fisted at my sides while I looked back down at her and found her watching me.