Chapter Ten – Nadine

All her strength had gone, zapped in the instant he kissed her. She could no longer fight her need to be with him; his lips had broken through her resolve. Nadine wanted to cling to him and never let go. He was her constant, at this moment, just as she had once been Kurt’s when his wolf ruled his mind and body. The world seemed to swim; the chase through the woods had scared her more than she realised and now her knees threatened to buckle under her. Kurt bent down and picked her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest, and carried her to safety.

All around them the forest had gone back to its quiet ways, the occasional rustle of a small creature the only sound. Nadine knew he was listening out for the slightest sign that a wolf might be near. But there was nothing. Directing him through the forest, he took her home, their surroundings becoming more familiar as they walked, his breathing growing heavier when the terrain altered and they began the steep climb up to where her cabin nestled in the trees. She would have walked, but she knew she would probably collapse on the ground if he put her down. And she liked the way her head rested on his chest, enabling her to listen to his strong heartbeat.

By the time they reached her cabin, she was almost asleep as fatigue covered her. Was she really so weak that she needed a man to rescue her, right at this moment: yes, she was. She needed him as much as he had needed her all those months ago when he was stuck in his wolf form. In amongst her roving thoughts, she also came to the conclusion that she was glad he had found her. Because the months of ignoring the pull of him had been almost too much; she didn't know how long she could have gone on with the pretence. It was the very reason she had gone to the gallery. Subconsciously, she had wanted to be found.

Damn that meddling animal of hers.

"Is this where you live?" He stood, holding her close to his chest, still under the cover of the trees.

"Yes. Do you see anyone?" she asked, pulling herself back to reality.

"No. But I think it would be better if I left you here and went to have a good look around. I don’t want you to be in danger."

"I think we should stay together." She wriggled out of his arms and stood leaning on him for a moment. Why did it seem the most natural thing in the world to be here with him? Even though they were in possible danger.

He looked at her and then nodded. "I don't want you to leave my sight. Not now I've found you, so yes, we'll go together." His hand closed around hers and they walked along the fringe of trees that skirted her house, all the time watching for movement. When there was none, they made their way to the back of the house, staying out of sight as much as possible.

Relieved when there seemed to be no one around, Nadine took out her key and unlocked the door. He slipped inside first, not switching on the light, and she followed. Nadine carefully closed the door and then they stood in silence. She listened to the sounds of her house, trying to tell if anything sounded wrong or out of place.

"I don’t think there is anyone here," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

"We'll work our way through each room. No lights. OK?"

She nodded, hoping he could see her in the dark room. They moved around the kitchen, past her dining table and then into her small sitting room. Everything seemed the same, from the ticking of the clock to the smell of the flowers in the vase on the coffee table. Going back into the hallway, Kurt began to climb the stairs, her stairs, which led to her bedroom. She swallowed her panic. Having Kurt in her room had been her fantasy for so many restless nights. This wasn't exactly how she had expected that fantasy to play out. Creeping upstairs, afraid of what might be hidden in her closet or under her bed was a childhood nightmare, not an adult reality. This had to be the most bizarre evening of her entire life.

Kurt went from room to room, checking every place a wolf could hide. Only when he was certain there was no one in the house did he release her hand. The light from the moon, shining through the window as it made its way across the sky, showed her his face. The same question was in his expression as was circling around and around in her head. What happens now?

"Thank you, Kurt," she said. "I think perhaps I owe you an explanation."

"You don't owe me anything, other than your name. I would really like to know the name of the woman who brought me back to life."

"Nadine. My name is Nadine Dury."

The whites of his teeth showed when he grinned. "I think I would have traded my soul these last few months to know your name. It's nice to finally meet you at last, Nadine Dury."

"I’m sorry." She hesitated, not ready to tell him the whole truth, but needing to give him something. "I honestly thought you would be better off without me in your life. You were so confused when you changed back. I worried the added stress of having me as your mate might be too much."

"I thought I was mad, that I had dreamed you up. I have painted your face so many times," he said, reaching up and stroking her pale skin. "The flaming red of your hair, the tone of your skin, pale as the moon. And your eyes, the green of mountain meadows. I thought you a figment of my imagination, a coping mechanism when everything seemed so dark, so dull."

"I am real, Kurt. If I hurt you it was unintentional. I only wanted to make things easier for you." She went to him and stood on tiptoes to kiss his lips. Her body forgot its fatigue, all she needed was for him to forgive her, and to accept her, and everything would be right again. The attack by those other wolves would be nothing but a memory, pushed aside by the reality of finally being with her true mate. Would he be able to look past her betrayal; could he still want the women who turned her back on him and ran away?

When he gathered her into his arms, she knew the answer, and that she should never have doubted it. Neither of them could fight what was between them.

He moved her towards the bed, laying her down and then lying next to her, his lips on hers, his hands roving over her body, touching every part of her. Any minute now, she expected him to ask her to pinch him so he could know he was awake and she was real. She hated herself for making him think he was crazy when, as his mate, she should have supported him. Right then, she made herself a promise: every day of their lives he would always be able to count on her from now on.

Slipping her hands under his sweater, she pulled it up over his head, and then worked to undo the buttons of his shirt. His mouth became fiercer on hers, questioning her, needing assurances, which she gave him, her hands caressing his skin while she slipped his shirt off his shoulders. Parting from her, he shrugged it off, giving her a chance to press her lips to his skin, tasting the salty tang of him, running her tongue over his nipples and hearing him groan with desire.

Then the quiet, calm man disappeared. Something changed in him and he removed her clothes so fast she thought he would tear them. Caught up in his heated desire, she didn't care if he ripped them to shreds; she wanted him and loved the way his eager hands caressed her body, slipping behind her back to unclasp her bra. When he captured her breasts in his hands, squeezing them together and licking her nipples, she thought she would explode for him. It was so good. His mouth was not that of an unsure artist, but of a man, a strong, capable man who was in control of her pleasure.

Sucking and licking her breasts until she writhed under him, he drove her arousal to new heights, the heat pooling between her thighs begging to be quenched by his touch. Nadine tried to concentrate, but coherent thought was difficult when sensations she had never experienced before coursed through her body. Yet somehow, she slipped her hand down between them and worked on the zipper of his pants, while her mouth let out little sighs and whimpers of ecstasy. Damn, he was good, and her breasts were soon tender from his hands, her nipples sore from the torture his mouth had unleashed.

Then she claimed her prize, her hand wrapping around his cock and squeezing it. He growled, deep and guttural, his hips shifting up to enable her to stroke his cock from root to tip, paying attention to the smooth skin over the head, his sticky pre-come a sign of how excited he was to be in bed with his mate at last. When it became too much, he stopped her, his hands grabbing hers and placing them above her head. Then he moved down her body, kissing and licking her soft, round curves, his fingers working on the button of her jeans and then dragging them down over her generous hips, stripping the last of her clothes from her body.

When he eased her thighs apart, she closed her eyes, letting her brain take in every soft touch, every butterfly kiss as he worked his way between her thighs and up towards her heated core. Then his lips touched her clit, so very gently as if it was a breath of air, his finger pushing inside her wet sex at the same moment. Opening for him, trusting him, she let him explore her with his hands and mouth. Soft sighs escaping her lips as he sucked her clit, his tongue rolling over the sensitive bud, before plunging deep inside her. He was so good, her pleasure the centre of both of their needs as he dragged her first orgasm from her willing body.

When she came, it was a sudden explosion that shook her world. How long she had put off being with him, how many countless hours of pleasure at his hands had been denied, all for the false sense of keeping him safe? Now, at last, those hours of frustration were gone, replaced by something so sublime she wanted to cry tears of joy.