Nikki felt the prickly rise of gooseflesh race over her bare back, sending strange sensations that something was touching her while she slept. She’d been having the most erotically vivid dream she’d ever had, and was reluctant to let the feelings go. Not really ready to wake up and move from her comfortable position, she hesitantly pried one eye open, then the other eye popped open when she realized she wasn’t in bed, alone, or dressed; she hadn’t been dreaming.
Nikki felt the blush burn clear down to her toes when she thought back to the way she had acted. She’d practically ordered this man, the very one she’d been drooling over, to have sex with her when he showed just a little reluctance. It wasn’t like her to be that brazen, or to blatantly throw herself at a man. But damn it, she’d never wanted anything that badly either…still did. Even now she ached for him.
She glanced down, observing her comfortable position. Her body was half draped over Aaron. Her head lay nestled on his shoulder, an arm across his chest, and her leg draped over his hips. Nikki felt his arm wrapped around her, holding her there, with his hand resting on her hip. His breathing was deep and even, which meant he was probably sleeping too. She looked up at the sky, then around her, and from the deep shadows stretching over them, she determined that the afternoon was waning into early evening. Unless they wanted to be riding horseback in the dark, they’d need to leave soon.
Nikki brushed her fingers lightly over Aaron’s hard, washboard abs, watching them ripple under her touch, wanting to freeze this moment in time, to stay here forever with her sexy dark warrior. But this wasn’t a fairytale—time didn’t freeze, but the temperatures did—and she knew once the sun went over the horizon the temperature would fall fast.
“If you keep that up, love, we’ll be here all night.” His voice was soft and warm, with a slight hint of amusement.
She smiled and looked up at him. His eyes had changed again to that gold color. She hadn’t yet figured out how he did that, but from what she had figured out they turned when he was aroused, because she could feel his cock swelling to life against her thigh. “What would you say if I told you I never wanted to leave?”
Aaron sighed heavily, then laughed. “Although I would love nothing better than to stay right here and worship this sexy body of yours all night long, it’ll soon be getting too cold out here for you to enjoy much with your teeth chattering. And besides, I thought we would still go out tonight. I’ll take you to dinner, maybe a movie or dancing.”
“That all sounds wonderful, but you misunderstood my statement. Aaron, I don’t want to leave you—ever.”
Nikki felt his warm hand caress her cheek. The intensity of his eyes brightened. “You are mine, Nikki.” He growled low, taking Nikki aback slightly. Did he just growl? “As I am now yours. I will never leave you.”
“Wow, you’ve got that big bad wolf thing down pat.” She saw his eyes widen as if her statement surprised him. “We’re not play acting anymore, Aaron. Although I find it rather sexy, you’re scaring me a little. You can stop with the theatrics.”
“I’m not acting, love. This has never been a game for me; you are my mate.”
Nikki felt her heart practically stop, then take off at a rapid rate as his words began to sink in, along with confusion. “I…I don’t understand. Of course you were playing a game, we both were.”
“I tried to make you understand before I claimed you.”
Nikki swallowed hard. “Obviously not hard enough. Explain.”
“Those stories you fantasize about are true.” Nikki shook her head no. “They are…well, most of them anyway.”
“No, they’re not, Aaron. They’re fiction. Those hot, sexy shapeshifters don’t really exist.”
Aaron quirked an eyebrow. “So, you’re telling me you believe in werewolves and ghosts, but not shapeshifters?”
He had her there. “Well…yeah, I guess so.”
“You already believe in the paranormal, love. You need to open your mind to the possibilities.”
“So, you’re telling me that you really are the big bad wolf….”
Aaron winced. “I guess that was a poor choice of words, but yeah, I suppose I am.”
Nikki sat up and looked down at him. He didn’t appear to be lying, but she was already falling in love with him, and this was a bit too farfetched to comprehend. She shook her head and looked away. “Tell me you’re lying, and I’ll forgive you.”
When Aaron sat up abruptly, she knew she’d made him angry, and she winced when he growled. “I don’t lie.” Soon the firm grip of his fingers on her chin forced her to turn her head and look at him. He was angry. The muscles in his jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth together. “I would never lie to you…ever.” He took a deep breath, then exhaled it. “Last night when you told me you were a witch, I didn’t hold it against you.”
Her entire body started to tremble. She wasn’t afraid, even in the face of his anger…just very confused. If what he was saying were true, she should be afraid, but she strangely wasn’t. He didn’t appear to be any different now than when she first met him. “I know you didn’t, and I’m thankful for that. Deep down, I know in my heart that you’d never lie to me.” Aaron nodded, reining in his anger. “I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this. Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
“Believe me, I wanted to, but I was afraid that you wouldn’t be able to differentiate me from the werewolf you hated, and you’d run from me. Then my wolf would want to give chase…that would have been a disaster. At that point, I already knew you were my mate. Only one comes to us in a lifetime, and I didn’t want to blow my only chance with you. If you had taken off before I’d been able to claim you, I hate to think how things might have turned out.”
“Claim me.”
“I’ve marked you as mine.” Nikki ran her fingers over the tender spot on her neck. She’d just thought he was being a little kinky earlier, and had loved every minute of it.
Our minds now have a connection, she heard him say in her head. “My wolf wants to mark you too. You’re his mate as well.”
Nikki jumped back a little, her heart now pounding in her chest. This was all just too much too soon. “What?!” She couldn’t keep the panic out of her voice.
“Don’t be frightened, love. Neither of us would ever hurt you.”
“Uhhh,” she stuttered. “I know I gave you the impression earlier that I liked to try new things, and don’t get me wrong, I do. But…,” she shook her head, “having sex with a wolf is far beyond anything—”
“He and I are one, but we don’t expect anything like that from you.” Aaron shrugged nonchalantly. “Maybe one day, if you decide to convert to a wolf, he’ll be able to claim his mate, but—”
Nikki held up her hand to stay him from speaking further. Her head was already spinning as it was. “Just stop talking…,” she managed to say.
Aaron nodded, then stood up. As she watched him rise, she now had a better view of his body than she had earlier, and he was bigger than she had originally thought, everywhere. As he stood, he just seemed to keep going as he towered over her. The taut muscles in his chest and abs rippled with each move he made. He’s perfect. He smiled as if he’d just read her mind. At this point she was afraid that he probably had.
“Stay right there. I want to show you something.” Aaron rolled his back, hunching forward, then stretched his arms out. “I would advise you not to make any sudden moves,” he said just before he morphed into the biggest black wolf she’d ever seen. His beast was magnificent in his majestic beauty.
A sudden fear had her frozen in place. Beautiful or not, all Nikki could see was a huge wolf towering over her. Her gaze darted frantically in every other direction for a way out.
Don’t run, she heard in her head, he’ll chase you.
Is that supposed to make me feel any fucking better? “Wait, how?” She looked up and the wolf seemed amused, but she couldn’t figure out how that could be.
You are our mate. You can use your mind to talk to us too.
“This isn’t funny, Aaron. You’re scaring me.”
The wolf lowered his head to hers and licked her on the cheek. Don’t be afraid.
Nikki knew in her heart that this was Aaron and not some wild animal, but he was just so big. The beast seemed to understand her dilemma and lowered his body to the blanket, resting his head on her lap. Tentatively, she reached over and stroked the fur on top of his head, and was surprised at the softness, then boldly scratched him behind the ears. The wolf raised his head and licked her face again.
He doesn’t want you to fear him.
“I’m not sure what you expect me to say to that, or how you expect me to feel.” She looked away. “Werewolves destroyed my family, Aaron, and I took a vow to destroy them…not to mate with one.”
Look at me, Nikki, he nearly shouted in her head. When she turned back the wolf stood and looked her straight in the eyes. Do I look like the wolves that killed your family?
Nikki shook her head. “No…but—”
I don’t because I’m not a were, I’m a shapeshifter; the term my people use is skin walker. Look closely, Nikki. I need you to see me for who I am and understand that we’re not the same. My wolf is a true wolf, not some monster that walks around with the legs of a man and the head of a beast. My pack doesn’t go around destroying families or communities.
“I know. My heart is telling me you don’t, but—”
Nikki….
Nikki heard the plea for acceptance in his voice, and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. She thought that maybe in time she could accept this, but for now it was just too much. “I need some time.”
Aaron took a deep breath, then transformed back as he let it out. “Now you know,” he said as he sat down next to her on the blanket. “I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you since we met, but….” He looked away and didn’t finish.
As Nikki studied his rigid profile, she realized that he, too, was upset. She wasn’t so sure that she wouldn’t have also been offended had he scoffed at her being a witch. Putting herself in his shoes helped give her a new perspective. “Aaron….” When he didn’t acknowledge her, she tried again. “Aaron....”
His gaze remained fixed on the horizon. “I guess you’ll want to go back to your hotel now.”
“Well, yeah….”
“I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do.” She blew out a frustrated breath, and ran her hand over the taut muscles of his shoulder, then shook him. “Kindly look at me when we’re talking, please.”
His gaze moved down to the blanket. “I suppose you’ll be gone back to Mississippi by morning.”
She grunted. “Huh. You can’t get rid of me that easy.”
When his gaze snapped up to hers, she smiled. “I’m not trying to, but you said—”
“I just said I needed some time. I didn’t say I was going anywhere.”
He returned her smile. “Now I’m the one that’s confused.”
“Clearly,” she said, then laughed. “It’s not you. I have felt comfortable in your presence since the beginning. It’s the wolf….”
His smile faded. “But the wolf is me.”
She nodded. “I know, and I’m sure I’ll eventually get used to it, but that’s what I need time with. At the moment I’m just a bit overwhelmed.”
“So you want to go back to your hotel…and what? Think?”
Nikki shook her head. “I’ve had twenty-five years of thinking, and if you must know I’m sick to death of it.” Her grin grew. “No, a gorgeous dark wolf asked me out on a date, and I still need to get ready.”
Aaron’s smile returned just before he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Then we’d better get going.”