Page 35 of The Werewolf Cowboy
Grayson frowned. “You know how to keep me away from reading you. That’s good, but it won’t stop me from telling it like it is. The Dark Kingdom is not Tír Na Nog.” He went to the nearby stream and dipped his hands into it, drinking.
Water dripped down his face as he turned to her. “Wolf Haven isn’t heaven for Lupines. It’s a sanctuary away from Dark Fae and Others, but it can be hell if you wander into the wrong places. Hell for females, especially. We run on pure instinct and males can scent a female coming into her heat for miles away. You’re ripe for the taking, Katy.”
A chill raced down her spine. “There are no packs?”
Grayson frowned. “Yes, but there are fewer females of breeding age, which is why males fight over females so viciously. A female outside her pack, or one who doesn’t carry a mating mark, can be taken against her will and there’s little the alpha can do to save her. Don’t ever stray far from me when you’re outside the cottage. Cottage is warded against intruders.”
The idea of being raped by a strange Lupine made her ill. But Grayson’s closeness was another matter. For years, she’d suppressed her sexuality and her baser wolf nature. Afraid of displeasing her parents, or making them worry needlessly. Now, the Dark Kingdom magick was working on her, making her sexually aware of Grayson and needing more than their friendship.
“The males just do as they please and rape the females? No wonder there are few females here!”
He gave her a steady look. “The females here are as savage and tough as the males. They are fully aware of their powers, and fight back effectively. Few males succeed at overpowering them. You’re vulnerable, Katy. You’re an outsider. For now.”
She didn’t know what to make of this. For now? Did he want her to remain here, with him?
“And what about you, Grayson? You’ve lived here before. Are you as savage as the other males?”
He rubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin. “I never take a female against her will, but I’m no gentleman. When I ride a female, it’s a rough ride. It’s the beast inside me. Get it?”
The idea intrigued her. An image sprang to mind, Grayson pinning her to the bed as she struggled, and then pounding into her as he made her cry out in pleasure and the headboard banged against the wall.
Headboard-banging sex sounded real good right now.
He shuddered as she lightly touched his wrist, feeling the hairs upon his skin. Grayson stepped back. “Let’s get back to the cottage, get you settled for the night.”
“Alone?” She thrust out her breasts, her nipples hard as pearls. “Or will you keep me company…all night?”
“You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said softly, a dangerous look on his face. “Don’t tempt me, Katy. I have only so much restraint.”
Deep inside, she knew she should be asking questions, demanding answers. She knew this place somehow, this dark world with all its mysteries. Yet the hot desire building inside her pushed aside those nagging questions, making her forget all else but her female need.
“Don’t you want me? I want you, Grayson. And I’m not afraid of what you can give me, however much it is.” Disappointment filled her. She wanted her first time with Grayson, here, in this wild and wicked place where magick ruled all.
“I want you. And I will have you, and when I do, it will not be all hearts and flowers. But first, I want to be sure you’re safe from what the hell ever is after you.”
“And then?”
His gaze gleamed. “And then, you’ll find out exactly what I plan.”
He wanted her badly. Enough to throw caution to the wind, sweep her into his arms and satisfy his raging lust. Throw her down on the bed and not let her go until they lay exhausted and spent from making love.
Grayson took a deep breath and went outside the cottage, leaving Katy inside to sleep. His wolf howled and snarled to remain with the woman, to satisfy the beast’s urgent need to mate. His Skin half had trouble controlling the wolf, much like a human struggling to leash a wild beast.
In the Skin world, it was easier to tame his savage nature. Here, where the forces of dark magick swirled in seductive tendrils, rousing his own powers, each hour became a true test of will. The only way he could quell his primitive desire for sex was to focus on Katy and his own need to protect her.
Moonlight on his naked shoulders, Grayson stretched and felt the power humming in the air. He must find out who ordered her kidnapped and brought into the Dark Kingdom.
Those Night Riders hadn’t been powered on their own magick. Someone fed them strength, enough to overcome the sun and become as strong during the day as they were at night.
He doubted it was Gerner. The owner of the brothel and breeding den had limited interest in Lupines, other than what profit they could provide for him.
No, whoever wanted Katy wanted her badly enough to yank her away from the safety of her world into this one.
He didn’t want to leave Katy in the cottage alone. But his pack was far away, and they wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow. Taking her with him after midnight, when the dark magick was at its most powerful, would be foolhardy. Other males would scent her and want her. He could fight them off, but it would be a damn hard battle, and while he was fighting, one could slip away, pin her down and rape her as the others distracted him.
Rape her and claim her, and keep her prisoner here in the Dark Kingdom.
Better to leave her in the cottage with the magick he used to ward his territory. No male Lupine, unless he had a death wish, would dare to violate another male’s boundaries.
