Page 13 of Wild Wolf
Once it was Jordan’s home as well, and everything she learned about grapes, making wine and selling it he had taughther.
He’d taught her so much, that red-headed sprite with the gurgling laugh and the stubborn line between herbrows.
Taught her all about sex aswell.
Memories of Jordan flicked through his mind like a movie. Jordan laughing as she darted between the neat rows of vines. Feeding an older Jordan grapes fresh off the vine, her sweet mouth parting as he slid the fruit between them, each succulent bite arousing a different kind of hunger inhim…
Sliding between her pale, trembling thighs as he thrust inside and became her first lover, claiming her in theflesh.
And then she’d vanished from hislife.
Touching a vine, he stroked the leaves, recalling the softness of Jordan’s skin beneath his eager, exploring fingertips. Her delicate shudders as he caressed and kissed her, exploring her body as they lay in thehayloft.
Her cries of pleasure echoing his groans ofsatisfaction.
Nolan withdrew his hand, squeezed his fists. Six years was a long timeago.
He should check the latest shipment from the local farmers. After his father died, Nolan arranged to expand the winery by supporting farmers and buying their stock ofgrapes.
It was the best way he knew to encourage working the land instead of selling off precious local farms fordevelopment.
The winery was running at full capacity this summer, with Skin tourists eager to taste and buy. The special vintage his pack made for the Fae who infused the grapes with magick was their first priority, with several cases set aside for his magickpartners.
Too distracted to work, he headed for the pathway leading down to the ponds and the barn. Gravel crunched beneath hisboots.
An itch began between his shoulder blades. He needed to release it, let his wolf run. Nolan halted, closed his eyes and called upon hismagick.
The shift came swiftly, as it always did, only this time was bittersweet. Clothing and skin magically vanished, bones and muscle and sinew lengthening. He remembered Jordan’s first change into wolf, and her panic, how he’d coaxed her from it by shifting along withher.
They had run down into the woods, wild and free andhappy.
Exhilaration filled him at the scent of pine and brush, his senses sharper and clearer as wolf. Wolf instinct drove him now, edging out the human who wanted to sort through all those tangled emotions Jordanaroused.
Wolf knew only one thing – she washome.
He raced on four paws, choosing the woods to cut through instead of the path carved out for walking in human skin or driving the four-wheeler.
At the red barn near the horse stables, he shifted back into Skin and waved a hand, clothing himself by magick. Nolan climbed the stairs to the loft, where his great-grandmother’s trunk sat, along with a few other antiques no one botheredwith.
With a groan and a creak, the trunk lid lifted. Nolan dug past the letters, photos and vintage hats, and brought out the music box. Pink roses and pink ribbons adorned the pedestal holding a ballerina enpointe.
With a trembling hand, he turned the key. The ballerina twirled, her ceramic smile frozen in time. The sweet, tinkling ofSwan Lakefloated through theair.
Throat tight, he touched the ballerina. “Red hair,” he mused aloud. “Likesunset.”
“More like fire on water. That’s what you used to callit.”
At the whisper, he turned. Nolan’s heart hardened as he set down the treasure.Don’t let her get under yourskin.
“I told you Erica and Shirl would take care of you.” His voice came out gruffer than he intended. But she onlyshrugged.
“I found the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. No need to have anyone wait onme.”
The old Jordan had been like that, thoughtful and considerate, not a prima donna expecting others to wait onher.
Expression wistful, Jordan touched the ballerina. “You gave me this to celebrate my first shift. I was upset because I always longed to be a ballerina, so you found this and said it was to remember my wolf, but in my heart, to never lose sight of my humandreams.”
For a moment silence fell betweenthem.
