Wolf’s Fox by Juniper Hart

14

The week Ruthie had spent following Nicholas around had been excruciating. She knew he had done his best to make her feel at ease, maintaining his animal form to stay at her level. But every minute that had passed only increased her anxiety, her need to communicate with him in ways that would only suffice in her mortal body.

Ways like this.

Her mouth parted to allow his hot breath to combine with hers. His strong arms encircled her, drawing her toward the leather sofa and atop him. Her long legs straddled his lap, and she immediately felt his excitement beneath her.

Abruptly, Nicholas pulled away, uncertainty lining his face as he stared at her. She could read the question of consent in his eyes, but there was no question in her mind. She wanted him, and he wanted her.

Her answer to his unspoken query was responded in the same way, her own kiss growing harder and deeper when she crushed her lips to his. A soft moan escaped Nicholas’ mouth, but Ruthie captured it, swallowing it.

Suddenly, she found herself splayed across the couch, Nicholas above her, his eyes boring into hers as his kisses grew more intense. They seemed to burn at her in the most delicious way. She had never experienced anything like this, her purity still intact, her body unexplored. But it wasn’t too much or too fast. Ruthie had come to realize that this was her mate, and that she was destined to be with Nicholas.

Her nakedness fueled his desire, his mouth trailing against the soft skin of her cheek toward the curve of her throat. Lower he moved, pausing to remove his own shirt. Her hands found the hard crevices of his abdominal muscles, fingers curling against the muscles of his chest until his body curved against hers.

She locked her legs around the bones of his hips, pulling him flush as his head bowed to taste the flesh of her breasts. Her own breaths began to escape in short rasps, small moans of pleasure slipping from her lips. Goosebumps erupted over her whole body, and she trembled beneath him.

His tongue lapped over parts of her that she hadn’t known existed, every spot of her on fire. Ruthie closed her eyes and tilted her head back, relishing every sensation that vied for first place.

Nicholas’ hands closed around the firm muscles of her buttocks, drawing her center up toward him, her middle parting to allow him to taste. She tensed and relaxed, the little groans becoming cries of pleasure as he skillfully brought her to a climax.

Over and over her lithe frame spasmed, not realizing that Nicholas was upon her again, his face flush with hers.

“Are you all right?” he murmured in a voice so low, she wondered if he wasn’t inside her head. Unable to find her own voice, she nodded, swallowing. Her ankles locked around his hips, and slowly, he guided himself inside her, pausing to ensure her comfort. It was Ruthie who bucked up to meet him, urging his movements along.

He didn’t need much coaxing. In seconds, they had found their rhythm, a passionate choreography that rendered them dizzy and slick with sweat. Again, Ruthie felt herself building toward a release, her emotions sweeping through her to make her feel inebriated.

Her mewls echoed through the living room, Nicholas’ own moans matching her pitch until they both found themselves in a frenzy of wetness, exploding against the other.

Despite her inexperience, Ruthie knew he was done, but so was she. Her legs felt like rubber, her body quivering in a way that made her believe it would never stop.

Nicholas lay upon her, his face nuzzled into the small curve of her neck. The heat of his breath sent another wave of goosebumps through her body.

After a silent moment, Nicholas raised his head shakily and peered at her.

“I missed you,” he told her gruffly. “I don’t know if I can go another month without seeing you like this.”

The euphoria that had enshrouded Ruthie began to fade away slightly. She didn’t want to talk about reality when she had just undergone the most incredible feelings of her life. Nothing about this felt real, and she wanted to cling to the sensation as long as possible.

“We still have some time,” she offered softly. “Let’s not worry about it for now.”

Nicholas grimaced slightly, but he nodded understandingly.

“You’re right,” he agreed. “It’s just so hard not to think about it when you’re only here for such a short time.”

“I’m here all the time,” she corrected him quickly. They sat up, untangling themselves from one another.

“You know what I mean.”

Ruthie sighed heavily. “I do know, but it’s something we’re going to have to learn to accept.”

“No, not if I can find a witch to release you of this spell.”

“It’s dangerous to do that,” she reminded him, curling into the corner of the couch. “When I’m like this, it’s the only time that Luthor can find me. All other times, I’m safe.”

“If I can find you, Luthor can find you,” Nicholas said flatly. “I think that he’s given up.”

Ruthie wished she shared his confidence. She wasn’t even sure that he shared his confidence.

She adeptly changed the subject.

“What’s the situation with you and your mother?” she asked pointedly. Nicholas visibly tensed.

“What do you mean?” he asked, turning his head away. A throw blanket from the back of the couch moved to cover them both. Ruthie picked at the tassels on the edge and avoided his eyes.

“There’s obviously some tension between you two. She’s acting like you owe her something for having found me.”

“About that,” Nicholas interjected. “How were you found? Were you mistreated?”

Ruthie noticed the way he avoided the question, but there was a lot to discuss in a relatively short time.

“I’m not sure how I was found. I was a long way from here,” she admitted. “I don’t even know which state I was in. I’d been there a while.”

She paused and recalled the sudden attack, shuddering slightly.

“I wasn’t hurt,” she said. “But I wasn’t expected to be held captive again. I thought it was Luthor.”

“My mother isn’t known for her tact,” Nicholas growled unhappily. “I’m sorry if you were scared. She doesn’t know about your curse, because honestly, I try not to tell her too much if I can avoid it.”

She offered him a weak smile.

“Considering the alternative, I really have nothing to complain about,” she replied. “It brought me to you, didn’t it?”

Nicholas’ mouth firmed, and he again looked away.

“What is it?” she pressed, sensing that he was holding something back. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing,” he replied quickly. “I’m glad you’re here.” He placed a long, sweet kiss on her lips and brushed back her hair. “What do you want to do? Are you hungry? Do you want a bath?”

Ruthie shook her head, a coy smile overtaking her features as she reached out for him.

“No,” she answered. “I have something else on my mind.”

* * *

They wereboth exhausted but starving by the time they had finished making love a second time. Ruthie headed into the kitchen to make a snack.

“Leave it. I can do that,” Nicholas told her as she opened the fridge.

“I only get six hours a month to do this,” she reminded him. “Let me have my little pleasures.”

“I forget what I take for granted,” he laughed, but there was an unmistakable sadness in his voice. She cast him a sidelong look.

“Your mother is right about one thing—you need to go shopping. There’s nothing here.”

“I didn’t want to leave you alone,” he confessed. “I wasn’t sure if you’d leave again.”

Ruthie stopped what she was doing and met his gaze. “I’m sorry I reacted the way I did the last time we were face to face like this. After years of running, I have no idea who to trust. I know now that you’re not my enemy, and I shouldn’t have treated you like one.”

“It’s understandable,” he said quickly. “No one faults you for what happened. I’m sure I would have reacted the same way.”

Relief flooded Ruthie, and she smiled at him.

“But really, you do need to go shopping.”

He chuckled and nodded.

“Now that I know you’re not going anywhere, I’ll get right on that…tomorrow.”

Ruthie busied herself with a small spread of cheese, crackers, and salami. The pair picked at the charcutier board, and Nicholas opened a bottle of wine. She almost forgot about their limited time, the alcohol seeping into her to lower any of the remaining inhibitions she had.

But as the hours crept by and they got closer to dawn, a seriousness fell over Nicholas’ face.

“We really can’t do this only once a month, Ruthie. I will go crazy.”

She didn’t want to admit that she had been thinking the same thing, but the alternative was still too scary.

“Let me talk to some witches I know,” he pressed. “Let’s get this spell lifted.”

“No,” she said flatly. “Not yet.”

He was taken aback by the firmness in her tone. “I understand your fears, but I will protect you. You have to believe that. Haven’t I kept you safe so far?”

“I still have the spell protecting me most of the time,” she answered. “And I know you think you can keep me safe, but if Luthor finds out you’ve been keeping me…” She shuddered, unable to finish the thought.

“Ruthie, I can take care of myself—and you.”

“You don’t know what Luthor is capable of.”

“No, I don’t!” Nicholas grunted. “Because I can’t find any record of this guy. Did it ever occur to you that maybe he’s just not around anymore?”

Ruthie exhaled and met his eyes.

“It’s not a risk I’m willing to take,” she said quietly. “And you shouldn’t take that sort of risk either.”

“It’s a risk I want to take, though—if it means I get to spend more time with you!” he protested.

“Look at the peace we have right now, Nicholas,” she breathed. “If there’s a chance that this can be stolen from us, would you take it?”

He stared at her helplessly. The concern was painted all over her face, and he didn’t want to discount her worries.

“Ruthie…” Nicholas paused. “We can’t live like this forever.”

A sadness gripped Ruthie’s heart, and she nodded, lowering her eyes.

Who am I fooling? The novelty of this will wear off. He’s going to be sick of having a pet and part-time lover. This can’t work.

“You’re right. It’s not fair to expect you to, either,” she conceded. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Nicholas was at her side before she realized he’d moved from his stool. He wrapped her up in his arms and stared deeply into her arms. “I only just found you, and I’m not letting you go, Ruthie.”

“I’m sorry I got you mixed up in all this, Nicholas,” she whispered. “I never imagined that anything like this could ever happen.”

“We’re going to find a way to fix this,” he promised, and Ruthie believed him, even if she couldn’t see how. “I’ll find Luthor and put an end to the threat once and for all. He must be somewhere.”

Ruthie buried her face in his chest and savored the warmth of his arms around her. At that moment, Luthor felt like a childhood boogeyman, something that existed only in her mind. But she wasn’t a child, and she knew her value, even now, as a white fox.

“We’re in this together, Ruthie.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, pulling her head back to meet his gaze.

“Promise me that you’re not going to go anywhere.”

She bobbed her head again, but it wasn’t enough for Nicholas.

“Promise me—aloud.”

“I promise,” she vowed. “On one condition.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

Her face relaxed into a smile.

“You bring home some rabbit when you go shopping tomorrow.”

Nicholas laughed and pulled her back against his body.

“Anything you want, my queen,” he murmured. “As long as you stay.”