6. Ciaryn
6
CIARYN
B eing this close to Stella is beautiful torture.
All night, my body was painfully aware of her closeness. Her supple curves pressed softly against the muscles of my side. Her smooth thigh rested atop my legs. Stella’s lovely face is relaxed in sleep and close enough for me to count each freckle decorating her nose and cheeks—all one-hundred-and-thirty-seven.
Warm sunlight streams into the room. A slash of gold falls across her eyes, and Stella sighs, twisting her small hands into my fur. I swallow my groan and dig my claws into the sheets. My body is taut with restraint, but the soft sigh that leaves her full lips nearly snaps it.
Despite the desire pumping through my veins, the night had been quiet. With the rising sun illuminating her small cottage, I realize leaving Stella behind is no longer an option. It isn’t only my selfish desires that demand that she remain at my side, but also because her safety is my paramount concern. Bodies and blood litter her front yard. There will be more hunters once the news spreads of the ones who have gone missing.
I refuse to bring trouble to Stella’s door.
Now the question is, where will we go? I could take her back to the den. She would be safe there—protected by my pack. That is if I still have a pack. Though she would have to be…
Stella stirs against my side again. A content sight leaves her mouth, and the leg atop mine lifts higher, hooking over my hip. A growl vibrates my chest. I’m awash in her sweet, floral scent—greedily breathing it into my lungs. It would take nothing for my claws to tear her thin shift into ribbons. With a gentle push, she’d be on her back, staring up at me as I sank my knot deep inside of her—binding her to me permanently.
I shake myself and grind my teeth together. I’m a bastard for thinking such things, especially given what she went through last night. Stella deserves to be courted and treated with kindness, not rutted upon by a wild animal like myself. If I wish to keep her, I must consider her humanity and delicateness more.
It’s also plausible that she doesn’t desire me in that way. To her, I am nothing more than a protector. It would be painful to go through life, never feeling her soft body beneath mine, but I would do it. I am not saying that I would leave her in peace. No, I fear that from this point on, Stella is either by my side, or I will spend the rest of my eternal life haunting her from the shadows, following wherever she goes.
That is why I must choose my next move carefully. If I take her to the den, she can never leave. The only humans allowed inside are mates. My mother was the last human to reside there. Her passing was not only a death blow to my father but plunged our pack into a dark era. When she died, so did the mating bonds that were meant to grow inside all of us. No one has found their mate in the years since she’s been gone.
As a pup, I dreamed about finding mine, but that desire withered with age. Gazing down at Stella, I realize this is the pull my father felt all those years ago. This instant desire—this need to protect her and keep her—is all-consuming. I know she is mine. Now, I just have to prove that I deserve her.
What will be her reaction when I tell her of my longing? I take some solstice in the way she clings to me in sleep. Stella is not repulsed by me. Her body shifts closer, and my cock grows even harder. All the blood in my body races towards it, hardening the knot at its base and begging me to sink it deep into her wet heat.
Swallowing my snarl, I carefully reach down and adjust myself, willing my errant cock to behave.
My movements were not as subtle as I had hoped as Stella’s leg tightens around me—a soft moan blooms from between her lips. Sleepy blue eyes blink open as her mouth pulls into a grin. Color swims on her freckled cheeks as she realizes just how close our bodies are.
To my delight, she doesn’t try to move away—only loosens her grip on the fur along my chest.
“Good morning,” she says, her voice rough. “You’re really warm. Deliciously so.”
I’m too distracted by her beauty to stifle my groan. It lands between us as my hand wanders to her hip. Stella shivers at the touch, and I gently squeeze her side. Dragging her closer, I am rewarded by her soft gasp and a fresh wave of her scent. This time, it is spicier—headier.
Her blue eyes dip to my mouth.
“Can a wolfman kiss a human?”
Stella’s question is barely above a whisper, yet it steals all the breath from my lungs. Surely, I am dreaming. How could someone as beautiful and perfect as Stella offer me this chance to taste her? My head spins, and my cock strains against the front of my pants.
“Yes.” My voice sounds strange to my own ears.
“Do you want to kiss me?”
My whole body shudders as I grapple with the last tendrils of my self-control. I have to be sure she wants this. I could not bear it if Stella came to regret anything between us.
“More than anything.” My hand on her hip tightens. “But only if you want me to. After last night…”
I trail off, and Stella’s eyes widen. Coming fully awake, she throws back the quilt and begins to rise. I want to curse myself for being a fool. She was offering me a taste, and now she is turning away.
However, instead of sliding out of bed, Stella surprises me again by putting her hands on my shoulders and pushing me onto my back. In one fluid movement, her body settles atop mine. Her ample breasts tease the neckline of her shift. The creamy swells of each one make my mouth water. Lithe thighs settle on either side of my hips.
The golden sunlight washes her in color, making her glow like a goddess.
“For years, I allowed Timson to dictate how I felt about my body. I’d dress in ways to keep his hands from finding my bare skin. I feared desire—sex—knowing that he was watching me. I couldn’t truly be myself and explore what I wanted because a part of me was terrified he’d be the one I was forced to be with.” She smiles as I growl at her mistreatment. “You freed me from him, and I am grateful.”
My hands fall to her hips again—claws digging into her soft flesh.
“I only wish our paths had crossed sooner. I could’ve saved you from years of his torment.” I swallow. “But you do not have to kiss me out of gratitude, Stella.”
Her smile broadens. Wickedness tips the edges of her lips.
“I’m not,” she sighs. “I want to because you gave me something more than my freedom.”
“What?”
Biting her bottom lip, Stella leans down her body, becoming flush with my own. Her warmth seeps into me. Each of her soft curves presses into my hard edges, and all thoughts empty from my head.
“Desire,” she whispers against my lips.
Stella kisses me, and my life is forever changed.
The soft brush of her lips makes and unmakes me. Before, I was Ciaryn—a wolf on the run from his responsibility. Now I am Ciaryn—protector of Stella, the worshipper of the goddess in my arms. Her lips are an addiction, and the tentative touch soon gives way to something more animalistic.
Her hands tangle into my fur as her lips part. In an instant, my tongue slides into her mouth and gently glides along hers. She doesn’t fight me for dominance. Instead, she lovingly caresses mine—teasing it with gentle touches. My blood heats into an inferno. She tastes of honey, and I want to drink her down.
My claws skim up her back, and she moans, writhing against me. She’s up high enough on my chest that the supple swells of her ass brush my stiff cock. If she notices my painfully aroused state, she doesn’t mention it. I can scent her arousal and say a prayer that I’ll be able to taste her nectar directly from the source.
Pulling back, her eyes are wild as she gazes down at me. Her chest rises and falls with ragged breaths. The sleeve of her shift hangs from her shoulder, exposing an expanse of pale gold skin. My nose nuzzles against her neck before licking and nipping my way along her throat. My canines elongate and encourage me to mark her as mine, but I hold off. I’m being too greedy—she’s already given me more than enough by allowing my kisses.
My mouth continues down her neck and over her shoulder. I lick lower, tasting the smooth skin of her collarbone. Soft mewls of pleasure slip from her lips. She rocks atop my body as if desperate for more. My lips find the top of her shift and gently prod the soft fabric, painfully aware of how close her breasts are.
“Take it off.”
Her soft command surprises me enough to raise my eyes and look at her. Clear blue eyes shine down at me, and color swims in her cheeks, making her even more beautiful.
“Take it off,” she repeats, cupping my hands around her shift. “I don’t want any barriers between us.”
In an instant, it is nothing but tatters, my claws making quick work of the fabric. Stella giggles at my haste, and I quickly toss the ruined garment to the side. The breath stills in my lungs as I take her in. Sitting back ever so slightly, the sunlight caresses her body. Perk breasts tipped with hard, pink nipples make my mouth water. Her waist gives into lush hips and thighs. Nestled between them is a patch of dark golden hair. I can feel her arousal soaking my chest. The smell of her is intoxicating.
Freckles cover her shoulders and chest, and I’ll be sure to count all of them one day soon.
My claw reaches up to cup one of her breasts. She moans as my tongue darts out to taste her fully. I work the tight bud as I roughly shape her other breast in my hand. I alternate between the two, greedy to savor as much of her as possible. Her hips writhe, and moans of pleasure pour from her mouth.
“I’ve never been with a human before.” My confession is snarled against her breast.
Blue eyes peer down at me.
“I’ve never been with a wolfman.”
Something snaps inside me, my grip on her tightening.
“I’ll ruin you for all other men,” I vow against her breast. “You’ll never crave one of your human lovers again.”
A fresh blush spreads across her cheeks as she meets my eyes.
“I’ve never had one of those either.”
All of my hard-won restraint snaps in an instant.
“Tell me what you want,” I command.
“You.”
I shiver with delight.
“What do you want me to do to you?”
“Everything.”
I meet her heated stare as my claws skim down her front. Gliding along her smooth skin, my fingers find that small patch of hair and gently part her. I hiss at how soaked she is—her warm, wet softness presses against my palm as I cup her. Stella gasps, and her hands fall to my legs for support.
“Do you want me to make you come?” I ask. “Will you let me taste your sweet pussy?”
Her mouth opens and closes as I continue to stroke between her thighs. Slowly, my claw finds her back entrance's tight ring of muscle. Her eyes fly open as I gently prod it.
“Will you let me claim this hole one day too?”
Stella grinds against me, riding my arm for all she’s worth. My little human is desperate for any ounce of friction.
“Ciaryn,” she cries. “Please, I need you.”
My name on her lips moves me. In a flash, my hands snag her around the waist and yank her up the bed. Her hands fall to the headboard as I position her dripping cunt above my face. It is so pretty and pink. I take a moment to marvel at its beauty before pressing a loving kiss to it. Stella’s body grows taut as I lick her clit with the broad side of my tongue. The little bundle of nerves causes her hips to canter with each stroke.
“Ciaryn! Oh, I’ve never?—”
“This pussy is too delicious. I’d kill a thousand men just for one lick of your perfect cunt.”
“Yes!” she hisses, her knuckles going white atop the headboard.
I slip my tongue into her opening and taste her fully. The musky, sweet flavor of her arousal slips over my tongue. She is indecently wet. To know I did this to her is a particular delight. Her hips grind against my face, causing my tongue to go deeper. I twist it, mimicking the same motion my cock will once I’m able to be inside her. The knowledge that I’m the only one who’s had her like this encourages the primal part of me to claim her.
I must be patient even as words of praise spill from her mouth.
“I like how powerful you are,” she moans. “I like knowing you spilled blood for me.”
“I’d do it a hundred times,” I snarl, sucking her clit into my mouth.
Her body goes tight. Slipping a finger into her entrance, her pussy greedily clamps down on the intrusion. The tightness of her core makes my head spin. Gently, I fuck her with my finger, hooking it in a way that has the breath shuddering out of her.
“Does that make me a bad person?” she asks.
My hand lifts from her hip to gently swat the fleshy mound of her ass. Stella gasps, and her eyes fly open.
“It just means you know who you belong to. That you are meant to be mine.”
Slipping a second finger into her, my lips wrap around her clit, and Stella is done for. She comes all over my face, soaking me in a rush of her sweetness. Her delicate inner muscles tighten on my thrusting fingers as she shakes through her pleasure. My name spills from her lips as her muscles lose their rigidity.
I don’t give her a moment's reprieve.
Pulling my fingers from her, I gently cup her hips and toss her face down towards the end of the bed. Her arms are weak, but she manages to keep herself up on all fours. My cock bobs as I shift behind her. Gripping her round ass cheeks, I lower my face to her heated center once more. It glistens with her arousal. She shudders at the first press of my tongue.
“Do you know what it means when a wolfman claims a human?” I ask.
Stella shakes her head. Her hands grip the sheets to keep her upright. My tongue nudges her untouched hole, and she screams. I do it again, delighted when her hips push back against me.
“A wolfman mates for life. When he finds his human mate, he claims her with his knot—filling her with his seed until she grows round with his children.” My tongue dips into her back entrance again. “Once she has been claimed, they will be one. Forever.”
My fingers spear into her greedy cunt. The quickening of her pussy tells me she’s already close to another climax.
“Tell me you want that, Stella. I need to hear you say it.”
My fingers scissor her just right, and her back bows.
“Yes. Yes! I want that—I want you!”
Her screamed confession erupts in my veins. Without warning, I spear my tongue into her asshole and push deep. My fingers fuck her faster and faster until she erupts on the bed. Her arousal soaks my hand, but my movements never stop. She shakes through her climax.
Snaking my tongue out of her ass, I lick her clean between her thighs. She is panting and twitching by the time I’m down. Red engulfs her cheeks and chest as I wrap her shaking body in my arms. Her eyes are open, but I’m not sure she’s aware of anything. I settle her against me, letting the rapid beating of her heart soothe me.
Stella wants this—she wants us. She is mine, and I will have her fully once I am sure she is somewhere safe.
After a few moments of silence, Stella blinks and curls into my side. Biting her lip, her hands skim down my front. I swallow as they reach dangerously close to my hard cock. Without thinking, I wrap my hand around her wrist to stop her.
“Don’t you want me to—you know?”
I kiss her soundly, sharing her taste with her.
“In time. All I want now is to take care of you and ensure you’re safe.”
As much as the primal urge to have her burns in my blood, I have to get her somewhere secure first. She wants me—now I need to protect my mate at all costs and never give her a reason to regret her life with me. My animalistic need to bite and fuck her full of my seed can wait. Tucking her naked body against me, I relish the feeling of her soft skin.
Stella smiles up at her, saying nothing and everything all at once. The intimacy flows freely between us, and I feel like the luckiest male in the world to have found her. Her carnal nature is evident; I can’t wait to explore it fully. I can tell Stella feels the same from the gleam in her eyes.
“So,” she says, nuzzling my chest, “when do we leave?”