STORY EXCERPT

Remus smiled when Maddie opened the door and then frowned when he could sense her anger. He was relieved when he realized she was angry with someone on the phone and not with him. He went in and sat down on the couch while she carried the phone off toward the kitchen area to finish her call. With his enhanced hearing, it was easy to hear her conversation. It pleased him to hear her giving Dr. Constantine the brush off as he tried in vain to get her to come back to the clinic. It was one less thing he’d have to worry about.

He heard her tell the doctor goodbye, then jumped off the couch when the candlesticks on the mantle jumped out at him.

“Oh, God, Remus, are you all right?” The look on Maddie’s face said she felt terrible by what she’d done.

Remus chuckled, amused that her gift caught him off guard. “I’m fine, Maddie, it just surprised me is all. I take it the good doctor got you angry.”

When she looked shocked, he smiled sheepishly at her.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but hear your part of the conversation.” He didn’t tell her that with his increased hearing, he heard the doctor’s part of the conversation as well.

Remus felt true regret when he saw how much he embarrassed Maddie.

“Yes, he made me angry. He and my charming brother have decided that, just maybe, I should be locked away again for the good of mankind.”

He could easily tell she was struggling to control her emotions.

Remus walked over to Maddie, careful to mask how angry he was at the thought of her brother trying to take her away, and put his arms around her, pulling her close to his body. He was pleased when she didn’t pull away, and in fact, laid her head on his chest. Gently, he placed a kiss on the top of her head and tightened his arms around her.

“Maddie, you’re not a danger to anyone, especially yourself. I’ll be here for you, and I’ll protect you from the doctor. You have my word.”

Remus smiled when he felt Maddie’s arms come around his waist and hug him tightly. “I believe you. I really do,” Maddie whispered to him.

Pulling back so he could look into her eyes, Remus smiled and attempted to cheer her up. “How ‘bout we blow this pop stand and take a walk together?”

“Pop stand? Boy, you sure talk funny for a country boy.” Maddie laughed and smiled at him. “But I’d love to take a walk with you.”

“Let’s go, then.” Remus took her hand and pulled her out the back door and down the steps. Continuing to hold her hand tightly, he led her down toward the riverbank.

Content to walk along in silence, they continued downstream, following the riverbed until they came upon a shaded area still carpeted with soft, green grass despite the fact that winter was just around the corner. Remus stopped, gazed out over the flowing river, then turned and smiled at Maddie.

She seemed nervous when she smiled back up at him. He could see the tips of her breasts poking at the front of her shirt. The scent drifting up from between her legs told him she was wet with desire. Her breathing became erratic, and her body began to tremble in his arms.

Remus was having trouble controlling his need to claim Maddie as his own. Being able to smell her desire, he wanted nothing more than to lower her to the ground and explore every inch of her beautiful body. He could envision mounting her and plunging his throbbing cock deep inside her welcoming warmth while he marked her as his own with his canines. These thoughts made his jeans feel about two sizes too small. He was in danger of having a permanent zipper imprint on his cock if something didn’t happen soon. Unfortunately, both their needs would have to wait. Maddie was nowhere near ready to learn all about his wolf and being his mate.

Remus tugged on Maddie’s hand, pulling her closer to the warmth of his body. Lowering his head, he gently brushed his lips across hers, once, twice. Then, with a groan, he covered her lips with his while sweeping her up into his arms. Unable to stop himself, he ran his tongue along the seam of her lips to taste her. His senses were swimming in the intoxicating aroma of her arousal.

Maddie parted her lips allowing his tongue to sweep inside. Elated at her response, he placed one hand on the back of her head and tilted it just to the right angle to deepen the kiss. His other arm snaked around her waist to pull her body into even tighter contact with his. He was overwhelmed to feel Maddie slide her hands up his arms and grip his shoulders tightly. Feeling his passion flare at her acceptance of his kiss, Remus slowly began lowering her body down into the soft grass. He wasn’t surprised to feel her hands pushing against his arms in an attempt to make him release her. It was hard for him to remember his mate didn’t have any experience with the opposite sex. He’d have to stop pushing her so hard.

Remus loosened his hold on her but didn’t release her from his embrace. “Shh, it’s okay, Maddie. I’d never do anything to hurt you. You don’t have to worry. I’ll always stop if you tell me to.” Remus laid his cheek against her hair as he crooned comforting words to her. It pleased him to feel her relax her body into his embrace.

“I’m sorry, Remus. I’m just not use to this. I guess it makes me a little uncomfortable.”

“To this?” Remus teased her. “What’s this?”

Maddie flushed a bright red. “You know what I’m talking about. This.  Kissing, hugging, being close to someone.”

Remus laughed. “I’m sorry, Maddie, I can’t help but tease you. You look beautiful when you’re all flustered.” He watched as her face became even redder and decided it was time to make her feel comfortable again. “I’d like to spend some more time with you, Maddie. Would you like that? Would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night?”

She looked up at him, her pleasure showing in her face. “I’d love to, Remus. It sounds like fun.”

“That’s great. I’ve got to go into town for some supplies, so how about I pick you up about four o’clock. We can make a quick stop at the market, and then we’ll have dinner at the diner. Will that be okay?”

“That’s perfect. I haven’t been off the mountain since Michael left, so I could probably stand to pick up a few things at the market myself, if that’s okay with you.”

“That’s fine. I’m looking forward to spending the evening with you.” Remus pulled her closer and touched his lips to hers. He was surprised when she opened her lips and touched her tongue to his. He didn’t have the strength to turn down her innocent invitation. Remus pulled her tightly against his body and plunged his tongue deep into her honeyed warmth. Before he realized what he was doing, he’d ground his erection against her jean clad thighs.

Remus felt her body tense, and she began to push him away again. When he felt her withdrawal, he released her lips to run light kisses over her closed eyes, then over to her earlobe, which he took between his lips and sucked lightly.

“You’re so beautiful, Maddie. You take my breath away.”

“Uh, Remus, maybe it isn’t such a good idea for us to go out tomorrow.”

Remus could hear the fear in her voice and hated that he’d been the one to put it there. “I’m sorry, Maddie, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’ve never felt like this about anybody before, and I just keep wanting to be closer to you.”

Maddie gave him a doubtful look, and he couldn’t really blame her for her feelings. It was a surprise to him, but he was telling the truth. He felt things when he held her in his arms he never experienced before.

“Come out with me, Maddie, please. I promise to be on my best behavior. I’ll always back off if you tell me no. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll never hurt you, and I’ll try to never make you uncomfortable.”

Maddie took a deep breath and then smiled. “Okay, I’ll be ready by four o’clock.”

Remus closed his eyes briefly, relieved he hadn’t scared her off. “Okay, then, I think we better head back now. I’ve got a business meeting this evening I can’t miss.”

He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, then took her hand and started back toward her cabin. Things were definitely looking up.

ADULT EXCERPT

Remus ran his tongue around the edge of her lips, then buried his face in her neck. He inhaled her scent deeply, then reached out to lick up the side of her neck to her ear. “You’re so beautiful Maddie.”

Remus whispered his words and then covered her lips with his once more, immediately thrusting his tongue into her honeyed warmth. As he ravaged her mouth, he allowed his hand to run lightly up her side from her waist to close over her left breast. His arousal grew when he heard Maddie gasp and felt her grip him tighter instead of pushing him away.

It was all the encouragement he needed to let his hand attack the buttons down the front of her shirt. In no time at all, he parted the material and uncovered her lace bra. Softly, he rubbed his fingers over the tips of her breasts through the lace, watching them push against the fabric of her bra. Hearing her groan, he quickly unfastened the front clasp, baring her perfect breasts to his gaze. Raising his head, he swept his eyes over the small, rose-tipped mounds, noticing the flush that spread from her chest up to her cheeks. Holding her gaze captive, he gently tugged and pinched one of her nipples. Fascinated, Remus watched her eyes close and her head fall back. He lowered his head, took one hardened nipple into his warm mouth, and began to suckle.

As his lips closed over her nipple, Maddie suddenly tried to push him away.

“Remus, we can’t. We’re out where anybody could see us. You have to stop.”

She raised her hands to cover her breasts as he pulled back to look at her.

Remus smelled her anxiety and tried to reassure her. “Shhh, baby, it’s okay. I won’t hurt you or let anybody see you. I just want to look at you and show you how much I want you. You’re so beautiful to me, Maddie. I promise I won’t go further than you want me to. Let me touch you, let me show you how good we can be.”

As Remus continued to reassure her in a gentle tone of voice, Maddie began to relax and allowed him to move her hands back to her sides. Once again, he lowered his mouth to worship her breasts. She closed her eyes and seemed lost in the sensation of the warm, gentle suction of his mouth. She raised her arms to his shoulders and arched her back as if to offer him more of her breast to take into his mouth. When he closed his teeth over one turgid nipple, Maddie groaned deep in her throat and clasped his head with both hands, holding him in place. Chuckling softly, he raised his hand to her other nipple and began to gently pinch and tug the rigid tip, causing Maddie to writhe on the ground beneath him.

“Remus, please. I need…I need.” He knew she didn’t know what she needed or what to ask him for.

Remus continued to suck and bite Maddie’s nipples while his other hand smoothed down over her stomach, past the waistband of her jeans, to cup her heat through the denim. As he pushed down hard on her clit with the heel of his hand, Maddie bucked her hips up and called out his name.

“Remus, oh God, please.”

She reached down and grabbed his wrist, but he wasn’t sure if she wanted to push him away or push his hand tighter against her damp jeans.

“Shhh, it’s okay. I’d never hurt you, Maddie, and I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. I just want to make you feel good. Will you let me do that? Will you let me show you how much I want you?”

As he whispered to Maddie, she gradually loosened her grip on his wrist, grabbing both his arms and digging in her nails.

Remus closed his lips over hers, thrusting his tongue deep in an imitation of what he wanted to do to her body. He moved his hand to the fastening of her jeans, unsnapped the waist, and then slowly lowered her zipper. Not giving her time to panic, he quickly ran his hand down inside her lace panties, combing through the silken curls guarding her entrance, searching for her moist heat. Finding her slit already slick with her juices, he carefully ran his finger up and down, causing her body to tense up.

Maddie trembled and tried to close her legs against his hand. Once again, she raised her hands to push against his chest.

“Remus, stop, what are you doing?” Her voice was thick with passion as she struggled to pull away from his caressing hand.

“Just making you feel good, Maddie. Please, baby, just feel. I won’t hurt you.”

As he whispered to her, Remus buried his face in the hollow of her throat, where he licked her skin several times, then began sucking gently. In his mind, he could picture himself biting her there to claim her as his own. Just thinking about it had his canines dropping. He slowly scraped them across her tender skin and then forced them to retreat so he wouldn’t frighten her.

Gradually, he began to feel Maddie relax her body. Her legs parted slightly, allowing him to continue probing her creamy heat.

“Oh, God, you feel so good to me, so very hot.”

Remus brought his moist finger to the bundle of nerves hidden at the top of her slit. Carefully, he pulled back the protective hood and then rubbed gentle circles around her clit, causing Maddie to arch her hips toward him. As her breathing quickened, Remus took her clit between his thumb and forefinger and tugged, then pinched lightly, causing her to cry out his name.