Fires Of Solstice Part 14

He gestured to her left. "Just drape it over the back of that chair."

After dropping her coat, she pushed a wet curl out of her face and edged forward, stopping about a foot away from the wolf. She sighed as the heat from the roaring fire reached out and enveloped her. She didn't care if the wolf did eat her. At least she'd be warm.

Her host chuckled. "Hold out your hand and let her sniff it."

"I know the routine," she said more sharply than she intended as she reached toward the wolf. "Frank Messner introduced me to Sweetie."

The wolf sniffed her hand. Then she nudged it with her nose and slid her head underneath. Meredythe started. Then she smiled and slid her hand down the wolf's head and neck. "Her fur is so smooth!"

Her host grinned. "She likes you. Now sit down and get warm." Striding across the room, he pulled open the door of a liquor cabinet and grabbed a bottle of brandy. Pouring a healthy portion into a gla.s.s, he returned to the fire and placed it in her hand. "Drink it all. It will help warm you up."

The wolf curled up before the fire as Meredythe settled into a chair and swallowed some brandy. She coughed as it burned its way down to her stomach. Warmth flowed outward as the brandy took effect.

Her host disappeared out the door only to reappear minutes later carrying a gray bundle. "You've got to get out those wet clothes, at least the jeans, or you'll get sick."

Meredythe glanced down. Her jeans were wet to her thighs and her Nikes were soaked. "I'll change while you get Thuse." She raised her hand to hide a yawn.

Bleddyn smiled. She'd been so astonished when he opened the door and then so obstinate about accepting his help, he'd thought he'd have to physically restrain her from going back out into the blizzard. Now, though, she looked ready to fall asleep.

Her head nodded. She jerked it up and took another sip of brandy. Then she glared at him. "Don't stand there staring at me. Go get Thuse."

Placing his hand over his heart, he bowed. "As you command, my lady."

Chuckling at the shocked expression on her face, he left the room. Making his way through the dark house with a sure step, he soon reached the kitchen. Grabbing a flashlight, he stepped out into the mudroom and pulled on a pair of boots. Then he shrugged into a heavy parka and checked the pockets for his gloves. Turning on the flashlight, he stepped out into the swirling snow.

"d.a.m.n wind is howling louder than the wolves," he muttered when he finally reached Meredythe's car after struggling through snowdrifts for fifteen minutes. "A cat. What possessed her to bring a cat? d.a.m.n thing probably won't even come to me once it gets my scent. It's apt to bolt as soon as I open the door. How will I explain that to her?" Frowning, he pushed his way through the deepening snow to the pa.s.senger side of the car. He'd have to dig through a four-foot drift to get into the driver's side. Luckily, this side was more protected. After a few tugs, the door opened.

"Okay, cat, where are you?" he grumbled as he s.h.i.+ned the flashlight into the car. A pair of green eyes glowed back at him.

It's about time you got here.

As the words echoed in his mind, Bleddyn stumbled back. What in all the seven h.e.l.ls was Meredythe doing with a Familiar?

The cat minced his way across the seat, wrinkling his nose when snow blew in on him. How do you think we kept her hidden all these years?

Bleddyn leaned forward and braced his hand against the car. "Rhys knows?"

If a cat were able to snort with disgust, it would have. Are you really as stupid as you seem? How have you managed to stay alive all these years?

Bleddyn muttered an obscenity under his breath. "Okay, Rhys knows."

The cat sat on the seat and curled his tail around his feet. Well, at least you display some intelligence. Meredythe's overnight bag is in the backseat. The rest of her luggage is in the trunk, but we can wait until tomorrow for you to get that. You'll need to bring the two shopping bags though.

Dumfounded, Bleddyn simply stared. A cat was giving him orders.

Don't just stand there. The storm is getting worse.

Jerking his hands away from the car, he glared at the cat. "If you expect me to carry all of that, you have to walk."

The cat craned his neck and stared into the swirling snow. Okay, only the bag with my food. And I'll ride your shoulder. He flexed his claws for emphasis.

Muttering obscenities concerning both Methuselah's and Rhys' ancestry, Bleddyn pushed past the cat and leaned over the seat. Grabbing the shopping bag covered with Christmas trees, he checked inside. Cat food. When he reached over and jerked Meredythe's overnight bag toward him, the bottle of wine fell on the floor. He flashed his light on the label then reached down, grabbed it and shoved it into the bag with the cat food.

Pus.h.i.+ng himself back out of the car, he slung Meredythe's bag over his right shoulder and grabbed the shopping bag with his left hand. He already held the flashlight in his right. Glaring at Methuselah, he asked, "Are you coming?"

The cat yawned. Turn around and I'll jump onto your back. I'll be able to use Merry's bag for support.

Muttering to himself, Bleddyn turned. He grunted when the cat landed on his back. d.a.m.n thing weighed more than he expected.

I'm ready. Make sure you shut the car door. There's enough snow inside already.

Bleddyn complied with a growled curse. "If anybody sees me carrying you, I'll never live it down." He dug his front claws deeper into Bleddyn's parka. There's no one here to see you except wolves.

Bleddyn snorted. "Like I said, if anybody sees me..."

The snow fell faster and more heavily as Bleddyn made his way back up the hill. After numerous slips and slides and even more numerous curses, he reached the front of the house and headed for the door. No way was he carrying a cat any farther than he had to.

When he reached the steps, Methuselah jumped from his back. Thank you.

Bleddyn's brow lifted. Courtesy from a cat. Who'd have believed it?

Urged on by insistent meows, Bleddyn stamped as much snow off his boots as he could, then opened the door. Methuselah snaked between his legs and disappeared into the dark hallway.

"d.a.m.n cat," Bleddyn muttered as he dropped the shopping bag by the door where it could stay for all he cared. Setting the overnight bag on the floor, he shrugged out of his coat and hung it over the back of a chair. Then he sat down and removed his boots. Rising, he grabbed the bag and padded silently back to his study in stocking feet. The slightly open door told him the cat had found his mistress.

Pus.h.i.+ng the door open farther, Bleddyn's gaze went immediately to Meredythe. She was curled up in a chair she'd pulled closer to the fire, asleep. Her empty gla.s.s lay atop her wet shoes and socks where it must have dropped after she fell asleep. Her rich, auburn hair was mostly dry and curled riotously about her. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s rose and fell softly, her nipples clearly outlined by her wet sweater.

Wet! Bleddyn dropped her bag and hurried to her side. "You little fool. You'll catch pneumonia."

Without a second thought, he peeled off the sweater and bra. His eyes were drawn to the mole shaped like a wolf head high on her left breast. Carefully, he traced it. Yes, she was definitely the one. His gaze drifted down her breast to her rosy nipple and his finger followed. Already pebbled in the cool air, it tightened more as he stroked his thumb over it.

The shadow in his soul pushed against his willpower.

Heat shot to his groin and his c.o.c.k hardened. How would her nipples taste? Sweet?

Spicy?

His mouth began to water.

Gritting his teeth, he shook his head. No. She was sleeping. He would not, could not take advantage of her.

Jaws clenched against the urge to suck her nipples into his mouth, Bleddyn pulled the sweats.h.i.+rt he'd brought earlier over her head then took a deep breath. With her tantalizing b.r.e.a.s.t.s covered, he could think again, be sure of his control. Then he glanced down at her wet jeans.

f.u.c.k. Just the thought of her naked from the waist down had the blood in his c.o.c.k throbbing in time with his heart. But there was no one else here and she couldn't stay in those wet clothes.

Quickly as he could, Bleddyn unfastened her jeans and pulled them off her icy legs. Momentarily distracted by how cold her thighs were, he ma.s.saged heat back into them.

Mumbling something incoherent, she rubbed her cheek against the soft leather of the chair's back but didn't awaken.

Once her thighs were warm again, Bleddyn allowed his gaze to slide to the dark juncture of her thighs. His breath caught in his throat and his nostrils flared. The tiny wisp of pink satin did little to hide the neatly trimmed fiery curls from his hungry gaze or mask her sweet, musky scent from his sensitive nose.

He slid his hands up her thighs and slipped his thumbs under her thong's slender straps. They would tear so easily. Sliding his c.o.c.k deep into her c.u.n.t would be just as easy.

His control slipped more.

Again, he inhaled deeply.

Her tantalizing scent surrounded him.

His throbbing c.o.c.k strained against his jeans.

The darkness in his soul awoke completely and howled, Mine!

Bleddyn slid his fingers under her panties toward her c.u.n.t.

s.h.i.+fting, she opened her thighs.

A soft moan reached his ears.

His fingers reached the soft curls of her c.u.n.t.

Bleddyn reached for the zipper of his jeans with his other hand.

Take her! Spread her thighs and mount her! howled the ent.i.ty in his soul.

Have you ever seen anything more pathetic and bedraggled than a cat that's been out in a blizzard? asked a dry voice in his mind.

Bleddyn snapped his attention away from Meredythe and locked gazes with the wolf stretched before the fire.

The cat sat next to her, furiously grooming himself.

The cat stopped licking long enough to glare at the wolf. Shut up, Keri.

Concentrating on their voices, Bleddyn sucked in a deep breath, breathing through his mouth to lessen the temptation of Meredythe's heady scent. "You two know each other?"

The wolf yawned then licked her lips. Finish dressing Meredythe, Bleddyn, before she catches a chill.

Squas.h.i.+ng the snarling darkness that wanted him to roll her over, mount her and plunge his aching c.o.c.k into her c.u.n.t over and over, Bleddyn focused his attention on Meredythe's face as he pulled her panties off and slipped the sweatpants up over her legs and hips. Then he slid her feet into thick, woolen socks.

Rising, he exhaled slowly. Thanks to Keri and the d.a.m.n cat, he'd managed to strip the clothing off Meredythe and dress her in some of his sweats without the dark ent.i.ty that inhabited his soul seizing command of his body. He shook his head. Without them, he wouldn't have been able to control himself. And the last thing he wanted to do was drive her away.

Now, however, he was firmly in control of himself again. Looking down at Meredythe, he smiled. She reminded him of a contented wolf pup the way she was curled on the chair. Bending, he lifted her into his arms.

The heads of both the cat and wolf snapped up.

He grinned at them. "I'm putting her to bed-alone. If it makes you both feel better, I 'll sleep down here with you."

Readjusting his burden so that her head rested against his shoulder, Bleddyn strode out the door. He walked unerringly through the dark hallway then up the steps. Once he was on the second floor, he turned right and shouldered open the third door he came to. He didn't need a light as he carried Meredythe to the bed and laid her down. It was his room. Quickly, before the urge to strip her naked and make pa.s.sionate love to her overcame his good intentions, he jerked the blankets down, settled her on the bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin. Then, with as little noise as possible, he put more logs on the fire in the fireplace. Once it was burning merrily, he returned to stand by the bed.

The soft glow of the fire reflecting off gla.s.s added an ethereal quality to her beauty. The memory of her rose-tipped b.r.e.a.s.t.s and the fiery curls between her thighs appeared in his mind. Her sultry scent teased his nostrils. Bending over, he caressed her cheek.

Mumbling something unintelligible, she rolled over.

After a quick kiss on her forehead, Bleddyn stalked stiffly back across the room and through the door. Once outside, he closed it firmly, leaned back against it and spread his legs, s.h.i.+fting against the uncomfortable tightness of his aching erection imprisoned in his tight jeans. He might be able to control his l.u.s.t, but he couldn't control his c.o.c.k. And the full moon was still some time away. How in the world would he survive with a constant hard-on?

c.o.c.k aching, Bleddyn stomped down the staircase and returned to the library. Both Keri's and Methuselah's heads snapped up when he slammed the door open.

"Out!"

The cat hissed and the wolf growled. Neither, however, balked at his command.

Bleddyn sucked in a deep breath as he closed the door firmly behind him. The last thing he needed was those two commenting on his condition. Flopping down into the chair where Meredythe had so lately slept, he stretched out his legs and opened his jeans. His c.o.c.k leaped out, straining upward, jerking as it sought Meredythe's hot c.u.n.t.

As her scent surrounded him, Bleddyn grasped his c.o.c.k and began pumping it slowly and steadily. Closing his eyes, he leaped into a fantasy where he was half reclining on the bed next to Meredythe and slid his fingers through her silky curls until he reached her wet p.u.s.s.y. There, he rubbed her hard, little c.l.i.t a few times, then slid first one then a second finger into her and pumped them. Bending his head, he captured her mouth with his in a long, tongue-twisting kiss, then nibbled his way down her neck and across her collarbone to suck on a cinnamon-colored nipple as she arched her breast into his mouth.

In the chair, Bleddyn groaned and spread his legs farther apart as he imagined himself burying his c.o.c.k deep inside her, her c.u.n.t muscles grabbing and sucking him. He groaned. Her c.u.n.t would be hot and wet and tight, he just knew it. His b.a.l.l.s drew up and began to burn.

As his c.u.m erupted high into the air, Bleddyn clutched arm of the chair with his left hand. Slowly, he released his c.o.c.k and stared at his shaking hand. Christ, but he couldn't remember the last time he'd come that hard and long.

Meredythe snuggled deeper beneath the covers. She was deliciously warm and didn 't want to wake up. A log on the fire cracked, and she opened her eyes. The clock on the nightstand displayed red numbers-7:15. Pus.h.i.+ng herself up into a sitting position, she raised her arms and stretched. Then she remembered. Her eyes flew around the room, but she was alone...almost.

"Merrooww."

Her gaze dropped to Methuselah and she pulled him into her arms. "What have we gotten ourselves into, Thuse?"

She lifted her eyes from the cat and gasped. The wall before her was made entirely of gla.s.s! A chunk of snow meandered its slow way down one of the panes. She looked up and gasped again. Half of the roof was gla.s.s too! My G.o.d, she'd slept in a picture window. Dropping the cat, she rolled out of the bed and looked around more carefully.

The king-sized bed was centered immediately underneath the gla.s.s portion of the roof facing the gla.s.s wall. Slowly, she walked to the huge window and gazed out onto a winter wonderland. Snow still fell heavily. There was no way she'd be able to leave today.

"d.a.m.n," she muttered and turned around. Methuselah was curled up on the bottom of the bed, watching her. "I guess we'll just have to make the best of it."

She gave him a quick stroke as she pa.s.sed the bed. A large sofa was pushed against the head of the bed facing the fireplace. A dresser and chest of drawers sat against opposite walls. There were three doors. She opened the first to reveal a walk-in closet, filled with men's clothing. The second, a s.p.a.cious bathroom. Meredythe sighed gratefully as she stepped inside. She needed to use the facilities.

After was.h.i.+ng her hands, she grabbed the brush that was lying on the sink and began to struggle with her tangled hair. When she walked back into the bedroom, the third door opened and Bleddyn Glyndwr sauntered in.

"Good morning."

She stepped back but continued to brush her hair. She could be just as nonchalant as he could. "Don't you know how to knock?" Then she grimaced as the brush encountered a particularly stubborn snarl.

"I did. You didn't hear me." His eyes followed her hands and he shoved his fists into his pockets. "I'd be happy to brush your hair for you."

She stepped back. "No! I mean, I can manage myself. What are you doing here anyway?"

He looked as eager as a puppy who'd just found a new best friend. "It's my room."

Meredythe was not impressed. She didn't want a new best friend. "I figured that out when I saw your clothes in the closet. Why did you put me here, and," she continued in a harder voice, "where did you sleep?"