Erik broke in, his gaze locked on Maggie. She kept eye contact only through sheer will power. “We were supposed to meet tomorrow. It’s just a lucky break we’re here at the same time. Are you okay now, Maggie? Do you need me for anything?” The heat in his eyes let her know his offer was wide open to interpretation.
Strip and let me ride you. Maggie felt her skin flush, and it wasn’t from the heat of the water around them. Was this really happening to her? She shook her head and finally noticed she still wore her shorts and T-shirt over her swimsuit. “Let me get changed and then we can talk.”
Vivian Arend
Pam held her elbow and together the two of them slogged their way out of the pool to the change house, a trail of water following them. Maggie snickered as she glanced at her friend.
“Sorry for making you take a swim with all your clothes on.”
Pam waved a hand. “Forget it. You feeling better?”
“Yeah. I think I’ll be okay now.”
“Good.” Pam pulled off her shirt and wrung it out. She peeked out the door of the change shelter and snuck back to whisper. “Are these guys safe? Do you really know them?”
Maggie sat on the bench to wrestle her wet runners off her feet. “I know of them. I’ve never met them but my sister did say someone would come escort me from Whitehorse to Haines. She didn’t want me driving by myself after I drop you off at the airport.”
“She couldn’t come? At least so you’d know they were who they say they are?”
Maggie snorted. “From the sounds of it, Missy doesn’t fit in a car very well right now. The soon-to-arrive twins are making her life difficult and I certainly don’t expect a pregnant woman to sit for a four-hour trip just to make me feel better. Don’t worry, I recognize Erik. He works with my brother-in-law’s family. He’s a wilderness guide.”
“He’s a tank.”
A burst of laughter escaped her. “He is rather large, isn’t he? Rather…yummy, too.”
Pam raised her eyebrows. “Really? Crap, Mags, I haven’t seen you express interest in anything male for…” She stopped and frowned. “Have I ever seen you express interest in a guy?”
Maggie hit her. “Stop it.”
“If he’s someone you trust, fine. I just think it’s weird that of all places to meet, it’s out here in the wilderness. I thought the North was this vast wild land, with wild creatures running free everywhere. Not a social club.”
They stepped out of the change shelter and Maggie took a deep breath as the three young men did cannonballs into the lower pool, chasing each other like puppies. “Oh, I think there’s plenty of wild animals around, if you know where to look.”
Erik watched contently as the youths finally lured Pam to another section of the pool to play a game, leaving him alone with Maggie for the first time. She sat on the narrow edge of grass at the side of the pool, dangling her feet in the water. The thick underbrush of the wilderness behind her framed her sweet body.
She clutched the mossy surface with her fingers, head averted, but he knew she was looking him over.
He stood from where he’d sat, neck deep in the hottest part of the pool. Slow, even steps brought him closer until he leaned his elbows on the grass at her side. He breathed in deeply and noticed she did the same, a fluttering pulse leaping to life at the junction of her neck and shoulder. Turning his head he admired her openly, unable to tear his gaze away. She wore a bikini of brilliant blue that matched her eyes, 12
www.samhainpublishing.com
Wolf Games
like a little bit of the summer sky had fallen to earth. Her curves and dips and rounded places all called to him and he swallowed hard.
Her head lifted and their gazes met. A trace of fear shone in the depths and his wolf poked him in the nuts, insistent he take care of her.
“Do I frighten you?”
She licked her lips, leaving them wet and soft. He wanted to lean over to taste her so badly.
“I’m very drawn to you, and that scares me.”
The air around them filled with the faint noises of the spring and the laughter of the others in the distance. The sunlight shone full on them and she turned her face to its warmth. He waited patiently.
Patience was something he had more than enough of. It took a few minutes before she sat straighter, squaring her shoulders. The boldness with which she turned to face him made him proud. His mate was no wimp. He’d expect her to be as strong as him.
“I don’t know how much my sister told you. I’ve been avoiding wolves for a long time. I know I need to change my reaction, but it’s become a habit to stay away from any involvement with pack. I have to fight my first instinct. It’s going to take time to retrain myself not to panic when I see a werewolf. I’m sorry I screamed when I saw you. You didn’t deserve that.”
She was not only strong, she was empathetic and caring. Erik let the pleasure of her presence roll over him. “Trust me, you’re not the first person to scream at the sight of me. I’m a little larger than most people.
That can be intimidating. I don’t take it personally.”
Maggie smiled. “Good for you.”
They stared at each other.