Dresden rubbed his cheek back and forth across the top of Jude’s head, breathing deep and filling his lungs with her scent. He’d come to expect her scent on just about everything from his clothes to his sleeping blankets. It felt strangely disturbing to think that when this was all over he would leave and her scent would eventually fade. “Run with me,” he said.
Jude shook her head. “I can’t. Sam’s forbidden any of us from beyond the clearing. She’d skin me herself if I left.”
“I forgot,” he said. Nuzzling her hair aside, he bent his head and pressed his nose against the pulse point that beat steadily at the base of her throat. “Come away with me.”
“Where?” Jude asked, shivering as his breath feathered across her skin.
“Anywhere,” Dresden said, “somewhere we can be alone.”
Jude tipped her head back and look over her shoulder at Dresden. Something was different about him. Three months as lovers had taught her a lot about the solitary panther. She knew that he prefered to be alone, that he was rarely if ever actually lonely and enjoyed the travel. She also knew that he was a passionate lover, attentive and inventive. But what she was seeing was a softer side, something not previously present in their coupling. “Alright,” she said. “There’s a couple of smaller alcoves further inside the mountain. They’re used mostly for guests and only in winter as they tend to get too hot during the summer.”
“Show me,” he said, his voice going rough with desire.
Jude caught the bright green of his eyes and felt her body warm and soften. It was a look she was familiar with, a look that never ceased to thrill and excite her. Nodding, she took his hand and led them deeper into the mountain.
They passed smaller groups of pack members, most of them talking or working quietly while others prepared to travel to see family. There was a sense of quiet anticipation, a sense of waiting but no fear. They trusted in their pack leaders and would do whatever was necessary to see them all safe.
Jude was happy to see many of them smile at both her and Dresden as they passed by. It had taken a bit of time for the trust to grow and for people to get used to the idea of her coupling with someone other then another wolf. But Dresden had proven himself to be a friend of the pack, someone they could trust. The fact that their coupling was temporary didn’t matter to many.
Dresden followed Jude back into the mountain passing several smaller family alcoves busy with activity. Eventually, the activity grew quiet before disappearing altogether leaving them alone in front of a small alcove.
Jude pulled back the curtain and motioned Dresden to enter. Inside the small alcove was warm, a slight musk of disuse lingering in the summer afternoon heat. He was pleased to see a thick pallet on the floor and a folded blanket. The lack of such things wouldn’t have stopped him but he perfer they both be comfortable. Turning, he watched Jude slip inside allowing the curtain to fall closed behind her.
He didn’t wait, didn’t hesitate in reaching for her and wrapping his hands around her waist. She came to him willingly, her body softening into him as he took her mouth in a kiss.
Jude sighed and surrendered her mouth. Immediately Dresden slipped inside, his tongue gliding between her lips to touch and taste. It wasn’t hard and fast, not yet, but slow and languid with a hint of desperation.
For several minutes he contented himself with exploring every nook and cranny, licking along the length of her tongue before nibbling along the lines of her lips. He savored the sensation, her bottom lip slightly fuller then its mate and reveled in the taste of her. He found himself not so much imprinting her onto his memory but confirming what he already knew.
Jude wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Using their differences in height, Jude pulled herself up the front of him, dragging her breasts across his chest. She wanted to get closer, wanted to feel the press of his skin as their bodies moved as one.
Dresden growled in response to the feeling of Jude pressed firmly against his chest. His hands on her hips, he pushed her from him, smiling in satisfaction at her growl of displeasure. Ignoring her attempts to draw him back, he released her hips long enough to pull her t-shirt up and over her head. “Jesus…” he purred. She wasn’t wearing a bra. A fact he’d not realized until her breasts sprung free from her tight fitted shirt.
Jude smiled at the look of greedy desire on Dresden’s face. Stepping back as he reached for her, she tossed him a look of pure female satisfaction and reached for the front of her jeans. Slowly, making sure he was watching, she slid the button free.
Dresden would have sworn he could hear the button release in the heavy silence that permiated the alcove.
Jude went for the second button, careful to draw out the moment as long as possible.
Dresden inhaled sharply at the small expanse of tan skin that was suddenly revealed as the second button gave way.
“Uh-uh,” Jude said when Dresden took a step forward.
Dresden’s growl of impatience turned to one of anticipation as Jude skipped the next button and instead slipped her own hand down the front of her jeans.
Jude slipped her hand inside her panties and between her legs closing her eyes as her fingers brushed the top of her clit. “Hmmm…” she hummed in pleasure. Already she was close, knew that it wouldn’t take but a few quick flicks of her clit to send her over the edge. Opening her eyes she saw Dresden staring at her from across the alcove. His green eyes had gone bright and he was panting with barely contained desire. Slowly she withdrew her hand and brought it to her mouth. Their eyes locked as she slipped her fingers into her mouth and tasted her own desire. “Yum,” she said.
Dresden snapped and launched himself across the room. Taking them both to the ground, he twisted in midair, taking the brunt of the impact before rolling and pinning her beneath him. “It is unwise to poke at an aroused cat,” he said a second before ripping the jeans from her body.
Jude jerked at the sudden movement followed by a groan of pure pleasure as Dresden thrust two fingers into her ready body.