Wolf Games

Chapter 2

Maggie scrambled off his lap so fast she slipped, her feet skidding on the soft rocks at the bottom of the outdoor pool. The towering mass of man in front of her caught her easily before her head went under.

“Take it easy, Maggie. You’re safe.” He settled her on her feet and stepped back. The bright smile in his eyes and on his face made something inside her twist and leap for joy at the same time. Her wolf fought to be free and her stomach clenched in reaction.

He was a werewolf. She recognized him from pictures Missy had sent online over the past couple of years. He was the damn Beta for her sister’s pack and he was here in Liard Hot Springs pool and her wolf lusted for him. Great. Let’s just jump in with two feet, shall we? After avoiding everything to do with wolves for years, the first one she met had to turn her crank. Movement to his side caught her attention as a group of young men approached.

“Erik? Is that Maggie?”

“Of course she is. She looks like her sister. Hi, Maggie, welcome to the North.”

The three youths continued to advance, all talking at once. Maggie backed up rapidly, slamming into Pam’s side. Oh God, there were four wolves in front of her. Panic rose and she pushed it down. She had to get over her fears.

“Do you know these people?” Pam wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.

Erik nodded. “We’re friends of her sister. We were supposed to meet you in Whitehorse.”

Pam looked around pointedly.

One of the boys spoke up. “We begged Erik to bring us to the hot springs. It’s been a while and with the Games starting soon and us not being able to participate yet he—”

“Games?”

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.”

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, 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.

“Would you be comfortable if I touched you?” she whispered, looking him straight in the eyes.

Comfortable? He was dying for her touch. “I’d love it.”

She lowered her gaze again. “I haven’t been around many wolves recently. I’m frightened by what I’m feeling. I think I know what this is, but I’m scared…”

Oh mercy. “I’ll take care of you.”

He took a step to the side, still standing waist deep in the water. With one hand on the grass on either side of her hips he caged her between his arms. They both glanced toward the others to make sure they weren’t being watched. Then like conspirators, they leaned together and their lips connected.

Sweet summertime air. The feel of the wind through his fur on a moonlight run. All the most treasured moments of his life faded in comparison as he tasted her. This, this was the moment he’d waited for all his life. She met him with her mouth slightly open, her breath mingling with his before their tongues even touched. He forced himself to keep his hands in place but she had no such compunction. As they kissed, slow and easy, learning each other’s flavour, she caressed his shoulders, rubbing her palms over his brush cut. Smoothing her long fingers down his chest. His skin shivered in anticipation of where she would touch next. Light, fleeting touches that brought his blood to a boil.

He concentrated on enjoying her scent, drawing it into his very being. Nibbles on her bottom lip, light kisses across her cheek. He licked softly at the pounding pulse at her throat. His gums itched with the desire to bite, to mark her permanently as his. But not yet. Not now that she’d confessed her fears. Still, his wolf demanded he take some action. The beast within grew as wild as he’d ever felt it, driving Erik to claim his mate. Instead of biting he suckled, drawing the soft skin of her neck into his mouth until he’d brought the blood to stain the creamy surface. The moan of desire escaping her lips nearly made him change his mind and take her right there on the embankment.

Oh hell, he wanted her. All his. Now.

It took concentration to pull away, to watch her panting breaths slowly calm, his body aching for more. His gaze fell on the rosy circle marring her throat and his wolf grumbled with delight. His mate. He paused.

“Your friend is full human, isn’t she?”

Maggie ran her hands over his shoulders again and again, her fingers clinging to him. She peeked at where Pam still played with the boys. “There’s no way I can explain to her why I’d let a total stranger give me a hickey. She’s going to think I’ve gone insane.” She snorted. “Maybe I have. Oh Lord, I never expected this to happen.”

Erik lifted her off the edge and lowered her into the water. He longed to pull her back onto his lap, and touch her more and more intimately. If this had been any normal situation, they would already be making love. It was the way with mates. Sometimes it took a lifetime to find the one special person who would complete you on every level—physical, mental and emotional. Once you found each other there was no hesitation. No recrimination for simply taking and joining together what was meant to be.

Waiting was going to kick his ass.

He took a seat on one of the underwater benches opposite her. “We don’t have to tell her. She’s flying back to Vancouver in a couple of days, right?”

Maggie nodded.

“We’ll wait. As much as I want to take you back to my tent and make love with you right now, we can wait for the sake of your friend.” A shiver shook Maggie briefly and she glanced at him, a trace of fear back in her eyes. His wolf howled and fought to comfort her. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want a mate.”

He snorted. Bullshit. “Too bad. You’ve got one.”

Her jaw dropped, and she gaped at him. “You can’t just say something like that and expect me to be all right with it. I’m telling you I don’t want a mate. I’m still freaked out at the thought of trying to live within the confines of a pack. Why would I also want a mate to deal with?”

That made no sense at all. “A mate isn’t to deal with, a mate is to love.”

She stopped cold. He had the sudden vision of the two of them, tangled together intimately, and had to reach into the water to adjust himself before his cock exploded. Her gaze followed his hands and she blushed hard.

“I know this isn’t fair. I’m sorry, I really am, but as much as my body is interested, we can’t do this. I’m telling you straight up so you can be prepared. Even after Pam leaves, I’m not having sex with you. I’m not ready to be anyone’s mate until I deal with some issues.”

“Are you telling me this because you think if you say it, you’ll be able to resist wanting to be with me? Maggie, we’re werewolves and we’re mates. There’s a chemical reaction between us, yes, but this isn’t just physical. Becoming mates is in our best interest.”

“Best interest? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Those issues you mentioned, let me help you with them. That’s my job. As mates we’re better as a couple. I need you, you need me.”

“Arghh, you are so frustrating.”

“I’m your mate.”

The shouting and laughter from the others got louder as they moved closer. This conversation would have to be put on hold. Erik raised a brow at her. “We’ll have to agree to disagree for now. Let’s head back to the campground. We’ll follow you to Whitehorse in the morning. Keil gave me orders to keep you in sight at all times while we’re there.” He stood and held out a hand to her. She took it reluctantly and he squeezed it. “It’s going to be okay, Maggie, really.”

She shook her head. “You just don’t understand.”

They waded to the stairs and he led her out of the pool. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

The bright hope in her eyes calmed his fears. There was obviously something big she wasn’t sharing yet, but they’d deal with it. Together.

“Holy cow, what happened to your neck?” Pam exclaimed as she and the boys crowded around them.

Maggie froze for a second, her face flushing red. Erik stepped in smoothly. “Bug bite.”

One of the boys snorted and Erik elbowed him in the ribs while Pam dug into her bag and pulled out a container of cream. She dabbed some on the mark. “Must have been a hell of a big bug.”

Maggie glared at him and he smiled, turning away to head to the change room. “The biggest around.”