Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Declan’s eyes crinkled as he took in her reaction. His gaze softened,
and he touched her cheek.
“How are you doing p>
“Fine. Kept busy. How did the search go p>
“Nothing yet. The track we picked up was a false lea
laid
land
on purpose. But there are others still searching. We know
inside and out. There’s nowhere he can hide where we won’t find
him p>
The interminable waiting and her inability to do anything about it frustrated Tessa. She felt helpless, and it was doubly frustrating,
because it was her problem, and she wasn’t allowed to try to solve it.
Instead, she had to sit around and twiddle her thumbs. But it wasn’t
Declan’s fault. Tessa was just human, and too weak and useless
compared to what the wolf kin could do. At best, she would only get
in the way. At worst, she could get herself killed.
So she simply nodded and turned to the window, looking out at the
fading afternoon light. Where was Alex? Somewhere nearby, where
he could watch the cabin, waiting for his chance?
“I’ll start the stove,” Tessa said, turning abruptly away from the
window. “And heat up the stew.” In addition to pierogis, Natasha
had sent caribou stew, salmon cakes, some sort of hearty rabbit
casserole, and goose soup with dumplings.
“Alright,” Declan said, sounding cautious.
Tessa could feel him watching her as she struck a match and lit the old gas burner. She kept her attention on the kitchen, her back
Chapter 74
turned to Declan as she put a pot on the stove and dumped the stew into it.
“I’m sorry, Tessa.” Declan’s voice came from behind her–right behind her. She turned to face him.
“Sorry for what p>
“ I’m sorry you’re trapped here p>
“It’s not your fault p>
“Doesn’t make it fair.” He touched her cheek. “It’ll b
Soon p>
“ I know.” She leaned against him, grateful that she could. She’d been aching to touch him for so long, longer even than she’d been aware of the ache. The fact that she could do so freely, that he would welcome the touch, reciprocate it, filled her with a warm glow that chased away the feelings of helpless frustration.
Declan wrapped his arms around her. “How long will the stew take to heat up p>
“I don’t know. A few minutes p>
“I have an idea for how we can pass the time p>
“Pass the time? It’s only going to a be few min–ohhh, gotcha p>
Declan lifted the hem of her sweater and Tessa raised her arms so
he could pull it over her head. His hands went to her jeans next, and she smiled lazily, letting him do all the work. He knelt to shuck them down her legs and she leaned on his shoulder as he stepped out of them. His fingers curled into the waistband of her panties next, and she figured she’d be generous and get her bra off for him. It slipped down her arms and she dropped it on her pile of clothes as Declan slowly peeled her panties down, kissing and licking each inch of
Chapter 74
bared skin.
This was the first time she’d gotten naked with him in full daylight, but she didn’t feel any insecurity. He worshipped her body with his fingers and mouth, and all she could think about was the feel of him, the pleasure of him. There was no room for shyness.
His nose skimmed along her mound, but he didn’t put his mouth on
her there. Instead, he turned his head, pressing a teasing kiss to her
thigh. Then another kiss, and another, working his way inside,
closer to the needy spot that was throbbing for his tou
stroked over the sensitive skin on the crease betwee
her sex.
tongue
and
He stopped. Drew back.
“Declan p>
He hooked one hand behind her knee and lifted her leg, splaying it out. It wasn’t a sexy, spreading–her–legs–so–he–could–feast–on–her move. It was an inspection. He stared at her thigh, at a spot she
couldn’t see.
“No,” he said hoarsely.
“That’s not the sort of thing a woman likes to hear in this position,” Tessa said shakily. Her heart was beginning to accelerate, her hands to shake. Something was wrong. Really wrong.
“He marked you.” He looked up at her, his face a mask of fury and despair. His eyes gleamed gold, the irises gone wolflike. Against her skin, Tessa felt human fingernails elongate into claws. “He fucking marked you!” The words escaped as an inhuman snarl. Declan shoved away from her.
Fur burst from his skin and his face elongated into a fanged muzzle. It was nothing like the shift he’d shown her before. This was savage and uncontrolled. It looked broken and… wrong.
Chapter 74
He doubled over as he backed away from her, a vicious snarl tearing
from his throat.
♡ (5)
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