Beautiful Moves(Shifting Steel Book 3)(15)

"I am never going to be able to look at turtles the same way again. I  think we're done. I can't handle anymore." Wolf shook his head trying  not to laugh.

He rose from the couch and reached a hand out to help Ella up.

"Are we heading back?" she asked.

When Ella took his hand the heat from his touch spread up her arm,  causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. Oh, she shivered, attempting to  tamp down the rising surge.

"All that talk about walking through the woods, got me thinking some  fresh air sounded good," Wolf said as he led her out a side door, toward  the trees behind the clubhouse.

"You sure you want to come out here? I don't have a good track record walking in the woods," Ella joked.

"I heard." Wolf grinned and squeezed her hand. "Do you think they put an  ad on Craig's list? All perverts meet at the park, Tuesday at six."

"I think it was Tinder. They were in the woods, get it, Tinder," Ella giggled at her own pathetic pun.

"Yes, I got it, funny girl. I think it's a good thing we cut you off."

Ella's sobered up when Wolf entered the tree line. Wolf wanted to be  alone with her. Ella could feel that nervous, excited feeling, Kayla  described earlier, mounting in her gut.

Ella didn't know how Wolf could possibly see where he was going, as he  wound his way through the trees, but they didn't run into any branches.  He had a firm grasp on her hand, as he walked with confidence and  purpose. There was something comforting about turning control over to  him. Ella never had that luxury.

"We're coming to a clearing, but I don't think we'll find a bunch of  dudes tugging their junk. At least I hope not," Wolf teased.

"I can't believe I told everyone about that." Ella swatted him playfully.

The leaves in the trees danced, but didn't thrash about. The undergrowth  rustled, but that was because their feet disturbed it, as they walked  the obscure path. Ella smiled. She was doing a good job keeping her gift  to a low roar, even with Wolf holding her hand. There was something  about Wolf's touch. It was different from all the other times she tried  to have physical contact with a man. It riled her up, and grounded her  in the same breath.

Please just continue to behave, Ella coached her curse.

It was easier to see, once they broke through the trees, into a small  grassy field. The moon lit up the clearing. Ella was mesmerized as she  watched scores of fireflies flit about. Their ethereal little lights  burst to life, then dimmed, only to do it again. They were like a  blanket of twinkling stars, that had descended to the earth. It was  amazing that something so bizarre was even possible. Watching the tiny  miracles made Ella feel more normal. If these little creatures were  possible, then just maybe she wasn't so weird or so alone after all.                       
       
           



       

"It's lovely," Ella sighed.

Wolf turned toward her, and Ella froze. His golden-brown eyes were  intense, even in the dark. They glowed, like the fireflies, as he stared  down at her. He reached up and pulled the clip out of her hair, then  combed his finger through the waves.

"I like it down," he husked.

Ella's breath picked up, when Wolf's fingers teased the sensitive spot  on her neck, just beneath her ear. Ella couldn't help the way she  automatically tilted her head to the side, to give him better access. He  gripped the back of her neck and tipped her head back.

What's he going to do? You know what he's going to do.

"Um, Wolf, I don't know if this is a good idea." Ella said the words, even as her hands rose to grasp his broad shoulders.

"Probably not. Do I scare you?"

"No," Ella whispered.

She wasn't afraid of Wolf. She was afraid of what she might do to him.  She was also afraid of wanting this too much, only to have it snatched  away.

Before Ella could come up with a good excuse, Wolf wrapped a strong arm  around her waist, and tugged her against him. When his lips met hers,  she nearly exploded. A delicious heat swept through her, as Wolf  explored her mouth. Ella's skin prickled, from her head to her toes. Her  nipples tingled, and a wanton ache surged to life in the pit of her  stomach.

When Wolf released a tormented groan into her mouth, Ella realized what  she was doing. She pushed at his shoulders, breaking their kiss.

"I'm hurting you," Ella cried as she tried to back away from him.

"Easy, Princess," Wolf groaned again, his voice impossibly deep.

Ella could feel her curse swirling inside her like a maelstrom, pushing  to get free. It was leaking out, despite her best effort to contain it.  She didn't know how Wolf was able to maintain his grasp on her neck and  waist. Her only saving grace, was that she'd overused it recently,  siphoning off some of the excess energy.

Wolf refused to release her. Instead, he tilted her chin up so she had to look him in the eye.

"Ella you're not hurting me. I like the way your nails dig into my skin."

Ella gasped, she hadn't even realized she was gripping him so hard.

"But the sound you made," Ella stammered.

"Okay, so maybe you are hurting me. But not the way you think," he  growled deep. Ella's eyes widened as Wolf ground the evidence of his  desire into her stomach. "God, Princess, the things I feel, touching you  like this."

Ella was so shocked, she was struck mute. Wolf wasn't the only one  feeling things that seemed impossible. Ella had never known this kind of  desire. It had never been a possibility. Ella wanted this so bad. Maybe  what she was feeling, wasn't her curse. Maybe it was just her nerves,  and that driving need, making her think she was losing control. Wolf had  that effect on her. But what if she was wrong? She'd never forgive  herself if something happened to Wolf.

"Ella, tell me what you're thinking." Wolf frowned as he ran his thumb over her lips.

"Wolf, remember what I told you?"

"Yes."

"I'm not like everyone else. I don't want to hurt you."

"Princess, I'm a big boy. You'd have to try real hard to hurt me," Wolf chuckled.

He obviously didn't understand what she was trying to tell him. And she  couldn't explain it without major implications she wasn't ready to face  yet.

"Do you like it when I kiss you?"

"Yes, too much." Ella nodded.

"Then just relax and let go. Let me take care of you."

Ella's face contorted, her eyes welling up at the implication of his  words. She knew Wolf wanted to bring her pleasure, and that meant a lot.  But the way he said those simple words, his eyes filled with such  sincerity, nearly shattered her. She wanted to truly let go for once in  her life. Ella wanted someone to take care of her for a change. She  wanted to feel all her joy and all her sorrow, without fear of the  carnage that would ensue.

"Stop thinking so hard, Princess," Wolf admonished then captured her mouth again.

Any hope Ella had at maintaining her last shred of restraint, was thrown out the window.

Please just let me have this, Ella begged.

Wolf caressed her face, as his tongue breached her mouth. Ella opened  for his exploration. When his tongue tangled with hers, Ella wasn't  quite sure what to do. She'd never done this before, but she liked it.

When Wolf's tongue retreated, Ella followed with her own. He tasted  watery sweet. She ran the tip over Wolf's firm lips, then traced his  teeth. Ella noted his canines seemed rather sharp as she slowly explored  his mouth. The mental image of Wolf nipping her with those teeth, sent  Ella into overdrive. She leaned into him and deepened her kiss. There  was an odd sound, and she realized she was moaning as she kissed him.                       
       
           



       

Wolf responded in turn. His grip tightened as he hungrily took over her  mouth again. The way his tongue plunged and ravished her, only fed the  fire building inside. Ella felt moisture pooling between her thighs and  she clenched them tight, hoping to ease the ache.

Wolf's hand lowered from her back to cup her behind, kneading it, and  pressing her inexorably closer to his hard body. The stiff ridge of his  shaft ground into her belly. Ella couldn't help rubbing against him, as  she writhed in his arms. Every part of her felt alive. Even on her tippy  toes she was too short to relieve the mounting pressure between her  thighs. She wanted more.

"Fuck, Princess," Wolf snarled as he broke their kiss.

"What?" Ella gasped from the sudden loss and the frisson of concern that shot through her.

"We gotta stop, or I'm going to do things to you, you can't possibly  want," Wolf groaned as his nose explored her neck, his hot breath  teasing her.

"I don't want to stop," Ella whispered.

She didn't know when this moment might happen again. Her gift was  behaving enough that it wasn't hurting Wolf, so he said. They were out  in the open, where nothing could come crashing on their heads. It was  like the stars had aligned, granting her deepest wish.