Dawn's Path: Completed Work

Lance's eyebrows arched in question at what she was planning to do. Whatever it was he'd support her. Judging by the determined expression on her face. Her mission was an important one. He gave her space as they walked out to the bluffs. He was close enough to catch her if she started to waver. But, far enough away that she could keep her thoughts private and her mind focused. He heard her breathing speed as they approached the clearing. "Angel?"

"Could you start a fire please?" Her eyes fixed on the spot where Roark's funeral pyre had been. Stretching out a trembling finger she pointed to the spot. " Over there." Her fingers clutched the journal and the wood, trembling with determination to see this through to the end.

"Ok," Lance replied softly. He set about, combing the woods for scraps of fallen limbs to use for kindling. When the pile was stacked high enough, he lit the fire. The pile of twigs limbs were damp and smoked terribly before the flames took hold. He kept out of her head. "Good enough?"

Angel watched the merrily dancing flames entranced by their intricate patterns of light set against the backdrop of the peaceful night. "Roark really is dead and gone," she said.

"Yes, Angel he is," Lance answered gently.

"And the past can't hurt me any longer."

"No, it can't," he confirmed. She repeated facts she already knew. Trying desperately to seat the reality of the truth solidly in her mind. Lance was close enough now to grab her if he needed to. She stared at the flames, their light glittering in her dark eyes. The placid expression spread across her face frightened him. She was lost in her thoughts. And he wasn't sure if she was having a relapse or not.

"I'm ready now," Angel breathed. Before she could change her mind and cling to the journal she tossed it into the fire. Watching as the cover scorched black and the edges curled. Sparks danced high into the night sky like fireflies on a summer night. Her previous life was burning, consumed by hungry flames, reduced to ash. Opening her palm, she stared down at the charred scrap of wood she'd clung to as a security blanket for far too long. She didn't need it anymore. She had Lance. And more than that, she'd found herself. With a flick of her wrist the wood landed on top what little remained of the journal and disappeared into the fire. She exhaled in relief. She was free at last.

Lance placed an arm around Angel's shoulders and pulled her into the protective cradle created by his body. What she had done, letting go, took courage. And he admired her for taking the step. He loved her all the more for the force of strength she'd shown. He pressed his lips against the top of her head. Reassuring her of the wonderful future fate had in store for them. Roark could no longer taint their future. His memory was finally at long last, cast like the ashes of his pyre had been months ago, to the winds.

Angel and Lance stayed on the bluffs watching the fire burn until it had consumed all its fuel and was nothing but glowing embers. Dawn rose in the eastern sky tinting the woods in a warm golden glow. There was a single white glowing star in the heavens. Closing her eyes, Angel tried to think of a wish. But, snuggling in against Lance, she already had everything she'd ever dreamed of and then some.

"Are you ready to go home?" Lance asked as the last of the flames died to embers. Angel had done more than he'd ever hoped in burning the journal and tossing the scrap from Roark's pyre into the fire. She'd let go of her past. And she was finally free to love and to at long last, become the woman he'd seen she could be, that he'd chased through the woods and had finally captured.

Angel nodded. "More than."

Chapter 67

The wolf yawned contentedly. Exhausted from a night of scampering and playing in the woods. Playing along beside her with an equal measure of joy and abandon was the man. He stretched out on the soft bed of spongy loam, resting his weight on his elbow. She stretched out next to him, panting, her pink tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth as she rolled onto her back to submissively enjoy a belly rub and occasional tickle along her ribs. Tala fought her. Begrudged her submission to this man. And the wolf didn't care. She'd chosen their mate in this man and his wolf.

"Tala, will you come to me?" Drew whispered. He had twigs and leaves tangled in his hair. He'd cast off his jacket and shirt at some point during their wild frolicking through the woods. And the cool night winds caressed his heated skin. His jeans were torn in places and caked with mud. Streaks of dirt stained his cheeks. And his grooming was questionable at this point. But, he had never had so much fun. He had never allowed himself to. He was happy and very content to play wolf games. But, he would be even more so if the she-wolf would allow him to have his Tala back.

The wolf yipped in displeasure at surrendering her body. The man, his wolf was so close to the surface, wild and untamed, so new to this world. His wolf wanted come out to play, to claim his place and her. But, the man held him back. Tala battered the edges of her mind, wanting control of their shared body. And the man's words, spoken in the ancient language of the people, loosened the wolf's hold on the body she shared. Rolling onto her belly, she relented and gave her body back to Tala.

Opening her eyes, Tala blinked and tried to sort out the random images shown to her by her wolf. She was lying on her back, naked on the ground with Drew staring down at her. Her muscles ached and groaned in protest to the shift as she moved to sit up. A heated blush colored her cheeks at the dark tinge of male interest in his eyes as they trailed over every inch of her exposed flesh. His arousal, the very essence of the man and the wolf within him, hung like a cloud over her. A thick, spicy, decadent, and heart stopping cloud of desire and heady need. Shyly, she crossed an arm over her breasts. Hiding them from his hungry eyes.

"No, don't," Drew commanded huskily. "They're beautiful. Don't hide them." He took his time tracing his fingers between the valley of her breasts and gently ran them over her forearm, marveling at the goose pimples and softness of her skin. Guiding her arm down to her side, he allowed his eyes to feast on the bounty of her pebbled nipples and the fullness of her breasts. His lips curled in a smile as she gasped at the flesh-to-flesh contact. Before she could protest. Before she fully came to her senses. He swooped down. Mashing their mouths together in a heated kiss.

His fingers, so close to the hilly peaks of her breasts hazarded to wander over them. Gently brushing the already firm peaks with his fingertips to tease them to fullness. His tongue danced in and out of her mouth, tasting the wildness of her and suckling the warm bit of flesh. His hands had a mind of their own and he could not stop their progression over her nipples. The gentle brush of fingertips became fevered strokes as she arched her back in response to the sensation. The kiss deepened and grew more passionate. Their tongues tangled and twisted, slick and probing into one another's mouths.

Her sharp little fingernails clawed at his shoulders. Scoring his skin, they dug into his flesh, drawing him closer and trapping him there. He groaned in delight at the sting. More. He had to have more than just a sample. Drew withdrew his tongue from Tala's mouth and slicked it down her slender sloping neck. Tasting his first taste of heaven. The air around him hummed with pulsating energy. The wolf and the woman responded with wild instinct to his touch and the heat from his lips. And he heard perfection in her heated gasp. His fangs popped out of his gums, aching and throbbing in time to the rapid beat of their hearts.

The vampire in him was rising to the surface. Battling with the wolf trapped inside of him. Yet, he was still a man, clumsily tripping over outdated customs and notions that the rest of the world had abandoned long ago. He hadn't even properly courted her yet and all he could think about was the need to touch, to taste, and to claim her. The wolf had no such qualms and neither did the vampire about human conventions and rules. His hands stroked over her warm flesh, taking their time as they wandered lower to the soft rise of her stomach.

Tala's wolf howled in absolute delight as Drew's fingers trailed down her belly gently stroking her flesh. His tongue burned hot on her neck, searing her skin and sending her heart rate skyrocketing. More, yes more was good. More was toe curling and exhilarating. She didn't care about the life long bond they'd form if she had sex with him. She didn't care about her father's angry disapproval. She didn't care about the pack. There was only this moment and the dizzyingly wonderful havoc he played with her senses. She didn't care about tomorrow at all. For once, she and her wolf were in absolute agreement. The only thing that mattered was him and the absolute pleasure his hands and lips created.

Grabbing his hair in her fists she guided his mouth to her lips. Hungrily devouring them. Tasting him, so sweet and good. Nicked by the sharp point of his fang her bottom lip seeped blood. Coppery and salty in her mouth and on the tip of his tongue, the drops mixed with his sweet taste. Drew groaned lapping at the beads, taking the very essence of her into his body. And although it should be frightening, it was the most erotic experience she'd ever known. His fingers traced a path down to the thick patch of dark hair between her legs.

Eased down on her back, the soft loam cool against her overheated skin, he inched her thighs open. She should fight this...fight him. At least make an attempt at playing hard to get. But, her wolf was not into human games. Her wolf wanted what she wanted and she wanted him. Instinct had her opening her thighs to welcome the gentle exploration of his fingers. And no, while it was true she wasn't governed by instinct or her wolf. She, as a woman, wanted this too much to deny him or herself.

Tala bucked her hips and cried out in delight as he found places she hadn't known existed and began to explore them. Jolts of pleasure tingled up her spine. Wonders she'd never experienced before held her in rapt thrall. Parts of her ached, parts of her burned, and all of her wanted more of what he offered with the gentle probing of his fingertips and the sweet caress of his lips over her skin.

His strokes felt too good. The heat of his breath, exhaled in labored pants over the sensitive peaks of her breasts was more than she could endure. She was burning alive. Dying from the pleasure of his touch. Offering her body to the man and her throat to his wolf and begging for more. Clinging to his powerful shoulders she felt the strain holding back caused him. He fought not one instinct but two. And that fact should terrify her. The vampire he'd been wanted her blood. His wolf still trapped and grappling for freedom wanted her wolf. And the man in him wanted her in every way possible. Yet, she lacked the strength to be afraid. If anything she was more frightened of herself and the magic of her wolf than she was of him. Panting and grappling at his belt she fought to keep her wolf at bay. "Might accidentally hurt you."

"Let go, Tala." Drew stroked the budding nub at the apex of her core faster with his fingers. Her center was wet and hot. Filling the air with the musky scent of her need. Her orgasm built to a fevered pitch. She bucked wildly against his hand, seeking her release. But, he didn't want it to end so quickly. He slowed his pace. Torturing her with pleasure and himself with the patience only a vampire could hope to possess. Fingering the fleshy blossom to ripeness, so sensitive, she quivered beneath even the slightest brush of his fingertip. "Let go," he urged.

Tala moaned in pleasure. Each stroke was torment. Each hungry suckle at her straining nipple paradise. She was afraid to let go. Fearful her wolf would hurt him and she'd never be able to take it back. But, more than that, she was afraid that she wouldn't stop. That she'd take this too far. Get too wrapped up in the pleasure and forget the consequences. Trap him into something he didn't understand and didn't want. His fingertips continued their assault, teasing swollen flesh and dissolving her resolve with the promise of pleasure. "No. Can't."

"I want to take care of you, Tala. Trust me to do this for you." He slipped one finger inside her fluid core, gently probing and coaxing her closer to the brink. She was beautiful, her long hair fanned out around her head in a velvet curtain of night. Her lips pursed and her top teeth worrying her bottom lip as she struggled for control. Her breasts heaved with the effort of her labored panting breaths. His maiden of the woods belonged in this place. Wild and untamed, free as she was meant to be.

She was so wet, so ready for him. But, she'd never known a man this intimately before. He'd hurt her. The pain would be fleeting ushered in on the heels of the pleasure he could give her. Gently, he guided a second finger into her slick depths and frowned at the gasp of discomfort exhaled from her lips. Stretching her, he coaxed her body open to receive him. Flicking his thumb over the swollen flesh of her clit, he took her the rest of the way. She bucked beneath him. Her tiny fingers curling into fists, grabbing at thin air for an anchor as she drifted in pleasure from his touch.

His fangs longed for purchase in her flesh. But, he would not indulge. Not without her permission, never without permission. He felt the unbroken barrier and edged away. Keeping her honor intact. He would love to be the one to fully claim her and break through the fragile membrane. But, that was a topic for another place and time. His needs didn't matter. She and her pleasure were the only things that did. Guiding his fingers in and out of her quivering core, he stroked her clitoris. She came for him fully and completely. Bucking her hips and tossing her head, gasping and clutching at him wildly, drawing him down to her, demanding his weight stretched over the top of her.

Tala gasped as a wave of pleasure swept over her and took her to a place she'd never been before. Shivering and gripping at his shoulder she crested, helpless to the waves carrying her adrift. Floating along. The hard seam of Drew's jeans pressed against her sensitive core. He was erect, so hard, aching and straining. Panting from the effort he spent to hold back. Her wolf, fully awakened, wanted more. Wanted it all. She ached to sink her teeth into his neck. Growled to drag her claws over his back. Howled with need to complete the mating ritual. But, her wolf was contained in her human skin. And Tala was more than content to lie beneath Drew, cradled in his arms, grounded by his weight.

"Drew," She whispered his name as she ran her palms along the hard planes of his chest. He'd given her so much and sacrificed of himself, for her. And still, she ached for him, for more of him. He'd given her pleasure beyond anything she'd ever imagined. And it still wasn't enough. It would never be enough. He shifted his weight off her and guided her to his side. Lining up their bodies. He teased her with a trail of light kisses across the bridge of her nose and her cheeks as he brushed her hair over her bare shoulder. The gesture was affectionate and very tender. Loving. And the simplicity of it, the intimacy such a simple thing managed to stir within her, had her melting in his arms and trembling with desire.

Tala was curious. And the only way to get answers was to ask questions. His fangs poked out from beneath his upper lip. Sharp white points in contrast to the darkness around them. Timidly, she ran the pad of her finger over the tips. He gasped and tightened his grip around her waist as if she'd touched him someplace lower. He was still hard, bulging beneath his zipper. The ripe head of him trapped behind the button on his jeans. She had seen plenty of naked men in her lifetime. It went along with the territory of being a wolf. And yes, she would have had to been blind not to notice certain things about the men. But, she knew very little about this particular part of their anatomy. He was big in that area. Straining the fabric of his worn cotton jeans to the bursting point. She could do for him what he'd done for her. That was, if she trusted herself enough to not take it too far. Which, she couldn't guarantee. Her body still burned for him. Craving more. And her wolf, intrigued by him and the promise of a good mating, wasn't helping things any.

Tracing a finger across his lips, smiling as he kissed the tip and opened his mouth to gently trap the tip between his front teeth. She asked the question burning in her mind. Yes, it was nuts and probably tempting fate to ask. But, she asked anyway. "Your fangs are sticking out. Does that mean you're hungry or horny?"

"Both." He chuckled huskily at the innocence of her question. Every time her dainty fingertip brushed across his fangs he felt it a lot lower, in his intolerably hardened groin, to be exact. He huffed, a little embarrassed at being caught with a hard on and a fang on. The pressure of her naked thigh resting below his belt line was killing him. And her flesh, bare and supple, in such a close proximity to his fangs was about to reduce him to the point of begging. She didn't know the intricacies of vampire psychology or physiology. Or how directly connected all his parts were to one another.

Vampires were sensual beings by their very nature. They had so little of the actual world they could experience. They did not eat. They could not tolerate the beauty of a sunrise. They did not feel heat or cold the way humans did. They could kill with a kiss. Seduce with death. And sex, he supposed, was the last shred of humanity they had left. And perhaps, that was why he'd never turned to the affections of a woman until Tala. She was the only woman he'd ever want to share that final treasured part of himself with.

"Will it hurt if you?" She winced and swallowed hard at the thought of what she was asking him. She longed to give Drew something in return for the pleasure he'd given her. She couldn't trust herself to unzip his zipper and do for him what he'd done for her. And sex, as much as she wanted to and she knew he wanted to, was too dangerous for the both of them. He had much to learn, as did she. They had much to learn about each other and the intricacies of their worlds. To him, blood was life, a gift. And it was something, of her body that she could share.

Drew was touched by her sacrifice. He would never ask. She had offered freely. Her blood might settle the burn bent on consuming his body and quell the flames for a little while. He doubted it though. Nothing would, except for claiming this woman body and soul. Locking the two of them together for all time. He pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and trailed his fingers through the silky length. "No. I won't let it. You'll feel very safe and secure. Pleasured."

He stroked Tala's cheek trailing his fingers down her neck to feel the bounding of her pulse. "I never take more than what is offered." He shifted her onto her back and planted his body against hers. Pressing his straining erection to the softness and warmth of her core, he groaned from the pleasure and the pain of it. "You would be doing me a great honor. More than you realize. Your blood is my sustenance. But, it means so much more than that. It's the trust you place in me that I'll treasure always."

Tala shifted her hips and opened her thighs, cradling him. Drew's erection, thick and hot, probed against her through his jeans. Pressing into the sweetest of spots. She shivered at the wild sensation and the sudden surge of desire. He was a gentleman, gently stroking her neck with his fingers as he pushed the heavy length of her hair to the side. Showering her with soft kisses, stroking his tongue along her bounding pulse point till her heart and her body could take no more.