Page 29 of Sexual Appetites of Werewolves

She stood with her mouth agape. It was the armory, and ancient weapons from swords to daggers, crossbows, spears, long and short-handled axes, shields, metal helmets, chainmail, long bows, and more. Some weapons she didn’t recognize covered all the walls. She wondered how many of the weapons Tiernan had used in his long life. There was also a bookcase that ran halfway up one wall, and a quick perusal of the titles showed they were about weapons and battles throughout history. A sizeable fireplace, though cold, graced a good portion of another wall, and a few leather chairs, footstools, and small tables were placed strategically throughout and atop two worn Persian rugs. A tapestry hanging amongst the armory caught her eye and she went to get a closer look.

She rubbed her arms, growing chiller by the minute and was brought to an abrupt stop before she reached the tapestry when she thought she heard a growl. Then she heard the floor creak outside the open door, and she turned slowly. Two bold green eyes stared at her from the doorway, then Laird, the large black wolf, entered the room, his slow strides filled with grace and power.

She stayed where she was and Laird continued his approach, grazing her legs with his fur as he circled her then he came to a stop in front of her.

“I woke to find you gone. I heard more than one growl when I approached the kitchen, got frightened, rushed off, and got lost,” she hurried to say while thinking how crazy she must sound, speaking to a wolf, and shivered. “I’m cold.”

Laird brushed his face against her hand at her side, then left the room. After a few moments, Tiernan walked in completely naked, his strides as powerful as Laird’s and he walked straight to her.

“I’m going to warm you fast,” he said and undid the cloth belt at her waist to spread her robe wide and with his hands at the sides of her waist lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me.”

She did so without hesitation, feeling warmth radiating off him and relishing the heat as soon as their bodies touched. He walked to the closed door and braced her back against it, then nuzzled her neck with sharp, quick nips. Her passion ignited further since it had flamed when he walked naked into the room.

He entered her so fast that she gasped, and her body heated fast, and her passion climbed rapidly. She came quickly, basking not only in the extremely satisfying climax but loving the heat as well, not to mention the well-satisfied look on Tiernan’s face.

Olivia wanted to stay wrapped around him, the thought of losing his body heat already sending a shiver through her. He slipped out of her but kept her pressed against him as he walked to a nearby chair.

“I’ll be right back,” he said and went to the far end of the room and returned with a blanket.

“I didn’t spot that,” she said annoyed that she hadn’t but sighing when he wrapped the soft wool blanket around her and scooped her up in his arms to sit on one of the chairs with her in his lap. She cuddled against him. “You could have just slipped the blanket around me to get me warm.”

“Where would be the fun in that?” he asked with a wicked smile and a playful squeeze to her backside.

“True,” she said with a smile of her own and rested her head on his shoulder. “Did I hear wrong or were there two other wolves in the castle?”

“Werewolves,” he corrected.

She shivered. “That makes it sound too terrifying, and I thought you didn’t allow them in the castle.”

“There are exceptions, and tonight was one of them. I woke and felt the need for a run. Henry was waiting for me by the garage upon my return and with him were Chad’s parents.”

“Oh,” Olivia said, understanding.

“When they learned what their son had done, they hurried here. They were worried and they had good cause to be. They traveled the whole day. They needed hot tea, so I brought them and Henry into the kitchen to talk and have tea. The growls you heard were us bidding each other goodnight. They are staying with Fay and Henry and will leave in the morning.”

“Did you calm their worries?”

“As I told them, that’s for Chad to do, not me. But I discussed his punishment and advised them that if he completed his punishment and learned to discipline himself, he could make a good pack leader. I did not tell them anything they didn’t already know, though I did mention the warning I gave their son.”

“Don’t force me to kill you,” Olivia said, recalling the warning. “And no one doubts that you would, if necessary.”

“I am the alpha in the pack. Refuse to obey me and there will be repercussions. It is the reason Clan MacMadadh has remained safe throughout the years.”

“More like centuries,” she said, lifting her head to glance around at the weapons on the walls. “Are any of these personally yours?”

“Aye, quite a few are mine, others belonged to clan members throughout the years, and some were collected from battlefields that were victorious for Clan MacMadadh.”

“These are all ancient weaponry. Do you have any modern ones?”

“Aye, but they are kept separate. This room is a nod to the clan’s past, a reminder of what so many suffered for us to grow and thrive as who we are… werewolves.”

She shivered not from the cold, being comfortably warm, but from the truth she continued to face, and the decisions that would have to be made.

“You remain chilled. This room is too cold for you. Many rooms are kept at a minimum temperature during the winter months.”

She stood. “Wolves don’t need heat.”

“But humans do,” he reminded.

---