Page 14 of Howling Holidays

“Shit.” He blurts out. “This is starting to feel eerily similar to how my mom disappeared.”

"Does that mean I'm in danger, too?" I ask, my heart pounding in my chest as a shiver runs down my spine.

Logan reaches out, his strong fingers gently cradling my face as he looks into my eyes. "As long as you're with me, I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe, Emily. You have my word."

His touch sends warmth coursing through me, and I find myself leaning into it, craving the comfort and strength that radiate from him.

"Is there anything else I should know?" I whisper, seeking reassurance in his gaze.

"There are other supernatural beings here, too. Witches, vampires, and more. Some of them can be allies, while others... not so much." Logan's voice is heavy with the burden of his truth. I stare at him, my blue eyes wide as I take in all he says. The room suddenly feels smaller, the shadows cast by the flickering firelight seeming to hide secrets of their own.

The next hours unfold in a rush of revelation that sets my mind spinning. I listen raptly as Logan unravels the nuances of the curse passed down through generations since the wolf shifters first settled these lands. So much becomes clear - the clan's seclusion, wariness of outsiders, oral history carefully guarded. Their existence balancing secrecy and survival, always at the mercy of human suspicion and fear. My heart breaks picturing the isolation Logan has endured, unable to live openly in either world. I’ve gained so much perspective on the protective walls he created to cope.

In return, I share everything I uncovered in detail from my grandmother's study, handing over the journal pages. Logan pores over them eagerly, confessing most ancestorial records were lost long ago. I feel honored to restore even these fragments of his lineage. We are both children craving missing pieces of our histories. Maybe together we can assemble a complete mosaic.

Conversation flows effortlessly once the dam of secrecy is broken. I share anecdotes of childhood visits to Everwood and adventures with Amelia. Though painful, remembering lost family bonds helps exorcise those ghosts. In turn, with halting vulnerability, Logan opens up about his isolated upbringing and the tragedy that shaped him – detailing losing both parents at a young age and inheriting the alpha mantle too soon. My heart aches picturing the fragile boy forced to become sentinel and guardian long before his time. How lonely to carry such burdens alone.

The diner's cheery holiday bustle fades around us as we talk, losing track of the time. In this booth, all that exists is whispered truth and the understanding blossoming between two fated souls. I have never felt so intimately connected and known. Each glimpse beneath Logan's walls awakens new layers of devotion. I now see the complex, beautifully flawed man beyond the stoic mythic archetype. And together, we just may be unstoppable.

Lost in conversation, we had managed to spend the day at the diner. Logan offers to walk me back to the inn, and I gladly accept given the lurking danger I now know is very real and possibly coming for me.

Dusk finds us lingering outside my inn, the cold barely registering as we talk earnestly. We’re so wrapped up in our conversation that we don’t notice the snowfall becoming quite heavy. Despite the weight of the day's revelations, hope and wonder now shine in Logan's eyes. I did that - gave him back pieces of identity he denied for so long. He cradles my face as though I am treasure uncovered after being lost for a lifetime. I cover his hands with my own, basking in this exquisite sense of how right this feels. In this moment, I don’t care if the rest of the world falls away.

Logan walks me to the door but hesitates on the threshold this time. His smile holds a new shyness. "Thank you for today. I feel...changed. Lighter."

I stroke his wind-chilled cheek with tender confidence. We passed the point of propriety long ago. "Come inside? It's too cold out here for what I need to express," I say with a smile.

His eyes flare at my unspoken invitation, but he nods wordlessly. Soon we are cocooned in the warm familiarity of my little room as snow gusts outside. But it’s easy to forget the cold with the heat smoldering between us. As soon as I close the door behind me, he wraps me up in his arms and pushes me back against the door in a passionate and needy kiss.

We stand wrapped in one another, our hands exploring each other unhurriedly. He cradles my hips pulling me closer into him, which sends electricity shooting through my body. The thought of having this man to myself all night excites me.

I run my hands through his hair, pulling myself as close into him as I can. I breathe in deeply his rich scent of pine and bourbon. I can feel him hardening in his pants and reach down to grab him. He lets out a growl that makes me drip. His kisses are searching and hungry, sucking the breath from my lungs. I shift my body and move toward the bed to pull him down on top of me, sinking under his weight with a sigh. He holds his weight off of me, balancing himself to explore every inch of my body with his fingertips. I have never felt so beautiful or alive before. Small noises escape from my throat, half in protest and half in encouragement as he takes his time, pressing his lips to each place he explores. His touch ignites a fire within that threatens to consume me. Tonight, our inhibitions burn away in our need for each other.

Logan reaches up and pulls my sweater off in a fluid motion.

“Fuck…” he lets out in a heavy breath as he pauses for a moment in awe of my body and breasts. Then leans in and starts trailing kisses down my neck. My body instinctively arches into him, giving him room to reach around and tear off my black lace bra. He slides one hand up to cup my breast and grabs my nipple. I let out a deep moan that sends a smile across his face, and he moves his head to suck my other nipple into his mouth.

“Oh, God…” I let out, forgetting we’re in a small inn with thin walls. With each caress, each kiss, I feel myself falling further into him, lost in the intensity of the moment. For now, I don’t care if the whole town hears us. My hands move from Logan’s sexy, chiseled muscular arms to start unbuttoning his shirt. When I get to the last button, he leans back and quickly throws it off then starts unstrapping his belt. I use this opportunity to kick off my thick sheepskin boots and shed my pants and underwear. He pulls a condom out of his pocket before ridding his clothes too.

My mouth falls open at the sight of him fully naked before me, his thick cock throbbing with desire, but my vision blurs as he steps forward and begins kissing me again hard and deep. Logan pushes me back onto the bed again, gently lifting my body back so I can lie on the pillows. He trails kisses down my body and settles his face between my thighs.

“Put your legs on my shoulders,” he commands, making me weak in the knees.

I stare at him for a second before honoring his request. As soon as I prop my legs up, he dives in, bringing his mouth to my pussy. I let out a most delicious moan as his tongue slides into my pussy gently, teasing me with its soft wetness. He starts slowly, licking my lips and circling my clit with his tongue. I can feel my body rise up to meet his mouth. He is driving me to a place I never knew existed. I grip the sheets underneath me as he starts to trace his tongue up and down my slit slowly, then moves back to my clit and sucks on it gently. My body moves up and down with my hips trying to find the rhythm that will send me over the edge.

This man is doing magical things to me. I lean back and look down to see him staring up at me with his piercing amber eyes. I can hear him moaning as he licks my pussy, causing another wave of pleasure to shoot through me. I run my fingers through his hair and pull him closer to me.

I can't take it any longer and let out a deep moan as I come on his face. Logan pulls away, licking his lips and bringing his face up to mine for a hot kiss. I can taste myself on his lips. He leans over me and rips the condom open, pulling it on with one hand.

He lines himself up at my entrance and our eyes lock together. His golden amber eyes captivate me with a sense of belonging and security. His needy mouth finds mine as he pushes his way deep inside, and we both let out deep moans. My gasp is lost against Logan's mouth as our bodies join at last.

“Fuck…” he cries out. “You feel amazing Emily.”

I nod in agreement and lock my lips with his again. As he moves inside me, a gasp of pleasure escapes my lips, and I feel him smile against my skin. His movements are slow and deliberate, each one building towards a crescendo of pleasure that leaves me gasping for breath. Our bodies are fused together in a timeless embrace, lost in the primal heat of our desire. I stare at his face steadily as his eyes roll back in bliss. We watch one another as we become intertwined; I am no longer aware of where my body ends and his begins. It feels as if this intimacy was written in our souls long before we met. Our destinies are now irrevocably entwined. If only this moment could last forever... Logan pulls out for a moment and slides his tongue over my pussy, then circles gently around my swollen center with expert precision before sinking deep inside me again. We clutch each other tightly as sensation builds quickly within us.

I wrap my legs around his waist and throw my arms around his neck. As I tighten my legs, I can feel my pleasure getting close to its peak. “I’m going to come,” I whisper into his ear, and he speeds up his pace while his thumb circles my clit. That sends me over the edge and my walls tighten around his dick with pleasure as my body convulses. As we reach the peak of our ecstasy, I feel myself spiraling out of control, lost in a whirlwind of sensation. It feels like fireworks exploding through my whole body, and I barely notice the satisfied whimpers leaving my lips. He throws his head back and lets out a deep growl as he finishes inside me.

Finally, we collapse into each other’s arms onto the bed. We lie locked together, limbs entangled, for a long time, just listening to the sounds of the snow falling outside the window. My head is cushioned by Logan's chest, and I breathe deeply of the strong smell of sweat that clings to us both. His body is carved of hard muscles, smooth and rough at the same time. His skin is soft under my fingertips, and solid like iron.

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