Page 26 of Frost and Fate
“What is this place?” Nova asked with wonder.
“It was Gideon’s mother’s. She loved all things green.” There was a sadness in Darren’s voice. They took a seat on a small stone bench as they began to eat their sandwiches and fruit.
“What was she like?” Nova asked between bites. “Gideon’s mother, I mean.”
Darren smiled. “She was beautiful and kind. There was a gentleness to her nature, and at the same time a deep strength. She was generous, and just, but she also didn’t take any shit from the Alpha or anyone else.”
“Hmm sounds a lot like Aria, minus the foul mouth and no filter.”
Darren chuckled. It surprised her. She wasn’t sure she had ever seen him smile so big before. It was like she was seeing a whole other side to the intense, dangerously handsome lycan.
“What happened to this place?” She gestured to the fallen plants all around them.
Darren’s face again darkened. “After she died it stopped being cared for. There were many years when Gideon didn’t allow anyone to come up here. I think it was too painful for him.” It was very sad how the plants the woman had loved so much had died along with her. “There aren’t any living things in here,” Darren said. “I thought it might be the perfect place for you to release your powers.” His eyes lit up again.
Nova must have looked as shocked as she felt.
He smiled. “I think one of the reasons your abilities are taking control when you don’t want them to is because you never give them a chance to be free.” He ran his fingers through her silver hair. “Your magic is a gift. Don’t treat it like a curse.” His words deeply affected her. It was true. She had been treating her powers like some sort of tumor, an infection she couldn’t shake. Her magic wanted to be released, set free. She could feel it moving softly around within her.
“Maybe you’re right.”
Darren’s grin grew wide. “Show me what you’ve got.”
Taking a deep breath, Nova closed her eyes as she tapped into the icy presence within her. Her eyes opened as she allowed the magic to flow through her. What should she do first?Snow.
Nova lifted her fingers toward the top of the glass ceiling. A gust of chilly wind blew through the room and settled in the air. A sheet of soft sparkling snowflakes began to fall around them. They quickly became larger and larger until each flake was the size of a silver dollar. The snowflakes coated Nova’s silver hair and lashes. She smiled and stuck out her tongue to catch a few. The snowfall became heavier and began to blanket the floor around them. Turning to Darren, she saw layer after layer of snowflakes landing in his jet-black hair. The contrast was striking, though his lycan body heat quickly melted any bits of ice he came into contact with. He shook his head, shedding off droplets of snow and water. The gesture reminded Nova so much of a dog, she couldn’t help but laugh.
A row of empty pots caught her attention next. She hovered her hands above each, moving from planter to planter. Each empty vase was quickly replaced by a growth of stunning ice-crystal flowers. The heads of the flowers took the shapes of various snowflakes, each completely unique. Nova moved on to a large tree in the center of the room. Its branches were bare and its bark chipped off roughly. She placed two hands on its cracked hide. Magic began to creep up the trunk, slowly encasing the entire tree in shimmery blue ice. Thin sparkly leaves formed from the branches, each one translucent enough to see its icy veins. Frost covered the glassy windows of the stunning greenhouse. By now, the snow was nearly knee high.
“Anything else?” Darren smiled warmly at her. His dark, damp hair clung to his face as melted snow and sleet continued to drift down from above.
Nova quirked an eyebrow. “It’s missing one thing.” She whipped up a beautiful snowy wolf. Its fur sparkled with icy fibers. “Now it’s perfect.”
Darren scowled. “My wolf is much bigger than that.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah…I’m sure that’s what all lycan men say.”
He let out a small growl and jumped toward Nova, his body pushing her down and into the freshly fallen snow. “You think so?” He lowered his lips to just below her ear. “Which lycan men have you been talking to?” He planted his lips on the base of her throat. The heat of his mouth seemed to always brand her skin. It was a stark contrast to the cold snow beneath her. His body pressed against hers, heat enveloping them both. Nova’s heart beat wildly. When Darren’s mouth found hers, she let out a low moan. He responded by letting his tongue enter her lips, exploring every inch of her mouth. Nova buried her hands in his wet hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. Arousal overtook every other thought in her mind.
“Take me to the apartment,” she gasped between kisses. “I need you.”
Darren pulled away, his bright eyes burning with a need that matched her own. Without another word, he stood, pulling Nova to her feet. She flung the snow and ice away, dissolving it with barely a thought, returning the room to its original state. Leading Nova by the hand, Darren walked briskly into the hallway and toward the elevator. The second the elevator doors closed, he was on her. Darren backed her up against the wall and lifted her so that Nova’s legs wrapped around his waist. They continued to devour each other, lips moving harder, and faster, unable to get close enough. As the doors opened Darren set Nova down, once again grabbing her hand as they made their way to the apartment. The short walk to her front door seemed like an eternity. Nova’s body was buzzing with excitement. They pushed the door open and stumbled inside, lips and limbs intertwined. Nova took several steps away from Darren.
“Wait.” She stopped him as he moved to advance. This was something Nova needed to say, needed to see. “Can I see it?” she asked, through swollen lips. “Your wolf.”
Darren smirked. He said nothing at first, then slowly began to undress. He removed his shirt, revealing perfectly sculpted abs and a well-formed chest. The hint of a pair of deep V muscles peered out above his jeans. Slowly he took off his belt and dropped it to the floor. Nova’s heart fluttered with anticipation. He unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off. God, every inch of him was perfectly formed and highly muscled. His erection was extremely evident through the pair of briefs he wore. As he slid them off, Nova gasped. Lycans were well-built literally everywhere. She swallowed out of momentary panic at the size of him. He stood there staring at her. Darren’s eyes began to glow, they became brighter than she had ever seen them before. Their honey-fire light seemed to hold flames beneath their ring.
“Don’t be scared,” he said, his voice syrupy and delicious. There was a sound of cracking bones and tearing flesh. Darren’s wolf burst forth within the blink of an eye. Nova gazed in awe at the impressive creature before her. Unlike Leah’s long, low, lean wolf, Darren’s was massive in height and stature. It was covered in sleek jet-black fur from head to tail. Nova’s magic reacted to the lycan, and tendrils of ice slowly crawled across the apartment. Darren’s wolf didn’t even seem to notice. Those same honey-fire eyes glowed with a luminous intensity.
The wolf stepped toward her, and Nova instinctively backpedaled. A low growl rumbled out from the huge animal. Another massive paw pressed forward, and another. She continued her retreat until her back hit the living room wall. The wolf pressed on, stepping within inches of Nova. The large muzzle released breaths in puffs of warm air within the cold room. Nova cautiously reached a hand toward the beast. Its fur was soft beneath her touch until ice coated the individual strands. She quickly pulled her hand away. The wolf shook, shedding the bits of ice with minimal effort.
Black fur began to disappear and the shape of a man once again took its place. Within moments, a very tall, very naked Darren stood directly in front of Nova. Darren’s masculine scent and the heat radiating off his body made wetness rush between Nova’s thighs. She let out a soft moan and Darren closed the gap between them. Their lips clashed hard and fast, teeth and tongues ravishing each other. Darren picked Nova up and wrapped her legs around him. He quickly made his way to the bedroom and laid Nova down.
Darren was surprisingly gentle with her, despite the power she knew was waiting just beneath the surface. He crawled on the bed, his large frame towering over hers. Strong hands made quick work of Nova’s shirt and sports bra. Darren issued an appreciative growl when he saw her full breasts laid bare before him. He swooped down to take an already-hardened nipple into his mouth. Nova’s mind nearly exploded as his warm wet lips sucked on her. His tongue swirled around her nipple, making her cry out in pleasure. He made his way farther down her stomach, teasing, and kissing, and nipping her skin. Deft hands made fast work of her leggings. Hot became even hotter as Darren used his teeth to slowly peel Nova’s panties away from her slick core and down her thighs. Once he reached her ankles, he used his hands to pull them off completely, leaving Nova fully naked. Without a word he dove down between her thighs. The second his mouth made contact with Nova’s clit, her world went hazy. She was so aroused he barely had to lick and suck before her knees closed around him in an exhilarating orgasm. Blazing eyes stared up at her as he slid two fingers inside her slick passage. She moaned and grabbed his hair, pulling him up.
“I can’t wait any longer. I need you.”
Darren released a deep groan and reached between his legs, stroking his smooth, hard length. He planted himself between her knees and directed his tip to her entrance. Nova gasped as he slowly entered her. He pressed in, inch by inch, until Nova was completely filled. Darren began to move slowly out and back in, dragging the tip across the top of her interior wall. The sensation was mind blowing. Nova’s body tingled all over. She had never experienced anything like this before. Darren began to pick up speed, finding a rhythm pushing in and sliding out. As his pace increased, Nova could feel her orgasm building. He pressed on, leaning close. She felt his breath on her ear.
