Ice Claimed by Marisa Chenery Read Free Book Online Page B

even though it would have made it ride him harder, he had wanted
Meadow to bring him to release.
    “Is one of your friends going to bring you some clothes?”
she asked.
    “Yeah. Ryder will be over shortly. We share a room so he
knows where to find what I need.”
    “Good. I have to apologize for Taylor again. Because of him
you didn’t,” she glanced pointedly at his crotch, “get to finish.”
    Durlach had basically lost his erection after Taylor had
come running into the room. “It’s okay. There’s always another time.”
    “I’m glad you can be so calm about it. If it had been me, I
would have been really pissed.”
    He closed the distance between them and put his arms around
her waist. “I would have been if there would never be another opportunity to
have your hands on me again. I intend to have you naked and in my arms in the
very near future. If you’ll let me, that is.”
    Meadow smiled. “Oh, I don’t think you’d have to use much
persuasion to get me to agree to that.”
    “Hmm, then maybe that can be our after-dinner treat.”
    “Sounds like a plan to me.”
    Durlach bent his head, his lips just hovering above
Meadow’s, when the doorbell rang. He straightened. “That must be Ryder. It
seems as if everyone has bad timing today.”
    Meadow chuckled and stepped out of his embrace. “Usually
it’s pretty quiet around here. I’ll go let him in.”
    It didn’t take Meadow very long to lead Ryder into the
kitchen. The shaman didn’t so much as blink at Durlach’s state of undress. He
held out the bag of clothes he carried and said, “Here’s a change of jeans and a
t-shirt. Do you want me to take the dirty things home with me?”
    Meadow spoke before Durlach did. “That’s okay, Ryder. I’m
going to throw them in the wash right now.” She gathered up the dirty clothes,
then left the room. Durlach heard her taking a set of stairs down to the lower
level.
    “Thanks,” Durlach told Ryder. He quickly pulled on the clean
clothes.
    “No problem. Your mate seems very nice, though I’m not too
sure about the guy hanging out by the stable.”
    “That’s Taylor. He works and lives here.” Durlach lowered
his voice. “Somehow he knows about me being a werewolf, and doesn’t like the
fact that I am. He’s already tried to warn me away from Meadow. Also there is
something different about him. His scent smells close to a mortal’s but it’s
not exactly the same.”
    “Does he seem like a real threat?”
    “No. I get the feeling he’s just worried I’ll harm my mate
in some way, which I already told him was impossible.”
    “I didn’t sense any dark magic around him so he’s not
connected to the dark wolves in any way.”
    “I knew it wasn’t that which made his scent different. I’ll
have to watch him.”
    Meadow came back into the kitchen. “Your clothes are now in
the washer.”
    “Thanks,” Durlach said. He turned his attention on to Ryder.
“I guess I’ll see you later tonight.”
    Ryder nodded, then smiled at Meadow. “I can take that as a
hint to get lost. It was nice meeting you, Meadow.” He left the kitchen. A few
seconds later, Durlach heard the front door closing.
    “I better get back to cooking before it gets too late.”
    “Do you need some help?” Meadow asked.
    “No. Now that the wine is open you can pour us each a
glass.”
    She chuckled. “And I promise not to spill any more of it on
you.”
    Durlach gave her a quick kiss before he walked over to the
counter, then chopped more of the vegetables he’d left on the cutting board.
That task completed he set to work on preparing the meat. On his way to the
stove to turn the heat on under the frying pan he’d set there, he looked out
the window. It faced the back of the house, giving a good view of the yard and
stable. He paused when he saw Taylor was indeed standing outside that building,
facing the house. He met the other man’s gaze through the window, not letting
Taylor think his intimidation tactics