Fires Of Solstice Part 1

Fires of Solstice.

Judy Mays.

Chapter One.

"d.a.m.n it! Why did James order me to come back? My source was ready to crack. Just one more day and I would have had proof of the corruption in the last two major highway contracts!"

Ignoring the shocked glances of her coworkers, Meredythe stomped into the elevator and punched the b.u.t.ton for the top floor. After glaring at the blinking numbers, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Leaning her forehead against the cool metal wall, she struggled to control her anger. She had worked so long and so hard on this story, using vacation days and weekends to dig up enough information to warrant an investigation. James had even encouraged her and, up until now, had supported her one hundred and ten percent. Meredythe gritted her teeth and bit off a profanity. James King was her mentor even more than he was her boss. He'd always encouraged her to keep digging and never give up on a story. What had changed?

Biting her lips, she pushed herself away from the wall, clenched her hands into fists and dug her nails into her palms. James had to know something she didn't. Meredythe sucked in another deep breath. She had to calm down.

Her chest rose and fell as she inhaled then exhaled, inhaled, exhaled, inhaled.

She would discuss this with James in a rational manner.

One, two, three, four...

He was a fair man. Barging into his office and making demands wouldn't get her anywhere.

Five, six, seven...

She was a professional. She would speak calmly and logically.

Eight, nine, ten.

Squaring her shoulders, Meredythe unclenched her fists and smoothed her skirt.

When the elevator door opened, she tucked some loose curls behind her ear, took one last deep breath and stepped into the opulent reception area. Ignoring her boss's a.s.sistant, she headed straight for the door to the inner office.

Unfortunately, her intentions to have a calm conversation lessened with each step as the disappointment she struggled to control roared to life again.

The secretary leaped to her feet. "Ms. Welsh!"

Meredythe stepped past her, shoved the door open and stomped into the room. "What the h.e.l.l is going on, James?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. King... " began the fl.u.s.tered secretary who'd followed Meredythe into the office.

"Don't worry about it, Mrs. Donovan," the distinguished gray-haired man seated behind the desk answered. "I wanted to see Ms. Welsh anyway. Just don't let-"

Meredythe didn't let him finish. She strode across the room, leaned forward and flattened her hands on his desk. Staring into his face, she mustered as calm a voice as she could. "I really need to talk to you about-"

He nodded. "Me calling you back from Albany."

Silence echoed around the room for a few seconds.

"I have another story I want you to work on."

Meredythe stared at her boss as if he'd grown another head. He never pulled her from one story to put her on another. "Another story? I don't want another story."

Closing her eyes, she straightened and swallowed. She had to control her temper! Arguing with James wouldn't get her anywhere. He was just as stubborn as she was.

Her boss's voice was gentle. "Believe me, Meredythe, you won't be losing anything. Go on back to your desk and I'll be down to talk to you in a few minutes."

Someone behind her cleared his throat.

Yanking her eyes open, Meredythe flushed then paled. That wasn't James. Holy s.h.i.t! There were people over by the bar, hidden from view when she pushed the door open. She'd just barged in on a meeting and started arguing with her boss. He had every right to bust her back to the mailroom for this. Refusing to look around the room, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other and considered her options. At this point, discretion was the better part of valor.

She nodded once. "I'll see you later then."

Pivoting, Meredythe took a single step and plowed into a cotton-covered wall.

The scent of crisp, pine-fresh cologne and warm male enveloped her.

Stumbling, she grabbed on to the bare forearms that had risen to steady her. As her fingers slid through the fine, silky hair covering them, a vortex of heat exploded in her groin and radiated out through her body. Her nipples puckered, her stomach muscles shuddered and her p.u.s.s.y tightened. Gasping, she glanced up...and fell into twin pools of molten silver.

As the room spun around her, Meredythe's world rocked on its axis. Her heart thudded in her chest. A sudden, excruciating stab of pain in her side forced all the air from her lungs and disappeared immediately. Fading visions of fires and wolves flitted through her mind-teasing, tantalizing. Closing her eyes, she sucked in a deep breath. What was happening to her?

She opened her eyes.

The stranger's possessive gray gaze bore into hers, delving into her soul, probing, searching... for what?

Jerking herself free-both from his grasp and his gaze-Meredythe stepped back and glared at him.

Long black hair tumbled over a wide forehead and about broad shoulders, and at least two days' growth of whiskers sprouted from a strong chin and lean cheeks. His nose was crooked and his lips were twisted into a slight smile.

But it was his eyes that compelled Meredythe's attention-dark, stormy gray eyes the color of molten steel. Secrets were hidden in their depths-strange, uncanny secrets that teased her intellect and plucked at her curiosity. Her spine tingled as a jolt of electricity danced up her back. Who was this man? Why did he look at her as if he knew her? She'd never seen him before. Had she?

Gently, he brushed a curl from her cheek.

His voice was a low growl. "Come with me."

Her mouth dropped open. Then, her thoughts roiling, she snapped it shut and wrenched herself free from his mesmerizing gaze. This had to be one of the worst days of her life! First James took her Albany story away. Now some stranger was trying to pick her up, in her boss's office yet!

Gritting her teeth, Meredythe fought down the urge to do what he asked, to leave with him, to discover the pa.s.sion his eyes promised. The last thing she needed was an arrogant, pain-in-the-a.s.s man and all the complicated baggage that came along with one.

"Come with you? Are you kidding? Bulls.h.i.t! I don't even know you, and I don't want to. Get lost." Summoning up as much disdain as she could, she continued, "And you need to comb your hair. Better yet, get a haircut and a shave."

Placing both hands against his chest, she shoved him.

It was like trying to move a brick wall.

For a few seconds, the warmth from his wide chest seeped into her palms, traveled along her arms to her torso and filled her entire body.

Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tingled. Moisture pooled between her legs. G.o.d help her, she wanted him.

Refusing to accede to her body's demands, she jerked her hands away, sidestepped him and rushed out the door.

Astonished, Bleddyn glanced at the other two men. "What's wrong with her?"

Both James and Rhys struggled to hide grins.

"There's nothing wrong with her," James answered. "This is the twenty-first century and she's an independent woman."

"Independent or not, she's mine." Without another word, Bleddyn leaped through the door after Meredythe.

Still fuming and muttering obscenities under her breath, Meredythe barreled into the break room and slammed the door closed. Pain-in-the-a.s.s men! All they did was screw with her life. G.o.d, how she wanted to punch something!

Pushing the tantalizing stranger from her mind, she concentrated on her mentor. All those months spent on that story, gathering leads and information. And what did she have to show for it? Not a thing. She'd always thought James King was a fair man. But now...

He wants to give you another story, interrupted her inner voice. Maybe it's better.

Meredythe contemplated that thought for a moment. Then she shook her head. "The Albany story is Pulitzer Prize material," she muttered to the empty room. "It's my story."

The desire to punch something grew stronger. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to relax. She had to control her temper. And brooding certainly wouldn't do her any good. No. She had to formulate a plan to get her story back. She rolled her neck and shoulders, trying to work the kinks out of the knotted muscles. Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth and breathed deeply, then exhaled slowly once, twice, a third time. The knot in her stomach began to relax.

She heard the door open. Too soon for James. Some coworker then.

"Not now. I need to be alone."

"But I want you now."

That voice! d.a.m.n all f.u.c.king men to h.e.l.l! Spinning around, Meredythe stared at the stranger from her boss's office. His silvery-gray eyes bored into hers. Six feet tall, wickedly lean with muscles clearly defined by his tight, black t-shirt and jeans, he exuded sensuality.

A shiver danced its way up Meredythe's spine and shattered the composure she'd regained as she let her gaze slide down his body. d.a.m.n, but he was a hunk. If only he would turn around so she could get a look at his a.s.s. A picture of him standing naked before her flashed in her mind. Her c.u.n.t muscles tightened and her nipples tingled. She looked back up into his face.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. Amus.e.m.e.nt appeared in his eyes. "Like what you see?"

Jerking her gaze from his, Meredythe's anger burned higher. How could she find such an arrogant man attractive? She hated arrogant men.

He held out his hand. "Come to me."

Meredythe's eyes widened and heat surged to her face. What was she, a dog? "Bulls.h.i.t! Just who the h.e.l.l do you think you are?"

He didn't answer. Instead he kicked the door closed and stalked toward her, his muscles sliding smoothly beneath his clothing.

He moves so effortlessly, like an animal. "What do you want?" she challenged again when he stopped before her.

His eyes bored into hers. "You."

"Me!" she sputtered. This was the last straw. "And just what makes you think-"

Before she could finish, he cupped her face gently but firmly between his hands, nuzzled her mouth with his, then slid his lips over hers.

Shocked, Meredythe froze.

As his spicy scent surrounded her, soft, tender kisses and delicate flicks of his tongue teased her senses. His supple thumbs caressed her cheeks while his strong fingers ma.s.saged the sides of her neck. Slanting his head, he pressed his mouth more firmly against hers and tantalized her lips with the tip of his tongue.

Slowly, her body relaxed and she leaned into him.

He growled low in his throat and sucked on her lower lip.

Something inside Meredythe burst free from its coc.o.o.n and exploded into flight. Sighing, she opened her mouth, all thoughts of escape melting away.

With that small victory, he seized control. Kisses that had been gentle now seared her lips, drawing forth a hungry, burning response from the depths of her soul. His tongue invaded her mouth, thrusting and swirling against hers in a dance that became more and more sensuous. His mouth conquered, dominated, demanded. A low moan escaped from her throat as she melted against him, palms flat against his chest, and began to drown in the raw, blatant pa.s.sion of his kiss.

Wrapping one arm around her waist, he laced the fingers of his other hand through her hair and pulled her head even closer.

Teeth clashed against teeth and tongues stabbed and swiped.

Her teeth slid across his lip.

For a second, the metallic taste of blood rolled across Meredythe's tongue, then a bonfire ignited in her soul. Trapped in a kiss that seemed to drag her soul from her body, she plummeted into a maelstrom of desire.

The tight knot in her stomach exploded with fiery heat that surged through her veins. Moaning deep in her throat, she grasped his soft cotton shirt and tugged at it, trying to rip it away from his body so she could slide her hands across the taut muscles of his chest. As her nerves sizzled, her nipples puckered into tight, aching buds. Hot moisture pooled between her legs and she spread them apart and tried to straddle his thigh.

His groan answered hers as he slid his hands down her back, cupped her behind and pulled her hips against the hard ridge of his erect c.o.c.k. Then, as he kneaded and ma.s.saged her a.s.s with his left hand, he yanked her blouse free from her skirt, slid his right underneath it and cupped her breast.

Ignoring the warning bells clamoring in her head, Meredythe slid her hands up his chest, wrapped her arms around his neck, pushed her breast farther into his hand and sucked his tongue into her mouth.

His harsh whiskers scratching her cheek and chin, he ravaged her mouth with his as he dropped his arm from around her waist.

A low growl rolling in his throat, he squeezed her breast then slid his fingertips down her rib cage, over the waistband of her skirt and along her thigh only to jerk her skirt up to her waist. A hard yank ripped her pantyhose off her stomach. As the flap of nylon sagged, he slipped his hand beneath her silky panties and cupped her moist c.u.n.t. Heat branded her a.s.s as he cupped her b.u.t.t with his other hand to hold her still.

Whimpering, she ground herself against his stroking fingers. Slowly he caressed her c.l.i.t, swirled his fingers around it, then rubbed again harder.

Gasping, Meredythe pulled her mouth from his, spread her legs farther apart and threw back her head.

"Yes," she hissed. Lord, but his fingers were magic.

"That's it. Open yourself to me."

Immersed in the sensuality he'd wrapped around her, Meredythe simply moaned affirmatively and ground her c.u.n.t against his hand. So close... She was so close to coming. Just a few more rubs...

He pinched her c.l.i.t. His voice was a low growl. "You are mine." Then, as he started to slide a single finger inside her, he leaned forward, slid his tongue and teeth along her jaw to where her neck and shoulder met and nipped her-hard.

That single, sharp pain shattered the sensual haze surrounding her.

Wrenching her eyes open, she froze in his arms. What was she doing? A complete stranger had her clothing half off and his fingers in her c.u.n.t. What was wrong with her? No man had ever been able to conquer her sense of self before. This one, though, this stranger... she was putty in his hands. Pa.s.sionate putty. Deep in her soul, she knew he could make her do anything he wanted. It frightened her more than anything else ever had.

Fear of her pa.s.sionate reaction to the stranger galvanized Meredythe and provided her with the strength to jerk out of his arms and fall against the table behind her. Gripping the edge to keep from falling, she sucked in great gasps of air. Trembling, eyes wide, she stared at him. He was a complete stranger and she was ready to let him f.u.c.k her! What the h.e.l.l was wrong with her?

Silver eyes glistening with flecks of gold, he smiled ferally, lifted the fingers that had been playing in her p.u.s.s.y to his mouth and sucked on them. Then, nostrils flaring slightly, he slid his fingers from his mouth and held out his hand.