They had discussed everything beforehand, talked through all the various risks and how to mitigate them. Still, now that she was actually here-- naked, tied to a tree in the dark forest with the icy light of the full moon dripping through the dense canopy-- she couldn't help the hint of fear threading with her excitement.
She had tied herself to the tree: bound her hands only, so she could brace herself against it, bent over. She had ensured she could easily free herself... but still.
It wasn't like they hadn't had sex when he shifted before, but always at home, in an environment that grounded him in his human self. Not outside, not in the forest, not in the wolf's territory. He had eaten even more heartily than usual before moonrise, but the shift consumed so much energy and how many times had he told her the wolf was always hungry?
A single howl rose in the dark sky, and shivers ran up her spine. A hunting call. It sounded again, almost imperceptibly louder, and she felt a flush spreading through her body, despite the night air chilling her skin. Another howl, keening and hungry, and then nothing.
Minutes passed, though how many she could not say. The anticipation clouded her perception. She strained to hear any sign of his approach, but for the whisper of leaves in the wind, the forest was silent.
Did he get distracted, catch the scent of real prey and forget about her? Was he already here, watching and waiting, letting the tension build? Had she made a foolish mistake, ignoring rationality for desire, setting them both up for tragedy?
A twig snapped behind her, maybe. Fear and desire spiked in her chest, her heart thudding so rapidly it was hard to hear much else. She craned her head as far as she could in every direction, but everything beyond the edge of the small clearing quickly faded into murky dimness.
Her breathing was quick and shallow as she waited to hear something else. But silence reigned once more. She was beginning to wonder if she should just abandon the whole thing and head home when a heavy paw crushed dead leaves behind her.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she was aware of every taut muscle, every inch of exposed skin. The footsteps continued behind her, unhurried and deliberate. Stalking his prey. All fours? What if it's not him?
She was on the edge of true panic when she heard a low, dark chuckle beside her. His voice was different when he shifted, deeper, carrying a hint of a growl like every word took effort, but she knew it in her bones. She sucked in a deep, shuddering breath and felt a different fire rising in her muscles.
"I wasn't sure about this but now... this is quite the treat." She turned to look at him, crouching on his haunches a few feet away from her; the sight of him took her breath away again. No matter how many times she saw him shifted, it never ceased to fill her with awe. He was beautiful, wild and powerful; it made her blood surge and her heart sing. In the current circumstances, his large muscular frame and the bulge of his sheath made her heart pound for other reasons.