Under Cover of the Moon

~ Look for these titles from Loribelle Hunt ~ Coming Soon: Lunar Mates 2: Bad Moon Rising Lunar Mates 3: Chasing the Moon Lunar Mates 4: Call of the Moon Lunar Mates 5: Christmas Moon Lunar Mates 6: Captured Moon

Under Cover of the Moon Lori Belle Hunt

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Copyright © 2011 by Loribelle Hunt ISBN: 978-1-936751-27-3 Edited by Georgia Woods Cover by Stella Price All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Etopia Press electronic publication: April 2011 http://www.etopia-press.net

Prologue The community hall was filled to capacity. Several men stopped and quietly wished Darius luck, but more visited the other man standing on the opposite side of the small courtyard in front. The Council of Chiefs stood back in an isolated circle and took it all in. Darius tried to look at the situation from their point of view. The Council was here to appoint a new Alpha to the pack because Brant had died without warning and without naming a successor. They wouldn’t just look for a strong leader; they’d choose someone well respected by the majority of the adult males. Brant had ruled the clan with an iron fist, and Darius was considered the most like Brant, who’d excelled at pitting him against Jackson. He’d maneuvered them like a chess master, weakening the only two males strong enough to challenge his rule. Darius doubted he was the upcoming choice. The clan had chaffed under Brant’s leadership and looked for something new, a little freedom. He couldn’t blame them—he wanted more freedom himself. He gritted his teeth. Never mind that he was cast in the same mold. He was Brant’s Enforcer, and that made him unpopular except for a few loyal childhood friends who saw beyond his official function. One of those old friends was his opponent Jackson, and another made his way through the

bottleneck at the courtyard’s entrance and came to stand beside him. He released a sigh of relief. Of course Eric would stand at his side. “Evening.” Darius snorted in response. Yeah, best to leave the “good” off that. Eric nodded toward the group across the courtyard. “Jackson’s got quite a crowd over there.” “Noticed that.” “Talkative tonight, huh?” Eric grinned. Darius bit back a laugh. A few weeks earlier Eric had claimed his mate, and he had been irrepressibly cheerful ever since. If Darius weren’t so happy for his old friend, he’d be tempted to strangle him. “That’s good. I can talk for both of us.” Darius changed the subject. “Trey’s back. Have you seen him?” “No.” It worried him. Darius had counted on Trey’s unspoken support during the Naming, but so far Trey had avoided him since his return two days ago. “Not to worry. He’s avoiding us all. I think that’s a good sign, actually. Maybe he’s finally going to retire from the Hunters.” Darius raised an eyebrow. Eric shrugged. “Why avoid any of us if he wasn’t? He wouldn’t have any say in this. If he leaves the Hunters, he’ll have to choose. We all know someone’s getting banished tonight.” And they all knew those odds were in Darius’s favor.

Eric nodded toward the entrance. “There he is now.” They turned to watch as the sea of people parted to let Trey through. It wasn’t that he looked so imposing, though he did. It had been his choice to become a Hunter and he had lasted a long time at it, earning himself a reputation as ruthless, merciless, and cold-blooded. They said he never gave up and never lost his quarry. Out of the corner of his eye, Darius saw Jackson also turn to watch Trey’s entrance. He passed the three of them without even a flicker of recognition, and Jackson caught his eye with a small nod just before he turned back to the people around him. The four of them had been inseparable as cubs and teenagers until Trey’s parents were killed by one of the outlaw rogues of the Society. At fifteen, Trey left the pack and joined the Hunters, a move that by traditional law barred him from ever being Alpha or Beta of a clan. Trey worried Darius. His years as a Hunter were wearing on him, and he’d grown increasingly more remote and isolated. If he didn’t quit soon, Darius was afraid he’d never regain any kind of normal life. Yet despite current appearances, he knew he could count on Trey. As a Hunter he was required to be impartial, but in private he always gave sound advice. If Trey left the Hunters, Darius was almost positive Trey would join him. Eric would act as Beta, and Trey as Enforcer. Jackson could be the

one to either submit, or be banished. That had always been his plan. He repressed a sigh. First he’d have to save Trey from himself, though. The stragglers made their way inside and the Council followed in quick order. Eric slipped in behind them. Darius and Jackson waited until everyone entered and then approached the door together. Silence fell over the large crowd as they entered. It looked like every able-bodied male in the pack had shown up. The hall appeared to be filled to its 300-person capacity. The combined excitement of the masses charged the air. He spotted Eric and Trey in the crowd, Eric surrounded by supporters, and Trey by the natural buffer that seemed to follow him.

I’m really going to have to do something about that.

But that would have to wait. He turned his focus to his most immediate problem. His vision narrowed to the table before him where the Elder, the chief of the over-clan, took center stage, flanked by the other seven. “Darius Stewart.” The Elder spoke when he stepped forward. “You are to be banished.” He had expected it but still reeled like he’d taken a punch to the gut. He was amazed he stayed on his feet and answered in the appropriate places. It was a conversation Eric would have to relate later. To lose one’s clan was a little death, the worst punishment to be imposed on a werewolf. The room cleared, and soon only Trey and the other Alphas

were left. In the haze, he heard Trey say that he would follow Darius to Alabama.

Chapter One She was his. And it was not something he was entirely comfortable with. He hadn’t thought he was in the market for a mate. The last month had been hell. Biology’s a bitch. He had located his pack in this small town on the boundary of a state park in southern Alabama, just as he had been ordered. It was the perfect location—a successful small town on the edge of wilderness. There would be work and room to run. A man could stretch his legs here. So could a wolf. One month of banishment had eased his anger at Jackson, and his old friend was now in charge of the home pack. It had come close to full-out war before the council had stepped in to banish Darius. He regretted that too. But things had worked out for the best. They were a small group. A were hated change above everything else, but ten males, with six mated, had decided to make the move and form a new pack. He had one year to settle the clan and be officially recognized. One year to prove his capabilities before someone tried to wrest the pack from him. He relished a good challenge and was certain he’d come out on top. How could he not? He was strong and in his prime. All those praying for his failure, and there were many, were in for a disappointment. If the council did not approve his leadership at the completion of the year, any male could try to take it. But that

wasn’t going to happen. He wouldn’t let it. He had eleven months left.

A mate will strengthen my position as Alpha.

He grimaced. Weres looked forward to finding their mates, to settling down to monogamy and having cubs. What was he doing? Worrying about securing his power. It beat the alternative— figuring out how to claim the woman he wanted. He knew trouble when he saw it, and she was it. With a capital T. Stubborn. Sexy. Independent. Smart as a whip. And did he mention stubborn? She was Meg O’Reilly, owner and proprietor of O’Reilly’s Bar and Grill. He dragged a deep breath of air into his lungs, trying to resurrect the memory of her scent, sweet and spicy, and meant for him alone. Her skin was pale and clear, and he knew it would be smooth beneath his fingers. She was perfect, small and curvy, with flowing chestnut brown hair. He couldn’t wait to discover how she tasted. It was time for her to stop running. He had walked into O’Reilly’s for the first time four weeks ago. She was the first person he saw when he pulled open the heavy wood door and crossed the threshold. Standing behind the long bar on a sidewall, she was laughing and flirting with a customer while pouring a beer from the tap. Her hair was knotted on top of her head, tendrils hanging around her face, the elegant line of her neck exposed. A wall of unfamiliar emotions— jealousy, lust, possessiveness, and many he didn’t dare try to name—hit him. It was unsettling, and she stiffened as if sensing his uneasy entrance.

Afraid she’d bolt, he approached her with the good-natured newcomer façade he’d put forth for a week. Her eyes were brown, the first thing he noticed on close inspection. What should have been warm chocolate gave him a frigid reception. With cool politeness, she returned his introduction and welcomed him to town. He was more accustomed to women throwing themselves at him than making a point of ignoring him. She should feel the same emotions he did, raging lust at the very least. Then he noticed the frantic pulse beating in her neck and caught the faint whiff of her fear. He was amazed she had such control over her responses and realized with a thrill she was not as unaffected by him as she wanted him to believe. Later he heard the rumors that she was a witch and wondered how much that had to do with it. But she was skittish. It was okay. He had time. Or he had had time. He’d thought between charm and lust he would overcome her fears in a matter of days, but except for a few stilted conversations, she’d avoided him since their first meeting. She’d put him off for three weeks, and the full moon was coming. With any other woman it wouldn’t matter. No other woman brought out the proprietary nature of the wolf in him, the animal instinct to claim his mate. For the first time in his life, he doubted his ability to control it. Her damned stubbornness put her in danger. Tonight he would end it. Tonight he would stalk her as he would any other prey. And God help

her if she put him off again. He was too tempted to spank her mouth-watering ass as it was. For the first time in days, he smiled. That was a plan with merit.

Chapter Two Meg ran errands all day and tried not to obsess over Darius Stewart. The man was too sexy for words. Had she only met him a few weeks ago? Not even a full month yet? For the amount of time she spent trying not to think of him, that seemed impossible. She’d fought a deep impulse to seek him out for several days, and it scared her. She was a woman who enjoyed her independence and chose partners when the desire struck. She had never needed a man, but her libido had gone into overdrive since encountering this one. She was a witch, like her mother and grandmother before her, and her instinct was flawless. It was a talent that had always served her well. She knew things, and felt the strong emotions of those around her. Sometimes she even caught a stray thought. If she gave in to this newfound desire, her life would be altered beyond anything she recognized. She would find herself tied to him in ways that defied human nature. And that was the problem, wasn’t it? She didn’t know what he was, but she was sure he wasn’t entirely human. To make matters worse, she sensed there were more of them here. Whatever they were. Despite knowing that, she had to fight the urge to go to him. She woke every morning with need crawling through her. The longer she avoided him, the worse it got. It was pure obstinacy that kept

her from seeking him out. She sighed. It wouldn’t be long before she gave in to the pull of the odd attraction between them. She exited the bank, and the town’s clock tower chimed the time. Five o’clock. She was finished with the last item on her must-do list for the day, and the night seemed to stretch endlessly before her. She didn’t have to be behind the bar until ten, but she did have to be there. Sensing a new resolve in Darius, she’d juggled the schedule and had the other bartender cover for her the last two nights, but she couldn’t skip out forever. He might not even show up. She snorted. Yeah right. His visit was as inevitable as the setting sun. Meg decided to take advantage of the hours before work and visit her friends in the businesses around the bar. It was a nice spring afternoon, warm without the South’s requisite sky-high humidity, and perfect for wandering around the downtown streets. It would also keep her away from her phone. Darius had called so often, she didn’t even need to check the caller ID anymore when it rang. Her stomach grumbled. Okay, that told her food was the first order of business, something sinful to tide her over. She darted across the street to the bakery her older cousin, Tara Burke, ran. Spying her cousin through the window, she smiled. A tall, good-looking man leaned attentively over the counter, and Tara blushed. Well. It’s about

time someone caught her eye.

The scent of freshly baked bread wafted around Meg as she walked through the door, and she breathed it in deeply. It was warm and mellow, and when she crossed the threshold she felt some of the tension of the last few days slip away. The man straightened and nodded in acknowledgement, then picked up his Styrofoam cup and walked out the door. The town was filled with dark, mysterious strangers these days. She craned her neck to watch him leave and turned to Tara with a grin. “Who’s the hottie?” she teased, watching the blush return to her cousin’s cheeks. “No one.” Tara wiped a rag along the top of the counter before adding sternly, “Just a customer. Don’t get any ideas.” Grinning, Meg walked over and leaned against the rounded glass display case. “That’s not what it looked like. Looked pretty up close and personal to me.” Tara groaned in response and held up her hand, which was wrapped in a bandage. “No, I cut myself. He was just looking to see if I put the gauze on too tight. I swear, he walks in and I turn into Queen Klutz. Trust me, he’s not interested. He probably thinks I’m a complete flake.” Meg disagreed, but the distress in Tara’s eyes convinced her to change the subject. “I swear, I gain five pounds every time I come in here.” “Yeah, but it’s so worth it.” Tara grinned back. Meg shook her head and laughed. She might gain five pounds just smelling the heavenly place,

but it never had any effect on Tara. She was of medium height and thin, never seeming to gain an ounce. She was going through another of her many hair phases; this time it was short, spiky, and deep burgundy. Meg leaned around to look at the back of it. “What do you think?” Tara asked, looking ill at ease and fingering the short strands. “I like it. It suits you.” Meg grinned. “Thanks. So what’s it going to be today? Did you just stop in to chat, or are you here to indulge?” “Definitely to indulge.” Meg studied the display case. “I’ll have a chocolate éclair. And coffee. I’m closing tonight.” “I think I’ll join you.” They carried their small dessert plates and coffee mugs to a table by the front window. Meg bit into the éclair, closing her eyes in appreciation as the chocolate hit her system. It was rich and sweet, a sensual treat she should indulge in more often. She had a sudden image of Darius licking a line of chocolate off her stomach and opened her eyes in shock. She had to get this Darius thing out of her system. “Heard from Summer?” she asked, needing to focus on something safer than the luscious and tempting stranger. “Got a postcard from Wyoming, I think.” Tara laughed. “I can’t keep up with her anymore.” Summer was Meg’s other cousin, and though none of them carried their grandmother, Tinnie’s, last name, the town knew them as the Deveau

girls. They’d all spent half their lives in Tinnie’s house on the lake, Summer and Tara after their parents died, and Meg after Tinnie died. With a sixyear age difference, Summer and Tara had been the much-admired and imitated older sisters Meg had always longed for. As adults, Tara and Meg had stayed in town. Meg took over her father’s bar when her parents retired and Tara struck out on her own with the bakery. Summer, though, became a zoologist and was often out of town for long stretches. “The house is selling this week,” Meg said softly. Her eyes sad, Tara nodded. “It’s better this way. None of us are going to live in it. You and I have our own places, and Summer’s never here.” Meg shrugged. “It’s better to sell it than leave it empty.” “I guess,” Tara answered, her eyes downcast as she studied her coffee dregs, obviously trying to squash the pang of guilt selling Tinnie’s house gave her. They changed the subject to mutual friends and Tara brought up the latest community news. A man was discovered mauled to death in the swamps not far from Meg’s house. The game warden was blaming the grisly death on a bear and had launched a hunt for it. It was a measure of how much Meg had isolated herself, that she’d missed something so major. A frisson of fear skittered up her spine at the thought of how close the body had been found to

her home. The house was her haven. In her selfimposed isolation, she wasn’t assaulted by other people’s thoughts or insights into a future she didn’t want to explore. There were some things you just didn’t want to know about your fellow townspeople. But in the last few weeks the house had seemed to grow too isolated, or maybe just too lonely. Maybe she should take Tara up on her offer of her couch for a few days, because with the sudden clarity of her Gift, she knew the bear incident wasn’t a bear at all. The back of her neck tingled and she was certain someone was watching her. Again. For days the feeling of being observed had come and gone, and it was getting damned old. She turned and looked out the window, but only saw the usual ebb and flow of pedestrian traffic on the town’s sidewalks. The feeling faded after a few minutes. Darius. She scrunched her brow in irritation. He should just come in. Mentally she rolled her eyes. After ignoring him, refusing to take his calls, and avoiding work to keep him at bay, it was no wonder he didn’t. The real question was why she suddenly wanted to see him. The story about the bear attack must have me nervous. That’s all. Thrusting Darius from her thoughts, she rose, gathered the dishes, and took them to the sink through the swinging kitchen door. She still had time to explore some of the shops and catch up on paperwork back at the bar. She planned to take advantage of it. It beat sitting and brooding about

dark and mysterious men and the delicious things one could do to her body. Meg said goodbye to Tara and stepped outside. She turned in the direction of a little art shop, which was more a curiosity shop with interesting little finds. On the walk over she stopped and gossiped with friends. The bear attack was the most recurring theme, and everyone expected some insight from her. She snorted. Her witchy powers had never been so accommodating. She rarely picked up what she wanted to know. Her uneasiness grew, and her sixth sense flared out in awareness. Certain someone was following her, she checked over her shoulder at every stop, but never spotted anyone. Never spotted him. Maybe it wasn’t Darius after all. She felt like a mouse to a cat, and that just didn’t seem to be his style. She felt immediate relief when she entered the shop, and explored with more care than usual for the respite. A small placard in the front window announced new ownership, but the new owner hadn’t taken the time to clean up. The usual clerk had her nose buried in a book at the front display case. The place was a disaster and had to be in violation of the entire fire code. Meg loved it. Rows of tall metal shelves were crammed into the space, creating narrow aisles, and they were packed with fascinating odds and ends. You never knew what you’d find, and most items had more than likely been buried in the racks for years.

She would never have found the wolf on one of her usual visits to the shop. It was small and carved in light-grained wood. With the base resting in her palm, she could see it was about five inches tall. The wolf sat on its haunches, its head thrown back in a howl. It looked sorrowful. And lonely. It touched some chord of recognition deep within her. She traced it with a finger, loving its pose and the contours and emotions evident in the figure. The carver had captured an elemental knowledge of his subject. She had to have it. Turning it over, she had to look twice at the price. She started to put it back when a deep, familiar voice spoke behind her. “You don’t want it?” Darius. She drew a deep breath before she could think better of it. She had been imagining his scent for weeks, that woodsy and completely male odor only he carried. He smelled wonderful. She turned to find his broad chest just inches from her eyes. Another thing she remembered too well was his body. She wondered how well muscled he was under the loose-fitting shirt he wore. Don’t go there. Taking a step backward, she tilted her head up. “Out of my price range,” she said, making an effort to keep her tone light while still cradling the small wolf in her palm. “Ah,” he answered. Smiling a little he asked, “You like wolves?” She glanced down at the little statue. Before she’d taken over the bar, she’d followed her cousin,

Summer, around the country in search of wolf habitats, but they’d never held the same fascination for her as they did for Summer. For her, they were a vocation. To Meg, they were just another endangered species. “Not usually.” She shrugged, then turned and placed it back on the shelf, her fingers protesting the move. She caressed it one last time, imagining she could feel the wolf’s rough coat under her fingertips. Darius stood silently behind her, a brooding male presence, and she recalled the tension that had pushed her into the shop in the first place. Turning, she crossed her arms over her chest and tried to take a defensive step away. “Have you been following me? ’Cause you can stop it.” She paused. “It’s creepy.” He blinked and his expression grew more remote than usual before his icy blue eyes sharpened on her face. Had she thought his eyes were cold? They seemed capable of shooting sparks. He moved closer to her in a protective gesture that normally would have made her feel crowded and edgy, but instead warmed her insides. Would she ever get over this baffling reaction to him? “This is the first I’ve seen you today. I was going to your bar and saw you come in here. Perhaps you are mistaken, and it’s…anticipation that has you so jumpy.” She arched an eyebrow. How typical. A man couldn’t provide an answer, so he fell back on his ego.

“No, I’m not mistaken,” she said, trying to inject a note of disdain into her voice. “Someone’s been watching me for days. I can feel it.” She felt a perverse urge to egg him on. She had been close to deciding to fuck him and get it out of her system. Now, face to face with his arrogant attitude, she wasn’t so sure. “You seem the most likely culprit.” She gave him her most saccharine smile. The one she saved for obnoxious customers. “And it certainly isn’t anticipation. More like feeling stalked.” The look in his eyes morphed into pure lust. If keeping her distance was the plan, pushing this man was a bad choice. He would take it as a challenge. There was an aggressive air to him, along with a look of command. It was obvious he was not accustomed to being questioned. Or disobeyed. Obedience had never been her strong suit. He smiled at her and her stomach dropped. Sex with him would be mind-blowing. She just knew it. He seemed to be reading her mind as he took her elbow and led her out of the store, turning toward her bar. “I think we should discuss that a bit more privately,” he said in a lust-thickened voice. It was a short walk. She was blinking in the bar’s dimness before she even considered the implications of what she was doing. It was only five, and the place was still empty. The after-work crowd would be drifting in within minutes. And she

was about to have sex in her office. Excitement coursed through her and her pussy grew damp. Before she could form a protest, Darius steered her toward the office in the back, dragged her inside, and shut the door. The lock clicked. There was no chance for her to put distance between them now. He backed her against the wall, the hard length of his body pressed against hers. And oh my, he was hard. Every inch of him. He nudged her feet apart and nestled his erection against her belly. His hands shackled her wrists next to her face. She didn’t like aggressive, domineering men. She liked a sexual give-and-take on an equal playing field. But this man had her blood heated and her heart pounding in anticipation, to use his word. She struggled to figure it out and briefly wondered if she could get away. He must have seen it on her face. “Oh no,” he muttered, leaning in. “I’ve waited too long to taste you.” It was not at all what she expected. He nipped her shoulder, feathering kisses to her neck and the erratic pulse beating there. His tongue traced the line of her jaw before finding her lips. Gently he pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue following the curve of her bottom lip. The kiss was so sweet, she sighed and opened her mouth for his exploration. Control was just an illusion. Though the kiss was almost languorous, he held her hands in a vicelike grip, his erection grinding hard against her

hips. They’d just started and she was wet and ready. She would be ripping his clothes off if he weren’t holding her immobile. God, she was sweet. He reined in his urge to plunge into her and tried to slow his racing heart. He wanted her memories of their first time together to be explosive but gentle.

Where the hell had that thought come from?

He hadn’t been gentle a day in his life. But she didn’t strike him as the type of woman who enjoyed loss of control. He was sure she would adjust to him, but he didn’t have time to wait. His more logical side fought with his animal side for power. Logic lost. He released her hands to pull the tank top over her head. She wore a plain white cotton bra with a front snap. The only thing sexy about it was the woman wearing it. It had to go. Maybe he could get her in red lace someday soon. Her nipples hardened under his gaze, and with a touch he released the snap. She had delicate, high breasts with small nipples and peach-colored areolas. Beautiful. He could look at her all night. But first he needed to taste her. He sucked one of the hardened tips into his mouth. She groaned, inflaming his blood more, and cradled his head in her arms. He wondered if she was always so responsive. No, best not to go there. Feeling a rush of jealousy, he tightened his grasp on her. The past couldn’t be changed, and she was his now.

His tongue trailed to her other breast while his deft fingers unsnapped her jeans and tugged them down her thighs. Pushing her panties aside and cupping her with his palm, he spread her lips for a gentle brush of his fingers against her clitoris. He groaned his pleasure—she was hot and wet and arched into his hand. He thrust two fingers inside her, circling her clit with his thumb, imagining his cock in her tight folds. Her breath grew ragged, and he felt her heart pounding as she rode his fingers to her first climax. She tightened around him, and he abandoned the rest of his control. Quickly discarding his jeans and shoes, he bent to remove hers, desperate to get inside her. Still pressing her back to the door, he lifted her up, his hands cupping her bottom. She clasped her legs around his waist. With one deep thrust, he understood what it meant to have a mate. He groaned. Completion. She completed him. His heart pounded crazily out of control. He wanted to savor the moment, to make it last all night, but she moved against him. The wolf in him demanded a fast, hard claiming. Meg wasn’t sure how she’d gotten in this position, backed up to a wall, her legs clinging to Darius’ trim waist. He was smooth and hard and thick inside her. She felt the wildness rising in him, and her muscles clenched involuntarily in response. Adjusting her position as much as she could, she felt him shift higher inside her. A soft moan

escaped and a small tremor ran through him, thrilling her. She could make him lose control too, and she realized with a kick that she wanted that. Using his shoulders for leverage, she slid up the length of his cock, and then lowered herself back down. She drew out the long strokes until they were both gasping and trembling. He reached between them with one hand and found her aching clit, rubbing it in lazy circles. His other hand clamped on the back of head and pulled her in for a rough kiss. Taking command of her rhythm, his tongue thrust deeply into her mouth in a hard, rough claiming in perfect time with his cock. Each stroke came faster and harder. She sensed he was holding back, waiting for her. He pressed her clit harder and her next orgasm built. As it rolled through her, he clamped his hands on her hips and drove into her harder and faster. She cried out when she felt him bite her shoulder and the first shudders shook her body. With a low growl, he held her still as he came, his body stiffening against her while her muscles continued to clench around him. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She didn’t want to move. She felt too good, too sated, and she doubted her rubbery legs would get her far anyway. Her thighs were still wrapped around his hips. He saved her the trouble of attempting to free herself by turning with her and walking around her desk to the chair. “No, don’t move,” he said quietly as she tried to lower her legs. He sat back in the big leather chair

and she leaned into him, resting her head under his chin. “Once is not going to be enough, is it?” she asked. God, she hoped not. She already wanted him again. He laughed. “No way.” The shrill ring of a cell phone broke the mood. He sighed. “Yours or mine?” “Not mine,” she answered, moving out of his lap and reaching for her clothes. She picked up the phone and handed it to him just as it stopped ringing. “You moved for nothing.” He grinned. “Why don’t you come back over here?” “Hmm.” She pretended to think it over. “Work, maybe? Believe it or not, bars do not run themselves.” She had her jeans and bra back on, and paused before pulling on her tank top. It slid to the floor and her fingers went to the stinging bite he’d left on her neck. They came away with a drop of blood. “You bit me hard enough to break the skin?” she asked, shocked. What kind of man was he? He turned her around and lifted her hair away from her nape. “Let me see,” he murmured. His fingers rubbed gentle circles around the spot and she felt a curious clenching inside her chest. “I’m sorry,” he added. He didn’t sound the least bit contrite. He sounded…pleased. She stepped away and picked up the shirt.

He sighed. “Do you have to do that?” “Work? Remember?” She arched an eyebrow. “Don’t you work?” Embarrassment heated her face and she eyed the shirt like it was to blame. She didn’t know anything about this man. She faced the door while she pulled on the shirt and then her sandals. She didn’t hear him come up behind her, but suddenly he was there, with his arms circling her waist and his lips nuzzling her neck. “I’m a photographer,” he said, turning her around. “A photographer…as in portraits?” “Photographer, like National Geographic,” he said. “I’m a freelance nature photographer.” “Oh, I see.” Disappointment knifed through her. He must be here to photograph the lake—he wasn’t here permanently. Funny to feel such pain over someone she hardly knew. “How long are you going to be here?” she asked anyway. “Awhile. I just moved here,” he answered, turning her around. “I’ll have to go away for work sometimes, but that won’t affect us.” She nodded. Intuition told her there was a great deal he wasn’t telling her, but her quick flash of panic had passed when he said he now lived here. “So…us? Would you say we’re dating?” She laughed. “Usually my dates don’t start this way. Occasionally, however, they do end this way.”

He stilled and she instinctively knew her joking comment had made him very angry. Fear tingled along her spine. She brushed aside the image of rising hackles, and wondered if she should try to read him. No. She made it a point to stay out of people’s heads. “We are definitely together,” he growled and took a deep breath. “I’m not an easygoing man, Meg. I’m possessive and I’m used to my orders being followed without question. I don’t want you going out with anyone else, and you especially won’t be ending any dates like this with anyone but me.” “Well. Wow.” She wasn’t sure how to respond to that little speech. Her brows drew together and she wondered who took orders from him. On one hand, she couldn’t begin to imagine any other man being able to compete with Darius. On the other, she didn’t want him thinking he was going to be in a position to boss her around or that she’d let him. There was something else going here on she didn’t understand. Having sex with him had relieved a lot of the tension she had been feeling, but now she felt even more connected to him. She hadn’t expected anything more than to satisfy her curiosity. Her hand went to the mark he’d left on her neck. Something about it was triggering a memory, but it was too elusive to grasp. “I’m not good at following orders,” she said. His arms tightened around her.

“It’s not that I want to order you around. I just need to know that you’re safe and,” he paused and seemed to hesitate over the right word, “mine.” She was saved from having to challenge his possessive streak by his phone ringing again. He didn’t let her go as he answered it, and he held a brief, private conversation with the person on the other end. Finally he released her, and after dressing, he gave her a lingering kiss. “I have to go meet some people,” he said. “I’ll be back before you close.” “Who are you meeting?” she asked. He gave her a smile that smacked of paternalism. “No one you know.” Evasiveness irritated her in the best of circumstances. This didn’t count as one of those. He claimed this thing between them was serious. He seemed to think he could make demands on her time and order her around, but he didn’t have to answer a simple question? Fury bubbled up from deep inside her, and she tried to rein it in. The last thing she needed was to set the bar on fire in a misdirected fit of temper. “Don’t rush,” she said. Anger made her hands shake and she shoved them into her back pockets. She’d be damned if he saw how much he affected her. “I think tomorrow’s soon enough for us to get together again.” He looked at her through narrowed eyes. “I need to see you tonight,” he said. She saw the raw need in his pale blue eyes, and struggled to conceal the inexplicable yearning

inside her own body. She wanted more from this man than sex, but how could that be possible when he had started out keeping secrets? Oh, who was she kidding? Irritated, she nodded. “Fine.” “Good,” he answered. He pressed a quick but passionate kiss to her lips, and left.

Chapter Three Another man, this time a game warden, had been attacked in the forest near the lake. He had managed to get to his truck and radio for help, but he wasn’t expected to live. Before he lost consciousness he had told the paramedics that it hadn’t been a bear, but a wolf that attacked him. Darius met Eric and Trey in the parking lot of his apartment complex to join in the hunt for the wolf. The back of the complex bordered a triangle of woods. The other two sides were edged by the lake and the stretch of road where Meg’s house was located. Whether it was just a wolf or something else entirely, they were best equipped to track it. If it was a were, it not only endangered the local human population, but his people as well should it be trapped by a human. The three men walked into the wood line and prepared to change shape. Their sense of smell being far superior to man’s, Darius hoped he would recognize the scent of the attacking wolf. He was so much on edge that his suspicious nature was beginning to look to the werewolves he could verify lived in the area, and it pissed him off. Especially being suspicious of Trey. Werewolves were very careful to conceal what they were. It was against all of their laws to attack a human. In an age of science and medical labs and DNA, it was pure recklessness to court discovery.

They weren’t immune to the capriciousness of human nature, though, and had their own nuts. A small group of individuals felt they should be able to hunt humans as prey and claimed to be natural predators of humans. Trey had spent most of his life hunting them. Darius had no experience with them, but his gut sure suspected the Society. One of the outlaws was obviously testing his resolve to protect his territory. Either that or an insane were had moved into the area. A rarity, but not unheard of. He divided the swamp into three sections, assigning one to each wolf to search. He considered calling in some of the other males to help, but discarded the idea. His two best trackers were working the area. It was unlikely adding more noses would help. “You seem much calmer tonight.” Eric grinned at him. “She must be coming around.” “She’s getting used to me,” he joked. “At this rate she’ll come around in fifty years or so.” Eric laughed. “What about your infamous charm, man? I thought women couldn’t resist you.” “Don’t ask,” he said and shook his head. Things were challenging enough between settling the pack and catching the wolf. When he added convincing Meg that she belonged with him to the mix, he cringed at an unexpected twinge of guilt. He’d marked her, biting her hard enough to mix the enzymes in his saliva with her blood. All without explaining a thing to her. He sighed. She wasn’t going to like being bound to him without

having first been consulted. What was the modern lingo? Freak out? That about summed up what her reaction would be. He sent the men in different directions and walked deeper into the woods. Finding a secluded spot, he took off his clothes and shoes, and folded them into a small backpack that he dropped over his shoulders. He sat on the ground and closed his eyes, picturing a wolf in his mind. He concentrated on relaxing while his bones contorted and popped to the wolf’s shape and fur bristled over his skin. He was so practiced the conversion took just a few seconds, and then he was standing in the little clearing with his nose turned up, sniffing the air. The section he chose to search for himself included Meg’s house, and both attacks had occurred within the area’s imaginary boundaries. His skin crawled at the thought of a predator so close to her, and her unprotected. Well, no more. He trotted off in the direction of the most recent attack. It was a short run, and a waste of time. Too many men had been in the area, and their smells mingled with Eric’s and Trey’s, who’d already been there to investigate. He circled out, but found nothing, then got distracted exploring the area around Meg’s house. The forest floor was cool and shady, a leafy canopy stretched overhead, and a crystal stream flowed along the edge of her property. He was going to enjoy living out here. The snapping of a twig alerted him to the presence of others. He tested the wind and caught

their scents some yards behind him. He changed form and dressed quickly. He was feeling edgy and was glad they had not come upon him while he was near Meg’s home. He didn’t trust his reaction as a wolf to another male’s presence near her house. He had to get a grip on his possessive instincts. His people would need to be able to come to him here. He hoped things would improve once she had accepted who he was and what they were to each other. He found Eric and Trey sitting against a couple of trees where they’d started. He interrupted their quiet conversation. “Anything?” he asked. They both shook their heads no. “Nothing we didn’t expect,” Eric said. “Game wardens, paramedics, and us.” “That’s all I got too,” Trey answered. Darius rubbed a hand over the ache starting in his temple. He was going to find out what was going on here, but probably not tonight. “Okay. You two go on home.” Trey lived in the same apartment complex and nodded goodbye to both men before approaching his building. Eric and Darius walked toward their cars. “He okay?” Darius asked, nodding after Trey. “He’s acting weirder than usual.” “Far as I know, he’s fine. He’s kept to himself since he got here, but that’s not anything new.” “Yeah.” Darius sighed. “Hey, do you have one of those wolves you carve?” He grinned. “I need one.” “You need one?” Eric asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Meg saw one at your store.” “I see.” Eric smiled. “Never thought I’d see the day when you were—” “What?” he asked, unclenching his jaw, knowing whatever Eric said would be designed to irritate him. “Nothing,” Eric said with feigned innocence Darius didn’t buy for a minute. “Stop by the store and pick up whatever it was she wanted. You’ve got a key, right?” “Yeah, I’ll go by and get it. You want to get a beer?” He laughed. “No. I’m going home and getting laid. My woman isn’t running away from me.” Darius growled. “Better go then before I find you something urgent to do first.” Imperturbable as usual, Eric laughed and waved goodbye as he slipped into his car. *** Meg was waiting for him to come back and trying hard to pretend she wasn’t, that it wasn’t important to see him again so soon. But her frustration level was growing. It had been several hours. She threw herself into the pile of paperwork on her desk, caught it up, and then took over the bar. Still he was nowhere to be seen. It was a slow night, so she sent her daytime bartender home at nine. Slow, but the conversation was animated and outrageous. Word flew through town that Jimmy Barr, a state park game warden,

had been attacked by a wolf. There hadn’t been any wolves in the area in decades. Was that why Darius had run off so quickly? But why? What could it possibly have to do with him? If chasing down wolves was his job, why wouldn’t he have told her? What was so secretive about that? A group of regulars sat at the bar discussing the situation while she listened with half interest and slow simmering anger. “Maybe someone kept one as a pet and let it loose,” a plumber named Bill speculated. “That’s just dumb, Bill,” Chuck said. “Why would a pet attack a man? It’d be used to people.” Bill shrugged. “How else do you explain a wolf being here?” “It migrated from somewhere, obviously,” Chuck said, disdain dripping in his voice. “That’s as dumb as my pet theory. Like no one would have noticed a wolf wandering around.” “No one has noticed a wolf wandering around.” “Well, maybe it’s not a normal wolf,” Bill said. “What else could it be? What the hell’s normal for a wolf anyway?” Meg smiled to herself at the sudden vision she had of the two young men, old and grizzled in fifty years, still arguing on barstools inside her place. She made her way down the length of the bar, checking other costumers, when she heard a remark that had her whipping her head around in shocked disbelief. “Maybe it’s a werewolf,” Bill joked.

The men around him laughed. Meg tried to appear calm and steady her pulse, but her Gift was screaming in sudden insight. It was a werewolf stalking the forest. And Darius was one too. No wonder he made her feel hunted. She was certain he wasn’t a killer, though he seemed capable of it. For some crazy reason she couldn’t begin to explain, she felt safe with him. Physically at least. Her heart was another matter. The bar was beginning to clear out and a quick glance at her watch showed the hour pushing closing time. Twenty minutes till two. The last two servers on duty were herding out the lingerers, gathering glasses to wash, and lifting chairs onto empty tables. Meg filled the time restocking the bar. She was pushing Bill and Chuck out the door when the phone rang. Glaring at it, she debated not answering. During her shift her suspicion that werewolves were in town had solidified to certainty and acceptance. Everything about it felt right. And her new lover was one of them. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before. He moved like a predator. Smooth and lethal and controlled. Like he owned his environment and everything in it. On top of that, she had the uneasy feeling she was involved with Darius whether she liked it or not. That just pissed her off. He was bossy and arrogant, and he had left her hanging all night. He didn’t really think she was the kind of woman who would stand for that kind of treatment, did he? He

was in for a rude surprise if that’s what he believed. So why did she feel marked? Why did her body still crave his? Against her better judgment, she sighed and grabbed the phone before the machine could pick up. She knew it was a mistake to give even an inch, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. “What do you want?” she snapped. There was a pause before he answered, “Do you always answer the phone like that?” “Only when it’s you, Darius,” she said sweetly. “I didn’t notice you had caller ID on any of the phones in the bar.” “I don’t. I knew it was you. Didn’t I mention that I know things? I’m a witch. Remember?” The servers swept and mopped, in a hurry to clock out. They caught Meg’s glance and waved as they left. “Look, I’m closing up. Can we argue later? I have a hot tub at home calling my name.” She felt a sudden flare of desire and knew she was picking it up from Darius. It jumpstarted her own libido. “How ’bout I meet you there?” he asked. “I have a couple of things I need to do first. We’ll meet in, say, thirty minutes?” In for a penny, in for a pound. ”Sure. Thirty minutes.” She hung up the phone, grabbed her bag, and locked up.

Chapter Four Her little house was on the edge of the swamp, set far off the road and backing up to the wood line. It was a log A-frame. The master bedroom and bath were in the loft and the bottom floor was an open kitchen and living room, with a half-bath tucked to one side. A porch wrapped around the entire place. She had seen it and fallen in love with the back deck, with its weathered redwood planks and built in bench seats. And the hot tub. Today was definitely a hot tub day. She pulled into her drive dreaming of warm bubbles, but food came first. She’d ignored dinner. Hard to get interested in food when your sex drive had your stomach tied up in knots. She pulled out the two steaks she’d left marinating in the refrigerator that afternoon, not even trying to fool herself into thinking her reason for marinating two was because they came two in the pack. She wrapped two potatoes, put them in the oven to bake, and started for the stairs so she could take a quick shower. She’d love a long soak, but she wanted answers out of Darius first. Somehow she doubted she’d get them in the hot tub, and he’d be at her house soon. Before she could get to the shower, his car turned into the drive and her pulse kicked up. She met him at the door and opened it wide for him to enter. Words of greeting lodged in her throat. He stepped inside and looked around.

“So, this is it,” he said, his voice low as if he felt her need to adjust to his presence in her space. “I wondered what the inside looked like.” He walked through the living room, running his fingers down the back of her leather sofa. She shivered and her pussy grew wet, remembering the feel of those fingers on her skin just hours ago. He paused beside her entertainment center and peered at her over his shoulder. “Do you mind?” He turned on the radio. “Every Breath You Take” flowed from the speakers. Still rooted to the spot by the door, she shook her head. “Aren’t you coming in?” he teased. She forced a smile, shocked and bothered by his effect on her. It was more intense than usual. “Of course.” He resumed meandering through her space, his presence filling it up. Finally he stopped at the bar separating the kitchen from the living room. She had left the steaks on the counter along with a salad bag and several tomatoes. “You’re planning on feeding me?” He grinned. “So I’m making progress here, right?” The grin transformed him from dangerous predator to sexy bad boy. She was amazed at her body’s intense response. Her pulse jumped and butterflies took flight in her stomach. He was definitely making progress, but there was no reason for her to admit it. Her earlier werewolf suspicions seemed ludicrous in the face of that grin, but better safe than sorry.

“I haven’t eaten much today. It seemed rude to make you watch me eat,” she said. “Unless you aren’t hungry, of course.” She saw that her comment was a mistake as his eyes became heated and lazily studied her. The tension coursing through her body went up another notch. She was primed and ready, her pussy wet and throbbing. “I could eat,” he said. He was still and quiet, alert and watchful like he was just waiting for the right moment to pounce. She was again reminded of a wolf. “Good.” She aimed for a breezy tone that sounded strangled, instead. “Why don’t you fire up the grill? I need to grab a quick shower.” Taking the stairs at a fast clip, she was impressed she hadn’t run from the room. She felt his eyes boring into her back as she walked into the large bathroom, pulling her shirt off as she entered. She turned on the water and shimmied out of her jeans before remembering to close the door. Naked, she turned to do just that and found herself pressed against Darius from shoulder to knee. As she moved to step back, his arms snaked around her, pulling her hard against him. “I thought you were going to start the grill,” she said, hating the breathiness in her voice. “It can wait,” he murmured. His hands feathered over her back. “I can’t.” She caught her breath. His simple touch curled her toes. With one hand grasping his shirt and the other cupping the back of his head, she pulled him

down for a kiss. She meant to keep it light, a gentle exploration with her tongue. She hadn’t counted on the fire he lit in her veins. Would she ever get used to it? Nipping her bottom lip with his teeth, he seemed to inhale her in a violent mating of tongues and lips and teeth. She couldn’t believe that she liked it and wanted more. Reaching for the edge of his shirt, she tugged upward. He released her and with a few jerky tugs removed his clothes. He couldn’t believe he had found her. His mate. And she was giving her body to him. It was infuriating. He was supposed to have her body, and her heart and soul. She was withholding what was rightly his. She stood before him, her perfect breasts heaving, with lust and trepidation in her eyes. He was amazed at how beautiful she was. Her skin spilled down her back in rich brown waves and her lips were rosy and swollen from his kiss. She would love him. He would find a way to make her open her heart. She tried to step back and hit the counter, where she halted and crossed her arms over her chest. Stepping forward, Darius uncrossed them and turned her to face the mirror. He held her gaze in the glass and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “No.”

“Look how beautiful you are.” He pressed his erection against her butt. “Don’t you feel how much I want you?” Passion darkened her eyes as he rolled one nipple in his fingers, while his other hand traveled down her flat stomach. Her breath caught when his thumb found her clit and he tested her wetness with one finger. She rocked forward and forced it deeper. He pushed a second finger in, reveling in how tight and wet she was for him, as she rocked against him, faster and harder. An orgasm ripped through her, and her pussy clenching on his fingers drove him crazy. Gently he pushed against her back so she was leaning across the counter, resting on her elbows. He nudged her legs apart and guided his cock into her still-convulsing core. Holding her gaze in the mirror, he began to move in and out, one hand rubbing circles on her bottom, the other matching his thrusting rhythm on her clit. He loved her awed expression. She was holding nothing back, giving herself to him. He saw lust and wonder in her eyes. It was a start. He wanted to throw his head back and howl as the orgasm took him over. She came with him, the shudders traveling from her body to his. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against his chest, trying to catch his breath. “The water’s probably getting cold,” she said after a few minutes. “Yeah,” he grunted. He picked her up and set her in the shower before stepping in with her.

She closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall as he lightly soaped her up. It was a trusting pose, relaxed and languorous, and he assumed they’d just had a breakthrough. God, he hoped so. He liked her sated and compliant. He ran the washrag up one thigh, and she shifted slightly, opening her legs and edging forward. He grinned. He might like her a little pushy too. He turned her to the wall and pulled her hands high above her head. “Don’t move,” he whispered in her ear. Starting at her ankles, he explored every inch of her, his tongue often preceding the soapy rag. Up one leg and down the other. She shivered as his touch turned from gentle ministration to sensual. She was beautiful spread out, open and available for him. He marveled at her. He nudged her thighs apart and slipped a finger into her pussy, while his other hand explored the rounded curves of her ass. Her breathing hitched, and he growled when she tried to move. “Don’t.” When she remained motionless, a second finger joined the first. He worked them in and out in slow motion, rubbing the sensitive spot on the front vaginal wall. Her scent of arousal grew heavy in the air and he dragged it deeply into his lungs. Sensing she was close to release, he abruptly withdrew his hand. She moaned a protest, but stayed immobile. He felt a surge of satisfaction. Drawn to her butt, he palmed each cheek. Spreading them, he imagined burying his cock

there too. He dipped a finger into her pussy and, gathering her wetness on it, worked it into the tiny hole of her ass. He squeezed his eyes shut. So tight. Her breathing turned ragged, and her muscles clenched in an effort not to move. The scent of her arousal intensified. With restraint he couldn’t believe he possessed, he gently eased his finger higher into her. His cock pulsed in demand and, using his feet, he nudged her legs farther apart. With his other hand, he guided it into her slick channel. Her head fell back and she shook in the throes of orgasm as soon as he lodged himself inside her. His wolf howled in triumph. She was completely his. Grabbing her hips with both hands, he pounded into her in a steady rhythm. The feel of her body clenching around his cock was unparalleled. He didn’t want it to end, was sure he could stay here just like this forever. He came too soon, the orgasm rising from nowhere to overtake him. He didn’t come back to himself for several minutes and was alarmed to find her limp and silent, pressed between his bulk and the slick wall. Withdrawing, he then spun her around. She smiled languidly and leaned into him. Closing his eyes, he breathed a sigh of relief. He had to remember to be more careful. Guilt knifed through him. He was afraid for the first time he might have hurt her. Damn it! He knew his own strength, but even now need overwhelmed him. He cleaned them both, dried off first, and returned to turn off the water and wrap her in a

towel. Guiding her into the bedroom, he sat her on the bed and looked around with interest. It was not the neatest place he’d ever been. One side was a rail overlooking the downstairs, and one wall backed up to the bathroom. A large sleigh bed was pushed against that wall. The adjacent wall contained a closet and a large dresser, and the wall opposite the bed held an armoire. Opening it, he discovered a television in the top half and overflowing drawers below it. “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to try and take over my life?” she asked from the bed, suspicion giving her a voice a testy edge he found endearing instead of annoying. He laughed, a soft sound in the open air of the loft. “Because I am,” he said, leaning over to steal a kiss. She leveled a steady gaze at him. “What is it?” he asked, one eyebrow raised. “You have too many secrets to just barge in and try to take over.” He studied her a minute. “We’ll talk about those later. I’ll go start dinner while you get dressed.” *** She took her time, for once fussing with her appearance. At some point through the night, she’d welcomed Darius into her life. The thought occupied her while she primped, both surprised and bemused at the effort.

It worried her as much as it amused her. He was dangerous, a definite threat to her independence, but for the first time in years she felt safe and cherished. Her parents had retired to Florida years ago and it was sort of nice to be babied a little. The urge to lean into Darius and let him take over was irresistible. Her eyes widened at the revelation. This was not normal for her. This was some crazy hormonal imbalance she had been struck with all of a sudden. She didn’t do relationships. So why was the idea so tempting? She sighed and rubbed the mark on the back of her shoulder again. All night her fingers had been drawn to it. The mark of his possession. Her traitorous body was all for that. Moving to the closet, she dragged out a clean pair of jeans and opted for a baggy T-shirt. Maybe if she hid her assets, she could strike up a real conversation with him. Say, on werewolves. She remembered her grandmother’s romantic tales of the creatures and wondered about their reality. Grandma Tinnie’s wolf stories were always “star-crossed lovers live happily ever after” affairs. She grinned, thinking about Darius and sex and how heavily those stories must have been edited. Dinner was on the bar when she came down, and she picked at her food in silence. “If you aren’t going to eat that, stop mutilating it and give it to me.”

She looked up to see Darius scowling at her while she pushed a piece of steak around on her plate. “Take it,” she sighed and handed it over. “Guess I’m not that hungry after all.” “You have to eat,” he said, exasperation plain in his voice. “Here. Try this.” He popped a small bite of steak in her mouth. Her eyes widened as she chewed. A man feeding her dinner—literally. This was a first. “Why did you do that?” He smiled. “You’ve lost weight since I first met you. I like my women with a little meat on their bones.” Oh really. Anger and jealousy knotted her stomach. “Your women?” she asked. “I’ve got news for you, buddy. There can be only one. I do not share. Ever.” His grin could only be described as triumphant, and too late, she sensed the trap closing over her head. “You’ve decided to keep me around, huh?” He arched an eyebrow. “Just remember that’s a twoway street, sweetheart. I don’t share either.” He fed her another piece of steak and she sat back, confused. Most men would have run from the house screaming at her possessive outburst. He seemed to relish it. “What’s going on here?” she asked. “I don’t invite strange men into my house and fuck them in my bathroom.”

“I should hope not,” he said. “I might have to kill someone.” She sucked in a hard breath at the certainty in his low voice, and met his steady blue gaze. “That would be bad,” she muttered. He laughed. “Yes, it would.” Taking her hand, he led her to the couch and handed her a box from the coffee table. She settled back against the cushions and he draped an arm across her shoulders. A smile spread across her face as she opened the box and pulled out the wolf, beginning to understand why it appealed to her so much. “You don’t miss much, do you?” she asked. “It reminded me of you when I saw it.” “Me?” he asked, a surprised note in his voice. “Yeah. Regal and strong and lonely.” “You think I’m lonely?” he asked, a smile giving the corners of his eyes a sexy crinkle. Tilting her head back to look at him, she considered her answer. “Maybe solitary would be a better word, which is kind of funny because I usually see you with a crowd of people.” She shrugged. “You still seem alone to me.” He looked at her strangely. “What? Did I grow horns?” she teased. He chuckled. “Most people don’t see what you see. A lot of people depend on me. They always say it’s lonely at the top, right?” he joked. “Besides, I’m not alone. I have you.”

For now at least. He didn’t strike her as the

type of man who might be tied down for long. The pain in the vicinity of her heart at that thought was sharp and surprising. She could get used to having him around. Learn to crave him, need him, like she already wanted his body. They rehashed local gossip, growing accustomed to each other’s company, before the attacks came up. “You have to promise me you’ll be careful until they catch this animal,” he said, tightening his arm around her. “I don’t wander around in the woods by myself, so I’m thinking I’m safe,” she said, attempting to keep her tone light and casual. “It’s strange, though. There haven’t been wolves in this area in decades.” She paused, wondering how to bring up werewolves without sounding insane. What if she was wrong? “Stranger things have happened.” He shrugged. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.” “Sure. Some of my regulars were speculating about it tonight. They came up with some wild ideas.” She took a steadying breath. Just say it already, Meg. “One of them said it’s a werewolf.” He grew still. Bingo. Exhaling slowly, he asked, “What do you think?” With her head resting on his chest, she heard his heart kick up a beat as he waited for her answer.

“My grandmother was an honest-to-God witch, you know. More of a witch than me. Better than me,” she said, ignoring his question. “She used to tell me all kinds of stories, said there were werewolves here when she was a child.” She paused. “She believed in them. The world is a strange place. I’m not exactly normal myself.” She cradled the carved wolf in her hand and waited for him to answer. Long after Darius was gone from her life, it would remind her of him. She knew with a certainty she couldn’t begin to explain that he was a wolf. The question was how much of it he was going to share with her. “You realize people would think you were crazy if you let on you believe those old myths?” She stiffened in his arms and he tried to soothe her, rubbing circles on her arm. Maybe she was wrong. She stood and paced across the room. She’d spent her entire life proving to this town she was a good witch, steady and dependable, and he had to go throwing the word crazy around. “Thanks,” she said, covering her hurt and disappointment with sarcasm.

Chapter Five What the hell is going on here? He shoved a hand through his short hair. Was she trying to draw him out? His mate couldn’t betray him, could she? He wouldn’t believe it. The ties between them were too strong. He watched her pace the room, agitation clear in every step, and was struck by his need for this woman and how natural that seemed. He liked women, but had never wanted to keep one around. He’d certainly never wanted to share his life with one. She looked at him sharply. “Well, maybe I never wanted to share my life with a man either. Especially with a bossy, arrogant, overbearing one. Feel free to leave any time.” Stunned she had read his thoughts, he bolted up, stopped her in her tracks and grabbed her by the shoulders. “What did you say?” “You were thinking you didn’t want me in your life. Pay attention, Darius. You’ve been in town long enough to hear the gossip about me. I. Am. A. Witch. I told you I know things. Sometimes I catch people’s thoughts. Sometimes I know what they’re feeling, especially if it’s strong emotion. That’s why I live way out here in the woods. For the buffer.” He pulled her back to the couch and onto his lap, tightening his arms around her so she couldn’t escape. Closing his eyes against the pain underlying her anger, he tried to imagine what

things were like for her. How difficult would that have been as a child? Picking up the thoughts and feelings of the people around you? “What do you know about the wolf?” She made an exasperated sound. “Why ask if you aren’t going to tell me?” He gave her his pack leader tell-me-now look, and she giggled. “That works on most people, doesn’t it?” Arching a brow she said, “I’m not afraid of you. It won’t work on me.” “You’re an impertinent little imp, aren’t you?” he said, amazed she was trying to defy him. “I won’t like it much, but I will turn you over my knee.” She gasped in outrage. “You wouldn’t dare!” “Wanna make a wager on that, sweetheart?” He gave her a minute to realize he was serious. “Tell me what you know about the wolf,” he urged. Sighing, she tried to stand up, but he tightened his arms around her. She felt too good to let go. She shrugged and relaxed into him. “There are werewolves here. I’m not sure how many, but several. I don’t think they normally do this kind of thing though. My grandmother’s stories were about lovers, not maulings.” She’s a gift. He closed his eyes. I must have done something right in a past life. Of course, just because she believed the werewolves existed didn’t mean she would want to be bound to one. But it certainly seemed as if her grandmother had paved the way for him.

“They aren’t myth,” he said in a low voice. “I knew that,” she said with irritation, looking at him through lowered lashes. He couldn’t resist leaning down to nibble on her pouting lower lip. Once there he had to taste her again and the fire built within his veins. He’d never get enough of this woman. “I don’t deserve you,” he whispered. “Well, of course not.” She grinned with a saucy toss of her hair. “I’m one of them,” he said, holding her gaze, his fear she’d turn away from him making him sound a hell of a lot more grim than he’d intended. She nodded. “I know.” “How?” She shrugged. “They were joking about it at the bar, and it just made sense. It felt right. I can’t explain how it works.” She squinted at the clock in the kitchen and tried to move off his lap. “It’s getting late,” she said. “You should probably be going.” He felt a wrenching in his gut. She couldn’t reject him now. “I’m staying right here,” he said. She struggled in his arms, and though he hated to, he released her. He’d been sharp and she was scared. The change in her scent was easy to read, and it sickened him that he was the cause. She stood up and backed away. “Look. I don’t want to get too attached to you. You won’t stay.” “Is that something else you just know?”

“Yeah. I do. You’ve had lots of women. None of them last long.” She took a deep breath. “That’s okay. I’m not good at relationships either. We should just get this…thing between us”—she waved her hand—“out of our systems and move on.” Anger and possessiveness pumped through him. She might be afraid because she didn’t know him yet or understand what he was to her, but she would not dismiss him—them—so easily. Letting his intention show on his face, he stalked her through the open room as she backpedaled, trying to find a safe place to make a stand. Finally backed into a corner, she met his gaze as he took her chin in one hand and forced her to look at him. “We will not get this out of our systems,” he said, enunciating each word with care. “You are my mate. I will never let another man touch you. I will never let you go.” Even the thought filled him with rage. Her eyes widened. “Wow. You’re serious about this, huh?” “Deadly.” “I need a chance to adjust,” she said weakly. “Some space to think would be nice.” “You’re not getting much,” he said, sounding gruffer than he knew was fair, every instinct in him clamoring to tie her to him physically, if necessary. He released her and walked to the sliding glass doors, taking off his shirt as he went. “What are you doing?”

“You need space,” he said, hiding his fury behind sarcasm while he unbuttoned his jeans. “And I need to run off my temper.” He felt her eyes on his back as he removed his shoes and peeled off his jeans. Inhaling a deep draught of air, he took the scent of the forest into his lungs before turning back to see frank admiration in her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that,” he warned. “No, of course not,” she said, her gaze still drinking him in. He felt it like a touch on his skin. He shook his head, trying to remember her need for space. He’d give her space all right. Space in bed next to him. “Keep the doors locked. Let me have a key so I can get back in.” “There’s one under the box of chlorine out there, by the hot tub.” “Ok.” He nodded. “Lock this door, and don’t let anyone else in. I won’t be long.” She leaned against the doorframe, and he realized she wanted to see him shift. She wasn’t the least bit afraid of him. With a surge of joy, he stepped back and reached for the wolf. In amazement, she watched the impossible—a grown man transforming himself into a wolf. First his legs contorted and changed. Then his torso, his arms, and his head. Finally, although she knew it had taken only seconds, he stood before her as a lone gray wolf. She felt a moment of rightness. My

wolf.

On light feet, the wolf approached and butted her hand. As if they had a mind of their own, her hands buried themselves in the soft thick fur behind his ears, and she found herself on her knees looking into its eyes. His eyes, she reminded herself. Darius’ eyes. “Darius,” she said, not hiding the wonder in her voice. The wolf grinned and nipped at her, licking her face playfully while she laughed. He was like an overgrown puppy. After a few minutes, he nudged her toward the door a bit more forcefully than necessary. “Okay, okay,” she grumbled. “I get it.” Under the watchful gaze of the wolf, she pulled the glass shut, and then flipped the lever to the locked position. He seemed to nod goodbye before taking three long steps and bounding off the deck to disappear into the night. Oh, it’s going to hurt when he leaves. Busying herself straightening the living room and cleaning the kitchen didn’t take much time. After wiping the bar down for the third time, she decided to call it a night. Upstairs, she found her favorite old, ratty sleep shirt, discarding the thought of finding something even a little bit sexy. This was who she was. He’d have to either accept her, or move on. She sighed, digging around in her dresser drawers. He would be leaving soon enough, so maybe she shouldn’t push her luck. She stepped under the bright overhead light, comparing the items in her hands. One comfy old shirt—check.

One not so comfy red satin nightgown—check. One woman losing her mind—check. Rolling her eyes at her baffling behavior, she tossed the T-shirt back in the drawer and pulled the satin over her head. Not bad. She turned from side to side and studied herself in the mirror. The gown was long with thin spaghetti straps, and it clung to her curves. It slid over her skin like a cool caress, and she ran her hands over its smoothness, imagining Darius doing the same. Her nipples puckered as she traced them, goose bumps rose across her stomach, and her pussy grew moist. She thought about the vibrator tucked away in one of her drawers and wondered what he would think if she finished herself off. He’d be pissed. She snickered. Unless he was participating. *** She tried to sleep, but with her body and mind so restless, she soon found herself at the glass door, watching the night. Darius was out there, and she was full of questions and insights. Werewolves were real, and one of them was stalking humans. She was sure of it. She hoped her confidence that it wasn’t Darius wasn’t just wishful thinking. Who then, could it be? She ventured outside and rested her hands on the deck railing, and the feeling of being scrutinized came back to her. Inch by inch she searched the shadows in the tree line. Her breath caught in her throat when a wolf suddenly stepped

from the gloom she had just decided was empty. The night was black, and the area beyond the porch’s weak pool of light was in complete darkness. She couldn’t make it out clearly, but it felt wrong. That wasn’t Darius. As he crept into the yard, she noticed several differences. He was smaller than Darius, though not by much, and his fur was more black than gray, with silver threads shooting through his mane. Intense blue eyes held her in place. Fear clogged her throat, kick-starting her heart to a stuttering leap. This was the wolf that had been following her. Fight or flight. Why didn’t anyone ever mention the other reaction to adrenaline? To freeze. When her legs started working again she edged backward, with her hands behind her feeling for the door. The wolf seemed to gather itself, its muscles bunched for a leap. A scream stuck in her throat as a second wolf dashed out of the woods. She exhaled in relief. Darius. The two wolves tumbled together across the yard, scratching and biting each other. The smaller one broke free and took off into the darkness, blending out of sight. With her heart lodged in her throat, she turned to see Darius shifting. Scratches down his chest and back dripped with blood. Instead of going to his aid, the angry look on his face had her again backing for the door. He tracked her in silence, trying to get a grip on his rage. This time she definitely had a spanking

coming. He only regretted it would have to be bare handed. Following her through the door, he closed and locked it behind him. He smiled grimly at her attempt to put space between them as she edged around the kitchen bar. There was no way that bar would stop him. Nothing would. He stayed on the living room side; for now he’d give her the illusion of safety. “Woman, I thought I made it clear you were to stay inside,” he said through gritted teeth. Anger boiled anew at his words. Why couldn’t she follow a simple request? Her chin came up proudly. “I told you I don’t follow orders well.” “If I tell you to do something, Meg, you’d better do it. He could have killed you.” His voice shook. He wasn’t sure if it was from anger or fear. She bristled at his tone, opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it shut, obviously searching for words to say. He crossed his arms over his chest. Good, let’s get this over with. Better she learn he was the boss right from the start. “I don’t know what’s going on here, Darius. In one day, I’ve gone from single and thinking werewolves were myths, to this…” she said, waving her hand through the air. “How do I know I’m safe from you? Or that other people are safe from you? I don’t know anything about you, but I’m supposed to trust you enough to do whatever you say? It’s not gonna happen. So get over it!” She stood firm as he stalked over to the sofa. He felt a moment of pride at her courage, when he

didn’t see even a flicker of fear in her eyes. Of course, she didn’t know what was coming. She would obey him, especially when her safety was at stake. Resolve moved through him. It was time. “Come here, Meg.” She looked startled at the order. Whether at his tone or something she saw in his face, he couldn’t say. “Why?” she asked suspiciously. He sighed. Always testing. “Do we have to do this the hard way?” She hesitated a few seconds, but started walking toward him. Bold as brass she came right to him. The feel of her soft breasts against his chest was a momentary distraction. Her nipples hardened on contact and he groaned as he stiffened in response. She turned her head when he bent to kiss her, and he nuzzled her neck instead, lost in her taste and smell. Reminding himself of his purpose, he abruptly sat on the edge of the couch and pulled her face down over his lap. “Darius! What the hell?” She struggled against him but he held her down with ease. “I don’t want to do this, Meg,” he said. Trying to inject a sad note into his voice, he fought a surge of lust. “But there are consequences. You will do as I say.” The gown had worked up around her hips when he pulled her down and his hand fell on bare skin.

Whack!

“Ow! Darius, stop! I am not a child!”

Whack! “No you aren’t.” Whack! “But you acted like one.” Whack! Whack! Whack!

“Okay, okay, I won’t do it again!” She bucked against him, but he kept a firm grip on her. Whack! “Won’t do what again?” She paused before answering. Whack! “All right! Fine! I won’t disobey you again!” He shifted her so she was sitting on his lap. Tears streaked her face and it was obvious from the glare in her eye that she might obey him, but she’d hate him for making her do it. He held her arms in front of her and reluctantly released them when she fought back. She put her hands against his chest and pushed, trying to get away. “Don’t you ever do that again,” she snarled. She hadn’t learned a thing. “Don’t defy me again,” he said mildly. Now that it was over he wanted to soothe her and move on, but she continued to glower at him. He liked the way her pique added color to her face and a shine to her eyes. She probably wouldn’t appreciate hearing that just now. His gaze was drawn to the rise and fall of her breasts, and he finally noticed her nightgown, a slinky red number that was a big improvement over the plain white bra, but it was distracting as hell. Since he was still stark naked she had no doubt noticed his appreciation, his cock rigid against her thigh. A trickle of moisture dropped on his leg, and a slow smile spread across his face. “You liked that,” he said. “I did not!” she protested.

He forced his fingers between her clenched thighs and dipped cream from her pussy. Bringing his hand back to his face, he breathed the proof of her arousal deep into his lungs. He traced her lips with one finger, bringing her taste to her own lips, and her eyes widened with surprise and desire. He bent and licked it off, going back for a deeper kiss when she pushed at him again. “No. Tell me what’s going on first,” she demanded. Damn the woman. Couldn’t she see his cock needed immediate relief? She charged right on. “Are you going to explain why it’s so important I let you order me around? Who was that wolf? Why was it here?” He didn’t answer right away. He was too distracted by the feel of her warm ass on his lap and by wondering what it would take to get inside her right now. She punched him in the shoulder. “Darius, stay with me here.” “Okay, the wolf you saw out there is a rogue, hunting humans,” he said, jumping right to the point. After all, the quicker he explained, the sooner he’d get in bed. Preferably not alone. “We’re hunting him, and until we catch him, I need you to do what I say.” “He’s the one that was watching me,” she said quietly. “What do you mean we? How many of you are there?” “Seventeen in the pack. Eighteen now, with you.”

“I’m part of the pack?” she asked, arching a brow. “Of course. You’re my mate,” he said, exasperated. “You bit me,” she groused. “Does that mean I’ll become a werewolf now?” He laughed softly. “No, there aren’t any female werewolves.” “Don’t you have daughters?” “Yes.” He shrugged. “But they can’t shift.” She frowned. “About the bite…” He paused, contemplating the best way to bring up the bond. “What about it?” she asked, suspicion lighting her eyes when he didn’t go on. “It won’t change you,” he assured her. “But it does tie us together.” She narrowed her eyes and rubbed the mark on her neck. She seemed to take mental stock. “Oh my God. What does that mean? Undo it!” He shook his head, his wolf growling a silent denial. “It can’t be undone. Even if it could, I wouldn’t do it. You’re mine, sweetheart.” “You’re saying I don’t have any choice,” she whispered. “You can just barge in, take over my life, and I don’t have any choice.” Sensing a trap and uncertain what it was, he remained silent, just watching her. His heart constricted, whether at her hurt and confusion or his own, he couldn’t say. He wanted to be with her. She obviously didn’t feel the same sureness about

him. Reminding himself she was new to this, that she hadn’t spent her life waiting to find the right mate, didn’t help. “Is there a hierarchy in this pack?” He grinned and watched her composure drop a little. He suspected she already knew the answer to that question, too. “There is.” “Well?” she asked, annoyance shining in her eyes. “There’s a pack leader, the Alpha, who has a second in command. Or two, really. A Beta and an Enforcer.” Taking a deep breath, she nodded, before saying with exasperation, “And of course you’re that pack leader. Aren’t you?” “Yes,” he said. She got up and paced around the room, the red satin sliding over her curves and making his mouth go dry. She seemed oblivious to what she was doing to him. Then she spoke, and he felt her words like a slap. “It’s really late. You should probably go,” she said. “What?” Hadn’t she heard a word he said? “I’m not leaving.” He stood and walked around the coffee table. “Didn’t you listen to anything I just said?” “Oh yeah.” She put her hands on hips, a pose that forced her breasts out and had his dick taking notice. “Werewolves, rogues, mates. Heard all that. I need some space here, and frankly I don’t know about this getting involved with a werewolf thing.”

To hell with this. He tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “Hey! Put me down, Darius!” “In a second,” he said, swatting her butt for good measure. He was glad she couldn’t see his grin. “I want you in a position where you have to listen.” “You could try putting me down and talking like a civilized person, you know.” Dropping her on the bed, he came down hard on top of her. “Well, that’s the thing, sweetheart. I’m not human. I’m as much wolf as I am man.” He nudged her thighs apart and pressed his erection against her. “And I’m not feeling very civilized right now.” “Let me up,” she said, her struggles tilting her hips into his. Down girl, she told herself sarcastically. He was heavy, but propped on his elbows watching her, and she found his weight comforting. It felt good, Darius here in her bed. She didn’t want to examine that. He’d used some werewolf voodoo to bind them together. She was supposed to be pissed off. She was pissed off. Also, a little turned on. She groaned mentally. This wouldn’t do. “Nope. I’ve explained things now, and I want to know why you’re still resisting me.” Sighing, she turned her head and saw the wolf on her dresser. So lonely. So Darius. And so right? Looking back at him, she whispered, “I was thinking while you were gone that it’s really going to hurt when you leave. I’d just as soon get that

over now. Plus, there’s this bond thing.” She glared. “That was sneaky and unworthy, don’t you think? I might have come around in my own time.” Laughing, he shook his head. “Don’t know much about wolves, do you?” “Apparently not.” She punched him in the chest, until he finally stopped laughing. “Wolves mate for life, babe,” he said, dead serious now and rubbing his chest where she had hit him. “I’m not going anywhere. And I’m sorry I didn’t give you a choice. A lot of what I’m doing is instinct, but…” “But what?” “I didn’t have any more time to give you. You’re the one who’s spent almost a whole month avoiding me.” She gasped. “Don’t blame it on me!” Apparently, he decided arguing wasn’t getting him anywhere and he shifted gears. His new tactic involved sliding the gown up her hips. He was cradled between her legs and she was wet and ready. He cupped her face, and with practiced ease slid his tongue into her mouth and his cock into her pussy. It was impossible to stay mad. Her eyelids drifted shut and she went with the moment. She could get used to this. And him. Even if he was impossible and bossy. When he left…her eyes flew open. Oh my God, she was in love with him! How else could she explain the tearing in heart at the thought of him leaving? What if what he said was true? She let the block she’d been using drop. Feeling the full strength of the bond between

them, she finally started to accept he was her future. He reveled in the change as it came over her, enjoying her pleasure as if it were his own. Her breath came in gasps, her heart pounded, and warmth moved across her skin. Gritting his teeth, he knew he wouldn’t last amid the maddening intensity much longer. He reached between them, found her clit, and rubbed it in a speed matching his thrusts, each a little harder, a little closer on the heels of the first. He felt her tighten around him, heard her gasp his name, and knew the second she flew apart in his arms. He stroked into her to find his own release. “Don’t leave me,” she murmured when he rolled off her. He turned her on her side and pulled her back against his chest. Wrapped around her like that, the protective posture filled him with contentedness. Sighing, he brushed her hair from her face and settled a kiss on her temple. “I won’t,” he said, but she was already asleep.

Chapter Six Bright morning light streamed through the kitchen windows as Darius poured his second cup of tea. Meg was moving around upstairs, and he wondered if he had enough time to go up before his visitors arrived. Hearing the soft tapping on the sliding glass door, he sighed and let Eric and Trey in. At least the nagging suspicion about Trey was allayed after seeing the wolf last night. It wasn’t Trey. It wasn’t any of his people. “Tea?” he asked quietly, getting mugs from the cabinet. He waited until they were sitting at the bar sipping their hot beverages before going on. “I saw the wolf last night.” “Ow! Damn!” Eric exclaimed, glaring at Darius as he mopped up the spilled tea. “Warn a guy next time, will you?” “Sorry.” Darius grinned. “Didn’t expect my words to have that kind of effect.” Sensing movement on the stairs, he turned to watch Meg enter the kitchen. Blowing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes, she arched a brow in question at the men at the counter. He could almost hear her thinking, okay, what now? “Good morning.” She nodded at them and went straight for the teapot. She sniffed it suspiciously. “This isn’t coffee,” she said. He laughed. “We don’t drink coffee. Well, except Trey here, but he’s a little strange, even for us.” He arched a brow at Trey, who snorted.

“They can’t handle coffee,” Trey said, dismissing them with a wave of his hand. “I, on the other hand, can drink it all day long.” He paused and glared at his mug. “Please make some coffee.” She laughed and filled the coffeemaker. When she stepped back to wait for it, Darius pulled her against him. Bending to nip at her neck, he whispered in her ear, “Morning, baby.” From the corner of his eye, he caught Eric and Trey exchange a knowing grin. No more trouble on this front, at least. Keeping his arm around her, he turned and introduced her. “We were just discussing the wolf.” “Oh goodie. I wouldn’t want to miss that,” she said. Eric laughed, “Just what you need, Darius, a woman who understands the appeal of sarcasm.” She glared. “Go ahead and laugh,” she bitched. “The wolf isn’t stalking you.” The light mood evaporated in an instant, and the two men turned matching, laser-blue gazes on her. “He’s stalking you?” Trey asked. His voice was calm and his expression cold. The sudden shift reminded Darius that Trey was the deadliest predator among them. He spared a moment of sympathy for the woman who would someday live with him. Meg blinked and took a step back. Trey turned to him when she didn’t answer.

“Apparently, he’s been watching her,” Darius said, his mood going as grim as his men’s. “She thought it was me.” “Only for a minute,” she interrupted. “Not seriously.” “He was here last night,” Darius said, anger a controlled thread in his voice. “Who is it?” Trey asked. “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I’ve never seen him before. We’ve been hunting him like a wolf, though. I think it’s time we start looking for him as a man.” Eric nodded and turned to Trey. “Time for our private investigator to get involved,” he said. “It’s perfectly natural for Darius to hire someone to find whoever’s stalking his woman.” “His woman?” she asked, glaring at him. She poured coffee into the two mugs she’d set on the counter. Trey reached for one, took a deep breath of the rich brew, and smiled. Meg blinked at the transformation on his face. “I think y’all are living in the wrong century.” He smirked. “Maybe. But we protect our own.” She sputtered in outrage. “I can take care of myself.” Darius grinned. He had been afraid of his reaction with his men around Meg, and was glad to find he was in easy control. He was proud of her. Surrounded by three predators, she wasn’t afraid and she wasn’t backing down. He could see Eric was impressed with her too, although Trey watched

with disapproval. He laughed silently. Won’t it be

entertaining when Trey meets his mate?

Standing, Trey nodded at Meg before turning to Darius. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m going to get to work.” “Keep me posted.” Darius walked him to the door and pushed Eric out with him. Smiling, he turned back to Meg. She stood her ground, her arms crossed, her expression mutinous. “I can take care of myself,” she said. He nodded. “I know you can. But you don’t have to.” He pulled her into his arms and his heart twisted. She stiffened and he searched for a way to reassure her. “The pack doesn’t work if we can’t, and don’t, depend on each other.” “And I’m part of the pack,” she said, settling into him a little, the tension beginning to ease from her body. “Yes,” he whispered. “I’m not so good with words, Meg, but I hope you understand you’re my life. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.” “Oh,” she said, her voice surprised. Tilting her head back, she smiled up at him. “I think you’re not so bad with words.” “I’m improving.” He grunted. Nodding, she added, “If you break my heart I’ll hunt you down and kill you.” His breath caught in his throat. “So I have your heart?”

She laid her head back against his chest. “You think I’d put up with you otherwise?” She laughed. “There is no sex that good, Darius.” “I don’t know.” He put his hands on her butt and pulled her into his erection. “Sex with you is pretty impressive.” Laughing, she pulled out of his arms, the image of a confident, sexy woman. She crossed the room, tugging her shirt off at the bottom of the stairs. With her hand on the rail, she turned and tossed a sultry smile over her shoulder. “Don’t follow me up if you don’t love me back, okay?” Her feet hadn’t hit the third stair before he tossed her over his shoulder. He didn’t have sweet pretty words to give her, but just in case she still wasn’t convinced, he whispered in her ear as he laid her down on the bed, a euphoric feeling of gentleness overwhelming him. “I love you back.” She smiled up at him. “I know.” ~End~

~ About the Author ~ Loribelle is like the South she calls home. Hot and sultry. Languid and sexy. Magnolias and gardenias scent her silk lined boudoir, and men and children alike bow to her magnificence… Okay, maybe it isn’t quite that glamorous. She does have two smart and lovely daughters who give her a run for her money and a son that will one day be someone’s model of a romance hero. (She promises.) Her husband is a real life hero, and Loribelle just tries to keep up with the demands of military life. In between, she writes a book or two. She’s had every job under the sun, but haven’t most writers? That Army military police, bookstore manager, waitress, wedding photographer, website designer experience has to come in useful sometimes. As they say in the South, it all washes out in the end. She can be found at http://www.loribellehunt.com