Page 52 of Taming the White Wolf
“You should too.” It had been another rollercoaster of a day.
“I need to research.”
“Then I’d better make coffee.” No way was she being left out of the loop.
“You’re going to be stubborn, aren’t you?” Since he seemed more pleased than annoyed, she nodded. Heaving a sigh, he tugged her into his arms. His steady heartbeat comforted her. His strong arms were a haven.
“I’m out of my depth here.” With both the violent attacks and the siege to her heart. “But you have to let me help.”
A kiss was pressed to the top of her head. “I wish you weren’t part of this.”
Talk about a stab to the heart. “Too bad, there’s no changing that. I’ll do my best not to get in the way.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” A growl rumbled through his chest. It no longer surprised or frightened her. The sound was normal, almost soothing. He held her at arm’s length, his hands around her upper arms. “I want you safe. If I thought no one would find you here, I’d leave and go hunting.”
She grabbed his forearms. “Not without me. You take off on your own and I’m out of here.”
“You think I don’t know that?” His voice rose with each word.
“Then why are we fighting?”
“Life was simple before I met you. I hunted and killed rogue wolves. That’s all I’ve done for decades. Always on the move, never settling. Friends were impossible because of what I am, lovers few and far between. The days and nights, weeks, and years blended. The world changed around me while I remained the same.”
“I can’t imagine what that’s like.”
He bowed his head. “It’s cold. Hell isn’t a hot place. It’s cold and lonely. The only way to handle it, to survive, was to pack my emotions away and become the white wolf, the apex predator I was destined to be. Life or death—it’s all the same to me. Neither is better or worse than the other. If anything, death will be a release.”
“Don’t say that.” She dug her nails into his skin. A world without him would be too stark to bear. “It matters to me if you live or die.”
When he raised his head, the bleakness in his eyes reflected a gaping wound in his soul. “That’s both a blessing and a curse. I’m used to not caring, not having anything to lose. Death and I are old friends. Now I fear him. Not for myself but for you.”
God, she’d been totally blind and so very wrong. He had feelings for her, was maybe falling in love with her as she was with him. He hadn’t said the words, but his fears and actions spoke of a deep emotion that went beyond mere caring. Maybe it was fueled by magic, maybe not, but right at this moment, it was real.
“Listen to me, Devlin Moore. You’re not alone anymore. For as long as I live—whether we’re lovers or merely friends—you have me.” If he was going to bare his darkest fears, so would she. “You’re immortal and I’m not. You have better odds of surviving whatever is ahead. I’m telling you now, whatever happens, it’s not your fault.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw, and he got that familiar stubborn expression on his face. She shook him or at least tried to. It was like trying to move a mountain. “I’m human. That’s a fact neither of us can change. I don’t have your physical strength or extra-sharp senses. What I am is a survivor. I’m smart and I don’t give up. We stand together and fight or whoever is behind this mess wins. This isn’t the time to go full-on lone wolf. If we’re bound by some spell, we’ll use the connection to our advantage. I don’t know about you, but I have no intention of giving that son of a bitch mage anything.”
He feathered his fingers over her face. “Why didn’t I meet you before?”
“The timing wasn’t right. The stars weren’t aligned or the magic hadn’t kicked in. Who the heck knows? We’re here now. That’s all that matters.” She caught his hand and brought it to her heart. “Whatever happens, however long we have, I have no regrets.” A sense of peace settled over her. Magic or not, their being together was meant to be.
“You are spectacular.” The admiration in his tone made her cheeks flush.
“I’m no one special. My parents were addicts who cared more about their next high than about me. We never stayed in one place long, always moving around. I was often alone and scared, forgotten. I was in and out of foster care until I was orphaned at ten and went into the system until I aged out. I’ve had it worse than some and better than others. I’m proud of the life I’ve built.” The truth set her free from her past. Everything she’d been through had brought her to this place with this man. All the hardships she’d faced were worth it.
Less than a week ago, she hadn’t known he existed. Now she could barely remember a life without him. Going up on her toes, she fisted his hair and tugged him down until their mouths met. The kiss was brief, a bare brushing of lips. She did it again and again, turning her head slightly to get a better angle.
With a groan, he lifted her off her feet. Her back hit a wall, and his mouth took hers in a searing embrace. She clung to his shoulders and hooked one of her legs around his thigh. Whenever they came together, sensual heat exploded.
She rubbed her aching nipples against the hard plane of his chest. Instead of giving relief, it pushed her arousal to another level. Her core was throbbing, her panties damp. Need beat like a drum, getting louder and louder until it almost drove her mad. Tilting her hips, she ground her core against his erection. He palmed her ass and pushed harder against her.
“Yes.” Throwing her head back, she gave in to the molten pleasure of release. Her blood thickened. She sucked in air and buried her face in the curve of his neck. Dear lord, she’d just gotten off by rubbing against him. Talk about shooting off like a rocket. He was still hard against her.
When she raised her head, a small smile played over his lips. He brushed a damp strand of hair off her forehead. The caress made her shiver and her core clench. “Like I said, spectacular.”
“Talk about embarrassing.” She leaned away and let her hands fall back by her sides.
“I enjoyed it.”
