by Jaci Burton
Good. No witnesses.
They’re mine, the wolf said, raising his lip and showing his sharp canines.
I don’t think so, Dylan replied. Your game is over.
He wished he had his gun. Fighting a wolf was new to him. But he felt powerful. He could handle this.
The wolf lunged for him, teeth bared. Dylan braced for the attack and sidestepped him, then jumped, biting down on the back of his neck. Instinct roared to life and the battle was fierce. He drew blood, tasted it flowing into his mouth, feeling it increase the surging need for battle inside him. He wanted more. He wanted death, to tear this creature apart.
Chantal entered the fray, snapping at the wolf’s hindquarters, pulling him off balance. The wolf turned on Chantal and bit her. She yelped.
Goddammit! Dylan lunged at him, and at the same time Noah showed up, jumping into the battle, leaping onto the back of the wolf.
Outnumbered, the wolf went down and Dylan grabbed him by the throat. Without hesitation, he bit down and ended the wolf’s life.
Instinct. Part of him couldn’t believe he’d made a kill, but the wolf side of him knew there was no other choice.
He returned to human form, as did Chantal and Noah.
So did the wolf.
Obviously, it wasn’t Lance as they’d suspected.
It was Joe, the waiter from The Joint.
“Holy shit,” Chantal said.
“We need to get out of here and fast,” Noah said. “Lance has probably already called the police. I’ll get the car. Get your clothes and get dressed.”
Dylan nodded. As they hurried to get their clothes, Dylan grabbed Chantal’s arm. There was a bite mark there and it was bleeding. He reached for her wrist.
She smiled. “I’m fine. It’s already healing. Werewolves have amazing recuperative powers, remember?”
“You shouldn’t have jumped in the middle of that. You could have been seriously hurt.”
She frowned. “I can take care of myself, Dylan. And you’re welcome.”
She stalked ahead of him, obviously irritated.
Well, damn. He had a lot to learn about this werewolf thing. And about Chantal. She had no fear. She’d taken up position and had his back like a seasoned agent.
Or like his mate would do.
His mate. His woman.
God, he wanted her. Needed her. In a few days she’d become ingrained, a part of him.
She was saucy, annoying, opinionated and hardheaded. And beautiful, sexy, intelligent, warm-hearted…the kind of woman he’d been looking for his entire life.
He was in love with her.
He couldn’t let her go.
Chapter Eight
“Joe took frequent breaks from his job at The Joint. Not long enough that anyone grew suspicious. He claimed to have family obligations and trips to take. But the NCA has placed him at the scene of every murder,” Dylan said. “And his death has been pinned on another series of wolf attacks, which will now cease completely without explanation. It’s the best we can do under the circumstances.”
“At least he’s been killed and the wolf murders will stop,” Lamont said, nodding his head. “This is good for all the packs involved.”
“Did you ever figure out who the woman informant was?” Noah asked.
“No. It could have been a false lead, but I doubt it. My guess is someone knew about Joe. Maybe a girlfriend or something. Either way, we never heard from her again so he either found out she was going to inform on him and took care of her or she was too scared and decided not to come forward.”
“Well, it’s over now,” Maia said. “That’s the important thing.”
“And everyone can go back to their lives,” Chantal added, though she was looking at Dylan when she said it.
“I’m out of here. I’ve got business to take care of somewhere else.” Noah stood and wrapped his arms around his sister. “Walk me out?”
She nodded.
He said his goodbyes to Lamont, Maia and Dylan then walked with Chantal to the front door.
“Don’t be stupid,” he said to her.
She cocked a brow. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means don’t be typical Chantal and blow him off.”
“Still not understanding.”
“You’re in love with Dylan. Don’t push him away just because you’re scared of having a mate.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. First, I’m not afraid of having a mate, and second, I’m not in love with Dylan.”
He kissed the top of her head, leaned back and grinned at her. “Yeah, little sis, you sure as hell are. Now I’m the last person in the world to claim settling down is a great thing and you know that. But when it’s time, it’s time. Give it up and accept it. You and Dylan belong together. Even someone as jaded as me can see that. Call me if you need me.”
He turned and walked out. Chantal scrunched her nose, then stuck her tongue out at the closed door.
Like he knew what she needed. Hmph.
She turned on her heel and found Dylan leaning against the doorway.
Shit.
“You are too in love with me,” he said, smirking.
She brushed by him and headed up the stairs to her room. “I am not.”
He followed her and shut the door behind him. “Yeah, you are.”
Ignoring him, she started packing her things in her suitcase. “You don’t even know me. It was just great sex.”
“It was, wasn’t it?”
Oh, she hated when his voice went all low and dark like that. It made her pussy wet and trembly. Dammit.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
She paused. “Why not?”
“Because I think we have something together.”
“Yeah. Fucking. You can’t build a foundation on great sex, Dylan.”
He approached and wrapped his arms around her. “You can’t? We have chemistry, Chantal. That’s what made me a werewolf in the first place. That blind fuck, you and I in the park that first night, remember?”
God, did she ever remember. It was burned into her memory banks forever.
“I need you to guide me through this being a werewolf thing. I can’t do it without you.”
“Sure you can. You’re a big boy.”
He exhaled, ruffling her hair. “Okay, so I can. But I don’t want to do it without you. I’ve kind of gotten used to having you around.”
“I don’t even know where you live.”
“I don’t really live anywhere. I’m on the road all the time with the NCA, but I’m originally from Oklahoma.”
“I’ve never been to Oklahoma.” Her eyes filled with tears. Dammit, what was wrong with her?
“You tell me where you want to live and we’ll work it out from there.”
“Why are you being so accommodating?”
“Because I’m in love with you and I don’t want to lose you.”
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. He could have said anything but that and she might have been able to walk away. She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “You love me.”
“Yes.”
“I’m difficult.”
“No kidding.”
“I’ll make your life a living hell.”
“I’ll love you in spite of it.”
She sighed, already knowing she’d lost the battle. Noah was right. It was time. She’d known it since that night in the park. “I love you too. You’ll be sorry.”
He laughed. “I like a challenge.”
“You’ll get one.”
He swooped her up in his arms and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her with a maddening passion she would never tire of. Her body flamed to life, her nipples puckering and pressing against the thin silk of her dress.
Dylan put her down and took her hand, leading her toward the door.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To the park, to that spot where we first met. I’ve got this thing now for fucking in the park.”
She grinned, her pussy moistening. “You’re a very bad boy, Dylan Maxwell.”
“That’s why you love me, Chantal Devlin.”
About the Author
In April 2003, Ellora’s Cave foolishly offered me a contract for my first erotic romance and I haven’t shut up since. My writing is an addition for which there is no cure, a disease in which strange characters live in my mind, all clamoring for their own story. I try to let them out one by one, as mixing snarling werewolves with a bondage and discipline master can be very dangerous territory. Then again, unusual plotlines offer relief from the demons plaguing me.
In my world, well-endowed, naked cabana boys do the vacuuming and dishes, little faeries flit about dusting the furniture and doing laundry, Wolfgang Puck fixes my dinner and I spend every night engaged in wild sexual abandon with a hunky alpha. Okay, the hunky alpha part is my real-life husband and he keeps my fantasy life enriched with extensive “research”. But Wolfgang won’t answer my calls, the faeries are on strike and my readers keep running off with the cabana boys.
The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and e-mail address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can e-mail us at [email protected].
Also by Jaci Burton
A Storm for All Seasons 1: Summer Heat
A Storm for All Seasons 2: Fall Fury
A Storm for All Seasons 3: Winter Ice
A Storm for All Seasons 4: Spring Rain
Aftermath
Bite Me
Bound to Trust
Demand to Submit
Devlin Dynasty 1: Running Mate
Devlin Dynasty 2: Fall Fury
Devlin Dynasty 3: Mountain Moonlight
Dolphin’s Playground
Dream On
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails II anthology
Fiery Fate
Hands On
Magnolia Summer
Midnight Velvet
Out of the Darkness with C.J. Burton
Passion in Paradise 1: Paradise Awakening
Passion in Paradise 2: Paradise Revival
Passion in Paradise 3: Paradise Discovery
Tangled Web with C.J. Burton
True Lies
Winterland Destiny
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
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