by Mina Carter
“But you do have something I want.”
She had turned for the door, but stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. “I do? What? Those are the only things of any value.”
He pushed off the desk and approached, stopping mere inches from her. To her credit, despite his larger form, she didn’t flinch, just tilted her head back to look up at him. Reaching out, he tucked the stray strands of hair back behind her ear. Anything to touch her finally.
“You. I want you.”
He saw the moment the words sank in. Her eyes widened, breath catching with a little gasp.
“What do you mean?”
He barked out a laugh, looking away from her for a second. It hurt how naïve she was. Had she really not noticed his obsession with her all those years ago?
“What do you think I mean, Eva?”
She dropped her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes. The flush on her cheeks and the fine tremble that racked her body told him she knew exactly what he meant. To underline the point and ensure there was no confusion, he leaned in, his breath whispering over the side of her neck.
“I’ll deal with your brother’s little Faery Dust problem, but my price is your body. Mine for as long as I want it.”
Chapter Two
Eva blinked, stunned by his words. She’d expected…hell, she didn’t know what she expected. A loan perhaps, with crippling terms that would have her working three jobs until she was gray haired. It would have been worth it to save her brother’s life and she would’ve agreed in a heartbeat. But…her body? Sex? Could she coldly sleep with a man to achieve her aims? There were words for women who did that and they weren’t pleasant ones.
But this was Alex. They had history. They’d been close, kind of, back in the day…
Her heart gave a little leap. Perhaps he’d felt the same way she had all those years ago? A glance up at the hard look on his face quickly disabused her of that notion. No, there were no tender feelings hidden away. This was about lust and power. Over her.
“Why?” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. “I mean, look at me.” She gestured down herself. “I’m not exactly supermodel material. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to be. I’m quite happy with the way I look, but a man like you—”
“A man like me, what?” His nostrils flared, heat warming his eyes until the touch of his gaze practically scorched her.
Reaching out, he snagged her around the back of the waist and pulled her toward him. She didn’t stop him. Couldn’t. Breath fled her lungs as their bodies met and pressed together. Holy hell. He was big, taller than she remembered, and solid with muscle. That wasn’t the only thing hard. Her eyes widened at the pressure against her stomach. He was aroused, very aroused by the feel of it.
“You think all men want skinny clotheshorses?”
He watched her. There was no give in his manner, nothing to help ease her into the moment. Bastard. Not sure where to put her hands, they fluttered against her sides for a moment before she clenched her fists.
“Some of us like curves,” he carried on. “I like a woman’s body to be soft and welcoming, not half-starved or with a bodybuilder's muscles.”
He lifted his free hand to cup her jaw. It wasn’t a gentle touch, but one of ownership as he rubbed his thumb over her lower lip.
“Well, Eva? Do we have a deal?”
She couldn’t speak. Was she going to do this? Really?
An image of a headstone filled her mind again. She couldn’t let Davie die, not when it was in her power to do something. Her mind skittered around the idea of sex, with Alex, but she forced herself to focus on it. Not like it would be a hardship, he was as hot as hell, always had been. She could do this. Plus, she had to face facts, a man like him…he’d quickly tire of her. This was not a long term thing.
Slowly, she nodded.
Triumph and heat flared in his eyes, and it felt like his cock swelled even more. Shit, she knew nothing about werewolves and sex. What if they liked different, weird things? Without much experience even with humans, how was she going to satisfy a werewolf?
“Full disclosure,” she said, hesitantly. “Because I don’t want you to say I misled you on the deal and you back out of helping Davie, but I’m…not what you’re expecting. I’ve had a few boyfriends, but…”
He watched her, his expression unreadable. For a moment she thought she saw anger, but it was gone before she could isolate it, then he shrugged.
“I’ll deal with your problem today. Would that reassure you I won’t back out? Of course…” He leaned down to whisper his lips over hers. She tensed a little, waiting for his kiss, but it didn’t come. Instead, his grip tightened on her jaw and he tilted her head to the side. Ran his lips across the tender skin of her throat. “I could take what I want, right now, and you can’t do anything about it, can you?”
She couldn’t help the small whimper. Part fear and part need at having him so near, it escaped her lips before she could stop it. Crap, how did he do that? Be so arrogant and high-handed, yet so sexy at the same time? But his grip could have been cruel, and it wasn’t. And he was right, he could quite easily take what he wanted and throw her out without helping her.
“You could, but you won’t.” Her voice was soft, her courage a thin core but there all the same. She lifted her hands to his arms, then ventured to his broad chest. “You’re a good man, Alex. You wouldn’t screw an agreement like that.”
He’d stilled at her touch, lips still just below her ear, almost brushing the skin. She fought the weakness in her knees. If he kissed her there, she would melt. Right here and now. He’d be able to do anything he wanted with her. To her.
He let go of her, stepped back. His expression was back to unreadable. “No, I won’t. Follow me.”
*
She followed him as he led her up in the lift to the next floor, which turned out to be a penthouse apartment.
“You live here?” she asked, eyes wide. If she’d thought the rest of the building was posh, this was luxury taken to the extreme. Elegance surrounded her, from the plush carpets underfoot, to the understated beige and cream décor that complemented the heavy dark wood furniture. It was obviously a man’s domain, and he fit right in.
“Just during the week. Weekends I go back to the manor.”
She nodded. She remembered Kingwood Manor. She’d lived there a few years, in one of the smaller properties set back from the main house. Her mother had always railed about that, niggling her husband to get them moved to the main house. There had been enough room, but Eva understood what her mother had not. They weren’t welcome because they weren’t wolves.
Now, like then, it appeared humans still weren’t welcome. She was to be kept here, out of sight of the pack.
“Alex, darling…”
They both turned at the sound of a seductive female voice as Sylvia, his personal assistant, walked through the door. The jacket she’d worn earlier was gone, to reveal a silky camisole top. Making herself comfortable, apparently. Did Alex often hold “meetings” up here with his PA?
Amber flared in her eyes as she looked at Eva. “I thought you were getting rid of her.”
Alex simply walked past her as though the woman hadn’t spoken, motioning for them to follow. “Eva will be staying for a while, Sylvia. She’ll need suitable clothing for the fundraiser at court tonight. See to it.”
“Yes, sir.” Sylvia glowered, obviously biting back a retort and the amber in her eyes faded. Not a born wolf then, but bitten. Depending on her sire, her rank in the pack could range from the lowest of the low, to higher than a born wolf…if Alex himself had turned her.
She turned and raked a disapproving glance down Eva. “I doubt any of the usual designers have anything quite so…full figured, but I’ll do my best.”
Alex paused, looking over his shoulder. The tiny muscle jumped in his jaw again before he turned his attention to Eva. “Third door on the left. Make yourself at home. Sylvia, a word?”
He stalke
d past them both, followed by the pissed-off brunette. Eva hovered in the hallway for a moment before curiosity got the better of her and she padded after them on silent feet. If they were screwing though, she was going to need eye bleach. What kind of man fucked his assistant though, it was so cliché it was laughable.
“Don’t you fucking dare say anything like that to Eva again, understand me?”
The snarled words reached Eva’s ears in the corridor and she froze. Shit. They weren’t screwing. Instead, Alex sounded pissed. Easing herself along the wall, she peeked through the gap in the door. It was darker here in the hall, so she shouldn’t be spotted.
What she saw made her bite back a gasp. Alex had Sylvia pinned against the counter, her body bent backward and his hand around her throat. It wasn’t a sexual hold, or gentle like the way he’d held her in his office. Not when every line in his body radiated anger.
“She’s here. She’s mine, and that is the end of it. Understand?”
“Yes, Alpha. Perfectly.” Sylvia nodded quickly, her eyes closed and her face turned away from Alex’s furious one.
He growled but stepped back, releasing the woman. She sagged against the counter, hand rubbing her throat. Eyes wide, Eva moved closer. Crap, he hadn’t hurt her, had he? She knew wolves were different, but she’d never thought he was that much of an asshole. Sylvia dropped her hand. Her neck was unmarked. Eva breathed a sigh of relief. Not even wolves healed that quickly.
“Make the arrangements for tonight,” he ordered, motioning her toward the door and the lift beyond. He followed her out, his voice filtering back to Eva hidden in the hallway. “And make sure I’m happy. If I’m not…”
She waited for a few moments to see if they’d come back, and when they didn’t Eva slipped through the kitchen and peeked through the door to the lift. The door was closed and the light above showed it was moving downward. No keypad, nothing. It must be operated by card alone.
No way out. Crap.
Blowing her bangs out of her eyes, she turned and looked at the kitchen around her. Large and spacious, it was outfitted with clean white cupboards and granite worksurfaces. Chrome appliances offset the monochrome look. Large skylights provided light that wasn’t too bright, making it airy. She skirted the island in the middle of the room and walked into the hallway. Several doors led off and she felt no guilt in opening them to explore. Alex hadn’t said anything was off limits, now had he?
The first door led back to the central living area. Dominated by large leather couches and the biggest TV screen she’d seen outside a cinema. The wall of windows commanded an excellent view of the city laid out below. A man’s room, designed for relaxation. She could see Alex sprawled on the couch, watching sports or those documentaries she remembered him liking so much. Perhaps shirtless…
Getting her wayward imagination under control, she turned and carried on opening doors. The next one belonged to an office, the computer equipment turned off and lifeless. Probably password protected, but that made no difference. As a businesswoman, she wasn’t into industrial espionage, just cupcakes.
Another door led to a home gym, weights racked and stacked. She lifted an eyebrow at that. She’d never heard of a werewolf working out, had always thought they didn’t need to. But then, just like humans, some werewolves’ human forms were less than impressive. Alex, on the other hand, was ripped and toned. Perhaps that was less good genetics and more dedication than she’d thought.
Closing the door gently, she opened the next. His bedroom. Unable to help herself, she took a hesitant step inside. Even if she didn’t know this apartment was his, if she’d been blindfolded and dumped in here, she would have known this was his room.
Two walls were entirely made of glass, giving a perfect view over the city below. His bed was against the opposite wall. Covered in black satin, it was the biggest damn bed she’d ever seen, easily large enough to sleep six people, probably more.
There was no TV, nothing but a nightstand and a small music center. Speakers dotted the room. Above the bed was a painting. She paused to look at it. A study of the forest at night, it was utterly stunning, perfectly capturing the wildness and beauty of nature. It called to her soul in ways she couldn’t explain. This was the side of Alex she’d never understood but always wanted to.
Not that she expected him to show her now. She was a booty call…that was all.
With a sigh, she left the room and headed to her own. She should text her mom and tell her she wouldn’t be home for a few days, then maybe get some rest.
Looked like she wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.
***
A crash and a snarl brought Eva abruptly awake. She jerked upright to a sitting position and shoved her hair back out of her eyes. The room was in darkness. Only the soft glow from the corridor provided light, rather than the sunset when she’d laid down.
Shit. She’d only meant to close her eyes for a moment, but she must have dropped off.
“Fucking hell!”
The curse filtered to her ears from down the corridor. That was Alex and he didn’t sound happy. Sliding off the bed, her bare feet made no sound on the thick carpet as she went in search of him.
She tracked him down to the ensuite off his room. He hadn’t seen her yet, so she hovered in the doorway, eyes widening at the sight before her. When he’d left earlier, he’d been wearing an expensive suit. Now he was naked to the waist, what was left of the suit jacket and his shirt dumped on the floor next to him.
Her heart lurched. He was hurt. Badly if the amount of blood on the shredded clothes by his feet was any indication.
“Fucking vampires.” Growls spilled from his lips as he studied the vicious wounds across his chest, dabbing at them with a dressing doused with green fluid. With each touch, he curled his lips back from his teeth and hissed. “Should’ve toasted the lot of them.”
Crap. He’d gone through all this to help her? She winced, hand covering her mouth. At the movement, his gaze locked on her in the mirror. His expression was hard, eyes maxed out with the amber of his wolf. She was used to seeing the amber ring around his iris but seeing his wolf displayed so prominently took her by surprise.
“Get out!” he ordered, his expression forbidding. In fact, he looked pissed she was there. “You can’t be in here.”
“Please…let me help. It’s my fault you’re hurt.”
Despite his anger, she took a step inside the room, her instinct to help more powerful than her fear of his anger. Besides, he’d never really hurt her. They were friends. Sorta.
Hands braced on the counter, he growled at her. “Eva. I’m not kidding, get the fuck out.”
Ignoring him, she took another step forward. His gaze didn’t leave hers as she reached out to touch him.
“Don’t,” he warned, shaking his head. “This isn’t a game, Eva. I’m warning you.”
“So? You expect me to leave you like this?”
She put her hand on his shoulder. He flinched and broke eye contact, dropping his head down between his shoulders. The muscles in his back flexed, pulling at the edges of the vicious wounds.
Reaching around him for the dressing to clean up the wounds, her fingertips barely grazed it before he moved. His hand snapped out and closed around her wrist, yanking her off balance. Before she knew what was happening, he’d spun her around and she was pinned between his hard body and the countertop behind.
“I told you to leave.”
His voice was rough and low, not human anymore. Neither were his eyes as he looked down at her. As he spoke, she felt the tips of his claws against the skin of her wrists and real fear raced down her spine. Her heart stuttered.
“Blood in the air.” Words dragged from him. “Too much temptation. I can’t be gentle.”
Frozen in place, he held her wrists so she couldn’t touch him. His fight with his wolf was in his eyes until he closed them, lines of strain drawn on his face. A tortured conflict that had nothing and everything to do with her.
<
br /> “Alex…” She wriggled, wincing. “You’re hurting me.”
His eyes snapped open and his grip relaxed. A little. Not enough. It didn’t matter. Another growl ripped from his throat and he hauled her closer. His lips crashed down over hers. Giving no quarter as he demanded her response. He held her to him, his arms a cage of steel, and his tongue pried her lips apart to plunder within. Clawed hands snagged on the fabric of her clothing. Claws that could tear flesh just as easily as cloth.
Never run from a predator. The words from years ago filtered through her memory and she relaxed, her body pliant against his. When she didn’t resist, he gentled. A little. Seeking her tongue with his, he slid and stroked along it. A sensuous, yet demanding dance she couldn’t help but respond to.
Heat and need flared, overwhelming her fear. He wouldn’t hurt her. Even wounded, he was careful. So his kiss was a little rough, she could handle that. More than handle. She wanted more. Much more.
Her hands crept up to his shoulders, wayward fingers exploring the hard muscle. He was masculinity personified; virile and powerful even without his wolf side. Reaching down, he hooked her behind a knee, pulled the leg up against his hip, and opened her so he could press right where she needed him. She whimpered as the thick bar of his cock pressed against her. Everything female in her responded…needed. Now.
He broke away with a gasp, lifting his hands as he stepped away, leaving her bereft. She clung to the countertop, breathing ragged. One look at his face froze her protest on her tongue.
His features were harder, sharper, more primal…his feral side showing through.
“Go,” he ordered, voice almost unrecognizable. “Unless you want me to fuck you on the counter. Just go!”
Chapter Three
As far back as she could remember, Eva had wanted to attend the werewolf court. To the teenager she had been, it represented the fantastic and exotic. A step away from her mundane human existence. So when she stepped through the double doors on Alex’s arm, her expectations were high.
