The Guardian (The Wolfe Series)

by Donna Oltrogge

  “What can I do to help you? Would you eat something? I know I’m not great in the kitchen but I’ll give it my best shot and try not to poison you in the process.”

  Jake managed to dredge up a small smile for his brother. Leave it to Taggert to find humor in the darkest of situations. “Yea, that would be good. Sorry I’ve been such a bastard.”

  “Hey, you’re entitled,” Taggert grinned and headed for the kitchen. “Isn’t everyday a guy finds his mate. Just keep your chin up, bro.”

  Jake ran a damp cloth across Laurie’s forehead, neck and shoulders the same way he had done for the past twelve hours. He’d removed her soiled sundress anda underclothes as soon as the doctor had left which had left her naked beneath the bed’s luxurious covers. Jake had tried to remain emotionally uninvolved when he’d seen Laurie’s body for the first time but his libido was having none of it. He had a feeling he might be finding himself in a perpetual state of arousal whenever she was near. The fever had tinged her porcelain skin a delicate pink and the perfect globes of her breasts were crested with rose-colored nipples that peaked whenever he moved the covers to check the bandage on her left leg. His erection bulging painfully against his jeans, Jake replaced the soiled bandage with a clean one and noticed that her wound was no longer draining. He knew it was going to be a long night and the fact that he hadn’t slept in over twenty-four hours only added to his fatigue.

  Jake was nearing the point of exhaustion when the clock on the fireplace mantle struck the midnight hour and Laurie’s fever finally broke. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he knelt down beside Laurie’s bed, his head bowed in prayer as he thanked the Lord for helping her to get well.

  Laurie opened her eyes and saw the man who had saved her life knelt down beside her bed. She didn’t know where she was or how long she’d been here but the pain in her leg had lessened and her body was no longer wracked by spasms for which she was grateful. She guessed that she had a lot to thank this man for. Jake, his name is Jake, I think. Tentatively, and oh so gently, she reached out to stroke his silky hair and whispered, “Thank you.” Her voice was hoarse from lack of use and it was a struggle just to keep her eyes open but the smile she saw on her savior’s face made the effort well worth while.

  Jake’s head snapped up when he felt Laurie’s touch and he smiled with his whole heart. “So, you’ve returned to the land of the living?” He lifted Laurie’s hand and kissed the inside of her wrist. “Welcome back. You had all of us worried.” She was too weak for him to confront about the hospital issue right now, but he would have the last say on that. He would never allow her to jeopardize her life this way again. He felt like he’d aged ten years in the last twenty-four hours. He’d even considered turning her at one point during the night if that would have been the only way he could have saved her life. As shape-shifters they healed quickly. But it was against all of the rules by which he and his brothers lived. They didn’t change a human unless the human was willing and understood the rules and risks involved. It wouldn’t have been fair to Laurie and Jake was glad he hadn’t had to make that decision.

  “You look tired. Will you lay down with me?” Laurie asked, her voice growing weaker as she patted the other side of the enormous bed. Her eyes suddenly clouded with fear and darted around the lavish bedroom. “I’d feel safer if you stayed in here with me.”

  Jake smiled a wolfish smile and said, “It’s a hardship but I think I can manage to do that.” He placed Laurie’s hand gently on the coverlet and walked around the end of the bed. He removed his shirt and shoes but left his jeans on as he lay down beside her and took her hand in his once again. He was relieved when he saw the fear leave her eyes to be replaced by trust. He promised himself that she would never have reason to doubt that trust and that he would lay his life down for her before he would ever let anyone or anything harm her again.

  “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you,” Laurie whispered, using the last of her small reserve of strength. Her eyelids fluttered closed, her hand still in Jake’s, her even breathing letting him know that she had fallen asleep. As though taking on a life of its own, Jake’s hand slid around Laurie’s waist, settling beneath her breasts as he pulled her back against his hard frame, their bodies spooning together as though they had been made for each other. Mine! With his ever present erection pressed against Laurie’s backside, he had barely closed his eyes when he felt Laurie’s body stiffen and her hands assume a defensive posture.

  “Just let me go, Enrique,” Laurie whimpered as she snuggled closer to Jake’s hard body. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

  Jake felt rage such as he’d never known before. So that’s the bastard’s name? Jake hoped he’d get a chance to confront the gutless wonder. He’d make sure the man paid for what he’d done to Laurie.

  “You’re a lying bastard, Enrique,” Laurie seethed. “Come any closer and I promise I’ll make you pay.”

  The fear her could hear in Laurie’s voice tore at Jake’s soul. “It’s okay, love,” he said soothingly. “He can’t hurt you anymore. You’re safe with me, I promise.” Jake was relieved when he felt Laurie’s body relax and melt against his. Jake groaned. Sweet torture but torture never the less.

  Laurie opened her eyes slowly trying to remember what had happened and where she was. Dust motes danced in the sunlight streaming through the east facing bedroom windows and she guessed it was going to be a lovely day but she found it hard to concentrate with the hard male body pressed so intimately against hers.

  Jake, his name is Jake. Her face flushing, she turned toward the man who had saved her life as quietly as she could hoping not to wake him, vaguely remembering that she had been the one who had welcomed him into her sick bed.

  She couldn’t help but admire his powerful build. Sleek hard muscles were toned to perfection and she found herself wondering what it would be like to make love to such a man. They could have a little fling, not that she did that sort of thing, but with someone like Jake, what would it hurt? She needed to let loose and have some fun for herself for a change. Laurie immediately felt heat pool between her legs. She was shocked by her bodies response to a man she barely knew and she slammed her legs together as heat suffused her face and neck.

  Her eyes snapped to Jake’s face and saw his wolfish grin. “A penny for your thoughts?”

  Laurie’s face got even redder if that were possible. “It’s not every day I wake up with a half naked man. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” She saw the glint in his sexy eyes and her insides flip-flopped. Goodness he was gorgeous and not at all bothered by his partial nudity.

  Jake was surprised by Laurie’s response, glad that she hadn’t tried to come up with some lame excuse. “Never, uncomfortable. I’m at your service, mam, any ole time.” He brushed a feather-light kiss against her slightly parted lips and slipped out of bed before he got any other cute ideas. Damn!

  “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he said, struggling to get his libido under control. “I’ll check your wound. It probably needs a clean dressing.”

  It was then Laurie realized for the first time that she was naked beneath the covers. “I wouldn’t want to trouble you,” she said, pulling the covers up to her chin.

  “Just who do you think has been taking care of you for the last thirty-six hours, hum?” He lifted the bedcovers off her injured leg and removed the bandage, taking care to preserve her modesty. “Looks a lot better and I don’t think you’ll be needing this any longer.” He deftly removed the IV from her arm and wrapped a clean bandage around her leg. “Just so you know,” he said as conversationally as possible, “the next time you’re hurt or injured, you will be taken to a hospital. I’ll make no more promises like the one you forced on me the other day.”

  Laurie heard the hint of steel in Jake’s words and wondered why he would think there would ever be a next time. She planned on leaving just as soon as her leg was healed. There was no way she would endanger Jake or his families lives, which prompted
her to wonder briefly if Jake was married or had children. Enrique would have no qualms eliminating anyone; man, woman or child, who tried to help her or get in his way. And then there was another matter to consider, would Jake and his family help her if they knew she was running from Luzaro Rivera and Enrique Perez?

  “Something tells me you might like a shower.” Jake tossed her bra and panties on the bed as well as her sundress. “I took the liberty of cleaning your clothes. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Laurie looked at her bra and the scrap of lace that served as her panties and flushed. “That was very thoughtful of you.”

  Jake pinned her with his brilliant blue gaze and said, “I’ll give you a couple of minutes to slip into those and then I’ll be back to help you with your shower.”

  “What?” Laurie squeaked in alarm.

  “Just think of those undergarments, if you can call them that, as a swim suit. There’s no way I’m letting you get in that shower by yourself, not in your weakened condition, so get over it.”

  “What will your wife think about that?” Someone as gorgeous as Jake had to have a wife, didn’t he?

  “No wife,” Jake smiled as he left the bedroom, that rakish smile she was beginning to look forward to seeing.

  “Of all the bossy, conceited . . .” Laurie exclaimed as the door clicked shut behind Jake. She normally hated bossy men so why did she find herself jumping to do this man’s bidding? He’d obviously seen her naked while he tended to her wound. Who else would have removed her clothing? Laurie’s blood heated at the thought.

  The room started to spin as soon as Laurie’s feet hit the floor. She grabbed a bedpost until the dizziness passed, realizing that Jake was right and that she was weaker than she’d thought. Struggling into her bra and panties, Laurie was glad when she heard the bedroom door open and then felt Jake’s arm slip around her waist. Tamping down her embarrassment, she leaned into him, enjoying the feel of his rock hard body against her own as he led her into the bathroom.

  “Do you need a pain med this morning?” He didn’t want to push her harder than what she was capable of handling and that a shower would be stretching things, but she needed to get out of that bed and get her blood moving.

  Laurie watched as Jake carefully wrapped plastic around her bandage and secured it with tape. “It hurts, but nothing like it did at first,” Laurie explained, afraid he’d change his mind about the shower. Her body and hair felt grubby and she couldn’t wait to get under the shower’s reviving spray.

  The adjacent master bath was done in woodland colors of sage green and rust. A large Jacuzzi tub stood in the center of the room and separate his and hers mesquite vanities matched the bedroom furniture. Jake walked Laurie toward a glass-enclosed shower with dual heads and open the door with his right hand while supporting her with his left.

  Laurie limped into the shower with Jake’s help and sighed deeply, inhaling the hint of sage and cloves that lingered there.

  “We’ll need to keep your leg as dry as possible. It seems to be healing well so we don’t want any setbacks.” He lifted her left leg and placed it on a small white plastic bench he’d placed there earlier.

  “But you’re going to get your clothes soaked,” Laurie worried.

  Jake grinned as he turned on the shower. “I could take them off if that would make you feel better.” He’d like nothing better than to be skin to skin with her. His body responded quickly to such a carnal thought and he ruthlessly tamped down his desire. Their time would come he kept telling himself. There was no need to rush things. They’d have all the time in the world, he hoped. A sliver of apprehension skittered down his spine and he ruthlessly shook it off knowing he would do whatever was necessary to claim his mate. They had this one chance and he was going to make certain they didn’t miss it.

  The water felt heavenly and Laurie leaned back against Jake’s body, tilting her face up toward the invigorating spray and letting it caress her face.

  Jake’s erection strained against his wet jeans as Laurie’s body melted back against his. Forcing himself to concentrate on the matter at hand, he lifted a bottle of his mother’s favorite Jasmine scented shampoo from a nearby niche and applied a generous amount to Laurie’s wet hair, his fingers massaging the shampoo into her scalp in a rhythmic motion.

  Jake’s fingers massaging her scalp was the most sensual experience Laurie had ever had. She could feel the bulge of his erection as she leaned back against him and the pull of attraction that sparked between them. There hadn’t been anyone whohad stirred her since Jason Leverage, the cad who’d only wanted to use her and then throw her away. Her body pressed indecently close to Jake’s, though, made her bones feel like they were melting. His heated breath on her scalp sent a tingling sensation through her and she turned her head toward him. Laurie felt her body burn with molten fire when Jake’s mouth covered hers.

  When Laurie turned and looked at him, her full lips parted in wonder, Jake surrendered to the seductive pull of her allure. His tongue dueled with hers in a mating ritual as old as time. He plundered her soft mouth, his body yearning for fulfillment, the wolf in him ready to take her as his mate. With the greatest regret, Jake forced himself to pull back from the brink.

  Breathing raggedly he said, “I apologize. You deserve hearts and flowers, not a quickie in the shower.” He deftly went about the business of rinsing Laurie’s hair before lifting her in his arms and carrying her out of the shower.

  “The floor’s getting wet,” Laurie observed pointlessly trying to cover her disquiet at her bodies treacherous response and mortified by her reaction to him. What must he be thinking of me? She was attracted to Jake but too smart to let a kiss make her think there was anything but sexual attraction between them. How could there be any more than that when they’d known each other for such a short time.

  “I don’t care about the damn floor,” Jake said gruffly, depositing her back in the bed. “You need to rest. Doc will be stopping by later to check on you.”

  “Doc,” Laurie asked, alarmed that Jake had called a doctor to come and tend to her. “You called a doctor? Please, call him back and tell him he needn’t come, that I’m feeling much better.” Laurie shuddered. The more people who knew of her whereabouts the more people that were in danger, and the greater the danger that she would be found. She had no doubt Enrique would be turning southern Arizona upside down looking for her.

  “Doc’s already been here to see you. He left your wound open so the infection could drain but it will need stitches.”

  “No doctor and no stitches,” Laurie cried as she tried to get out of bed knowing Enrique would kill anyone who tried to help her.

  Jake pushed her none to gently back, his eyes narrowed as he pinned her to the bed. “It’s not for you to say, Laurie. I listened to you once, but not this time. Doc can be trusted. He’ll not tell anyone you’re here if that’s what you’re worried about.” His eyes burned with a brilliant blue intensity as he probed her face and said, “What are you running from, Laurie? My brothers and I can help you if you’ll just tell me.”

  Laurie wiped away the tears that were gathering in her eyes with the back of her hand knowing that Jake would have been a man she could have loved if they’d met under different circumstances. She wouldn’t jeopardize Jake’s life or the lives of his brothers, though. She’d leave as soon as her leg was healed.

  “I’m not running from anyone,” Laurie lied and cringed at the disbelief she saw on Jake’s face.

  Jake knew Laurie was lying and he felt like shaking her. “All right, have it your own way.” The wolf in him wanted to rip and tear as he stalked toward the bedroom door. “I’ll be back with the doctor later. And by the way, you’re not a very good liar.”

  Laurie cringed when Jake slammed the bedroom door. There was something about Jake Wolfe that attracted Laurie and if she left she would have no way of seeing him again or finding out where that attraction might lead. The thought tore at her heart.

  “Great, j
ust great,” Laurie mumbled as she pulled the covers over her head. There was no way Jake could understand the depths of depravity that a man like Enrique Perez was capable of sinking to in his quest for revenge on her and anyone who tried to help her. Laurie hardened her heart.

  Come after me again, Enrique, and I promise I will kill you this time or die trying. I won’t allow you to harm Jake or anyone else.

  ChapterSixteen

  They cringed against the far side of the enclosure trying to get as far away as they could from the man walking toward them. Their alpha male was dead and none of the surviving coyotes had yet taken over as alpha leader. The remaining members of the coyote pack feared the man coming into the enclosure as they feared no other and with good reason when the man lifted the gun in his right hand and starting firing at several of the closest betas.

  Enrique was expressionless as blood, fur and brain matter from several coyotes splattered the sides of the enclosure. He had been furious when he’d found out the pack had been unsuccessful at the simple task they’d been sent to accomplish. He’d known when the pack had returned without their leader that they had failed. How hard could it have been for them to kill one defenseless woman? Enrique touched the bandage on his cheek. He considered the alpha male a great loss, not that he had cared about the animal because he hadn’t, but he had felt an affinity with the beast, a mental telepathy he had found with very few other animals.

  Enrique fired until the clip was empty and was about to replace it with a fresh clip when he saw Luzaro approaching the enclosure.

  “A little target practice, Enrique?” Luzaro goaded. “Your little band of blood-thirsty mongrels fail you, did they?” He was secretly glad the coyote pack hadn’t succeeded although he wasn’t about to admit it. Despite everything that had happened, he still loved Laurie in his way and had grudgingly been forced to admit that Enrique was right. Laurie, the only woman he had ever tried to love, had left him and wouldn’t be coming back.