by Roxy Wilson
He could see she was still struggling with acceptance. He didn’t blame her. Anyone who was thrust in the middle of such a huge secret would react in the same way. By asking questions she was trying to clarify things, and he intended to help with that as much as he could. After all, it wasn’t her fault that she got entangled in his pack’s issues.
The men shouldn’t have kidnapped her.
If they hadn’t done so, she would have been blissfully unaware of their existence. He would have preferred that, because it made things simple. Of course, now he was free to pursue her because she already knew their secret, and he wasn’t the one who told her. The men made that mistake, and the blame was theirs.
But he had a feeling that he would have to proceed on baby feet if he wanted to get anywhere with her. “It’s a well-kept secret, mostly because we fear the backlash of the government and the people, in general. Imagine what will happen to us if it becomes known that creatures like us do exist. Experiments will be conducted on us. We’ll be used as biological weapons.”
“That’s true.”
“It was decided long ago, that we would keep our identity a secret.”
She shook her head and then raised the cup to her lips to take a sip. “But when a child is born, how does he or she come to terms with these…?” Nya was at a loss for words.
He cleared his throat. “As I said, it’s genetic. So a werewolf is only born to a parent who’s also a werewolf.”
“So your children are born to be werewolves?”
“No, actually…the gene doesn’t seem to be very strong, which is why there are so few of us. There is a great likelihood that my kids won’t be werewolves. If I have them with another werewolf then that increases the chances, but…otherwise it’s like a ten percent probability for each child.”
They both stared at each other. What was she thinking? He couldn’t tell. Obviously, curiosity was there, but mingled with it was a healthy dose of some other emotion which he couldn’t understand. Was she scared of him? He sure hoped not.
“How does it feel?
“What do you mean?”
“I mean—what do you feel as a werewolf?”
“Same as a normal person, I guess. I have the same emotions. Just because I have the ability to shift forms, it doesn’t mean that I’m not capable of other human emotions.”
She put her cup on the counter and then walked out.
Surprised, he stared at her. Reece also placed his full cup of coffee on the table and strode behind her.
She was in the living room, staring out of the pane glass window. The silver moonlight that filtered in cast shadows on her face. She’d never looked more beautiful.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just too much to take in. I don’t understand.”
The time when it was just him and her and this knowledge didn’t hang between them was the best. If only the men didn’t spoil everything by taking her away. They not only revealed their secret but they also spoilt any hope he harbored of having a normal relationship with her. Perhaps now he wouldn’t be able to enjoy any time with her. The thought made him freeze. He’d hoped that she would eventually get over her apprehensions. What if she never did? What if she wanted him to get out of her life—for good?
Would he be able to let go of her?
He didn’t think so. His heart wasn’t that strong. The only thing that held him back from pursuing this relationship before all this happened was the knowledge that he couldn’t afford to tell her about his secret. But now that was revealed by those morons, he was free to pursue her. Reece didn’t waste too much time thinking about his problem.
He wanted her.
And unless, he was hugely mistaken, she wanted him too.
The sooner he acted on this impulse, the better it was. He strode forward. Stopping behind her, he put his hands on her arms. She shivered slightly. His heartbeat thudded so loud that he wouldn’t have been surprised if it might pop out of his chest. He bent his head and kissed her shoulder. If she told him to move away, to stop it, he would have done as she wished. It wasn’t in his nature to force himself on a woman.
When she turned in his arms, and her breasts pushed against his chest, any sane thought that might have been left in his brain slipped out. Now it was just her and him, and the desire that sizzled between them. It bound them. They were both victims of it, and neither of them felt the need to disentangle from its sensuous bonds. She lifted her head. His lips crashed down on hers. Heat and need exploded in his gut and drenched his nerves and bones. His arms tightened around her. Their lips remained glued together as he delved deeper into her mouth. It was delicious to taste each nook and cranny. Her tongue danced with his in an age-old dance, and her hands roamed over his back. Her curves fit perfectly against his hard lines, angles and planes. Her scent was all around him. It filled him, energized him, and he took strength from it.
Another day, another time, he might have stopped, but Reece knew if he didn’t allow her to see the naked truth of his desires now, he might not be able to let her experience ever again. This was their moment, and he seized it with both hands. His fingers sank through her thick hair and he crushed his lips even harder on her.
They both sank down on the plush rug. Need burned within his nerves. He couldn’t stop now. His hands fisted her shirt and he pulled it off. Her breasts, free from the confines of the soft fabric, glowed in the moonlight that came in through the window. Reece put his hands on the rug and lifted his body, so he could gaze down at the amazing perfection of her curves. She took the opportunity to pull up his shirt and with swift action, he shrugged it off. Her hands spread over his chest and her nails dug into his skin, but he hardly felt the burn of it.
The storm that raged within his nerves didn’t allow him to experience anything but the desire that swirled inside him. His lips came down on hers once more, but then he trailed a line of kisses down her jaw and along her neck. She stretched as his lips blazed a path straight down to her nipple. The engorged bud fit perfectly in his mouth. It tasted sweet. As he sucked on it, her hands curled up to his shoulders as she held him in a death grip.
“Reece,” she breathed out his name as if it was a prayer.
Her desire enflamed his need. His hand cupped the other breast and he squeezed the firm mound. She shifted under his body. Her hands moved down to his jeans, and she unzipped them. Reece wasn’t exactly sure what happened next. His whole being was intent on satisfying the desire that ate him alive. His long, hard organ dug between her legs and found the sweet spot. She was already wet with desire. He rubbed against her even as he sucked on her nipple. Reece shifted his attention to the other breast. She heaved under him. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she surrendered completely to the heat of the moment.
They were one, and they moved in unison.
He was as yet unwilling to take the plunge. He’d gotten her exactly where he wanted after a long time, and now he wished to prolong this moment for as long as he could manage. His shaft was hard and erect. It longed to experience the warm depths of her body but he paced himself. Rather, he stroked his organ against her. She moaned. Her cries only served to make him more determined to make it last for long.
“Please,” she begged. “Please.”
Reece bit the soft skin on her breast, and she cried out. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he also wanted her to experience the exquisite pleasure that only he could invoke within her. His nerves tingled with anticipation. Her nails dug into his shoulder, urging him to pick up speed. Reece pushed the tip of him into her warm, velvety depth and his cock slipped inside with ease. Her sheath closed around him. Now they were joined. Putting his hands on the rug, he lifted his body, so he could look into her eyes. She was wild with need. Reece kissed her. Heat radiated off her skin and he burned with her. Pushing himself deep inside her, he stilled.
Her hips moved as if they had a life of their own. He couldn’t wait anymore. Reece pulled out and then plunged within her dept
hs once more. Perfectly coordinated, they moved together. Faster and faster, he pounded into her. Her dark, creamy breasts heaved as she kept up with his pace. Reece closed his eyes as waves upon waves of pleasure undulated within his body. It was amazing. His nerves were stretched tight. The raw need he experienced for so long turned into an ocean of pure pleasure. When she screamed and shuddered, he felt the orgasm that thundered through her muscles and bones. A moment later, he exploded within her warm depths. Reece stopped himself just in time from collapsing on top of her.
There was a ringing in his ears, and his legs shuddered. The delightful pangs of pleasure continued to rip into his body for a long, long time. His breathing was fast and harsh. No woman had ever made him touch such heights of satisfaction. Now that he’d tasted her full delights, there was no way he could ever let her go. Finally, he rolled off her and lay on the rug.
She was his.
His, and only his.
She stood, gathered her clothes, and walked away without a backward glance. With an effort, he brought his body back in control. All he wanted to do was curl into bed with her and sleep for a long time. He picked up his clothes and slipped them on. He found her in the kitchen, sipping the coffee that was surely cold.
“You should go,” she said the moment he stepped inside.
Reece frowned. He didn’t like her tone, and he didn’t understand it. Was this the same woman who made love to him a with a passion that enthralled him? “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. I just—I’m not sure what happened back there. I’ve never acted with such haste and abandon before, and I think—I’m pretty sure that it was a mistake.”
That was the last thing on his mind.
If someone had snapped his bones, he wouldn’t have felt such pain. How could she say something like that? Didn’t she feel the same passion and love he experienced when he touched her? “A mistake? I don’t think so.”
“Look, Reece—I need time. I mean, there are too many factors at play here, and I can’t get a handle on things. I would appreciate if you could just leave me alone for a few days. When I’m ready to talk about this, I’ll call you.”
There was no sound as his heart broke. He was sure she couldn’t tell she’d hurt him like no other woman before. It was strange she could put him on a roller-coaster of such strong emotions and yet, be blissfully unaware of what she was doing to him. He couldn’t speak. If he did, he was certain a yowl of pure pain would emerge from his lips. Reece simply nodded and left her house.
He had no idea if he would see her again, and the realization that he might not broke him more than he could imagine. She was killing him with her rejection, and the worst part was she didn’t even do it deliberately.
One thing was for sure; his life wouldn’t ever be the same again.
Chapter Fifteen
She hated what she’d done.
And she hated what she was doing it now.
Nya deleted his message from her inbox. She really didn’t know what she wanted. When he made love to her, when he touched her, something happened inside her. She melted in his arms, but now when she thought about it, it wasn’t the best thing she’d ever done. The guy dropped this bomb on her, and she rewarded him by sleeping with him.
What was the logic in that?
She should have told him that she wouldn’t even consider being with him until she got this mess sorted out in her head. And yet, she did exactly the opposite of it.
Damn the man.
He had a way of making her lose all sense of self. She did things with him that she didn’t realize she wanted to do. Now it was too late. She’d actually slept with him. How was she going to get out of this? As she walked through the corridor, on her way out, she pondered over her plan.
She didn’t have one.
Perhaps she should just avoid him for as long as she could, and he would eventually get the message. That was the best she could do. There wasn’t anything else in her mind.
“Hey, Nya.”
She glanced at her boss. So engrossed she’d been that she walked past him without as much as a hello. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t see you.”
He grinned. “I hope you were thinking about the new plan you’re submitting?”
For a moment, she was blank. What plan? Was he talking about her plan with Reece? Of course, not. “Yes, sir. It will be ready on time.”
“Good. I’m supposed to do a presentation at the conference two weeks from now, and I’m counting on your research.”
“Don’t worry, sir. It will be finished in a couple of days.”
While her first love was nature, lately she was getting more and more involved in the paperwork. No one in her office was doing it as much as she was, and that’s because the Chief loved her work. He preferred she put her stamp on all research, and she was happy to do it. In order to preserve the forest, they had to be one step ahead of nature and man. It was important to come up with strategies for perseveration and enhancement.
“You’re a good soldier. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Hopefully, sir, you won’t have to find out. See you.”
“Ah, Nya! I wondered if you’d seen Reece.”
She halted, turned, and faced him. Why was he asking her this? The Chief sure was obsessed with Reece. Was it because he didn’t like the guy or because of the murder? “Hmmm. Not really, sir.”
“Good. Keep it that way. I saw him at Sal’s the other day.” He frowned as if Reece’s presence put him off his mood. “Just because he built a factory doesn’t mean he owns the town. We, people of the town, have to stick together.”
She had no clue what he was talking about. Reece wasn’t the kind of guy who threw his weight around. Even though he was easily the richest guy in town, he never boasted about anything. Her heart warmed at the thought that he actually listened to her and went to Sal’s. Maybe getting the acceptance he wanted was more important than he let on. “Yes, sir,” she said in a bid to finish the conversation. Nya moved away.
Rather than take her mind off him, the Chief’s words brought Reece to the forefront of her mind. As if he wasn’t already there. Was it possible that he was lonelier than he let on? He was clearly having issues with his pack members, and then he didn’t have any friends in town, and on top of that, she was giving him the cold shoulder.
Maybe that hurt him more than she realized.
Nya was simply thinking about her survival.
If she stayed with Reece, the emotional entanglement was far more complex than she bargained for. And then of course, there were his outrageous claims that he was a werewolf. Yes, she saw him shift. Yes, she saw Foster change, but still in the back of her mind was the thought that perhaps it wasn’t real.
What if that was some kind of an elaborate setup that the men did to convince her they were more than human? After all, she was taken away from a familiar setting. The shack could have been fitted with some kind of a laser device that made it seem as if they shifted. Or perhaps she was drugged and was encouraged to have a strange hallucination. They could have hypnotized her.
In today’s world of technology, anything could happen.
She got out, took a deep breath and then headed for her car. She wasn’t going to think about Reece anymore. And yes, now that she thought about it more and more, it seemed that what she’d seen couldn’t possibly be real. It was some kind of a mind game, a gimmick they all played together. Why else would the men kidnap her? She, like a fool, allowed them to play with her mind.
From this moment on, she was going to live her life exactly as she did before she met Reece. He had no place in her heart or mind. She had no clue what he was doing when he pulled those stunts, but she didn’t have the intention to sift through his schemes and dig for the truth. Her life was a mess, and she intended to straighten it out.
The rest would take care of itself.
With a firm resolve, she went home, changed, and then cooked a steak, seasoned to perfection. Even
though her mind was made up, she still had lingering doubts.
What if she was making the wrong decision?
What if Reece was the one meant for her?
Crap.
It was difficult to not think about that annoying man. No matter how hard she tried, he managed to creep into her thoughts. If there was a magic pill she could’ve taken to forget any thoughts about him, she would have done so. Alas! That couldn’t happen. She would just to forget him through sheer grit and determination.
That was her plan, and she was sticking right to it.
When her doorbell rang an hour later, she froze. Who could it be? She wasn’t expecting any visitors. Nya reminded herself that if anyone was coming to hurt or kidnap her, they wouldn’t bother ringing the bell; instead they’d coming barging in, unannounced. She had to get over her fear the three men had instilled in her. There was no way she was going to spend the rest of her life thinking about all that went wrong that particular night.
After peeking through, she put her hand on the handle. Not surprisingly, it was Reece. Should she open the door? He probably wanted to convince her that he wanted a place in her life. If she allowed him to come in, there was a good chance something would happen that she didn’t want to happen. She wouldn’t be able to resist him. The man had a special charm that drove her crazy insane.
No. It was better to just avoid him.
Nya released the handle and made her way upstairs. Within seconds, she lay down on the bed, and put the pillow on her head. She needed to block him out. He rang again and again, but then the silence mocked her. Maybe he realized that she didn’t want to see him. If he would leave her alone, she would be able to get on with her life.
Even though he went away, she had a feeling it wasn’t the last she would see of him.
Then of course, her fears were proven true when he rang the bell for three consecutive nights. She had to give him the credit for his persistence. He never made too much of a drama. He didn’t knock on the door or tried to get her attention in another manner. All he did was ring the bell, and she saw him each night through the peephole but Nya refused to open the door. There was no conversation and no exchange of words.
