by Beverly Rae
“Then we’re all set.” Ranlon shifted back and forth on his feet. “She’ll brake and won’t have time to pick up speed before she sees you.”
Michael closed his eyes, imagining the dreams he’d sent her. Although he’d never physically touched her, he could remember the softness of her skin against him, the wetness of her pussy on his lips, the sweet sounds she made when she climaxed.
He groaned and stared down the road, willing her car to appear. Come, Sara. It’s time.
But what if he was wrong? If he was, if she didn’t come tonight, he didn’t know what he would do. A man could only restrain his desire for so long while waiting for the pack’s first alpha-mate. Not to mention what the rest of the Night Runners might do.
“I hope you’re right. I don’t know how much longer I can wait. Hell, I ache for her and the others feel the same.”
“I know.” He ground his teeth together, disliking the edge in his tone. But couldn’t Ranlon shut up? After all, didn’t he have the same need to possess her? To glide his cock inside her mouth? Into her pussy? God, into her ass?
The sounds of cattle drifted to him and, for a moment, his mind left the woman to wonder if any other cattle would be sacrificed tonight. How many had been killed already? Seven? Eight? He growled, the animal inside him angry at the predator causing trouble.
Every time he went into town for supplies, the townspeople’s angry gazes landed on him, following him until the moment he left. He heard their muttered curses, heard the fear in their tone when they talked about his friends. Keeping to himself, he’d leave as soon as possible, never lingering past dusk. Anxious people meant foolish actions weren’t far behind.
The Night Runners of the Matheson Ranch had never been fully accepted in the small community of Lost Hills, and that was all right with Michael. As long as the people kept their distance and kept their mouths closed, he was satisfied.
But once the killings had started, the old stories about the Matheson cousins and their friends had come alive, and the live-and-let-live mentality the townspeople had always shown them had grown hostile. Some of the older citizens remembered a time long ago when the Night Runners had walked freely and openly among humans. But that time had long passed.
Michael had to wonder. How many of them really believed the stories about werewolves? He hoped not many. God knows he’d done his best to keep the pack’s nightly runs away from the town. The less the humans knew about them, the better.
Still, they’d have to do something about the situation soon. Before all hell broke loose.
Two men appeared out of nowhere to stand on the other side of the road. Max lifted his hand in greeting then took his place next to them. Michael could see their nervousness in the way Nick Rogers paced back and forth, his red hair showing up like a beacon under the moonlight, and the way William Cage, the oldest of the group, chewed on a stick then tossed it away only to replace it with another stick.
“Where’s Jimmy?” Michael frowned. Jimmy Lingo was the youngest of the pack, and like all young men, often reckless.
“He went to the store for school supplies.”
“When?” Michael tried to keep the irritation out of his voice but failed. Jimmy was hell-bent on getting his college degree, even if he had to do his classes online.
“Earlier. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. He should’ve returned home by now.”
Anger flashed in Michael. “Damn it. I told him to stay at the ranch. We don’t want any trouble in town.”
“Aw, he’ll be fine. It’s not like he’s a kid. He’s twenty-one now, you know. Besides, everyone likes Jimmy.”
“They like him as much as they like any of us, but that won’t keep him safe if they find another slaughtered cow. People are beginning to talk and to ask questions about us.”
“Are we any closer to finding the animal that’s causing the problem?”
“Some. The carcasses look like a bear got hold of them. But this bear’s smart.” Michael dug the heel of his boot into the dry earth.
“You think he’s a shifter, don’t you? A werebear?”
“I do.”
“Damn it. What’s a bear shifter doing in these parts?”
“Werebears aren’t like regular bears. They go anywhere they want just like us.”
“You’re thinking about tracking him down, aren’t you?”
Michael looked away. Of all the pack, Ranlon could read him the best. “We may not have any other choice.”
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
They let the silence between them grow, ending the uncomfortable discussion. Michael searched for Sara again and felt her presence growing closer.
Ranlon growled. “Shit. Where is she? If she doesn’t show up soon, I’m going to need to run. Hell, I’ll probably have to run all night to shake this itch off.”
“Patience, brother. Patience. She’s not far away now.” Although none of the pack were brothers by the same parents, they shared a closer bond. They were blood brothers. Running brothers.
The sound of a car turned their attention to the right to search the road.
“Finally. You’re up, bro.” Ranlon backed into the darkness.
“See you at the house.” Michael stepped into the middle of the road.
* * * *
Sara wasn’t sure why she’d chosen to take the back roads. In fact, she was certain using the lonely, deserted roads during the night was a bad idea. But she hadn’t been able to deny the urge. Even when she’d had to slow down to wind her way around several logs strewn across the road, the compulsion to keep going hadn’t lessened.
She reached up to punch on the overhead light, picked up the map, and squinted. Yet as much as she studied it, she couldn’t figure out where she was. She tossed the map onto the passenger seat and grabbed her phone as she’d done several times in the past half hour. Still no reception.
“Where the hell am I?” She selected the navigation app, but nothing came up. “I don’t get it. Why can’t I get any bars out here? That damn phone company’s going to hear—Oh, shit!”
Sara shouted as she swerved to miss the man standing in the middle of the road. Clutching her steering wheel, she gritted her teeth, slammed on her brakes, and turned the wheel to the right. Rocks battered the car as the tires slid in the gravel. She held on, gripping as hard as she could, but without enough traction the car continued its slide off the road. The bar ditch loomed before her, giving her no option to do anything but gasp and close her eyes. For a moment, the car was suspended in air, then fell in a sickening descent from its flight. She cried out as the car struck the ground, the impact throwing her body forward first, then backward as the front end buried into the other side of the ditch.
Still gripping the wheel, she held her breath and opened her eyes. Her heart pounded and her breaths came in short puffs. Dirt covered the crumpled front end of the car, and a thin line of smoke trailed from under the hood toward the sky.
I’m okay. I’m fine.
She repeated the mantra, willing herself to calm down.
So much for the air bag deploying. She ran her hand over the wheel and held on as her heart slowed down. She looked into the rearview mirror and breathed a sigh of relief. No bleeding. Not even a bump.
Who cares if the bag didn’t work? I’m okay. At least, I think I am.
She moved her leg, then the other, testing her body, waiting for any telltale signs of injury. “So far, so good.” Listening to herself, she tried to inject a calmness in her tone that she didn’t yet feel.
Then she tried moving her arms. “See? Nothing hurts.” Tentatively, she took her shaking hands from the wheel, stared through the cracked windshield at the damage to her car, and let out a small groan. Her used-but-new-to-her Honda Civic, the one that had taken her almost a year to save for, was trashed.
Oh, my God. My car’s busted up big time.
Still, a wrecked car was a lot better than a wrecked body. She let out another long breath. Bett
er to look on the bright side.
“If I hadn’t looked up when I had, I would’ve—” She inhaled, the memory of the man standing in the middle of the road coming back. “No, no, no. Please tell me I didn’t hit him.”
She reached for the handle and turned it. Her door refused to open, so she shoved against it. Two more pushes and the door still refused to budge. On the fourth push, she leaned toward the passenger side first, then threw her body at the door, ramming against it.
“Argh!” The door flew open, propelling her headfirst out of the car. She broke her fall with her hands, her hair cascading over her head.
“Are you all right?”
Sara froze. Was it the man in the road? Was he all right?
“Damn it, you weren’t supposed to be going that fast.”
Slowly, hoping she wouldn’t see an injured man hobbling toward her, she turned her head and peered through the strands of her hair. Cowboy boots, well-worn with years of use, led her gaze to jeans that fit the strong legs perfectly. She gathered her nerve and let her gaze slide higher, telling herself she wouldn’t stop at his crotch.
Her mouth dried up when she saw the bulge in his jeans and, for a moment, she almost reached out to see if the bulge was larger than her hand. He was big, that was for sure.
“I asked if you were hurt.”
A calloused hand appeared in front of her face and, after taking a steadying breath, she took it. The sizzle of electricity passing from his skin to hers made her try to yank her hand away, but he held on. He pulled up and she half fell, half stumbled out of the car. Another strong hand took hold of her other arm as he helped her to stand on her feet.
Sara whipped the hair out of her face and got her first good look at him. Oh, my God.
Heat rushed up her neck and into her cheeks. His hard, muscled chest pressed close to her, so close she could see where someone had resewn a button on the denim shirt just below the place where a spattering of dark hair peeked over the material. She resisted the urge to run her hand over the six-pack she was certain hid under the denim. Desire raced through her, making her knees seem like jelly.
“Ooh,” she breathed, drawing in the smell of man mixed with something unidentifiable. Something that made her think of wild, untamed nights of erotic lovemaking. Her eyes grew big at the idea. Had the thought come from her dreams?
“Look at me.”
The voice, as sinful as a pint of her favorite dark-chocolate ice cream, lifted her attention to his face. His lips curved up at the corners, leading her gaze to dimples she ached to touch. His jawline was the stuff of superheroes, covered with an enticing stubble.
Sara parted her lips as she studied the sensual mouth. Lips that were both soft and masculine made her want to skim her tongue over her upper lip. If only she could do the same to his! But when she saw his eyes, her heart stopped.
Dark eyes studied her, daring her to do…whatever the hell she wanted. And at that moment, she would’ve done anything to keep looking into his eyes.
“So we know you understand English. Do you speak English, too? Are you okay?”
She shook herself, trying to break free of the spell he’d put on her. “Yes. To everything.” To anything you want. “I’m okay, and I speak English.”
The corners of his mouth tipped higher. “Good.”
“But what about the man? Was that you? Were you standing in the middle of the road?”
“Yeah. I was.” The glint in his eyes zeroed in on her, diving into the depths of her soul.
“But why? Why stand in the middle of the street?” She licked her lips again and wished she could glide her tongue all over his body.
Damn, girl! You almost ran the man over and now all you can think about is going down on him? She forced herself to look elsewhere, but she couldn’t keep her focus away for long.
“What? You’ve never crossed a road before?” He chuckled, bringing out his dimples.
“Sure. But I didn’t see you.” She couldn’t help it. She had to see if the bulge was as large as it had been earlier. It was. Heat flamed hotter in her cheeks. “I am so sorry. I was looking at my phone and when I looked up, there you were.”
“Yeah, you gave me quite a scare. But we’re both okay and that’s what matters.”
She almost cried when he turned his enticing, dark eyes away from her and toward her Honda. “Sorry I can’t say the same for your car.”
Blinking, she forced her mind away from him. Smoke still filtered out from under the hood. Her stomach twisted in a knot. “This is so not good. I just bought it, too. Plus, my insurance is going to go sky-high.” She ran her palm over the door in a loving caress.
“Cars can be repaired. You can’t.”
She found his delicious eyes again and once more felt a surge of lust rush into her. Almost as though he’d hooked a leash around her, she felt the tug in her abdomen and wanted nothing more than to follow him anywhere he wanted to lead her.
All at once, an image of the man of her dreams licking her pussy jolted her and she reached for his hand. If only she could remember the dream man’s face.
“Hey, there. You seem a little shaky. How about I take you home with me?”
Yes! The word was almost out of her mouth before she had time to give it real thought. What was she thinking? Going home with a stranger she’d just met? “I–I don’t know. I think maybe we should call the police. They’ll probably want me to make a report and then they can take me to the nearest hotel.”
“Can’t.”
She stared at him. “Why not?”
“The nearest town doesn’t have a police force. Just a sheriff, and he can’t do anything to help you tonight. I’ll have someone take care of your car tomorrow. And you can forget about finding a hotel close-by.” He put his fingers under her chin. She shivered at his touch and wished she could feel his fingers lower on her body. Hell, everywhere on her body.
“I can’t go home with a strange man.” Not even one as sexy as this one. She couldn’t do that. Could she?
His smile held her locked in an invisible grip. “You don’t have a choice. What else are you going to do? Sleep in your car? Trust me. That’s not a good idea.”
“Why not?” Yeah, like I’d ever sleep in my car. Not.
“Look around you. You’re in the middle of nowhere. I wouldn’t feel right leaving you to the wolves and the snakes.”
“Wolves? Snakes?” She crossed her arms, shivering again but for a different reason. “Okay. I guess I don’t have a choice. I can call a tow truck from your house, right?”
He shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t have a phone.”
Who doesn’t have a phone? “Not even a land line? Or a cell phone?”
“Nope. I don’t like phones and we don’t get any reception out here.”
She considered his explanation, remembering how she’d struggled to get bars on her phone. “But tomorrow, you’ll drive me into town, right?”
“Sure.” He grinned, his dimples flashing. “If you still want to go.”
Without another word, he turned and hopped out of the bar ditch. Bending to her, he offered his hand to help her.
Sara tilted her head and enjoyed the way he moved, a combination of grace and strength rarely seen in men. Taking his hand, she trembled at his touch as he easily lifted her onto the road.
He nodded as though satisfied with her, then pivoted and walked off. A few paces later, he glanced over his shoulder and motioned for her to follow him. “Come with me.”
Was he commanding her to go? She shook off her silly thought and hurried to his side. Besides, why wouldn’t she want to go?
Chapter Two
Michael strode along the road toward the Matheson house and fought the urge to turn around and take Sara into his arms. He longed to press his lips to hers, to kiss her until he had to come up for air. He swallowed, imagining his tongue slipping into her mouth, his hands cupping her sweet ass, holding her against him until she could no longer stand.
&n
bsp; She was more alluring than she’d been in the dreams. Her auburn hair looked softer, and he ached to let it slip through his fingers like a silken waterfall. Her eyes, a luxurious mocha brown, made him hope to spend the rest of his life staring into their depths. And her body—oh, hell, her body was a ripe fruit perfect for the picking.
He’d seen the way her breasts pushed against the material of her T-shirt, seen the outline of her pebbled nipples, and knew she wore no bra. Did she go commando, too? Damn, he hoped so. He gritted his teeth against the yearning brewing in his crotch and kept his attention on the path in front of him.
Just get her to the house. You’ve waited this long, you can wait a little while longer.
“Uh, hey.” She hurried to keep up with him. “We never introduced ourselves. Which is pretty weird when you consider I almost ran you over.” Her nervous giggle was entrancing. “Can you slow down? Every time I catch up with you, you speed up even more.” She thrust out her hand.
Stopping, he took the risk that he would scoop her into his arms and faced her. Her sweet, round face glowed as her doe eyes twinkled in the moonlight. Her hair fell to her shoulders and floated around her face as the breeze caressed her skin. Damn breeze. He wanted to be the one doing the caressing.
He dropped his gaze and stared at her hand. Could he touch her? Could he do something as simple as taking her hand without losing control? He’d barely managed to hold himself in check before, and with each minute that passed the urge grew stronger.
Yet, unable to resist, he engulfed her hand in his larger one. Sizzling desire struck him, blindsiding him. After experiencing the electricity between them when he’d helped her from the car, he should’ve been prepared for another jolt.
The wolf inside roared to life, threatening to break free, and the Change started without his acquiescence. He sensed the amber beginning to show in his eyes and felt the tips of his fangs break through his gums. Growling, he yanked his hand away from hers and pushed the beast back inside its cage.
Had she seen?
Her lips parted, calling for him to kiss her, so he had no choice but to start walking again. Either that or he’d throw her on the ground and ram his cock deep into her firm, round ass.
