Secret of the Wolf

by Cynthia Garner

  “Come on,” he said. “Let’s grab the margaritas and head out onto the patio.”

  She glanced at him. “Okay.” She grabbed the glasses while he removed the pitcher from the refrigerator. “Should I get Lily?” she asked.

  “No, let her rest.” Dante knew his sister tired easily, and preparing dinner had taken a lot out of her. “We can always make more.”

  They went outside and sat on a glider at one end of the patio. The misters kept the air cool enough that it was bearable to be outside in the heat. Though the sun had begun making its descent, it was still hot outside. “This is nice,” she commented, holding the glasses while Dante poured the drinks.

  “It is. I put the misters in a couple of summers ago. I wanted to enjoy the scenery without suffering heat stroke.” He set the pitcher on a small glass table beside the swing and sat down, starting the glider swinging gently. He turned toward her and took his glass, holding it up in a toast. “Cheers.”

  She clicked her glass against his. “Cheers.” She took a sip. “Mmm, delicious.”

  Dante stretched one arm along the back of the glider and rested the other on his thigh, balancing his glass to keep his margarita from spilling. As the sun set and dusk bloomed, a few outdoor lamps he had lining the winding walkway turned on, bathing the backyard in a soft yellow glow. After a hard day at work, sitting out here for a few minutes to center himself never failed to calm him.

  Until now. He was too aware of the woman next to him. Her light perfume scented the air around him, her warmth pulling him closer. He tried to look at her without staring, but it was impossible. Her bare feet sported shiny purple toenail polish. Her light-blue blouse paired with a soft peach scoop-necked top and filmy blue skirt accented her delicious curves. She looked downright edible.

  He cleared his throat. “How’s your brother doing?”

  “He’s good.” She frowned and shifted on the glider to face him, one leg bent. “Actually, I’m a little worried.” She paused. “I don’t know, Dante. He says he wants to catch up, to stay around so we can get to know each other again, and then he acts like he couldn’t care less.” She took a sip of her drink. “But then he goes and does something sweet like making dinner for me. Lasagna.” She seemed almost guilty as she added, “I almost canceled tonight.”

  “Tori, I know how important family is to you.” Dante put his drink on the side table and twisted toward her. “You should have called and canceled.” Though the cynic in him whispered that Randall wanted something and that was why he was being so sweet. “I would’ve understood.”

  She waved one hand. “He wouldn’t let me. It’s okay.” Her smile was genuine. “He’s going to stay in town, so we have time.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re both immortal, so you definitely have plenty of time.”

  A shadow of sadness passed over her face. “Living forever isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” She pressed her lips together and looked down at her lap. “You make human friends and watch them grow old and die. And when you make wrong choices, the consequences never go away. At least as a human, death is the final forgiveness.” She raised her eyes. “You’re so lucky to have Lily. She’s lucky to have you.”

  “She’s been through a lot,” he said. “It’s just the two of us now, so we look out for each other.” He wrapped his arm around on her shoulder, feeling both strength and frailty beneath his palm. “Kind of like you and Rand.”

  That slender shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I don’t know how much he looks out for me, but I do look out for him.” She sighed. “He missed a mandatory meeting last night, and pretty much expects me to make everything all right. Like I have a magic wand or something.”

  “Hmph. Well, I guess that’s what older sisters are for.” He paused and stared at her. “You are older, aren’t you? I mean, it’s hard to tell, ’cause he acts like he’s about fourteen.”

  “I’m older. He’s just…” She shook her head. “He’s always been a little…breakable. Coming through the rift and turning into a werewolf hasn’t done him any favors.”

  Dante pondered that for a moment. “I’d think having superhuman strength, hearing, vision, and all that would give a boost in ego.”

  “For some it does.” Tori’s tongue swept out to leave her lips wet. “For others, like Rand, it only highlights the deficiencies they won’t, or can’t, let go of. They focus only on the fact that if it weren’t for the wolf in them they wouldn’t have all those things you mentioned. Rather than seeing all they have gained, they feel as if they are the weak, ineffectual person they’ve always believed themselves to be.”

  “I guess I can understand that.” He rubbed his thumb against her collarbone. “Is it just you and Randall? Or do you have other family here?”

  She looked down at her lap. “I’m so glad to have him with me. You can’t imagine what it’s been like being alone for so long.”

  That didn’t exactly answer his question. He put a hand under her chin and raised her face to his. “Tori? Do you have other family here?”

  She hesitated, then looked up with moist green eyes. “Rand is the only brother I have. I’ve been alone for so long.”

  Dante made a mental note that she still hadn’t really answered his question, but he let it go for now. He needed to reassure her. “You’re not alone anymore, sweetheart.” For the first time since he’d known her he saw uncertainty in her eyes. His heart skipped a beat. He’d done that to her with his damned vacillating. Not anymore. He took the drink from her hand and placed it beside his, then faced her again. “I promise you, Victoria, you’re not alone,” he whispered and slanted his mouth over hers.

  He started out gentle, but when her lips parted and her tongue swept over his, gentleness gave way to rough hunger. He groaned and cupped his hands around her head, the tips of his fingers resting against her thick braid. Her hair was like silk, the lips beneath his even softer, making him wonder if she’d be this damned smooth all over.

  Tilting her head, he slid his tongue along the seam of her mouth and then thrust inside. She made a low, eager sound, her hands sliding around to clutch his back.

  Dante held her head still and deepened the kiss. Her mouth was sweet, with a hint of lime and tequila. He leaned back, resting against the arm of the glider, and spread his legs, drawing her on top of him. Her sweet weight settled between the V of his thighs, pressing against his growing erection.

  Tori pulled back, just a few inches, and whispered, “I see someone’s got time for me.” She stroked her fingers across his fly, making his hips lift in response. “He’s got better sense than you,” she said.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t usually let my cock do my thinkin’ for me.” He nibbled along her jaw line until he reached her ear, giving the lobe a slight nip. “But here…now…seems like a good time to start.” His mouth slid to the softness of Tori’s throat, tasting the saltiness of her skin over the pounding of her pulse.

  “Dante…” Her voice had that sultry, throaty quality that always revved his engine.

  He kissed her again, tongue sweeping the dark cavern of her mouth. She tasted sweet and rich, like dark chocolate. When she pulled his tongue deeper, suckling him gently, eagerly, he groaned and tugged her hips closer to his.

  She pumped against him, a slow, steady undulation, a dance of desire that made his cock as stiff as a pike. Slender hands clutched at his back, kneading the hard muscles.

  He’d never felt hunger like this before. Raw. Demanding and pulsating with a life of its own. He heard his name again, sounding far away. The rattle of the patio door impacted his awareness just as he heard Lily’s “Dante, I’m going…Oh.” A slight pause, then another, louder, “Oh.” She gave a sigh. “God, this is so not something I wanted to walk in on. Reminds me of that time with you and Suzie Weisterman when you were in the tenth grade.”

  “Damn it, Lily.” Dante lifted Tori off him. He crossed one leg over the other and rested his ankle on top of the opposite knee. Hunching his shoulders, he cu
rled his hands over his shins and tried to hide his erection. Tori moved back to her side of the glider, looking a little embarrassed and mightily amused.

  “Don’t ‘damn it, Lily’ me,” his sister muttered. In the illumination of the patio lights he could see red flags of color streaking across her cheeks. “If you two want to get it on, why don’t you take it inside? Like, in your bedroom. Behind closed doors.” She put her hands on her hips. “You’d think you’d have learned after Suzie.”

  “Oh, dear God…” Dante hung his head. His little sister hadn’t lost any of her ability to embarrass the hell out of him.

  Tori laughed, clearly delighted with his discomfort. “Why don’t you sit with us for a while?” she said to Lily.

  He shot her an Are-you-kidding? look, which she completely ignored.

  Thankfully, Lily turned down the invitation. “I’d love to, but I just came out to tell you that I’m just going to go on to bed. And I also wanted to thank you for cleaning up the kitchen. I appreciate it.”

  “It was my pleasure.” Tori got off the glider and went over to his sister. “I’m so glad to have met you, Lily. If you ever need anything, even an ear to rant to about whatever boneheaded thing your brother has done…”

  “Hey!” Dante frowned. “I don’t do boneheaded things.”

  “…call me.” She pointed over her shoulder toward Dante. “He has my number.” She gave Lily a quick hug and then retook her seat on the glider. “Guys do all sorts of crazy things that drive the women in their lives nuts. I know your brother is no different.”

  “Boy, you’re right there,” Lily said.

  “Hey!” Dante crossed his arms. “I can hear you, you know.”

  Both women laughed. Lily gave a slight wave and went back into the house.

  Dante sat there, trying to get over his embarrassment.

  “I have to tell you,” Tori began, “I really like your sister. She’s sweet. And I admire the way she’s dealt with the double whammy life has thrown at her. It can’t have been easy, going through a divorce while fighting cancer.” She placed a hand on his thigh. “I’m sure it helped her to know she had you to lean on.” Approval filled her tone.

  Her touch fired up his libido again, but her words upped his embarrassment. He didn’t like being complimented on something that he’d really had no choice in. “I only did what was right,” he said. “What was I supposed to do? Let her struggle on her own?”

  “Of course not, but even family can be cold-hearted when it comes to people in need.”

  He wondered for a moment if she knew the reaction her brother had had last night when Dante stopped by. Randall had been less than sympathetic about causing her trouble. Talk about cold-hearted.

  She squeezed his thigh. “I think it says a lot about you, about the kind of man you are, that you wanted her to stay here. I applaud you for that.” Her hand slid up his thigh and halted just short of the mark.

  Every thought fled Dante’s mind like water swirling down a drain. All but one: He had to get this woman in his bed. Now. “You know,” he drawled, “I think Lily had the right idea.” When Tori appeared confused, he added, “About going to bed, I mean.”

  Now she looked disappointed. “Oh.”

  He leaned toward her. “There are other things to do in bed besides sleep.”

  Her smile was slow and wickedly sensual. “If Lily’s trying to sleep…”

  He shook his head. “Split floor plan. Our rooms are on opposite ends of the house.” He stood and held out one hand. When she took it, he pulled her to her feet and into his arms. “Are you sure about this?” He wanted to give her a chance to change her mind before things got too hot.

  She looped her arms around his shoulders, warm fingers sifting through the hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m sure. I’ve been sure for a while now.” She scraped her fingernails lightly across his skull, setting up fireworks in his groin. “What about you? Are you sure about this?”

  His direct gaze never faltered. “Life’s too short, and I’m sure I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to be with you. And if it ends up meaning our time together is limited…well, I’ll take what I can get. A few months or years is better than decades without you. So, yeah, I’m damned sure.” Dante swept Tori into his arms and strode into the house, pausing to flip the lock on the patio door before heading to his bedroom.

  He placed her gently on the bed and stared down at her a moment. What she did to him…He wasn’t a believer in love at first sight, though he’d certainly been attracted to her from the moment he’d seen her. The more he was around Tori, the more he was interested in her, admired her. She was his friend, soon to be his lover. Yet, more than that, she was the woman of his soul.

  Dear God, he wanted her like he’d wanted no other. Possessiveness—raw, sharp, and primitive as hell—surged inside him with astonishing fervor. He came down on top of her, bracing his weight on his forearms, and crashed his mouth onto hers. Her soft, sweet scent wrapped around his senses.

  With a groan he pulled her up, helped her shrug out of her jacket, then pulled the silky blouse over her head. As she lay back down, bare, pink-tipped breasts quivered with her quickened breathing. He buried his face between them, feeling her heart thudding against his skin.

  He’d been an idiot to fight this for so long.

  Tori squirmed beneath him, her hands coming up to fist in his hair. She directed his face toward her right breast.

  “Just what I like,” he murmured and swiped his tongue over the velvety tip. “A woman who knows what she wants.” He licked the nipple again, watching it go red and hard before his eyes. As he closed his mouth over it, her breath hitched in her throat and then eased from her in a long moan. He paid homage to her, suckling each nipple, wringing cries from her, making her arch against the bed.

  “Dante…”

  He raised his head and stared down at her. She had the prettiest breasts, plump, pale, and soft. Her nipples were a contrast, tight and red, wet from his mouth. He moved his gaze to her face, seeing her full lips parted, her eyes flecked with amber arousal.

  That reminder of her inner werewolf should have given him pause, but it didn’t. What it did do was ramp his arousal even higher. His cock, thick and heavy, strained against his jeans and pulsed with each heavy heartbeat.

  He wanted to be buried deep inside her. With a growl of impatience he managed to get the side zipper of her skirt undone, and then he lifted her and yanked the skirt off. It was quickly followed by lacy peach-colored panties.

  Soon, she was completely bare to his gaze. “God, you’re beautiful.”

  “I’d like to be able to return the compliment,” she murmured. She rose up on one elbow and ran a hand from his shoulder down to his wrist. “But you’re still dressed.”

  Dante took care of that little problem in two seconds. He reached into the top drawer of his bedside table and pulled out a condom, and took care of that in about one second flat. Then he was on top of Tori, gently easing himself between her soft thighs. He braced himself on his forearms and brushed strands of hair away from her face. “God, you’re so lovely, inside and out. You’re a feast to a starving man.”

  “I’ve never felt this way before. I feel like…I need you like I need air to breathe.”

  Emotion clogged his throat. He clasped her hand and held it against his cheek. “I feel the same way. Whatever I have to do to make this work, I will.” Releasing her hand, he bent his head and pressed his mouth to hers. This time his kiss was soft. Reverent.

  He licked a path down her throat, lingering in the sensitive bend of her neck. He stroked a hand through the folds of her sex, letting his thumb circle her swollen nub.

  Shivering, she thrust her legs apart farther. “Now, Dante. I want you inside me.”

  She was slick and hot. Ready. He slid one finger into her sheath, teasing her, teasing himself. With a short snarl she flipped him onto his back and straddled his hips. She took him in a slow, devastating descent that rob
bed him of breath. Of his mind. He arched, his heels digging into the mattress, the move pushing him even deeper.

  She planted her hands on his shoulders, bracing herself as she lifted her hips up and down in a rhythm that threatened to shatter him. She took…everything. And he…

  He was finally willing to let go and love her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Several hours later, Tori awoke in a sweat. It took her a second to figure out where she was, but once she remembered, she knew right away the reason she was so warm. She had a hot, naked man pressed against her back. Dante’s soft, even breathing told her he was asleep. His right arm was draped over her, a welcome weight. His hand cupped her breast, and his left thigh rested between her legs.

  She carefully slid off the bed and padded into the bathroom. Once she’d finished, she crawled back into bed with him, lying on her side so she could look at his face subdued in the light of dawn. In repose his face was softer. Even though he carried himself with such a carefree attitude, he was anything but. He worried about his sister. He worked hard on his career. He was concerned that he’d somehow do wrong by Tori. He really was a kind man, a genuinely nice guy, though sometimes he let the bad boy show. Most important, he made her laugh. That combination was impossible to resist. And as a lover…

  My God. He was incredible. She’d felt cherished, as if she were the only woman in his world. That was a heady feeling.

  She reached up and brushed a fringe of hair off his forehead. Lying here in the still hours of early morning, with only the light of the moon illuminating their small island of solitude, it was easy to push aside the anxieties of the day. She could look at this man for the rest of her life.

  Her gaze traveled down the strong column of his neck, across the sharp ridge of his collarbones, over the light dusting of hair that sprinkled his pecs. She rose up on one elbow to get a better look at him.