by Amy Kyle
Why couldn’t he have been a vampire? Or a cat shifter? Or a wolf shifter? None of them would have cared about Paul. But Jackson clearly wasn’t going to let her go until she told him the truth.
But that didn’t mean she had to tell him the entire truth. She didn’t know what his friend over the phone had told him, but she wasn’t about to let him put a kink into her plans.
“Paul is my ex-boyfriend. He didn’t take the breakup well,” she muttered.
He raised his eyebrows. “Paul’s pack allows him to mate with whomever he wanted?”
“Date, yes. Marry, no. There was no future with us.” No matter how badly she wished it were true.
He nodded his head. “That doesn’t explain why he tossed your stuff. Or why you’re afraid of him. If anything, he should have been happy to see you go. Sometimes it’s difficult to release yourself of some human mistresses.”
She rolled her eyes. “Rich playboy has found himself too many clingy women, huh?”
Jackson stiffened. “Why are you so far away from your home?”
“Visiting family,” she said automatically. “Actually, if you give me a ride to the city limits, you can have your jacket back, and I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Sure.” He straightened. “Give me the address. I’ll drop you off tonight. It should only take about thirty minutes.”
She eyed him carefully. He was giving in a little too easily. “I don’t know you, so I’m not comfortable giving you the address. I’ve already had enough issues with stalker bear shifters. You understand, right?”
“Natalie,” he said softly. She shivered. His voice curled around her seductively. “What is the address of your family?”
She lowered her eyes. “Okay fine,” she grumbled. “I’m not visiting relatives. I just wanted to explore the city. So the nearest hotel would be great. In the city, I mean. I need to get to the city before tomorrow night.”
“Before the full moon?”
She nodded.
“You think you can hide in the city? There will be too many different smells and sounds for him to detect you? It’s a smart move, but there’s just one problem with that.”
“What’s that?”
He smiled. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
Chapter Three
Jackson made her keep the jacket. He could tell that she was freezing, and he didn’t have the heart to take it away from her. She glared at him the entire time he drove home, but he ignored her. Her essence soothed him, and he found it dangerous to even look at her. Until he knew for certain what was going on, he needed to stay far away from Natalie.
Brent met him at the entrance. The black iron gates that separated the housing development from the rest of the territory swung open immediately. Jackson rolled down the window, and Brent leaned in.
“Bring a guest?” Brent asked as he eyed Natalie.
“I want to keep her close until I know what’s going on,” Jackson said quietly.
Brent nodded. “I did a bit more digging into Paul’s pack.” He handed him a file. “Let me know if you want me to pursue it any further. Also, while you were gone, de’Massier called. There are a few more amendments to the treaty that they want Micah to look over.”
Jackson sighed. “Did Micah call?”
Brent nodded. “They are still on schedule. Want me to let him know about the amendments?”
“No. That man deserves to enjoy the rest of his break. Email me the changes, and I’ll look them over. Does de’Massier know that Micah is still out?”
“Yes. I told him that it might still be a few days until we have all the signatures. Do you want me to prepare a room for her?”
“I already called Lynette. She has the guest apartment already set up.” He turned his head to stare at her. “Make sure whoever is on duty tonight keeps an eye on her. She’s not to leave the territory.”
“You’ve got it, boss,” Brent said easily. Jackson rolled his eyes and pulled away. Micah, Brent, and Jackson were all best friends growing up, and while Micah was technically the most powerful of the three, they all considered each other on equal grounds. Micah and Jackson were groomed into their position from birth, but they had all agreed that they did nothing without Brent. It made for an easygoing relationship, and the whole pack benefitted.
Natalie made a disgruntled sound next to him, and he rolled up his window and drove until he got to the condos in the back. He and Micah had possession of the two penthouse condos, and Brent’s condo actually took up the whole floor underneath. As they pulled into the parking, Natalie whistled low under her breath. “My local pack didn’t have this kind of set up.”
“Micah is the alpha shifter. He and I co-own G&S Industries. It’s a multi-billion dollar company now, so we make sure that everyone in our pack is well taken care of. Every kid gets work experience at the company, and if they keep their nose out of trouble and get good grades, we’ll fund their entire college tuition. We take care of our own here.”
He watched her shift uncomfortably. He got the idea that Natalie was used to taking care of herself. It was clear that nobody had looked out for her for a long time. “How did you know I was a shifter?”
She looked out the window and avoided his gaze. “I saw your eyes change.”
“Lies. I didn’t even begin to partially shift. Even if I had, you would never have known which animal. How did you know I was a bear?”
“I dated one. I recognized your scent.”
Jackson turned off the car and knocked his head back against the headrest. “You’re still lying to me. And that’s fine. You don’t have any reason to trust me. But it’s clear that you’re in trouble, and I’d like to help you.”
She snorted. “Sure, you want to help the woman you caught stealing from your store. I’ve got new for you. The real world doesn’t work that way. Everyone wants something from someone. So you just tell me what you want from me, and we’ll be on our way.”
“The truth,” he said softly. “I’d like the truth.”
She continued to stare out the window. With a sigh, he opened his car door and came around to open hers. “Come on. I’ve got a room for you tonight.”
She glared at him. “I’m not sleeping with you.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “You’ll get your own room. I may not know much about you, but I can tell you’re dangerous.”
As she got out of the car, she brushed up against him. He nearly groaned in frustration. Not only was she dangerous, but she also sparked a violent chain reaction in him that, if he wasn’t careful, would only end up with them tangled in the sheets.
* * *
Alone in the expansive condo, Natalie paced. Mixed emotions twisted inside of her. Logic told her that she was prisoner of the pack, but her empathy power wrapped her in feelings of safety.
Stealing the jacket was a stupid idea. She saw that now. What were the chances that she’d be caught by a bear shifter? But she’d been freezing, and she knew she’d never make it to the city without the extra layer of clothing. She’d waited outside the door for the last employee to leave, and she knew she had a chance when she didn’t see them activating the alarm. It was a simple enough to pick the lock.
Obviously, she’d chosen the wrong store to rob. A lump formed in the back of her throat, and Natalie fought to keep her panic from rising. Bear shifters were loyal to each other. Jackson was probably calling Paul right now to tell him where she was. She’d be dead by morning.
Her empathic abilities were spotty at best. Convinced that she was in danger, she raced to the window to see what her options were. She was on the eighteenth floor, so climbing out the window wasn’t exactly an option. Crossing the room, Natalie slowly opened the front door. No one was standing guard. Taking a deep breath, she bolted for the stairwell.
And ran straight into a solid body.
Bouncing back, she looked up into Jackson’s eyes. He gripped her arms. “Trying to escape already?
“What are you
doing out here?” she said as she froze in his arms. Sparks seemed to fly whenever he touched her. “Are you stalking me?”
He frowned and released her. She immediately stumbled into the wall. “I could feel your panic. I thought maybe something was happening to you.”
“Feel my panic?” She laughed in a hollow voice. “Of course you can feel my panic. I’m your prisoner.”
He cocked his head. “You’re not my prisoner. If you want to leave so badly, then be my guest.”
“I can go. You won’t stop me?”
“I won’t stop you.”
She eyed him warily. “I don’t believe you. Why go through all of this if you’re just going to let me go.”
“Because if you’re in danger, I want to help you.”
Without warning, all of her emotions broke. She slid to the floor and finally released everything inside of her. Fear of Paul. The pain that he had caused. Fear for her friends. Fear for her life. They all bundled up inside her until she could take no more. She wrapped her arms tight around her knees and sobbed.
Jackson crossed the hall instantly. She felt him gather her in his arms, but she didn’t have the strength to push him away. Murmuring softly, he carried her back to the room and quietly shut the door.
When he laid her down on the bed, she pushed at him, but it was futile. “Go away,” she cried. “Please, just leave me alone.”
He didn’t say a word as he pulled her shoes off. Carefully, he unzipped both jackets, and she didn’t fight him as he pulled them off her. He pulled the covers over her body and lay down next to her. They were both fully clothed, but he still made sure that the covers were a barrier.
She felt no sense of lust or desire in him. Only comfort. And as his warmth and his arms circled her, she finally cried herself to sleep.
Chapter Four
The sunlight streamed through the windows, and she regrettably opened her eyes. She’d had the most wonderful dream, and for some reason, she didn’t want to leave it. As the haze of sleep slowly lifted, her senses grew sharp. There was a warm body wrapped around her. And something was poking her in the ass. She wiggled her butt, and someone moaned.
The memories of what happened last night slammed into place. The sexy shifter was wrapped around her, and even through the layers of clothing and blanket, she knew an erection when she felt it. She struggled to move away, but he only gripped her tight. “Baby,” he muttered sleepily as he nuzzled her neck.
God, she was already wet. How did that even happen? His teeth nibbled on her sensitive skin, and her heart start to race. “So ready for me,” he whispered. He pushed her down and struggled to move on top of her.
Maybe it was the fact that she was still under the covers, or maybe it was when she slapped him, but his eyes immediately popped open.
“Shit,” he gasped and scrambled off her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he muttered.
She sat up and took a few deep breaths. “It’s okay,” she said after a minute. “It’s natural. You were still asleep. I was still asleep. It’s fine.”
He swept a hand through his hair, and Natalie couldn’t help but notice how sexy he was in the morning. Rough. Raw. Powerful. She stifled a moan and pulled the sheets up around her neck.
Jackson eyed her, and she could almost tell what he was thinking. He could obviously sense her arousal, and he was struggling not to point it out. “Are you feeling better?” he asked instead.
Grateful that he wasn’t going to push the issue, she nodded. “I needed the sleep.” Her stomach rumbled and she reddened. She hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning.
“Take a shower and change. I’m going to do the same. When you’re ready, come to the top floor. Room B. I’ll make you some breakfast.”
His eyes swept over her again leaving a heated trail before he left her. She immediately released the sheets and collapsed on the bed.
You’re acting like a hormonal teenager.
And it was true. One look at Jackson and she was ready to pounce. It was ridiculous. It was embarrassing.
But she couldn’t get the image of him out of her head. Would his chest be hairy as she ran her hands over those muscles? Did he like it when women licked his nipples?
Would he lick hers?
“Cold shower,” she said to the empty condo. “I need a very cold shower.” She practically raced to the shower and turned it on. Frowning, she stripped out of her clothes. She didn’t have anything to change into, and she desperately needed to wash what she was wearing. Exploring the expansive place, she found a washer and dryer. Sighing with relief, she threw the clothes in and hopped back in the shower. As she rigorously scrubbed her body with the washcloth and soap provided, she tried to get rid of all the traces of Jackson. Her neck was red where his scruff had rubbed against her. And wherever her hands lingers, she imagined his hands lingering.
The shower was doing nothing but turning her on even more. Disgusted with herself, she rinsed and wrapped the towel around her body.
It would be at least an hour before her clothes dried. She hadn’t considered that fact when she started the cycle.
Twenty minutes had passed before the phone started to ring. She stared at it in a panic. It was a landline. Who knew that she was here?
Tentatively, she picked it up but didn’t say anything. “Natalie? Natalie are you okay?”
“Jackson. Sorry. The phone ringing scared me. I should have realized that it was you. I mean of course it’s you. Who else would it?” she babbled. She paused. “Why are you calling me?”
“You were supposed to join me for breakfast. It’s been forty-five minutes,” he growled.
“Oh. I’m washing my clothes,” she admitted as her cheeks reddened. Why should she be embarrassed that she didn’t have any more clothes? He literally caught her stealing a jacket.
“I see.” Was that amusement in his voice? She narrowed her eyes. “Well, Stacey used to stay in that room. For all of two days. But we stocked it with some clothes. Check out the closet and see if you can find anything to wear. And if you can’t, just wear a robe. Breakfast is getting cold.”
She rolled here. There was no way that she was just wearing a robe around him. “Just order me around, why don’t you,” she muttered. Still, she went back to the bedroom and opened the closet. Sure enough, it was filled with clothes.
She rustled through the rack until she found a pair of jeans and a sweater that fit her. Feeling a bit better now that she was wearing clean clothes, she headed up to Jackson’s place.
The man from last light bumped into her in the elevator. “Natalie,” he said.
She smiled nervously. Were all the men in this pack drop dead gorgeous? “Brent, right?”
He didn’t smile back. “You’re going up?”
“Jackson is making me breakfast.” He eyed her suspiciously. “Are you going up?’ she squeaked.
“I’ll escort you there,” he said as the door closed.
“I’m not a thief,” she protested when they were alone. “I mean, I know Jackson caught me stealing, but that’s not usually how I do things. I try to uphold the law. I was just cold, and I don’t have any money.”
“You have money in your back account. More than enough to buy yourself a jacket,” he said quietly.
“You hacked into my back account?” she spluttered angrily. “How dare you? What gives you the right?”
“You stole from the pack. I’m security,” he said simply. “You’re avoiding using your card because you’re afraid of being tracked. Your ex is following you. Why?”
The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. “Because he’s crazy,” she snapped. He stepped off with her, and she glared at him. She marched up to Jackson’s door and rapped on the wood.
He opened it up quickly and raised his eyebrows when he saw Brent standing there. “He doesn’t trust me,” Natalie murmured and stepped in the condo.
“Just making sure she got here safely,” Brent said easily. “It’s a full moon tonight,�
�� he said unnecessarily. “Will she still be here?”
“No,” Natalie spat.
“Yes,” Jackson said simultaneously.
“Awesome.” There was no inflection in his voice or expression in his face. “Micah will be here tomorrow. Perhaps we can clean this up before he arrives?”
“I’ll take care of it,” Jackson said as he closed the door. He turned around to study Natalie. “Pleasant chat in the elevator?”
“He’s investigating me,” Natalie fumed. “I seemed to have traded one overbearing bear pack for another.”
“You stole from us. We have the right to investigate you,” Jackson said mildly. “Sit down.”
“Look, I get that this is my fault. And I get that now you feel like you need to get to the bottom of things. But there really isn’t anything to investigate. I was in a bad relationship. I got scared, and I ran. I can get by on my own if you’ll just release me. Give me a week, and I’ll pay you for the jacket plus interest.”
“Sit down,” he repeated in a sterner voice.
“Are you listening to me?”
“For fuck’s sake,” Jackson roared. “Sit at the goddamn table so we can eat.”
Natalie sat. This close to the full moon, it was clear that his bear was eager to be free. She wanted to make sure it stayed caged while they were in the condo.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he composed himself. “I’m hungry.” He scooped up some eggs and bacon that were in the pan, dropped them on a plate, and gently placed in front of her. This was followed by hash browns, spinach, toast, fruit, and yogurt. Her eyes rounded.
“Big breakfast eater?” she asked softly.
He sat in front of her. “It’s the most important meal of the day.”
She could feel his eyes on her as she slowly took a few bites. She really was famished, and after a few bites, she practically moaned and scarfed down more.
“When was the last time you ate?” he asked softly.
She pushed the plate back and ignored the question. “Thank you for breakfast. I’m sure my clothes are finished by now, so I’ll just go change and be on my way. I’ll send you a check.” Natalie pushed her chair back and got up, but he was up and around the table in a blink of an eye.
