Wylde had to know. “But how did you find us?”
Nodding, Joel leveled his gaze. “We knew your comlink device had been damaged the moment its signal went down, but the suit’s internal GPS continued to operate, so we weren’t tracking you. We were tracking your suit.”
“Which makes it even more mysterious that we found you, and not it.” Kayla glared at him. “It’s got to be around here. It’s still on track.”
Wylde tilted his head toward the pile of rubble. “Under what’s left of that building, somewhere.”
Joel crossed his arms. “So, what happened here?”
He let Dove tell the story, filling in only the details she didn’t know. His gut fisted at the treatment she’d had to endure.
As she started relating the part about the Creator and the Destructor, Heather Johnson came bounding up the stairway into the jet. She’d been listening in on a remote ear piece while setting up some scientific equipment outside the plane. Slightly breathless, she rounded on Dove. “Tell me everything you remember about those celestial beings. We’re picking up some strange energy signatures from that pile of rubble.”
Out one of the windows in the jet, Wylde noted El Brujo gliding over the ruined building. The Xi Force sorcerer had his own ways of collecting data from the fallen structure.
Sorcery, intergalactic beings, other dimensions, so many fantastic aspects to wrap his head around.
And this world thought him the crazy one.
This is all fiction.
Then again, maybe it was real. Occasionally, he allowed himself to doubt and question everything he believed. Fiction or not, this was the reality he’d been spawned in. The only reality he’d be getting. Was it enough to just accept that and move on with his life?
If he wasn’t real, then Dove wasn’t real, and the feelings he had for her weren’t real.
No. Those feeling were real. He—
What?
Liked her. A lot. She was his friend. His best friend.
Her scent had stayed in his mind, a constant reminder of everything that was good, in the darkest hours of his confinement here as a child. Even after over a decade apart, they’d reconnected almost instantly, and his feelings for her deepened when they were together. And when she’d left the Xi Force compound to return home, he’d missed her.
Those feelings, those emotions, were real.
She was so different from the little girl he’d played with in his childhood. A woman. A beautiful woman. Yeah, he’d noticed that. How could he not?
Curves that enticed. Lips made for kissing. Where was this leading?
He wasn’t human. He was a wolf. He’d been told that from the moment his father had first started the transformation.
His father. That evil, lying bastard.
Again, it was time to allow himself to doubt everything he believed, consider all the other options.
Wolves acted on instinct and nature. They mated during mating season. If he was a wolf, and his pack alpha, wouldn’t he simply mate with Natasha and Wanda when they came into season?
Yet, he found that very idea repugnant. He wouldn’t be able to. He knew that deep down.
But Dove?
He hardened instantly as his mind considered the multitude of possibilities.
Was this not proof he was still human? He had a sexual interest in a human female but not wolves.
Heather Johnson continued to grill Dove on what had happened. The differences in the two women were slight. Both had dark hair and dark eyes, pretty much the same build.
Heather was as beautiful in her own way, yet he found no interest in her. As he analyzed, the tightness at his groin loosened. He liked her, but she held no sexual attraction for him. Then again, she was Chris’s wife. Taken. Was that it?
His gaze drifted to Kayla. Again, nothing, and she was stunning. But also taken. Could that be it? Certain women were just off the table, and deep down he knew that.
At the front of the jet, Maggie O’Donnell stuck her head out from the pilot’s cabin. “Shade, the Russians have some questions for ya.”
Beautiful, nice curves, and completely unattached as far as Wylde knew. And he liked her, they got along well. But he found no interest in her sexually.
But Dove . . .
It was more than the way she looked, it was the way he felt about her. He cared for her, wanted her to be happy and a part of his life.
Forever.
Shit.
Was he in love with Dove Locklear?
Chapter 16
Dove acquired a vehicle from Xi Force motor pool as soon as the Xi-1 landed. Her parents had to be out of their minds with worry, and she wanted to assure them she was fine. And for that they’d need to see her, touch her, hug her. A phone call wouldn’t do.
John jumped into the passenger side after loading Piotr into the back. “We’re coming with you, if you don’t mind.”
“Mind? You know I love spending time with you.”
She did. From the moment she’d left Xi force headquarters the last time, before she’d been kidnapped, she’d missed him.
Funny. They’d only reconnected for a few weeks after being apart for over a decade, yet her old friend had slid so easily into her life once again. Still quirky, funny, fun to be with, John got her in ways no one else ever had.
“I think your dad would love to get a look at Piotr, and I’d like to know just what my father did to him.”
Her dad, but his father. And the way he said father, so filled with distain. But William Wylde never had been a dad to him.
“Yeah I can’t wait for my dad to meet Piotr.”
The wolf stuck his nose between them. “I haven’t had many good experiences with people’s fathers. Are you sure this is a good idea?”
John scratched him behind the ear. “You’ll like Dr. Locklear. I promise.”
~ ~ ~
“Mom? Dad?” Dove’s eyes rimmed with moisture as she opened the front door to her home. She’d called to let them know she was coming.
Footsteps answered from the kitchen.
“Dove.” Arms open wide, her mom rushed toward her, gathering her into a tight hug. “Oh, my darling girl.”
Flour, yeast, and fresh baked bread. The smells of her kitchen, and the particles on her clothing and apron, were so much a part of her being. She baked when she was happy, she baked when she was worried, and when she was angry, well, there was always a rolling pin within reach.
Her dad wrapped his arms around both of them. Animal hairs and biological particulates. A strange mix with her mother’s essence, yet it was her parents on the quantum level.
Her dad’s eyes glistened. “Welcome home, princess.”
But it wasn’t going to be home anymore.
Well, it would always be home, as long as her parents lived here, but she’d be moving out. Her new powers qualified her for a spot the Xi Force team. Joel had radioed ahead on their flight back and Aaron Braddock had offered her a position on the team before the Xi-1 even touched down at their mountain base.
A member of Xi Force. That wasn’t an opportunity she’d ever turn down.
However, she still needed to be tested and trained before joining John and the others on missions. Heather was anxious to get her into the lab and Aaron was already lining up training with Paul Tompkins. That probably wouldn’t be fun, but Dove was excited to learn the extent of her new powers.
She’d decided not to tell her parents about her powers or her inclusion in Xi Force. She’d say she got a new, full-time position taking care of Jimmy and John’s wolves. It would be cover enough for now. If they knew, and let word slip out that their daughter was a member of Xi Force it could put them in danger, and she didn’t want that.
Her dad’s
hug released, and he pivoted toward John. His eyes glistened with moisture as he held his hand out. “John, we owe you more than we can ever repay.”
John took his hand. “I’m just glad we could get her home safe. She means a lot to me as well.”
Did she?
Something inside told Dove it was time to find out just how much.
She pulled back as her mother released her, then crouched to run her hand through the fur of Piotr’s back. “Dad, I’d like you to look at this wolf. He’s named Piotr. We found him in Dr. Wylde’s lab.”
“So, William was behind your abduction? That bastard.”
She’d rarely seen her dad angry. Fist clenched, jaw tight, eyes narrowed, he appeared a formidable foe.
Then his eyes dropped, and the gentle man she knew better reappeared. “Sorry, John.”
He shook his head. “Nothing to be sorry for, sir. My father is a bastard. We can agree on that. He’s wronged us all over the years. One day I hope I get a chance to even the score.”
Kneeling beside Piotr, her dad looked the wolf in the eyes. “So, what did he do to you, I wonder?”
Both her parents gasped when Piotr answered, “Well, he gave me a television and sometimes made me watch Real Housewives.”
~ ~ ~
Wylde chuckled at the Locklear’s reaction. Then again, who would ever imagine a talking wolf? Piotr was as unique as Wylde himself, walking between two vastly different worlds.
After he recovered from the shock of Piotr talking, Dr. Locklear took the wolf back to his lab. “I’ll give him a full checkup.”
Slumping down on the examination table, Piotr huffed. “Okay.”
He was so used to obeying without question. That was an issue Wylde knew he’d have to work on.
A pack alpha needed to be authoritative, driven, and decisive. And Wylde did plan on turning over the pack leadership to Piotr. It was the perfect solution to his mating problems with Natasha and Wanda, and he owed Piotr . . . big.
Dr. Locklear held out his hand for Piotr to sniff. “It won’t hurt. I promise. And it will be so much easier being able to converse with one of my patients for a change.”
Smiling, Wylde nodded reassuringly to Piotr. “I imagine this will be a unique experience for both of you.”
Dove slid her hand into his. So warm and comforting. Had they ever held hands before?
“Come on, I want to show you something, and they’ll be at this for a while.” She pulled him toward the doorway.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Locklear was humming a happy tune as she opened the oven door sending the delectable aroma of baking bread into the air. “Hot, fresh bread soon.”
She closed the oven door and spun to face them. “Johnny’s grown up so handsome, don’t you think, dear?”
“Mom!” Dove’s tone was sharp but laced with humor.
Mrs. Locklear shrugged, a mischievous smile sliding across her face and eyes. “I’m just saying . . .”
Something passed between mother and daughter that Wylde didn’t fully comprehend.
Then Dove rolled her eyes and tugged Wylde out of the kitchen.
Dove’s room was the same and yet different then the place they’d often retreat to play as children. That cinnamon-spice scent that was all Dove dominated, but something earthier and very feminine, estrogen, also permeated the air. Her princess bed, with its canopy had been replaced with a dark, scrolled wood headboard and full-sized mattress and box spring set. Bookcases lined the wall that had once hosted a Barbie dream house, Castle Grayskull, and an overflowing toy chest.
Dove rummaged in her closet. “I don’t know if you even want these, but I saved them for you just in case.”
She lifted a blue plastic packing box from the back of the closet and handed it to him.
He placed it on the bed and pulled open the cover.
He-Man, Snake-Eyes, and Megatron lay at the top of a heap of action figures he’d played with as a kid. Below that, a couple stacks of comic books. The things he’d looked forward to finding here, when he came to play. The things his father had consistently denied him.
“You always had the best toys.”
Her eyes danced. “Want to know a secret? Those were always yours. Whenever my dad took me to the toy store to get a new toy, he had me get one for you. If I bought a comic for myself, he’d let me buy one for you as well. And he made me promise I wouldn’t tell. He knew how your father felt about toys and comics.”
Wylde’s heart warmed as a smile spread across his face. “I can’t put into words how much this means to me.”
“Then it was all worth it.” She stepped closer, her gaze fully capturing his eyes.
She was so beautiful. Only a bit shorter than him, Her long, lanky body had filled out so enticingly. Her eyes, deep pools of mystery. Did he dare kiss her?
He wanted to so badly.
His stomach fisted. If he overstepped, if she wasn’t feeling what he was, would he lose the best friend he ever had? Would it throw up a wall and take her away?
But he had to know. “I want . . . I need . . .”
She laced her fingers into his hair, pulling his lips toward hers. “Me too.”
~ ~ ~
The vibration started deep in her core the instant John’s lips touched hers. Tentative at first, he’d deepened the kiss gradually, pulling her against him, drinking her in.
Her spirit flew.
John. This was John.
Had it always been him that she’d been looking for?
A yearning she’d never experienced before exploded within. Sure, she’d kissed, and been kissed a few times. High school had been awkward. College had opened her up to dating and sexual exploration. Even after, it had been sometimes, somewhat satisfying, yet never truly fulfilling.
This went beyond anything she’d experienced before.
His cock hardened against her belly through the coarse fabric that separated them, and she wanted him. Wanted all he had to give. Desire soared like an eagle. Need drove her.
She ran her hand over his firm length, caressing the bulge at the crotch of his jeans.
His hand cupped her breast.
Then warnings went off inside, knotting her stomach. She stood on the edge of a precipice she couldn’t fall off of. Breaking the kiss, she gasped, “We can’t.”
Even with the door closed, this was her parent’s home.
He was puffing as hard as she.
“Okay.” He released her breast and pulled back.
Yet, animal lust lurked in his expression. He was reigning himself in, for her.
“I’m sorry.” He closed his eyes, and she sensed his reticence. His pulling back into his shell.
No. She needed him to know.
Gently shaking her head, she placed her hand on his chest. His heart thundered under her fingertips. “We can’t . . . here, in my parent’s home. But we will. Soon. If you want to.”
His eyes came up. “And I can kiss you again? Then?”
Her heart warmed. “You can kiss me again, now. We just can’t take things any further here.”
His next kiss curled her toes.
Chapter 17
A mile to go before pulling into the Xi Force headquarters, Dove formulated her plan. “So, we park the car and take the back-entrance tunnel to my new quarters. We keep our heads down and try not to encounter anyone.”
Yes, she was supposed to report to Heather’s lab the moment she returned. There were lots of tests to run to figure out what had happened to her. Also, some paperwork was waiting for her to fill out to get her officially on the Xi Force team. But would an hour alone with John in bed really harm anyone? And were they really back if no one knew they were back?
Besides, Heather had all that data they’
d collected at the Red Guard compound site to go through. Otherworldly beings and evil plots had to be much more interesting work than examining her. Dove was really doing Heather a favor by putting off all these tests.
Yes, she wanted to know what had happened to her as well, but she wanted John more.
He gazed out the side window, his face a mask of confusion. “I have to tell you, I’m a little scared. I’ve never done this before.”
“You’ve never snuck into any place before?” She doubted that.
“No.” He chuckled, that wonderful smile returning to his oh-so-kissable lips. “Sneaking I’ve done plenty of times. I mean . . . sex. I’ve never . . .Well, I understand the concepts, and I’ve read a bit about it, but . . .” His cheeks reddened.
God, of course he hadn’t. He’d been in captivity or running with a pack of wolves since puberty. This was something she needed to consider. A guy this mature, this sexy, yet still a virgin.
Yikes.
“I’m sure we’ll figure it out. It’s mostly instinctive. We kiss again and let nature take its course.”
She kept her gaze firmly on the road ahead but could feel his eyes on her now. “Have you?”
That fumbling, awkward freshman year in college with Philip.
Her lab partner. What was his name? That had fizzled pretty fast.
Pete, that summer at the lake. What a mistake that had been.
Brent, Rob . . .
Yeah, there had been a few.
What would he think? How much should she tell him?
“Yes.” Hopefully that would be enough.
He breathed a sigh. “Good. At least one of us will know what we’re doing.”
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