Savage Instinct

by Anwar, Celeste

  She promised that she would never be caught doing anything like kissing him in real life. Save that crap for dreamland….

  Maybe it was because her body missed Richard and she’d just filled in the blanks since he’d been gone? It didn’t help that Aiden loved to walk around nude, or partially nude, and her mind was filling in the blanks of her desire.

  She got out of bed and headed for the bathroom to perform her morning ritual before going into the rest of the house to see what Aiden was up to. Maybe after breakfast, she’d get a shower and think about her next step in vacating the houseguest from hell.

  ***

  When Sunday morning dawned it found Aiden still lying on Nydia’s couch. His pack would be returning any day now, and as soon as he could get word to them, he was out of here. Until that time came he had to keep her thinking that he was in pain and unable to care for himself.

  Continuing the charade when he felt perfectly fine ate at Aiden’s conscience. Not only did he dislike continuing to lie to Nydia and deceive her about his condition, but he disliked her thinking that he was so weak.

  He wanted her to see him as strong and virile as he really was, not the invalid he was forced into pretending to be.

  He should have been concerned about his desire to be seen in a different light through her eyes. Pride. Damned pride and he couldn’t help it.

  The woman was sexy as hell. Any other time or place, he’d have had her wrapped around his body, fucking her senseless.

  He wasn’t sure what he liked about her best. Physically, she was the ideal woman. Her skin had a warm mahogany glow to it that stirred his blood. Nice tits that looked like they’d fit his hands and mouth perfect. When she wore shorts, he could see her long, lean legs leading up to a nice round ass, and imagining them wrapped around his hips while he thrust into her warm and willing body had kept him up too late at night.

  Knowing she slept in her bedroom just a short distance from him distracted him with visions of what he’d do to her, how she’d welcome him into her bed and arms.

  She was more than just a hot body. He’d had plenty of sexy women in his life. The fact that she wanted to take care of his every need wore down his normal shield against a woman’s charms. As alpha of his pack, he’d never needed anyone or anything. He’d had women volunteer to be his mate, but none seemed as giving or nurturing as Nydia and were more interested in trying to gain a position over the rest of the pack.

  He’d never cared for people who were interested in gaining status over others. In his mind, being alpha of the pack was enough trouble in and of itself. He needed a mate who would be there for him and him alone, someone who could take care of him and his children.

  Nydia’s natural, nurturing instinct was something he liked. Too much.

  His sensitive ears pricked, attuned to her movements in her bedroom. He lay on the couch, listening to the sounds of Nydia moving around her room. He heard her feet scuff across the floor, dragging and sleepy footed as she went to the bathroom. The rush of water in the toilet and then the trickle of the faucet as she brushed her teeth.

  The door opened, and then she walked down the hall, rubbing her eyes. Seeing her sleepy face and her hair sticking up in the back made him smile.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” Aiden said. Raising his arms above his head, he sat up on the couch and stretched.

  Spot came in from her hiding place in Nydia’s bedroom, surveyed the room, and sauntered to the couch where Aiden was sitting. Since the day of the attack the animal had decided that she liked Aiden. Spot leapt up on the couch and started to rub against him.

  Nydia yawned, watching Spot rub all over Aiden’s chest like he’d bathed in catnip. “Morning. When did you two make friends?”

  “Guess she liked the taste of my blood. We’ve got an understanding going. I know how to treat a pussy.” Aiden looked at Nydia, mirth in his eyes.

  “Do what?” she asked.

  Aiden smiled at her indignation over the comment. “I meant a pussy-cat.” His eyes crinkled when he smiled. “You need to get your mind out of the gutter.”

  Aiden rubbed his fingers over the cat’s white fur, scratching her ears and the back of her neck. Nydia could hear Spot purr across the room.

  “How long have you been awake?” she asked, her voice husky from disuse as she changed the subject.

  Aiden thought it sounded breathless and sexy.

  “It’s hard to sleep with the sun shining in my eyes. Long enough to hear your phone go off in the kitchen.”

  She padded into the kitchen and picked up her phone. She groaned.

  “What is it?”

  “Richard. He just won’t give up. I said what I had to say to him.”

  “Maybe he really loves you. Have you thought about that?”

  “Pffff. He loves himself more.”

  “People fight. They usually try to make up after. You haven’t given him a chance to explain or apologize,” Aiden said, wondering if she loved her boyfriend or not…or if Richard really cared for Nydia. His gut hurt just thinking about it.

  “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ve just been stubborn. I might talk to him the next time he calls. Right now though, I need some coffee running through my veins. I tossed and turned all night.”

  “Troubling dreams?” he asked, watching her load the coffeemaker. Soon, the smell of fresh brew drifted into the living room, tantalizing his nostrils.

  She looked at him, a guilty look in her eyes. “Yeah. Something like that.”

  “You been dreamin’ about me, sugar?”

  “Hah! You wish,” she muttered.

  “You can’t deny the truth forever, honey,” he said, enjoying the sassy way she shook her head at him. She stuck her tongue out.

  “Better keep it in your mouth if you know what’s good for you.”

  “What, you going to teach me a lesson or something?”

  “You just don’t know what a tongue’s good for, that, I know.”

  She blew a raspberry at him. Grabbing eggs from her fridge, she cracked four into a bowl and whipped them with a whisk. “Hungry?”

  “Always.”

  “You think you’re on the mend by now?” she asked, grabbing some spinach and cheddar and setting them on the counter. “I’ve got bacon for you.”

  “Damn, girl, you’re turning me on again,” he said with a chuckle.

  She laughed and waved her hand at him as she threw bacon into the skillet. “You stop that. You’d mess yourself if I took all your flirting seriously. You could talk a pig into a ham sandwich. Now, you think you can walk in here?” she asked, washing her hands.

  “I think I could follow the scent of bacon anywhere. My stomach’s practically growing feet to carry me in there. I’ll have some of that coffee too.” Aiden stood and started to take a step, but he lost his balance and fell back onto the couch.

  “Aiden!” Nydia cried, rushing to him. “What happened? Are you okay?” Nydia placed a hand on his arm then felt his forehead. “You feel a little warm. I hope you haven’t gotten an infection. Damn. I should have picked up a thermometer. I think we should take you to see a doctor. You shouldn’t be this bad this long after an accident. I’m worried something more serious has happened and we just don’t know what.”

  Aiden shrugged her off. “You might be right. I don’t know what happened. When I stood up the pain came and hot wave rushed over me. I sat back so I wouldn’t fall. I’m sorry to ask Nydia, but could you help me get to the bathroom?” Aiden gave her well-practiced puppy dog eyes. He’d been around enough women that he knew what looks could make a woman melt.

  “Yes, I can help you. Take it slow and easy though, I’m not sure that I could pick you up if you fall over.”

  Nydia grasped his left arm at the elbow and held on as Aiden stood. Once he was standing, he put a hand on her shoulder and used her to steady himself as he made his way to the bathroom.

  Aiden liked feeling her small frame pressed against his body. The silky skin of he
r arm felt smooth against his calloused fingers. Above her, he could see the valley of her breasts and smell citrus and flowers in her hair. He breathed in her scent and a shudder went through him.

  “Almost there!” she said. “You keep shivering. I hope you aren’t going into shock.”

  “I’m okay,” he gritted out, breathing hard through his teeth. Dammit! He should have gone with his pack instead of staying behind, and then he wouldn’t be in this situation.

  His muscles tensed with desire, quaking with the need to consume her. It took every ounce of energy to keep up his charade and ignore the ache in his groin.

  They reached the bathroom and Aiden stepped inside, propping on the sink counter.

  Her brown eyes filled with empathy. “Just call me when you’re finished, and I’ll help you back to the couch. I need to go check on the bacon before it burns to a crisp.”

  Nydia headed for the kitchen, leaving Aiden to his business.

  In the bathroom, Aiden loosened the tape holding the bandage over the wound on his chest. He looked in the mirror at the ragged scar on his chest. It had healed nicely--a little too nicely.

  He was sure she’d check it again, given his wonderful acting job.

  Aiden never knew he had it in him to give such a great performance. She was too trusting to even question him or his motives.

  He was such a bastard.

  Frowning, Aiden opened the medicine cabinet and removed a pack of small razor blades that went to some kind of foot gadget beside them. He carefully removed a blade from the waxy paper package.

  Sitting on the edge of the tub, he used the razor blade to reopen the wound on his chest. He carefully caught all blood with a tissue so he could flush it down the toilet. If Nydia could see how well he’d healed she would never believe he still needed to be here.

  He kept waiting for the tickle in his brain that signaled the nearness of his clan. When they were close enough, he would be able to talk to them with mindspeak and head out to track down Riker and his gang. Until then, he was stuck playing the invalid and hiding out.

  Once the wound was opened enough that Nydia would find it still disturbing, he replaced the used bandage. He wasn’t entirely faking his injury. He supposed the area would always give him trouble, given the fact that it was delivered by silver and he continuously opened it and exposed it to the air. His healing abilities hadn’t been able to erase the scar.

  She always changed his bandage and checked on his healing progress once he finished in the bathroom. He wanted to make certain that she had something to see when she did.

  Aiden surveyed his reflection in the mirror. He really needed a shave and a bath. After the last bath, Nydia had been being very careful to avoid him when he was naked. This morning he was feeling a little mischievous and thought he would shake her up a little.

  “Nydia?” Aiden called.

  “I’m coming Aiden” she called back.

  “Do you mind if I take a shower before breakfast this morning? I feel awful and this wound appears to be weeping through the bandage.” Aiden was speaking to the closed door, because Nydia was careful not to open it with him inside, and possibly nude.

  He grinned, imagining the look on her face. Her voice was muffled, but he could still detect the tension in her.

  “Sure, you have time. I can put everything on hold until you’re ready. Do…you need my help?”

  “Naw. I’ll just take a quick shower.” Aiden turned the heat on full blast in the stall and listened as Nydia walked away from the door.

  He secretly thought Nydia was just a little nuts about her level of neatness inside the house, but it was her house and he would go by her rules, for now. He placed his dirty clothing in the hamper instead of just tossing it on the floor, then stepped into the shower stall under the scalding hot water.

  “Mmmm,” he said, reveling in the hot cascade streaming over his body. The bandage flopped under the water and he smacked a hand over it to hold it in place.

  Looking down, he smirked, thinking maybe a cold shower would have been better. He was still sporting a semi from pressing against Nydia and imagining the things they’d do together.

  He hated to admit this human girl was physically almost irresistible. When she’d stopped barricading her door after the second night, he’d struggled not to take it as an invitation to join her in her bed. Richard still played in her mind, distracting her from getting involved with anyone else. That was a good thing, saving him from himself. Much as he might want to bed her, he couldn’t see beginning anything with her based on a lie. If she ever caught on to what he was doing and how long he’d been doing it, he’d be lucky if she didn’t cut off his balls with the razor he kept cutting open his wound with.

  That thought was enough to shrivel his erection back into place.

  Still, the desire was there, gnawing at him like a living thing. He needed to stop picture her naked and straddling him on the couch, or in various other positions.

  Perhaps it was the fact that he should keep his hands off her that appealed to him so much? The forbidden?

  Finishing his shower, he wrapped a towel around his waist. Water dribbled down his chest and belly, his arms. He removed a razor and gel from the medicine cabinet and shaved while the bristles were still soft from his shower.

  Checking himself out in the mirror and rubbing his jaw, he didn’t think his big chin and square jaw looked as bad clean shaven. Hell, maybe he wasn’t as ugly as he thought he was. Nydia couldn’t seem to stop staring at him whenever she was in the room with him.

  Her caressing gaze stroked his ego to the point he might not make it through the door much longer.

  “Keep it up, dipshit, and she will have your balls,” he muttered to himself.

  Aiden removed the soggy bandage, pulled at the edges of his wound to make sure it stayed open, then tousled his dark hair.

  He made his way from the bathroom into the kitchen, remembering to feign unsteadiness on his feet. He was getting pretty damned tired of the game and ready to get the hell out of there, even if he did harbor attraction to his makeshift nurse.

  Nydia watched his approach and felt her heart skip a little beat, then gallop like a horse racing for the finish line. Her breathing quickened, and she forced herself to remain still instead of going to him. She couldn’t touch him like this, naked and wet and too sexy for her own damned good.

  She wanted to ask why he hadn’t grabbed any clothes after he got out of the shower and spare her the sight of all that masculine nudity. She couldn’t quite compel herself to talk—just stare.

  His skin still glistened from the shower. That dark happy trail that continued to fascinate her lay down a track straight under the towel. Lines indented his lean hips, forming an arrow with the happy trail that practically blinked like a neon sign: COME ON DOWN.

  One dark tendril of hair curled forward on his forehead. Nydia itched to brush that curling strand of hair back, but instead curled her fingers into her palm. After eating him with her eyes for maybe an eternity, she finally managed to rip her eyes away from his torso and face and finally spotted his cut.

  Seeing a bright streak of red sent alarm through her. “Have you been messing with that?”

  He shook his head. “I think all this activity opened it back up,” he said, sitting heavily in a chair at the table.

  Nydia set a cup of coffee in front of him, gingerly touching his chest and checking for signs of infection. Other than the slice, she didn’t see redness surrounding the area, no puffiness. It looked as fresh as it had four days ago. This puzzled her. “This must be why you’re still so weak. I’m worried about you.”

  He grabbed her wrist, locking eyes with her. “You worry so much,” he said softly.

  Nydia swallowed, losing herself in the luminous green depths, holding her breath for a moment without quite realizing it. She cleared her throat. “I…I’ve got to put something on this before you bleed to death in front of me.”

  “No danger
in that happening with you to nurse me back to health,” he said with a smile, nodding as he released her.

  She gave a nervous laugh. Her skin felt branded from the just the touch of his hand. She rubbed her wrist as if burned.

  Relief flooded her when he freed her without doing anything more. As much as he flirted with her, she had the feeling he wanted more, that his carefree attitude hid deeper desires. She needed some distance between them before she embarrassed herself any more than she already had.

  She went to the bathroom to retrieve her supplies, touching her palms to her hot cheeks as if that would cool them down. Catching her reflection in the bathroom, she was struck by the glittery look in her eyes. She recognized the look as one she wore whenever breaking in a new man in the bedroom.