by Gale Stanley
"I'm looking for someone. A woman. I thought she might have come this way."
"Oh?"
Jonas took a deep breath. Malcolm wasn't going to make this easy. "My girlfriend."
"Why would she come here?"
"We had a fight, and she ran off. When she didn't come back, I followed her here. Look, I don't want to bother you, but I really need to find her and apologize."
"You want to apologize?" Malcolm asked.
"The fight was all my fault. I need to tell her that."
"Well, you're too late."
"What do you mean?" He didn't even have to pretend to be upset.
"She came here the other day looking for help. Showed up at the door exhausted, hungry, dirty."
Jonas flinched at every word. He didn't want any harm coming to Sable.
"We fed her and gave her some clothes, a place to sleep." Malcolm shrugged.
"And?"
"She took off during the night."
"Any idea where she went?"
"None." Malcolm stood up a little straighter and glared at him. "I don't know what you two fought about. It's really none of my business. But that woman was terrified."
"I only want to make it up to her. You must understand how worried I am," he pleaded. "I know how this must look, but believe me, I only want what's best for her. If you hear anything—"
"I can't help you." Malcolm turned away, the dogs followed, and the door slammed behind them.
Chapter Fifteen
This arthropod stalks its prey on the ground instead of catching it in a web.
And the question is, What is a wolf spider?
Sable frowned. She didn't like hearing that she shared a name with something she hated so much. She filed the information away in her head, along with all the other facts she learned from Jeopardy. Jonas was wrong, she wasn't a dumb animal. She'd earned a high school diploma while stuck in foster care. His opinion didn't matter anyway. She knew who she was.
Startled by the doorbell, Sable's hand jerked, and tea spilled over the rim of her cup. She cursed softly and grabbed a napkin to blot the spot on her jeans. At least it wet her jeans and not the sofa. The flowered fabric looked expensive like everything else in Mrs. Stone's three-bedroom brownstone. The townhome in Rittenhouse Square, with its marble fireplace, antiques, and tiny backyard garden, intimidated Sable. She'd lived in foster homes, on the street, and in the forest. She'd never lived anyplace like this. Even Malcolm's house, with its comfy, cozy, lived-in feeling, couldn't be compared to this elegantly decorated museum. No matter how hard Karin's mother tried to make her feel at home, she still felt ill at ease.
At least she had the third floor all to herself, two bedrooms, one with access to the rooftop, and a full bath with tub and stall shower. She welcomed the space and privacy. Best of all, Mrs. Stone asked no questions.
Sable envied Karin. If only her own mother were alive to welcome the new baby. A grandchild, even a half-human one, would have meant the world to her. Mrs. Stone asked Sable to call her Mom or Grace, but it wasn't the same. She couldn't bring herself to do it, but she appreciated the gesture.
Mrs. Stone worked at a bookstore on Walnut Street three days a week and she always brought a book home for Sable. A copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone sat on the coffee table. When Jeopardy ended, she turned off the TV and picked up the book.
The doorbell rang again, but Mrs. Stone's warning sounded in her head. She had recited a litany of bad things that could happen in the city, break-ins, robberies, rapes. Those things didn't worry Sable. She could take care of herself, but she didn't want Mrs. Stone to find out she had a guard dog living in her house. Anything she did might hurt Malcolm and Karin, as well as herself. So, she stayed inside and kept out of trouble. When she wanted a breath of fresh air, she went up on the roof.
At first, she didn't mind keeping a low profile, but now this house felt as much a prison as the Outlaw ranch. There were no chains on her, but she couldn't come and go as she pleased, and she couldn't run. She'd traveled to many cities looking for her own kind, but she never stayed long. The forest always called to her, and it called now. She longed to go back to Black Wolf. She allowed herself to hope that one day it would be safe to go back and Malcolm would let her live on his land. She didn't need much. A small cabin for her and the baby would be more than enough.
She sat back on the sofa and rubbed her growing tummy, annoyed when the bell rang yet again. This time it was followed by loud and insistent pounding. In the few months she'd been living here, there'd been no visitors, not so much as a UPS delivery or someone selling magazines. This must be important. She couldn't ignore it any longer. What if Karin's mother had been injured?
Sable put an eye to the peephole and recoiled in shock. Jude! The possibility always existed, but she never really believed they would find her here.
Relief overrode her fear. Karin told her he recovered, but now she could see it for herself. It should be enough just to know that he was okay, but it wasn't.
She wanted to catch his scent, hear his voice, touch him. She hesitated, wavered. Her hand hovered over the knob. It would be a huge mistake. Her hand lowered until it rested on the knob. It was like watching someone else moving in slow motion and being helpless to stop them. She turned the knob, and the door opened a few inches, stopped short by the brass chain lock.
Cool air wafted in carrying her mate's unique scent. It drew her and held her spellbound. He smelled of forest, of home. Her wild spirit soared. How could a human male affect her like this? He stared at her through the narrow gap. Thank the Gods her baggy sweats hid her belly. For a few seconds neither one spoke.
"Let me in, Sable." He spoke quietly, but he couldn't hide the urgency in his voice.
"No." She should slam the door in his face, but she couldn't think straight.
"Please. I only want to talk."
"Then talk." Her body responded to the hurt in his voice. She wanted to wrap her arms around her mate and make it go away.
"I miss you, Sable. I don't want to talk with a door between us." His voice sounded husky and intimate. It implied more than talking would follow if she let him in.
She leaned her head against the edge of the door and fought the urge to unchain the lock. "I can't trust you."
"I won't hurt you, you have my word."
She wanted so much to believe him, but she couldn't let her hormones overrule her head. "Go away."
"I won't leave. I'll camp on this doorstep until you talk to me. Look, I'm not carrying a gun." He pulled out his pockets to prove it. "No drugs." He removed his jacket, then his shirt.
Sable sucked in a breath. She wanted to snatch up his shirt, press it to her face, and breathe him in.
"You're stronger than me. You can kill me in a heartbeat if you shift." He started unbuckling his belt.
"Jude! What are you doing?" She tried to look beyond him to see if anyone was watching, but her gaze locked on the hard planes of his chest. She followed the line of golden hair that disappeared under the waistband of his jeans.
He worked his belt off and then went for the button. "Let me in, Sable." She couldn't take her eyes from his hand as he tugged on his zipper. "The only thing I have in my pants is a hard-on for you." He let out a shudder as he freed his cock from the confines of his tight jeans.
Her mouth went dry. A throbbing ache started in her womb, and moisture soaked her sweatpants. If she let him in, this would only end with him inside her. She took the chain off and pulled him through the door.
He slammed it shut, leaned back against it, and hugged her tight against his chest. His kiss was hungry, demanding, desperate. He tightened his hold on her. The hard ridge of his erection pressed against her.
She returned the kiss, moaning into his mouth, while her hands roamed down his back and over his ass. She squeezed, pulled him tighter. He belonged to her.
Jude took her face between his hands. "Jesus, Sable. I've been so worried about you."
&
nbsp; She looked up at him, breathless. "You're insane."
"Yes, crazy for you." He kissed her again, as if he couldn't get enough. "Come back with me."
Reality hit her over the head, and she twisted out of his grasp. "You better get your clothes before some homeless person takes them." She backed away.
He grinned at her and opened the door to retrieve the shirt and jacket he'd thrown off. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to maul you as soon as I got close, I couldn't help it." He tucked himself back in his jeans and zipped up.
"You can only stay a few minutes. My landlady will be back soon."
"Sable, I know whose house this is, and I know where she's at. I just want some time alone with you to work this out. Can I sit down?"
What harm could it do? She'd already let him in. She nodded, and he took a seat on the sofa.
"I'm glad you're okay, Jude. I never meant for you to get hurt."
"I know that." His handsome features were shadowed with fatigue. "Can you sit here next to me?"
She ignored the question and stayed on her feet. "Jude, just tell me why you're here."
"I already told you. I miss you."
"Yeah, I bet Jonas misses me, too. Who's he experimenting on these days?"
"I don't speak for my brother." His expression tightened. "I miss being with you. I'm not just talking about the sex." His crooked grin made her heart twist. "I like being with you. We had some good times, didn't we? Running, camping?"
She frowned at him, annoyed with herself for letting him con her. No one ever wanted her for any reason other than sex. "So you're here to, what, ask me on a date?" She couldn't keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
"I think we've gone beyond dating." He stood and put his arms around her.
"That's what I thought. You want to fuck me."
"I wouldn't turn you down, sweetheart." He nuzzled her hair. "It's more than that. You know it is." He slipped a hand down her sweats, aiming for her pussy. His whole body stiffened. The hand moved back to her belly. She could actually feel his heart pounding. His eyes bored into hers.
"Is it mine?"
"Yes." She held her breath. It was better this way.
"Jesus, Sable. You should have told me. Why did you run?"
"You know why."
He rested his forehead against hers. "God, I'm glad it's mine."
She let out a surprised breath. "You're happy about this?"
"Sweetheart, you have no idea. I'm over the moon."
She couldn't believe he'd really claim a half-Lycan child as his own unless he had an ulterior motive. She studied his face, wondering what was really behind this. "Did Jonas send you?"
"No. I insisted on coming myself. I wanted to talk to you alone."
Was this a trick to get her to come quietly? If only she could think straight. "How did you find me?"
"It wasn't easy." He sighed. "I don't even know your last name. We checked the bus station, the airport. Nobody remembered a tall, beautiful woman with black hair down to her ass. Don't know why, unless you were disguised. I'd sure as hell never forget you." He grinned at her. "We got lucky. The sheriff's secretary gave us a lead."
"I don't even know her." She stared blankly at him.
"Trudy is the town gossip. I overheard her tell someone that Malcolm brought Karin back from Philadelphia. We took a shot they might have sent you here and hired a private investigator."
"You went to a lot of trouble for nothing, Jude. I'll never go back."
"Sweetheart, just give me a chance. I'll be in town for awhile staying with my sister. We can spend some time together, away from the ranch. Let me prove that I can take care of you and the baby the way you deserve. Then you can decide whether you want to come back or not." Jude's eyes begged her to say yes. They caressed her like the hands of a lover. The temperature in the room rose a few degrees.
Get a grip, Sable. You have the heart of a predator and the spirit of the wolf, and yet you melt like marshmallows when he's around. No matter how sincere he sounded, she couldn't let her guard down. He might mean it now, but his twin had a big influence on him. "What about Jonas?"
"This is about me and you, Sable. And of course, the baby. I never really thought about having a kid until Jonas brought it up. He had his own reasons, and I went along with them, but then I started imagining a little girl with long, black hair and gold eyes like her mother. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted it. I like the idea that we created this little life together, and I want to be part of it. I will never let anyone hurt my daughter. Hey, don't get me wrong. A son would be great too, a mini-me that I could take hunting. In fact, I'd like one of each."
She started to cry, and he wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
"I'm sorry. Nobody asked you what you wanted. It's a little late now, but I want to do right by you."
If she looked at him, she might give in. She chewed on a nail. Should she trust him? Her body said yes, but her mind said no. Kweo, help me see the truth.
"Can't you look at me?" He tilted her chin with one finger and touched her lips with his thumb.
Tiny shivers raced down her spine. He bent to brush his lips against hers. A second of hesitation and, as he started to pull away, she caught his lower lip and kissed him back.
They broke apart. He could fake the words but not his expression. His eyes begged for forgiveness. Longing etched lines on his face. An urge to hold him close came over her, and she wrapped her arms around him.
A small moan escaped his lips before he kissed her again, deeply and passionately. His tongue searched for hers while his hands rubbed her back.
She whimpered in protest when he lifted his lips from hers.
“I want to touch you,” he murmured against her ear. “Everywhere.”
"Yes." She drew a ragged breath. Gods, she'd missed him.
His warm, calloused hands slid under her sweatshirt and briefly caressed her breasts, already heavy and aching. He tugged the shirt over her head, and she rubbed her sensitive nipples against his chest.
She took his face between her hands and opened her mouth over his for another greedy kiss. He deepened it, dominating her with his intensity. Mindless animal desire took over as his taste, touch, and smell permeated her senses. She had no idea how long they kissed. It could have been a second or an hour. It wasn't long enough.
Breathless, he pulled away. "I have to be inside you. Now."
Refusal didn't enter her mind. He hooked his thumbs over the waistband of her sweatpants and slid them over her hips. They pooled around her ankles, and she stepped free of them to help him with his jeans. He sat wide-legged on the chair, fisted his erection, and pumped a few times. The chair creaked as she straddled his lap and rubbed her cleft along his cock.
He caressed her belly reverently. "I'll take care of you, baby, I promise." He cupped her breasts, flicked his thumbs over the nipples. Her quick intake of breath encouraged him, and he tugged on them, pinching until they tightened to rigid, little peaks.
Being in his arms felt like home. She needed him to fill the void inside her. A flood of emotion took over, and she bit her lip before she could say, I love you. It would kill her if he didn't say it back. She believed he cared, but love seemed out of reach. She wasn't a human woman after all.
She guided his rigid penis to her entrance and sank down on his length. They rocked back and forth, finding a rhythm. Jude murmured encouragement in her ear and rained kisses on her cheek, her jaw, and, finally, her mouth. He smelled like aroused male. Desire swirled around him like a vortex, pulling her deeper.
Sable's possessive animal nature floated at the edge of her consciousness, responding to the stimuli of being close to her mate. Her womb ached and throbbed, her body temperature rose. Every instinct told her to take him. Her wolf shifted inside her, urging her to claim what was rightfully hers, pushing until she lost what little control remained. She leaned into him and clamped her teeth on the tender flesh between neck and shoulder.
He ho
wled a sound halfway between agony and ecstasy. She sucked at his torn flesh, lapping at his blood as if it was the sweetest nectar. He exploded inside her, every hot jet of his seed setting off a myriad of sensations she'd never felt before. When the spasms ceased, she collapsed in his arms, and he cuddled her against his chest.
"You bit me," he whispered into her hair.
"I owed you one. Did I hurt you?"
"Yes. No. Hell, you can bite me anytime. I never came so hard in my life. I guess I'll have a scar like Jonas."
"Like Jonas and me." She tossed her hair back to reveal her mark. "We'll have these for the rest of our lives."
"Is that supposed to mean something?" he asked, confused.
Her face fell, he'd never understand. They were too different.
"Hey." He kissed her. "It's okay. I don't mind having a scar."
"Even a scar that means we're connected. In my world a bite is the mark of bonding." Would he laugh at her or tell her she was crazy?
He frowned. "What about Jonas's scar? Did you bond with him, too?"
"I don't know," she whispered.
"It's okay. It doesn't really mean anything. Not to us. It's just a bite."
Disappointment surged. Surely, he felt something, even if he didn't know what it meant.
"So what now, baby?" he asked gently. "If you believe we're bonded, you can't let me go home without you."
Her eyes misted. "I can't go back. I won't let Jonas have my baby."
"Our baby," he reminded her. "Don't forget that."
She smiled weakly. "Our baby."
"I think we should get married."
Astonished, she gaped at him. "You want to marry me?"
"Yes." He laughed. "Isn't that what people do when they make a baby?"
No. It was what people did when they loved each other. She thought about Malcolm and Karin. He adored her, and she accepted his wolf unconditionally. Sable had no illusions that Jude felt that way about her. He ignored her Lycan nature and pretended she was human. That wasn't love. They had great, explosive sex. She liked to go camping, and he thought she carried his baby. He didn't love her.
