Virgin Wolf II

by Lynde Lakes

  She closed her eyes. “Damon, sometimes I feel like I can’t take one more of your—”

  “Shall I keep it to myself?”

  Her eyes flashed. “Don’t you dare! What is it?”

  “Hugh is the reincarnate of Hugo.”

  She shook her head, her eyes brimming with sympathy. “You may want to believe that, but—”

  “I swear, it’s true. He’s still suffering from lycanthropy. While he was with Valerie last night, she saw him morph from a werewolf into a man. He came to me today and explained everything. I have my half-brother back. And his blood may help our girls.”

  Angela stared at Damon. “What you’re telling me is impossible, but so are so many things that have happened in our lives. What makes you believe him?”

  “Valerie backed up everything he said. He saved her last night from a hunter’s stun gun and stayed with her until daylight. He was bringing her home when Rick discovered them out in the hills.”

  She sighed. “Okay. Let me digest all this a while. What can we do to stop the girls from running off again? I recall all too clearly the wild, crazed craziness between us while in our wolf states, and I fear our girls are far too young to handle such passion.”

  “I hired that biker, Rick Tanner, to keep an eye on them, and Hugh has offered to help, too.”

  “You hired that biker—a wild-looking stranger off the streets—the kind of guy who teens flip over? After what I just said to you? You’re crazy.”

  “Are you forgetting he brought both girls safely home to us?”

  * * * *

  Lazar felt restless as he headed down the hill from the lab. He had to get away from the intensity of the work for a while. And he needed more lupine blood. The jerks he’d hired hadn’t come back with even one wolf. It looked like this was one more chore he’d have to attend to himself.

  Heading toward Foothill Boulevard, he spied a car stopped at a turnout on the uphill side of the road to Mt. Baldy attended by a shapely woman with the trunk open. She leaned into the trunk, displaying a firm, sexy fanny, and pulled out a jack. This could be interesting, he thought. He found a place to turn around, headed back up the hill, and when he pulled up along side the hot damsel in distress, he recognized her. Well, I’ll be damned, he thought as an old possibility became a new opportunity. “Hi, Kat. Can I give you a hand?”

  She looked him up and down. “Do I know you?”

  He looked at her long, lovely neck, hungering to sink his teeth into her throat. “I’m the head scientist at the Lamont Lab. I’ve seen you coming and going at the mansion and heard Mrs. Lamont speak fondly of you.”

  “Oh, yeah. Well, I was just headed up there. Their girls were missing and I’ve been worried about them. I’m sort of their surrogate aunt.”

  “Well, surrogate auntie, let me be the first to tell you, they’re back and none the worse for their little adventure.”

  She raked her gaze over him. “How did a brainy guy like you get those highly developed muscles?”

  His blood heated when she touched his biceps. Her gesture made it clear that she was interested. Rather than grab her like he ached to do, he laughed. “I often run for miles and regularly lift weights.” He took the jack from her hand and said, “Please allow me to help you. That gorgeous fitted red dress wasn’t designed for dirty work.”

  After he changed the flat, she purred, “There must some way I can repay you.”

  “How about fixing me a simple dinner at your place? I’ll bring the wine and dessert.”

  She looked into his eyes. “You know, you remind me of someone, but I can’t figure out who the devil it is. Anyway, I feel I know you well enough to have you come to my place, but my boyfriend, Deeto, might not like it. And he pays the rent.”

  Lazar grinned at the vixen, wanting her more now than before. “This is a challenging problem. Let’s see if we can figure it out. I’ve got it. How about meeting me at my apartment and make dinner there?” Before she could answer, he was already writing down the address and phone number for her. “Is five-thirty okay? We can watch the sunset together. It’s breathtaking from my terrace.”

  Chapter Eight

  Angela walked Kat to the door. “You stayed less than fifteen minutes. What’s your hurry?” Angela asked, exhausted and secretly glad her friend was leaving so she could grab a nap before dinner.

  “I only dropped by to make sure the girls were safely home. I can’t stay.” She wriggled her arched brows and winked. “I have to get ready for my early date.”

  “Oh, is Deeto taking you somewhere special?”

  “Not Deeto. He won’t be home until late. He and his buddies are going to a bachelor party.”

  “So who’s the mystery date?”

  “You won’t believe it. It’s with your head lab guy, Dr. Simon L. Lazar.”

  Angela’s stomach knotted. “How did you meet him?”

  “I had a flat on the way up here and he fixed it. He’s real cool for a brainy dude.”

  “Kat, I’ve never felt comfortable around him. I don’t think he’s right for you.”

  Kat frowned. “You think he’s too smart for me?”

  “Don’t even think something like that. I just think you deserve better.”

  Kat’s frown broke into a forgiving smile. “Maybe not, but you know me. I have to test the waters. What does Damon think of him?”

  Angela sighed. “He’s blinded by the man’s achievements in the science field. One of his papers on lycanthropy won a Nobel Prize.”

  “Well, that’s great, I guess. What is lycanthropy?”

  “The study of werewolves. I can see that you two will have a lot in common.”

  “You’re being sarcastic, but remember, I know a little about werewolves. I was attacked by one and saved by my guardian werewolf. Besides, I don’t really want him for his mind, and by the way he was looking at me, I don’t think he’s looking for someone to discuss his work with.”

  “Just be careful, Kat. Something about him gives me the creeps.”

  * * * *

  Indian Joe had warned Rick for years that curiosity was his biggest flaw, and now Rick hoped it didn’t end up killing him. In spite of the unknowns, he felt pretty good when he knocked on the mansion door, highly inquisitive and looking forward to an interesting evening. He sniffed and wondered if he’d overdone the aftershave. As much as he tried to forget the feel of Victoria clinging to his waist and the memory of her gorgeous nude body unsatisfactorily hiding in the bushes, he hoped she’d be the one to answer the door. He reminded himself that she was only sixteen, and per his contract with her dad, off limits. Unfortunately, when he’d looked at her, he’d seen a woman, an intriguing woman with a tough demeanor that turned him on. Although Valerie was equally adorable, he hadn’t felt the same about her. Good thing, then he’d be buying double trouble. Even if he kept his wits, keeping two teenagers safe would probably be the challenge of his life.

  Victoria answered the door in Daisy-Mae blue jean shorts and a fitted red T-shirt imprinted with Bad Girl across her very womanly boobs. Man, the girl should be locked up until she turned at least twenty-five.

  “Dad bet Uncle Hugh a hundred bucks that you’d show up on time,” she said. “He must think he has you figured out. Well, I don’t. And I want you to know, I don’t get off on performing for bikers.”

  “I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re talking about,” he said, unable to contain the edge of excitement in his voice.”

  “Oh, didn’t Dad tell you about the entertainment for the evening? How like him. He’s a real drama king. Well, follow me, Ricky Boy. The show begins at moonrise.”

  She whirled around and headed upstairs. He hated that his gaze locked onto her swaying well-formed butt. For sanity’s sake, he tried to imagine her as the fat woman in a circus and failed miserably.

  She led him into a recreation room equipped with every kind of workout gadget he could dream of. He scanned the anxious faces of those waiting inside, nodded t
o each, and smiled while feeling like a complete idiot. “You didn’t formally meet my wife, Angela,” Damon said. “But you met all the others, my brother, Hugh, who is now your assistant, and my teenage daughters, Victoria and Valerie.

  Rick shuddered at the emphasis Lamont put on the word teenage. He also noticed that his new employer was now claiming Hugh as his brother and before he’d said they weren’t really related. Working in this loony bin would take some getting used to. The tension level in the room sizzled. They all knew what was about to happen while he was the new guy on the job. Tension clamped onto his nerve endings. It would be a hell of a thing if they were about to play a tremendous joke on him.

  Victoria’s mom, Angela, pulled a book from her bag and opened it. He noticed that, after several minutes, she never turned the page. He could almost feel the tension rolling off of her.

  Hugh unrolled three workout pads and he and the girls stretched out on them and started doing sit ups.

  Damon sat down on the workout bar, his expression tight as though he were about to explode.

  “Am I supposed to be doing something?” Rick asked.

  “Just be ready for anything. You’re in charge of guarding Victoria.” He paused as though expecting him to object. But Rick had already decided to let this game, whatever it was, play out before he made an ass of himself. When he just nodded, Lamont continued. “Hugh will take Valerie.” He paused again. “Know anything about the moon, Rick?”

  “Only that it’s not made of green cheese.”

  Lamont didn’t even crack a smile. “Some full moons have extra potential to end more violently than others. The most dangerous for our family is during a blue moon when two full moons occur in a single month. But every month can end tragically if care isn’t taken. Our girls and Hugh have a moon-controlled affliction. I set up the lab downstairs to push for a cure to release them from their torment. Unfortunately, until a serum is perfected, we have to live with and control the problem the best we can.”

  “I’m not following you, sir.”

  “You will. Just be ready.”

  “When this event happens, what am I supposed to do?”

  “You just watch until Victoria makes her move—then no matter what, don’t let her out of your sight. There are people beyond our walls waiting to catch her and lock her up. You must protect her from them, and herself.”

  Rick could scarcely breathe. He walked out on the terrace to look at the innocent-looking moon they claimed was a trigger to disaster. He took in a few gulps of air.

  At the sounds of howls behind him, he turned. Hugh, Victoria and Valerie were moaning and writhing on their pads. They seemed to be in terrible pain. He glanced at Lamont. “Isn’t there something we can do?”

  “Just keep your eyes on Victoria. When she gets through this, she may try to take off. Be ready.”

  Rick had never felt more helpless in his life. Victoria was sweating and the muscles throughout her body seemed to be jumping. She convulsed and writhed upon the exercise pad. Long claws sprung from her fingertips. She howled mournfully and raked her fingers through a wild, thickening, onyx mane. Her almond-shaped eyes glittered with savage intensity. The tears in her fierce gaze sent an arrow right to his heart. He took a step to go to her.

  “Don’t,” Damon said. “See those incisors? While in pain, she’s likely to bite you.”

  Dark hair was appearing all over her body. Good God, these people were werewolves! What the hell had he gotten himself into?

  “There are two kinds of werewolves, Rick,” Damon said, as though talking about breeds of dogs. “Those who embrace wolf tendencies of their free will and those like my girls and Hugh who inherited the condition and are merely victims of their birth.”

  Rick watched as the three suffering creatures stripped off their clothes with wild abandon. And, Lord help him, Lamont had told him not to take his eyes off of Victoria. He felt guilty staring at her—and totally enchanted. She had the figure of an Amazon goddess, fierce-looking ivory fangs and glittering gold claws. Fire flooded Rick’s veins and he felt himself swell and grow hard.

  Suddenly, the girls rose and rushed to the terrace.

  “Grab them,” Damon shouted as they girls ran past the group and leapt over the railing. Hugh, now a huge black wolf, followed them. “Why are you just standing there, Rick? Don’t let Victoria out of your sight.”

  He knew he had no chance of catching Victoria on foot. And if he jumped off the terrace, he’d break his fool neck. He raced downstairs, grabbed his helmet from the cycle bars, and yanked it on. Once he lowered the helmet shield, he roared his Harley to life and headed in the direction he’d last seen the girls.

  Am I insane? I’m chasing three werewolves for crap’s sake.

  * * * *

  Eager for fun and games, Kat headed to the door of the classy-looking apartment. She straightened her tight black dress and rang the bell. She was late and the moon was already big and round in the sky. She and the brainy doctor were supposed to watch the sunset from his terrace together. Well, he’d just have to forgive her. Things happened. The guy who was supposed to pick Deeto up for their bachelor party got into a fender-bender and was late. And she didn’t dare leave until Deeto was safely on his way. Maybe the universe was trying to tell her something. She remembered Angela’s words. Just be careful, Kat. Something about Lazar gives me the creeps.

  Well, the creeps wasn’t what he gave her. His slow, appraising glances almost set her panties on fire. She’d never felt quite this way before, apprehensive, maybe a little fearful, and excited at the same time.

  Finally, he opened the door wearing a bikini bathing suit that left nothing to her imagination. His chest glistened with moisture.

  “Looks like you’ve been swimming,” she said, feeling inept.

  “Just exercising, but I love the water.” He grinned. “I’d about given up on you.” His deep voice sounded seductive and pained.

  She glanced past him to the lone candle burning inside. “I’m sorry I’m late. Due to circumstances at home, I couldn’t call. And once on the road, I still couldn’t call because I signed a contract with Oprah that I wouldn’t use my cell while driving. So I decided to just get here as quickly as I could.” She forced a smile and purred, “Forgive me?”

  “In that slinky, black-sequined dress? A man would have to be blind and passionless not to forgive you anything and everything.”

  She handed him the picnic basket with her old stand by Lasagna and a loaf of French bread still hot from the bakery ovens. The aroma rose up and she’d forgotten until then that she’d skipped lunch. “You said you’d provide the wine and dessert.”

  He placed the basket inside on a table and then drew her into the semi-darkened apartment and into his arms. “Honey, I’m ready, willing and able to provide anything your heart desires.”

  “Kinda lame,” she said, laughing. “I expected better from a brainy guy.”

  “You want Shakespeare?” he asked. “I can do that.”

  “Never mind. Hokey is okay.”

  She caught the faint scent of whisky on his breath.

  He looked at her neck, then bent and kissed it. His lips were hot and he nibbled at her suddenly flaming skin. His bare abs flexed against her as he pressed his throbbing maleness against her. “Did you find the twins well?” he murmured.

  “Twins? Oh, sure, they’re fine. I didn’t stay at the mansion long.”

  She felt dampness between her legs. Oh, crap. This conversation was insane considering how he was setting her on fire. She heard the faint whisper of her zipper.

  “You’re beautiful,” he murmured as her dress slipped to the floor, leaving her in her lacy black bra and panties. He bent and kissed her breasts.

  She stroked his bulging biceps, feeling ridiculous and tempted, for the first time in her life, to slow things down. He nimbly unhooked her bra. She looked up into his eyes. “You still remind me of someone. And it bothers the hell out of me.”

  He chu
ckled and nibbled at her neck again. “Perhaps we knew each other in past lives. Although, I doubt I’d ever forget you.” He shoved her against the wall and put her hands up over her head and began kissing her until she was wild with wanting him.

  The lone candle on the coffee table flickered and went out. He lifted her into his arms and headed through the darkness as though he could see. He lowered her to a bed, pounced on her. Then he took her so violently that it felt like rape.

  The moon moved from behind a cloud and fell on Lazar’s face. In the shifting shadows, his open mouth and sharp fangs triggered a terrifying image of the night years ago when the werewolf crashed through her bedroom window, intent on tearing out her throat. That night, she had a guardian werewolf to save her. Tonight, she had no one.

  * * * *

  Straddling his Harley, Rick poured on the speed, his eyes scanning the bushes for any sign of Victoria. Damn it. She seemed to have blended with the night. The wind whistled around him. For the first time in his life, he feared he might be in over his head. Then he saw her ahead on a boulder, howling at the moon. He exhaled in relief. Perhaps she’d believed that by slipping through the dark shadows and tangled bushes, she’d shaken him off of her tail. Thank God she was wrong. He slowed and cut the engine. Now what? Even as half woman and half Amazon wolf, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. Okay, enough lusting over the forbidden. His job was to protect her against her enemies and herself. And from him. He got off the bike and grabbed a rope from the storage compartment. Night sounds of crickets and distant howls sent prickles up his arms. He formed a loop in the rope and let the lasso fly. It dropped over her head and shoulders. He pulled it tight about her waist and as he ran toward her, she fought the taut line with everything wild within her.

  She snapped into the air, raised the hackles around her neck and shoulders then splayed her ears sideways to emphasize her increasing defiance. She issued a low, throaty growl. Her game of establishing superiority was a wolf routine he knew well from Indian Joe’s stories. She was trying to give the impression of increased size and dominant power. Unfortunately, she could win. With her sensitive ears and superior eyesight, she was holding all the cards.