Virgin Wolf II

by Lynde Lakes

  “Victoria! Call nine-one-one now!”

  The dread in Dad’s tone drove her into action. Her dam of tears broke. With the onslaught of uncontrollable shakes, she could barely dial. When she gave the specifics of the accident, her voice broke. She cleared it quickly. The more she wiped the tears away, they harder they flowed. This was her fault. She should’ve watched her sister. She knew what a softy she was. Victoria fought another wave of guilt. If she hadn’t distracted Lazar, Rick wouldn’t have slipped into the car and the accident would’ve never happened.

  Victoria heard her sister moaning. Then her mom screamed, “Damon, over here! Valerie’s alive.”

  Victoria sucked in a breath of relief, finished giving the specifics to the 911 operator, and then ran to her sister’s side. She ached to hug her. But that might heighten and intensify the injuries. “Are you hurt badly? You’re bleeding!”

  “Just surface scrapes and maybe a broken a rib.”

  “The medics are on their way.” Victoria took a deep breath. “Did Rick get out?”

  “I don’t know.” Valerie’s tone sounded doubtful.

  “Hang in there, sis. I’ll be right back.” Victoria started down the hillside toward the flames. Someone had called the Fire Department and firefighters were already on the lower hillside, trying to contain the blaze before it reached the tract of half-acre Spanish-Style homes. She shuddered. One of those belonged to her grandparents. With all the noise, she tried to assure herself they would be alerted and get to safety.

  “Rick! Rick,” she called. Equipment noise, the roar of the blaze, and the shouts of the men fighting the fire drowned out her calls. She coughed as smoke constricted her throat.

  A shadow rose behind her. She whirled, hoping to find herself in Rick’s arms. Her sensitive sense of smell caught a whiff of wolf. The warning came too late. Lazar clamped his fingers around her neck. Although still in human form, he had long incisors and an unpleasant feral smell.

  “You claimed I had the wrong twin,” he growled wryly. “Now, prove it and don’t disappoint me.” His fingers tightened on her throat, cutting off her air.

  She jabbed him in the eyes with her knuckles, brought her knee up to his groin sharply, and whirled away. She crouched ready for the next attack.

  “I see you’ve had some training, bitch. And you sure as hell don’t fight fair. Well, I don’t fight fair either, and I’m bigger and meaner.”

  His double body twist with a kick to the jaw left her head spinning. He withdrew a container of clear liquid from his pocket. It was the size of a bottle of nail polish. “Get me out of here or I’ll blow your family away.”

  Believing he intended to slaughter her family no matter what she did, she decided to take her best shot.

  Victoria heard a whoosh sound, and without any action on her part, Lazar fell forward like a ton of bricks. In spite of the flame-flickering darkness, she recognized her savior. Her heart lightened. “Rick. You’re alive!”

  The bottle of suspicious liquid flew out of Lazar’s hand. She stiffened, waiting for the explosion. After seconds of blessed silence, she returned her focus to the men. The power and anger behind their blows guaranteed that this would be a fight to the death. Lazar hit Rick in the forehead with a stone. Rick swayed then shook his head as though to clear it. “Get out of here,” he ordered. “I don’t need distractions.” He charged Lazar, who stumbled backwards and then jumped on top of him.

  Tongues of flames sucked her air and disoriented her as they inched closer. Which way to safety? She stood frozen to the spot. Earlier, Dad had told her Rick didn’t know the depth of Lazar’s evil. The idea of Rick’s lack of needed information fed her ability to move. She stepped closer to the men, picked up a basketball-sized boulder, lifted it high over her head, and, aiming carefully, brought the boulder down with all of her might toward Lazar’s skull.

  The men rolled and shifted positions. The boulder missed Rick’s temple by a fraction of an inch.

  “Damn it, Victoria! Whose side are you on?”

  Victoria’s stomach knotted. Her heart thundered. She could scarcely breathe. Rick was right. Although, she’d managed to clip Lazar’s ear, she could have killed Rick.

  When she turned to go, Lazar reached out and yanked her feet out from under her.

  She screamed and fell to her knees. Lazar grabbed a handful of her hair close to the roots and yanked her between himself and Rick. She watched Lazar’s hand close over an Arrowhead-shaped rock. She struggled. He pressed the tip to the delicate skin at the hollow of her throat. Cool blood trickled down from the concave of her throat into her cleavage.

  “Let her go!” Rick said.

  “Back off first.”

  Although surrounded, Lazar’s confident tone convinced her he believed he was holding all the cards.

  Rick stared at the blood trickling down her neck for a moment, his expression revealing nothing.

  Fearing Rick might give the creep the upper hand to save her, she called out. “Dad, Uncle Hugh, over here!”

  The outburst earned her a violent knee gouge in the spine. From the North, her Dad and Uncle Hugh were half-sliding, half-running down the hillside toward their voices. She figured they could see their silhouettes highlighted by the background of flames licking the horizon. Closing off his escape from the South were those flames and the approaching firefighters as they fought the crackling, hissing blaze.

  Rick’s piercing eyes watched Lazar, as though he were calculating his next move.

  Lazar matched his intensity. This was her last chance to get away. She didn’t allow the stone cutting into her neck to stop her. She broke away and ran toward her dad.

  When Lazar tried to grab her again, Rick tackled him. They scuffed and Lazar fell backwards into the approaching river of flames. Lazar’s horrifying screams would haunt her nightmares forever.

  Rick ran to her, drew her to his chest, and kissed her. The gentle touch of his lips was almost brotherly. Then his lips firmed, his moist mouth opened wider. His tongue sought hers, frantic, desperate like a man who’d almost lost his soul-mate. Although vaguely aware of the flames crawling toward them, and her dad and uncle’s disapproving eyes, she opened to Rick like a flower tasting its first dew. She ran her fingers through his midnight black hair and caressed the lone diamond stud in his lobe.

  Abruptly, Rick pulled back. “Let’s get topside to safety. Now.”

  Victoria slid her hand down his tanned chest, wondering if he was talking only about the encroaching flames and smoke, or did his comment include the smoldering heat that had sprung up between them? His strong Indian jaw line, the dancing flames glowing in his earth-brown eyes, and the wild feeling that stirred in her when she slid her fingers down his bare, tanned chest reminded her that Rick Tanner, part Indian, in biker boots, was a dangerous, experienced twenty-year-old and she was—as her dad put it—only sixteen.

  Rick shook his head as though to clear it.

  If she wanted this wild young biker who had just saved her life, she’d have to fight for him. And even he wouldn’t be on her side.

  * * * *

  Damon’s mind swirled in chaos. The relief he’d experienced when he’d witnessed Lazar fall backward into the flames had dissipated. He didn’t believe for a moment that his morphed half-brother was gone forever.

  Before he could reconcile that, the other source of his mental turmoil rose tauntingly. In his mind’s eye, he could see the image of Rick holding Victoria and kissing her with unbridled passion. Hiring Rick to protect his girls hadn’t been fair to Rick or safe for Victoria. He’d seen the sparks between them. But he’d sensed Rick’s strength of character and trusted him. Damon shook his head at the risk he’d taken. He knew firsthand the hell a man suffered when he fell in love with the forbidden. It seemed his willingness to trust had always been his fatal flaw and almost resulted in the loss of his family.

  Damon rushed forward and grabbed Rick’s hand in a firm grip. Then he hugged him. “You saved my daught
ers.” He had to shout over the roaring fire, the sound of the firefighter’s equipment, and raised voices. “It was a big risk to climb into the car—risky for both you and Valerie.” He used his most upbeat tone “I admire a man who thinks on his feet and is confident enough to make quick decisions on his own. However, luck played highly into your decision, and I don’t like either of my daughters’ fate left to luck.”

  “Yes, sir. I realize the kiss was unprofessional. But nothing inappropriate has gone on between me and either of your daughters.”

  Damon allowed a wry smile to slide across his lips. Rick’s comment made it clear that he understood the other issues involved. That type of quick thinking and awareness of all the issues made him even more valuable to the firm. And if Victoria still wanted to date him in a few years when she was older…well, Damon figured he could face that later.

  “I’ll pack up my things and be gone by morning.”

  “Excellent.”

  Victoria rushed up. “You can’t fire Rick, Dad. He saved Valerie’s life. And mine.”

  Damon gave Victoria a sly, sidelong glance, and then continued. “Don’t let my daughter’s meddlesome comment mislead you, Rick. I’m not letting you go. I’m promoting you. You’ll be in charge of the security in the San Diego office. I have a small condo you can use until you find something better. And our original contract is still in force. I’ll need you to start right away.”

  Damon had always found that positive emotions got positive results. And, surprisingly, the unexpected twist had left Victoria temporarily speechless. A plus in his book, even if only brief.

  With a lump in his throat, Damon watched Angela climb agilely into the ambulance with Valerie and the medics. They lifted Valerie into the vehicle on a stretcher and began taking her vital signs. He wished he could go along, but he needed to wrap things up here, including talking with the fire chief. He touched Hugh’s shoulder. “You should go along, too, and get someone to look at that knee.”

  Hugh winked. “No can do. I’m allergic to hospitals. And they aren’t partial to walking dead lycanthropes like me.”

  Damon knew he was right. He hated that Valerie had to risk being found out. “All right then. I need you and Kyle to water down the area between the mansion and the approaching fire while I scan the location where Lazar fell into the flames. And I want to talk to the fire chief.”

  Hugh nodded. “I’ll help you look for signs of survival as soon as everything around the property is soaked.”

  * * * *

  Rick overheard Damon’s words and scanned the hillside. Had Lazar somehow escaped? He’d seen him fall dead center into a rolling ball of fire.

  Victoria stood looking over the valley, rubbing her folded arms. He ached to console her. She was worried about her sister. He was worried, too. He wanted to see how Valerie was doing before he packed.

  “Damon, sir, may I give Victoria a ride to the hospital? I think we’ll all feel better when we know how Valerie’s doing. I couldn’t leave without knowing.”

  Rick shifted his weight as Damon hesitated for a moment, rubbing his jaw. “You saved Valerie’s life and deserve the peace of mind. And if you keep it cool, it might be good for Victoria to have some time alone with you to say goodbye before you pack up and head for San Diego.”

  * * * *

  Five minutes later, Victoria watched Rick hustle out of the mansion. He had shrugged on a clean shirt, and as he got closer, she inhaled the heady aftershave he’d splashed on. It was no match for the smoke that hung heavy in the air. “Ready?” he asked, climbing onto his bike.

  She nodded, lowered the helmet shield, and wrapped her arms tightly around his hot, sweaty waist. Straddling the cycle with muscular legs, he flipped up the kick stand with a heel. He turned the key and hit the kick-start pedal.

  He swerved from the driveway onto the road that led to Mt. Baldy Highway and hit the gas. She gasped and her knees locked tighter around the bike as an unbelievable surge of hot wind pounded her body. She pressed against him, excited by the in-control authority emitting from him and the power of the cycle vibrating between her thighs.

  He glanced back. “Don’t look so worried. Valerie will be fine.”

  She clung tighter to his torso, memorizing its trim contours and flexing stomach muscles.

  He slowed as they entered the lush hospital grounds. The four-story imposing structure brought shivers. A hospital was a dangerous place for the cursed.

  Nick lifted her off of the bike and put his arm around her. “They’ll take good care of Valerie.”

  “But what if, in the process, they test her blood and discover that she is suffering from lycanthropy?”

  “Your mom is there. She’ll control what they do to your sister.”

  When Victoria entered the hospital room, Rick nodded to Angela, who then gave them a favorable update on Valerie’s condition.

  Valerie smiled. “Don’t look so worried, Victoria. They don’t take blood for a cracked rib.”

  Victoria smiled back, feeling now that, somehow, everything would be all right.

  On the way back up the hill to the mansion, her thoughts zeroed in on Rick again. She pressed her lips close to his ear and said, “Could we stop in that turnout ahead and talk?”

  She felt him sigh as he pulled off the highway. She had to make her feelings clear. He helped her off the bike and they walked to the bench on the edge of the cliff that overlooked the sprawling San Bernardino Valley and the Rancho Cucamonga area. She took in the expansive twinkling skyline lights of a number of small communities as they sat down. Most of the smoke from the fire had dissipated and the breeze had carried it away.

  “Rick, you have to turn Dad down and remain in the area. He’s manipulating you. It is the same old story. He believes that throwing money at the problem will make it go away.” Tears rushed to the back of her eyes and she forced them away. She wasn’t ready to let Rick go. Maybe she never would be, and this was her last chance to make her move.

  She took a deep breath and thrust herself into his arms. With her face buried against his shoulder, she breathed him in. “Rick, you saved me and my sister and my heart’s lost to you.” When he said nothing, she added, “I want you to stay, Rick. Together we can stand up to my dad.”

  He laughed. “Why? He’s right. We don’t make sense together.”

  He pushed her away slightly and took her hands in his. “Look, I have to go. You’re still in school and I’m the big bad wolf who makes fathers quake in their boots.”

  She laughed. “You’re a little mixed up. I’m the wolf and you’re my prey. You can’t escape the chemistry and desire between us.”

  “I can and I will. But I won’t kid you. It’ll be painful as hell to walk away from you.”

  She frowned. “Well, I never pegged you as a coward. I thought you were this Indian brave who’d save me from my passionless existence.”

  “Honey, you’re existence is the farthest thing from passionless that I can imagine. But the timing is off a few years. Can’t you see that?”

  “I won’t accept it. I insist you stay and give us a chance.”

  He shook his head. “We’ll still be friends, and who knows after a few years what the future might hold for us.”

  “Why can’t you accept that I’m a woman now, ready to love like a woman?”

  “Love like a feral alpha wolf, you mean. I’m not knocking it. Far from it, but the timing is off.” He kissed her nose. “Honey, your passion is the most exciting thing about you. And every time I believe I have you pegged, I find something new and intriguing about you that really electrifies my mind. But that doesn’t change the age difference or the fact that, as an honorable man, I must do the right thing. I’m not ready to be a husband and you’re not ready to be a wife.”

  She pouted. “I wasn’t proposing. I just want you to stick around and see where this thing between us is headed.”

  Rick’s eyes darkened. “We both know where it’s headed and I can’t let it h
appen. I told you that in the beginning.” His gaze softened. “In my culture, the Indian brave has to earn the right to his princess. If you still want to give this a try in a few years, I’ll do all I can to prove my courage. Any man who’d even consider winning your love is no coward, I assure you.”

  Victoria decided that losing this argument wasn’t an option. Even as she thought it, she felt like she was in the wrong. But she’d never wanted anything as much as she wanted Rick. And she was used to getting what she wanted.

  When they retuned to the mansion, she asked, “Can you at least walk me to my bedroom door? I don’t bite, you know.”

  He laughed. “You do bite. I’ve experienced those incisors firsthand. I’ll walk you to your door. But I’m not coming inside.”

  “Afraid?”

  “After seeing you in action? Hell yes. It would be so damn easy to lose my soul in the wake of your youth and enthusiasm.”

  “Why are you playing the old man card? You’re only five years older than me. We both have youth and I’ve seen and felt your signs of enthusiasm.”

  He shook his head and went silent. She wondered what he was thinking. She was so sure he loved her.

  Chapter Twelve

  With soft music coming from the mansion intercom, they walked up the winding stairway, him guiding her with a hand to the middle of her back, his touch commanding and possessive. She felt breathless, radiant, and fearful all at the same time. When he opened the door for her, she hesitated, then, without switching on a light, she shoved him hard toward her bed. Giving a yelp, he hurled backwards hard onto the coverlet. Before he could escape, she jumped on top of him. She kissed him with all the passion that had roared through them earlier as the flames inched closer and closer. Recalling the high of danger and the thrill of defeating evil, she moved her hips over his hardness and stripped off her top, exposing her breasts.