by Jodi Vaugn
“You’re the vet; I thought you were supposed to bring your supplies with you.”
“You didn’t exactly specify when you called why you needed me. Your message just said for me to get my ass over here ASAP. I tried calling on my way over, but you didn’t pick up.”
“My cell phone’s probably dead.” She tapped her finger against her bottom lip. “I have some tweezers in the bathroom, would that work?”
“Go get them.”
She returned with the tweezers, a first aid kit, and more towels. Easing down beside the wolf, she rested her hand on his head. “He’s got to take the bullet out, okay? It might hurt a little.”
“A lot. It’s going to hurt a lot. No need to sugarcoat it.” Beau looked up at her as he positioned the tweezers over the bloodied wound.
She shot him a glare.
Beau worked the tweezers in the wound as the wolf let out a whimper. Blood spilled out and pooled on the towels that had been positioned beneath the wound. She leaned over and buried her nose in his fur as she rubbed the soft area under his mouth. She kept her hand on the wolf’s head to keep the animal calm while Beau worked. There was so much blood. She held her breath, trying to make sure she could feel the wolf’s chest rise and fall against her hand.
“Got it.” Beau held up the tweezers. Under the lighting, the metal glittered, looking different from any bullet she’d ever seen.
“That’s weird. I thought bullets were more grey. That almost looks like a silver bullet.” She couldn’t suppress a shiver that ran through her body.
Beau’s expression shuttered. He blinked and quickly shook his head. “It’s probably one of those new Russian bullets. They’re always coming up with something new.”
She shrugged off the unease that ran up her spine. She was exhausted and she needed sleep. All the stress about her house was making her paranoid. “You’re the hunter, you should know.”
“His left leg is broken. I’ll splint it after I wrap his wound.” Beau wrapped some gauze he’d gotten from the first aid kit around the wound. After placing clean towels under the wolf, he stood and rubbed his eyes.
“Want me to help you move him outside?”
“No.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to keep a wild animal in your house, let alone your bedroom.” He stared at her like she’d lost her mind.
“I’ll keep the door locked.” She glanced out the window. “The snow’s really coming down now. I don’t think he would survive being out in that cold. Besides he’s lost a lot of blood. I doubt he could do much damage in his condition.”
Beau pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his red-rimmed eyes. “Fine. I’ll stay.”
She held her hands up. “No. You’ve done enough. Besides, you’ve got work tomorrow. Go on home and get some rest.”
“I don’t think you need to be alone with a wild animal. It could attack you.”
“Go. I’ll be fine. I won’t even go into the room tonight. Besides, I don’t think it will be able to open the door with its paw.”
Beau stifled a yawn and rubbed the back of his neck. “Alright, but you keep that door locked. I’ll be back at dawn to check on both of you. If he wakes up and gives you trouble, call me, okay?”
“I will.”
She stood at the door and watched Beau’s four-wheel-drive head down the road before locking up for the night. She grabbed her bedroom key from the hook in the kitchen and headed down the hall. She stopped in the doorway of the bedroom.
“Okay, boy, I’m gonna lock…” The words faded on her tongue and her breath hitched in her throat. The key slipped out of her hand and landed with a tinkle on the floor.
The wolf was gone. Lying in the middle of the bed, wrapped in gauze, was the hot stranger from the alley.
CHAPTER FOUR
Braxton tried to swallow, grimacing at the fiery pain in his throat. He felt like he’d swallowed fucking lava rocks. What he wouldn’t give for one drop of water.
Blinking open his leaden eyelids, his gaze landed on the frilly white curtains draped over the window of the strange room. Snow coursed to the ground, a heavy layer blanketing the earth and hopefully covering his tracks.
He relaxed a little.
Movement from the door caught his eye, and he bristled as he jerked his head around.
It was her. His female.
She stood in the doorway wearing red and black plaid flannel pajamas and looking like the sexiest thing alive. He met her astonished golden-brown gaze. She tugged on her full bottom lip with her teeth as she slowly bent to the floor to retrieve her keys. Her top gaped open, and he got a fantastic view of her perfect firm naked breasts. But it was her scent, God help him, that made him hard as a rock.
He bent his knee and groaned, trying to mask his erection under the quilt. The last thing he needed was for her to think he was going to molest her and scare her away. He was sure he looked pretty intimidating as it was, covered in tattoos and sporting blue-tipped hair. He probably looked like a thug to someone so beautifully innocent.
He licked his dry lips. “Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you?” She held her hand up. “Wait. Don’t answer that.” She shook her head, her long, blonde hair brushing against the tops of her pajama-clad breasts.
Damn, he’d never been jealous of hair before.
“I’m dreaming, right? This is one really long dream, and I’m about to wake up because now I know I’m dreaming.” Her words came out on one long breath. “I mean, how else would I explain a hot guy lying in my bed instead of my wolf?”
His cock twitched, and he managed a grin even through the pain in his chest. His dick hardened with desire. “You think I’m hot?”
“Duh.” She cocked her head as her gaze traveled up and down his body. “You’re that guy in the alley. The guy that held me when I was crying.”
His breath caught in his throat. She remembered him.
“It’s all making perfect sense now.”
Had the cops slapped his picture across every TV in America? He sat forward, ready to bolt. Pain ricocheted through his chest, and a groan slipped out between his clenched teeth.
She hurried forward, concern creasing her beautiful face. “Lay back.” She pressed her cool hand against his head. He obeyed, sinking into the pillow.
“I don’t understand why you’re hurt in my dream. I mean, can’t I magically make you better?” She met his gaze.
Seeking her cool touch, he pressed his face into her palm and closed his eyes. So she really did think she was dreaming. He relaxed. “It’s not that kind of dream.”
“Is it one of those hot sex dreams?”
Braxton’s eyes popped open. She stared back at him, completely serious. His cock hardened to the point of pain.
He cleared his throat and winced. “Can I have some water?”
“Sure.” She paused halfway to the door and glanced over her shoulder. “Maybe I should call Beau first.”
He growled. “Is Beau your mate?”
“Mate?” She arched her eyebrow.
“Boyfriend.” Of course she wouldn’t understand the term mate. She was human. “I meant is he your boyfriend?”
She wrinkled her pretty nose. “No. He’s my friend.”
Braxton relaxed. He remembered the man standing over him before he passed out as white-hot pain spread through his chest. He glanced down at his arm, splinted and wrapped. He could feel the bone already knitting itself back together. In a few hours, his arm should be good as new. His chest, on the other hand, was a different story.
“What’s with the growling anyway?”
He gave her a droll look. “I’m a wolf in your dream, remember?”
“Oh, right.” She shrugged, as if quickly accepting the explanation. “I’ll be right back with your water.”
Braxton let his eyes drift down her back to the sway of her tight ass as she left the room. He might have a hole in his chest, but he was
still breathing.
***
Kate walked back into the bedroom carrying a bowl and glass, both filled with water. She blushed. “I wasn’t sure which form you would be in when I got back, so I brought both.”
He laughed and hissed in pain from the motion. He couldn’t shift right now, even if he wanted to. He didn’t have the strength. He downed the water, letting the cold liquid soothe his raw throat. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he handed the glass back to her.
“I take it you’ve never had a dream like this before.” His fingers brushed against hers, sending a jolt of excitement through his body. Had she felt it, too?
A nervous laugh escaped the back of her throat. “No. The only dreams I have about wolves are nightmares.”
He stilled, his chest muscles straining. “Why is that? You’ve got something against wolves?”
“No. They have something against me.”
***
Her gaze roamed down his naked chest to the sheet that rested low on his narrow hips. She’d never seen a man built as fine as Braxton, in real life, or in movies.
“What do you mean?” His gravel voice made her stomach tingle. An invisible force pulled her to him and made her step closer.
“I was bitten once, when I was a child.” She licked her lips, dropping her gaze to his broad shoulders. His arms were completely covered in tattoos, sleeves they were called, while his chest was free of any ink. She wanted to run her fingers across every swirl and curve of his designs until she had memorized every detail. And she didn’t want to stop at his arms. She wanted to touch him everywhere.
So what was stopping her? It wasn’t like it was real. It was just a dream—and with all the stress she was under, she deserved this.
She reached out her hand, tracing his muscled pec with her finger. His breath hitched, and she could feel him tremble beneath her fingertips, like some unknown power was trying to be released. She grinned at his response to her.
“You have the hardest body I’ve ever seen.” She slid her hand down to his stomach, caressing the rock-hard abs. Her stomach warmed and a sigh slipped past her lips. “I can’t stop touching you.”
“Then touch me everywhere.” He covered her hand with his and slid it down past his stomach, underneath the sheet.
Her fingers brushed against his cock and she gasped. She knew she would never touch him so intimately in reality. But in her dream she could do whatever she wanted. Tentatively, she traced a finger across the wide crest. His cock twitched under her touch. Desire streaked between her legs, and her breasts ached with longing so intense she thought she would explode.
She looked up into his face.
He met her gaze, his gray eyes heavy with lust, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his full lips.
“You never told me your name.” His deep voice played across her skin like the ocean breeze, warming and relaxing her. “At least give me your name since you have your hand on my cock.”
She swallowed. She should be embarrassed enough to stop and pull her hand away. But she wasn’t. This was her dream and she could do whatever she wanted. “Kate.”
“Kate. My beautiful Kate.” He guided her hand down the length of his cock to the base. He groaned. “My name is Braxton.”
“Braxton,” she breathed out his name. His hand tightened around hers, showing her how hard to squeeze him as he worked her hand up and down his shaft. Her chest caught as her heart beat in rapid staccato in her ears. “Braxton, I don’t usually do this.”
“Do what,” he breathed out. “Dream about a wolf shifting into a man? Or jack a guy off?” He moaned when she gave him a squeeze.
“I’ve never done either one.” Heated desire poured through her, exciting her to the point that she might come by getting him off. Lust overrode any residuals of embarrassment. It felt too good to stop. Her dream, her rules.
“Have you ever given a guy a hand job?” Keeping one hand on top of hers, he reached up with his free hand and cupped her face.
“No.” She swallowed. Her lips parted under the gentle brush of his thumb. “I’ve never wanted to touch a man as badly as I want to touch you.”
“Come here.” He pulled her down, his mouth taking hers in a kiss so powerful her knees buckled.
His tongue dove inside her mouth, hot and fevered, and she moaned with pleasure at the invasion. Pressing one knee into the bed, she climbed on top of him and straddled his waist. She released his cock and sat against his bulging erection. They both moaned as she rocked her hips against his.
She leaned down, placing both hands on either side of his face, careful to keep her weight centered on his lap and away from his bandaged chest.
“Damn, Kate. I smell your sweet arousal, how wet you are.” He pulled her down into a kiss.
“Braxton?” She closed her eyes as his mouth licked down the side of her neck and sucked. Delicious chills swept across her heated body, and she wanted nothing more than to pull down her pants and sink down on his length.
“Yes, Kate?” he murmured against her parted lips, nipping at the corners.
“Are you really a wolf?” She ran her hand across his chest, her fingertips swirling the bristly dark hairs.
“Does it matter?” He tugged her earlobe into his mouth and sucked.
“No. But, if you are a wolf, don’t bite me.” She pressed her groin against his.
He chuckled, his laugh deep and sexy. “Don’t worry, my sweet Kate. You’ll love the way I bite.”
“I bet I will.” She pulled his face back and kissed him deep, sucking his tongue into her mouth.
His fingers dipped into the back of her pajamas, his hands reaching down to cup her butt. It was like he was branding himself on her. She’d never had a man touch her so possessively. The times she and Tom had sex, their interludes had always left her unfulfilled and never satisfied. Braxton stirred up more passion in her than her ex ever did.
His skilled fingers slid under the back of her panties and made their way further down, caressing up and down between her soft folds.
She moaned.
“Feel good, sweetheart?” Braxton’s hot breath against her neck made her tremble.
“Yes.” She arched her back, giving him more access. “Don’t stop touching me.”
“Look at me, Kate.”
Her eyes fluttered open, and she held his gaze as he moved his hand around to her stomach and down the front of her pajamas. Her breath came out in hard fast pants and she couldn’t look away.
His nostrils flared as his fingers dipped into the wetness pooling between her legs. She shivered as his finger flicked across her sensitive clit. Slowly his fingers slid between her folds, teasing and taunting.
She wrapped her fingers around his wrist and ground against his hand. She needed more.
“Tell me what you want, beautiful Kate.”
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Her face heated as his gray eyes bore into hers, captivating and controlling her in some indescribable way. She’d never been so attracted and drawn to someone like this in her whole life. It was like some kind of black magic.
He unleashed something so primitive and wild within her, it had her wanting more.
His talented fingers continued the exquisite assault between her legs as his intense gaze focused on her, like she was the only thing in the universe that mattered.
“I want you to touch me.” The words tumbled out of her lips in a heady rush.
“I am touching you, sweetheart.”
She groaned, wishing his fingers were deep within her. “You know what I mean.”
“I need to hear it Kate. I need you to say the words.”
She let the erotic words fall from her lips. “I want your fingers inside me.”
He growled and suddenly his finger was pushing at her wet entrance. His long finger slid partially in. She dug her fingernails into his biceps in ecstasy.
“Fuck, sweetheart. You’re so tight.” He moved, slow steady pumps, teas
ing her. But it wasn’t enough. She ground her pelvis against his hand, wanting him deeper, but that was impossible with her pajama bottoms on.
“Take your pajamas off.” His deep voice sent delicious chills bouncing across her body. Despite his injury, he lifted her off him so she could remove her bottoms.
She tugged at her top and threw it on the floor. The bottoms were tossed in the air. Straddling him once again, she placed her hands on either side of his head. “Why can’t I have you in real life? Why does this have to be a dream?”
His lips curved up at the corners. “Maybe this isn’t a dream.”
She sighed and pressed his hand to her naked breasts. “Nope. Pretty sure it’s a dream. Things this good don’t happen to me in real life. Just the bad stuff.”
Something flashed through his stormy eyes, something sad and hard, like maybe he understood the harshness of life.
She smoothed her hand against his cheek. She wanted to memorize every contour of his face before she woke. He turned his face toward her palm and inhaled.
He reached for her, cupping her face and bringing her down to meet his mouth. She moaned as his tongue teased hers. She melted against him, pressing every inch of her body into his.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Beau’s voice rained down on her like a bucket of ice.
She bolted upright and covered her breasts with her hand.
Beau stood in the doorway, his coat shedding snowflakes like a long-haired lab, his face twisted in a mixture of disbelief and horror.
If this was a dream, then why did she suddenly feel like a teenager being caught kissing a boy behind the bleachers?
She opened her mouth to defend herself, to ask what the hell Beau was doing in her dream.
“Where’s the wolf?” Beau addressed her but kept his glare on Braxton. “And who the hell is this?”
A growl erupted from underneath her. She looked down at Braxton.
His lips curled over his teeth, glinting dangerously as he pulled her close and glared at Beau. Braxton snagged the sheet and pulled it over her naked back.
