Magic. She loved this almost as much as she loved flying. Even though her magic was untrained, she could create things—and make them vanish with a flick of her fingers. Colors, sparkles, lights, fire and ice, none of that was beyond her capabilities. She could amuse her dragon self for hours with her undeveloped magic, especially since she’d taken care to keep her abilities alive.
These days, they were expressly forbidden to use magic on humans. Maria had frequently amused herself with dazzling displays of color and light, but only when she’d flown far out to sea, avoiding the shipping channels. As soon as she spotted a freighter or a cruise ship, no matter how far in the distance, she flew as far away in the opposite direction as she could.
Giddy at the thought of becoming her dragon self, Maria walked into the thickest part of the woods and took a seat on an old log. There, she’d meditate while waiting for the sun to sink below the horizon. Once the light had gone, she’d begin the process of allowing her Drakkor to break free. And then she’d truly fly.
* * *
Feeling restless, agitated and uncomfortable could only mean one thing. Ryan needed to change. Inside, his wolf paced, wanting to hunt, needing out right this instant.
The sexually charged atmosphere created by Ryan craving Maria, and his frustration therewith, had his wolf howling inside him. Since the beach wasn’t safe and he’d done his research, he got in his Jeep and drove to Corps Woods.
At this time of the night, with only one other car in the parking lot—a sweet, turquoise-colored Corvette—the place appeared deserted. All the tourists packed the restaurants and bars on the other side of the island and all the locals were home watching television.
Here, he could let his wolf run free safely.
He got out of the car and stretched, carefully scanning the area to make certain he hadn’t been followed. His fame could be annoying, but if some erstwhile paparazzi captured him changing from man to wolf, his life would be over. The Pack Protectors would clean up the mess and Ryan Howard would disappear from his former life.
He’d often thought about this, aware it would be a blessing that they wouldn’t kill him. In the old days, revealing the truth to a human had been a crime punishable by death. These days, the Protectors gave a second chance and a new life.
Ryan had no intention of starting over. He’d worked too damn hard to get where he was to give it all up over something stupid.
He could hear nothing but the sound of the seagulls screeching, but he eyed the Corvette, aware he needed to find the other person. Only once he knew their location would he be able to make a sensible decision on where to shape-shift.
Moving with exaggerated casualness, he left the parking lot and headed out onto the walking trails. He wondered if the tourists even came out this far. From what he’d read, serious bird watchers mainly frequented this area, and only during the spring migration. Even if the odd curious visitor ventured here, he imagined that would be in the middle of the day. Now, with the sun blazing a farewell trail on the edge of the horizon, everyone had finished outdoor activities. Soon only the silver ghost of moonlight would shine on the trees and the canal.
Ryan grinned, feeling savage. A perfect place, and not too far from home. Once he got settled, he planned to seek out other Pack members so he could learn where they went to hunt. In his wolf shape, he ceased being Person Magazine’s Most Eligible Billionaire. Then he was only another lupine hunter, one more member of the Pack.
His wolf pushed, fighting to break free. Shaking his head, Ryan kept him confined. Until he made certain he wouldn’t be seen, he couldn’t take the chance.
Movement ahead of him had him ducking behind a tree, crouching low. Something big, too large to be human. He kept still while he tried to figure out what the heck it could be. From this distance, it had the shape of an elephant, which wasn’t even possible. Or was it?
As he watched from his hiding place, the beast rose, spreading huge, rainbow-colored wings. And then, while Ryan gaped in disbelief, the thing leaped up and took to the sky.
He watched until it became only a speck in the dark sky. What the...? Had he really seen a dragon? He’d thought he knew every species of Shape-shifter. If there were dragons, he’d certainly never heard anyone mention them.
His wolf whined, reminding him of the reason he’d come to this isolated location.
Shaking his head yet again to try and clear it, Ryan stepped into a thicket of trees and shed his clothing. Then he got down on all fours and let his beast out.
As wolf, he’d found time ceased to exist. Or, at least, it existed differently than when he was man. As he prowled the area, led by his nose, he no longer counted time in minutes or in hours. Instead, the measured footsteps he took on the soft earth, the scent of a hare and the chase, these were his clock.
He hunted and he played, dancing with tree shadows, so in tune with the earth and his wolf he found joy in every breath.
And then, as he lazily contemplated returning to the tree stump where he’d left his human clothing, he heard the distant thump of wings and knew the dragon had returned.
Caution warred with fear. As wolf, he’d just devoured a rabbit. Would the dragon view a wolf as prey? Though his teeth were sharp and his claws swift, he knew if he were to go up against a beast of that size, he’d surely lose. So, once again, he crouched low to the ground, under a bush, and tried to make himself as small as possible.
The dragon flew low, scales glistening in the moonlight. Even as he held his breath, he couldn’t help but be filled with awe at the deadly beauty of this mystical creature.
He heard it land somewhere in the trees behind him. Curious, he crept in that direction, wanting to see what kind of person the dragon would change back into.
But either he moved too slowly or the beast changed with the speed of light. Long before he reached the center of the woods, he heard the throaty rumble of the Corvette’s engine.
Running full out, he headed toward the parking lot. His lope covered the ground effortlessly, but all he got for his effort was the sight of the taillights as the sports car drove away.
Chapter 4
Back home, after her shape-shifting flight, Maria felt reborn. As she caught sight of herself in a mirror in the entryway, she beamed. Her skin glowed, her eyes gleamed and she appeared transported, as if she’d experienced some sort of holiness or miracle.
Becoming her dragon had a way of doing that to her. She’d flown far and low, skirting the waves at times, taking care to avoid shipping channels and any private boats. She’d visited a pod of about twelve whales, seen dolphins and sharks and watched shooting stars reflect across the endless stretch of water.
Her journey had felt sacred, reminding her that her very existence as a dragon could be considered miraculous. Which was why she could not afford to fail at her task.
This sobering thought made her shake her head. She would succeed. She’d be fine. And now, fortified by the hours she’d spent as a dragon, she could prepare for her time with Ryan without worry or fear.
After all, taking a day or two off to have a little fun could do no harm. Once all this was over, she’d go back to her focused search. She had to admit, she had some preconceived notions of how her life, once she found The One, would go. A handsome and fickle playboy who refused to settle down wasn’t one of them.
She sighed. Yet her attraction to him wouldn’t be denied. She probably just needed to get him out of her system. Then she could resume her oh-so-serious search for the father of her children and the rest of her life.
Monday came quickly. To her surprise, Ryan had made no further attempts to contact her after she’d accepted his invitation. Instead of leaving her car at the marina, she had Kathleen take her, swearing her receptionist to secrecy.
“I can’t believe you’re going to be with Ryan Howard,” the older woman said for maybe the third time. “In private, just the two of you, on a yacht.”
Yeah, about that. Maria hadn’t been sure
what exactly to expect when Ryan invited her to spend a few days on his yacht. Yachts were different things to different people. For all she knew, he could pilot a perfectly restored 1960s sailboat. She’d been on one of those once and found it spectacularly beautiful. If she could, she’d live on the sea. She loved it more than land.
After they parked, Kathleen wanted to hang around to get a second look at Ryan. Firmly, Maria asked her to go home. “This is a fling,” she said. “Just fun. Don’t be making more of it than it is.”
Kathleen rolled her eyes. “A fling with Ryan Howard is something major, no matter what you think. And I really want to get a look at his boat.”
“No.” And Maria wouldn’t relent. The last thing she needed was Kathleen gushing and building this entire thing up to be something it wasn’t. “Ryan asked for privacy, and that’s what he’s going to get. Now thank you for giving me a ride, but please, go ahead and head back home.”
Though Kathleen grumbled, she did exactly that, though she backed out of her spot with excruciating slowness, no doubt hoping for a glimpse of Maria’s date before she left.
Maria waited until Kathleen’s minivan had disappeared before glancing again at the piece of paper where she’d written the slip number. As she walked out along the dock, she marveled at all the beautiful boats, looking for Ryan’s yacht. Even though any boat could technically be called a yacht, she figured something owned by a multibillionaire would be over the top, ostentatious and possibly gaudy.
Instead, when she reached his slip, she found herself pleasantly surprised. The sleek boat looked brand-new and was probably sixty-five feet long. Just small enough that he could captain it himself without a crew if he wanted, but not so small it couldn’t handle the ocean waves out in open water.
Though she seriously doubted that they’d be leaving the gulf.
“Lazzara LXS 64,” she read. A shiny thing of fiberglass beauty, with huge windows, she figured such a yacht would cost over two million dollars. With her inexplicable need to get closer to the water, boats were her weakness, her hobby, and she never missed a boat show if she could help it. She’d shopped them all, even the yachts like this that she couldn’t afford in a hundred years. That didn’t matter to her. She could always dream.
She’d always loved the sea and anything that got her closer to the waves made her happy. The salt spray, the seagulls, pelicans and, most of all, the whales and dolphins. She loved soaring over the vast expanse of water in her dragon form. Though smaller birds feared her, the huge whales flipped their massive tails at her in reproach or hello as she flew overhead.
As she approached, Ryan appeared from down inside the yacht. “Welcome.” The warmth of his smile started a slow burn inside her.
“This is nice,” she said, meaning it. “I’m assuming you don’t have to employ a crew.”
“No, that’s why I chose this one for this trip,” he told her. “I have a couple of boats, but on those I have to hire a captain and crew. I use those because when I entertain large groups of people I can’t be distracted by piloting the boat. But this time, it’s just going to be the two of us.”
“Even though you might be...distracted?” She couldn’t resist teasing him, loving the way heat instantly darkened his eyes.
“Even so.”
“As long as you’re sure we’ll be safe.” She let her smile widen, even as she raked her gaze boldly over him. “While I have no doubt you are a capable captain, since we’re getting this out of our systems, I plan to be more than a little distracting.”
Something intense flared between them. “No worries.” He sounded confident as he held out a hand. “Come aboard. Would you like a tour?”
She nodded, smiling back. “I’d love one.” Placing her hand in his, she felt a jolt as their bodies connected. She allowed him to pull her up onto his boat, marveling at how, even now, with his hair windblown and wearing an old faded T-shirt and khaki shorts, he managed to appear like a Norse god rather than a rich businessman. Her mouth dry, she fought to keep from saying or doing something stupid.
When she looked up, he stood so close she could feel his body heat. Her heart caught in her throat as all of her senses leaped to life.
“Come on,” he said, his sensual grin telling her he’d guessed her thoughts. “Let me show you the rest.”
Polished teak trim highlighted the handrails, along with the floor in the small den and the cabinetry in the galley and bathroom. Everything was luxuriously appointed, including pewter fixtures and stained-glass light coverings.
The salon had a dark satin wood finished interior with wooden floors and a buttery leather sectional. Along with the 42-inch flat screen TV, she loved the wet bar with Sub-Zero refrigerated drawers. There were pleated fabric shades and a retractable sunroof.
“This looks brand-new,” she mused. “Did you have it built for you?”
“No.” He grinned. “But I did buy it new, even though it’s last year’s model. I’m the first and only owner. The sole owner.”
His infectious pride made her grin back. “I like it,” she announced.
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet,” he said. “Come with me.”
The helm, which shared deck space with the salon, had a plush seat and a glass instrument panel. The side window opened to allow a view down the side deck. Everything had been trimmed in a rich, dark wood.
“It’s got three staterooms and three heads,” he announced. “Or bathrooms, in case you don’t like the word. The galley has all stainless-steel appliances, a huge refrigerator, a four-burner stove, and even a dishwasher. It’s made for some serious vacationing. Cookware, bakeware, utensils and even knives came standard.”
His pride was infectious.
“You sound like a boat salesman,” she teased.
“This was my first yacht,” he replied, somewhat sheepishly. “While I own a couple, one never forgets the first.”
Touched, she gave in to impulse and leaned in and kissed his jaw. His scent rocked her—sea breezes and spice—all masculine and unlike any man she’d been with before.
Lazily, he turned his head so their lips brushed. He teased her with this slow kiss, promising so much more. When he moved away, she found herself breathless.
He didn’t seem to notice. “I’ll show you the rest of the boat later. You can either wait here or go up on deck. There are some loungers and a table with chairs. I’m going to get this baby started and take us out.”
“I’d like to watch,” she told him. “So I’ll go up. Unless...” Feeling bold, she nudged him with her hip. “I can come stand by you while you steer.”
“Not this time.” His smile took the sting from his words. “You were right. You’re too damn distracting.”
Taking care not to show how thrilling she found his words, she sighed. “All right then. I’ll head out.”
“Great. I’ll let you know when you can join me.”
* * *
Ryan couldn’t tear his eyes from Maria as she strolled away. She wore some sort of shapeless cover-up over what he could tell was a red swimsuit. He could only imagine what the sight of her in a bikini would do to him. Even now, from just a little verbal sparring and a quick kiss, she’d aroused him to the point of pain.
Only once she’d disappeared from his view did he release the breath he’d been holding. Around her, he could hardly function, and he needed all his concentration to get his boat out of the slip and then the harbor.
Going through the motions, he soon had his twin Volvo Penta D-13 engines running. He made short work of unhooking his tie-downs, and soon he had backed out and turned to head in the right direction.
Pleased, he almost wished Maria was beside him, for a celebratory high five or, even better, another kiss.
Just thinking of recapturing her soft lush mouth with his heated his blood. He shook his head, aware he needed to get in control of this insane attraction so he could explore it at his leisure. Until then, it’d be prudent to wait until they’d r
eached open water before even looking at his beautiful guest.
They motored past the last sandbars, the cranes standing on one leg, the pelicans arching their long necks as they decorated the weathered piers. Taking care to stay out of the way of the larger ships, he pointed his boat toward the open water, feeling free, as he always did when out on the sea.
“Permission to enter?” Maria popped her head in the doorway, her husky voice teasing.
“Sure, come on in.” He made a concentrated effort to not watch her, keeping his gaze fixed on the water outside. “The difficult part is over, now I just play Avoid the Tankers until we’re past all the shipping lanes.”
Several huge freighters dotted the horizon, waiting for their turn to enter the shipping channel. He navigated them past these, intent and fierce, his pulse thrumming in his neck as he kept his desire under control.
Behind him, Maria prowled the salon restlessly. Überconscious of her, he refused to glance back, letting the anticipation build in him.
“I had my chef prepare several meals in advance for us,” he said, more to make conversation than anything else.
“Your chef?” She laughed. “Forget I said that. Of course you have a chef.”
“Not full-time. But once you agreed to come out to sea with me I had him prepare a few things. We have to eat, and I don’t cook.”
“Me, either,” she said, surprising him. “Though I confess I’m surprised you didn’t ask.”
“What kind of host would I be, to ask my guest to cook for me?” He shook his head, finally glancing at her. “I would never do anything so rude.”
“Good.” Her wry smile had his heart thumping. “Because heaven help the man who had to eat my cooking.”
Unable to tell if she was joking or not, he turned his attention back to their course, picking up the pace until they were cruising along at thirty knots, which was pretty damn fast for a boat this big.
Finally, they were clear of everything. Nothing but water, as far as the eye could see. He slowed their speed, setting the automatic pilot and fighting the urge to turn and pull Maria up against him, bury himself deep inside her right here and right now.
Billionaire Wolf (The Pack 17) (Nocturne) Page 5
