by Morgan Fox
His jaw tightened. Her eyes glistened with emotions he never wanted to see. She looked at him as if she hated him. “Yes, I followed you. It’s my job to keep you safe,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Reyes’s property is protected. I’m supposed to be able to do as I please as long as I stay on the grounds.” She shoved him again, and this time he released her. “I only needed a little privacy.”
“To worship your devil?” he asked in an accusatory tone.
She hissed as if she’d been burned and then he felt the cold, hard slap of her hand across his face. “I don’t worship the devil,” she snapped. “Don’t ever accuse me of that again.”
She moved fast…too fast for a mere human. “Duly noted,” he said, licking the corner of his mouth, the taste of blood fresh on his tongue. He stiffened his spine and crowded in on her. Once again he took hold of her, clasping her arms, wrapping them around her back, and then hauled her up against him. “Then explain what the heck I just witnessed?” The rough growl of both wolf and panther lingered just beneath the surface. He felt them clawing to be released. A wicked sensation was driving them from containment. His hybrid beasts were on edge. His eyes narrowed, scanning over her face. “I’m waiting.”
“Let me go,” she demanded softly as if afraid he would actually harm her if she spoke too loudly.
“No,” he said simply, and he meant it. There was no way in hell he was going to let her go, not when he knew absolutely nothing about what had just occurred. What if someone was trying to harm her and she didn’t even know it? Could she be under a spell of some kind? “I won’t risk…”
She stared at him with impatient eyes. “What?” she spat. “What won’t you risk?”
He shook his head sharply. He would not be distracted from discovering what was happening to her, even by thoughts of magic. Growling, he barked, “Stop stalling and tell me what you were doing in that field.”
Tiffany stared at him, studying his face. Her expression softened. “No,” she told him, sagging against him, no longer fighting his hold. “I’m not telling you shit. You think you can make me talk just because you are a big bully.” She continued rambling, but he never heard another word. The last thing he heard was her say he was a bully. He never wanted her to think of him that way. He cared for her, desired her, and he never wanted to hurt her. Slowly, as if coming out of a dense fog, he regained his thoughts, listening to her as she finished her rant. “Well, you know nothing about me if you think I’m going to tell you anything.” She turned her face from him, swallowing so hard he heard it.
Then he did something he never should’ve. He kissed her, warm mouth to warm mouth. At first, she resisted him, a shiver that alarmed him, making him wonder if he’d gone too far. But then she relaxed, her body suddenly molding perfectly against his. He released her hands, needing to be sure she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He would never force her to do anything.
However, sex with Tiffany would be incredible. He knew that much.
Her arms wrapped around his waist, and her hands glided up and down his back, fingers kneading the muscles. A shuddering sigh escaped his lungs. Relief consuming him, he hadn’t realized just how much he wanted her to want him until the moment she began kissing him back.
He cupped her face, deepening the kiss. A kiss that should’ve been sweet and simple became full of greed, a passion so hot he felt as if his body were burning from the inside. Everything about her touch had him longing for more, needing more. Tiffany was intoxicating.
She moaned. He teased his fingers in the silken strands of her hair, spilling over her shoulder still clasped in a ponytail. The sensations had his blood boiling. Touching and holding Tiffany had been exactly how he hoped it would be. Sensual and sweet. Her skin was as soft as silk, just like her hair. Her scent was ambrosia to his nose, a scent that would forever remind him of the woman who now tempted him.
The warmth of the sun drew down on his back, reminding him they were outside. He groaned as he forced himself to step back. His lips were numb from no longer touching hers, throbbing with the memory of her kiss. Her eyes slowly fluttered open.
He swallowed hard. “There’s magic in you,” he muttered. Even if he hadn’t seen the evidence for himself, he’d know by the powerful energy that flooded through him as their lips touched.
She stared at him, her face paling.
“There is no need to deny it. I felt it, and I know what I saw.” He arched a brow as he waited for her to speak. Her lips were pressed together in a tight line.
Her bottom lip began to tremble, and he knew he had crossed a sensitive line. Nothing crushed him more than seeing an innocent woman cry. He was a hard man who softened instantly when a woman revealed her honest emotions. He blamed his mother for making him have a sympathetic side. His father sure the hell hadn’t given that to him.
“Tiffany?” He placed his finger under her chin and gently raised her gaze to meet his. “I can tell this is something you don’t discuss and that it might even frighten you, but you must know that you can tell me anything. I would never hurt you.”
Tiffany’s body trembled. Her voice was shaky as she told him, “I’m not supposed to talk about it. I was told not to share it with anyone.”
“Except Zane?” His heart dropped into his stomach as he mentioned the young doctor’s name.
Tiffany’s eyes widened. “How did you know that Zane knew?”
He arched a brow and gave a lopsided grin. “You just told me.”
Her mouth formed a giant O. “Oh, you!” she cried, slapping his arm much softer than she had his face. “I can’t believe I fell for that.”
“So you are a witch?”
She nodded slowly, seeming defeated. “Not a very good one, but yes, I’m a witch.”
He had met a dozen or so witches in his day, and none of them made him feel the way Tiffany did. She was special, maybe because he considered her more than an acquaintance.
“Why the secret? Being a witch is nothing special. You are a supernatural creature like me, but I don’t hide what I am among our kind.” After the words sprung from his lips, he realized he could’ve been more tactful. “I’m sorry. I just meant you are with friends who care about you and would understand your ability.”
Nodding, she nibbled her bottom lip nervously. After a long moment, she said, “I don’t want people to know I’m a witch because I suck at it. If people knew what I was, they could take advantage of me.”
“Why would they care? Is your family rich? High political figures?”
Tiffany giggled. “My family is not rich, and I haven’t seen my father since I was a baby.” She brushed the hair from her face. A gentle breeze rushed past them. “I guess because I work for Sebastian, and right now, he is not the most popular guy around town, you know?” She dug her hands into her hips.
I can definitely accept that.
Sebastian was the main driving force at stopping Lilly from using a mutating virus against them. Mason, his cousin, had fallen victim to Lilly’s charms and had been her first successful creation. Even though Mason’s mind was no longer stable, Mason had tried to turn Sebastian, but his attempts failed, and Ryder was sure Lilly was pissed about it.
Sebastian was defeating her at every turn, and using those people he loved against him was a sure way to draw him out.
“That explains why Sebastian wants you back at McCarthy Ranch.”
“Yes, but I’m not exactly thrilled about leaving here,” Tiffany’s eyes rounded. “I’m afraid.”
Ryder couldn’t resist the urge to stroke her arm. “You’ll be safe, Tiffany. You will have plenty of protection. Sebastian wouldn’t ask for you to leave this place if he didn’t think McCarthy Ranch was a safer location.”
“Yes, but what about the long road trip to get there?”
He had wondered the same thing himself. “We’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
She leaned against the tree at her back. The one he had been hiding behind before
she magically spotted him. “I wish I had your confidence.”
“Maybe you should get back to practicing your craft,” he told her, figuring out that that was what she had been doing.
“Why?”
Hiding his grin, he explained, “The way you’re talking, all that doom and gloom, you’re going to need all the help you can get.”
She gasped. “Ryder, that’s so not funny.”
The chuckle was harder to mask than he thought. “Sorry, sweetheart, I couldn’t resist.” He stepped to the side, preparing to leave. “Enjoy yourself, but don’t be out of sight for too long. You’ll end up having Dominic, Megan, and Reyes out here searching for you, too.” He caressed her cheek. “I can keep them distracted for a short time.”
She smiled warmly. “Thank you.”
Heading back toward the house, he hated leaving her alone. But he knew she needed the time alone, and even though he didn’t want to separate from her, he would. Then he thought of something. “Oh, Tiffany, one more thing.” He turned back to face her. “Never strike me again.” His tone was laced with warning.
Grinning crookedly, she asked, “And what if I do?”
Without hesitation, he said, “I’ll be forced to punish you.” He kept his eyes focused on her, his expression unflinching.
“Punish me,” she asked, gasping, folding her arms across her chest defiantly. “And how exactly would you punish me?”
He closed the distance yet again, spun her around, and gave her cute little ass a solid pat, then spun her back around to gaze into her astonished eyes.
Her mouth was hanging open. “I can’t believe you just spanked me.”
He ran his thumb along her jawline. “Believe it,” he teased and then added, “But mostly remember it.” Then he turned and went back into the house.
* * * *
“I need a beer,” Ryder grumbled, entering the living room where Dominic and Megan sat cozied up together.
His gut rolled with nerves, and his mind wouldn’t shut down. Something was off about Tiffany, and as much as he enjoyed kissing her, he would never do it again. The feeling was all wrong.
An unsettling sensation eclipsed him as he strolled away from her in the garden, leaving him hollowed. An emptiness he couldn’t describe consumed him. The moment he released Tiffany from his kiss, an enormous amount of guilt sank into the pit of his stomach. At first, he blamed it on her magic, but now, after walking away from her, he still felt as if he’d been caught cheating.
He glanced over his shoulder at Dominic and Megan. “I’ll be back,” he said, reaching for a leather jacket that was hung on the back of a chair, most likely one of Dominic’s. “I need to borrow this.”
Ryder thought he’d be able to leave, to disappear for a few hours while he sorted his thoughts, but as usual Megan wouldn’t let him. Her incessant need to know everything was starting to become annoying. Now he understood why she and Zane made incredible friends. Zane was Megan, but with a dick.
“How long will you be gone?” Megan asked, standing. “We’re leaving first thing in the morning.” Her expression remained blank, but he could sense her curiosity digging away at him like one of her scalpels.
Ryder sighed. Even though he knew something was different about Tiffany, he wasn’t about to forgo his duty. He promised Sebastian he’d protect her, and he would. “Don’t worry, Doc. I just need a few hours to clear my head.”
Dominic chuckled. “Getting sloppy drunk won’t do that.”
He shot Dominic a cold stare, clenching his jaw. Why does everyone have to bust my balls?
“That bike in the front? Is it yours?” He shot the question at Dominic.
“Yep,” Dominic replied, his eyes darting up over the paper he was studying. “You want to take it?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”
Dominic clasped the paper in one hand, lifted his hips up off the sofa, dug into his pants pocket, and tossed Ryder the keys to his bike. “Have her home before morning,” he told him with a wink.
“You got it,” Ryder said, tossing the leather coat over his shoulder as he stalked from the house.
The motorcycle was a gorgeous machine, a silver-and-black cruiser that was made for hauling ass and going the distance. He preferred bikes like this one over the crotch-rocket kind. He was just too damn large for one of those type bikes, and since Dominic was almost his equal in size, the bike felt perfect as he straddled it.
He turned the key, put the bike in neutral, and hit the button to fire up the engine. The loud pipes roared, rumbling a beat that caused him to smile just a little. Zipping up his borrowed jacket, he found a pair of gloves stashed on the tank in a leather pocket and put them on. Suited up and ready, he raised the kickstand, put the bike in gear, and headed out. As he approached the gate it opened automatically.
The country roads that surrounded Reyes’s property were ideal for taking a bike out for a spin. The twists and turns of the paved roads thrilled him, almost as much as letting out his hybrid mix and running wild through the night. This was the next best thing. No doubt about it.
The day melted away, and night had fallen. His few hours had turned into an entire-day affair, and he never even made it to the bar for his drink. Instead, he rode the motorcycle, riding clear up to Oklahoma and back down to Dallas, finding every country road he could along the way.
Deciding it was best to head back, he turned in the direction of Reyes’s estate and sighed. Even though he’d been gone all day, he still hadn’t figured out what he was going to do about Tiffany. He realized he shouldn’t care, that it was best to let sleeping dogs lie, but his dumb ass had gone and kissed her, and he had no idea what that meant. All he knew was that it made him feel dirty, like he had done something evil by touching her.
Was it guilt knowing that Zane wanted her and that he simply didn’t give a shit? Could it be the magic he felt pouring out of her?
Fuck. He didn’t know.
As his mind danced with even more questions, another motorcyclist pulled up alongside him. Judging from the mouthwatering curves of the body, the rider was a woman, a long-legged female wearing a shiny black leather riding suit and full-face helmet. She sped up, her long black braid dangling down her back.
Suddenly his cock was hard, and it had everything to do with the teasing woman beside him, revving the engine of the motorcycle and his libido. He was still a man after all.
To his surprise, she kept glancing over at him, and he figured that if he lifted the face shield of her helmet she’d be grinning back at him, licking her luscious lips.
Then she slowed to ride directly beside him, taking one hand off the handlebars to wave him forward with her index finger as if to ask him to follow her. His cock jumped, and no matter how much he knew he should return to the estate, he couldn’t seem to steer the bike in any direction except the one she was going in.
Curiosity’s a bitch.
She took them down a dirt path and down a road with absolutely no one about. No homes, no cars, simply a desolate area. She stopped and slowly got off her bike, and he did the same.
Approaching her slowly, he ran his hand through his windswept hair, trying to tame the wild strands. As he closed the distance, she hadn’t removed her helmet, and he prayed she wasn’t hiding from him because she was unsightly. That would suck.
“The name’s Ryder,” he said with a snicker, thinking about how much his name sounded like ride her, which was exactly what he’d like to do at present. Surely a body like hers would eradicate any thought of Tiffany from his mind.
Torturing him, she removed her helmet, keeping her face turned away from him. The moment she faced him, his entire world imploded.
“Bianca,” he gasped, his eyes not believing what they were seeing. “You’re dead. I killed you.”
Bianca laughed coldly and said, “No, Ryder, I’m very much alive and I think we need to talk.”
In an instant, she raised her hand, holding what resembled a pipe, and struck him h
ard up against the side of his head. Stars burst from behind his eyes, and the darkness crept over him like a warm, welcoming blanket. The bitch was back, and he was doomed.
Chapter Seven
“Has anyone seen Ryder?” Tiffany asked, finishing her dinner.
Zane and Megan had cooked a delicious Italian meal that had her wanting seconds, and had her nerves not been churning a little more than normal, she might have indulged.
“I thought you guys said he only went out for a few hours. He’s been gone all day.”
Tiffany couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of what happened between them in the garden. They’d kissed, but more importantly, he’d seen her do magic. She licked her dry lips, suddenly even more anxious.
“Nope,” Dominic said, “don’t worry, Tiffany. He’ll be back before we leave.”
Zane rose from the table and began clearing away the dishes. She sensed his growing tension. “None of you find it strange that he would just leave?” Zane asked. “Especially with what’s been going on?”
Megan shrugged her shoulders, following him into the kitchen with her own plate and empty glass. “Perhaps he just needs to blow off some steam.”
“He’s not one of us,” Reyes said plainly. “It can’t be easy being a hybrid, and it can’t be easy being around people who are not your family and not part of your pack.”
The room fell silent at Reyes’s words, and everyone glanced away except for Tiffany. Apparently, no one had considered what it was like to be on the outside looking in. “Technically, I’m not one of you either.”
“Bullshit,” Dominic spat, catching Tiffany off guard with his brusque rebuttal. “You are definitely one of us.” As he stood, he pointed in her direction, using his finger to stress his thoughts. “You’ve been marked by the pack, and that means you are protected by us just like any other member.”
She shook her head. “But I’m not a wolf.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Megan said, sitting down beside her, placing her hand over top of hers. “Tiffany, you are special to us. Not just Sebastian. We all care about you.”
