Ice Age Lover
Marisa Chenery
Book four in the Werewolf Sentinels series.
Dumped and abandoned on a trip to Alaska by her now ex-boyfriend, Jaren has nowhere to go and no money, until a sexy knight in shining armor appears and, like any good hero, rescues her. And she repays him by getting drunk and riding him like her favorite amusement park ride. Well done.
Kajakti was more than pleased to find his mate, but when his erotic dream turns out to be reality, he has no idea how to break it to Jaren that she cemented the mating bond by seducing him in his sleep. And the topper is, she doesn’t even know he’s a werewolf. A fine mess indeed.
As Kajakti prepares to reveal all to the woman he loves, the dark wolves make a new move that could shift the balance in the war against them and put the sentinels at risk. Kajakti gets the first taste of it, which threatens not only him, but his unturned mate.
A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Ice Age Lover
Marisa Chenery
Chapter One
Kajakti slowed his steps as he walked down the stairs in the house he shared with his wolf brothers and three of their mates. He spotted Eryn and Wachei in the main-floor entranceway kissing, locked in each other’s embrace. The sense of restlessness with his life, that seemed to take him over more often than not lately, hit him. It wasn’t that he was unhappy with this new world he’d awakened to after sleeping in an ice cave on an Alaskan glacier for ten thousand years. It was more as if he felt there were something missing from it.
And he had an idea what his problem was, having it hit home as he watched the couple downstairs. Now that three of his wolf brothers had found their mates, Kajakti wanted what they had. He missed having a woman in his arms.
It had been well over a year since his alpha’s mate had found him and his five wolf brothers, but he had yet to seek out female companionship. Kajakti had been waiting, hoping he’d find the woman meant for him like the shaman—who had turned him and put him to sleep in the ice cave—had promised would happen once Kajakti had awakened. But now it was time for him to seek out a willing woman. And if she happened not to be his mate, he’d have to pick one who wouldn’t want anything permanent from him. He needed a woman’s hands on his body, stroking, giving him pleasure.
Wachei’s and Eryn’s few whispered words to each other stopped as Wachei backed his mate against the wall and deepened the kiss they shared. Kajakti walked down the rest of the steps and loudly cleared his throat to get the couple’s attention.
“I’m ready to go whenever you two are,” he said.
Eryn and Wachei broke apart. His wolf brother turned to face Kajakti and blinked a few times, the muted glow in his eyes disappearing. Kajakti noticed Eryn’s glowed as well. A werewolf’s eyes only did that when they were very turned-on or angry. There was no mistaking which emotion Wachei and Eryn experienced.
“So are we,” Eryn said.
Kajakti chuckled inside. Oh yeah, she and Wachei were definitely ready to go. As in locking themselves upstairs in their bedroom for hours while they made love.
He followed the couple outside and to Eryn’s pickup truck, which was parked in front of the garage. Since it didn’t have an extended cab, all three of them would have to squeeze onto the one bench seat. Kajakti waited until Wachei slid in next to his mate before he climbed inside and shut the passenger door.
“So where is it you want me to drop you off?” Eryn asked.
“Just somewhere downtown.”
“Why? What’s there?”
“That is where there will be a lot of people.”
“And why would that be important?”
Kajakti sighed. “Won’t you leave it at that?”
Eryn chuckled. “No, I won’t, Dog. You’ve never wanted to hang out downtown before.”
Wachei’s mate was the only one who called Kajakti “Dog”. The nickname had come about when Wachei brought Eryn over for the first time. Kajakti had been in his dire wolf form and had gone to the front of the house when he’d heard the pickup pull into the driveway. He’d remained in that form and gone up to Eryn. That had caused Wachei to tell her that Kajakti was the family pet, half wolf and half dog, and that his name was Dog. Now that Eryn knew it was Kajakti, she called him by that nickname when she wanted to bug him or, as in this case, try to get something out of him.
“Fine, I might as well tell you since you’ll continue to slam me with questions until I do. It’s time I look for a woman.”
“You mean like your mate?”
“Ideally, yes, but if I don’t find her today then one who won’t mind sharing the night with me without expecting anything more.”
“So, in other words, you want to get laid,” Eryn said with a chuckle.
Kajakti leaned forward to look around Wachei at Eryn. He, along with Edensaw, Wachei, Ketah, Capac and Durlach, had finally learned enough modern-day sayings not to be lost whenever one was used. Carson, Eryn’s real brother, who Wachei had turned to become the newest member of the sentinels, had taken it upon himself to teach them. So Kajakti knew exactly what Eryn meant by “get laid”.
“So what if I do?” he asked. “I don’t have to be mated to have hours of sex.”
“I really didn’t need that mental image,” Wachei said with a grimace.
Kajakti shook his head. “Hey, you can’t tell me you and Eryn aren’t going to be doing that once you get back home. We all know what you two are up to when you disappear inside your bedroom with the door locked. Same as when Edensaw and Cassidy, and Ketah and Haven, do it.”
“Okay, let’s stay clear of that subject,” Eryn said. “If you’re really serious about having a one-night stand or a few nights with a woman and nothing beyond that, I suggest you don’t go for one who lives here. Try to hook up with a tourist. Most of them only stay in Juneau for a week or two.”
Actually, that sounded like a really good idea. “Okay, I’ll set my sights on a tourist. Where would be the best place to meet one?”
“You need to go to one of the hotel bars. I’ll drop you off near the Westmark Baranof Hotel. The Bubble Room Lounge is the name of their bar. You should be able to find someone there.”
Kajakti had never been to a bar before, but from what he’d seen on television it was a place where a lot of single people went to drink and find a potential partner. Surely he could find a woman who would be interested in him in a place like that.
“All right. I’ll go to the hotel’s bar.”
Eryn dropped him off down the street from the hotel, and Kajakti waved as she and Wachei drove away. He had his cell phone with him and would call to be picked up later. If things went as planned, he hoped it wouldn’t be until the following morning.
He set off down the sidewalk and headed closer to the hotel. With his acute werewolf sight, he was able to see the figure of a woman in front of the building. She had a large suitcase beside her. As she turned her head and looked in his direction, Kajakti found himself attracted. She was beautiful, even with the sad expression she wore. Maybe he wouldn’t have to go to the bar, after all. She had to be a tourist if he went by the luggage she had with her.
He continued walking toward her. He wasn’t close enough for her to notice him just yet so he used the opportunity to run his gaze over her. She wore a gray, long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans that were tight all the way down to her ankles. There was no hiding her long, shapely legs or slim body. She appeared to be around five-foot-five, which put her at the right height for his six-foot-one frame to tuck her under his chin when he held her tight. Kajakti definitely liked what he saw and thought she’d be perfect.
Her long, golden-brown hair lifted in the breeze as it changed direction. It bl
ew toward Kajakti, bringing the woman’s scent with it. Since she stood alone it was easy for him to single it out. It caused him to come to a sudden standstill. His whole body stiffened, even his cock, as the scent slammed into him and set off his mating urge. With new sensations coursing through every inch of him, Kajakti took a few seconds to get them under control before he continued to walk to the woman who would be his mate.
Jaren brushed away the strands of hair that had blown into her face. She had absolutely no idea what the hell she was going to do. All she did know was she couldn’t stand outside the hotel for hours, but she couldn’t make herself do anything else. Her boyfriend, no, her ex-boyfriend, had fucked her over pretty good. They’d been going through a rough patch in their relationship, and she’d thought this Alaskan trip would have helped fix it. She’d never expected him to up and leave her stranded with no way of returning to her home in British Columbia.
She tucked her hair behind her ears as the breeze tugged at it once more. Jaren looked down the sidewalk, then found her gaze caught on an extremely good-looking man who appeared to be staring right at her as he walked closer. His black, straight hair was longer than hers. From his bronze skin tone, she figured he had to be a native. She couldn’t see what color his eyes were, but she guessed they were brown. His gaze seemed to be eating her up. He also had a body that was well-padded with muscle, which she couldn’t help noticing through the black t-shirt and snug jeans he wore.
Jaren’s heart beat a little faster as he neared. His gaze had yet to leave her, and he kept to a course that would take him directly to her. She swallowed once when she saw he was even better-looking the closer he came.
She pulled herself up a little straighter once he stopped in front of her and she gave him a tentative smile. He was tall, unlike her ex, who had only been a couple of inches taller than her. This man made her feel small, which a part of her actually liked.
He returned her smile, leaving Jaren feeling a bit weak in the knees. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi,” she replied.
“I couldn’t help noticing you were out here alone. Are you waiting for someone?”
At first, Jaren couldn’t get the words out and only shook her head. She cleared her throat and managed to say, “No, I’m not.”
He looked pointedly down at her suitcase. “Do you need some help?”
That simple question was so much of an understatement it had her eyes tearing up with her unable to stop it. She blinked, desperately trying to pull herself together. All the horrible hours she’d endured so far without knowing where she’d even end up, it was too much for Jaren. The first person who actually offered to be of assistance, even if it was only to help her with her luggage, had her blubbering like a baby.
Instead of looking at her as if she were a crazy woman, he stepped closer and gathered her close with her face pressed against the front of his shirt. That only made Jaren blubber even more. He rubbed her back and let her cry herself out.
Once her tears ran out, and she finally could breathe without hiccupping, Jaren became more aware of the man who held her so tenderly. It felt good to have his arms wrapped around her. She felt safe, protected, which was ridiculous since she didn’t know him, not even his name. She then picked up on how good he smelled. His scent was of clean man and some kind of aftershave he wore. She pressed her nose closer to his shirt and just breathed.
“Are you okay now?” he asked.
His deep voice rumbled out of his chest. Jaren wanted to snuggle deeper into his embrace, but she’d already pushed it by crying in his arms. She reluctantly took a step back and wiped her wet cheeks with the back of her hand.
“I’m done,” she said. “Sorry. I’m sure you thoroughly enjoyed having a strange woman crying her heart out in your arms.”
He gave her a lopsided grin. “I didn’t mind. It gave me a good excuse to hold you.”
She felt her cheeks warm. “I’m usually not prone to crying. It’s just today has been rather a bad one with no end in sight. I guess I should introduce myself after I soaked the front of your t-shirt. I’m Jaren.”
“I’m Kajakti. How about we go into the hotel’s bar and have a drink and you can tell me all about it. I think I deserve that much. Plus, it’ll be my treat.”
It was too good of an offer to pass up. It would get her off the street, and she really could use a drink, maybe two. Who was she kidding? She wanted nothing more than to drown her sorrows in a bucket of alcohol, but she doubted Kajakti would buy her that many rounds.
“Okay, I’d like that,” she said.
Jaren reached for her suitcase but Kajakti snagged it first and lifted it off the sidewalk. He then motioned with his free hand for her to go ahead of him inside the hotel. Once they walked through the doors and into the lobby, he walked at her side as she headed for the bar.
She’d been in the Bubble Room Lounge with her ex a few times since they’d arrived at the hotel two days ago. It also had been the place where their last big fight had started, which had ended in their room.
They took a seat at one of the small tables and shortly after a waitress came to take their drink order. Needing something stronger than a glass of wine, Jaren asked for vanilla vodka on the rocks. Kajakti ordered a beer.
Once their drinks had been served, Kajakti said, “So tell me what upset you so much.”
Jaren took a sip of her vodka. It burned all the way down but it was exactly what she needed. She took another drink. A small voice in the back of her head told her drinking strong alcohol on an empty stomach probably wasn’t a wise idea, but she chose to ignore it.
“Boyfriend troubles,” she said after she took a third sip of her drink. Already she felt a little better.
Kajakti jerked and his body stiffened. “You have a boyfriend?”
“Well, as of this morning, Matt is no longer my boyfriend. He up and deserted me.”
“What did he do?”
Jaren drank more of her vodka, feeling a little buzz happening. She chuckled with no humor. “Where do I start?”
“How about from the beginning?”
“All right. It was my idea to come to Juneau for a week. We were having some problems in our relationship, and I thought this little vacation would bring us closer together. Boy was I wrong. Matt’s idea of making things better was to belittle me and say I was the problem, that I wasn’t willing to commit myself fully to him. He wanted me to move in with him, no longer work, and then after we got married, raise the kids that would eventually come along while he would be allowed to do as he pleased.”
“You obviously told him no.”
“Yeah, I told him no, all right. That really made him angry since out of the year we’d been dating I hadn’t disagreed with him once. He didn’t like that I showed some backbone.”
“Then what happened?”
Jaren downed the last of her drink. “I woke up in our room here in the hotel to find Matt gone, along with his luggage. But the real nasty surprise was when an employee knocked on the door and told me I had to leave because Matt had checked us out. And to make things even worse, he took my passport, plane ticket and all the cash we’d brought with us. I stupidly let him talk me into giving him my credit cards to hold on to for safekeeping. I can’t call any of my friends to ask them to send money for me to buy another ticket since none of them can afford it. And I won’t be able to cross the border back into Canada without my passport, which I can’t do anything about getting replaced because it’s a Saturday and the Canadian consulate is closed for the weekend.”
Once she started talking, Jaren wasn’t able to stop until she told Kajakti everything that had happened to her. It felt good to have done it, or maybe it was the vodka, which seemed to have gone straight to her head.
Kajakti drank the rest of his beer and motioned to the waitress across the room that they wanted another round. Once that arrived, he said, “So you have nowhere to go.”
“To put it bluntly, no. After I was kicked out of my
room I spent the majority of the day sitting in the lobby, feeling hopelessly lost.”
“The bastard. How could he do something like that to you?”
She snorted after she took a big swallow of her vodka. “I think he did it to prove a point. To show me exactly how much I need to depend on him. That I can’t survive without him.” Her breath hitched. “I hate to say it, but Matt put me in a spot where I do need him back, or at least the things he took from me.”
Kajakti made a sound that was close to an animalistic growl. “You don’t need him. You’ll be perfectly fine.”
Jaren shook her head. “How? As things stand right now, I’ll be sleeping on the street tonight.”
“No, you won’t. You’re welcome to stay at my house. There’s enough room for you.”
She was well on her way to getting drunk but she wasn’t that far gone to lose all common sense. She really knew nothing about Kajakti. “I really don’t know if that would be a good idea.”
He leaned forward and captured her hand. “You don’t have anything to fear with me. I would never do you harm. If it makes you feel better, I don’t live alone. I have nine roommates, three of who are women, wives to my friends. You’ll be perfectly safe, and it will be a lot better than the street.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of people in one house.”
Jaren paused to think over what Kajakti had said. She had to face it, she was desperate. Plus, he was the only person who’d offered any kind of assistance. Even the hotel staff hadn’t been able to do anything for her.
Finally, she nodded. “Okay, thanks for being so generous and taking in a stranded Canadian. Is it all right if we have another drink after we finish these?”
Kajakti chuckled. “Sure.” He squeezed her hand before he let it go. “You’ll be okay now, Jaren. I’ll be here for you.”
Looking into his eyes and seeing how serious he was, Jaren believed every word Kajakti said. For the first time in hours, she felt as if she could actually take a deep breath.
Ice Age Lover Page 1
