Adele, Claire - Guardian of His Soul [Wolves of West Texas 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (2 page)

Chapter Two

Juan needed to call Derek and get out of here. He didn’t have time to hang around this seductive woman. She called to him like a mythical siren. Slender, with her graceful neck, straight shoulders, and long legs, she moved with an ethereal beauty. The soft lantern light of her entry hall revealed that her short, straight, reddish-brown hair barely covered her ears and the nape of her neck. Her bangs feathered over her forehead, almost hid her light-brown eyebrows, and teased her eyelids. She was beautiful, with those hazel eyes, a slender nose, and full, dark pink lips.

After being turned down by Angie Silva, he had no plans to get involved this soon, or ever look for lasting love again. Being a shape-shifter, it was just as well.

These days, he didn’t intend to pursue anything more than hot sex. After his run-in with the Hawks, he wanted this woman naked and in every way he could think to take her, now.

It wouldn’t be too hard to slip her ivory silk robe off her shoulders and lift her short, pink pajama top up and off. When the robe parted with her long strides, he also noticed a narrow line of lace along the bottom of her short, pink, boxer-style pajama bottoms. It would be so easy to slip his hand beneath that lace and pleasure her, taste her. He’d love the feel of those long shapely legs wrapped around him.

Dios
. What was his problem? He’d never before had such a strong, immediate hunger after a fight. With his sense of smell still heightened, he detected her arousal. Could his need stem from her attraction to him as well? Or was it only the result of the fight with the Hawks?

He imagined making love to her on her dark brown sofa, or up against the beige walls, or on the pink marble kitchen counter. The soft pink Oriental rug would be different, even her bed. It didn’t matter where. He wanted to plunge balls-deep inside her wet, slick pussy, and find release while she found hers. The image had his cock rising hard and ready.

Violence had no place here. He must control his beast’s feral instincts. He swiped his fingers through his hair.
Get a grip, Enriquez
.

He needed to contact Derek and report what happened tonight with the Hawks gang.

“May I use your phone?” He twisted on the sofa as his gaze followed her.

“Oh. Sorry, I forgot. Here you go.” She grabbed a phone from the kitchen counter and crossed the room to hand it to him.

“Thanks.” Juan rose from the sofa and strode the length of the den as he pressed the keys. Derek answered. “Hey, I had some trouble with a few of the Hawks when I followed ’em. My car needs a tow. Can you call Ramon to haul it in?” Derek’s assurance took the car off Juan’s mind. “I’ll need a lift home, too.” Didn’t sound like Derek was in the mood to come get him now. “I know it’s late, but—”

“You can spend the night on my sofa, if you need to,” she offered.

He turned. Her arms and hands were full of towels and bags of ice. He couldn’t help smiling at the sight. She looked like she meant business. “Sounds like a plan. Hey, Derek, give me a lift in the morning, okay? Yeah, the address is…” He looked at her.

“Six, one, one, zero Mountain Laurel,” she answered.

Juan gave Derek the address and told him he’d see him in the morning.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I gave you my name. Juan Enriquez.”

“I’m Cynthia Krystal.” She grinned at him, and her face lit up as her eyes sparkled.

“Good to meet you, Cynthia.”

“I’m happy to meet you, too,” she said. “I couldn’t help hearing you say that you were following the Hawks. Are they the guys who attacked you with such viciousness?”

“Yeah,” he answered, softly. “I’m a private investigator along with my business partners, Derek and Mike Wolfson. We’ve been investigating the illegal activities of the Hawks’ gang for a while. We’re hoping to find evidence that will put them in prison. They’re a ruthless gang of criminals.”

“Oh,” she said, her eyes wide. “What’s the name of your business?”

“It’s Desert Edge Investigations. Let me help you with those ice bags.” He reached out, but she took a step back. He lifted his eyebrows in question.

“Now that I think about it, I imagine you’d like a shower first. I have some clean clothing you can wear afterward, and I’ll wash your clothes for you.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Who was he to refuse her request when she’d come to his aid?

“The bathroom is down the hall, and there are clean towels in a basket in the corner. Help yourself.”

Juan could think of more than a shower he’d like to help himself to. “Thanks, Cynthia. I won’t be long.”

“Just drop your dusty clothes outside the door, and I’ll throw them in the washing machine.”

“Will do.” He’d best head for a cold shower quick if he knew what was good for him.

* * * *

Cynthia put the ice bags in the freezer and gathered the pile of clothing he’d left outside the bathroom door. She could hear the shower going and Juan humming a song to himself. It made her smile. She’d never heard a guy humming in her shower before. It was nice.

After checking his clothes size, she put his clothing in the washer and headed for the garage, where she stored clean clothing ready to be taken to the Desert Edge Rescue Mission downtown. Digging through one of the boxes, she finally found a T-shirt and jeans that should fit Juan’s long legs and narrow hips.

She couldn’t help but notice his trim butt as he walked down the hall to the bath. When she’d helped him outside, the feel of his lean, well-muscled body had amazed her. She folded the clothing and left it on the floor outside the bathroom door.

There was no underwear for him. It wasn’t collected for the people at the rescue mission, only outer clothing. Underwear had to be purchased new. However, the thought of him with only jeans and T-shirt was inspiring.

The shower water quieted. He was finished and would soon rejoin her. She imagined water dripping over that tanned skin and down his torso.

Oh, my
. Aching heat spread between her thighs. The vision of him filling her needy flesh left her wet and aching. What was she thinking? What was the matter with her? She didn’t even know this man. It must be the full moon.

The bathroom door opened briefly and closed. It would look odd if she was waiting on the sofa when he came down the hall. She busied herself gathering ice packs from the freezer.

“Thank you for the shower. It felt great.”

“Oh!” She hadn’t heard him enter the kitchen. He walked so quietly. “You’re very welcome. I have the ice packs. Come sit on the sofa, and I’ll help you with them. You’ll have to show me where the worst of the bruises are. Those on your face are obvious. I mean, I can’t see the others under your clothing.”

She gabbed nervously. Her face heated with embarrassment. His proximity and the thought of his bare skin made her self-conscious after daydreaming about him. He smelled wonderful and masculine. Carrying the ice packs, she headed for the den sofa, figuring it would be easiest to arrange the ice packs there.

He followed her, and when she turned to face him, he was carefully pulling his shirt off over his head. She imagined his bruises hurt, and he didn’t want the worst abrasions on his face to start to bleed. She thought of telling him to leave his shirt on, but he was right. It would be easier to apply the ice packs with his skin bared to reveal the bruises.

The lamplight glinted off a gold wolf’s head pendant and chain he wore around his neck, the bruises around his throat a dark contrast. His shirt had hidden the gold chain until now. She should have given him a button-up shirt to make undressing easier for him. How silly she didn’t think of it before. The night’s events and this gorgeous man made her spacey.

His trim waist supported magnificent abs. His chest was broad and muscular. Spread across his chest, a sprinkling of dark hair tapered to a narrow line between his abs and descended beneath his jeans waistline. The bulge below made her look away as she tried not to notice. Her breaths increased in spite of herself. She glanced up to meet his gaze as he eased the shirt off and tossed it over the arm of the sofa.

He stood looking at her with a hint of a smile on his face. He must be well aware how his body affected women.

“Let’s sit on the sofa, and I’ll put the ice packs where you need them.” He complied. She sat down near him and put the ice packs in her lap. Lord, they were cold. Probably a good thing for her, too. She needed cooling down.

“Lean back against the pillows in the corner there.” He did as she directed. “You’ll need to hold the ice packs against the bruises on your face. Here, let me help you.” As he gripped a small bag of ice, she held his hand lightly to guide him. His skin was warm and pleasant to the touch.

Surprisingly, the scrapes already looked better. Satisfied that he covered one of the worst abrasions on his face at the corner of his mouth, she gave him another ice pack and directed his other hand to a swollen bruise at his hairline above his temple on the opposite side of his face. Reaching upward, she lost her balance and caught herself with her hand right on top of the wolf‘s head pendant hanging from the gold chain over his heart.

He dropped the ice bag he’d held against his mouth and covered her hand with his. His heat and the strong beats of his heart slammed into her palm. His erection nudged her belly hard.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” she said.

“No problem.” His voice sounded soft and deep, like velvet, and his slight smile reached his eyes, the lamplight shimmering in them.

Her gaze dropped to his lips. What would his kisses feel like? Suddenly, the nearness of his face dawned on her as his breath caressed her. Heat rose like an open fire. She looked away and slipped her hand from under his as she sat up and gathered another ice bag from beside her.

Scanning his torso for bruises, she composed herself, unable to decide which one was the worst. “You’re bruised in so many places. I’ll hand you the ice packs and you can put them where you need them.”

His smile broadened, and she expected him to laugh out loud at her, but his lips twitched as he worked to control his humor. Obviously he was affected by their proximity as well. This close to him, her body was so aroused she wouldn’t mind getting to know him better. She hadn’t experienced such a reaction since she’d met her now-divorced husband.

She handed him the ice packs as he placed them over his abs and waist where he‘d been pummeled by those thugs. She picked up the small bag he’d dropped when he’d covered her hand. Leaning close again, she held the bag in both hands.

He raised his hand, but instead of taking the ice, he slipped his arm around her back and gently pulled her closer. Wondering what he intended, Cynthia waited, spellbound.

“Thank you,
querida
.” He angled his head and brushed his lips across hers. She sat still, captivated by him. Her lips registered every subtle touch and nuance of his warm kiss…and tingled with the sensations.

With that one soft kiss, everything in her world changed. She recognized it as clearly as if the earth had shifted on its axis. Although she had no idea where this would lead, she would never be the same.

Unnerved, she broke the kiss. “You’re welcome,” was all she could think of to say. It had been a long time for her. Until this moment, she hadn’t known she was ready to meet someone new, or explore another relationship.

Again, he smiled at her with that slight upward tilt of the corners of his mouth. His arm dropped from her back, and she groped for his hand and placed the ice bag in it. She leaned her side against the back of the sofa and watched him as he pressed the bag to the bruised part of his lips.

“You should keep those ice bags on for another ten minutes, and then we’ll take them off for a while. I have a soothing lotion we can put on the bruises around your throat, instead of using ice there.”