Found in Flames (6 page)

Unfortunately, Char noticed him, too. His eyes immediately widened and he spun, a curse falling from his lips simultaneously.

The wolf—Luka, she was certain, despite that she’d never seen his wolf form—was primed to sink his fangs into Char’s collar, just shy of his throat, when Char’s body burst into ash and embers. The fire immediately snuffed out, thick, dark plumes of smoke rising up to the sky before dissipating on the wind. Luka crash-landed on the ground, skidding to a halt mere inches from
Joella’s
feet. He shook his head, coughing up ash, before finally looking up at her.

And she was right, it was definitely Luka. She recognized his deep, powerful, captivating eyes. They lost nothing of their allure in his canine form. But more than that, it seemed the scar she’d seen in the cave haunted this form, too. It was stretched, but still curved around his jaw and under his eye. Instead of looking like a scar on flesh, though, it was a flowing trail of furless skin, a trail, she realized, that wound down his throat and right front leg. It even appeared to dip onto his chest, but she couldn’t quite tell.

“Luka,” she said finally, taking a half-step backwards and dropping to her knees. The pup in her arms adjusted enough to look over and whimpered. This time it sounded more shameful than fearful.

Luka huffed, shook himself, and turned completely around. He took half a dozen steps before his body rippled, the fur receding as he began to shift.
Joella
could only watch, transfixed, as dark fur sank into quickly
pinkening
flesh. The thick tail swished and shortened rapidly until it was gone and Luka’s back arched, front paws coming off the ground. With a final roll of his shoulders he straightened, standing firmly on two human legs. Completely bare.

Joella’s
cheeks flushed as she found herself staring unabashedly at his naked ass. His tight, perfectly rounded, naked ass. Which was beneath his strong, taut back. She’d never realized it before, but apparently she found strong shoulders
incredibly
attractive. And when she was finally able to pull her eyes away from those two distracting aspects of her new view, she realized even his damned legs were sexy. Seriously, weren’t men supposed to be the ones with leg fetishes?

She groaned and squeezed her eyes shut when he bent to retrieve something from the base of a nearby tree.
There’s a child in your arms, for goodness sake, Ella!

On cue, the boy began carefully squirming. Assuming this meant he wanted down, she set him gently back on his feet, only belatedly remembering that he’d had an injured paw. He promptly lifted it, licking at it with his ears down.

“Let me see?” she asked softly, holding a hand out.

He looked up at her and extended his paw, allowing her to examine the pad. As she’d suspected, one of the toe pads was cut, though no longer actually bleeding. He’d probably stepped on a sharp rock or something in his panicked flight. But at least he would be okay.

“Are you hurt?” Luka asked, coming to stand behind the boy. His feet were bare, but she quickly registered the sight of denim around his ankles. He was at least dressed enough for her to safely look up at him, then.

Releasing the paw,
Joella
lifted her gaze to the man who’d saved her—again—and shook her head. “No, I—” She cut herself off when she realized pants were the only thing he’d put on. He was still mouth-wateringly shirtless. And that scar, as she’d noticed earlier, really did wind down his throat, over his shoulder, and down his right arm. Almost to his elbow. But only an inch or so curled onto his chest.

Clearing her throat, she pushed to her feet and said, “I’m fine. Thank you. But he has a cut.”

Luka’s attention dropped to the pup, who was looking up at him with his ears back in expectation of a scolding. He looked for all the world like a regular puppy who’d had an accident in the house. Instead of saying anything, Luka scooped the pup up with his free hand, holding him around the middle and against his side for support. “He’ll be fine,” Luka replied as he swung the bag she’d barely noticed over his opposite shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Six

“I don’t think he’s figured out where the den is, though,”
Joella
finished quietly. Her tone was appropriate for the somber mood of the evening.

“How would you know?” Vanna challenged, arms crossed over her chest.

She sensed Luka tense beside her and spoke before he could start growling, her voice calm. She met the female wolf’s glare with steady eyes. “Because he wouldn’t have asked me to lead him here if he did. He would’ve just killed us and moved on.”

Undaunted, Vanna returned, “He could’ve just been playing with you. Or, hell, maybe you’re lying to us. Maybe you did tell him.”

At this
Joella
sucked in an insulted breath as outrage flared within her. Luka, who was sitting closest to her, reached over as if to hold her in place. Whatever he was going to say, though, was again interrupted. This time by Michelle.

“Bite your tongue, Vanna,” Michelle snapped. She brushed her fingers through the hair of her nearest son, whose head was resting in her lap as he slept off his afternoon exertion. “If it weren’t for
Joella
and Emily my boys would be dead. And unless your nose is broken you know darn well she’s not lying.”

Releasing a breath, Vanna argued, “Fine, then. Maybe she—”

“Enough,” Luka finally cut in, keeping his voice low. He narrowed a firm glare on Vanna and added, “Find a way to get over this petty jealousy of yours, because I’m sick of it.”

Vanna’s eyes went wide and
Joella
pulled in a deep breath. For as surprised as Vanna obviously was,
Joella
was just as shocked. She honestly hadn’t expected Luka to call out his own pack member on her behavior, at least, not quite so publicly.

When Vanna finally bowed her head and muttered an apology, Luka lifted his gaze to the gathered group. Only Max and Emily were absent. Emily had been badly wounded in her fight, so naturally her husband—or, as Luka had explained, ‘mate’—refused to leave her side. Luka had also explained that for as bad as Emily’s injuries were, thanks to some impressive werewolf healing, Emily was expected back on her feet by the end of the week. Assuming, of course, that Char didn’t find them before then. And apparently the fact that he was even looking startled Luka.
Joella
had the distinct impression that Char had never bothered to pursue them so blatantly.

“Russell, Chad,” Luka began firmly, dragging
Joella
back to the moment. “You’re on perimeter duty tonight. Vanna, Morgan, I want you hunting at first light.” Four heads bowed silently in obedience and Luka pushed to his feet. “Get some rest.” He held out a hand to
Joella
as the rest of the pack broke, heading out to their chosen spots, and quietly added, “Let’s go.”

Joella
looked up at him, confused by his instruction. She took his hand anyway and asked, “Go where?”

He didn’t answer. Instead he adjusted his hold on her hand and led her away. She assumed they were returning to the cave he seemed to sleep in, but he took her past it. Past what passed for a tree line. They walked until she realized the dirt beneath her shoes was sprouting grass. Surprisingly green grass.

“Where are we?” she mumbled as they slowed to a stop. There were a couple of trees and a large, full bush around them, more grass than dirt on the ground. And something just ahead reflected the silver glow of the overhead moon. Something like water. She hadn’t even realized something like this was so close to the city!

Her distraction was quickly forgotten when Luka used their joined hands to pull her into his chest. One large, strong hand caught her cheek, fingers slipping into her hair, and his chest vibrated with a growl as he covered her lips with his.
Joella’s
eyes fell closed and she curled her fingers over his bare chest, the warmth of his skin shooting through her and fueling her renewed desire. She offered no resistance when his arm curled around her waist as his tongue invaded her mouth.

A moan escaped her when his fingers slipped beneath her no-longer-tucked-in shirt. He flattened his palm over her spine, pressing her closer as he sucked her tongue into his mouth. It was all she could do to push up to her tiptoes and wrap her arms around his shoulders, kissing him back feverishly. A stroke of the tongue, an arch of the back, a nip of the teeth, and a growl, and Luka slid a hand down her back until he had taken firm hold of her ass. He lifted her entirely from the ground, his other arm still wrapped around her torso, and plunged his tongue back into her mouth.

Instinct had
Joella
wrapping her legs around his hips, her fingers threading into his thick hair as she dragged her teeth over his tongue. His erection was pressing firmly against her inner thigh through the denim of his jeans and the thinner material of her slacks. She scraped her nails against his scalp as his tongue picked up a rhythm that sent liquid heat pooling low in her belly. He growled again against her lips, sending delicious shivers down her spine, and her hips rocked into his on instinct.

Luka hit his knees, the motion grinding their bodies closer together and pulling a moan from some part of her that
Joella
had nearly forgotten. And then she was on her back on the grass, Luka’s larger, sculpted body covering hers as he used the new angle to deepen his kiss. His powerful tongue was everywhere, stroking and rolling and teasing and driving her insane. Her nails scraped his scalp as she clung to him. He rumbled again, not quite a growl, and broke from the kiss.

Joella
hadn’t yet recovered her breath when Luka ripped her shirt off. The motion was so quick she wasn’t sure if he’d tugged it over her head or literally torn it in half. More importantly, she didn’t care. Either way his obvious need for her was sexy as hell. He was going to dominate her and she absolutely could not wait. So when he destroyed her bra she gave his hips a squeeze, caught his nearest wrist, and deliberately set his palm over her breast.

Luka didn’t require encouragement. His hand curled around her breast, fingers kneading and tormenting as his lips latched onto her throat. She moaned loudly, her hands sliding around his shoulders and torso in a desperate need to touch more of him. He sucked and licked on her throat while his thumb rubbed along her nipple and
Joella
swore foreplay was not supposed to feel
that
good. Then his kisses began trailing lower and her body quivered with anticipation. His tongue slid along her collarbone as he gave her breast a final squeeze. The next thing she knew, he’d latched his lips to her neglected nipple and was sucking hard.

She gasped, her back arching, and he slipped an arm behind her waist to hold her closer. His tongue stroked along her breast, teasing her nipple and sending fire through her veins, but it was nothing like when he nipped a moment later.
Joella
swore she was about to fall apart and he hadn’t even removed her pants!

As if reading her mind, Luka suddenly released her and dragged his large, calloused palms along her sides until he’d reached her knees. Deliberately pushing her legs to the ground. Her slacks, shoes, socks, and panties were gone in quick succession, tossed haphazardly aside one after the other. And just like that she was entirely bare and wantonly exposed in the moonlight beneath the most gorgeous and sinfully masculine man she’d ever known. But instead of scrunching his nose in distaste, Luka’s hands landed back on her thighs and slowly slid up, burning along her skin as he leaned forward. His chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath and he bowed his head, pressing a kiss to her belly button before moving lower.

His lips met her tender flesh and she moaned. Immediately he plunged his tongue into her center and
Joella
arched on a broken gasp. The fire already consuming her suddenly threatened to overtake her and her hips bucked as he continued to sweep his talented tongue into and around her center. He gave a long, slow lick before pulling back and her eyes were drawn to his on some silent command.

He held her gaze as he plunged two fingers deep into her core.

Her body arched, but he refused to let her look away. “Luka,” she pleaded breathlessly as his fingers began pumping into her.

“I’m going to ruin you, Ella,” he promised, his deep voice caressing her skin and raising goosebumps on her arms. Then he promptly lowered his head again, pumping harder, and caught her clit with his teeth. A lick, a sharp pump with his fingers, and a hard suck was all it took to send her flying over the edge.

Joella
cried out, her hips surging up to meet him of their own volition, as the fire within her finally found release.

He retreated, but it took her a moment to focus her attention. When she did she found him stepping out of his jeans. Her mouth watered at the impressive sight of his erection and her body temperature spiked again as his promise repeated in her memory. A man like him could ruin any woman he touched. And he wanted her.

Luka returned to her, bowing his head in order to drag his nose from her soaked center up, up, up to her throat where he growled and latched his lips to her skin. Kissing, licking, sucking,
nipping
. From the base of her throat to the underside of her jaw, slowly, while he pressed his hard and toned chest into her breasts and his erection teased her center. In no time
Joella
was burning again, so hot that she couldn’t help but squirm beneath him as her hands found purchase on his skin. One curled over his spine and the other returned to his hair.

“Let me hear you,” Luka rumbled with his lips grazing her ear.

In the next instant his hips snapped forward and he’d buried his entire length in her core.

Joella
cried out, her vision blurring for a moment as her back came as high off the ground as his body allowed. She tightened her hold on him, lifting a leg and curling it around his hip.

Luka growled in her ear, his forehead falling to her shoulder, and one hand landed on her hip possessively. He rolled his hips, grinding hard into her, and withdrew slowly. Letting her feel every delicious inch of his rigid cock. Then he’d caught her lips in a crushing kiss, his tongue invading her mouth, and he thrust back into her a beat later. She moaned shamelessly into his kiss, doing her best to press her body closer to his. She wanted all of him, everywhere, all at once. So when he picked up a deep, grinding rhythm without releasing her lips she was eager to reciprocate.

He sank into her body with a passion just short of ferocity. His hand held her hip in place in order to allow him the access he needed. With every forward surge he would pause, buried deeper than should have been possible, and grinded his hips hard into hers before retreating to do it all again. Every time he filled her, she thought for sure she would explode, but he never quite allowed it. Over and over again he thrust into her, all the while sucking the air from her lungs and stroking her tongue sensually.

Then he dragged his teeth over her tongue before breaking the kiss, braced his weight evenly on both elbows, and drove himself home again. She exploded the moment his hips began to roll, crying out breathlessly and digging her nails into his skin lest she literally fall apart. Luka growled next to her ear as his own release took him and he leaned more heavily into her as his hips slowed.

Joella
was still breathing heavily when their bodies finally stilled. Her vision was still half white and blurry. She felt weightless. “Wow,” she gasped thoughtlessly. Never in her life would she have thought she’d be taken quite so… powerfully.

Luka rumbled something, but she couldn’t quite make it out. He followed it up by trailing light, surprisingly gentle kisses up the side of her throat until he found her lips. The kiss that followed was slow and sensual, less demanding but no less intoxicating. Then he retreated, disentangling from her body in order to roll them both over. Him on his back and her sprawled on his chest.

“Luka,” she started, not entirely sure what she actually intended to say.

“
Shh
,” he interrupted, tangling one hand in her hair. “Rest, Ella. We can talk later.”

Rest. Yeah, she could go for that. It’d been a long, stressful day and now that her body was thoroughly sated, the fatigue was hitting her hard. Rest would be good.

****

Luka took his time with his rounds the next morning. He could barely focus past falling asleep with
Joella
sprawled across his body on that hillside. He’d been hard for the woman since he first caught a whiff of her scent, it was true, but he hadn’t expected to come
that
hard when he finally got her alone. His instincts had taken complete control and he’d damned near claimed her as his mate without her permission. And the very fact that ‘without her permission’ was his larger concern terrified him. Since when had he even decided he
wanted
a mate?

He really wasn’t sure. He just knew that when he’d found her and Michelle’s pup being cornered by Char he’d nearly lost it. Then he found out about the mountain lion. So many ways she could have died while he’d been away, chasing false leads no less. There really was no excuse for that. Except that her fate really shouldn’t have concerned him as much as it did. He’d never bothered to care for a human before.

The whole damned situation confused him. All he really knew at this point was that protecting
Joella
was incredibly important. She was his. At least for now.