Nature of the Beasts (3 page)

Dastan’s lips lifted into a sideways grin. “Anytime.”

“Okay, so what are we doing about the shifter?” she asked, again trying to move the subject to safer ground.

“
We
are not doing anything,” Dastan replied. “Dmitry and I are going to keep our eyes open but assume he’s moved on.”

“And if he hasn’t?” she asked, a little nervous despite her outer show of bravado.

“Then we cross that bridge when we get to it,” Dmitry replied.

Sarah felt his presence as he leaned over and put his mouth just inches from her cheek. Blood rushed through her ears at the feel of him this close to her. She tried her best to hide the things he made her feel, but if the intent way Dastan watched her was any indication, she’d failed miserably.

“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Dmitry whispered seductively, and Sarah really had to struggle to keep up her appearance of indifference.

“Dmitry.” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat before continuing. “If you don’t back off, I’ll get that cattle branding rod in the barn, and when you’re sleeping later, brand you with it.”

Dastan tried his best to hide a smile, but Sarah caught a glimpse of it just before he lowered his head and stared at the floor.

Dmitry straightened but replied, “I’ll make sure and sleep in the nude. Give you a nice target to zone in on. I think a brand is well worth seeing you get all flustered. If you think you’re hiding your desire, Sarah, you’re mistaken,” he added as he walked back to the kitchen.

“Why?” Sarah demanded to Dastan. “Why are you friends with him?”

Dastan chuckled and spread his hands. “What can I say? He’s my entertainment.”

“He’s a pain in the ass,” Sarah growled.

Dastan continued to chuckle as he stood to leave. “You’ll get no argument from me on that one, princess.”

Princess surprised her as well as sent a little thrill through her midsection. It was the first time Dastan had used an endearment like that. Now that she knew Dastan wanted her, his teasing and proximity would make it even harder for her to remain aloof.

She brushed her hair away from her face. God, she was so screwed. She could admit to being incredibly attracted to them. Dastan and Dmitry both just admitted they wanted her. Could she really resist them if they turned up the seduction? And more importantly, did she really want to?

Yes, she told herself. Yes, she could resist. If she kept saying it, then maybe it would be true. She let out a puff of frustrated air.
Yeah, right.

“Come on and eat. Dinner’s getting cold,” Dastan called.

Sarah reluctantly stood, although eating was the last thing on her mind.

* * * *

Dmitry leaned his elbows against the deck railing and stared out over the ranch. He had a bad feeling. One he couldn’t shake. As much as he enjoyed seeing Sarah every day, and he definitely enjoyed antagonizing her, he was worried about her remaining in the mortal world.

It could’ve been just a random killing. Maybe the woman saw something she shouldn’t have. Maybe she was from their protected dimension and not a human. Dmitry sighed toward the stars. That didn’t feel right. Human felt right. Dangerous felt right.

Dmitry had a terrible feeling that young woman was only the beginning. If anything happened to Sarah—

His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He reached into his pocket and pulled it out. Glancing at the screen, he realized he didn’t recognize the number and almost didn’t answer, but some sixth sense told him he should.

“Hello,” he said into the phone.

“Dmitry?”

Dmitry frowned. “Yes.”

“I thought I recognized the accent, but I wasn’t sure which number I called. It’s Mike Sims.”

Dmitry turned to wave at Dastan as he walked through the living room. Dastan gave him a curious look before heading out to the deck.

“Yeah, Sheriff. What can I do for you?”

Dastan raised an eyebrow and leaned in close so that he could hear what was said. “I just talked to the coroner. The woman was mangled postmortem.”

“So…” Dmitry replied. “What does he think happened to her?”

“Her throat was slit. She bled out.”

Dastan and Dmitry shared a quick glance.

“Are you sure the two of you didn’t see anything? Hear anything other than the scream?”

Dmitry got the distinct impression that Sims didn’t quite believe their story. Although even Dmitry could admit it sounded a little suspicious to him as well. It wasn’t unreasonable for him and Dastan to be at the far side of the ranch, but the timing did seem a bit coincidental.

“No, Sheriff. I’m afraid not,” Dmitry replied.

“Mmm.” There was a few seconds of silence. “If you remember anything…”

“We’ll call you. Thanks for letting us know what happened to her.”

“It’s more of a heads-up. A woman was murdered on your land. Keep your eyes open. It might be a one-time thing, or it might not be.”

“Of course,” Dmitry said, then hung up. “He got that information fast.”

Dastan shrugged. “I’m sure they don’t get a lot of dead bodies up here, so they probably want to figure it out pretty quick.”

“Should we tell Sarah?”

“Yes,” Dastan said.

Dmitry wanted to argue. His first instinct was to protect her. Would telling Sarah the truth be protecting her?

“She needs to know everything, Dmitry. If she doesn’t, she might do something stupid like go off on her own.”

Dmitry nodded. Dastan was probably right. If she knew, she could be on her guard.

“Where is she?” Dmitry asked.

“She’s still in the kitchen, looking through cookbooks and drinking wine.”

Dmitry winced. Sarah drinking? God, that’s all he needed was a loose, three-sheets-to-the-wind Sarah. It was hard enough to keep his hands off her. If she showed any sign of a weak resistance, he’d be all over her ass before he could stop himself. Why was this pull he felt for her so damn strong?

“What about notifying Keegan?” Dmitry asked.

“I’m not going to tell Keegan. There’s no point alerting the council just yet, not till we know more, and it will just worry her about Sarah more than what’s necessary.”

“That’s probably a smart move. The last thing we need is more strangers here at the ranch, poking around and raising questions. Sims already looks at us like we’re guilty as it is.”

Dastan snorted. “Yeah.” He slapped Dmitry on the shoulder. “You go tell Sarah the news. I’m going to hit the showers.”

“Why me?”

“Because the last image I have is of her standing at the counter, a glass of wine in one hand, her gaze on a cookbook, and her hips swaying seductively to some imaginary tune in her head. I need a cold shower. What I do not need is to be in the same room with her. Every time I get a whiff of her scent, it gets harder and harder not to touch her.”

Dmitry snorted. “Thanks for putting that image into
my
head. And don’t you find that odd? Her being human and us being that attracted to her?”

Dastan began to walk away. “It’s just the three of us here. She’s beautiful and sexy. It was bound to happen. Stop reading things into it that aren’t there. If it gets to be too bad, we’ll head into the next town and grab a girl at a bar. Problem solved.”

“For you, maybe,” Dmitry grumbled, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t do a damn thing for him. He wanted Sarah, not some look-alike blonde. “Might as well get this over with.”

Hardening his resolve, he headed to the kitchen. He spotted Sarah with her back to him, leaning on the island. The wineglass sat empty next to her. The jeans she wore hugged her hips and thighs. Wow, what he wouldn’t give to get his hands on that firm, rounded ass.

Dmitry stood speechless as she reached up and pulled the plastic clip from her hair, then let her hair cascade down her back in soft curls so similar to Dastan’s. He swallowed as she reached behind her and slid her fingers through her long, dark blonde tresses, smoothing them out. The loose curls wrapped around her fingers, and Dmitry ached to let his hands follow the same path. His whole body burned with the desire to make her his. What the hell was going on with him?

Her scent caught his attention, and he inhaled, drawing it inside him. That only made things worse, he realized, as his cock hardened almost painfully.

God, he wanted her.

He dropped his chin, studying her intently. He really needed to move. He really needed to leave the room. He just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

The sensation of being watched made Sarah tense. She thought both the guys had gone upstairs, but she’d swear one of them was behind her. She stilled, listening. She picked up on the slight hint of breathing, and the heady smell of musk invaded her nose.

It was one of them. But which one? She slowly dropped her hand and inhaled. Dmitry. She’d bet on it. She closed her eyes and sighed. The last thing she needed was to be face-to-face with Dmitry after drinking that wine.

Dastan she felt she could handle. Dastan didn’t antagonize her or push her buttons. Not like Dmitry did. Dmitry would love nothing more than to zone in on her weakness where the shifters were concerned and have her spread-eagle on the table and loving it before she could even voice a rejection.

Why did I drink that wine?

Maybe if she didn’t say anything, he would go away. Seconds passed, and she could still smell his scent, still hear his breathing. She knew then he wasn’t leaving. Taking the bull by the horns, she asked, “What do you want, Dmitry?”

When he didn’t answer, she glanced over her shoulder at him. He stood at the entrance to the kitchen, leaning casually against the wall. He pushed away and walked closer. Or stalked was more like it. Prey was exactly what Sarah felt like at the moment, and that thought did nothing to lessen the hunger coursing through her veins.

“Interesting you knew it was me,” Dmitry said as he came closer and studied her intently. “Could it be that you have a bit of wolf in you?” She narrowed her eyes, and Dmitry quirked his lips. “Oh, I love that look on you,” he whispered seductively. “Narrowed eyes, flushed cheeks. There’s a spark inside you I bet carries over to the bedroom, isn’t there?”

Sarah didn’t answer. Dmitry’s grin widened. He appeared very wolfish at the moment, and Sarah couldn’t stop her heart from skipping wildly. His words excited her. The way he spoke excited her. There was something about his voice and that soft Russian accent that made waves of heat travel up her spine. He could read the contents of a grocery list, and it would make her breasts tighten.

Her mother would keel over if she knew.

Sarah raised her chin. “How I am in the bedroom is none of your business.”

“So touchy,” he purred.

As he walked past her, he brushed the backs of his fingers down her arm. Tingles skimmed over her flesh. She wanted to jerk her arm from his touch, but she didn’t dare react too quickly and give herself away. Dmitry hadn’t missed the goose bumps anyway, so what would be the point?

“The sheriff called,” Dmitry said.

His change of subject came so fast, Sarah blinked in surprise. “What?”

“They believe they have a cause of death.”

Sarah swallowed. “What was it?”

“Her throat was slit, and she bled out. The mauling was postmortem.”

Sarah closed her eyes. “Oh God.” That poor girl.

“Dastan thought you should know so you can keep your eyes open.”

Sarah nodded in understanding. “Are you going to try to send me home too?”

Dmitry snorted. “And miss all the opportunities I have to push your buttons?”

Sarah smiled slightly. Dmitry really could be charming when he wanted to be. He could also be sexy, just like now as he stood barely a few feet away, watching her with his wolflike eyes. And that mouth. She sighed. What would it feel like against her skin?

She turned her head and reached up with one hand to scratch at the back of her neck. Anything to try to dislodge the thoughts of sex that had suddenly taken root and didn’t want to leave.

“Are you okay, Sarah?” Dmitry asked with genuine concern.

Sarah let out a tired breath and nodded. “I’m fine. I just feel bad for that girl.”

“I know.”

“Should we tell Keegan?”

Dmitry shook his head. “Dastan doesn’t want to get the council involved just yet. Let’s see if this was a one-time thing first.”

“It might only be a one-time thing here. There’s no telling how many more he’s killed somewhere else. If Keegan knows, she can get someone to investigate and find out.”

“I agree with Dastan on this one. If the council gets involved, this ranch will be overrun with people from our dimension. We want to avoid that. People in this town already look at us with skepticism because they knew Sam and Cody. They have a hard time believing we didn’t do something illegal to get Sam to sell because he loves this ranch. They can’t know that we’re shifters or that shifters even exist. Which means we have to blend in.”

“What if he kills again?” she asked.

“Well,” Dmitry replied. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

“Now you sound like Dastan.”

Dmitry grinned. “We’ve been together a long time. It was bound to happen.”

“Why have the two of you never married?” she asked before she could stop herself. She really needed to remember that wine loosened her tongue way too much.

“No one would have us both.” Dmitry walked past her and slapped her on the bottom. She squealed and shot him an angry look, but he had his back to her as he left the room. “Get some sleep and stop drinking wine. The last thing I need is a drunk Sarah who can’t keep her hands off me.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open for a second before she huffed in exasperation. “As if!” she yelled after him.

All she got in response was Dmitry’s chuckle.

Damn shifter.

* * * *

Sarah walked into the nail salon the next morning, eager for someone other than shifters to talk to. She waved to the young brunette named Maggie at the far table. The young girl smiled and waved back.

“Hey, Sarah,” Maggie called. “Come on over.”

Sarah moved quickly to take the empty seat. “I know I didn’t have an appointment,” she told Maggie.