Unmasking the Wolf (14 page)

She was uncomfortable with the direction their conversation had taken. It was evident in the way she refused to meet his gaze. “Did you send the email?”

“Not yet.” It was amazing how quickly he could forget what he’d come here for. One glimpse of her, one sniff, and all his common sense went out the window. Right now, she smelled like vanilla, rich sweet vanilla with the intoxicating blend of arousal and fear.

He lowered his head and sniffed her neck. She’d marked him, but he had yet to return the favor. The skin exposed by her familiar blue sweater was sweetly scented with the essence of her. His mouth watered, craving a taste of her.

She moaned and tilted her head to one side. It would be so easy to give in, to let his urges have free rein. He wanted to strip her, bare every delicious inch of her body, and make love to her until they couldn’t move. But that was inadvisable. Who knew how long they had? He needed to get her home, make sure she was safe.

It was easy to tell his head, but not quite so easy to tell his heart. Brushing his lips across her shoulder, he nibbled his way up the side of her neck. He pressed tiny kissed to her ear lobe, his tongue swiping out to taste the delicious skin. “You’ve entranced me.”

The scent of her arousal increased. He sniffed again, the pounding in his veins sent blood pooling to his lower regions. His cock seemed to be in permanent hard-on mode. With her around, he doubted he would ever have blood in his brain again.

“You’re so damned sexy,” he growled into her ear.

“Luke,” she said with a breathy moan. “Your email.”

“Fuck it.” He lifted her into his arms. “You’re all I care about right now.”

Like wild animals, they went to work on each other’s clothes. He pulled off her sweater, exposing his T-shirt beneath it. The sight of her in his clothes pleased him. Gina pulled his shirt out of the waistband of his slacks. Her fumbling fingers tore at the buttons, popping more of them than she undid.

It was different this time. Now she knew they were mated. They would be no need to hold back for fear of exposing himself. Sex between mates was fierce, passionate, often times rough. He wanted that and more with her, but most of all he wanted to please Gina. Whatever she wanted, he would do his best to give to her.

He grabbed her hands and held her still. “Tell me what you want.”

She curled her fingers, the points of her nails pricking his palms. “I want you.”

“I know.” He ran his hand across her hip and cupped her ass. “How do you want me? Tell me.”

She licked her lips and considered his question. Just as she was about to answer, a noise near the doorway alerted him to potential danger.
Damn it
.

•●•

What would she have said had they not been interrupted? The calm way he’d asked the question, the tender look in his gaze, had softened her heart. Despite everything, that he’d lied to her, kept his wolf nature a secret, she trusted him. It was weird. Her entire life she’d been convinced that she needed no one. Yet one look from Luke and she melted like butter. It was a simple answer . . . she wanted him. Wanted whatever he could give her.

She glanced toward the doorway. “Who is it?”

Luke held his forefinger to his mouth and shushed her. Suddenly chilled, she retrieved her sweater and put it back on. Luke’s shirt was ruined, but he tried his best to tuck it back into his waistband.

“I’m sorry,” she mouthed to him.

He gave her a reassuring smile. Despite the possible danger, her temperature rose. It was so easy to fall for him. Luke faced the door, bracing his large body as if he expected a fight. He’d put his body between her and the door. The protective move was sweet, but unnecessary. She’d been serious when she said she wanted to help him.

The doorknob rattled. Gina drew a breath and waited. Unease passed through her. A scent of something dark reached her nostrils. It was similar to the man who’d tried to attack her at the vending machine, but stronger.

“Luke,” she whispered in warning.

“I know,” he shot back, his body leaning forward, prepared to pounce.

The door swung open, revealing the hulking shape of a man framed in the entrance. He was tall, much taller than Luke, with coarse features and lank brown hair. When he grinned at them, she noticed his front teeth were missing. How in the hell had this guy gotten passed security? It was hard enough for Gina to make her way through the lobby.

The scent wafting from him was hard to explain. It was tinged with wolf, but carried a rotting meat smell, like he’d rolled in something dead. Perhaps
he
was dead. The lifeless eyes and blackened teeth certainly indicated such.

What in the hell were these things?

A growl emanated from Luke’s throat, both a warning and a promise. She’d never seen him shift, but he seemed to be close. His body was tight with tension, the seams of his white dress shirt straining to contain the bulging muscles.

The stranger moved first. He leapt at Luke, his beefy arms swinging out as if to wrap around his neck. Luke’s speed was unbelievable as he met the man halfway, his fists coming up to land a vicious double punch to the intruder’s face. His head swung around, but he kept moving. It was then Gina noticed his eyes. They were black, cold with evil, but glowed with an intensity she’d only seen once before.

“Oh my God,” she breathed. “Luke, he’s a vamp.”

Except he was more than just vampire. He had the eyes and the fangs, rotten as they may be, but the scent of wolf was unbelievably strong. Was it possible he was a hybrid? But that was impossible. The genetics of a wolf and a vampire prevented intermingling of the species, or at least so she’d been told. Maybe she should’ve listened to Dominic more. He’d always had an interest in paranormal science.

The thing, whatever it was, wrapped his arms around Luke’s body in a bone-crushing grip and squeezed. Luke continued to punch him, his blows doing little to deflect him.
Shift, Luke
. Why would he take on the man in his human form? He’d be much stronger as a wolf. But for some reason, Luke held back.

Skin pulsating with energy, she looked around the room. She longed to shift, but had a hunch Luke would kill her if she did so. As a human, she was weak. To have any hope of defeating their enemy, she needed a weapon. Her gaze landed on the desk. The laptop wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

Hefting it over her head, thank goodness it wasn’t one of the slim models so prevalent now, she crept around the men. Swinging with all her might, she cracked it upside the thing’s skull. He stumbled and his grip on Luke loosened. That was all it took. In an instant, Luke was on his feet and fighting for all he was worth. If the thing truly was a vamp, like she imagined, it would be hellacious to kill him. They needed a stake, anything with a sharp point, to plunge into his heart.

While she debated her options, she didn’t realize the creature’s attention had turned to her.

“Gina!” Luke yelled, throwing his body between them as the vamp lunged for her. She was knocked to the ground in the shuffle. She hit her head on a bookshelf and lay there stunned.

The two men circled each other, neither daring to make the next move. The change in Luke was amazing. Gone was the calm, put-together businessman. It was replaced by a fierce warrior, with determination in his gaze and a cruel set to his lips. His shirt was ripped, more damage than she’d done, and glimpses of his powerful chest appeared through the slits in the expensive fabric. He was the closest to shifting she’d ever seen him.

Lifting her hand, she touched the back of her head. There was a small knot, but it would cause nothing more than a vague headache. She stumbled to her feet. The desk was a few feet away. There had to be something inside she could use for a weapon.

She pulled open the drawers, shoving aside papers, desperate to find a letter opener or a pen. Anything sharp enough to plunge into the bastard’s heart. A sickening thud sounded behind her and she twisted her head to see what was going.

Luke had taken a hard hit, but he was still on his fist. The blood pouring from his nose galvanized her into action. Closing her hand around a silver letter opener, she held it behind her back and crept from behind the desk.

“Hey, you. Yeah, the ugly one. I’m over here.”

The vamp lifted his head and gave her a mean once-over. She motioned at him tauntingly. “Come and get it.”

He lumbered toward her, his speed belying his massive size. Praying her small weapon would do the trick, she waited until he was upon her. In a quick motion, she moved her hand and buried the letter opener into his chest.

The vamp let out an awful roar, the sound curdling her blood in its intensity. He dropped at her feet, jerking from side to side in agony. She stepped backward, shock at her first kill weakening her knees and making her wish she hadn’t eaten such a large breakfast.

Luke rushed to her side. “That was stupid, so stupid.”

Then she was in his arms, his hands cradling her head as her tears soaked his ruined shirt.

“Should I go talk to her?”

Luke tore his attention from his mate, lying still and pale on the sofa, and focused on Dominic. “Give her time. She’s been through a lot the past few days.”

Dominic’s features hardened. “She should go back to Clinton. Her father can protect her.”

“No.” Luke snapped. “I’ll take care of her.”

“You’re doing a piss poor job of it so far,” Dominic scoffed and lifted his coffee cup to his lips. Luke knocked the mug aside, his hands going for his throat.

“She’s mine. Do you understand?” He hissed. “She’s not going anywhere.”

Dominic’s eyes widened, clearly surprised by Luke’s outburst. “Chill out, man.”

Luke glanced at his hands, loosely wrapped on his friend’s throat, and pulled away as if burned. “Ah, damn. I’m sorry, Dom.”

The younger wolf shrugged. “No biggie. I know you’re concerned about her, but she needs to be with her family.”

Luke took a deep breath. It was time to come clean. Dominic needed to know Gina was his mate. That was the only way he could prevent him from trying to take her away. “There are things you need to know.”

Dominic picked up his mug and put it in the sink. He swiped at the spilled coffee on the counter and looked vaguely interested. “What things?”

Shit. How would he take knowing his little cousin was mated? It was a curious thing, the strong bond between the Morettis. Luke wasn’t used to a tight family unit. He and Laura had been virtually all alone in the world, despite their numerous relatives in Jackson.

“Uh . . . ”

Dominic lifted an eyebrow, curiously similar to an expression Gina made. One thought of his mate, and his concern fled. She was his. Nothing Dom could say would change that. “Gina is my mate.”

Dominic’s expression never changed. He sat there, unblinking, and waited. “Say what?”

“She . . . we . . . ” Damn, it was harder than he thought. “We’re mated.”

Laughter exploded from the other wolf. “You’re pulling my leg.”

“I’m completely serious.”

Dominic’s laughter faded. A mere second later, he was on his feet. This time, it was his hands wrapped around Luke’s throat. “No, you’re lying.”

Luke didn’t want to hurt him, but he would if he had to. “It’s the truth. Ask her if you want.”

“You’re not kidding?”

He shook his head. “It’s the truth.”

“How long have you known?”

“Since the moment I met her.” The memory of the meeting burned fiercely. “It’s just like they say. You know instantly.”

“But she didn’t.” Dominic’s expression grew suspicious. “She couldn’t smell you, so she didn’t know.”

“You have to believe me when I say I never meant for any of this to happen. It was hell having her right in front of me, but not able to tell her. I had to come clean.”

Fire burned in Dominic’s eyes. “If you hurt her, I’ll . . . ”

“I won’t hurt her.” Luke held up his hands. “We didn’t plan for this. Shit, Dom. You know better than anyone. You can’t control who your mate is.”

Anger made Dominic’s eyes glitter dangerously. “If this is about Laura . . . ”

He broke in quickly. “It’s not. Laura has nothing to do with this.” Dominic’s feelings for Laura were no secret. It was unfortunate they weren’t intended to be mates, although he doubted Dom felt the same. He’d loved Laura despite it all.

His voice softened. “If she were here, if you could see her once more, wouldn’t you do everything you could to protect her?”

A closed-off expression covered Dominic’s face. “You better not break her heart. I’ll have your ass.” A moment later, he smiled. “I can’t wait for you to meet Uncle Tony.”

“Amuses you, does it?”

Dominic nodded. “I’ll tell you this. I sure wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”

Wasn’t very comforting. Disregarding his friend’s teasing, he went into the living room and squatted at Gina’s side. “Are you okay?”

Her eyes seemed overly large in her pale face. Her lips were pulled into a thin line, her tiny teeth nibbling on the bottom. “Quit asking me that. I’m fine. Sorry about your laptop.”

He smoothed a hand across her soft hair. “Don’t worry about it. I can buy another. I was quite fond of that letter opener though.”

As he’d hoped, a small chuckle escaped her. “I’ll get you a new one.” She swung her feet to the floor and sat up. “What was that thing?”

“I don’t know.” He’d talked about it with Dominic, but he claimed hybrids weren’t possible. Yet the vampire had smelled very wolf-like. “But I intend to find out.”

She grabbed his hand. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

“By stupid, do you mean something like you calling a huge vamp ugly?” Although he could laugh now, it hadn’t been funny when she’d done it. His heart nearly stopped when she’d attacked the vamp.

“I’m serious, Luke. Promise.”

He stroked a strand of her hair. He liked it like that, loose and hanging past her shoulders. “What do you care? You’d be free of me. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Her gaze turned searing. “I may not have asked for this, but I’m not willing to sit by and watch you get killed.”