Unquenchable Desire (4 page)

Reeling
from his touch, she could barely quip, “Both.” On the breeze, she caught the
scent of fur. It seemed to come from him. She sniffed, and then wrestled with herself
over the next question.
What the heck,
she thought. “Do you have a dog?”

Tension
charged between them and he went deadly silent. The silence between them
lengthened,
then
he laughed. “Do I smell like a dog?”

Then she laughed, too. “Maybe
it’s me. I haven’t showered yet today.”

What was this indefinable
complex connection zinging between them? She squared her shoulders and sat up
straighter.

“You smell fine,” Brian said,
“even enticing.”

He scooted closer. His
nearness made her acutely aware of the rhythm of his breathing and acutely
aware of her rising desire.

He stared at her lips a long
time.

Was he also struggling with
yearning and control? A number of things about him deeply interested her and at
the same time frightened her. His magnetism drew her to him, but the mystery
behind him showing up at their place unexpectedly worried her.

“How did you learn about the
gardener’s job? Dad’s ad won’t come out in the paper until tomorrow.”

He laughed. “Maybe I’m
psychic.”

“Yeah,
right.”
It scared her that he kept her off balance, and
contributed to the wild, electrifying tension soaring between them. If she
wanted to keep her heart intact and keep her resolve to remain aloof until she
knew exactly who this guy was and what he represented as an individual, she had
to fight the spell he was weaving over her. She groaned internally. The pull
was growing stronger every minute.
It’s dangerous
that all we have in common is an unquenchable longing and slipping control.
Or am I imagining his lust?

Flirting with this handsome stranger
was playing with fire on several levels. But realistically, how could a simple
gardener be a threat? Why not give him a whirl?
Holding back has been a metaphor for my life. I’ve been so busy looking
forward to something yet- to-be-discovered that perhaps I’m missing the
here-and-now. Darn it, a woman of twenty-one should be able to test the waters.
I’m sick of denying my desires.

But a persistent voice in her
head warned
,
If
I give
in to my desires too soon, I
might lose out on true love.
An icy chill slithered over her.
Or lose my life.
The threat
of the resurrected walking-dead makes it imperative that I’m very careful to
whom I surrender my love.

Chapter Four

When darkness fell and the moon
rose high, Valerie scaled the terrace railing agilely in wolf form. It seemed
her eagerness to learn if the amorous wolf was safe had made her morphing process
less painful and speedier. Her process might be faster than Uncle Hugh’s,
especially since he’d been shot last night. Would the hunter’s attack
discourage him from following and protecting her? She doubted it. He was a
brave one and had always been there for her. She thought of her stronger,
confident, and cleverer twin who seemed adept at skirting danger. Valerie took
a deep, confidence-boosting breath.
Maybe
it’s time to count on myself. But am I up to it?

As she ran through the brush, she
picked up the young alpha’s scent. Did that mean he was all right, or was he
lying injured, alone and needing help?

Then she saw him! He was poised on
the pedestal-boulder watching her with his

alert
, lupine eyes. There was nothing
to indicate an injury. If anything, he looked more compelling than the night
before. The glow from the full moon highlighted his silvery-gray coat and
startling, bold markings. His alpha beauty sent her she-wolf heart pounding out
of control.

Okay,
he’s all right, so run while you have the chance.

She tried to move, but remained
rooted to the spot. His
steady, feral gaze was
hypnotizing and drew her deeper into his complicated seduction.
Maybe if I pretend to give in to my desires,
I can maneuver him into a vulnerable position and escape.

****

Reeves, now the commander of Rory’s
body, looked out the dorm window at the full moon. As his body began to jerk,
he realized, even in his host’s body, he was still affected by the Lamont
curse. He rubbed the bristly stubble on his face, ran to the bathroom, and
looked into the mirror. Intense feral eyes stared back at him. He ran his hand
through his thickening hair. Soon, he would think like a wolf—
attack like a wolf. He wished he had some
moon-poppy serum, enough to maintain control of his thinking and keep his
savage bloodlust under control.
 
In the midst of his moon-heat, he eased out of
the dorm and into the night as his body strengthened and grew hairier. He felt
physically powerful yet he had the uncomfortable feeling that he was merely a
hostage controlled by devilish whims.
No!
I can’t let such thoughts drag me down. I’m not just a werewolf intent on
mindless killing. I have an agenda.

He became one with the shadows. In
the far distance, he heard cars zooming along the freeway, making the silence
of the night more ominous and magnifying his driving urge. He ran on. Lusting
for blood, he slipped through the shadows and bushes toward the girls’ dorm. Following
the fresh female scent, he slipped into the rectangular barracks-like building.
Only dim lights came from the hallways. Nothing moved. He entered one of the
rooms and looked down at the sole occupant, a slender girl who looked much like
Valerie. He caught her face in his hands and kissed her lightly. Before she
could completely wake up, he ripped out her throat. It was so easy. He felt
alive, energized, and ready to start on the
Lamonts
.

****

Werewolf
Hugh had almost caught up to Valerie and the young alpha when he caught the familiar,
musty, acrid odor of a third wolf.
With his intensified wolf-hearing, he
heard claws scratching against stone.
He raised his
hackles and prepared for battle as a werewolf leapt from a boulder down on top
of him. The black werewolf was half- morphed, and his features were
undistinguishable, but Hugh suspected by the musty scent and the furiousness of
the attack that it was his half-brother Reeves.
He whirled as the weight
of his attacker landed on his back. Claws and fangs sank into his flesh. Spinning
and bucking, he used the weight of the wolf hurling
through the air to unlock the painful grip on his
flesh.
 
As he threw the black wolf off,
Hugh felt blood spurt through his fur. Growling, he circled for the
counterattack. He charged what he suspected was Were-Reeves and clamped his
fangs into his shoulder.
 
When the hairy
flesh tore free, the killer werewolf retreated and escaped into the night.
Should I follow and kill him?

But could I live with it?
Damon still
had nightmares about ripping out Reeves’ throat years ago. Hugh sighed.
And what would the angel who resurrected me
think if I murdered my own half-brother? Besides, what good would it do, he’d
only rise again?

Hugh
shuddered,
recalling the violent way Reeves had killed
him
in his other life. While in the vulnerable state of morphing, Reeves, had
leapt at him, locked sharp fangs onto his throat, and sucked the life out of
him.
 
But this time the coward hadn’t
caught him in a morphing state and their battle was a draw. The angel had told
him that, in his new existence, he was on an equal level with his brothers. With
gratitude surging through him, he now accepted it as true.
 
But
what had he accomplished? Even though he’d defended himself skillfully, the
delay had allowed Valerie and the young alpha to disappear. Hugh’s mood
darkened and he dropped his head in shame and disgust. He’d saved himself, but
failed to keep his vulnerable niece safe.

****

Valerie shivered. Earlier she’d
smelled the scent of more than one wolf behind her. Was this alpha traveling
with his pack or were renegade wolves on her tail? Based on his actions the
night before, she preferred to face one amorous wolf than a pack.

She watched him.
What the heck is the young alpha doing now?
He’d
start toward her and then retreat.
 
He played his come-hither-back off-game like
the alpha that he was.
But what is he up
to?
After he repeated the process several times, it became obvious he
wanted her to follow him.
Does he think
I’m nuts?
As though they had a mind of their own, her paws crept forward.
With the potential danger of unfriendly wolves tracking her, she followed the
young wolf, uncertain if she was setting her trap to escape, or if she was
actually losing her power to this striking alpha.

When he stopped and gestured
with his muzzle, she joined him and they loped side-by-side. With nudges and
gentle nips he herded her into a darkened cave and then out into a moonlit circle
of boulders with no break in their rocky wall. It was a ceiling-less courtyard
to the stony wolf’s den. The bright full moon glared down at them as if waiting
to witness her fate.
Dear God, I’m
trapped by this daunting and dashing alpha’s hypnotizing eyes.
She
heard his breathing accelerate. Terrified, yet intrigued, she inhaled his
pheromones of lustful excitement. His low, guttural rumble warned that he could
barely contain his need. Then the weight and heat of him was on her. She fought
waves of desire. His muscles flexed against her as he nudged her into position.
Then she was lost to
his alpha power, and
the brightness of the avenging full moon.

****

Hours later, in the golden
tangerine glow of dawn, Valerie glanced down and gasped.
 

She and the alpha wolf were
entwined and morphing into human forms. Terrified and at awe, she tightened her
hold on him as their nude bodies jerked and muscles twitched. She swallowed as
he pressed his nude body even closer against hers. The unnerving closeness
eased her painful spasms but not her internal turmoil. Eyes wide, she stared at
the magnificent, now human, male glistening with sweat. He was gorgeous. Her
breath caught—and there was something familiar about his splendid body, his
smooth tanned flesh. A brief flash of excitement tangled with fear soared through
her as she looked up into his face. “Brian!”
Dear God, this magnificent alpha is not just a wolf. He’s a werewolf! And
our new gardener! What have I done?

His thigh muscles tightened
against hers. Valerie gasped at the crack of static electricity.

Brian’s face
paled. Then his eyes twinkled and a grin played at his lips.
“Valerie!”

Fighting
the strong physical attraction raging between them, s
he shoved at his
chest and tried to escape his powerful arms. “Let me go.”

He tightened his hold.
“Not yet. We have things to settle first. You’re a she-wolf.
So what was that yesterday afternoon about one of us smelling like a dog?”

“It was
something my uncle said. And he was partly right.”

Brian shook
his head. “That doesn’t clear it up for me. I need more.”

She stared
deeper into his eyes, measuring. Had the cruel and violent Reeves, also known
as Lazar, morphed into Brian?
Wouldn’t I
already be dead if he had?

Before she had a chance to
duck away, he brushed a lock of hair from her brow and kissed her temple.
“I’m glad you’re the
she-wolf. I understand now why I felt such a strong connection with you.”

           
His kiss and the husky tenderness in his voice touched
her. She was glad he was the wolf as well, but— “Forgive me,” she said, a
little breathlessly, “but masquerading as a normal person is exhausting enough.
But connecting with another werewolf is a mind-blowing, unfamiliar game and I
don’t know the rules.”

“I don’t think there are any
rules,” he said. “So let’s just make them up as we go along.” Several
heartbeats of silence passed. “I guess neither of us chose our lot in life, but
whatever the Lord dealt to us, it is up to us to handle it.”

She nodded. “I like your
positive attitude, but it’s easier said than done.”

He laughed.
“Agreed.
But I think we’re up to it. I think we work well as
a team.”

“I don’t recall joining a
team.”

“Do you remember last night?”

She didn’t remember much
except undulating, writhing,
and being totally willing. And the climax…oh God… the climax had totally blown
her mind away.

She inhaled. Much of her
intensity resulted from the steady, persistent suppression of her reckless
impulses. But last night she feared she’d suppressed nothing.

“Maybe if we join forces the
burden of dual natures won’t be quite so hard on either of us. I don’t know
about, you but I need a friend.”