Sinful Intentions

by Amy Redwood

  Trent finally managed to free the glass, and he shot back the vodka. He’d need the whole bottle to get an effect. “No,” Trent answered, feeling the alcohol burn on his tongue. “She doesn’t know and I want to keep it that way. She’s no shifter.”

  “I’m aware of that, but what difference does it make?”

  “It does.”

  “I get it, you discriminate,” Todd said. “I feel pissed off on my wife’s behalf. Do you think Linda is somehow imperfect because she’s no shifter?”

  “No, but it does make a difference.”

  “It doesn’t,” Todd said. “Trent, I swear you’re this close to—”

  “And yet,” Trent said, knowing he should shut up but couldn’t stop himself, “Linda suffered two miscarriages because she was pregnant from a shifter. Do you think I want to force that kind of misery on the woman I love?”

  “Plenty of non-shifters give birth to healthy shifter kids,” Todd said quietly, his face ashen. “How dare you imply that I caused my wife deliberate pain—”

  “But the numbers prove it,” Trent said. “Sometimes our genes don’t mix. Some women die delivering shifter babies. Do you want that to happen to Linda?”

  For a moment, he thought Todd would hit him. He’d have welcomed the pain. Then the other shifter placed his hand on his shoulder, deep sadness in his eyes.

  “Trent, just because that happened to your father doesn’t mean it will happen to you.”

  “No,” Trent said quietly, “it won’t because I’ll marry another wolf.”

  “You marked her.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Trent felt his control slip, slowly but steadily. “It doesn’t matter if I think she is perfect, if I adore every breath she takes, it doesn’t matter because she is flawed.”

  “Because she isn’t a wolf?” Todd ground out. “I swear, McGregor, I want to beat you up right now until the last trace of arrogance leaves your bloody body. Get out of my house or—”

  “Shut up,” Trent said, and felt his heart clench, a pain so intense he sucked in a hard breath. “Because she loves Simon.”

  Todd shook his head. “You’re an idiot, Trent.”

  “So I’ve been told.” He poured himself another shot, put the glass against his lips and, masochistically, turned around to watch Katherine.

  A diamond sparked from her hand, and she was in Simon’s arms, his hands all over her ass, his mouth hard on hers.

  Glass dropping from his hands, shattering on the floor, Trent lost it.

  ———

  Katherine watched Trent as he walked away from her toward the kitchen to join Todd. He probably felt sorry for her—she sure did.

  Silence settled between her and Simon, uncomfortable, heavy silence. And for too many breaths neither of them spoke.

  “Darling,” Simon said finally, “let’s not argue. I don’t know why I even started. It’s been pretty emotional seeing you again. We’ll work something out, I promise.”

  Simon took her hand and gazed into her eyes. “I missed you so, so much. It’s not easy for me, to come and meet you here under all these strangers when all I want is to have you for myself. Alone.”

  She gazed back into his eyes, panic rising in her chest.

  “Have you thought about what I told you on the phone? Can you forgive me?”

  “I think you hurt my pride more than anything else,” she said. “But yes, I forgive you. After all, even you are just human.” She drew in a deep breath, wondering why she felt as if she were the guilty one when he’d wronged her in the first place. “But, Simon, I—”

  “I’ve been meaning to give this back to you,” he said, interrupting her. “You make me so happy, do you know that?”

  And then, when she’d thought nothing could throw her anymore, she felt the familiar weight of her engagement ring as it slid on her finger. And again, it took her breath just how beautiful the ring looked on her hand, all shimmer and sparkle. She’d fallen in love with it—shallow creature that she was—and she still loved to see the fire inside the diamond.

  “I love you,” Simon said against her ear, and her throat tightened. He drew her into his arms, his mouth coming down on hers.

  Everything inside her recoiled, the feel of his mouth on hers strange and unwelcome. Before she could push him away, a hard grip came around her elbow and jerked her back.

  Trent struck Simon to the floor with a blow of his fist.

  Too stunned to move, she watched blood stream from Simon’s nose while he sat with a dumbstruck expression on the floor. His straight nose wasn’t looking good, she thought. Not good at all.

  Trent was cracking his knuckles. “Fuck that felt good,” he muttered, turned on his heel and headed out the of the room, but not before she’d caught a flash of yellow in his eyes. She drew in a deep breath, the hushed silence around her making her skin prickle, and then bolted after him.

  Someone must have turned off the music, she thought. Crickets sounded through the still night and the driveway was illuminated only with solar lights. Tripping in her shoes, she came to a shaky halt when she saw him with his hand on the truck door.

  As if he’d sensed her, heard her more likely, he turned around.

  “I told you,” he said, “told you not to put your fiancé in the same room as me.”

  “He’s your partner,” she said, sure that Simon would never ever forgive Trent this humiliation. “This is your job we are talking about.”

  “Well, I guess you could say I just quit,” he said, shoving his hand in his pockets and pulling out the truck keys.

  “Why,” she whispered, “why did you do that? It makes no sense…”

  Please, she thought, please, please ask me to come with you tonight. Oh God, please.

  His gaze locked on her hand, on the ring on her finger.

  “You’re not the right woman for me,” he said, sounding as if he spoke to himself instead to her, but her heart broke a little more.

  “And who is?” The pressure on her chest, on her heart, hurt more than anything she’d ever felt before.

  “I’m going to marry Vivian,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat. “And I’ll have kids and live in the house you couldn’t appreciate. And now, Katherine, stay the hell away from me, you’ve already cost me my job.”

  His words cut like a knife up her spine and seared into her soul. “Why do you hurt me like that, Trent? Why?” she whispered as the truck’s engine roared to life.

  Without giving her a last look, he sped off into the darkness.

  Aware that her hands and legs were shaking, she lowered herself slowly to the ground. The gravel on the driveway was warm and she pulled her legs under, praying that the earth would open and swallow her whole.

  When she heard steps behind her back, she closed her eyes and hoped it wasn’t Simon.

  “Hi there,” a female voice said. “I feel rude, but I couldn’t help overhearing.”

  Katherine turned her head and tears shot into her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know he was your boyfriend.”

  Vivian sat next to her on the ground. “Linda sent me to check on you.”

  Katherine shook her head, rubbing tears from her face. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t know you two were together.”

  “Well, me neither,” Vivian said. “’Cause Trent’s not my boyfriend and I’m certainly not going to marry him, I can promise you that.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would he say something like that then?”

  “Trent’s been my friend for years, and I do love him,” Vivian said, making Katherine’s stomach lurch all over again. “And I do see his point, ’cause we have traits in common I’m looking for in a mate as well. And we’d never fight or argue, we’d be nauseatingly perfect. We’d never have sex though, and that’s something I won’t give up.” Vivian laughed. “He’s not my brother by blood, but that’s how I feel for him.”

  Katherine heard her, but it just didn’
t compute. “But he still loves you, right?”

  “Yes, in the same way I adore him.” Vivian rolled her eyes. “I have no idea why he seems to have lost his marbles… Hang on a second.”

  Katherine jerked in surprise as Vivian brushed strands of hair away from her shoulder. “Why did you do that?”

  “Sorry, couldn’t help myself.” Vivian said, taking a deep breath, and then laughed quietly. “Well, I got that one wrong for sure. He’s not breaking your heart, you’re breaking his. If you knew him like I do, you’d see the humor too. He’s so, so into you that it must drive him completely nuts.”

  “Somehow,” Katherine said dryly, “I’m not getting that vibe from him.”

  Vivian sighed and cast a glance into the sky. “Need a ride home? It’s going to rain soon.”

  Katherine let out a long, shaky breath. “I have some unfinished business to take care of first,” she said, getting up from the ground and walking back to Linda’s house. “Give me a minute or two.”

  “That was quick,” Vivian said as Katherine came walking back down the driveway. “You okay?”

  “Yes, I’m okay,” Katherine answered, glancing at her diamond-free hand. “I’m feeling free.”

  Simon had sat hunched on a couch, two women to his left and right, both making a fuss dabbing at his bloody face. She’d pressed the ring in his hand, pressed a kiss against his cheek and told him goodbye. He got the message, even though he was still too stunned to respond. He’d be okay, she thought, he would be just fine—after his wounded pride had healed.

  Vivian rose, brushed her hands down her dress. “How long have you known Trent?”

  “Less than a week. He’s like a puzzle, and every now and then I can see the complete picture before it all falls apart again. I just don’t get him.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “I’ve just told you I’ve known him for less than a week.”

  “A week, a month, a year—who’s to say how long it takes to fall in love. Trent would do anything for you. He certainly wouldn’t send you away if you happened to turn up on his doorstep tomorrow.” Vivian winked.

  “He bought my house. He just threw away his career. He’s insane. How can I fall in love with someone like him?” But God, she already had.

  “And if he were an animal, he would be a…?” Vivian asked, walking toward her car and opening the door for Katherine. “You find the answer to that question. Might help you puzzle him out.”

  “He’d be a wolf,” Katherine said, and slid into the seat, seeing his tattoo before her inner eyes. “That was an easy question.”

  “A wolf, funny you should say that.” Vivian kicked the car into gear. “You hang on to that thought when you see him tomorrow.”

  Chapter Twelve

  After driving down the narrow, serpentine street and stopping on the graveled parking area, Katherine switched off the motor of Ada’s car.

  The shallow stream in front of her glittered in the sunlight and she lowered the window to let in a breeze. The air was awash with the salty scent of the sea.

  And a few yards away stood Trent’s beat-up truck.

  Got you. She folded the map neatly, feeling proud of herself that she’d managed to track him down.

  It hadn’t been easy.

  The morning had broken—humid haze hanging in the air from the overnight rain—with beams of sun light piercing through the clouds. It was going to be yet another hot and sunny day in Auckland, and she was up and about to find out if Trent in fact would not turn her away from his doorstep. If he was indeed so into her that he wouldn’t turn her away if she just threw herself into his arms.

  She was up and about to catch a wolf, she thought, recalling Vivian’s words from last night.

  She’d knocked on Ada’s door and accepted her breakfast invitation. During coffee, Linda showed up, delivering Lucky who was bouncing around as if nothing had ever happened, and she listened to Linda explaining that the dog probably came across a jellyfish but, luckily, survived to see another day.

  After breakfast, she’d asked Ada if she could make use of her car to see Trent. Without asking a single question but smiling knowingly, Ada had pressed the keys into her hand and given her the address of his downtown apartment.

  During the drive, she’d pondered why he’d bought the house. She hadn’t had any objections when Susan told her that the buyer wanted to stay anonymous and purchased the property through a nominee. All fine. But that he was the buyer behind the nominee was just…wrong. She strongly feared that he’d wanted her off his back so desperately he’d just bought the reason why she was in Auckland.

  In any case, he couldn’t have her house.

  Twenty minutes later, she’d found herself on his doorstep, staring at a closed door while her ringing went unanswered. With only two possibilities to consider—he knew it was her and refused to let her in or he simply wasn’t home—she returned to the car.

  Hoping it was the second possibility, she’d thought of the only place he might be, if he was feeling as troubled as she was. After a quick stop at a gas station to pick up a map and ask for directions, she was back behind the steering wheel and praying with all her heart that she was right.

  He’d told her—shown her—where he went if he wanted to calm down, think and be by himself.

  But there was no way in hell she would allow him to do any of that.

  She wanted him tense, hard and hot, and mindless in his desire—like the first time they’d been at this beach.

  And she’d found him.

  She kicked off her shoes, patted the bunch of condoms in the back pocket of her three-quarter jeans and opened another button of her flimsy white blouse to offer him a better view of her bare breasts. With the sea breeze whipping against her face, she exited the parked car and took a course toward the endless stretch of black sand.

  She shaded her eyes against the glaring sun, dipping her feet into the cold surf. As far as her eyes could see, there wasn’t a single person walking along the beach, just wave after wave of the Tasman Sea crashing ashore. Her gaze drifted toward the dense kauri forest.

  Leaving the shore behind, she marched toward the edge of the forest, which rose from the sea level up over rolling hills and cliffs.

  Leaves started mingling with the dense black sand, and she watched where she set her feet. The ground was covered in driftwood, sharp rocks and shells but gradually grew wet and softer the farther she walked. Trees forming a thick, green roof softened the sun’s flare. The smell of humid earth clung in the air.

  Only now did she realize that it seemed impossible to find him in the green labyrinth of thick ferns and tall kauri trees.

  “What in heaven and hell is that man doing in here,” she murmured. There wasn’t even a path she could follow, no running track, no signs pointing her toward a new location. Frustration rising within her, she walked on, fearing she wouldn’t find her way back to the beach. The roaring of the sea crashing ashore grew dimmer until only the sound of water dripping off leaves reached her ears. She heard a bird giving a sharp trill, but the quiet grew thicker with every step she made into the dense forest.

  She let out a sharp breath as she stepped onto something sharp. A rugged, broken shell under her bare sole, she swore under her breath as the small cut started bleeding. Good thing all her shots were up to date, she thought, and lowered herself to the soft, leafy ground, feeling frustrated.

  She jerked her head around as a movement caught her gaze. Glancing over her shoulder, she let out a weary sigh. For a moment, she’d thought someone was behind her.

  The deep growl coming from in front of her made her jerk around again. Her breath left her body in a sharp hiss as she stared at the large animal. She struggled to comprehend what her eyes were seeing. This wasn’t an oversized dog, this was a…

  The wolf took another step toward her, his head level with hers. The wolf lowered his head, growling softly, as if he were preparing to pounce. Her heart hammering behind her ch
est, she felt sweat slick down her back. Crawling away on her hands and feet, she felt terror gripping her as some primal survival instinct kicked in.

  She jumped up and ran, ran toward the shoreline and the car. Her breath leaving her body in fast gasps, she screamed when something swiped at her legs. The fall cushioned by the soft ground, she crashed down, hands and face-first. Spitting out a mouthful of dirt, she froze when she saw that the wolf was circling her. She’d never outrun him.

  The wolf slowed, finally stopped and looked at her out of golden-yellow eyes so strangely intelligent and familiar it punched all air out of her lungs. The knowledge came to her like a kick to the stomach.

  She flipped on her back, breathing rapidly. Where’s a paper bag when you need one, she thought, realizing that she was hyperventilating. She sat up, cross-legged. Bracing a hand over her mouth and nose, she tried to get her oxygen intake under control while the wolf watched her, keeping his distance but never taking his gaze off her as she fought to get the upper hand on her panic attack.

  Slowly, ever so slowly, her breathing calmed, and she found the inner strength to meet the wolf’s gaze square-on.

  “Why the fuck do you terrify me like this,” she yelled, grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in his direction.

  A jolt of tingling wonder shot through her body as her mind still struggled to comprehend that Trent, somehow, was able to turn into a wolf. But it was hard to say something wasn’t possible if it was right in front of her eyes.

  “Show me how you do that. I need to see.”

  He cocked his head, the large wolf body shaking, and she almost rued her words when he started shimmering, blurring, somehow stretching in a whirl of muscles and under the slightly sickening sound of bones and joints snapping.

  She swallowed hard. The sight wasn’t pretty but strange and powerful and mind-numbingly astounding, beauty in its rawest form.

  Then he stood there, on two feet, but his eyes were still glowing yellow-golden.

  “God, Trent,” she whispered, taking in his naked body in a way she’d never seen it fully before. A body so tight and hard, so full of suppressed strength it made her breath hitch and her heart thud, and this time for all the right reasons. There was a wolf lurking underneath his skin, dangerous and powerful. No wonder he carried himself with such confidence that it bordered on arrogance.