Animal Attraction

by Charlene Teglia

  “It was worth it. And you can afford it now,” Zach said from the opposite end of the table. His eyes glowed with amber heat and open admiration.

  “Now that I have a better job than the one you told me to quit,” I said. I gave a faint shake of my head, feeling played. But then again, if the mall put me in panther territory and David was right about them gearing up to challenge the entrenched wolf pack, I couldn’t quit fast enough.

  “Maybe if you’re not on their turf, the panthers will settle down,” Nathan said.

  I risked a look at David. “Do you think I was causing the escalation?”

  “No. You’ve only worked there for the last few months. It goes back further than that.”

  “What about the wolves who left the pack?” I sipped my wine to fend off the chill I got from thinking about my birth father’s killer.

  “They’ve kept their distance, but we know they didn’t leave the area. Ray’s been seen from time to time.” David spoke in a flat tone that told me just how much he disliked the situation.

  I didn’t like it, either. Rogue werewolves on one side, aggressive werepanthers on the other. And Ray letting himself be seen struck me as a taunt or a warning.

  Talking about pack history made me wonder about David’s personal history. “Did you grow up here?” I asked, waving a hand to indicate the house.

  “No. I grew up with my mom. My father was Neuri. They split before I was born. He didn’t know about me, and she didn’t know what he was.”

  That explained why he and Zach seemed to come from such different worlds. “Why’d you join the Marines?”

  He bared his teeth in a grim parody of a smile. “I had a lot of aggression.”

  “You must’ve been a recruiter’s dream,” I murmured. “How’d you manage to stay undiscovered in the military?”

  “I enlisted early. Lied about my age, then finished my four years about the time Zach tracked me down and I found out I couldn’t keep passing for human around the full moon.”

  “You didn’t know what you were until adulthood, either.” The implications struck me. “I had no idea we had so much in common.”

  For an answer, David reached over and caressed my cheek. My heart almost stopped. I met his eyes again. The heat in them could turn Antarctica into a desert. It leaped from his eyes to mine, spread through me, starting low in my belly and rippling out, a slow burn that turned my muscles languid and left me feeling voluptuous. Ripe.

  My lids lowered, my lips parted, and my breath came a little faster as I leaned toward him by a fraction. Inviting. He stroked his thumb along my cheekbone, followed a line down to my mouth, touched the pad to the full curve of my lower lip. I nipped at his thumb with the edge of my teeth.

  “What big teeth you have.”

  His backward fairytale reference made me blink and diffused the sensual burn building between us. “The better to eat dinner with,” I answered, and gave the food the attention it deserved.

  CHAPTER TEN

  NATHAN KEPT MY WINEGLASS FULL, AND THE EVENING BEGAN TO TAKE on a very pleasant glow.

  During a lull in the conversation, Zach stood and all eyes turned to him. Including mine. Of course, my eyes had been wandering his way all through dinner. There was something really interesting about meeting the eyes of a man you’d kissed intimately with the length of a formal table and a group of people between you.

  Zach met and held my eyes now. A hint of a smile played around his lips that made me wonder what he was up to. “Time,” he said.

  Which made sense to everybody but me. The group rose to their feet. I followed a beat behind. I wanted to ask David what this was about, but interrupting Zach might be more than bad manners in this context. He was the alpha. So I waited for enlightenment.

  Zach came around to stand beside me. He crooked his arm in invitation. I took it and let him lead me along. Good thing I’d worn flat shoes, given the bottomless glass of wine I’d been enjoying. I’d hate to trip in front of the rest of the pack, who’d fallen into file behind us.

  Being close to Zach stoked up the embers he’d left glowing earlier, and I liked having an excuse to touch him. A small thing, my hand on his arm, but it reminded me of my hands on his bare skin. His on mine. I pushed that image away so I wouldn’t fall over my own feet, flats or no flats.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “Out.”

  “Could you be more specific?”

  “Outside.” I heard a hint of laughter in his voice. “You can wear my jacket.”

  “It’s dark out there.” What were we going to do, stumble around and fall over shrubbery?

  “That happens at night.” He dipped his head toward mine. “Scared?”

  “Of being blind in the dark with a pack of wolves? Nah.” Although I was, just a little, and that made my pulse leap.

  We reached the solarium and Zach paused to remove his jacket and settle it around my shoulders. He took his time, smoothing the fabric over my arms, brushing my breasts as he drew the edges of the jacket together.

  The stolen caress, done in front of the others but hidden from any eyes, public but still our secret, sent my heart skidding sideways. There was a little thrill in knowing we could get caught. Although I really didn’t know how I’d feel about it if it was David who caught us fooling around.

  And how would he react? I didn’t know. Couldn’t guess. I was in over my head. Too bad this situation didn’t come with a rule book.

  “You are scared.” Zach paused, his hands still on the front of the jacket.

  “Not of the dark.” Just the dark thing inside me that wanted out.

  “Afraid of me?” Zach’s face turned serious, his eyes darkening.

  “No.” I stepped a little closer to him and rubbed the top of my head against his chin. “Maybe a little. I liked that too much.”

  “What, this?” His hands skated over the swells of my breasts again and my breathing hitched.

  “Stop that.” But the way my body shuddered into his said just the opposite.

  “I’ll behave,” Zach said, sliding an arm around my waist to guide me out the door. We walked out into the night lit by a chandelier of stars and the almost full moon. The pack spread out in a loose group.

  “If we’re taking a walk, we’re all overdressed,” I pointed out.

  “We’re not walking far.”

  We made our way to the big fountain and I realized it had been turned on at some point. It was also lit, an effect that couldn’t be appreciated during the day. The soft glow and the murmur of falling water created a romantic, fanciful atmosphere. Music from hidden speakers added to the mood.

  “Dance?” Zach turned me to face him.

  “Here?” I made a small hand gesture to indicate our position.

  “Yes, here.” He slipped his hands behind my back, putting light pressure on the lower curve of my spine, urging me to move closer.

  I stepped into his arms and we shifted into a slow dance. I laid my cheek on his shoulder and surrendered to the moment. I’d never been romanced like this before. Moonlight and music, cool night air chasing away the soporific influence of wine, the seductive brush of Zach’s body against mine.

  The song ended. Zach’s lips brushed the top of my head. “Thank you.”

  Then he handed me off to David, and my head spun as I found myself in his arms. His hands settled on my waist, possessive, sure, strong. I moved my feet in a daze as I struggled to adjust to the change in partners. He was graceful and controlled, but there was an edge to his movements that thrilled me, as if only a thin layer of civilization hid a savage hunger.

  Dancing with him brought out an answering hunger in me. I let my body sway into his, felt his hands move down to mold my hips and pull me closer. My breath came faster through parted lips, and just when I thought he might kiss me, he let me go instead. I found myself with a new partner.

  They were all trying to drive me crazy, I decided. But Jack wanted to whirl and dip me, making me
laugh with his antics.

  Matt surprised me with a tango and, when I protested that I didn’t know how, said, “Just follow your partner,” and then I could, after all. He led me through the steps and ended with my back against his chest, his arms holding me lightly, loosely, but so seductively I almost swallowed my tongue.

  By the time I’d danced my way down to Will, I was grateful for a simple clutch and sway. And as we moved together, it occurred to me that this was one way to subtly break down barriers, allowing touch in socially acceptable public ways, getting me accustomed to the scent and feel of each of them in a nonthreatening manner. It was only dancing, after all. But tomorrow night it would be more, and it would be easier because I’d talked and laughed and eaten and danced with all of them.

  I didn’t know if I should be grateful or if I should feel manipulated. Thinking about it divided my concentration and I stepped on Will’s toes.

  “Sorry.” I stopped and stood in the circle of his arms. “I think I’m all danced out.”

  “Want to sit?” Will indicated a bench by the fountain.

  “Sure.” I made my way to it and perched. The pack had drifted off, and I saw an opportunity to have a moment to myself. “Would you mind getting me a glass of juice or something? I’m feeling a little low on energy.”

  “Did you overdo it?”

  “I’m fine. I just need to rest for a minute.” I gave him a reassuring smile. He hurried off. I rested my arms on my legs and leaned forward with a sigh. Now that I’d stopped, I did feel a little light-headed. I peered at a blade of grass near my foot that appeared to be growing and shrinking, blinked hard, and hoped I wasn’t going to faint again. Hurry back, Will.

  I looked around to see where the others were. They had to be close by, but I couldn’t spot any dim shapes moving in the night. A sound to my side made me turn my head, my hand already moving to reach for the glass Will was bringing me even if it held wolfsbane. But it wasn’t Will moving toward me. Even in the dark I recognized the big man who’d been in the mall parking lot, Wilson or Miguel. He hadn’t introduced himself.

  I checked my motion, but too late. He’d caught me with my guard down and was taking the opening I’d given him, catching my arm in a hold that forced me down. Sitting off-balance was a lousy position to fight from, but I aimed the heel of my foot at his knee and kicked hard. Five pounds of pressure to collapse a knee. Go for the vulnerable spots; aim to disable.

  My free elbow was already heading for his groin, but he blocked me, then levered my body lower. If he got me on the ground, I’d have a hard time breaking his hold. I threw my head back into his jaw and connected with a solid thunk. His hold loosened. I twisted free and brought my hands together, making a double hammer fist to smash the side of his jaw. Even a badass werepanther might stop for a minute if I dislocated the joint.

  He blocked me again, moving so fast he blurred, and then his fist caught my temple before I could block or parry and the lights went out.

  I opened my eyes to a jolting sensation and realized I was upside down, draped over my abductor’s shoulder in a fireman’s carry. We were still outside, and I saw filtered starlight through the canopy of tree limbs. He’d run with me to the woods visible from the gardens. I thought I may have only been out for a few minutes. We were still on wolf territory. And they’d be coming. But how fast? Did anybody know I was missing yet?

  I knew one move that would probably stop the werepanther, a move that could too easily be fatal to a human. Unfortunately, I’d have to reach his throat to do it and my angle was wrong. In fact, short of punching his kidneys, my options were pretty limited back here. Which meant I needed to give myself better options.

  Don’t think about it; just do it. I rose up and threw my weight backward, catching him off-guard, making him fight to hang on to me and recover his balance. And in that moment, I had my angle and my chance. The side of my hand struck his windpipe and I didn’t try to soften the blow. Aim through the target.

  He dropped me and went to his knees. I kicked his temple as hard as I could, and he went all the way down. No waiting to see if my opponent was disabled. David had healed a broken jaw almost instantly. I took off running, but where to? I didn’t know the woods, didn’t know the way back to the house.

  I listened for other sounds, like a werewolf rescue party, but it was hard to hear over the blood pounding in my ears and my shoes striking sticks and rocks as I ran as fast as my dress would allow.

  Running blind was only good for putting distance between me and recapture. I’d have to find a safe spot to get my bearings. But before I could find one, a man stepped out into my path and I ran full tilt into him.

  The force of impact didn’t knock him back, but I bounced a little and that put a couple of inches between us. I stared at him, trying to make sense of what I saw. A hunter? On private land, at night? He looked like the woodsman from “Little Red Riding Hood.”

  “You didn’t give me a chance to rescue you.” He sounded equal parts accusing and disappointed as he plucked me off my feet and swung me up to cradle me against his chest. “I was going to be dashing and impressive. You might have swooned at the sight.”

  I blinked. Friend? Foe? Not wolf, whatever he was. But he didn’t feel human, either. He smelled green, like the forest.

  “He hit you a good one. I didn’t change fast enough to prevent that. Sorry.” He held me with one arm and with gentle fingers touched the side of my head that had taken the blow.

  “Change?”

  “I was the entrancing blade of grass you were looking at when our party got crashed.”

  The one that had gotten taller and smaller, making me think I was on the verge of passing out again. “So you’re, what, the lawn?”

  He laughed, a bright, ringing sound. “I’m a Leshii. Forest lord and friend to wolves. I can be as small as a blade of grass or as large as you see me now.”

  “Must be hell on your wardrobe.” I felt dazed and winded, shaky and spent. Maybe this was all a hallucination and I’d wake up on the garden bench with Will pouring wolfsbane down my throat and David swearing at me for overdoing it.

  “It’s fun,” the Leshii said in a cheerful voice. “And now I’m rescuing you after all. You were getting lost.”

  “Thanks.”

  The motion was making me dizzy. I shut my eyes, just for a minute. When I opened them again I was back on the bench, Will bending over me looking worried, lots of yelling in the background. I looked around but saw no signs of the lord of the forest or whatever he was. Maybe he’d gone back to blending in with the lawn.

  “Panther grabbed me,” I told Will. “Left him in the woods. Didn’t see any others.”

  He nodded and called something I didn’t understand to the others. “They’ll find him,” Will said. “Can you stand?”

  How bad did I look? Maybe I didn’t want to know. I nodded yes and was immediately sorry when dark sparkles swam in my vision and my head pounded. “With help,” I amended, and leaned on him as he got me on my feet.

  We hobbled inside, or rather I did, and he was nice enough to shuffle along with me.

  A white-faced Jack met us and took my other arm. His touch sent a welcome rush of warmth through me. “You don’t look so good,” he said.

  “You should see the other guy.” Nausea roiled in my belly. What if I’d killed him?

  “I hope to.” Jack sounded grim. “Coming here. Taking you. Will went nuts when he came back and found you gone with panther scent all around.”

  The whole thing couldn’t have taken long, I thought muzzily. Then again, I’d blacked out twice. And talked to a blade of grass. Had I dreamed that? My head ached and I gave up thinking. It was enough to put one foot in front of the other, down the hall, up the stairs, to my room.

  Jack lifted me onto the couch. He stroked my forehead and I noticed his hand felt hot, but it soothed my headache, so I didn’t complain. Then the two of them prowled the rooms, probably checking to make sure nobody was here but
us. When they came back, I saw that Will had a soft knitted throw in hand.

  “Are you going to cover me up and tuck me in?”

  “Yep.” He shook it out and spread it over me, then slipped off my shoes and covered my feet, too. “Room’s clear. You can close your eyes if you want to.”

  Like I could take a nap while chaos reigned around me. But my eye drooped and I realized I was that tired. I couldn’t relax if I had to stay on guard, though. “One of you stay until Zach’s back?”

  “Try to get rid of us.”

  Wouldn’t dream of it. The gray fog of exhaustion rolled over me. When it let me back up, Zach was there. I was fiercely, wholly, shockingly glad to see him, as if his presence made everything right again. And I acted without thinking, reaching for him, fastening my mouth on his.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  I’D LIKE TO SAY I CAME TO MY SENSES AFTER HALF-CLIMBING HIS BODY and locking lips until oxygen deprivation was a real threat, but it was Zach who drew back far enough to let our eyes meet.

  “How do you feel?”

  I took inventory. “Headache. Sore muscles. Shaky.”

  “Up to talking?”

  I nodded and my head didn’t throb in protest, so I took that as a sign of progress.

  Jack and Will had left, probably while Zach and I were busy. Zach sat on the couch with me in his lap, running his hands over me as if reassuring himself that I was all in one piece. “Tell me what happened.”

  I told him about the werepanther attack, but hesitated before mentioning the Leshii. Would I sound crazy? No crazier than a werepanther bent on kidnapping, I decided, and plunged ahead. “Then a guy dressed like some kind of hunter who called himself the lord of the forest said I was lost and brought me back here. That’s it.”

  “That’s it,” Zach echoed, his tone flat. “The Leshii hasn’t been seen since your father died and Ray split the pack. Now he shows up for you, and all you say is ‘that’s it’?”

  I shrugged. “I kind of expected you to tell me I was hallucinating. Who is he?”