by Alisa Woods
Some secrets really should stay buried.
“Look, I’m fine, honest,” Noah said. “You remember when Owen was afraid to shift after he’d been in the cages for a year? Because he didn’t know what kind of beast he would be?”
Daniel nodded. That story had made the rounds through Riverwise after Owen finally shifted and was revealed to be a white wolf with freakishly large, razor-sharp claws.
“Well, it’s something like that—monster claws, a different kind of wolf than I used to be—but I can control it. My new wolf form came out when I was in Afghanistan, freaked the hell out of me, and I came home. But I’m fine now—I’ve got it under control.” Not the entire truth, but maybe enough to keep Daniel off his back about it.
His brother nodded. “That’s why you think you’re…” He grimaced.
“A freak? Yes. Just say it, Daniel.”
“That’s not what I meant!” His brother’s face darkened. “I was going to say that’s why you think you’re not mate material.”
“That too.” Noah scowled at him.
“But that’s not necessarily true—”
“Come on, bro! Don’t patronize me. We both know there aren’t enough female wolves to go around, not by a long shot, and there aren’t going to be any lining up to mate with someone who’s a genetic freak.” Not to mention that he wasn’t fully a wolf… even if there were a female shifter interested in him, he’d have to tell her the truth. It was only fair. And no reasonable girl would want to risk having half-witch pups. Hell, any girl who did, he probably wouldn’t want, just because that would be crazy.
“Don’t give up on this!” Daniel looked distraught. “Owen found a mate—”
“That was luck, man, and you know it.”
“It could happen for you. Don’t throw away—”
“Okay, look.” Noah got in his brother’s face. “I’m making my own path here, Daniel. And you do not get a vote on what it’s going to be.”
Daniel pressed his lips into a tight line, but Noah really didn’t give a fuck at this point what his brother thought of him. And if Noah wanted to be with a human, not just for a night, but maybe for longer—
His phone buzzed.
It was the WildLove chatroom app. Room 19, Emily’s message said.
Fuck waiting around for fifteen minutes. “We’re in Room 19,” Noah said to his brother. “Time for me to go.”
Daniel held up his hands to stop him. “I thought you were waiting.”
“I’ll take the scenic route.” Noah pushed past him, threw open the door of the van, and hopped out. Then he slammed the door in Daniel’s face for good measure. His car was on the far side of the van, and by the time he reached it, the boiling anger inside him was surging up his wolf. He breathed through his teeth, willing his wolf to stay calm, promising him that they were going to see Emily in just a few short minutes.
It worked. He wasn’t even halfway around the scenic route to the motel before he was calm again… at least, as calm as he got with the prospect of seeing her looming ahead.
That part he really didn’t understand. It was like his wolf was drawn to her for some reason. Given his wolf was only half-wolf—the other half being witch, plus whatever altered stuff the genetic experiments threw in there—he wasn’t sure what any of it meant. All he knew was he couldn’t wait to see her. And all the disparate parts of himself settled down and pulled together in an effort to make that happen.
There were several cars in the motel parking lot, but no people. Noah parked well away from Emily’s silver Prius, as well as Room Nineteen, just in case the bomber managed to set something off and blow up his car—he didn’t want Emily or her car getting caught in the crossfire. Then he jogged up to the door. It was on the first level this time, and he took a moment, catching his breath and hopefully giving the potential bomber a good long chance to see him before he knocked.
Emily opened the door right away. She was still wearing her black t-shirt and jeans getup from the office, which made sense. She had probably come straight from there, whereas Noah had been doing their online chatting from his apartment... where he wouldn’t be tempted to follow up those sexy chats with multiple attempts at a kiss. But now that they were here…
“Hi, Trish!” Noah said, still standing outside the door, playing the role, in case the bomber was watching. “I’m Nick. From WildLove.”
“Hey, Nick.” Emily couldn’t quite contain her smile, and it practically forced one onto his face. “Nice to meet you. Come on in.” She stepped back and held the door wide for him.
“You’re just as sexy as your profile picture,” Noah said, a parting comment for the potential bomber outside.
Emily closed the door and turned to him. She folded her arms across her chest and shook her head, giving him a skeptical look. “Is that right? Because, as I recall, Trish is a heck of a lot taller and skinnier than I am.”
Was she really walking him right back into the sexy talk? Because he was so ready to pick up where they left off.
“I happen to like shorter with more curves.” He closed the couple feet between them, and he could tell by the way her eyes widened, that she didn’t expect it. He let his gaze travel down to where her t-shirt hugged her chest, then back up to her eyes. “And what you have under there looks very tempting to me.”
Her mouth went a little slack with surprise, and her cheeks pinked up right away. Man, she was pretty when she blushed. It brought out that innocent-kitten look to her wide blue eyes and creamy-pale skin. He eased closer, nudging her toward the door without touching her. Yet.
“Um… okay,” she said, and her voice hiked up a little. “You realize we’re not in chat anymore, right?”
His heart sank a little with that, but he didn’t give up. He pressed a hand against the door, next to her head, because by this time, she was backed all the way up against it. Her arms were still locked, protectively, across her chest.
He looked straight into her eyes. “I was hoping at least some of it was real. It felt real to me.”
She visibly swallowed. “Yeah. Me too,” she whispered.
Yes. He leaned in closer. “I’ve never done that before. Talked like that in chat, I mean. Did I…” He licked his lips because suddenly his mouth was dry with nerves. “Did I scare you off? I kind of got carried away.”
“No,” she breathed. He was close enough that he could feel the heat of it. “Well... it was a little overwhelming.”
“I’m sorry.” He leaned in close enough to kiss but didn’t. God, he wanted to. “And I don’t want you to think that’s all I want. That I’m just trying to get you in bed. Because it’s not just that for me.”
She blinked. “It’s not?”
He eased back a little—any closer, and he would be kissing her, and that wouldn’t help in making his point. “You’re smart and funny as hell. And you’re taking all kinds of crazy chances here, just to help shifters… when you’re not even one yourself. And you… you care, Emily, in a big-hearted kind of way that stirs me around. So, no, it’s not just your smokin’ hot body that I want.”
Her eyes were wide, and her lips parted, and he could scent her arousal… which was all he needed to press forward.
“Not that I don’t want that, too. Don’t get me wrong.” He let his gaze rake down the smooth curve of her neck. He had to shut his mouth to keep in the drool again. He looked back into her eyes. “We’re here, in a motel room, alone, again… and believe me, I’d really like to take off your clothes. And mine. Unfortunately, the bad guy could show up any moment.”
“That’s really unfortunate.” She was whispering again.
“It is. But there’s a lot we can do with our clothes still on.”
Her breathing hitched. “Yeah?”
“Definitely.” He placed his second hand on the door next to her head. There were only inches between them. “If you’ll let me.”
He was so close he could feel her chest heave against his as she labored to breathe. �
��I’ll let you.”
He managed not to moan with those words, just leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers. They were so soft… his hand was in her silky hair before he knew it, his other one around her waist, pulling her close. He wanted her to feel more than just his growling lust for her, but he couldn’t help drawing her deeper into the kiss by crushing her to him. And his quickly growing erection was making that lust plain enough. She practically melted into him, her body hot against his through her thin t-shirt, his tongue deep inside her mouth, tasting and seeking and warring with hers. She was so short, her head had to tip back to kiss him. He slipped his mouth from hers, traveling wet kisses down her jaw and nipping at the tender skin of her neck. The moan that came from her throat reminded him that he wasn’t making anywhere near enough use of his hands. He slid the one at her back down to caress her firm, little bottom, while the other brushed the side of her breast through her shirt.
“God, Emily,” he panted between kisses, working his way back up to her sweet mouth. He cupped her breast in his hand as soon as a sliver of space opened between them.
“Oh my God, yes,” she said before he smothered her words with his kiss.
He pressed her against the door, not caring that she felt every bit of hardness he had for her—she should know how much she affected him—but he was starting to lose himself in this kiss. His hand slipped under her shirt. Her small fingers clawed at the bottom edge of his, working it up so she had access to his bare skin. He devoured her sweet scent with his mouth and deep pulls of breath across her skin—
His earbud squawked, making him jump.
“No, no, no!” “What the hell!” “Get him!” “Shoot him!” “Too far!”
Noah jerked back from the kiss, blinking fast. “Something’s happening outside.”
But Emily had heard it, too, looking toward the window to the parking lot, drawn closed with drapes. The shouts were audible through the thin walls of the motel.
“Noah, get clear of the door!” That was Daniel, his voice high and hysterical.
It froze Noah for a split second, slicing like ice through his veins… then he grabbed Emily’s hand and yanked her away from the door.
“Go, go, go!” he shouted to her as he dragged her across the span of the room. She stumbled but caught herself, plus he had an iron grip on her. But there was nowhere for them to go, no rear exit, no door to another room… just the bathroom. “Get inside!” he yelled while shoving her through the door and toward the bathtub.
He barely got through the door to the tiny bathroom himself before the room blew.
Emily could hardly breathe with Noah’s weight on her, but that didn’t concern her… what was freaking her out was that he wasn’t moving, and he was in his wolf form.
Something had exploded in the motel room, probably the door, but Noah had hustled her into the tiny bathroom and down into the bathtub before it hit—and the shock from the blast had thrown him in after her. He must have hit the tiled walls hard, and with his head, because it had knocked him unconscious and now he lay, inert, on top of her. Somewhere in the process, he had shifted into his beautiful white wolf form… but that didn’t make him any less heavy.
“Noah! Noah!” she whispered hoarsely in his ear, the fur of his face tickling hers. She wriggled out from under the bulk of his weight, trying to ease him gently to the floor of the tub while getting a better look at his head. She couldn’t see any blood in all that snow-white fur, but his eyes were closed tight and his tongue lolled out of his open snout. “Noah, please wake up,” she said, tears pricking her eyes as she gently shook him.
Shouts were coming from the room outside, and the air was thick with smoke and small, floating debris from the explosion, but Emily’s focus was entirely on the beautiful, noble wolf who had just saved her life. She dug her hands into his fur, searching for a heartbeat, but it was impossible—as much as she knew about shifters, she didn’t know anything about the anatomy of their wolf forms.
But someone else might.
“In here!” she shouted to whoever was outside in the room. “We’re in here! We need help!”
A pounding of footsteps was followed by Daniel, Noah’s brother, swinging around the corner and into the small room. “Noah?” he gasped then flew to their sides. He looked in horror at Noah’s wolf form, like he had never seen it before.
“He won’t wake up,” Emily said, her throat closing up. But even as the words came out of her mouth, Noah stirred in her arms. His eyes were still closed, but his muzzle leaned into her, rubbing against her arm. “Noah! Can you hear me?”
“I need a medic in here!” Daniel screamed at the men gathered at the door. One disappeared, calling for someone. Then Daniel turned back to Noah. “Noah, God… what’s happened to you?”
Then a miracle occurred—or at least it felt that way to Emily—and Noah opened those clear-blue wolf eyes and looked straight up into her face.
“Noah?” Daniel’s voice drew a growl out of the wolf in her arms, and suddenly, he shifted, leaving her holding a very naked, very gorgeous Noah in the bathtub.
“Oh, thank God,” Daniel said, rocking back on his heels where he was crouched by the side of the tub, but Noah ignored him, his eyes still locked with hers.
She put one hand on his cheek, holding his head as gently as she could with the other. “Say something.” She searched his face for a sign of injury.
He smiled. “You’re beautiful.” Then he touched her face with his fingertips—they were cold, but at least they weren’t shaking.
“Okay, you really did get a knock on the head,” she said, blinking back the tears that had been threatening to fall.
“Noah, please tell me you’re all right.” That was Daniel again.
Noah grimaced at his brother. “I’m fine.” Then he seemed to want to get up, to show Daniel he was okay, so Emily let him go, even though she thought standing up was a very bad idea. Noah worked his way up to his feet, but then wavered a little and braced his hand against the wall.
Daniel stood as well. “You’re not fine. You need to have Jace take a look at you.”
Noah peered down at Emily as she scrambled to stand as well. “Are you okay?” he asked her.
“Yeah.” She gave a small smile. “I think I cushioned your fall.”
Noah squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “God, what was I thinking, bringing you into this?” Then he opened his eyes and turned to his brother. “Make sure she’s okay, Daniel. Please.” Noah’s hand was rubbing his head like it hurt.
Emily frowned, but before she could say anything, Daniel was reaching to help her out of the tub. “Let me see you,” he said, raking his gaze over her, apparently checking for injuries. “Can you stand? Did you hit your head or bang up anything?”
“No,” she said, stepping out of the tub and dropping his hand to smooth down her shirt. “I’m fine, really. Noah’s the one who needs help.”
“See?” Daniel asked him. “Will you listen to her and sit down, please?” His voice was rough, but Emily could tell there was really concern behind it.
“What I need is some pants,” Noah said, but he eased down to sitting on the edge of the tub. His clothes were in a heap at the bottom. Daniel knelt down to scoop them up and hand them to his brother. He took them without a word and started pulling them on. Just as he was standing to zip up his pants, another wolf pushed through the onlookers at the door.
Emily recognized him as Jace River, one of the brothers who ran Riverwise.
Daniel gestured to Noah. “He got a knock on the head.”
“I’m fine,” Noah grumbled, but then winced. “Just a headache.”
“Sit down,” Jace said in a tone that said, I’m your boss, don’t even think about arguing with me. Or possibly it was his alpha voice. It sent a shiver through Emily, regardless.
Noah sat on the edge of the tub again.
Jace pulled out a penlight from a small, black kit and flashed it across Noah’s eyes. Then h
e held up two fingers.
“How many?” he asked.
“Two,” Noah said.
“Blurred vision?”
“No, just the headache.”
Jace felt around Noah’s head, standing to inspect his scalp through the mess of brown hair. Noah winced a little, which just made Emily wind her arms tighter around her chest. God, she hoped he was okay.
Jace stood. “All right, you’re going to be fine. That lump on your head looks like it’s already shrinking. Which is pretty damn fast, Noah Wilding. You couldn’t have been hurt too bad. I’m going to say no concussion unless your symptoms start to get worse.”
“See?” Noah peered up at Daniel. Then he looked back to Jace. “Can you check Emily, make sure she’s okay?”
Emily unlocked her arms and put her hands up. “I’m really fine.”
Jace smiled warmly at her. “It’ll make him feel better if we’re sure.”
She gave him a small, awkward nod. Daniel helped Noah get dressed while Jace repeated the same questions and routine with the penlight.
“Any pain or twisted ankles?” he asked.
“No,” she replied.
“Well, you two are damn lucky, that’s all I have to say.” Jace stuffed his penlight back in his black kit.
Noah was shaking his head as he pulled on his shoes. “That was too damn close.” He turned to her. “Emily, I’m sorry. I should never have brought you into this. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
“I’m okay,” she protested.
But he just shook his head some more, then peered up at Jace. “What happened?”
“The bomber must have slipped in as part of the couple in Room Twenty-Four.” Jace grimaced. “I can’t believe we missed that ploy. It was so obvious. Anyway, the woman left first. We didn’t think anything of it. Then the man left their room and headed toward the parking lot. We figured he was leaving as well, but then he stopped at your door. I swear to God, Noah, he only paused for a second. That’s all the longer it took to plant whatever explosives he used.” Jace hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the room. “Damn near took out the entire room, though. And half of the neighboring ones on all sides. Which, thank God, were empty.”