Sensing a new and greater danger, Todd muttered negatively and rolled over, snatching his hand from Casey. Wolf reached over and roughly pulled her to him. He kissed at her mouth brutally, until her whimpers of pain penetrated his mind, though to her credit she did not struggle; she just pushed softly at his chest.
Cupping her head, he gentled his kiss until she lay submissively in his arms. When both were panting, he released her. Casey rubbed the back of her hand over her swollen mouth while watching Wolf with wary surprise. She was shaking.
“What did I do?” she whispered up at him, filled with confusion and mounting unease.
“Nothing,” Wolf snapped. “In fact, you've done nothing for me all damn day.”
“But Todd is injured. I'll take care of him. He won't be a burden, Wolf, I promise you won't have to do anything for him,” Casey replied, still baffled.
“Todd, Todd, Todd! All damn day it's been nothing but Todd. What about me?”
Casey's eyes widened in shocked surprise as understanding dawned. “You're jealous!”
"I am not jealous!" Wolf howled, enraged. “You are supposed to be my fiancee!”
“All right, Wolf, calm down. I am your fiancee,” Casey said, her eyes flashing over to Todd with concern. “I'm sorry, Wolf, please don't be angry, I just didn't want you to feel burdened.” Casey rubbed at one of his arms, trying to help him recover his temper. His fists were balled at his sides and she remained wary, yet resigned as she eased herself into his lap and pressed her cheek gently against his chest. Her hands lifted to rub on his tense shoulders, working the knots around his neck and back as well.
“Please, Wolf,” she pleaded to him. When he looked down at her she pulled on the back of his head, encouraging a kiss. “Wolf, please.”
This time when Wolf kissed her he was patient. His lips were soft and his breath warm upon her face. His thumb lifted to slide down her cheek. His arms wrapped around her possessively, though not painfully, clutching her body to mold with his own. His warm breath glided down her throat and, relieved, Casey heard him sigh. His hands, no longer balled, worked at the knots on her shoulders.
“Wolf?”
“Yes,” he replied, now calm. He rested his forehead against hers.
“Thank you for saving my life.”
“Not all my words are lies, Casey.”
Casey studied him. She allowed him to settle her back and remained soft and accepting as he pulled her close and roamed his hands over her body. He seemed content to just touch her. Relieved he was not going to harm Todd, realizing where his anger originated from, Casey curled against him willingly. The fear of the snake made her grateful he was close. Perhaps his promise about keeping her safe was, in fact, true. Only time would tell.
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* * *
Chapter Eleven
* * * *
Casey awoke slowly, still gripped in Wolf's powerful embrace. Her face was pressed to his unclad, warm, hard as rock chest. His arms held her possessively; his one hand clutched her behind snugly to him. Casey could feel his hardness nestled against her. She tried to move from beneath him, but only succeeded in rolling to her side. While she tried to coax his hand from her behind, he stirred, pulling her close, mumbling her name.
“Wolf, please let me check on Todd,” she begged.
Wolf awoke in a sleepy haze of delicious warmth, enjoying the feel of her softness pressed so enticingly to his body. He lowered his head into Casey's hair, smelling her sweet scent. His lips tickled at her earlobes. He fondled her body, his hands sliding under her shirt, feeling her heat against the inside of his arm.
Casey did not resist when Wolf tucked her beneath himself once more and kissed her lips, her eyes, her cheek; his soft, wet tongue darted out to trail a path under her chin to the hollow of her neck. Her heart fluttered and she resisted the feelings he was still able to stir. His heated kisses moved their way back up her cheek. His whispered breath paused at her ear. She tried to shut out the soothing words he caressed into her ear. He allowed more of his weight to lower onto her prone, helpless form. She could feel his eager arousal now pressed against her fully while his body rubbed against her.
“I want you,” Wolf whispered.
Feeling a moment's panic, Casey looked over at Todd and, seeing he was trying to keep himself occupied, his eyes shifting to everything but them, she smiled.
“Good morning, Todd,” Casey said loudly, and shoving against Wolf as if embarrassed, she scooted out from beneath him.
"Damn!" Wolf said with a frustrated groan. The hand that had been stroking Casey's silky skin fisted and smashed into the sand.
“How are you feeling, Todd?” Casey asked. She inspected his wound.
“Still sore,” he replied. Casey saw Wolf glaring at him; he was definitely very angry with him. Todd shuddered, and Casey shifted to move until she blocked Wolf from Todd's view, knowing Todd must have felt an urge to start crawling.
Casey felt his forehead and was relieved he was not feverish. She smiled at him. “Are you hungry, honey?”
“I am,” Wolf grouched, but from the look in his eyes Casey could tell it wasn't food he hungered for.
“I'll go find something,” Casey said. She rose and scurried away, wanting to retreat from Wolf's anger.
Wolf looked furiously at Todd. Todd looked back as though he would have liked to scoot under the nearest rock.
“You could always follow her. Ever done it on the beach?” Todd asked sheepishly.
“If I follow her she will complain I have left you alone and unprotected.”
“She is a very caring young woman. You are a lucky man,” Todd said.
“Not lucky enough,” Wolf grumbled. Grudgingly, he admitted Todd was right. Casey had fussed with genuine concern and compassion over Todd, jumping to do his bidding like a slave, to the point where Wolf had wished it had been himself who had gotten bitten, though the thought surprised him. He remembered Casey's shocked astonishment when she had declared Wolf was jealous.
Wolf crossed his arms over his chest. He was not jealous. That wasn't possible. How could he be jealous? He was certain his anger was due to the fact he wasn't getting her attention. He was used to receiving all of her undivided attention until Todd came along.
He liked Casey. He respected her, admired her tenacity. Her only failing was she was so darned inquisitive. She was incredibly beautiful and definitely caused an arousal in him. He was wishing he hadn't hurt her, yet justified himself that it was for her and Todd's own good. He couldn't have people knowing his profession.
“Look, if it makes you feel better, I can tell she only has eyes for you,” Todd said, interrupting Wolf's thoughts.
“How can you tell?” Wolf asked, sulky to the point of being petulant.
Todd squirmed a bit. “Look, buddy, you've got to admit you're a bit rough with her at times. But she calmed you down right quick last night,” Todd said, and chuckled.
“Maybe she likes it a bit rough,” Wolf said suggestively.
“My Jackie would run, terrified of a guy like you,” Todd said, his own annoyance now rising; he narrowed his eyes upon the large, arrogant, pompous man. “And I think you're wrong. Casey looks fearful of you at times. You could try being a bit gentler. You had no business marking her arm the way you did, or tossing her to the ground.”
“Maybe you should just worry about your own woman,” Wolf snarled, narrowing his own eyes. He liked not the fact Todd was right, and it touched a nerve.
“Well, there's the thing. We could be stuck here for a long time,” Todd said in a challenging way. “I don't think I like the idea of being stuck on an island without ever experiencing intimacy again. Perhaps Casey might like someone a bit easier once in awhile, especially when you get so damned physical.”
“You dirty bastard,” Wolf howled, enraged at the implication. He jumped to his feet, prepared to do battle. She was his! Wolf didn't share what was his. Casey belonged to him! Two things occurred to Wolf simultaneously
. The first being if he injured Todd further, Casey would again be fussing over the man, taking even more attention from himself. The second, more horrifying thought was that he was indeed jealous.
Damn!
How the hell did that happen!
Wolf decided a bit of roughing up wouldn't kill Todd, although there was a thought. He advanced on the man menacingly, his hands balled, intent on teaching him to keep his eyes off Casey. Todd raised his hands to defend himself, most certainly realizing there was no escape, but trying to ease backwards regardless.
“Wolf!” Casey screamed, barreling into the clearing. Her face was red, her breath came in gasps.
“I haven't touched him,” Wolf declared...yet, he mentally added.
Casey raced to Wolf and grabbed at his shirt. She had sped from the beach.
“Hurry, Wolf, come. There's a boat, Wolf, a boat, and it's close. Oh, Wolf, hurry,” Casey cried out desperately.
Wolf was running with a torch they kept handy, his feet flying across the terrain. Casey could not keep pace, though she put up a valiant effort. Their signal fire was blazing in no time while Casey jumped up and down on the beach, screaming and waving frantically. A loud horn could be heard in the distance coming from the boat.
“They see us,” Casey cried happily.
She was so happy she threw herself into his arms. Wolf gripped her tightly up off her feet and swung her around. He then kissed her. To his surprise, she kissed him back eagerly and he noted Todd was not even around. Though it wasn't long before her eyes clouded and she disengaged herself from him.
“I will still pretend for these people. You won't hurt them, will you?” she asked.
“I won't hurt them. I won't hurt you either,” Wolf said.
“I don't know where to hide, Wolf. What will I do?”
Wolf knew she meant from the others who would come. “I know a place.”
“Is it safe?”
“It's safe, I can leave you with a friend of mine while I speak to David.”
“Don't hurt him. He is suffering so badly inside,” Casey begged.
“He wanted you dead,” Wolf reminded her.
“But I don't want him dead.”
Todd came stumbling through the foliage at that moment. “Oh, thank God,” he muttered.
Casey went to him and supported him, pulling his arm around her shoulder. She assisted him to a large piece of driftwood, where she settled him.
“See, you'll be fine now, Todd,” Casey told him and rubbed at his back.
“I don't believe it!” Todd exclaimed.
“What is it?” Casey asked.
There were people now approaching them. One of them was a woman, who was smiling as she hurried closer. Her relief radiated from the beaming look she cast.
“How are you supposed to take care of me while you're on an island with a beautiful woman?” the dark-haired woman said. Todd rose and she launched herself into his arms, clinging tightly.
“Jackie!” Todd exclaimed, cuddling her closer.
Casey sat sipping on her second glass of white wine after finishing a wonderful meal. The large yacht was beautiful. The hired help fussed over the three of them. When Casey had boarded, she had been escorted to a lovely room below deck, and Jackie had encouraged her to wash and pick out some clean clothing.
Jackie was taller and better described as voluptuous, yet Casey found something appropriate. It felt so good to get out of her soiled, torn clothing. A doctor aboard had gone over her bruises and sores critically after first examining Todd's thigh. She had sat quietly while the doctor had put two stitches in her toe after cleansing it thoroughly. He then wrapped it well and suggested she would need a tetanus shot just to be safe.
“That's a nasty mark,” the doctor declared while assessing Wolf's forehead.
“I got hit with a coconut.”
“You are a very lucky man. Some people have died from being struck by falling coconuts,” he informed him.
“You don't say,” Wolf replied, and looked over at Casey, lifting an eyebrow. She felt her face heat up.
“You must have a hard head,” the doctor told him. Finishing his exam, the doctor settled back, reaching for his own wine.
“You have no idea,” Casey mumbled.
“I still can't believe you found me,” Todd said once more, amazed.
“Jackie had the entire house in an uproar when she found out your boat had sunk,” the doctor said, shaking his head. “I ended up sedating the poor thing. When she came to she was frantic and demanded we leave to find you immediately, and rallied the troops. You know how stubborn she can be.”
“Oh, Uncle Roger,” Jackie replied, rolling her eyes. “I am not stubborn, just determined.”
“Well I, for one, am grateful you are determinedly stubborn. I missed you,” Todd said, and he captured her to him and settled her onto his good leg. He smiled up at her, then cuddled her closer to himself.
Casey noted the doctor taking all of this in. He seemed to be assessing Todd and his delighted, unrestrained, and decidedly truthful reaction critically.
“It's good to have you back, Todd,” Roger said finally.
“I'm happy to be back,” he replied. He turned, gazing into Jackie's face. “I thought about you so much, baby. I worried about you every day. I wanted to be with you but I am so happy you weren't stuck out there with us. It was so awful.”
“You must have been so scared,” Jackie said, running her hands over his face. She turned to Casey. “Weren't you terrified when the snake struck? You must have been happy Todd was there to protect you.”
Casey chuckled and Wolf snorted. “Yes, Todd was definitely a comfort,” Casey informed the woman. She hid another giggle while sipping more wine.
“Well, I had best get you off to bed so you can rest,” Jackie said, rising, assisting Todd to his feet.
“Bed sounds great, but only if you will stay with me,” Todd said. His eyes trailed up and down Jackie, already devouring her.
“Oh, Todd,” Jackie said, and giggling, she led him away.
Roger sighed and shook his head as they left. “I can show you to a cabin if you would like to rest. We should make it to land in a couple of hours.”
“A real bed certainly sounds enticing,” Wolf said, gazing at Casey.
Casey shifted uncomfortably. She could see what Wolf was thinking. “But we haven't seen anyone else for weeks. It would be nice to just sit and chat and catch up on what's happening in the world,” Casey said.
“Are you saying you're tired of my company?” Wolf asked as his gaze intensified.
“No, of course not, honey,” Casey replied, quickly noting Roger's look was settled on their exchange. The man was watching shrewdly. Casey could tell he was wondering if she was just playing shy, or perhaps it was something else. She reached over quickly to hold Wolf's hand. He clasped it firmly and immediately pulled her into his lap. She rested her head against his shoulder and rubbed his back.
“I would recommend you both get some sleep. You have suffered through a traumatic experience. I'm surprised I haven't needed to treat any of you for hysteria,” the doctor said, sounding somewhat relieved.
Their search had led them to other islands, where other survivors had not fared as well. Others had indeed been battling shock and hysteria. Thankfully, all they had found would live. Some survivors found by other searchers had not been as lucky. There were horrific stories circulating of some passengers being trapped below and unable to escape as the yacht had gone down.
“I'm also grateful none of you are in shock,” Roger said.
At least not yet, Casey thought. Wolf stood up, carrying Casey with him. He held her easily for a moment, gazing into her eyes before sliding her to her feet down the length of his hard body. She looked up at him and offered a shaky smile for the doctor's benefit.
Roger led them to a small but bright cabin and told them if they needed anything someone would be happy to get it for them. Once the door closed and Wolf
locked it, Casey moved backwards, her hands splayed before her in self-defense. Wolf stalked after her, his wolfish grin lighting his smoldering dark eyes. Casey's heart began to pound within her breast. She was being hunted, and Wolf wanted to pounce and sink his teeth into his prey.
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* * *
Chapter Twelve
* * * *
“Wolf,” Casey said, her hands still splayed before her in a pleading gesture. Her wild eyes fixed on his.
“You know I won't hurt you.” Wolf's voice was low and thick with desire. His heated eyes trailed up and down her body with intense passion. He moved slowly towards her, his anticipation intensifying. He wanted to taste her. He wanted to devour her. He had waited long enough for her to be his once more. He would wait no longer.
Casey cast a quick glance to her bruised arm. She lowered her head. Wolf was standing in front of her. Her retreat had been stopped short as she bumped into the bed behind her. She looked up into Wolf's eyes. She looked so confused.
Wolf trailed a soft thumb over her cheek. “I needed to frighten you, Casey, to save Todd's life, or at least his emotional well-being, I swear I wouldn't have killed him, but I didn't want to have to threaten him to remain silent. I had already been angry at him for wanting you. I shouldn't have been so rough with you. I'm sorry, sweetheart. You have promised you will tell no one what I do and I believe you. I promise never to hurt you again. Believe me.”
He willed Casey to see his sincerity. She had to believe him. “You said you had a place I could go where I would be safe. Did you mean it?”
“My friend's home.”
“Will your friend hurt me?”
“No.”
“Does he do what you do?”
“No.”
“How can you be certain he won't hand me over for money?” Casey asked.
“He owes me a blood favor.”
“A blood favor?”
“I once protected something of great value to him.”
“I'm not of great value to you,” Casey said.
“I promise no one will harm you. I will not allow it,” Wolf declared. He pulled Casey into his arms, lifting her up off her feet; he lowered her to the bed.
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