by Welsh, Hope
“I still think I should go when the storm lets up. I don’t want you to be hurt because of me. He’s crazy, Luke.”
“Storm, you’re not going anywhere. I’ll tie you down if I have to,” he threatened, meaning every word. She wasn’t safe on her own, and he wouldn’t put it past her to try and run.
“You can’t keep me here against my will.” She rolled away, got to her feet, and quickly put her clothes on.
Luke watched her from beneath hooded eyes. “I can, Storm. Don’t make me prove it to you.” He stood himself and pulled on his jeans, not bothering with his shorts.
Storm clenched her fists. “I can come back if you want me to. Once it’s safe.”
“Don’t be a fool! Where would you go?” he demanded, his hands on his hips. His eyes narrowed to angry slits as he glared at her.
“Don’t yell at me.”
“I’m not yelling at you. I haven’t raised my voice—yet. You’re staying put, Storm. I mean it,” he said very quietly, but the intensity of the words was only magnified by that quiet tone.
Storm sagged down onto the couch. “I don’t know what to do.”
Luke knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. “I want your word that you won’t try to run, Storm. I can keep you safe.”
“You wouldn’t tie me up,” she said, her voice was dead certain.
Luke gave a small smile. “Maybe not,” he allowed. “But I might keep you handcuffed to me.”
She laughed at that. “Kinky.”
“You have no idea,” he said, then grew serious. “Your word, Storm.”
She sighed. “I promise.”
He smiled and tightened his fingers around hers. “Trust me, darlin’.”
“I do.”
Luke kissed her. “Good.”
“Do you think he’ll come?” she asked worriedly, searching his eyes for reassurance.
Luke released his hands and hugged her. “If he does, I’ll be ready for him. But for the next few days, the roads will be blocked. It’s still snowing to beat all hell.”
Storm looked out the window at the heavily falling snow. “Yeah, it is.”
“Let’s get something to eat. The soggy cereal won’t cut it. I’m starving,” he murmured, kissing her gently and nipping her bottom lip. “Ravenous.”
Storm returned his embrace. “I could eat.”
Luke took her hand and led her back to the kitchen. He tossed away the soggy cereal, and then walked to the refrigerator. He hugged Storm when she walked next to him. “Anything strike your fancy?”
Storm looked at the meager fare. “Um, not much to choose from. A sandwich is fine.”
Luke nodded. He opened the freezer, pulled out two steaks, and tossed them on the counter. “Dinner.”
They fixed their sandwiches in a comfortable silence. He could tell her mind was racing a hundred miles an hour as they sat down to eat, but he didn’t press her. She’d barely eaten anything and he wanted her to eat, so he kept the conversation light. “Do you have any family?” he asked.
Storm shook her head. “My parents were killed in an accident twenty-five years ago. I was an only child. Actually, they were from around here. But, when I was adopted, my adoptive parents were from Florida, but they passed away, too. A year ago. They were older when they adopted me. I think my mom died of a broken heart.”
Well, damn. It was entirely possible then, that she had absolutely no idea that she was at the very least a latent wizard. “I just realized I don’t even know how old you are.” He’d guessed about twenty-six or seven to his own thirty-two.
“Twenty-nine,” she said. “I’ll be thirty on Christmas.”
“Really? Well, we’ll have a double celebration, then.”
Storm looked pointedly around the cabin. “I don’t see a tree.”
He laughed. “I always cut one down on Christmas Eve. Do you want one sooner?” It was still almost a week until Christmas.
“No. I don’t really want to go out in this,” she admitted. “When do you think it’ll ease up?”
“Forecast was for two days. But, I’m betting the roads take a few more days to be cleared past that. This kind of snow takes a while to clear here.”
“God, I wish this was over,” she said suddenly.
“It will be, Storm. Soon. Eat,” he said gently.
She nodded and managed to finish off the sandwich and washed it down with a large sip of her soda. “You’re bossy. Did anyone ever tell you that?”
He grinned. That was certainly the truth. Both as a SEAL and as a cop, he’d always been in charge. It was in his nature. Not to even consider the fact that he was a tiger shifter. She had a lot to learn about this area. And about him.
Later.
“What’s your point?”
Storm chuckled. “I think I might like that about you.”
“Like the Alpha Male huh?” he teased, grinning when she blushed. Damn, maybe she didn’t have so much to learn after all.
“Maybe.”
“Let’s find out,” he said huskily. He lifted her and carried her to bed.
They spent the next few hours in the warmth of Luke’s bed. He made love to her gently, needing to savor every moment with her. At least the first time.
After the first time, they’d both seemed to have a sense of urgency. He wasn’t entirely sure that this woman wasn’t casting some sort of spell over him. If so, he sure didn’t mind.
He watched her as she slept. Her head was resting on his chest, and she’d curled her arm around his torso. Yeah, he didn’t mind that one little bit.
Part of him wondered if he should slip from the bed and try the phone again. If what she’d said was true—and he was about ninety-nine percent sure it was—then he’d need to let TJ know so he and his officers could be on the lookout. But, if the phone didn’t work, he’d have to go down nearer the road to use his cell.
He decided not to risk it. If she awakened, and found herself alone, he figured she might panic. That was the last thing he wanted to see happen.
At times like this, he regretted leaving the force. It would have been a simple matter to run a few searches in the databases, and to check with his old contacts at the FBI. But, at the same time, he figured he could still use those contacts at least.
Almost as if she’d known he was awake, she lifted her head. “What’s wrong?”
He wondered if she had a bit of telepathy, too. He’d bet his last dollar she had the use or at least control of fire. “Nothing. Just wondering if I should go call my friend and let you sleep a bit.”
“I thought the phones were out?”
He nodded and ran his fingers through her tangled hair. “Yeah, they are, most likely. But, if I jog down to the road, my cell might work.”
“Oh. Are you sure you can call someone that won’t tell Raymond anything?” she asked.
“I’m sure. I’d trust TJ with my life. He’s the police chief here.”
Her eyes widened. “I just realized…I don’t know where ‘here’ even is. I was headed to Indy, but I got lost.”
“We’re in Woodland Creek,” he said. “We’re a pretty small community. A couple of hours from Indy, actually. What’s in Indianapolis?”
“Nothing, really. I just figured if I went west, he’d look for me somewhere else…but if he hired you—from this town—he must know I’ve headed this way,” she said, her brow furrowed.
“It was likely the card you used for gas. I’d guess if he has the connections you think he does, that it would be nothing to check for usage,” he said. “But like I said. I can and will protect you.”
She sat up and pulled the sheet over herself. “But how? I mean, he’s got a lot of people working for him. When he comes, it won’t just be him. He’ll have others with him.”
“And we’ve got a good force of cops here. Believe me, they are not on his payroll.”
She closed her eyes for a long moment. “You’re sure?”
He nodded. Hell, maybe it was tim
e for her to learn a bit more about the town she’d found herself in. There would be no shortage of help in this town. “I’m sure, Storm. You couldn’t have found a safer place.” And just to be sure, he’d contact Mercedes. As her crow, she’d literally have a birds-eye view of the road coming both into town, and to his place.
Samuels wouldn’t know that she’d made it here yet, and he figured he had a bit of time.
She sighed. “Okay. I’m going to trust you.”
He grinned. “That’s smart.”
This time, she chuckled. “Yeah, yeah.”
Oh, it was good to hear that sound from her. Gone was the terrified woman he’d found the night before. He just needed to make sure that he had folks watching. “I should try to go use the phone.”
“Okay.” She climbed from the bed, the sheet still wrapped around herself. “I’ll be ready in a couple of minutes.”
He really wanted the tiger’s senses to check the area. His sense of smell was much better when he shifted. “You can wait here, Storm. I won’t be more than twenty minutes at most. It’s still freezing outside, and you weren’t exactly dressed for the weather.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yup. Stay warm…and keep the fire I started going. I won’t be long.” He climbed from the bed and walked, unselfconscious, to the chair where he’d dropped his clothes.
When he got back, he decided, he’d try to feel her out about the special talents many in the town possessed.
§§§
Five minutes later, and he’d shed his clothes and shifted to his tiger. He wanted to be sure that there was no one around the cabin with a scent that he didn’t recognize.
After a quick run of the perimeter, he was satisfied that the area was clear. He’d put his clothes back on—damn, but it was cold—and was now sitting in the Jeep—with the heater running. He dug out his phone and dialed TJ first. He wanted to let him know what was going on.
“Hey, TJ. It’s Luke Steele,” he said easily when the older man answered. “I have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?” TJ asked, his voice deep.
“Possibly nothing, but I was hired to locate a missing woman. Her name is Storm Reynolds. When I found her—by the way that’s her car on the side of Highway 5—she was damn near frozen solid. I’ve got her at my place.”
“Still waiting for the problem,” TJ said dryly.
“Getting there,” he said and chuckled. “She claims that the man that hired me is a killer.”
There was a pause. “Do you believe her?”
“Yeah, I do,” Luke said. “Have you heard of Raymond Samuels?”
“Sure, who hasn’t? Wait…are you telling me that she’s saying Samuels is a murderer?”
“Yeah, that’s what she says. Apparently, he killed a man right in front of her.”
“Back in New York? Why didn’t she go to the police?” TJ asked.
Luke sighed. “She says that they are on Samuel’s payroll. I didn’t want to take the chance that she was right. I’m guessing you haven’t heard any rumors, then?”
“Well, no, but that’s not surprising, Luke. We’re a small town. It’s not like the feds let us know of any Tom, Dick or Harry they are watching. You know that.”
“Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “But I was hoping. I don’t want to leave her alone too long, and I have no phone service at the house. Can you do a bit of checking for me?” Luke looked at his watch. He’d already been gone nearly twenty minutes. “I need to get back.”
“Of course. But, how will I reach you? I can’t call if your cell is out.”
Damn, he hadn’t thought of that. “It’s okay. I’ll call you back later this afternoon.”
“Be careful, Luke. You don’t carry a badge anymore.”
Didn’t he know it. “I know I don’t. But if someone tries to hurt her—you are going to need body bags.”
“Don’t do anything stupid, Luke. Look, your Jeep has good traction. Why don’t you both come to town? I can put you up for a day or two until the weather clears.”
Luke considered it for a moment. “Let me see what Storm says,” he said.
“Okay. I’ll talk to you or see you in a bit, then.”
“Thanks. Bye, TJ. And be careful. She says this guy is nuts.”
“Always, my friend.”
Luke disconnected the call and pocketed his phone. He had a sudden uneasy feeling, though. Something was wrong.
He put the car in gear and raced back to the house.
§§§
The door was shut when he arrived, but he didn’t need to search the inside to know that the house was empty. He’d have caught her scent if she’d still been in the cabin.
Damn it all to hell, she’d gone out and tried to go on her own. After promising him she’d stay put. He was still cursing as he stripped and shifted. He had to find her, because when the sun went down again, it was going to be a lot colder than it was right now.
A quick glance told him that she’d at least put on one of his coats. She’d be a lot warmer than she’d been in that coat she’d been wearing the night before.
He stood on the porch, as the tiger, and listened, his sharp ears, though, picked up nothing out of the ordinary. Not that he’d really hear someone walking in the snow.
His sense of smell was exceptional when he shifted. He could follow her scent, at least. For a terrifying moment, he wondered if somehow Samuels had found her, but decided that wasn’t likely. He’d have caught the scent when he’d done the perimeter check.
It only took him a few minutes to find the direction of her scent. She’d headed toward the small wooded area behind his cabin. He considered going back for his clothes, but decided against it. He’d find her, make sure she was safe, then go get his clothes. He couldn’t get the Jeep in the area. The trails were too narrow.
But, what she didn’t know, was that the woods likely had animals—and not the typical animals one might see in this part of the country.
Damn it, he should have told her about shifters. If she ran into some shifter, she could be hurt. Not from the shifter—but because she’d likely run and get herself hurt.
He climbed a small rise and spotted her, trudging slowly through the snow. With a sigh of relief, he started to turn back to the house when he heard a shriek.
He didn’t see anything—and didn’t scent anything, either—but still, he bolted toward her. Something had terrified her. He’d deal with her terror at finding herself face-to-face with a white tiger.
Luke stopped in his tracks when he was about two feet from her. The edges of the jacket she wore had started to smolder. With a mental curse, he knocked her to the ground from behind and used his powerful legs and head to put out the smoldering before she burst into flames.
Storm started to scream at the weight on her back, the fear of the sudden smoldering of the coat forgotten for the moment. “No!” It was impossible. A white tiger? She couldn’t take the time to try and figure that out. It could kill her in seconds.
Without conscious thought, she pushed at it, and heard the tiger make a yelp and step back. She looked at her hand and then at the tiger. There was a burn on the white fur near it’s front shoulder. What the hell was happening to her?
“Go away!” She had no idea if yelling would scare the huge animal away, but she couldn’t think of anything else to do. Yet, she’d almost swear it had an…angry look on its face.
Before she could really process that thought, she felt herself go white. If she’d been shocked before, it was nothing to what she felt now. She shook her head to clear it. But, nothing changed. Standing before her—naked—was a very pissed off Luke Steele. Complete with burned shoulder. Had she somehow burned him?
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Luke snapped, his eyes flashing Arctic blue.
She gulped. “What are you?”
He slashed an angry hand through the air. “Answer the question.”
“I was looking for you,” she said.
>
Follow me back to the house,” he snapped, and shifted back to his tiger.
Storm’s eyes widened, but she followed him when he turned and headed back the way he’d come. There wasn’t much else she could do. Now, she was both wet and cold. A deadly combination.
§§§
Luke was livid. There was absolutely no doubt she was a wizard—or some kind of fire shifter—if there even was such a thing. But he’d only been gone a few minutes longer than he’d thought he’d be…and she was far enough from the house that she’d obviously left within minutes of his leaving in the Jeep.
He kept his pace slow, knowing she’d never be able to keep up with him if he went any faster. But, damn, he wanted to run. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this angry. Livid was a better word. It would be different if he hadn’t spent the better part of the day making love to the woman. And she’d given her word she’d stay put.
When he got back to the house, he threw open the door and waved her inside, his face tight. “After you.”
She glared at him, but moved past him and through the wooden door.
Once he’d shut the door and bolted it, he went to his room to put on clothes. The fire had gone out, and he was still cold from standing in the middle of the woods buck-naked.
Cursing, he pulled on a pair of sweats, and walked back out to the living room. He ignored Storm and moved to the fireplace. He tossed in more paper and re-started the fire.
“Are you going to answer me?” she asked angrily.
Luke put on the fire grate and stood, then moved toward her. He was normally a calm man. But right now, he was furious. “Come by the fire. You’re cold.”
With a sigh, Storm marched to the fire and held her hands out to warm them. After a moment, she shrugged out of the coat and let it fall to the floor.
Luke waited several minutes to speak again, until he was sure he’d controlled his temper. “I’m a shifter,” he said quietly.
“Yeah…uh, I think I figured that out on my own,” she said a little dryly.
“You don’t seem to be completely freaked out.” His anger was momentarily forgotten in light of this new development. Most people, in his limited experience of shifting in front of them, didn’t believe their own eyes. He’d seen it more than once while in Afghanistan. He’d sworn his two friends to secrecy. If nothing else, SEALs were very loyal to one another.