by Marie Mason
“Thank you.” As she watched, he shrugged out of his coat and draped it over the back of his seat. He wiped off his face and slicked back his hair. It was long and black and looked thick. The snow that had covered it had already melted, making it gleam in the small circle of light. She noticed the stubble of whiskers on his jaw and felt a naughty desire to feel their roughness against her cheek. Or maybe along her inner thighs as he kissed his way to her pussy.
She squirmed on her seat. She never had thoughts like that about men. Granted, she seldom found herself in the presence of a man of this caliber, but that still didn’t excuse her behavior.
“We need to get going.” He put his foot on the brake and put the Hummer in gear. Easing forward, he edged back onto the highway.
“Wait! Aren’t we taking that exit?”
“No.”
“But that’s where I was headed.”
He didn’t bother to look at her. “And I am headed this way.” The exit she’d been about to get off of had no food or shelter. It was merely a connecting road to a highway. It wouldn’t do any good to get off the interstate here. He kept going forward despite the cry of distress from his new passenger. Did she have to lean so close to the Goddamn vents? Her scent was whirling in the air around him, almost making him dizzy from its smell. Delicious. His wolf licked his lips and images of him between her legs, tasting her pussy had his cock hard in an instant.
He didn’t even know what she looked like under her outdoor gear and he was already salivating for her.
Does it matter? His wolf chided him.
No, it didn’t matter. Hell no, it didn’t matter. He glanced over at her. She was still leaning forward her face now covered by a swath of dark hair that had worked its way loose from her coat. “You need to fasten your seatbelt.”
“So do you.” She didn’t even look at him as she said it. Good, at least his mate was observant. It didn’t, however, explain why she was out driving in the middle of a fucking blizzard!
What if he hadn’t decided to take a plane to Chicago? Landed when he did? Take the route that he did? Stop to make sure her car was empty?
He relaxed, realizing everything had happened when it happened for a reason. And the reason was—so he could find his mate.
“You’re right.” He started to put it on, but caught her movement from the corner of his eye. He was mesmerized as he watched her take off her coat and turn around to place it on the back of her seat, just as he had his. He’d seen belly dancers in Egypt, fan dancers in Vegas and strippers in Texas. None had entranced him the way this woman did by simply taking off a coat. Dark blue jeans hugged her thick thighs and cupped her rounded derriere. He closed his eyes for a second and sent up a silent thank you to whichever fate had seen fit to give him a curvy mate.
His attention jerked back to the present as the sweater she wore rode up on the side, revealing a strip of skin that looked as white as the snow outside. Damn, but he wanted to lean over and lick her. He looked away before she caught him staring.
When she went to fasten her seatbelt he stopped her. “Do mine up first.”
Julie started. “Wh-what?” her voice stuttered just a little.
“I can’t let go of the wheel and fasten my seatbelt. Do mine.”
Her rescuer turned his head briefly to the side and she caught the flash of what she thought were amber eyes. No, that couldn’t be right, could it? People didn’t have eyes the color of amber.
She bit her lower lip trying to decide if asking for help with his seatbelt was some weird way for him to try something with her. She did the math in her head. One gorgeous man plus one curvy girl equaled—absolutely nothing. Sliding across the bucket seat, she realized she would have to get up on her knees and lean into him to grab the seatbelt from the doorframe. Which would put her breasts right in his face.
Reluctantly, she did, reaching across his wide chest and trying to grab the belt without leaning too far into him.
“Closer,” he grunted, both of his hands still on the steering wheel.
She placed one hand on his shoulder to balance herself then reached for the belt. She closed her eyes in mortification when her breast brushed the side of his face.
“Hurry up.”
The growled command made her jump, prolonging the time it took for her to get the belt. She seized it and backed away. She cursed her hair as it fell forward, getting in her way. With trembling fingers, she jabbed the metal buckle into the clip and scooted away as soon as she was done.
Hunter’s plan to get her closer backfired as his wolf rose up inside him. It took all his control not to turn his head and take her flesh in his mouth. To slam on the brakes, throw the Hummer in park and pounce on her, bending her over the seat to fuck her silly.
His cock had throbbed and jerked in his jeans when her hair had swung down and caressed his leg. Immediately he thought of her bending over him, her hair caressing his bare thighs as she deep-throated him.
Another sideways glance and he realized she was just sitting there, her breathing labored as she stared at him. He inhaled, his nostrils flaring as he caught another scent—she was aroused.
“Belt.” He grunted. “Do up your belt.”
She scrambled into hers, holding it against her chest when she was done.
Hunter drove on, trying to ignore the woman—
Mate.
—woman seated beside him. The storm was still blowing strong. He pressed the radio button on his steering wheel and loud music blasted out of the speakers.
“Shit.” Quickly he adjusted the volume. What jerk left the sound that high when they turned in a rented vehicle? He changed stations until he found one that was giving the forecast. The announcer didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know. Chicago was in for a record snowfall.
It was even more critical that he find shelter now. He wasn’t alone. He scanned his surroundings, more than grateful for his wolf vision as he finally made out a mile marker on the side of the road. The small green marker was just barely peeking through a snowdrift. The interstate was soon going to become impassable.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Her voice was small in the silence of the cab once he turned off the radio.
“Yes.” No point in panicking her. They’d be damn lucky if they found somewhere warm to stay tonight. His parents’ house was too far away and they’d already passed up the corporate offices. But he’d find somewhere.
Why? Because his wolf was right. She wasn’t just a woman, she was his mate.
Julie didn’t push the man for a stronger answer, not that it would do much good anyway. His standard answer for everything seemed to be a loud grunt. She realized the danger they were in and how lucky she was that he had come along when he did. She decided not to try and start a conversation. If she was going to be rescued by a wolf, she might as well take advantage of it and let him take complete control.
No one had to tell her that the man sitting in the driver’s seat was a wolf shifter. He was too primal—too alpha—to be anything but. She’d been around shifters before. The men were usually assholes and the women bitches. She didn’t necessarily get that vibe from him. Controlling, yes. Arrogant, definitely yes. The security and safety she felt in his presence quickly overrode those other feelings.
Leaning back in the seat, she snuggled against the leather, realizing for the first time that the seats were heated. She sighed in contentment.
Hunter turned his head when his passenger stopped talking. She had settled against her seat, her eyes closed. He didn’t think she was asleep since her breathing was still somewhat shallow and irregular. The glow of his headlights lit up the next exit sign that indicated there was food and lodging. He debated whether he should take this one or continue on another mile or so. Up ahead was an exit that boasted a luxurious hotel chain that would provide them with more creature comforts as they waited out the storm.
It was also the hotel he usually used when he was in the area and picked up
a woman for a quick fuck. He never used the corporation’s suites then. Once a woman found out he was associated with McCall Holdings, he found it very difficult to get rid of them and he didn’t want the women to stay long. One fuck a night was usually enough for Hunter. He rarely had sex with the same woman twice. He’d tried to do the whole casual relationship thing when he was younger, and it hadn’t ended well. She’d been picking out wedding dresses while he was deployed and he’d been sampling the local talent where he was stationed. Now, every time he invited a woman to his bed, he made damn sure she knew it was a onetime thing.
He debated his options. He could take this exit where they would find shelter and food, both things that she needed. If he continued on, he was taking a risk.
Protect, his wolf whispered in his ear. Protect mate. Fuck mate.
He agreed wholeheartedly with his wolf on the last one.
He shifted in his seat, the sooner they stopped the sooner he could sink his length into her warmth. Using twisted logic, he took the exit.
Taking the turnoff slowly, he was grateful once again that he’d had Roberts call ahead and make sure the vehicle had snow tires and chains. They were the only things that were keeping him on the road now. Not a damn thing had been done to the ramp. Luckily, the exit wasn’t steep nor did it end abruptly. He had plenty of time to gear down and stop at the end.
He and his passenger appeared to be the only two souls out tonight. Or the only two still dumb enough to be out. He had a feeling that the hotel would be booked with weary travelers. He passed a convenience store and gas station and small diner before he saw the sign for the motel.
“What’s your name?” His hand tightened on the gearshift.
“Julie.”
“Julie…?” He was uneasily aware of how much he liked the sound of her name on his tongue.
“Julie Monroe. And yours?”
“Hunter McCall.”
He waited for the reaction to his family’s name. When none came, he threw a quick glance her way. That was a new one—a woman who didn’t go all goo-goo eyes when the name McCall was mentioned. Either she wasn’t from around here or she didn’t follow Chicago society.
This exit came complete with lights that cast a golden glow through the window. It turned her ordinary brown hair into an almost unearthly shade of dark gold. Most of the women he dated loved makeup and knew how to use it. Knew how to dress to attract a man’s attention. Julie’s face was fresh-scrubbed and makeup free. Her sweater was thick and functional even though the green color seemed to make her face glow.
He pulled under the overhang at the front of the hotel, hoping they would have a vacant room. The parking lot wasn’t completely full, so he had hope they still had something available. “I’m going to see if they have a room.” He left the engine running.
Before she could answer, he was out the door, walking into the frigid night without his coat. The cold felt good, dampening down his desire. He hoped the motel had two rooms so he wouldn’t be forced into a twenty-four/seven situation with her. A man could only stand so much before he gave into temptation.
Yeah, like you aren’t going to claim your mate before the weekend was over. Blizzard or no blizzard.
At times like this, he hated his smart-assed wolf. Because he was usually right. This time, Hunter intended to prove him wrong. He had no intention of claiming the brown haired woman as his mate. His life was too complicated, too dangerous to ask any woman to share it with him.
He heard the animal’s laugh echo in his head as he powered through the snow that had accumulated on the sidewalk in front of the hotel. He pushed open the glass door, glad to see someone was still behind the desk.
“Hello, how may I help you?” The woman gave him a coy smile. She was pleasant to look at Hunter had to admit, and in other circumstances, he might have answered the invitation in her eyes with a resounding yes.
The circumstances being if you hadn’t found your mate. His wolf was full of wit—shit—and charm tonight.
Yes, damn it, he answered the animal gruffly. If I hadn’t found my mate.
Our mate.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever.
“I need a room for the night. Do you have one?” Because who the hell had he been trying to kid? There was no way he’d let Julie out of his sight tonight. Julie. A prim and proper name for a prim and proper woman. Fortunately, Hunter was good at uncovering a woman’s bad side.
“I have several more. Is it just you?” She looked over his shoulder at the Hummer idling outside. The tinted windows didn’t allow to her see Julie sitting inside.
“No.” He didn’t elaborate but took the card she thrust toward him to fill out.
“Will you need a room with two beds or one?” Again, she was fishing for answers. Another night, another time and he knew he could bunk with her tonight. Probably would have. Those days were over. He might not be willing to claim his mate, but he would be faithful to her.
“One room, one bed. Two guests.” He couldn’t make it any clearer. Taking out his wallet his gave her his credit card.
“Here are your keys and password to the internet.”
Hunter pocketed the small packet she gave him with their room number on it. He looked around the lobby. The motel was small, with outside entrances to the rooms. It was clean and neat, but didn’t offer any extras. He would wager to bet that truckers were its primary customers. There was nothing to indicate the hotel served any type of food, not even a continental breakfast. “Are there any vending machines?”
The gas station and diner he’d passed had been closed. Hopefully, they would both open tomorrow. In the meantime, he needed to make sure he could provide for Julie.
“Are you getting hungry?” She licked her lips, looking as if she’d like to gobble him up for a snack. The thought almost repulsed him and he wanted to pound his head against the nearest wooden surface at how drastically his life had change in the last couple of hours.
Pound. Wood.
Was everything to become a sexual innuendo until he had his mate? Because even though he might not be willing to claim his mate, he had every intention of tasting her.
That earned him another long, rough growl from his wolf.
When he just continued to stare at the desk clerk, she straightened her back and leaned away from him. “There are machines on all the floors in the stairwells.”
“Thanks.” He started to walk away and then turned back. “You might want to tell the manager to empty them and start rationing them between the guests.”
“I’ll be sure and pass that along to him.” She still looked at him with hungry eyes, but her tone had frosted over.
From her vantage point in the Hummer, Julie watched the interaction between the woman behind the desk and the man who had rescued her. The thought of staying in the same hotel sent shivers of apprehension shooting through her. Not that they would be staying in the same room together. Or at least she hoped not. Well, the good girl side of her hoped so. The bad girl side would be more than happy to share.
Surely, the hotel still had some empty rooms? She wrapped her arms around her middle as another blast of cold air made its way inside the vehicle. “Did they have rooms?”
“Yeah.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she sighed. Making conversation was definitely not his strong suit. She wouldn’t worry about giving him money yet, she’d simply pay for her own when they checked out. It didn’t matter if both rooms were in his name. No one was going to be looking for her.
Hunter drove around the building, finding a parking place fairly close to the inside stairwell. Julie bit her lip as she looked out the window. Even if Hunter went first and cut a swath through the snow, it was still going to be deep, way over the tops of her shoes. Why she’d chosen to wear sneakers when she had a perfectly good pair of winter boots in the bottom of her closet, she didn’t know.
She couldn’t complain. There was no way anyone could have kept up with the heavy snowfall to keep
the sidewalks clear. Considering the number of cars in the parking lot, they were just lucky to get a couple of rooms. Fatigue pulled at her. A lot had happened since she’d left work.
“Don’t try and get out on your own,” he ordered as she reached for her coat. “I’ll come around and get you.”
He cut the engine and grabbed his coat, shrugging into it before opening the driver’s side door.
Julie didn’t like the tone of voice he was using. She bet he’d used it many, many times in his life to get women to do exactly what he wanted them to do. Julie had to admit her insides got a little warm at his bossy—and dare she think—protective—attitude. She might have been more open to it if he was trying to steal a kiss, rather than boss her around. She blushed at the thought that she would be open to being kissed by him. Not that she’d ever been the kind of woman men tried to steal kisses from.
Giving herself a mental shake, she opened her door. She was a big girl and had been taking care of herself for years. As he walked in front of the vehicle, she jumped out. Even though she’d been expecting it, she still squealed when the snow fell into the tops of her tennis shoes.
“I told you to stay put.” The door she’d been holding for support was jerked out of her hand causing her to fall forward against Hunter’s big body. Without even a huff at the sudden extra weight, one of his arms caught her around the waist and hoisted her closer. “You don’t listen to orders very well, do you?” he growled into her ear. He turned around, closing the Hummer’s door. He made his way through the snow without any difficulty, still carrying her. She’d grabbed his shoulders in reflex, somehow knowing he wouldn’t drop her despite her heaviness.
When he’d made it to the side entrance, Julie spoke, “You can put me down now.” She was still pressed against his front, her legs dangling several inches off the ground. Damn, but the man was big. And apparently wasn’t having any trouble carrying her at all.
She felt him hesitate but then he was lowering her to the ground. Slowly. Their bodies pressed against each other. Her gaze flew to his when she felt the bulge beneath his zipper. He wasn’t aroused, just big. Dang was he big. His eyelids were at half-mast, slumberous. Not for the first time she noticed how beautiful he was, in a strong, masculine way that was almost unearthly. Inhuman. She shivered, remembering she was in the arms of a wolf shifter.