Shaking off that thought and the anger it brought along with it, I unlocked my door and then kicked it shut behind us. I sat on the edge of my bed, with her still in my arms, and brushed the hair out of her face .
“You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.” I held her that way until her trembling ceased and she stared up at me with those big brown eyes of hers. The brown in her eyes was almost golden. There were flecks of yellow and black, too. Things I hadn’t noticed the night before while taking advantage of her the night before .
Working Chicago vice, I’d seen and dealt with some of the worst offerings of humanity. Not a lot scared me, but the thought of some greasy low-life putting his hands on Denny terrified me. I’d kill the fucker .
As if she’d remembered what went on between us the night before, she pushed off my lap, flashing me a lot of thigh in the process, and moved to the other side of my room .
I gripped the bed and made myself remain seated. I wanted her back in my arms. My wolf craved that touch to reassure her, and to know that she was okay. And, I’d stay to comfort her for as long as she needed, then I was going to find that piece of trash and gut him. I was out for blood. And I wouldn’t hold back .
“He wanted the pictures. He had a gun… um…Detective Williams.” She stuttered on my name and blushed .
“Detective Williams? I think we know each other a little better than that , now .”
Her cheeks darkened .
“Why won’t you call me Raif? Detective Williams seems a little formal .”
A light went on in her eyes and she nodded . “Raif .”
“Wait a minute. Did you forget my name ?”
“No.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes .
“No ?”
“Can we get back to the guy with the gun ?”
Fuck. Yeah, that was more important. “Start from the beginning and tell me everything. I want to know exactly what he said .”
When she crossed her arms over her chest, the shirt rode up showing off so much of her legs that it was hard to ignore them. Until her voice cracked as she recounted the scene. That made me forget everything else. The asshole would pay .
“Can you stop growling for two seconds and let me finish?” Denny put her hands on her hips and frowned. “You’re going to terrify the other guests .”
I hadn’t even realized I was snarling. I wanted to rip the fucker’s head off, though. My wolf was pacing like crazy. He was dangerous like this. “I’m going to head to Mack’s. I’ll get the information I need from Mack .”
Like she’d read my mind, she shook her head. “Be nice to Mack. He was scared .”
“He sold you out! He gets no mercy from me .”
“Yeah, well, you ran away last night like a…a…chicken shifter !”
I was taken aback. I scoffed, but my pride wouldn’t let me let it go. Although, what could I say? “I had somewhere to be.” Lame, but how could I explain that I’d left to protect her from myself ?
“Where? Where’d you have to be ?”
I blew out a slow breath. “Look, I’m going to find this guy. You’ll be safe here. I don’t want you going anywhere, you hear me? You stay right here.” I didn’t want to admit to her that I’d run out the night before for her own good. Hell, maybe I had run away like a werechicken, but she didn’t need to know that .
“Bwalk, bwalk, bwalk… Chicken.” Her voice was soft and trembly .
I threw caution to the wind and grabbed her hips, tugging her into me. I loved the feel of her body against mine. She wedged against me perfectly and her soft stomach against my dick nearly made me lose all sense of reason. Fuck. “Stay here. I’ll be back .”
“You left last night. Now, you’re leaving again” There was a hint of melancholy in her voice that hit me like a heavyweight’s punch to the gut .
We needed to have a conversation. I owed her an explanation, but it was more important at that moment that I stayed clear headed. I couldn’t protect her unless my mind was in the game, and she was distracting as hell .
“I had something to do. I have something to do now, too. Stay here. I’ll be back soon .”
I grabbed a shirt from the closet and pulled it on while walking out the door. I shook my head once I was out of her sight, trying to clear some of the brain fog that she induced. I ran down the steps and out of the house but the farther away I got, the stronger the sharp pain in my chest that made me think I was due for a heart attack .
11
Denny
S tay here. Stay here? Yeah, right, Detective Bossy. I rolled my eyes and looked around. No sense in wasting a chance to snoop on my mate while I had it .
Everything in the room was neat as a pin and put in its place. Everything, but me. The wall across from the bed displayed a board covered in paper clippings and string. Even that was organized. I got closer and read a few of the clippings and index cards with neat handwriting .
At the top, there was a picture of a man labelled Ricco Moretti. He looked like the boss. He had strings connecting him to clippings and index cards representing several other people, each labeled with a name and location. The locations were all around the country. One of them was an index card with the name Anthony Waters, along with a location: Smith, New Mexico. There was a big question mark under that. A string connected it to a recent newspaper clipping about a homicide of a local drug dealer that had taken place at the park in Smith last Sunday .
I wondered if Anthony Waters was the man at Mack’s. A sliver of worry gnawed at me. There were other newspaper clippings on the board, some about brutal murders. Had I just sent Raif into a dangerous situation? He was a cop, but still. What if Anthony Waters was lying in wait? What if it had all been a trap to lure Raif? That made sense .
Maybe I had been used as bait and unknowingly lured him to his death. Knowing that what I was about to do was incredibly stupid, I did it anyway. How could I not ?
I hurried out of his room and raced down the stairs. I was almost out the back door when Muddy stepped in front of me with a shit-eating smirk .
“Funny running into you here .”
I stopped short and worked my brain for an excuse as to why I was in the bed and breakfast. “I came for breakfast .”
“Wearing nothing but a man’s T-shirt?” She sniffed the air. “Mr. Williams’s T-shirt, if I’m not mistaken .”
I slumped, already defeated. “Alright, yeah, it’s his shirt. I’ll explain later. I’ve got to run right now .”
She stepped out of the way. “We’ll all be eagerly awaiting your explanation .”
“Oh, come on, Muddy. Don’t tell them.” The last thing I wanted to do was explain that I’d found my mate and already made a mess of the whole thing. I was tired of turning everything I touched into a mess .
“I’m not gonna tell anyone anything. You are. Stop by Carter’s tonight .”
I groaned, but slipped out the door. I didn’t agree to going, but I knew I would. I loved my friends and even if I didn’t want to explain everything, I would. Hell, who knew? Maybe they’d have some good advice for me .
I shifted and ran as fast as I could back to Mack’s. I got there in no time at all and stopped just inside the tree line near where I’d left my clothes earlier. I couldn’t hear anything, but the big SUV was gone .
I was contemplating my next move when Raif stepped out of Mack’s and immediately snapped his head in my direction. He came stomping my way, his boots kicking up dust as he did. Dang . He practically had steam coming out of his ears. Well, I wasn’t going to make it easy on him. I turned and bolted, only feeling slightly foolish as I did .
In seconds, I heard the swift, pounding footsteps of a wolf behind me and almost peed myself. I realized my mistake instantly. By running, I’d made myself into prey again. I darted in and out of the trees and ran for all I was worth .
Still, Raif caught me faster than I liked to admit. He nipped my tail and when I stumbled from the shock of it, he was on me. I shifted
in the fall, my deer disappearing as she came face to face with a big bad wolf. Raif shifted with me and flipped us over so he landed first. I landed on top of him, our bare bodies colliding against each other .
“I told you to stay there.” His voice was an angry, harsh growl as he glared at me. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he rolled us over so I was pinned beneath him. “What if he was still here, hiding in the woods? What if he spotted you ?”
I shivered, not from fear, but from the feel of his warm body on top of mine. I was trying to stay focused on what a bossy jerkwad he was, but it was difficult to focus with my hormones doing cartwheels over the fact that his boner was digging into my thigh .
“Are you listening? You could’ve been hurt, Denny!” His head tilted back and I watched as he inhaled deeply. When he looked down at me again, it was with dilated pupils and a heated look on his face. “You’re not listening .”
Raif sniffed again, and snarled before burying his face against my neck and resting his weight on me. Even as my back pressed into the hard earth under me and a twig poked between my shoulder blades, I couldn’t help moaning .
He raked his teeth over my sensitive skin and groaned. We were in our own little pocket of heaven, until he spoke. “I don’t want to do this .”
Like a bucket of cold water splashed over my head, I chilled instantly. Pushing at his shoulders, I managed to get him off me. “Fine. I don’t want to do it either then !”
I didn’t even care that I was naked as I snatched my keys up and stomped off towards my car. My heart ached from hearing him say those words, I don’t want to do this. I wouldn’t allow him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt me, but he had .
Raif, of course, had to add insult to injury. “Come on, Denny. I just meant that I’m in the middle of an investigation. I can’t afford to be having a wild romp in the woods right now. That’s all. I have to keep myself together .”
I whipped around and shook my head at him. “A wild romp in the woods? Is that what I am ?”
He winced .
Tears filled my eyes, but there was no way I was letting him see them. I turned and stomped off again. I had practice at controlling my emotions. I could do it with him, too. “You’re right. I’ve got to get to work. The sooner I find that memory card, the sooner you’ll go back to—wherever .”
“Chicago, and you’re not brushing me off that easy .”
I looked back at him over my shoulder. “What does that mean ?”
“That man is looking for you, now. Do you think he’s just going to give up? Someone tipped him off that you might have evidence that implicates him and he’s going to keep trying to get it until he succeeds. But that’s not all. When he does have it, he’s not going to leave you around as an eye witness who could identify him. I’m not letting you out of my sight until he’s been apprehended .”
I froze. He placed his hands on my hips and gently turned me to face him. I watched as his eyes took in the light fingertip bruising from the night before .
“I’m messing this up. Just let me get through this case. Let me protect you and we’ll talk—about everything.” He ran his fingers over the bruises and looked back up at me. “I hurt you. I was too rough .”
I shrugged it off. “Did you hear me complaining ?”
“Come on. I’ll follow you back to your apartment .”
12
Raif
I hadn’t meant wild romp in the woods the way it sounded. I’d hurt her feelings. Saying the right thing had never been my strong suit. Neither was walking on eggshells .
Truth was, I’d panicked and said the first thing I could think of to keep myself from begging her to let me mark her. And it had come out all wrong. I’d insinuated that she was nothing to me . Fuck .
I transferred a neatly folded stack of shirts into the open duffle on the bed. Denny’s apartment was soon to be my new home until this Anthony Waters, or whatever his real name was, was apprehended. She didn’t know it yet. I didn’t want to give her time to run away. If Anthony Waters or one of his goons came looking for her again, I’d be there to rip them to shreds .
It was dangerous for me to be near Denny. Like dangling a raw steak in front of my wolf and telling him to not touch it. Only, I craved Denny more than even my wolf craved steak. I had to keep my head on straight, though. My priority was keeping her safe .
After I finished packing and carried my bag downstairs, I found Muddy leaning against the front desk .
“Checking out already?” She straightened and didn’t try to hide the fact that she was inhaling her friend’s scent on me .
“I’ll be at Denny Wade’s .”
Muddy glanced up from her computer and raised an eyebrow. “ Really , now ?”
“There’s a man named Anthony Waters, which is an alias, who might show up in town looking for her. Keep an ear out. Lemme know if you see or hear anything .”
“Did you bring trouble to my friend’s doorstep, Detective Williams?” The claws on her hands were coming out and would’ve been threatening to a lesser man. My wolf growled at the big cat, but I liked the redhead’s direct approach. I was glad Denny had a fighter like Muddy on her side .
“I’ll protect Denny with my life. That I promise you.” I nodded at her claws. “So, you can put those daggers away, kitty .”
She scowled at me and handed me a sheet of paper to sign. “If anything happens to my friend, Detective, the B&B will get a new doggy skin doormat.” The hiss that came with her threat was impressive. I signed her paper, picked up my bags and headed out .
H elen’s Corner was small and I was climbing the steps to Denny’s place within minutes. I sighed loudly when I saw the door leaning against the wall. I’d have to fix that .
I scanned Denny’s apartment, taking a good look at the mess. Her living space was just as disorganized as her work space. There were things stacked everywhere. She had more books than one person could ever read, blankets, clothes, knick-knacks, extra furniture, and so many framed photos on the walls there was barely any empty wall space .
“What are you doing here?” Denny stepped out of a back room wearing nothing but a towel and a confused look .
“Until I have the guy who threatened you in custody, I’m your new roommate.” I tossed my duffel on a stack of photography magazines and tried to ignore the expanse of leg she was showing .
“No. No, that’s not necessary. I have someone coming over to fix the door and we’re in a town full of shifters. Muddy alone could take down any one coming to mess with me .”
I sank into her overstuffed couch. If there was a TV, it was buried somewhere, so I couldn’t use that as a distraction from her state of semi-undress. I focused on a framed photo of the outside of her studio hanging on the wall to keep from staring at her bare legs .
“Raif!” Denny moved to stand right in front of me. “I’m serious. You can’t stay here. I don’t want you here .”
She put herself right between my knees and I watched with a laser-precision focus as a water droplet rolled down her thigh. Without my permission, my hand extended and I brushed the water away with my knuckle. Fuck, she was soft. Soft, and warm, and silky .
Her breath caught in her throat and she let out a little gasp when I clasped her waist and pulled her onto my lap . “Raif …”
I groaned at the sound of my name on her lips. “I shouldn’t be doing this. I need to focus on this job.” I spoke the words not to her, but to myself. Too bad myself wasn’t listening .
She braced herself on my shoulders and nodded. “You focus on you. I’ll focus on me. I don’t need the stress of a man in my life anyway .”
Her big brown eyes stole all sense of reason from me. “I can be stressful .”
“You are stressful .”
My fingers circled to her back and dipped lower, riding the top curve of her ass, covered in soft terrycloth. “You are distracting .”
Her bare shoulders lifted in a shrug. “Don’t move in .”
<
br /> “I’m moving in. It’s the only way I can protect you, and I will protect you.” From everything but myself. With both of my hands full of her ass, I easily shifted her so that she was straddling me. Her towel was tied well, but it rode up her thighs and split open to reveal all of her to me .
Denny tucked her finger under my chin and lifted my head. When I met her eyes, her expression was more serious than I was expecting. “What are we doing ?”
Caught off guard, I cleared my throat and leaned back. “I don’t know. I need to protect you. I can’t afford to get distracted from that .”
“And I’m a distraction.” She shifted off of my lap and moved across the room. “Fine. So, what? You want to just fuck me and get it over with ?”
“Yes.” I saw the shocked look on her face and realized what I’d said. “No. I meant no .”
“So, you want something else ?”
“No. I told you. I need to stay focused.” Shit. I was digging myself a hole. I’d definitely lost control of the conversation .
“I get it.” She straightened her shoulders and stuck her chin out. “You don’t have to spell it out for me. I get it perfectly .”
I stared at her for a few seconds. She seemed to be waiting for me to say something. I’d hurt her again. I wracked my brain trying to come up with the right words and at the same time, I just wanted to end the conversation .
After a few minutes, Denny shook her head and stomped off toward her bedroom .
13
Denny
I wouldn’t scream. I wouldn’t cry. My mate was a jerkwad. Fine. I didn’t want him anyway. It was too bad that my body and my doe weren’t cooperating. I dressed in a pair of thick leggings and a long T-shirt. I pulled a pair of boots on and smoothed my hair into a ponytail. I needed to get out of the apartment and fast. At that point, I would’ve rather faced off with the guy with the gun than hang out with Raif, in silent rejection, for a minute longer .
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