Wolf Fire

by Christine DePetrillo

  He was going to kiss me.

  Nika’s hands flopped at her sides. She kept thinking that notion had faded from her memory as she worked on something else and then poof. It popped right back in there and made her entire body tingle. The way Jaemus’s golden brown eyes had zeroed in on her mouth had been… predatory. She was baffled by how much she liked being prey. Not something she would have guessed would be up her alley, but here she was, hours later, still quivery with need over the way Jaemus—a perfect stranger—looked at her.

  He was going to kiss me.

  “Oh, for God’s sake… ” She smacked a hand to her forehead as she stood at the copy machine outside her office.

  “Easy there,” Carrie said as she stowed her purse in Nika’s office. “Don’t want to rattle anything loose in there… well, anything else, I suppose.”

  “Shut it, girlie.” Nika hit Carrie’s arm with a stack of the flyers she and Zavier had made.

  Carrie laughed and grabbed the stack, giving them a look. “Wow! These came out great.”

  “Zavier has an eye for this stuff.” Nika stood behind Carrie and peeked over her shoulder. “I like how he put the faint silhouette of Wolfman in the background and the location of the show in the full moon image was a brilliant idea.”

  “Yeah.” Carrie touched a finger to the moon. “You should have seen this project Zavier did for English class. He designed an alternate cover for Night by Elie Wiesel. It was amazing.”

  “Smart and artistic. Zavier’s got it all, doesn’t he?” Nika studied Carrie’s face as she absently caressed the flyers in her hand.

  “Yeah,” Carrie said again. “I think he’ll make a brilliant lawyer, but art stuff brings him more joy, you know?”

  “So why doesn’t he go the art route?”

  Handing the flyers back to Nika, Carrie huffed. “His mom doesn’t want him to ‘waste himself’ on art.” She made quotes with her fingers as she rolled her eyes.

  “I see. Well, he’ll learn he’s got to follow his own heart if he wants to be truly happy.” Nika also hoped he learned that Carrie’s father couldn’t keep them apart. Not if they wanted to be together.

  “What about you?” Carrie asked.

  “What about me?” Nika popped into her office to make a list of where she wanted to handout the flyers.

  “Will you learn to follow your heart to be truly happy?”

  “I’m happy, honey.” Teens. Where did they come up with half the stuff they said?

  “Since meeting our new Wolfman, yes, you do seem happy.” Carrie grinned. “That look on your face tells it all, Boss.”

  “What look?” Nika scowled and waved a hand at Carrie. “There’s no look. I’m just relieved to have found someone to replace Jared.” And I’m absolutely turned on by our new Wolfman. She closed her eyes before the image of Jaemus’s intense eyes this morning could paint itself across her vision.

  But it was too late.

  He filled the space between her ears instantly. Ah, shit. Who was she kidding? His image had never left.

  “Relieved… yeah, sure.” Carrie elbowed Nika as the two of them walked out front. “Where is our Wolfman anyway?”

  “What time is it?” Nika had been so busy with flyers—and daydreaming—that she had no idea how much time had gone by since she’d been almost kissed.

  Stop it! She had to get a grip on this. Her business wouldn’t benefit from Jaemus taking the job if she didn’t focus all her attention on getting the word out. She didn’t have time for wondering how his lips would have felt pressed against her own. The trading post had to come first.

  Or Robert would come for it.

  “Almost show time,” Carrie said, glancing at her phone.

  “I’m sure Jaemus is getting ready then.” Nika put some of the flyers by the register and tucked the rest under her arm. “Let’s lock the front door and go watch him.”

  “What if customers come in?” Carrie asked.

  “They aren’t going to come in before the show, but hopefully after it they will. A few minutes before the show ends, you can run up here and reopen.”

  “Okay.”

  Five minutes later, Nika and Carrie were seated on the first row bleachers in the theater with Daisy at their feet. Nika explained away her fluttery heart by telling herself she was out of shape and the walk down from the post had gotten to her.

  That was, of course, complete bullshit, but she impressed herself with her delusion.

  The bleachers looked a little fuller, didn’t they? Nika wondered if word had already begun to spread locally. Surely people had heard about Jared’s arrest by now. Some of them must know about Robert circling like a shark too, particularly because he seemed to be announcing it at Rosie’s Diner. If nothing else, curiosity may have brought some folks out to see what was happening.

  I’m trying, Tato.

  “Nika.”

  She turned around to see Robert had slipped into the bleachers directly behind her and Carrie. Daisy let out a little growl, but that was as mean as the dog ever got.

  “Scumbucket,” Carrie said.

  Nika put her hand on Carrie’s arm, both loving her loyalty and fearing the kid would rile Robert up more than that vein at his temple already indicated he was riled.

  “One of your biggest problems here, Nika, is the subhuman staff.” Robert narrowed his eyes at Carrie as if she were a stain on his favorite tie.

  “All right. Let’s everybody play nice and enjoy the show.” She elbowed Carrie. “Got your phone ready to capture some footage?”

  “Yeah, Boss.” Carrie reached back to the pocket of her jean shorts and pulled out her phone, wiggling it between them. “Heavy on Wolfman?”

  “He’ll be the one to sell tickets.” Nika checked the time on Carrie’s phone. Two minutes to one o’clock. Two minutes to seeing Jaemus.

  Well, Jaemus in his extraordinary costume at least.

  “I’m eager to see your treasure,” Robert said. “He must be remarkable if you think he can save your trading post, Nika.”

  “Remarkable is exactly the right word, Robert. The new Wolfman is remarkable.” She focused her attention on the theater before them, willing Jaemus to show up right now and save her from Robert’s jabs.

  Suddenly a lone wolf howl echoed through the trees, making goosebumps rise up on Nika’s skin as Daisy sat up and sniffed the air. The small crowd bristled on the bleachers, many craning their necks to get a better view. That one howl had commanded their complete attention.

  “Dramatic,” Carrie whispered around a giggle, her phone poised and ready to record.

  Red Riding Hood came out and did her opening lines. The girl had always been good, but she often said her lines in a monotone voice. Today, however, a little something extra resonated behind her words. Something Nika was almost sure was passion.

  Hmm. Had Jaemus inspired her as well? And if so, how much inspiration had he offered? Did he go around getting every female he encountered all hot and bothered for him?

  Probably.

  The question was did he do it on purpose or could he not help it? The man was gorgeous. No disputing that, but did he use that fact for good or evil?

  Please use it for good, Jaemus. And only use it on me. Nika realized she had no right to ask for that last part, but she was feeling greedy this afternoon.

  Red Riding Hood took her basket and skipped along en route to Granny’s house and encountered Huntsman. They exchanged their lines, but when Jaemus ripped through the trees in all his fur-and-claw glory, the audience went wild.

  Wolfman wild.

  Screaming, cheering, hooting, hollering. They did it all in awe of the new Wolfman. Jaemus didn’t have to utter a word for them to immediately love him. His costume once again made Nika’s jaw drop. How in the hell did he make it so realistic?

  The fur on the rippling muscles of his back was amazing. She felt as if she could reach out, tug it, and totally believe Jaemus had grown that fur since she’d seen him this morning.


  And those rippling muscles? Good God. Knowing those were one hundred percent Jaemus and not the work of a gifted make-up artist made a heat build between Nika’s legs. Did vaginas catch on fire spontaneously? Because this guy could ignite that spark even dressed in a beastly wolfman costume. That took freaking talent.

  Nika watched with intense fascination as Jaemus bounded through the audience, climbing bleachers and pausing to sniff at visitors, much to their delight. Laughter filled the woods as he toyed with people’s hats, pretended to groom a man with a particularly extensive beard, batted a little boy’s shoelace like a playful puppy, wrestled a stick away from Daisy, and finally dropped to his knees on the bench in front of Nika.

  His close proximity alone made her heart beat faster. Did he seem bigger up close? He was a big man already. Deliciously big, but Wolfman appeared larger somehow. The long whiskers on either side of his muzzle twitched as he sniffed the air around her. His big golden brown eyes had a luminous quality to them and when his gaze shifted to Robert sitting behind her, a low growl slid from his throat.

  “This is your so-called treasure, Nika? Doesn’t look like much more than an overgrown mutt.” Robert scoffed and folded his arms across his unimpressive chest.

  Jaemus’s muscles tensed so subtly if Nika hadn’t been so close to him she wouldn’t have noticed. Even so, when he sprung forward and leaped over her and Carrie to land on Robert’s bench just inches from him, she nearly fell off her seat.

  “Holy shit!” Carrie swung around, her phone trained on Jaemus. “Did you see that?”

  See a man jump over two people with the ease and grace of a real wolf? Uh-huh. She’d seen it. Could she explain it? Nope.

  Where did this guy come from? And what made him want to apply to be her Wolfman? He was ready for casting in blockbuster movies.

  A bead of sweat rolled down Robert’s forehead as he sat still, trying to look completely unaffected by Jaemus’s sudden movement. “So you’re a gymnast. Big deal. That’s not enough to save this trading post. I will build a Mr. Sprinkles here.”

  Jaemus let out another growl. This time he rolled his lips back to bare a full set of vicious teeth—wolf teeth.

  Wow. This guy goes the extra mile.

  Nika’s former Wolfman had been a complete amateur compared to Jaemus.

  “I don’t think our Wolfman likes you, Mr. Senclair.” Carrie chuckled as she zoomed in with her camera.

  Jaemus tilted his head up toward the sky and let loose another loud wolf howl that had the audience on their feet, howling along with him. The energy coursing around Nika was incredible. For a moment, she felt her father’s presence more strongly than she had in a while.

  He was there. She was sure of it.

  And he approved of Jaemus.

  “I don’t give a shit if this idiot likes me or not,” Robert said. “Can we talk in your office, Nika?” He reached out his hand as if to touch Nika, but he never made contact.

  Jaemus got between them. Turning so his back was to Robert, he held out a hand toward her. A hand with bulbous knuckles, long claws, and a spattering of silvery fur on the back. He turned his palm up, revealing dog-like pads, and extended his fingers a bit.

  Nika stared at that animalesque hand for a few moments as the crowd went absolutely silent around her.

  “I think he wants you to take his hand,” Carrie whispered.

  This pulled another raucous cheer from the audience and a few “take it” calls.

  She met Jaemus’s golden brown gaze and sucked in a breath over the way those eyes of his positively glowed as he stared at her. Regardless of the fact he was in the Wolfman costume, he managed to make her feel exactly as he had when they’d been in her office earlier today.

  When he’d almost kissed her.

  Slowly, Nika raised her hand and slid it into his palm. It was tiny in comparison to his massive… paw?

  Gently—much too gently for a man of his size wearing silver wolf fur—Jaemus closed his clawed fingers over her hand. With a slight tug, he guided her off the bleachers and led her to the main theater area. When he got there, Red and Hunty were standing together, both with a look of what’s-going-to-happen-next on their faces. Jaemus had gone off script. Way off script.

  He let go of Nika’s hand and went over to Red and Hunty. He sniffed Red up and down while Hunty maneuvered in between them. Then Jaemus skulked back to Nika and fingered her hair, putting it up to his nose and inhaling deeply.

  Those goosebumps were back on her skin, and Nika berated herself for being turned on by a man dressed as an overgrown pooch.

  What is wrong with me?

  Jaemus pointed a crooked claw at Red and Hunty then nudged them together so their shoulders touched. When he stood beside Nika again he put his arm around her, tucking her in at his side.

  “Oh, you want her instead of Red Riding Hood?” Hunty asked with a chuckle that was echoed by the crowd.

  Jaemus nodded his big wolfman head and all out laughter erupted from the audience.

  “So I can have Red?” Hunty took Red’s hand.

  Again, Jaemus nodded and before Nika could catch her own breath from laughing, he swept her off her feet and carried her into the woods bordering the theater.

  It wasn’t the usual ending to the show, but she wasn’t complaining.

  Chapter Seven

  Jaemus couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much… fun. Wait. It was possible he’d never had so much fun. When he looked back on his life, fun wasn’t a large part of it. As a child, he’d always been concerned about getting his next meal. He and Reardon hadn’t played in the streets, carefree like most children. Their mother loved them, but she didn’t know how to take care of them. They took care of her most times.

  As he’d gotten older, he and Reardon had turned to questionable techniques to get food and other necessities. Reardon had basically fought anyone anywhere if it’d meant gathering some riches for their family of three. Where his brother had been better at attacking first and asking questions later—while he was counting his earnings—Jaemus had taken extra jobs that no one wanted to do. He’d also excelled at relieving people of their riches and possessions in a more… secretive manner. There hadn’t been a pocket in Ireland he couldn’t pick.

  It was in this manner that the McAlator brothers had kept themselves and their mother fed, clothed, and housed in a sufficient shelter. When Reardon’s father came for him, there had been a period of time that the burden of supporting himself and his mother fell solely on Jaemus, but he’d managed. He’d done it.

  That was all he’d done though. He hadn’t had time for anything else. Certainly not fun.

  Carrying this beautiful woman in his arms after making all those people cheer and laugh had been exhilarating. His entire body felt charged with an energy as potent as the energy he’d always felt on the battlefield, but it was totally different. Good different.

  Sexy-woman-in-his-arms different.

  Nika wasn’t asking to be put down, either, as Jaemus ran through the woods away from the theater and trading post. In fact, her arms were wrapped around his neck, her sweet face buried in the slight fur covering his neck, her enchanting smell filling his sensitive nose.

  Her heart beat a quick rhythm his ears could hear. But she wasn’t afraid. That rapid thump of her heart paired with the scent of her arousal swirling around him screamed that fear was the last thing she felt. If he thought he’d wanted her this morning in her office, that was nothing compared to his desire for her right now. Watching her laugh through the show, seeing that smile light up her entire face… gods, he could look at her and never grow tired of her beauty.

  But she hadn’t smiled for the whole show. No. That man sitting behind her had upset her. Jaemus figured that was Robert, the man who wanted her trading post, and he’d been all too eager to whisk her away from anyone who wanted to make things difficult for her.

  As much as he didn’t want to, Jaemus slowed his jog. If he kept ru
nning, he’d reach Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary, and how would he explain bringing Nika there? In wolfman form no less.

  Slowly, he loosened his grip on her legs, letting them slide down his left side, careful to avoid letting her make contact with one very hard erection contained only by the ripped jeans he wore. Somehow he didn’t think she’d be thrilled with the knowledge that a beast like himself was aroused by her.

  But she doesn’t know I’m a beast.

  She assumed it was all an impressive costume. She thought he was still a normal human in fake wolfman skin… or fur as it were. She had no comprehension of what a mistake it would be to think of him as anything besides a monster.

  Nika didn’t release her arms around his neck when her toes hit the ground. Instead, she gazed up at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, her pale green eyes studying him. Closely. Too closely.

  Jaemus took a step back and she had to let go of him. He was too tall for her to hold on to. He had to shift back to human before she made discoveries he wasn’t prepared to allow her to make.

  Holding his clawed hand up, he hoped she understood he meant for her to stay right there. When she didn’t move, he ran back and bolted into one of the stalls in the small building behind the theater. He shifted, clenching his jaw so he wouldn’t let out any suspicious grunts as his body reformed itself. After throwing on the jeans and T-shirt he’d worn earlier in the day, he raked his hands through his hair, doing his best to tame the wildness out of it. He hung the ripped jeans he’d used as part of his costume on a small peg in the stall and exited the building without running into anyone.

  Jaemus sprinted back to where he’d left Nika to find she’d wandered back toward the theater. Why had he thought she’d stay if he’d commanded her to? He was the dog, not her.

  As he approached her, she turned and stumbled to a stop. “That was a quick change. I figured you’d be at it for hours, trying to de-costume.”

  “I’ve got a routine that makes it easy.” Unfortunately that routine involved him being cursed by his werewolf brother.