Wild Instinct

by McCarty, Sarah

  “What else is there?” His much larger, darker finger followed the trail hers had taken. She closed her eyes as the pleasure flowed through her, chased by a trail of goose bumps that caused the corners of his mouth to tip up in his own pleasure.

  “The fact that I’m willing to lead.”

  “You are?”

  She let the shirt fall to the floor, shaking it free as it caught on her wrists. Tucking her hands behind her back, she reached for the hooks on her bra. Only to find his were there ahead of hers.

  “What if I don’t want you to?”

  There was a time when she would have taken that as criticism. But now that she knew him better, she heard the amusement tucked into the question. Amusement at himself because, as it was with her, she was beginning to understand his need went deeper than the physical, too.

  She leaned into his chest and let his body heat seep into hers, breathing deep of his scent. He always smelled so good. Beneath her ear, his pleasure rumbled. “Then I wouldn’t.”

  “Do I hear doubt?” The bra unfastened. His fingers traced outward across her shoulder blades, taking the straps with it.

  “You never have before.”

  She couldn’t help a small chuckle. He obviously hadn’t thought this through. With a flick of her wrists, she liberated the bra and her spirit of adventure. “So you’re going to discourage me now?”

  There was the slightest hitch in his breathing as awareness hit. “Not a chance.”

  She went to work on the buttons of his shirt. “Good.”

  He stood as if mesmerized. Or maybe, she realized, as if completely unsure what he was supposed to do. Hadn’t a woman ever taken the lead with him before? She glanced up at his face, finding him watching her with that control that told her he was assessing every move, and she had her answer. Apparently not, which wasn’t surprising considering the dominant side of his nature, not to mention the natural caution he took with everything. Her knuckles brushed his abdomen as she undid his shirt. The sudden retraction of his muscles made her smile. It was on the tip of her tongue to tease that this wouldn’t hurt a bit, but it occurred to her at the last second that would be a mistake. Garrett was putting his tremendous pride on the line, giving her control, trusting her. She leaned in, kissing the hair-roughened skin over his breastbone. He wouldn’t regret it.

  His hand cupped her head, not restricting her, not pulling her away. Just another connection, or maybe a precaution.

  She shared her smile with him. “This is going to be fun.”

  If she didn’t know him so well, she’d be upset at his grunt, but she did know him. And she knew what that tension in his muscles signified, what that narrowing of his eyes indicated. More than that, she knew what that stroke of his pinky down the side of her neck meant. Emotion. The kind she was afraid to put a name to in case of jinxing it. Goose bumps chased the caress, sending chills down her spine and tingles of heat to her core. Oh, yes, this was going to be fun. The last button of his shirt came undone. That didn’t mean she stopped her hands’ descent. There was equally interesting territory lower. Garrett’s breath sucked in as she cupped his erection through his jeans. She didn’t break with his gaze as she kissed her way down his stomach. Watching the flames heat in his eyes as she pressed her lips against his straining cock was something she would remember always.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  The phrasing so at odds with his desire gave her pause.

  “You don’t like it?”

  “It’s not necessary.”

  Of course it wasn’t necessary. Their love life to date proved that, but, watching the flames in his eyes be banked by that incredible control, she realized that didn’t mean there wasn’t a need. And Garrett needed in ways she doubted even he understood. He needed someone to love him, who could handle that intensity that was so naturally a part of him, who could accept his differences and could glory in the man that he was rather than fear him. There was only one way she knew to cure that. Reaching for his jeans, concentrating hard on the path from her mind to his, she closed her eyes and asked, But what if I want to?

  The snap popped with his jerk back. She held on, letting his momentum take the zipper that first inch.

  “I told you before you don’t have to bargain. I’m going to get Josiah tomorrow.”

  That, she hadn’t known. “I thought it wasn’t safe for you to leave.”

  “Things change.”

  She hadn’t noticed any more Protectors on the grounds, which could mean only one thing. The rasp of the zipper as it slid down grated alongside panic. “Josiah’s in trouble.”

  His fingers stroked soothingly on her nape as he applied pressure to bring her to her feet.

  “No reason to think that. Cur just didn’t check in at his usual time.”

  She took a breath. It could be a disaster, or it could be that Rachel, thinking she was being pursued by an enemy, had given Cur the slip. It was likely the latter. Rachel was a resourceful woman. That Garrett hadn’t left already was calming. She hoped. “If you were very worried—”

  “I’d be gone already.”

  She placed her palms against his chest, feeling the comforting bulk of muscle. Garrett wasn’t a weak human. “But you’re going tomorrow because—”

  “I wouldn’t take chances with our son.”

  Our. The word came so naturally off his lips. When it shouldn’t. She slid her hands up over his shoulders, palms tingling as the soft cotton gently abraded her palms.

  “Don’t take chances with yourself, either.”

  Daire

  One

  DYING was not an option. Daire would give his mate almost anything she wanted, but not that. Rage roared through him at the thought. Ancient, with more time behind him than in front, he’d long ago given up hope of a mate, but now there was one in his life. Abused, terrified and depressed, Teri might hate the sight of him and everything he represented, but dammit, she would live. He cleared the stairs to the porch in one leap. His hand touched the doorknob. It twisted under his fingers. The door opened. Sarah Anne stood on the other side. Behind her as always was Garrett, the set of his shoulders backing the challenge in Sarah Anne’s eyes.

  “She doesn’t want to see you.”

  Daire could barely suppress the urge to snarl. “You are between me and my mate.”

  Her head tilted to the side. Despite her start of apprehension, she didn’t move. “Do you see the concern in my eyes?”

  He didn’t see it in hers, but he could see it in Garrett’s.

  “I should.”

  “Why?” Sarah Anne’s shoulders squared. Garrett took a step forward. “What are you going to do?”

  Instinct said whatever it took, but Sarah Anne was a woman, and under his protection. And Garrett, dammit—he liked the pup. Touching Sarah would have the other Protector attacking, and killing Garrett would weigh heavily on Daire’s conscience. Which meant . . .

  He sighed and folded his arms across his chest. “You may speak your concerns.”

  Sarah bit her lips and blew out a breath, but she didn’t question the permission, which was a good thing. He could hear Teri upstairs. She was crying. Each muffled sob ripped along his control, tearing shreds off it, making him not care about Sarah’s concerns, Teri’s notions of what she needed. All that mattered was what he wanted. And that was for Teri to thrive and be happy. Even if that had to happen miles away from him.

  “Well?”

  Sarah blew her bangs off her forehead. “Stop rushing me. I’m trying to find the right words.”

  Daire met Garrett’s eyes over her shoulder. “You should teach her more respect.”

  The other Protector shrugged and that might just be a smile around his lips. “I kind of like her the way she is.”

  “There are werewolves with whom her attitude could bring her trouble.”

  Sarah took a step back as Garrett took one forward. “She knows whose buttons she can push.”

  Not if she thought it
was safe to push his, Daire knew. The blackness was too close to the surface, the rage too strong lately. To the point there were days he wasn’t sure it was safe for him to continue on.

  Sarah planted her feet. “She is right here.”

  Daire didn’t take his eyes from Garrett’s. The other werewolf lacked the control of a fully trained Protector. Especially where his woman was concerned. Daire wondered if the rage he could feel emanating from the other would break through or if he had learned to control it. “Then she should exercise common sense.”

  Sarah blew her bangs off her forehead. “Teri’s my friend, Daire.”

  He folded his arms across his chest. “And my mate.”

  “The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

  The waves of Garrett’s anger surged and then whisked away behind a wall of normal energy. That was good. The Protector was maturing into his gifts. Soon Garrett would be able to mask his emotions completely. Sarah Anne was still looking at him. If she thought her friendship with Teri meant she could interfere with his care of her, Sarah had another think coming. “What do you want to say?”

  Her lips shaped the caution he could feel within her. “She’s just been so hurt.”

  “I am aware of this.” And when the time was right, the Carmichaels subdued, he would take revenge for that.

  “And you’re so . . .” She motioned with her hand, filling the space around him with vague implications.

  Daire drew himself to his full height, hiding his internal flinch. He was used to people seeing him as evil, dangerous. But it didn’t always make it comfortable. “I am a Protector.”

  Garrett squeezed Sarah’s shoulder. “More important, he’s Teri’s Protector.”

  Sarah’s gaze skirted Daire’s to lock on Garrett’s. “But he’s so ruthless and Teri’s so . . .”

  Daire let Sarah’s doubt slide off him. “Human?”

  Sarah snapped around, her irritation clear. “Yes, human, frail, soft, gentle, sentimental.” She frowned. “Do you even know what sentimental is?”

  “If I have to deal with it, I will learn.”

  Garrett’s lips twitched. “You might have bitten off more than you could chew there.”

  “Whatever she requires to be happy, I will give her.”

  Sarah snorted and ran her gaze over Daire from head to toe and then back up. Her eyes lingered on his scars. “You have no idea what she needs.”

  “And you do?”

  “Yes.”

  The hell she did. Wyatt had been specific about Teri’s condition, the listless way she lay in the bed, her lack of care for herself, her refusal to eat. “Then why have I been called here? Why have you not given it to her?”

  “Because—”

  He was tired of standing here when he could feel Teri’s distress so clearly. “Because it’s not within your power, and you know it.”

  Her chin snapped up. “It’s not within yours, either.”

  “Yes, it is, and”—he sniffed, smelling the fresh blending of life force of werewolves freshly mated—“were you not so recently bonded, you would understand this.”

  “Oh, my God—”

  It amused him that Sarah Anne blushed. She’d spent too long among humans that she could be embarrassed by a wolf’s plain speaking on something so natural as the blending of life essence that occurred at a bonding. He also saw something more: the perfection of mating acceptance in the way Sarah leaned into Garrett and his immediate, instinctive, sheltering response. Daire imagined Teri with her black hair and pale skin standing beside him, allowing him a mate’s right to protect. And then he mentally snorted at his own nonsense. Such things were not for him. In a hundred years, Teri would not look at him like that. She had too much pain, too much hate, and he was too damned ugly. Looks mattered to humans.

  Sarah Anne was nothing if not bold. “What has that got to do with anything?”

  A lot. “Nothing at all. Do you wish to say more?”

  Fabric rustled as Garrett’s fingers tightened on Sarah’s shoulder in warning. “No, she doesn’t.”

  “Then step aside.”

  “There’s no need to be rude.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be rude.” He cocked an eyebrow at her, enjoying her start of annoyance at the gesture. “But I’ll let you know when I am.”

  Two

  “YOU are so rude,” Teri huffed as he carried her into the bathroom.

  Daire smiled. The show of spirit was welcome after yesterday’s apathy. “So your friend says.”

  Teri stared over his shoulder. “You could at least ask before manhandling me.”

  Daire glanced down at her. “Why, when you would only stubbornly say no?”

  “Maybe I would be saying no because I don’t want a bath.”

  “All women want baths.”

  This he knew. Didn’t Sarah have Garrett put in a big fancy tub in place of the perfectly good shower as soon as they moved in?

  “That’s a terribly sexist thing to say.”

  “It seemed better than pointing out you stink.”

  “Go to hell.”

  He wasn’t an ancient for nothing. He could tell when a woman was spoiling for a fight. He let a grunt serve as an answer. Predictably, Teri blew out her breath in another huff. Before she could build to a new tirade, he let her silkily clad body slide down his. Her nightgown, a loan from Heather, glided up her thighs, exposing soft white skin. He bit down hard on his back teeth. The neckline slid to the side, revealing the old scars. A growl escaped his control.

  Immediately, the scent of Teri’s fear fouled the small bath. He kept his voice calm. “I am not the one who hurt you.”

  She snatched the neck closed, staring at him with big green eyes the way she always did when he referred to her scars.

  “You could.”

  He growled again, putting his hand over hers, drawing her fingers away, feeling her tremble. “No. I could not.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  The hairs on the back of his neck raised as an emotion he couldn’t name shot through his abdomen, settling in a hard knot in his stomach.

  “I cannot lie to you.”

  She glared at him. “But you can bully me, make me do what you want.”

  “You wanted a bath; you were just being stubborn.”

  “You assumed.”

  “I scented your longing.” Thecorrection was necessary. Too often she judged him by human standards. He was not human. He was Protector. Her Protector. And dammit, she would be happy. Even if she hated him for it.

  “You scare me.”

  He opened his fingers over the ridges of scar tissue. “Maybe, but you need to trust me.”

  Her hand covered his, drawing it away. A hint of his talons showed. She eyed them nervously. “No.”

  She would someday. “My talons show because I’m angry.”

  Her tongue flicked over her lips in a pink flash of temptation. Everything about her tempted him, her scent, the softness of her hair, the paleness of her skin, the vulnerability in her eyes . . . Damn, that vulnerability.

  “I know.”

  His fingers pressed ever so gently into the slash of scars over her breast, feeling how deeply the violence was scored, feeling her distrust just as keenly. “But not with you.”

  She needed to understand that.

  She took a step back. Another and she’d be flat on her ass in the tub.

  “I’m not so sure it matters what one of you is angry at.”

  He slid his hand over her shoulder, stopping her retreat. Against his fingertips, her ribs expanded on a startled breath. “By ‘one of you,’ I assume you mean werewolves?”

  “Yes.”

  Every muscle tensed. He pointed out as casually as he could, “You’re about to take a tumble.”

  Her eyes didn’t leave his, as if through watching them she could see his intent. She wouldn’t see anything he didn’t allow, but she didn’t know that. She kicked back with her heel. It thudded into the tub.
<
br />   “Oh.”

  He smiled. She was both intelligent and resourceful. Good qualities to have in a mate, wolf or human.

  The scent of lavender drifted up from the pass of the vibration through the water, masking most of her distress. He turned the hot water on, freshening the water.

  She licked her lips. “The tub is full enough.”

  He could still smell the scent of her distress. He dumped another handful of bath salts in the water, reconsidered, and grabbed up the bottle.

  Teri’s hand fluttered in an aborted movement before he could dump the contents in. “That’s too much.”

  “More can’t hurt.”

  “My eyes are watering as it is.”

  A quick glance confirmed they were. “Oh.”

  So were his, come to think of it. He motioned to the tub with the jar. “Lavender is supposed to be soothing to humans.”

  “In small amounts it is.”

  He looked at the small apothecary jar. It was half empty. “No problem. We’ll just start over.”

  “It’s not necessary.”

  “Yes, it is.” He didn’t usually make mistakes. He didn’t like that he was making them with his mate. If this had been the first, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, but starting with bonding her against her will, pretty much his hand had been forced in all their interactions. And today was going to be no different. She was going to eat. Whether she wanted to or not. He handed her the jar. He circled the prominent bones of her wrist with his fingers as she took the jar. There was plenty of grip left to go around. She froze, her gaze locked on his fingers.

  Light played off her hair in a feeble attempt to shine. Her immune system was depleted, her body malnourished. That needed to be rectified. “Lunch will be waiting when you finish your bath.”

  Teri put the jar very precisely on the sink. Did she hope he wouldn’t see the tremor in her fingers if she did it carefully enough? “I’m not hungry.”

  She needs someone sensitive. Sarah Anne’s words came back to haunt him. With his free hand he touched the dull strands of her hair and ground his teeth down on the retort that it didn’t matter what she wanted. He strove to keep his voice even. “Wait and see how you feel after your bath.”