Savage Lust

by Desiree Holt

  She moved slightly in his arms. “Dante,” she began, “we don’t have to—”

  “Wait. Listen.” He lifted one hand and touched his fingers to her lips, a signal to be silent. “I feel as if I owe you an apology.”

  “For off-the-charts sex?” She frowned. “Is this where you tell me it was all a mistake?”

  “Yes. No. It was unexpected but not—” He paused. “Definitely not a mistake. At least for me.”

  Her body relaxed a tiny fraction.

  “Me either.” She almost whispered it. “Dante, I don’t usually do this.” She stifled a hysterical giggle. “I don’t mean having sex. I do. Have sex, that is. I mean—”

  “I know what you mean.”

  She felt the muscles of his face move against her hair as his mouth curved in a smile. At least he was smiling, thank god.

  “But it was like this unbelievable, unstoppable—”

  “Yes,” he interrupted. “That and more. I have no idea how this happened between us, where this…this…whatever it is came from. The smartest thing I can do for both of us is tell our team leader someone else needs to lead this mission and take myself out of it.”

  No!

  “You feel disloyal to Felicia,” she guessed. “You want to distance yourself from me.” Just the thought made her sick.

  “No,” he continued, “I’m the idiot who isn’t going to do that. Listen, Regan, I feel like I’m drowning in strange waters here. I have to warn you that in many ways, I’m still a basket case. I never intended or expected to be with a woman again. I don’t know what I have to give to another person. I don’t want you to be hurt while I’m stumbling my way through whatever this is.”

  Regan shifted position so she faced him. “This blindsided me too, Dante.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I don’t know how to deal with all of it. My brother is dead, my best friend is missing, and up until a few minutes ago, that’s all I’ve been able to focus on. I’m not usually so—responsive.”

  He brushed his lips across her forehead. “And I haven’t felt anything like this for more than five years.”

  “I’m not even sure what I feel,” she told him, rubbing the tip of a finger across his lips. “This is…was… I can’t even find the words. But I’ve always been a fatalist. Whatever happens, happens, okay?”

  “Okay.” One corner of his moth hitched up in a half-smile. “We’ll focus on the situation at hand. The reason I came to see you in the first place.”

  “Fine by me.” Her lips turned up in a tiny grin. “As long as we don’t have to forget about the sex.”

  He laughed, and the sound was rusty, as if it hadn’t been used in a long time. Then he pulled her tight to his body, his hands moving over her in a smooth caress. “Jesus, Regan. It’s like I lost my mind there. I can’t even explain it.”

  “Same here. So maybe like we just said, we should take it as it comes. Put it in the backseat, so to speak, until we find the answers to the Chupacabra mystery and hopefully recover Lisa.”

  “I agree. We need to focus on the task at hand and maybe sort all this out after.”

  “After,” she agreed, and forced herself to pull away from him. “Meanwhile, I have something I really have to tell you and I’d feel better discussing it with our clothes on.”

  As she moved to sit up and swing her legs over the side of the bed, Dante pulled her back to him for one last kiss. It was almost her undoing. For a brief moment she was tempted to say to hell with it and scramble back beneath the covers with the man. But there were things he needed to know before this went any further. Things that might change how he felt or how he looked at her and this situation.

  So she forced herself to her feet and pulled a t-shirt and sweats from one of her drawers.

  “I think that coffee’s cold by now,” she joked. “But there’s a whole pot. Let’s sit at the kitchen table.”

  Chapter Four

  Although he was pushing sixty-five, Dan Hammond still liked to ride fences on his ranch and check the herds in the pastures. It pleased him that his sons had the same love of ranching he did. They had even managed to marry women who loved ranching. When he finally decided to hang up his spurs, he knew the Bar H would be in good hands.

  But he wasn’t even close to being ready for that. Dan Hammond prided himself on staying in good shape and, unlike too many of his friends, he took good care of his health. So hours in the saddle riding his land were almost a walk in the park for him.

  Today, he, his sons and the hands that worked for them were moving the huge herd from the north pastures, where they summered, closer in for the winter. Already they had driven the cattle down from the high meadows. Now they were herding them across the intermediate areas to the pastures close to the barns, where fresh hay waited for them. Once that was done, the arduous process of cutting and baling the hay in the farther pastures would begin, the bales stored in the barns for the cold months. If snow covered the land, the cattle would still be fed, the hay supplemented with a special feed.

  The ranch wasn’t huge by Texas standards, but it wasn’t small either. The average herd ran five thousand head. They had weathered the fluctuating prices of beef, and two years ago a drought that had them digging deep into the aquifer for water. But their cattle were healthy and they charged a fair price for them.

  As each of the boys (he still had a hard time thinking of them as men) married, Dan had given them parcels of land on which to build their own homes. They were close enough for comfort and far enough apart for privacy.

  Yes, he thought, it was a good life. A very good life.

  The thunder of hooves drew his attention and he pulled up his horse to watch as the men drove the first of the herd into the pasture, where he waited. He’d checked every bit of fence line and it was secure. Once this section was filled, he’d make sure the gates were locked and move into the adjoining area. This was an all-day job but one that never ceased to excite him. The smell of the cattle. The fragrance of the hay. All the scents that belong to a ranch were the best perfume in the world to him.

  Despite the loud noise of the cattle, an unfamiliar sound caught his ear and he turned in his saddle.

  Racing across the wide pasture was a dog, and not one of theirs.

  Ranch dogs, if they were allowed out into the meadows, were trained specifically to help with the herding. This dog, besides being a different breed than those at the Bar H, was racing around and yapping wildly and spooking the cattle.

  Dan urged his horse forward. As he approached the hound, he yanked his Stetson from his head and waved it at the animal.

  “Yah!” he yelled. “Scat. Scram.”

  The dog continued to bark but when the horse got close, the animal suddenly stopped yapping and raced away for the closest thicket of trees.

  Dan clapped his hat back on his head and drew in a breath, then wrinkled his nose.

  Turpentine? Did he smell turpentine?

  He headed over to his oldest son, Ron, who had just ridden in through the far gate. “Do you know whose damn dog that is?” he asked.

  Ron shook his head. “Never saw it before in my life. In fact he spooked our own hounds, who were helping us guide the herd.”

  “I don’t know how the hell he got in here.” Dan stared toward where the animal had run off. “Send one of the men to look for it. Be sure to chase it off our land.”

  “I’ll do my best, Dad. Let me just finish getting this part of the herd settled.”

  Dan nodded but he sat on his horse for a moment longer. Not only did he not know where the critter had come from but—and it was the damnedest thing—what was with that strong scent of turpentine? Had it run away from a construction site? He wasn’t aware of any close enough to the ranch.

  He urged his horse to a leisurely trot, moving to the side as the brown undulating tide rolled into the pasture.

  His younger son, Russ, rode up next to him. “Where’s Ron?”

  “I sent him off chasing some damn dog th
at got in here. You ever seen a stray dog around here before?”

  Russ shook his head. “No. I’d have gotten rid of it for sure. Can’t have untrained mutts spooking the cattle. It’s hard enough chasing the strays with dogs who know what to do.”

  “Funny, though.” He rubbed his chin. “I could swear the damn thing smelled like turpentine.”

  Russ laughed. “Dad, you’re imagining things. Come on. Let’s finish getting these cattle into the pasture.”

  “I don’t know. For a minute, I thought it might have come from a construction site but there aren’t any near us at the moment that I know of.” He shrugged. “Maybe it belongs to a painter.”

  “I guess that’s possible. You know, a lot of people put their dogs in the bed of their pickups. Maybe that’s what this one was doing and just jumped out and took off when the truck stopped. Although you’d think someone would be looking for it.”

  At that moment, Ron came riding back out of the trees. He reined in his horse when he got close to his father and brother.

  “Did you get it?” Dan asked.

  His son shook his head. “No. And it’s the damnedest thing. I chased it through those trees for a ways but when we got out into the open meadow? The stupid dog just disappeared.”

  Dan frowned. “Disappeared? Where could it go? Are you sure it’s not hiding in those woods? I don’t want to leave the cattle until I know it’s gone.”

  “I’m telling you, it’s nowhere to be seen.”

  “Let’s just keep an eye out, okay?” He unhooked the small radio from his belt that he and all the hands wore. “Look sharp, everyone. There’s a stray dog running around somewhere. If you see it, make sure to chase it out of the fence line and off the property.”

  The radio crackled as everyone responded.

  “All right.” Dan sighed. “Let’s get back to what we were doing.”

  But as he rode toward the mass of cattle, he felt a cold finger scratching at his spine and he couldn’t stop looking over his shoulder.

  * * * * *

  The devil beast stopped at a rocky outcropping, panting, experiencing something totally foreign. In humans it was called fear, but this creature had no knowledge of emotions. It only knew self-preservation had given its legs wings.

  The prey the Chupacabra sought was plentiful in this area, but it was surrounded by creatures that could demolish the beast with their sheer size. The signals in its brain had programmed it to travel here in a different form, and the sight of so many quarries made it salivate.

  But there was a problem. It was still terrified by the creatures swarming over the land; huge living things moving like a river of flesh across the open spaces. Why had it even been sent here if those strange things were present? In one of its other forms, the creature had done its best to chase them away, but they’d only made frightening sounds and nearly trampled it to death.

  The brain of the Chupacabra was programmed to fear any living creature over a certain size, and even more than the slow-moving ones that appeared in great numbers, it was terrified of those beasts its two-legged prey sat atop. Those things had the light of the devil in their eyes. Its prey had given chase sitting atop one of those massive creatures, the thing’s long, powerful legs thundering on the ground, making it shake.

  The devil beast had barely escaped to safety.

  Seeking shelter and protection, the beast had finally found an ideal hiding place in a hollowed-out area of a rocky hill, at the edge of one of the meadows. Anyone passing by wouldn’t even give the spot a second glance. The opening looked as if someone had sliced into the rock with a sideways swipe. Once it crawled inside, it was invisible to the world. And with the trees so close, it wasn’t exactly on a well-traveled path, neither for animals nor humans.

  Now the creature huddled in the hollow of the rocks, tired from its journey from the previous location and the transformations it had gone through. Its thirst and its hunger had been temporarily slaked, but its brain was sending signals to its body. Before too many more hours passed it would need to hunt and feed again. At least on small prey. But right now it wasn’t leaving its spot until it was sure the massive beasts were all gone.

  The Chupacabra curled into its dark hiding place, closed its eyes and willed itself to sleep.

  * * * * *

  It was after eight thirty when Dante punched in the code for the electronic gate and drove up the long driveway to the house at Desolation Ranch. Regan’s revelation about her brother’s research was still swirling around in his brain. When he’d called the ranch and relayed it all to Ric, he’d been just as shocked.

  “He was doing it very quietly,” Ric said. “As much as we’ve been digging for information I should have come across that. Somewhere. Somehow.”

  “I’m bringing her back to the house with me. Along with Chinese. We haven’t eaten.”

  “Bring enough for everyone,” Ric told him. “I think this discussion is going to work up our appetites.”

  Now he parked his SUV in the wide gravel parking area and honked the horn.

  “Is that like some kind of announcement that you’re here?” Regan wanted to know.

  “Sort of. It means I’ve got stuff to carry in so they’d better get their asses out here.”

  He was pleased to see a tiny smile on her face. The entire time they’d sat at her kitchen table while she’d related everything about Reed’s project, the mood was somber. He even saw fear in her eyes, a not-unexpected emotion, all things considered. He had a sense she was still holding something back, but he didn’t know what or how to coax it out of her. One minute he felt as if she was ready to tell him, the next she’d shoved it back into a mental corner. Weird. Maybe it had to do with the big leather satchel she’d dragged out of her bedroom at the last minute. Before tonight ended, he’d find out what secrets it held.

  The door to the house opened and Mark, Jonah and Chloe came out to help with the boxes and the food. They smiled when he introduced Regan and shook hands with her before loading up. They were very cordial and welcoming, although why wouldn’t they be? Ric had cleared her visit so everyone should be okay with it.

  Still, he caught the members exchanging brief glances of curiosity. Did they think, because he was such a loner, it was strange seeing him with a woman, even if she was part of the case?

  Don’t make a big deal out of this and no one else will.

  Although she was more than happy to pass off her brother’s boxes of stuff, Regan insisted on lugging her satchel in herself. By the time they’d hauled everything else into the war room and stacked it on the long conference table, Dakota and Chloe had brought out paper plates and napkins from the kitchen. As the other members of the team assembled, Dante introduced each one to Regan. He noticed that while she gave each of them a firm handshake, she made sure to stay close to him. He couldn’t help the small measure of satisfaction that gave him.

  Finally they were all seated, including the new additions, Randi and Ben. Cold drinks were distributed and everyone was passing around cartons of Chinese food. Dante was pleased to note that, despite their agreement to ignore what had happened between them for now, Regan had slid her chair so close to his, their thighs were touching.

  He ate quickly then draped one arm casually across the back of her chair, lightly resting it against her shoulders. She didn’t shrug it off. He could’ve chalked up the fine tremor running through her to nerves. Yet despite what they’d agreed upon, the electricity still hummed between them. He had no idea what he was going to do about it going forward. Apparently his self-control needed a lot of work. Still, he had to admit to himself, he couldn’t turn away.

  If anyone at the table noticed the sexual energy vibrating between them they were polite enough to ignore it. They were busy eating, talking, getting out their tablets. Ric moved one of the keyboards to the table and punched codes in with one hand, expertly wielding chopsticks with the other. The conversation was low-key and friendly until the edge had been taken o
ff everyone’s appetites. Dante noticed that Regan hadn’t put the leather satchel with the boxes of Reed’s research. Instead she’d set it on the floor between her feet.

  He’d give a lot to know what kind of treasure she felt necessary to keep so close.

  Ric finished his food, swallowed his last sip of soda, wiped his hands and leaned forward on his elbows.

  “Okay, Regan Fortune. Dante says you have a story to tell us and insisted he needed to bring you here.” He waved at the stack of boxes. “Along with whatever’s contained in all these. Just to be clear, and without sounding inhospitable, you should know we don’t usually bring people here. This place is not for eyes outside the team.”

  “And I wouldn’t have done it,” Dante told him, “if I didn’t think it was important. You know that. We’re here because you gave the okay.” Dante looked around the table. “Where’s Craig? Did he leave? I wanted him to hear this too.”

  “He got a call and had the pilot get the chopper ready. He left about ten minutes before you called.”

  “Then you can put all this in a report to him.” He squeezed Regan’s shoulder slightly. “Go ahead,” he urged. “Tell your story.”

  “I know you must all be wondering what these boxes are about.” She pointed to the stack on the table. “I also have a lot of information on this.” She pulled a flash drive from her purse and placed it on the table. “I went to my brother’s place and copied files from his computer when I heard he was…when he—” She stopped. Swallowed.

  “It’s okay.” Dante spoke softly. “We all know what happened. Go on.”

  “I don’t know if any of you have heard of him,” she continued, “but my brother has published a number of research books on various legends. Everything from vampires to famous lost treasures, the fabled city of Atlantis. He’s traveled all over the world doing his research.”