by Michele Hauf
“All I want to know is why you keep coming back.”
“Like I said, you’ve stuck yourself to my senses. I can’t shake you. So if I can’t ignore the pretty woman, then I may as well enjoy her.”
She flipped him off and did another deep dive. Touching bottom, she wished for the magical ability to breathe underwater. Not that it would make him leave. He’d probably dive in and try to rescue her.
Coming up, Bella found him squatting near the pool’s edge. Why did that not surprise her? Had flipping him the bird angered him? She’d like to see him jump in, leather jacket, big, clunky leather boots and all, and try to wrestle her into submission now.
After abandoning dancing in high school, she’d joined the swim team to fill that need for movement and to physically challenge her muscles. She’d won a few medals for her back crawl and high dives. She could so take the guy if he were in the pool.
But thank God he was not.
Swimming backward, Bella landed at the opposite side. She stretched her arms along the tiled edge. If he was going to stare at her, she could do the same.
A trim brown beard traced his jaw, and stubble darkened the front and sides of his neck. Dark chest hair peeked out at the top of his shirt. Long brown hair topped off the deviant look. Talk about hairy. Made sense if he was a werewolf.
She’d never dated a man with chest hair or a beard. The look didn’t attract her. And she had no intention of changing her preference now.
“Ask me,” he prompted.
“Ask you what?”
“The question that burns in your bewitching green eyes. I’m not going anywhere, so you might as well make the best of it. There’s nothing threatening about conversation.”
Her legs floated to the surface, and Bella flicked her big toes, scattering droplets across the water’s surface. “All right. If vampires suck blood from humans, what is it a werewolf does?”
“With humans?”
“Yes.”
He clasped his strong, wide hands together between his bent legs, focusing across the horizon above and behind her. “We avoid them mostly. The less contact we have with the mortal race, the better. If humans haven’t got proof of our existence, then you understand how much easier it is to survive?”
“I’ll buy that. So why the continued contact with me? I’m a human. I have proof of your existence.”
“I’ve already explained that.”
“Right. You have my scent bouncing about inside your nose and can’t shake it off. Peachy. So what about those three days around the full moon you mentioned?”
“In this human form I am called a were. Were means ‘man,’ you know? Then there is the wolf form, which is the caninelike animal most humans associate with wolves. The werewolf is the man and wolf combined. Understand?”
She nodded. The creature lesson was fascinating, in a stomach-curdling way. Shape-shifting and blood and fangs were not her idea of a good time, unless they were up on the big screen.
“During the full moon, the werewolf takes over as the moon peaks in the sky. All it can think to do is mate.”
“Mate?”
“Have sex.”
“With another werewolf?”
“If one is available. The female of our breed is rare. Which makes for a lot of frustrated males.”
“They don’t…try to mate with humans?”
“In werewolf form I should scare the shit out of you. Of course, during the day, when I take were form, as you see me now, I’m also horny as hell for those three days. That’s when humans come in handy.”
“I see.” Seth’s theory on the sex-freak thing was true. “So you basically live to have sex?”
“I live. And I have sex. They are two different functions, not dependent upon one another. But yes, I do like to have sex.”
Yeah, she did, too. With humans. And at her pleasure, not on demand or forced because the moon was full.
“Would you have raped me the other night?”
“Never.” A strong, sure answer. He tilted his chin up and met her gaze. “But I cannot deny I wanted you.”
Bella peered into her reflection on the water’s surface. “I know that.”
She had sensed his want. Discussing it now, in a simple poolside chat, was strange, but that didn’t dissuade her from seeking answers. “You don’t have a girlfriend? I mean a werewolf girlfriend?”
“I’ve never had a mate.”
“So you’ve not ever…”
“Not in complete werewolf form, no. And if we continue to discuss my sex life, I may have to strip down and swim over there. Being near you arouses me, Bella.”
“I’d say that’s good reason for you to leave.”
“Make me.”
Again with the bold challenge. She considered swishing a wave of water at him. Like that would deter the big, bad wolf. “What keeps back werewolves?”
He removed his jacket and tossed it on the lounge chair behind him. The black cotton shirt he wore stretched across his chest and shoulders, revealing powerful biceps.
“Silver. It must penetrate and enter the bloodstream, though. You can’t simply press a silver spoon against my head and expect me to sizzle and burst into bits.”
“So you don’t eat people?”
“You must have watched An American Werewolf in London.”
“I saw an old video when I was a teenager. I’ll never forget that scene with the dead girl and her throat ripped out.”
“That’s not going to happen. Unless you’ve tormented my kind, or are deserving of just punishment. Vampires are more likely to maul and kill humans than my breed will.”
“That’s weird, because I’d think the one closer to an animal would be more likely to do the mauling stuff.”
“It hurts me when you label me an animal.”
His confession stunned her. Men didn’t reveal their feelings. Not most.
Sure, he looked like a man now. But he wasn’t. Not really. And he’d explained he could be a real wolf. That was about as animal as a guy could get.
“May I join you?”
“Do dogs swim?”
“I am not a dog. I’m a wolf. And get that straight.”
He began to unlace his heavy boots.
Dare she invite him in? That damned piercing gaze of his would not relent. Something about the challenge he pressed upon her excited her. And if she were the one to do the inviting, then she would still be in control.
“You’re not going to leave until you’ve touched me, are you?”
“So quickly you learn my manner. I like that about you, Bella. Even as your heart races with fear, you aren’t afraid to meet the next challenge. And no, I don’t intend to leave until I’ve at least been allowed to stroke your soft skin.”
Mmm, a stroke sounded nice. Romantic.
Bella’s elbows slipped from the pool’s edge, and she kicked to stay above water.
This was wrong. So wrong. And yet, part of her thrummed with anticipation. The man was growing on her. He wasn’t shockingly handsome or charming, but something about his aggressively gentle approach intrigued her.
“Come on, then, but keep your distance.”
He tugged the T-shirt over his head, revealing an abdomen that would have made an abs instructor whimper. He kicked off his boots, and he unzipped and tugged down his black jeans.
“Keep your skivvies on,” she said when he stood before her in nothing but black boxer briefs.
“Fair enough.”
Damn, he was a sight. Powerful thighs and legs pulsed with his movement. The cut muscles on his abdomen emphasized square hips. The dark boxer briefs did little to disguise his erection. Bella had never seen someone so appealing, so utterly powerful and intriguing.
He jumped in, splashing her with his grand entrance. Coming up in the center of the pool, he treaded water and shook his head, spattering water across her face. “This is heated. Nice.”
“Really nice on a cool evening.”
“In the
nude?”
“Only when I’m alone. So wolves can swim?”
“Faster than you, so don’t get any ideas.”
Right. Not safe, Bella. Don’t forget that.
“You’re all about the he-man stuff, aren’t you? Me Tarzan, you Jane. You know that’s not attractive to most women.”
“You like it,” he said with confidence.
“I do not.”
“You’re aroused right now, sweet.”
“Don’t call me that. You have no right to give me a pet name. And if you think I’m aroused because my nipples are hard, it’s only because the water—”
“Is warm.” His prideful grin told her he’d scored the point on that one.
Okay, so she was a little turned on. His incredible body, rippling with muscle, went a long way in making him more human and real. And while she wasn’t attracted to the hairy look, she couldn’t deny a hunger for some washboard abs.
He swam closer and Bella held her position at the edge. She’d let him approach and see what he had in mind this time around. If he kissed her, she would accept it, but she was asking for more than a mere kiss, and she knew it.
“So you haven’t called the police?” He treaded water a couple feet from her but did not drift closer.
“Like they’d believe me. Hey, three vampires chased me, and now I’ve got a werewolf stalker. Send help right away!”
“You make light of it, but I know you’re frightened, Bella. You needn’t be scared of me.”
“You insist on manhandling me every chance you get without asking my permission. What about that treatment should make me unafraid?”
“Again, you want it more than you know. I don’t smell fear on you now. And though curiosity has no scent, I’d wager that is what you’re feeling. You’re curious about me. About us.”
She was about to say “There is no us,” but that was too easy. Instead, Bella lifted her leg and toed his chest, pushing him back about a foot. “Stay. Good boy.”
The water rushed up around her face and into her mouth with his swift approach. He put her up against the tiled wall. Bella choked on swallowed water.
“Stop with the dog comments,” he said. A low, throaty growl followed.
“All right, I’m sorry. Let me go. You’re so damned sensitive.”
“I want you to know the way of things.” He positioned his body along the length of hers and dipped his head over hers, forcing her to look up at his face. “I will strike out against cruelty and wrongs, no matter who is responsible. But I can be kind to those I consider friends.”
“You strike out…? What does that mean? Are you some kind of werewolf avenger?”
He chuffed a breath beside her cheek. “You think me an animal simply because I react to the way I am drawn to you?”
“I’m not trying to draw you. Hell, I just want you to leave.”
“You don’t want that, or else you wouldn’t have invited me into the pool. Oh, Bella.” He nuzzled aside her cheek and kissed her water-slicked hairline. A shiver tickled her neck. “Why did you come into my life?”
“As I recall, I wasn’t looking for a friend the other night. I was running for my life.”
“You run often. Your body is sleek and gorgeously muscled.”
“I’m a dancer.”
“Yes, you looked right at home last night in the club.”
His closeness warmed the blood in her veins. Had someone lit a fire beneath the cauldron?
“I—I prefer ballroom and flamenco, but any kind will get me moving.”
“Being tailed by vampires gets you moving, as well. Will you let me kiss you?”
“Now you have the consideration to ask first?”
He lifted her chin so she could not look away from him. A tenderness she did not expect to find softened his gaze. He was a real man. A man who could be hurt with inconsiderate words and be tempted to rescue her at the first scent of danger.
A man she wanted to kiss.
Bella leaned forward. Water slopped around her shoulders and his chest. Their lips, wet and soft, pressed, then parted with the wavery ripples. The hairs on his chest slicked to dark silk under her exploring fingers. A sinus-clearing bite of chlorine entered her mouth as she parted her lips to push her tongue into his.
Yes, she moved in first. It was inevitable. The exotic being who held her invited the dangerous exploration.
She wrapped her legs about his hips. Severo moaned appreciatively and coaxed her to fit herself against the landscape of muscles ridging his torso.
They bobbed backward in the water, folded in an embrace. He steered them toward the steps until Bella’s feet touched bottom and she was able to balance.
Kissing this man was like drawing air. It was a need, a natural act, something she required more and more of. The rough beard, wet under her fingers, teased, and she slid her palms down his neck and gripped hanks of his hair to keep his mouth on hers.
Severo’s fingers glided up her thigh and over her behind, clutching, squeezing. The thin undies were but soaked tissue over her flesh. Every move he made was possessive, inciting. Bella fed his want with murmurs and small movements until she lay on top of his body, stretched out across the half-submerged steps.
Struck by what she was doing—lying on top of this man—she lifted her body but didn’t move aside. “Oh, mercy, this is going too far.”
“It’s going exactly where we want it to.”
“We?”
“This is not a one-sided embrace.” He grabbed her hand and pressed it over his groin. Through the wet cotton, his hard shaft felt immense, wicked. Bella stopped herself before giving it a squeeze. “I need you, sweet.”
“Why? Is the moon full tonight?”
“No, fool woman. You think you can touch me like this and not expect me to react?”
“But you put my hand on your—”
“You’ve brought me to some kind of pinnacle, and I don’t want it to stop.”
“It has to. This is happening too fast, Severo. Please?”
He released her hand and she grabbed the steel handrail.
“Very well. I promise not to push this any further. But just stay.”
Bella knew herself well enough to know that if she stayed, she would want to go further. And she wasn’t cool with that. Not yet.
“Sorry.” She stepped from the pool. At that moment the phone rang. “I’ve got to get that.”
Severo groaned as he sat up on the middle step and flipped back his head in a spray of water. He made a noise that was half growl, half agreement.
Bella scuttled into the kitchen, dripping wet. It was Seth. He had to change the time for tonight.
“Is it your vampire woman?”
“Bella, don’t be like that,” he complained. “I’ll meet you around nine at the restaurant, ’kay?”
“Fine. I’ll see you later.”
She clicked off but held the phone to her chest and glanced out the patio door. Severo sat alone at pool’s edge. His broad shoulders flexed as he pressed his palms to the patio floor and leaned back.
“Marvelous,” she murmured. “Poor guy. Left him high and dry. I did play the tease.”
Her soaked T-shirt clung to her breasts, hard nipples jutting. “Better change before I go out there.”
The human woman had some kind of grip on him.
But he wouldn’t force himself on her. He’d never do that to a woman. Besides, she had just met him and discovered the world was populated with paranormal creatures.
She was taking things well, as far as he was concerned.
He’d put himself in this situation; he should have known better. But when he was near Bella, his brain softened to mush. And that was not his style.
Was she the one who could be his lifelong mate? Only time would tell. And, more important, the werewolf.
Right now he knew only that he wanted to be close to her. So close that their flesh slicked with sweat when they were against one another, their lips melded, thei
r bodies joined.
He groaned and eased a hand over his wet boxer briefs. A glance to his dry clothes lying on the bench decided it for him. He pulled off the boxer briefs and wrung them out over the pool. He’d have to go commando.
Using the towel on the lounge chair, he dried off. Ignoring a hard-on took monumental willpower. Dressing and tying up his boots, he stalked inside Bella’s home after finding the patio door unlocked.
So she wasn’t keeping him out? Good girl.
He scanned the room, dodging the jungle of plants hanging from the ceiling and sprouting up from pots on the floor. She wasn’t on the phone; the cordless sat on the counter.
The vast room was like a big studio, divided down the center by the flimsy white fabric. A big couch and a plasma TV designated the living room on one side, and on the other, against the wall, sat a low bed and a nightstand.
Bella appeared from what must be the bathroom, wearing a loose white top and pants. Some kind of yoga wear. It appealed to Severo because her nipples pointed through the thin fabric, and she did not wear a bra.
“What’s that?” she asked.
He dangled his underwear in his hand. “Can I hang these in your bathroom to dry?”
“Uh, sure.” She pointed over her shoulder and he took direction. “Will you leave, then?”
“I will if you want me to,” he called.
Her pause gave him hope, but with a shake of her head, she confirmed, “I do want you to.”
“Fine, but I’ll return when the sun sets.”
“Do you think that’s necessary?”
He strode out from the bathroom and met her at the couch. “Yes, I scented vamps all night. They were prowling. Looking for something.”
“Really?” Now the nervousness he recognized warbled her voice. A twinge of fear filled Severo’s nostrils, acrid and hot.
“It’ll be fine. Just keep that stake and cross close at hand. Holy water would be great.”
“Oh sure, I keep a liter in the fridge for such occasions.”
“Sweet.”
“Don’t sweet me. In what alternate universe do you get to boss me around and expect I’ll tolerate another of your kisses?”
“Another?” He lifted a brow. “You like my kisses.”