by Treva Harte
Arlin kept going with what he’d originally meant to say. “But apparently someone else has figured out you’re involved with us. We noticed some interesting activities on computer sites that hold information about you. Hunt was watching for that.”
You didn’t become Alpha of a pack by being stupid. Hunt watched for everything.
“What kind of information? I don’t have information on computer sites.” Ruth looked startled and indignant, her pale cheeks turning a little red with her upset.
“Nothing illicit, sweetheart. But everyone has information tucked away on the Internet. Things like bank account numbers. Licenses. Voter registrations. Home addresses.” Arlin took the plates from the waitress and put Ruth’s lunch down in front of her. “And yes, of course, they’re supposed to be private.”
“Apparently people can waltz in and out of my so-called private information at will. You and Mr. Winters among them.”
“But you forget that Hunt Winters and I aren’t people, Ruth. Weres are special.” He watched the flush get hotter on her face. “I’m done teasing you. Truthfully, this is a concern for us. For you.”
“Why are you concerned?” She took a bite of her salad.
“Because we intend to protect you the way we promised. And because Hunt knows who is checking on you. He’s trouble.”
For a moment she looked faintly ill, but her response was as feisty as before. “Who is this he? Can’t the police deal with him?”
“He’s were. We deal with our own.”
Ruth put down her fork. “I’m not were. Yet you seem to think I have to play by your rules.”
“You got involved in pack business when you took care of Dunne. We owe you, but that doesn’t mean you call the shots. We’ll take care of you in our own way.” Arlin leaned forward. “It’s really for the best, Ruth. Can you believe that?”
“You want me to take you all on faith. I don’t do that much.” Ruth took another bite of the food and made a face.
“Or you can try to handle this by yourself. I know that’s probably what you prefer, but I don’t recommend it. There are others out there who are watching. Other weres who aren’t obliged to you. The one thing you can’t do is ignore what’s happening now.”
Ruth swallowed hard. He knew she wanted to question him. He tried to show her how very serious he was as he leaned even closer, continuing to speak in his harshest tone. What he didn’t want to show was the urgency bubbling in him. Not yet. But he suddenly realized he was desperate to make her understand. To accept. “Weres are not…nice. Whatever happens won’t be as tidy as you’d like.”
Ruth stared down at the plate. He wished she’d look at him. He wished he could figure out what was clicking away in that head.
He wished she’d give in and trust him to keep her safe.
He picked up his hamburger, still watching her. Most of all, he wished he knew he truly could keep her safe. When he’d agreed to this errand, he hadn’t realized how important it could become.
“All right. I agree as long as we’re clear on things.” She pushed the plate away. Her lips twitched. “For starters, I loathe the tuna salad.”
Arlin began to laugh.
She stopped looking amused. “It’s not that funny. I can’t even change what I eat for lunch, and I suspect you’re going to demand a lot of concessions from me. I’m not sure I’m going to be helpful for this, Arlin, especially since you keep pushing me to do things I don’t do.”
“Don’t fight me. We’ll only waste time if you do.”
They stared at each other. Her cool gray eyes seemed to measure everything about him. He hoped she couldn’t see deep inside him. The longer they sat near each other, the more he knew there were all kinds of things he wanted to make her do. If she knew what they all were, she’d probably run. Hell, she should run.
She shivered. Head bent down, she stared at the table. “I’ll try.”
Did she know wolves stared down when they submitted to an Alpha? Arlin gripped the table. What the hell was it about her that made him want to show her what submission to an Alpha would be like?
“Do you have someone who can take on your patients for emergencies?” Arlin kept any emotion from showing.
“What?” She looked back up, face flushed with anger again. “Of course I could but why should—”
“I doubt you’ve ever heard of them, but the Hollin pack seems to be looking at you. We figure they’re trying to use you to get at Hunt and his pack. You need to tell your associates it’s an emergency because you need to get away from the clinic and your home before they get to you. They know where you are by now.”
She stared at him. Arlin decided lunchtime small talk was over. He threw money on the table and stood. Wordless, she let him pull her to her feet and head them toward the door.
Somewhere on the way there she got her voice back. “I have to get back to the clinic today at least. It’s important. I shouldn’t even really have taken time for lunch with you.”
The muscles in his jaw loosened just a little. He’d been afraid she’d absolutely refuse.
“All right. But don’t drag things out.”
He let her grumble without bothering to listen or respond. He wasn’t going to react to her. He just had to get her away, fast, before she had too much time to think. She thought way too much.
When they got outside, she flinched, and he stopped dead.
“What’s wrong?”
“The sun is so bright. It was overcast before so I left my sunglasses and hat in my car.”
He looked down at her, really looking at her face…the lips set firmly against each other, the hand shielding her from the sun, and from him.
“You’re so pale. What are you doing in the Nevada desert, Ruth?” Without realizing what he was doing at first, he traced her lips with his thumb, willing them to relax and part.
Her startled flinch made him stop, reach for his own sunglasses and jam them on her face. Jesus God, she was trembling. Just a little, so little that he hadn’t noticed until he touched her.
Why was she shaking? And why the hell did that make him want to jump her and protect her all at the same time?
“I-I came here for the wolves.” She cleared her throat. “I mean my university program. Part of it was studying wolves in their natural habitat.”
“I guess you’re going to meet some more soon. Finish up work as soon as you can. I’ll contact you tonight.” Arlin looked up at the sky. “Damn. The clouds are back. Looks like rain this time.”
* * * *
“There’s no fever, he’s resting comfortably…” Ruth hesitated.
“I think I can handle it from here. I’ll call Dr. Hern if anything happens.”
“Or me. If I can help.” Ruth paused again. “Um, thanks, Lindsay. I should stay myself—”
“I do this as part of the job, you know? And you have an emergency with your family. We know you’re not a slacker around here.” Lindsay smiled at her. “You did a great job with that dog. Do you suppose a wolf really got him, the way the family said?”
“No. I doubt there’d be much left if a wolf mauled him. He’s big but he’s still a house dog.” She knew what a wolf could do if it attacked. God.
She wished she could call her “family emergency” off and stay. She’d gotten through the whole day by not thinking about what would happen after this. By focusing on the emergency surgery right after lunch. By doing what needed to be done without thinking too hard about why, the way she always handled things. She didn’t want to go back to running away. She didn’t want to be afraid. She refused to be afraid.
“You better get to your car. It’s starting to really rain out there.” The angry pelting on the roof and windows punctuated the tech’s statement. “I hope it’s safe to drive.”
“Me too.” Desert storms tended to be violent. “Good-bye, then.”
It was empty in the reception area. Of course. She’d worked well beyond regular office hours and no one was allow
ed inside after five.
Her footsteps echoed as she walked down the hall.
She took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The wind blew it out of her hands and she turned to wrestle the door shut again, shrinking back from the wind and water.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” The male voice yelled in her ear just as lightning blinded her and the thunder cracked directly overhead.
Ruth gasped and ran, fumbling for her keys in her pocket.
“Damn it, where do you think you’re going?” The hand on her shoulder forced her to stop.
She whirled, keys in hand, and struck out at the man’s face.
“Ruth!”
The voice finally registered and she gasped. He gripped her wrist tightly enough that she wondered if he’d hurt it.
“What the hell…” Arlin’s face was illuminated by lightning for a moment then it went black again as thunder crashed almost over them.
“I’m sorry, Arlin. I’m sorry.”
“Ruth, I’m getting in the car. We can leave my truck here. But you can’t drive by yourself.”
When she nodded agreement, his grip loosened. She threw open the door.
She sat in the driver’s seat, shuddering and trying to get enough air back in her lungs, resting her head against her crossed arms.
She was safe. She was safe. No one had tried to attack her. She was safe.
And she was an overreacting idiot.
“Ruth?” Arlin sat beside her, shaking drops of water off his raincoat.
He was soaking wet. How long had he waited for her?
“It was your own fault, making me paranoid at lunch.” She took another deep breath. “I didn’t mean that. I really am sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“Naw. Weres have good reflexes. Are you…are you hurt?”
She wasn’t going to remember the past again. She wasn’t going to fall apart. She fastened her seat belt and tried to steady herself enough to start the car.
“Baby, I don’t know what happened, but I think you better let me drive.” His lips were almost against her ear when he said the words, the sound rumbling into her brain.
She took another gulp of air. He wasn’t going to make her explain. Thank God. She couldn’t handle that right now. She’d shatter and never be patched up again.
“Yes. Please.” Her hands were trembling as she handed him the keys.
He crawled over her rather than go outside, and for just a moment, trapped between him and the seat of the car, she stiffened.
“Ruth?”
“I’m fine. Just… I need to undo my seat belt.” She fumbled with it and his hands pressed over hers to help.
Then she was free.
“Maybe you need some tea before you pack and leave? To settle your nerves?” Arlin wasn’t looking at her as he started the car.
“Yes. That would be good. I’m not used to these storms.” She wondered if her lie was obvious.
“You don’t have to be afraid, Ruth. I’m here now. You’re safe.”
For the first time in a very long time, Ruth wished she could believe someone else was able to keep her safe.
Chapter Two
Damn. Everything he’d thought about her before was wrong. Then again, even ice queens could crack.
Not that she had. Or if she had, just for a few moments in the car; she was back together again. He watched her effortlessly pack her bags.
No. That was bullshit. You didn’t just get over something that made you look sick to your stomach. She’d been terrified. Tough enough to fight it, but terrified. Of what he’d told her? Of him? Maybe a little of both.
Arlin looked down and saw his fist was clenched. He wanted to kill the bastard who had frightened her. God. Even if it was him.
RUTH RUBBED HER eyes with the heel of each hand. Outside the sounds of the thunderstorm mingled with the hard drenching rain. But it wasn’t the storm making her jittery.
The hollow feeling inside came from the adrenaline overload she’d had earlier. The other emotions came from Arlin. She could feel Arlin’s presence behind her although they hadn’t spoken for almost an hour. Feel his presence was the nice way of phrasing it. She could hear every breath he took, practically graph his body temperature whenever he got close; she knew when he was going to turn toward her and when he would back away. Like now. As he moved away from her, her chest tightened with the loss.
They’d shared coffee for half an hour once before today and she’d imagined they might share more. That was all there was between them. Why was she reacting like this?
“We should have left long ago.” Arlin was back to prowling the room.
“It’s pouring outside. We wouldn’t get far. The streets are flooding.”
“I know.” He sounded like he was contemplating swimming away.
“You’re making me nervous.”
“I’ve been doing that all night. I’m also making you upset.” Arlin didn’t sound overly concerned but she caught the quick glance he gave her. “Why?”
She wanted to howl with frustration. To prowl the way he was. She wouldn’t do that. She wasn’t going to slip back into being emotional again. “You’ve given me less than eight hours to take a trip to God-knows-where and for God-knows-how-long. Then you hover over me. Why shouldn’t I be upset?” Ruth caught herself before she let herself go. “I’m sorry. It’s not you, really. It’s the whole situation. I hate being surprised.”
“You don’t like being the one not in control either. I think that’s part of the real problem.” Arlin touched her shoulder, and she fought a shiver. “But you’re letting me be in charge. I appreciate that.”
“I—” She stared over at him, another crack of thunder muffling any words she could say. She didn’t know what she’d intended to say. God, she was beyond hot and bothered by him. It was ridiculous.
And when he began to knead her tense shoulders, she wanted to whimper. There was nothing particularly sensual about his touch, but it had been a long time since she’d allowed anyone close enough to touch her beyond the most common ways. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed that.
His hands were both strong and gentle. They knew where sore points needed to be soothed. Except she wasn’t being soothed.
He was so young. Ridiculously young and beautiful, with a lean, hard body and a not-quite-girlish face. Why was she trusting herself to someone who had nothing more than a cocky swagger and an intense stare?
She braced herself to remind him he was only temporarily in charge. Then he touched her mouth with one finger, the way he had outside the restaurant, and she saw a flash of teeth as he smiled at her. He gave her a glimpse of what he really was: a predator near prey. Suddenly he didn’t look too young.
He was so close. So intent. Her stomach clenched in fear and anticipation.
“Relax. I’m a master at this, Ruth.” He covered her mouth with his, and when she let out a small gasp, he pushed his tongue inside her mouth.
The electrical power flickered and then surged back to life. Or was she seeing lights dance before her eyes as he pushed the kiss to be deeper, hotter, more sexually charged?
She could feel herself sinking into something blazing, something terrifying and amazing all in one. Not terrifying the way she’d expected after avoiding sex for so long. Terrifying in an exciting way. Maybe not terrifying at all.
Lord. She couldn’t even put a name to how she felt. Ruth grabbed at his shoulders but she wasn’t sure if she meant to pull him closer or push him away.
Either. Both. Anything.
Now.
“Ruth?” His voice was so sweet—but when he stopped talking to bite her earlobe, she knew his mouth wasn’t sweet at all. His mouth was about temptation, which only looked sweet until you were seduced. “What do you want?”
She couldn’t tell him. She didn’t even know.
But he did.
His fingers touched her breasts, then squeezed her nipples firmly enough to make her squirm. It didn’t hurt, not
quite, but just that brush at the edge of pain was enough to make her want to weep.
“Do you want this too, Ruth?”
He kissed the pulse of her throat, the pulse that had begun to hammer fast and deep at his touch. She couldn’t say anything. It seemed like nerve endings were crackling with fire wherever he touched.
Ruth realized she was clutching his head, pushing her fingers through his hair to ask for more. “Please,” she managed. “Oh, please.”
“I promise I will. Please you.” His words were coming out in gasps, the way hers were.
He held her tight against his body, just as she grabbed at him. And then they were moving against each other, both panting. He was hard, and she was wet and she wanted that hardness on her, in her, drenching them both.
Ruth waited for the fear that should have swamped her by now, but she realized raw, hurting desire was making loud demands, clamoring over every other emotion she had. She couldn’t think, not clearly, not the way she usually did when she began to get too close to someone and her brain put up warnings and barriers.
He pulled away just long enough to unbutton his shirt and let her look. That seemed almost safe. He wasn’t touching her, but letting her touch if she wanted. And she did. Oh, very much.
She smoothed her hands over his chest and watched her fingers shake as they touched the narrow trail of hair that led toward the edge of his pants. She licked the bead of sweat on his neck.
God, she was starving for him. She’d never realized how good it was to be unable to think. Not when she could rub herself against someone’s cock instead and wish he was naked. That she was naked. That he was inside her so hot and deep that she’d never need to think about anything but how good he made her want…
“You smell like you’re in heat. I love that. It gets me crazy.” He whispered it to her and she moaned.
“I’m rubbing against you like a bitch in heat.” She was beyond embarrassment or worry about speaking too plainly. She could feel heat all over her, washing her with needy sensation, washing away anything but what she wanted. Was that being in heat? She’d never felt it before. She liked it. She loved it.