She cursed her treacherous body for feeling this crazy feminine yearning when Liam was so close. She’d endured her heats before, taking care of herself beneath the covers, knowing no wolf in the pack would ever want her. Not with her alpha making it plain her full figure was something to be mocked and ridiculed.
She watched the play of muscles across his broad, broad shoulders and back. Wolves weren’t the biggest of shifters, that honor went to the bears. Liam was, however, the largest wolf she’d ever seen. He man was huge. Massive shoulders and arms. Wide chest, washboard-belly. Shifters were always fine specimens of male virility, but Liam was in a class by himself. His skin was naturally tanned and his looks unmatched by any wolf she had ever know. All of her feminine instincts were urging her on, telling her this was a prime, alpha male with whom she should mate. Her wolf recognized his wolf as being capable of taking care of them and any offspring she might bear.
Her hands itched to reach for him, to stroke his flesh—her eyes dropped to front of his pants—and she did mean stroke him everywhere. His hair gleamed even in the room’s muted lights and beckoned to her. Ten shades of black and a hint of gray around the temples. Was he that old of a wolf or was that just his natural coloring? It didn’t matter. She bet he’d be black, gray, and white as a wolf. He’d be beautiful.
Standing so close to him made her breathe uneasily. She’d never felt this way before. Never desired a man like this. Never as her untouched state could attest to. “I want to thank you for letting me stay here until I can—”
“Until you can what, Janet? Leave? You’re under my care now.”
For an instant her expression took on a look of feminist outrage then it fled, to be replaced by a sad little smile. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a very long time.” His mouth tightened ominously. She crossed her arms over her chest as he walked toward her, his eyes hard and shuttered—and swirling brown and glittering gold. A sure sigh his wolf was near the surface.
Oh damn, she thought. He looked like a wolf on the prowl.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she said when he came to a halt only inches away. As if to prove her words, she stared defiantly up into his hard, handsome face.
“You ought to be,” he said silkily.
Deciding he was too close, she planted her hands on his chest and gave him a shove. Although it wasn’t strong enough to actually move him, it did manage to rock him back on his heels. For the second time that night, his hands shot out faster than she could imagine, this time to encircle her wrists. He pulled her close until he could bend his head and whisper in her ear. His warm breath wafted over her skin, making her shiver.
“You’re under my care now. And I take very good care of what’s mine.”
“I’m no man’s property.” She struggled to get her wrists free. He wasn’t hurting her and he adjusted the hold on her wrists so she wouldn’t hurt herself. She lifted her head to warn him to let her go and when she did, he swooped down, giving her a kiss she’d only ever dreamed about. Hard, needy, dominant. Oh yeah, despite her tough girl attitude, she wanted to be dominated. By the right man. The right wolf.
Knowing she shouldn’t, but as if it was the most natural thing in the world—she gave him her mouth. He pressed their lips together, moving in a slow, sensual possession that made her relax into his body. Then, for an instant, she had a brief moment of clarity. “No,” she protested weakly. “We shouldn’t.”
“I’m pretty sure we should,” he whispered against her lips, his tongue licking along her full bottom one.
Despite her protest, she surrendered with mortifying speed. The scent of his warm, male, spice was enough to steal the strength from her knees. The first incredible, heady taste of his lips had her mouth parting for more, and when his tongue slipped past her teeth and his hands fell away from her wrists, she found herself winding her hands around his neck in a desperate desire to bring him closer. He returned the possessive hold, his fingers delving into her hair, gripping the silky mass to tip back her head so he could deepen the angle of the kiss. His other arm encircled her waist.
“Oh, yes.” She felt intoxicated by him, the wildness in her blood intensifying madly when he blazed a trail of hungry kisses along the sensitive underside of her jaw.
“You’re killing me, baby,” he murmured as he pressed his face against her neck and inhaled. “I smell your want.”
The words almost slapped Janet from her desire. Want. She couldn’t want him. She had no idea what he wanted from her. Trust did not come easily and he had yet to do anything to earn it.
Except rescue us, her wolf growled as she pulled back from the big man. Her animal and pussy both protested the move.
“I usually get what I want.” Liam caught her gaze and refused to release it.
Janet felt the threat, but was helpless to escape from it.
“I—” What did she say? What could she say? Kiss me, please? Throw me over the couch and ravage me?