He brought her into the heavier wooded area where the light of the moon didn't penetrate. She held his hand tighter, leaning into him so she didn't fall or bump into something. "How can you see?" she asked.
"These trails are imprinted in the back of my head. I've grown up in these forests."
She was new to the area, so she put her trust in him. After a bit more walking, he stopped dead. "Look."
Rebecca looked up when he tilted her chin up. There were fireflies everywhere, little lights scattered in the inky blackness, appearing and disappearing like magic. "They're beautiful," she said.
"The forest has a lot of secrets. I plan to show you every one of them." He played with her hair, his fingers brushing her cheek. Every time he touched her, she fell under his spell. She'd never given much thought to sex, not when she couldn't even talk with men. Now the wicked scenarios wouldn't leave her alone. His voice was so damn deep, the rough timbre making her clit tingle.
She touched his neck, her urge to be closer giving her the courage to do things she normally wouldn't dare to do. His skin was warm. "You feel good," she said. "Aren't you cold?"
"I'm fine. Are you?" He smoothed his hands down her arms, giving her goosebumps, but not from the cold.
"A bit." He interlocked their fingers with one hand. It felt like the most intimate thing in the world. Liam brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it.
There were a lot of sounds around them in the bush-breathing, branches snapping. She hadn't paid much attention because she was falling in love with a stranger. But Liam suddenly stiffened, ushering her back the way they came. "We better get you home before you get a chill."
She frowned, wanting to stomp her feet like a two year old. In truth, she wanted the night to last forever, to feel his kisses again. "I thought the night was young."
"You were right. A gentleman shouldn't keep a woman out this late," he said. "We'll have to make a date for earlier next time."
At least there was a next time. She kept expecting him to realize he was out of her league, that she was too fat, or too awkward. But, no, he appeared genuinely interested.
He was quieter on the walk back, and she could feel the tension. When they reached the road after the short climb from the lake, he looked back into the darkness briefly.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm more than okay. I'm with the most beautiful woman in the world."
They drove back to her apartment. Her cheeks heated from the compliments. Even though she didn't believe everything he said, it still felt nice. She just hoped this fantasy wasn't like Cinderella because she never wanted it to end.
He came to a stop in front of her apartment.
"Thank you for taking me out. I loved it."
"Remember, I have a lot more to show you." He opened her door and helped her down. Liam hooked an arm around her, his hand at the small of her back. He held her close, their bodies practically pressed together. "And think about what I talked about. I want you, Rebecca. Want you as my woman."
Her mouth went dry. She didn't want to play hard to get. The voice in her head screamed at her to say "yes, yes, yes!" She would be a fool to reject this hunk of a man. But they'd only just met, and she didn't want him to think she was cheap if she moved too fast. She remembered the sharp talks from her mother about keeping her legs crossed and not looking men in the eye. She'd grown up with a complex around men and sex because of her overly strict, backwards upbringing.
"I'd like to get to know you better," she said.
He ran his tongue over his teeth. The dark shadow on his jaw and the wicked glint in his eyes held her spellbound. "That's exactly what I want, sweetheart. I want to know everything about you. When can I see you again?"
"I have a couple deadlines coming up this week, but I'll have more time on Thursday."
"Then I'll be here Thursday," he said. The man was a go-getter, and she had no intention to refuse him. She expected he got everything he wanted.
"Thanks again for taking care of me."
"That's my job." Under the glow of the moon, he leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. She supposed it was intended as a simple good-bye, but she wanted more. Rebecca wrapped her fingers around the collar of his shirt, pulling him down, deepening the kiss. His musky scent and scratchy stubble made her feel so feminine. He was a beast of a man, and she wondered if he was husky or muscular under the layers. She didn't care. Liam made her feel like a princess, and that wasn't an easy task. "You're already mine," he whispered against her lips. Then he stood straight.
"Maybe," she said. For the first time in a long time, life excited her. It wasn't shrouded in fears and uncertainties, just genuine joy.
"Get some sleep," he said. "And be careful when you leave the house. For a while, it would probably be best not to talk to strangers."
She found it an odd thing to say. Did he think she was a crazy magnet, or was he already starting to be controlling? She'd rather stay single than deal with a fatal attraction. "I'll start going out in the afternoon instead of at night."
Rebecca had only gone shopping at night to avoid all the townsfolk, but Liam had given her enough confidence that she was going to give daytime shopping a go. She wanted to face her fears, not just look at life from behind a window.
"You have my number. Any time, day or night, call if you need me."
She nodded. He stayed on the sidewalk until she got inside the building. It was like going back in time when men were still gentlemen. Rebecca got to her third-floor apartment. Before she turned on her table lamp, she glanced down at the street. It was late, so the neighborhood was deserted. She hoped to see Liam drive away, but he was gone.
A wolf ran by in the distance. It was a massive black wolf cutting through the neighborhood. She let out a little gasp, hoping Liam didn't run into it. Being this far north, they weren't even safe outside the forests. She was definitely not heading out at night ever again.
She plopped down on her sofa and stared at the ceiling, lost in daydreams. Rebecca couldn't stop thinking about Thursday.
Chapter Four
Tracking through the woods over the next couple of days, Liam paid careful attention to any new scent. He hadn't liked how hunters or enemy packs had been lurking while he'd been on a date with Rebecca. The natural competition in wolves was often sparked to life before a male claimed his mate. They'd be able to sense his territorial threat, and their wolves would crave to compete for the prize. He'd never let anyone take Rebecca from him. There's no way his wolf would even allow it.
Just thinking about her was enough to make him so fucking hard. He wanted her in his bed as soon as possible. Over the past couple of days, he'd done nothing but think about her. How she'd feel beneath him. The scent of her skin. Her beautiful eyes. Her soft hair. He wondered about her pussy and how tight it would feel wrapped around his cock.
So far, she hadn't called him back about their second date. Thursday felt like a lifetime away.
He was obsessing. Combing through the surrounding forest and land, he had to make sure everything was safe for her. Two attacks within a short amount of time was just ridiculous. He'd never known that.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Jake asked.
"If you remember, he said not to ask questions." Eli spoke up this time.
"Guys, shut up otherwise he's going to go all alpha on our asses," Ben said.
Liam had gotten his three best friends to help in the perimeter checks of their territory. Not only were they mated males but also good trackers. Shifters from other packs were getting too close to home. Too close to his mate.
"I've told you many times before you came out here. I need you to catch any scent at all and head in that direction."
"Trespassers would be crazy to enter your land," Ben said.
"There's a lot of crazy people around."
"You're not going to tell us what this is about?" Jake asked.
He remained silent, happy with his thoughts of Rebecca. He wasn't ready to share them with the pack just yet.
"Guys, haven't you smelled him?" Eli asked.
This made Liam pause and turn to look toward his group of friends. He didn't like this.
"He stinks like a woman. A human female."
Their gazes all landed on him, and he sighed. "So I met someone."
"A human someone," Jake said, inhaling the air. "She sweet? She smells sweet."