“Such language,” he murmured, his mouth next to her ear before he lightly inhaled her scent. There was an almost sensual note in that voice.
She stiffened in his arms, worried about what the hell that meant. Yeah, she might have fantasized about the guy after meeting him once, but that was it.
He let out an angry curse. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he growled, as if he’d guessed her train of thought.
“How’d you know I was here?” she demanded even though she had no right to be making any sort of inquiry. Not when she was the intruder, the would-be thief.
“If I let you up, will you run?”
“What do you think?” she snapped, hating that she really liked the feel of him on top of her. She just wished she could turn around and see his face.
“I think you’re a fool to break into an alpha’s home right in the middle of wolf territory. Your fucking pride sent you? A child?”
Child? An unexpected surge of rage slammed through her. Acting on instinct, she reared back, butting her head right against his face. She didn’t hear anything break, but it hurt her head enough that she knew it affected him. Even if he didn’t loosen his grip.
He snarled low in his throat. “Damn it, woman. There are shifters outside posted all around the house. I’m letting you up. If you run, I’ll tackle you again. And if you manage to get away, another one of my packmates will catch you. They won’t be as gentle as me.” His voice was low, but it sounded as if he was speaking through clenched teeth.
She knew when to pick her battles and right now she needed to see how much trouble she was in. “Fine. I won’t run.” At least not yet.
He paused for a moment, then sighed before letting go and moving off her. A very primal part of her actually missed the warmth and weight of his hold. Clearly she had issues. Before she could make a move to push up, he held her under her arms and hauled her up until she was on her feet as if she weighed nothing.
Swallowing hard, she turned to face him. And had to look up.
She’d forgotten how much taller he was than her. Though to be fair, most people were. At five feet, one inch, she hadn’t been blessed in the height department.
Captivated by those pale blue eyes, she almost forgot to breathe. Was it possible the giant wolf shifter had actually gotten sexier in six months? She’d convinced herself she’d remembered him wrong. That she’d built up all that raw, masculine sex appeal in her head.
Nope. Her memory wasn’t faulty.
A little over a foot taller than her, Max loomed over her, his eyes narrowed, his hard-looking lips pulled into a thin line. She wondered how soft they’d be when he was kissing. Would he be harsh and wild or sweet and gentle? Maybe a mix of both.
“Where’s the rest of your pride?” he finally asked, his voice strained.
Blinking, she forced her eyes to meet his, but took a step back. She didn’t care if it showed weakness; she needed some distance between them. He started to advance but she held out a hand as she leaned against the edge of the oversized rectangular desk and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m not going anywhere. And they’re not here. It’s just me. My sister is getting married in a couple weeks and those jewels should be passed on to her. It’s tradition in my pride. Neither my sister nor my mom are part of that stupid, ancient feud between Grant’s dead father and mine. That feud is old and buried and we want back what’s rightfully ours.”
“Why didn’t you set up a meeting with Grant?”
She snorted. “We tried that months ago. Or don’t you remember?” Lauren, her parents and two males from her pride had come to talk to Grant about getting the jewels back. They’d been shot down almost immediately. Max had been there to back Grant up. It was stupid, but it stung that their meeting hadn’t left an impression on Max. Especially since he’d made quite an impression on her. Even if he had been rude.
“Of course I remember,” Max murmured, taking on that low, sensual tone again as his gaze roved over her body with barely concealed appreciation.
She should be annoyed that he was checking her out, but part of her really liked it. Skintight black pants, black boots and a long-sleeved formfitting black T-shirt didn’t exactly scream sexy, but she was unintentionally showing off all her curves with the tight fit of her clothes.
He stared at her for a long moment and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Though what he was thinking about, she had no clue. “The last time I saw you, you were wearing a strapless green summer dress and gold sandals. And your last words were to tell me to ‘fuck off’. I masturbated that night while fantasizing about bending you over the nearest flat surface and fucking you until you were mindless with pleasure.”