Protect and Service(5)

“Yeah, really.”

He leaned in, lips brushing my ear as his aftershave wrapped me in a seductive spell. I couldn’t help it; I sucked a deep breath in on automatic. Oh lord, he smelled divine. Warm man, citrus and sandalwood; my favourite combination.

“I’ll let you off for now. But, for the record, wolves always get what we want. Eventually. We’re stubborn like that. And I want you. Just sayin’.”

Oh, he was a cocky bastard, that was for sure. He stepped back, an easy grin in place as he re-adjusted his cuffs. When he looked up, the fire was still there but banked.

“You’ve got five minutes. Iliona gave me the file earlier but mentioned something about a problem with your ex? You can fill me in on the situation in the car.”





Chapter Two




“I still can’t believe that your ex cursed you. What a bastard.” Jared’s voice was rougher than human, as if his wolf agreed with his opinion of my ex as we pulled into the parking lot outside the Fremont Hotel. The vehicle—some low slung, expensive sports car—hadn’t been what I was expecting, but it suited him. And hell did he handle it well, his hands easy on the wheel and gearstick while he controlled the beast of a car as though he’d been born to it.

Another shiver hit me. What would those big hands feel like smoothing over my skin instead of the steering wheel? Biting my lip, I pressed my thighs together in a prim movement that belied the fires raging through my body as liquid heat seeped from my channel to dampen my panties.

“Yeah, that’s one name for him. I’ve used a few others as well,” I blurted out, trying to cover up. I needn’t have bothered. The sharp intake of breath next to me and his sidelong look told me that he knew. Damn werewolves and their sense of smell.

He smiled, graciously letting me off as he pulled up to the valet stand. My initial decision to give the agency minimal information had lasted a hot minute once he’d gotten me into his car. Before I knew it, I’d told him everything about the situation with Pete and his pathetic curse deal, admitting that the real reason I’d used the PPA wasn’t for protection but because I couldn’t take a human date to the ball. And the directors were sticklers for convention. If I’d gone alone, the stuffed shirts would have commented, frowned and before long my tenure as Executive Administration Manager would have been over.

So in a way I did need the PPA for protection—just for my job, not my person.

Once he’d dropped the charm offensive, Jared had turned out to be a good listener. Calm, attentive and he’d asked intelligent questions. Ones that drew more information out of me than I’d intended to give. It didn’t surprise me that he’d been a cop before. I could just see him with a pair of handcuffs…did he still have them?

I cut that thought off and watched him as he walked around the car to open my door. He moved easily, with a fluid grace that turned the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other into a sensual and highly masculine dance. Another flood of heat wet my panties and I blushed as he held his hand out for mine. Fuck. I was creaming my pants over watching him bloody walk… What would I be like if he actually got naked in front of me?

He closed strong fingers around mine and pulled me up as I unfolded myself from the car seat, which was the nearest I’d come to being horizontal in a car. Ever. But he didn’t let go. Instead he stepped me backwards, crowding me until my ass hit the side of the car. Another car pulled up and loud chatter filled the air as another group alighted. The sound of voices pulled at the back of my mind, a sense of familiarity filling me, but I couldn’t pay it any attention, my world consumed by the tall, very sexy werewolf who had me all but pinned between him and the car.

“What th—” While I was more than happy about being pinned to hard surfaces by hunky younger werewolves, there was a time and place for everything. In the carpark outside the annual fundraiser was so not it.

“Jared, hold it a moment.” Pushing at his chest, I tried to get some space between us so I could clear my head but it was like trying to push a granite counter.

“Eloise? Shut up.”

The order was soft and the only warning I got as he bent his head. Stubble prickled against my cheeks, the scent of his aftershave wrapping around me as he claimed my lips in the kiss I’d been fantasising about since that encounter in the office hours ago.

Omigod, yes! His lips were warm and firm as they slanted over mine. Back and forth, in a domineering kiss that fell just this side of brutal. But I loved it, my short gasp totally involuntary as I curled my fingers into the lapels of his jacket, needing something—anything—to anchor myself.