Surrounded By Temptation(12)

Either way, he knew if Ariel did leave once her testing was complete, he wouldn’t be a free man.

Because even if she found a cure to control his animalistic urges, he would forever be a victim of his own heart.





Chapter Five



“I need these results back as soon as possible,” Ariel said, utilizing the speaker on her cell phone while she packaged the swab she’d had Josh take of Rob’s saliva before she conducted her test yesterday.

And what a test that was. Knowing she had to tempt him and actually doing it proved to be two entirely different scenarios. In her mind, she’d kept complete control of the session and had not been turned on by the acts that necessitated her research findings.

In reality, she’d been so wet, so aching with need, she almost climbed onto his lap and rode him to oblivion, test be damned. She rationalized it by thinking she was a woman and he was a man. A very sexy, masculine, dreamy man, but still a man nonetheless. She hypothesized that any woman in that same situation would experience the same results. It was a chemical reaction in her body to his. It was nature. Biological and chemical.

It wasn’t attraction. She would not allow herself to become attracted to Rob. She was a professional for crying out loud. And she couldn’t fall in love if love didn’t exist.

“DNA analysis takes a while. You know that, Ariel.”

“I’m aware of it, but it’s prudent to my current research, so your timeliness is greatly appreciated.”

“It’d help speed things along if you tell me what you’re looking for.”

“It’s confidential, Max.” The man was a long time colleague and sometimes friend to her. He was a bit of a hermit, but he was incredibly smart. Ariel trusted the work he did, and she needed his expertise on the Woods DNA. Since they shifted into animals, their DNA might prove some connection to why and how. It was a start.

“I’ll see what I can do. I can email you a report of my findings rather than snail mail it to you.”

“That’d be great. Thanks.”

After a few more niceties, she ended the call and grabbed the package. The guys were out working on the estate, so she figured Krista and Mikaela would have their noses in law books at the main house. She trekked over there, admiring the scenery on her short walk. It really was very calming out here. She wasn’t much of a country girl, but she didn’t fancy herself a city girl either. She was a skinny nerd. Krista was the curvy one, though she wondered if her sister had been more on the naïve side than she was. Ariel hadn’t had many boyfriends before meeting Will, but that was definitely a serious relationship that led to marriage. She wondered if Krista had been in anything serious before meeting Toby. Not that it mattered now. They seemed totally smitten with each other.

Ariel smiled, thinking of her sister falling in love, and then immediately frowned. Love was a state a mind. Not a reality. It would not do for her to ever forget that.

Once she reached the main house, she sought out the office. She heard heated voices as she neared, but couldn’t quite make out the discussion. She cringed, hoping it wasn’t about her and the test from yesterday.

“She cannot work here,” Josh said to his wife.

Oh crap, they were talking about her. She needed to defuse the situation. No way was she going to leave before she was through with Rob. Er, before she was through with testing medication, she corrected in her thoughts.

“I think that should be my call to make,” Ariel said. Josh and Mikaela turned to her and Krista looked up from reading a really thick book.

“With all due respect, Ariel, it’s too soon for us to allow it. The guys are too dangerous.” He turned to his wife, a pleading look in his eyes. “Besides, I don’t fucking want her here.”

Okay, that hurt. Ariel knew her presence here was difficult for everyone, but Josh’s words were too harsh to swallow. She cleared her throat and tried squaring her shoulders, but she felt like a rabbit taking on a wolf. A mountain lion’s more like it.

“Look, I’m sorry if I’m making things difficult being here. I promise I will try to be as expedient as logically possible—”

“Wait.” Josh turned to her, shaking his head. “I wasn’t talking about you. God, I wouldn’t be that cruel.” He sighed. “It’s Caldwell’s daughter, Lillian, that’s demanding a job since we, and I quote, ‘took her father’s land out from under her.’”

Mikaela walked up to her husband and rubbed his arm affectionately. “Sweetie, let’s just put her off for now. Tell her we are looking into possibly hiring new people in a few months and we’d be glad to consider her then.”