“It’s really rude that you managed to save yourself before I could come to your rescue,” Ian whispered, his warm breath teasing her ear. “What will my adoring fans think of me now?”
The truck rocked sharply as they reached pavement, then the ride smoothed out considerably. She finally sat up and looked into the bed of the truck. The wolf had curled up against the cab, his face tucked into the warmth of his body. “That’s Dhane Fitzroy.”
“Seriously?”
She nodded in response to Ian’s question and the men exchanged worried looks.
“Does his pack know where he is?”
“He had no idea where we were, so I don’t think the wolves have a clue.” The driver’s golden eyes gleamed through the darkness, so she said, “Hi.”
“Ahoj zlatí ko.” His white teeth flashed in the dimness but his features were lost in shadow. “Most call me Payne.”
“His real name is Dilbert,” Ian whispered loud enough for Payne to hear.
“I’d go by Payne too.” Now that her emotions were more or less spent she felt self-conscious sitting on Ian’s lap. He was shirtless and she’d been crawling all over him like she had the right to touch him anywhere she pleased. “Am I crushing you?”
“Hardly. Just relax.”
Too worn out to argue, she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. But that only freed the memories. She tensed and Ian’s hand swept from her shoulder to her hip. She splayed her fingers over his chest, undeniably aware of his heat and the hard muscle beneath her palm.
“I’ve got you, kitten. No one will ever hurt you again.”
She wanted to believe it, needed to believe it, but they were just words. As long as her abilities were latent, she was helpless. Even against humans! She knew she was trembling again but she couldn’t seem to relax. She opened her eyes and lifted her head so she could look around.
They’d reached the interstate but she had no idea which direction they were headed. Were they even in Colorado? She couldn’t see much beyond the roadway. “Where are we?”
“A few miles east of Cheyenne,” Ian told her. “You’ll be home in about an hour and a half.”
She nodded then realized other questions were far more important. “How did you find me? What happened to the others? I wasn’t the only one they were…”
“I know. When we attacked the lab in the mountains one of the doctors agreed to help us.”
“That would be Carly Ides.” Devon sneered as the name passed her lips. “She’s the worst of the worst.”
She squirmed and wiggled until he wrapped his arm around her waist and said, “You need to sit still.”
Understanding unfurled within her, spreading heat through her belly and chest. The unmistakable ridge of his erection pressed against her hip and she fought the need to cover her face with her hands. “Sorry.” His scent grew more tantalizing, more evocative.
“It’s called adrenaline,” he assured her. “It’s a natural reaction.”
Payne snorted and muttered something in his native language. Ian glared and Devon followed the direction of his gaze. A passing car illuminated the cab for a moment and she received her first clear look at Payne. High hollow cheeks, a wide brow and strong jawline. Stark and distinctive, his angular features were too menacing for true handsomeness. He was striking, she supposed, or just plain fierce.
“You’re staring.” Ian’s comment was only partially playful. Devon quickly turned her head before Payne caught her in the act.
Something smacked against the cab and Ian and Devon both turned to see what had caused the commotion. Dhane was on his feet, or rather his paws, shivering so violently she could see the tremors.
“Is he cold?”
Ian shook his head. “With all that fur it’s unlikely.”
“Why hasn’t he released the shift?” Payne mused.
“Maybe he can’t.” Using her concern for Dhane as motivation, Devon carefully climbed into the tiny seating area behind the main seats. She sat sideways, directly behind Payne so she could see both Dhane and Ian. Ian pivoted in his seat, his gaze smoldering. She’d basically shoved her breasts in his face in her attempt to assess Dhane’s situation and still he seemed upset by her relocation. Was it possible he felt the electric awareness that was making her skin tingle?
She couldn’t think about that right now. Dhane appeared to be in real trouble. “If you have a blanket I’ll ride in back and see if I can calm down Dhane.” She was worried about Dhane, but mostly she needed to be away from Ian so she could think, decide on a next step.