Christy glued her attention to the wolves. They hadn’t gotten any nearer, but they hadn’t moved away, either.
“Nice wolfies. You won’t hurt me, will you?”
Now I’m talking to wolves.
She took a quick glance at her car. Even if she tried to jump on the hood and get back inside, the wolves would have no problem leaping after her. She searched the street around her and wondered where everyone else had gone. If she ran, they’d cut her down before she could make it back to the alley. That just left standing as still as she could and hoping they’d go back to wherever they’d come from.
Her breath was too noisy to her own ears. For a wolf’s sensitive hearing, she had to be making a racket. She had no doubt that they could sense how frightened she was. Predators had a way of smelling fear on their prey.
She stayed as still as possible. If only someone would come along and help her.
Even after promising herself that she’d stay motionless, she still jumped when the middle wolf padded up to her. She could see his whiskers, and that the outline of the black diamond shape against his forehead didn’t have a solid edge. The amber in his eyes glowed even brighter and she could hear his breaths as he tilted his head and studied her.
Is he thinking about how good I’ll taste?
She blinked, forcing that awful thought gone. She had to stay as calm as she could. Maybe, just maybe, she’d get out alive.
Yet when he jumped up, landing his paws on either side of her, she couldn’t help but let out a squeal. She squeezed her eyes shut, ready to feel pain as the first claw dug into her skin.
When that didn’t happen, she peeked open first one eye, then another. The wolf’s face was right in front of hers. His breath warmed her skin and his unblinking eyes stared straight into hers.
Oh, mamma.
She swallowed and tried to make her body one with the car.
When he licked her, she almost passed out.
He licked me like a pet dog would.
Something about his eyes settled into her and a strange comfort came over her, ridding her of her terror. She was still leery, still ready to scream, but she was no longer terrified for her life. If he’d wanted to kill her, he could’ve done so ten times over.
Knowing she might be risking a bite, she lifted her hand as slowly as she could and placed it against his massive jaw.
A jolt of energy swept into her hand and she jerked it away.
What the hell?
And yet, she wanted to feel it again. Like a memory that came out of nowhere, she knew where she’d felt that same kind of electric touch. The way she felt when she’d touched the wolf reminded her of how she’d felt when she’d touched Duncan and Grant. The idea was insane, but she couldn’t deny it.
He tilted his head again and she would’ve sworn he’d done it to press his face harder against her palm.
“Lord, help me.”
His mouth twitched. On a human, the gesture would’ve looked like a smile. But that was just another ridiculous idea.
Breathe. Stay calm and he’ll stay calm.
“Hey, boy. Thanks for coming to my rescue.” She relaxed even more when he wagged his tail. It was working.
He tilted his head again, this time in the opposite direction, and snaked his tongue over her neck. She jerked a little, then calmed down when she realized yet again that he’d meant her no harm.
One of the other wolves growled and shook his head. The third wolf spun in a circle, then barked.
“I don’t think your friends like us doing this.” She dared to slide her hand along his neck. His fur was coarse, not as soft as it appeared.
Another snarl from one of his friends had him dropping back to the ground and padding over to them. Her breathing evened out and her fear left. Even so, she again wondered if she was risking life and limb as she pushed away from the car and started toward them.
The three wolves watched her approach, but once she was within two feet of them, they whirled as one and dashed down the street. Their dark forms disappeared into the night.
“Wait.”
She’d spoken far too late. Lifting her hand, she studied her palm, the tingle of the touch still lingering over her skin.
Please tell me I didn’t get turned on by a wolf.
* * * *
Christy shut the apartment door behind her and noticed how badly her hand was shaking. After what she’d seen and what had almost happened to her, it was understandable. The only surprise was that she hadn’t fallen apart.
Backing away from the door, she placed her hand on the spot where the wolf had licked her. Nothing made sense any longer. She couldn’t figure out how the slick of a wolf’s tongue could make her feel the way Duncan’s and Grant’s touches had.
But what had she felt? A tingle of excitement? When she’d had the feeling with the men, she’d thought it was an attraction like no other she’d ever experienced. Her insides had gone wild as though they had flicked a switch and turned her on from her very core to every inch of her skin. It had been lust, but so much more, an acknowledgment that they were what she’d yearned for. The sensation was more than mere sex. It was like they’d shared a past, a present, and a future together. Like they’d been meant to come together.