Wicked Games - Moon Kissed Part 7

He groaned and eased a hand over his wet boxer briefs. A glance to his dry clothes lying on the bench decided it for him. He pulled off the boxer briefs and wrung them out over the pool. He'd have to go commando.

Using the towel on the lounge chair, he dried off. Ignoring a hard-on took monumental willpower. Dressing and tying up his boots, he stalked inside Bella's home after finding the patio door unlocked.

So she wasn't keeping him out? Good girl.

He scanned the room, dodging the jungle of plants hanging from the ceiling and sprouting up from pots on the floor. She wasn't on the phone; the cordless sat on the counter.

The vast room was like a big studio, divided down the center by the flimsy white fabric. A big couch and a plasma TV designated the living room on one side, and on the other, against the wall, sat a low bed and a nightstand.

Bella appeared from what must be the bathroom, wearing a loose white top and pants. Some kind of yoga wear. It appealed to Severo because her nipples pointed through the thin fabric, and she did not wear a bra.

"What's that?" she asked.

He dangled his underwear in his hand. "Can I hang these in your bathroom to dry?"

"Uh, sure." She pointed over her shoulder and he took direction. "Will you leave, then?"

"I will if you want me to," he called. Her pause gave him hope, but with a shake of her head, she confirmed, "I do want you to."

"Fine, but I'll return when the sun sets."

"Do you think that's necessary?"

He strode out from the bathroom and met her at the couch. "Yes, I scented vamps all night. They were prowling. Looking for something."

"Really?" Now the nervousness he recognized warbled her voice. A twinge of fear filled Severo's nostrils, acrid and hot.

"It'll be fine. Just keep that stake and cross close at hand. Holy water would be great."

"Oh sure, I keep a liter in the fridge for such occasions."

"Sweet."

"Don't sweet me. In what alternate universe do you get to boss me around and expect I'll tolerate another of your kisses?"

"Another?" He lifted a brow. "You like my kisses."

"They're fine." She surprised herself with that answer.

"You wish to have one more before I leave? Be decisive, no maybes."

"Yes."

He did love this woman's daring.

Severo swept her into his arms and kissed her soundly. She accepted his command and answered with an eager reply. Plunging in deeply, he explored her, noting the texture of her tongue, the soft insides of her mouth. Her sweet breath. Every moan she murmured only made him all the more determined to possess her. To win her.

To get the h.e.l.l out of here before he couldn't resist the desire to rip away those loose clothes and lave his tongue all over her flesh.

"Tonight." Severo kissed her on the forehead and walked out the patio door.

Chapter 6.

S evero arrived home to find a turkey sandwich on the kitchen counter. Actually, it was like a Thanksgiving feast stuffed between two innocent slices of French bread. Stuffing, cranberries, gravy and loads of meat.

Heloise, the cook/housekeeper, had worked for him twenty years, and he dreaded the day she considered retirement.

Not only was she a great cook, but Heloise also understood his foibles and knew what he was. She knew when not to press and when a defiant tone would be tolerated. She worked Monday through Thursday, noon to whenever, and would never move in, despite his frequent suggestion she do so. She had a family; he understood.

Demolishing the sandwich, he then tipped back a couple gla.s.ses of water. His appet.i.te never waned. He loved meat. He ran off the calories nightly, so he needed not fear a gut. Besides, he was still young.

At ninety-some years, Severo was only about a third through the usual werewolf's life expectancy. Three centuries were more than enough. He wasn't immortal, and he was thankful for that. He'd endured much in his near century of life. He'd seen unspeakable horrors, and he'd partic.i.p.ated in the horror himself. He'd loved but once-an unrequited love. And that had taught him to be wary of future love.

Until he'd caught the lovely Belladonna Reynolds in his arms. He'd only intended to keep her safe from the vamps, then release her, never to see her again.

Setting the empty plate in the sink, he headed for the office.

Funny how life never follows the plans a man makes, he thought. He didn't need the distraction of a s.e.xy human woman. He lived a simple life, yet he was always busy with real estate purchases. He systematically purchased forested land in the upper northern areas of the state. Much was state forest release.

If Severo had his way, he'd buy it all. But there were the Indian reservations, and he would not deny them their bid to reclaim some of the land. He was getting close to beginning construction on the wolf preserve. At this moment an architect in Minneapolis was designing the project to Severo's specifications.

A lifelong dream, the preserve would protect those he considered his closest relatives in the animal kingdom. The wolf packs were few in Minnesota, thanks to frightened farmers shooting wildly at wolves that strayed from the pack, and hunters seeking a prize to mount and display for friends.

If only there was a way to protect his kind from the vampires. Beyond their banding together in multiple packs and standing strong against the longtooths, or allying themselves with the b.l.o.o.d.y b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, it was better that a werewolf kept to himself.

There were some packs who partic.i.p.ated in the blood sport-a vicious retaliation against the vampires-but Severo did not condone senseless violence.

Though a member, Severo had not attended the Council for years. It was a conglomeration of representatives from the various paranormal nations. Vampires, witches, werewolves, faeries, elementals and others. They tried for peace amongst the nations but accepted tolerance.

No humans served on the Council. Humans were but distractions to the paranormals. To be avoided by the werewolves. Few considered them a necessity, save the vamps.

And yet, Severo would not fight his body's attraction to the human female. He hadn't experienced such a powerful pull since, well, not even since Aby.

Aby had been different. Theirs had been a close, friendly bond, like family. Yet not. He'd been more s.e.xually attracted to her than she had been to him. But she had felt it. He knew it.

Picking up the picture frame from the shelf behind the doc.u.ment-littered mahogany desk, he tilted it to erase the reflection from the window. Bold red hair spiked about a pixie face with a smile so bright, it hurt him to know she was no longer a big part of his life.

He tapped the gla.s.s over her face. "Miss you."

Aby was but a phone call away. Ten numbers. Three states.

And one wedding ring.

He set the picture down and heaved out a sigh.

Had he not walked this earth long enough that love should finally be his? He did desire it. He craved the connection and emotional bond that accompanied what he believed love to be.

But most of all, he wanted to hold another in his arms and know he was loved in return. That he was not merely a friend.Could Bella be the mate this tired werewolf had dreamed to find?

For a human, she impressed him with her acceptance, her teasing foray into discovering him. It was as if she dared herself to step over the cliff, to take the plunge into the unknown. He suspected she lived a neat, orderly life within her jungle of a loft. Yet she fed on adrenaline more than she realized.

He liked that about her. Any woman who got involved with him would need to be comfortable with the adrenaline rush.

Introducing chaos into her life would please him immensely.

But it worried him that Elvira and her mindless sycophants might be after Bella. If her friend Seth was involved with Elvira, it made sense that the female vampire would seek to remove all human connections the idiot boyfriend had. That's how the longtooth worked.

Severo growled in disgust. He punched a fist into his open palm with a smack. He cared little for the man. But no one would harm a hair on Bella's head.

It mattered little what she thought about him. All that mattered was that he had to follow this feeling of desire. If she was the one for him, he would not relent until she was his.

An hour before she intended to meet Seth, teacup in hand, Bella peeked out the window. Like clockwork, he again was sitting on the bus-stop bench. Silently stalwart. Clothed in leather and looking like something no fool would want to mess with. A force not to be overlooked.

A force whose black boxer briefs had hung like a blatant you've-been-naughty flag in her bathroom. She'd plucked them down and folded them neatly. How did she return such a thing to someone she hardly knew? Discreetly slip them from her purse and mutter, "You forgot these"?

Bella rolled her eyes. Wasn't it usually the woman who slipped her underwear into the man's things? She bet Mr. Big Bad Werewolf would love to find her panties among his things. But not when he was dutifully guarding her from the other Big Bads.

She wondered about the relationship between vampires and werewolves. Severo had made it clear he didn't like vampires. But was that just him, or did they all battle and clash?

Either way, with vampires after her, she was glad to have a vampire hater on her side.

Although when he was around, no real sides existed. He had no respect for her personal s.p.a.ce. He got close enough to breathe her air, and she his.

Initially it had disturbed her. Now it felt...nice.

Had she really gotten close to naked with him in the pool?

She didn't think she'd ever touched hard muscles like his before. And his kisses...

There weren't words for the way his kiss made her feel. Instead, a sensual shiver whispered over her shoulders, reminding her of his power.

Clinking her spoon against the porcelain teacup, she wandered across the room. It was the perfect evening to sit outside on the lounge chair and watch the sun disappear on the horizon. Glamorous light glittered across the pool. But she wondered if her protector would have her back if she was out of view.

Surely he'd smell them coming a mile away, she realized, and decided outside it was. Three minutes pa.s.sed before her fence jumper appeared. Bella didn't even startle. She merely glanced over the rim of her teacup at the imposing hunk of male.

"You shouldn't be outside at night," he told her.

"It's evening. The sun hasn't set."

"Do you always correct people, Bella?"

"I-" She did. It was a bad habit. "You can't keep away from me, can you?"

"I'm going to take that comment as an invitation. Mind if I join you?"

She slid her knees up on the lounge chair so he could sit on the other end. Naturally, he chose the middle, stretching his legs before him. A deft slide of his arm put her legs over his lap. He stroked her skin above the anklebone and grinned at her.

"Chai?" he asked.

"Good guess."

"I could smell the cardamom, cinnamon and honey from the bench out front. Anise, too, I think. Or is that your clove perfume?"

"Okay, you've impressed me with your olfactory superpowers. Tell me something I don't know. You tracked me to my home?

So you can pick out anyone and find them if you have their scent?"

"Usually. Within a range. The suburbs are spread out, so the range is not so difficult. But in the city proper so many people are wedged into every nook, cranny, car and house that it takes a while to detect some."

"But you followed me like a bloodhound to the bone, eh?"

"Something like that."

He bent and kissed her ankle. The ends of his hair tickled the top of her foot. Bella curled her toes. Had she been thinking that long hair didn't attract her?

"You're more comfortable with my presence now." It wasn't a question.

"Apparently. I may even invite you in to watch a movie."

"I enjoy movies. But let me guess. A werewolf flick?"

"No, it's a romance I picked up the other day. Probably a tearjerker."

"And you want me to watch it with you? I'll take a rain check."

"Ah, I've uncovered a weakness. The man doesn't do emotional scenes."

"This man prefers action, gun fights and explosions. Besides, I don't need a movie. I'm plenty entertained sitting right here, watching you sip tea. Your lips purse and look like candy treats when you sip. I'd love to nibble on that thick upper lip right now."

"You'll spill my tea."

"Set it down."

"You're bossing me again." "And you're going to listen."

He held his hand out for the teacup.

With but a two-second pause to consider her options, Bella set the cup on his palm. He set it on the patio.

The man's body glided along hers. His fingers raked through her hair and his mouth met hers in a soft collision. The throaty sound of his pleasure rumbled against her senses, bruising them, opening them to every soft breath, touch and sound. The air changed, as it usually did when Severo kissed her. It became light and heady and so unnecessary.