Terry Spear’s Wolf Bundle (16 page)

“I wanted you, Bella, always have,” he said and then encircled her nipple with his lips and sucked.

She ran her fingers through his hair. “I guess you kind of figured I had—”

Lifting his head, he raised his brows. “Loved me?”

“Had the hots for you. Couldn’t help myself. Once you kissed me—”

“I knew you’d never been kissed like that since.”

“You made it pretty hard for the competition, stud.”

Nestling his face against her cheek, he hoped beyond hope he’d not hurt her too much. He’d wanted the experience to be the most pleasurable one she’d ever had.
Then, he wished to repeat the encounter until they were old and gray. He settled on top of her, their bodies warm and wet and tired. But alive. He’d never been so loved, so cared for, so desired. He loved every bit of her, the wild side and the tame. The cautious and the adventurous. For choosing him, when she could have had so many others. “Are you all right—”

“Considering we’re trying to catch a red
lupus garou
killer and Volan will want to murder us both for what we’ve just done…yeah, I’m all right.”

He ran his fingers over her abdomen in a sensual caress, sparking a surge of renewed interest. “I didn’t hurt you too much?”

Realizing his sole concern rested on how he’d made her feel, not about other world events, Bella smiled. How could she have not recognized how wonderful he’d make her feel? How sensitive he could be?

She quickly squashed that reasoning. The dread of losing him in a confrontation with Volan had been all that had weakened her resolve to have Devlyn. She gritted her teeth, unable to shake the concern that Devlyn might still learn how someone had shot Volan and he died, the only way he could, from silver bullets. Well, snapping his neck would work, too, or drowning, but no way could she have killed him in either manner.

Taking a deep breath, she assured herself Devlyn would think the reds took care of Volan, not her. Nothing could have stopped her from taking the relationship she had with Devlyn to the max. They’d been destined to be together from the moment he’d saved her from the wildfire.

She kissed his lips and then sucked on his lower one and released.

“I always dreamed I’d have you for my own. But the dreams could never be this real, or this satisfying,” Devlyn said.

“Hmm, did you dream of making love to me when I was gone?”

“You wouldn’t believe how many times I thought I had you within my grasp, only to find my sheets wet, and no Bella.”

She laughed. “Well, the vehicle’s seat is wet this time, but you’ve got me to blame for it now.”

“I didn’t hurt you too much?” Devlyn repeated, his fingers stroking the curve of her hip with a much too sensual touch.

Already she greedily yearned to have him fill her again. “Only pleasure.” She wondered why she’d ever thought a human could ever be better than the
lupus garou
who loved her so tenderly.

He studied her face and gathered her in his arms. “Good. I was afraid when you wouldn’t breathe, I’d hurt you too much.”

“Are all grays so…big?”

He chuckled under his breath. “Bad Bella.”

She licked his salty chest, ready to show him how bad she could really be. How would it be to ride
him
this time? With
her
handling the joystick? How would it be to set the pace, to be in charge? Could the big bad gray handle the red’s test?

“You’re not finished, are you?” She raised a brow in challenge.

He slid his hand down her thigh. “Does my mate want more?”

“All you can give me.”

“Let’s go inside. Turn on some music, dance
au naturel,
and take it from there.”

They carried their clothes into the house. As soon as they reached the living room, a solid rapping on the front door nearly gave her a heart attack.

The dreaded image came to mind of police officers standing on her front porch with warrants for her and Devlyn’s arrest…

B
OTH
D
EVLYN AND
B
ELLA SCRAMBLED FOR THEIR
clothes, but he had no intention of allowing his mate to face whatever danger waited at the front door. Wearing only his jeans, he stalked across the living room.

Bella whispered wildly, “Wait, damn it, Devlyn. Together!”

The sound of knocking at the back door surprised him further. With a quick look out the peephole of the front door, he saw another of their nightmares…not Volan, as he’d first assumed. But zoo man Thompson. Bella was still buttoning her dress when she headed for the front door, barefooted.

Devlyn said in a hushed growl, “Thompson.”

Her face lost all of its color.

A gentler knocking at the back door sounded again.

Devlyn motioned for her to stay put. In several long strides, he reached the back door. Peering out the side window, he frowned. “Your neighbor, Chrissie,” he whispered. He opened the door partway. “Yes?”

“Hurry, let me in.”

“Do it,” Bella said, her voice hushed, motioning for her to come in.

Chrissie hurried into the house and headed for the front door.

“What the—” Devlyn said.

“Go,” Chrissie waved at them to go down the hall. She considered his bare chest and smiled. “Continue what you were doing. I’ll take care of the menace standing on your front doorstep.”

Bella stared at her and then looked at Devlyn. He joined her and pulled her down the hall and into her bedroom.

With the door slightly ajar and their sensitive hearing attuned, they waited while Chrissie opened the front door. “Well, hello there,” she said in such a sexy voice, Devlyn chuckled under his breath.

Frowning, Bella poked him in the rib. The color hadn’t returned to her face and her eyes were still darker than normal.

“Are you Miss Bella Wilder?” Thompson asked.

“Yep. What’s this all about? You a cop or something? Got a badge?” Chrissie sounded as sugary sweet as could be.

“I’m investigating the disappearance of a red wolf from the zoo.”

“You think I’d keep a red wolf in my house? Ha! Aren’t they dangerous?”

“Were you at Papagalli’s Dance Club tonight, Miss Wilder?”

Devlyn rubbed Bella’s arm and whispered into her ear, “Breathe, Bella.”

“I don’t go to dance clubs,” Chrissie told Thompson, her voice firm but still saccharine sweet. “What makes you think I was there?”

“Can I come in?”

Bella stepped back. Devlyn leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It’s okay, Bella.”

Chrissie said to Thompson, “You haven’t established your identity as a cop yet. I don’t let just any man into my house, despite the fact that you’re a pretty hot number.”

Silence. Then Thompson said, “Messages were sent from an email address that belongs to a Bella Wilder, at this residence. If you didn’t send those messages, who did?”

“Just exactly who are you?”

“Thompson. I have connections with the Oregon Zoo, and, as I said, I’m investigating the disappearance of a red wolf.”

“Got a first name?”

“Look, the wolf may be in danger. I think you and your friends have some notion that Rosa’s safer in the wild than in the zoo, but, as I explained to your friend, releasing a red wolf into the wild can have dire consequences for the animal.”

Chrissie’s voice elevated. “Listen, I don’t like zoos. Let the animals live in their natural habitats. That’s what I say.”

Bella shook her head and then took a step forward, in rescue mode. Devlyn gathered her in his arms, keeping her still.

Thompson cleared his throat when Chrissie didn’t incriminate herself anymore. “That’s just what I figured. So where are your cohorts?”

“What were they supposed to look like? Do you have their names?”

“All right, I’ll humor you. The girl’s a petite redhead with amber-colored eyes. No name though. We found her in the zoo, freezing to death—”

“Naked?” Chrissie asked, the tone of her voice raised in disbelief.

That would take some explaining.

Thompson’s voice showed marked enthusiasm. “Yeah, that’s the one. She’s only considered a witness at this point, though.”

“And…and she disappeared from the hospital, right? I mean, even though cops were watching her, some guy stole her away right out from under their noses.” Chrissie sounded intrigued.

“Yep. Now you remember.”

“The news was all over the papers. Sure, I remember. With a story like that, who wouldn’t have?”

“The guy’s tall, about six-foot—”

“Ah,” Chrissie said, as if she were putting two and two together and coming up with Bella’s old acquaintance.

“Six-foot-one,” Devlyn said under his breath.

Bella pinched his arm. “Shhhh.”

“Dark brown hair and eyes. Muscular. He tried to free the wolf from the zoo on pretenses he was transferring her to another zoo. Then he arrives at the hospital, frees his partner, and vanishes.”

“Wow.” There was another lengthy pause. “But why would she have been naked at the zoo, of all things?”

“Little lady wasn’t talking. She ran off before we could extract the truth from her.”

“But what has this to do with the dance club?”

“You signed off as Rosa, but the email said you were a red wolf seeking a fun-loving red wolf male. Rosa was the name I gave to the wolf that was stolen from the zoo.”

“Ah, well, I had about sixty people here at a party earlier. Someone must have played some kind of a prank.”

“Is that so?” Thompson asked.

“Yep.”

“I want a guest list.”

Bella’s whole body tensed. Devlyn massaged her shoulders.

“You’re not a cop,” Chrissie reminded the zoo man.

“You’re right, I’m not. But I can ask my friend, the chief of police, to issue a search warrant and—”

Bella stiffened her back again.

“Well, maybe, Thompson, we could work up that list over dinner. You’re not married, are you?”

Again a pregnant pause followed.

Thompson cleared his throat. “No, well, divorced, but—”

“Well, me, too. See we have a lot in common. You like animals and I do also. Maybe you can tell me more about this red wolf of yours. I’ll grab my coat, and we can go to that new Chinese restaurant on Main Street. Got paper and a pen? I’ll make that list for you.”

Another prolonged silence. Then Thompson gave a nervous little cough. “All right.”

He sounded like he’d gotten bamboozled into the dinner date, but maybe he’d find out what he wanted from Chrissie when he wined and dined her. At least that’s what Devlyn would have tried.

Footsteps headed in their direction. Bella backed away from the door, but Devlyn prepared to tackle Thompson if he tried to enter the room. But it was Chrissie. She pushed the door open wider and grinned.

“Got a coat?” she whispered.

“What about your children?” Bella asked, her voice hushed and concerned.

“At their dad’s the rest of the week.”

“What about this list—”

“Don’t worry. Your name will be at the top. Bella Wilder.” Chrissie grinned again. “After I have a lovely dinner with Thompson, and maybe take in a movie, I’ll try to make him forget he was after the two of you.”

“How did you know about Thompson coming here to see me and—”

“My neighbor called and said Thompson had come to her house to see if Bella Wilder had a wolf in the yard or a strange man visiting or living with her. She knew you and I are best of friends and thought I could warn you. He came to my door next, but I sneaked around the back way to your place. I figured you might need my help.” She winked at Devlyn. “You know it’s awfully important to renew old acquaintances without a lot of interruptions.” Her gaze shifted down Devlyn’s bare torso.

Interrupting Chrissie’s gawking, Bella handed her a dressy raincoat. “Thanks, Chrissie, for being such a good friend.”

“Like sisters,” Chrissie said, her chin tilted down. “I owe you for lots of times. What a wonderful night this is going to be.” She exited the room with a definite spring to her step and strode down the hall.

Bella whispered to Devlyn, “Thompson is never going to know what hit him.”

“Husband candidate number two, don’t you think?”

Bella nodded. “Poor man. Wait until he finds out she’s got a couple of elementary school-age kids.”

When Chrissie reached the front door, she said to Thompson, “Maybe you can explain to me why the
animals are so much better off in a zoo. Never know. You might even convince me to change my mind.”

“Yeah, well, Miss Wilder—”

“Call me Chrissie. That’s what everyone calls me. Here, can you help me with my coat?”

“Sure.”

“Hmm, such a big man with large capable hands, but with a tender touch. I bet you keep all those wild animals in line, don’t you, but with finesse?”

The front door slammed shut.

If Bella hadn’t been trembling so hard, Devlyn would have laughed out loud at Chrissie’s actions. Instead, he held Bella close and hugged the breath from her chest. Kissing her head, he said, “What do you want to do now?”

“My heart tells me to run…to hide. I don’t want to go to jail or back to a zoo cage. I don’t want to expose our people for what they are.”

“What about the red
lupus garou
killer?”

“We have to stop him no matter what.” She ran her hands over Devlyn’s arms. “I hope Chrissie won’t be hurt.”

“What do you imagine she thinks about us?”

Bella looked up at Devlyn. “That you’re some kind of wild guy. She’s always thought of me as very tame-natured. Quiet lifestyle—no dating, carousing, partying. Just nature retreats from time to time. But since you arrived—”

Devlyn chuckled.

“I’m sure she thinks you’re a bad influence.”

“What do you think?”

“I’d have to agree…happily.”

Kissing her cheek, he slipped his hands inside her dress. She shook her head.

“Ah, Bella.”

“We have work to do. Play later. You know as well as I do—”

“We have to find the killer.”

“And we won’t find him—”

Devlyn smiled. “In your bed.”

“You always could finish my sentences when we were young.” She changed out of her dress and into black denims and a turtleneck.

“I always knew what you were thinking, lovely Bella.”

“Not always.” She pulled her hiking boots out of the closet.

“Oh? Tell me a for instance.” He pulled his shirt on.

“The time I caught you kissing Vernetta.”

“You wished it was you and not her.” He buttoned the last of his buttons.

Bella growled. “I did not! I wanted to…to—”

“You wanted me to kiss you. Admit it, Bella.” The scene played back in his mind like it was only yesterday. She’d just turned sixteen, he nineteen. Vernetta was twenty, but meaner than a bull on steroids. If it hadn’t been for Volan keeping an eye on Bella, the
rufus lupus
would have been the one Devlyn would have shared his kisses with.

Bella growled again and yanked one of her shoes on, tied the leather laces, and then the other.

He smiled to see her cheeks on fire, now as red as her hair. “I only kissed her on a dare.”

“Right,” she snapped.

“Really. Three of my older cousins had tried to kiss her. She’d bitten each in return. They bet me that she would bite me, too.”

Bella rose and folded her arms. “But she didn’t. She kissed you back.”

He buckled his belt. “Yeah, I won that bet, but I hadn’t expected it. She wasn’t the one I wanted to kiss.”

“Volan,” Bella said with disgust.

Devlyn laughed. “No, I didn’t want to kiss him, either.”

“No, Devlyn, I meant, ohhhhh…” She stormed down the hall in the direction of the kitchen.

He stalked after her. “You’re right. I wanted to kiss you, but Volan was always in my way.”

She grabbed her fleece-lined jacket and headed for the kitchen door to the garage. “But that day after the lake—”

“I had to have you, Bella.” He pulled her into his arms. “I had to taste you, savor you, force myself to realize you weren’t the one for me, only some lustful desire that drove me insane. Some dream I had that you were all I had imagined you to be and more, but just a dream. I had to wake myself from the dream, prove once and for all that you were nothing more than forbidden fruit. Tantalizing, tasty, but really just like all of the others. But once I felt you against my body, soft and curvy, wet and…hell, Bella, you were real and my dreams of you were real. Once I’d kissed you, held you close, I knew no one could ever replace you in my heart.”

“And Vernetta?”

“Becoming an old wolf maid.”

“Good.” Bella separated from Devlyn, yanked the door open, and crossed the floor to the vehicle.

“Where are we going?”

She sighed deeply. “I was thinking of taking a drive to my cabin.”

“I thought we were trying to catch a red
lupus garou
killer.” He could tell by the gentle upward curve of her mouth she was thinking of something sinful.

She ran her tongue over her lips. “All work and no play…but truthfully, near there is where I smelled the reds before. Maybe we could find some evidence that we missed before.”

“Gotcha.” He jumped into the driver’s seat.

“I only wish we could be in our wolf forms for a while.”

Knowing she wanted him to make love to her in both states—in civilization, in their silky human skin, and in the wild, covered in sleek pelts of fur—he totally agreed. “Four more days.”

“The longest I’ve ever had to wait for the moon to appear.”