Charmed by the Werewolf (16 page)

“No. I made sure to be careful and unflustered. By the time the Portal Master left, he was more perturbed than I.
” Xavier felt her rapid pulse beneath his fingers, smelled her fear and the sweeter scent of her arousal. “I stuck with my story from earlier. Had to back pedal a bit and explain I simply picked up clothes in order to join you at a hotel later.”

“Good to know.
” She gave him a wide yawn.

“Dammit, Sophia.
” Xavier growled, pushing her against the door then planted his hands on either side of her head. “Why must you be so glib?”

“I’m not being glib, and by the way, who uses that word anymore? I’m just absorbing the facts as you relate them to me. My brain doesn’t function well in the middle of the night.
”

He fought down the urge to kiss her lips that mocked him from such close quarters. “I understand you wish to shield me from Sterling. He
’s a rather unpleasant individual. What I don’t understand is why he’s so interested in you. You’re a Gatekeeper, but he’s acting as if you’re his lover.” He eased closer. “Is that the reason he followed you?”

“How dare you!
” Sophia slapped him and the sound reverberated in the small room. “I’d rather cut off my own hands than allow that man to touch me.” She shoved his chest, but he encircled her wrists with his fingers. “Violence against women is wrong,” she spat out between clenched teeth.

“
You
were the one who slapped
me
.” Laughter threaded through his voice. He released his hold as desire churned in his gut. Her terror wafted through his nostrils. He hated himself for making her feel afraid of him. “Sophia.” He massaged his stinging cheek. “It was justified. I apologize for my comment.”

“I’m just as puzzled as you are about Sterling’s motives.
” She padded across the tiny room then snuggled under the quilt on her bed. “Now go away. It’s too early to deal with you.”

“That
won’t be possible.” He longed to join her beneath the blankets, wanted to indulge in the delights her lips promised.

“Why?
” It was a whine.

He glanced at her
, but the darkness hid her expression from view. “We need to make an early start if we’re going to find the dragon’s tooth.”

“Fine, but at least let me sleep for a few more hours. I have a feeling the next part of your quest is going to be highly unpleasant.
”

“You could be right.
” He made no move to leave her room. “I was serious before. I don’t intend to abandon you. We’re linked, so you better get used to me being here.”

“I can see that.
” Frustration filled her sigh. “Evangeline’s old room is available.”

“I
’ll pass the remainder of the night here, especially now Sterling is mobile. I want to be around the general area, and your bed works best for a variety of reasons.”

Sophia sat up. “You’re going to become a wolf, aren’t you?
” When he nodded, she gasped. “Can I watch?”

“No. You wouldn’t like it and besides, I’m hungry.
” He perched on the edge of her bed. “I’ll be careful not to raise the Crime Watch people.” Unable to help himself, he stroked a hand through her hair.

She shivered but didn’t pull away. “Do what you want just don’t eat any people.
” Sophia yawned and lay back against the pillows. “And don’t make a mess. People get a little antsy if there are blood stains on the street.”

“And you don’t answer the door to anyone but me.
” He slipped from the room, wondering if she’d even heard his order.

*****

Consciousness came to Sophia by way of roughness on her cheek followed by a trail of moisture and a weight pressed into her ribcage. She squinted at the clock on the bedside table. Not yet three in the morning. She groaned. The heaviness on her chest turned out to be the solid body of Xavier in wolf form.

“
Ugh! You have the worst morning breath of anyone I’ve ever known.” She pushed his muzzle away from her nose, effectively ending his impromptu face licking. “I don’t know where that tongue has been.”

A soft whine was the only response.

“As long as you persist in deporting yourself as a wolf then I’ll catch up on my sleep.” She shoved his warm, furry canine body from her chest then turned onto her side. “I refuse to play chauffer to a dog.” His head was surprisingly heavy on her hip as he rearranged himself. “I also refuse to snuggle up to an animal. I already told you I don’t like dogs.”

“Then why not snuggle up to me?
”

Tremors of excitement snaked up
her spine. Xavier wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her body flush against his clearly human, and unequivocally aroused, form. “How did you shift so quickly? I didn’t get to see it.” Sophia held her breath as he traced small circles on her stomach. She fumbled on the nightstand for her glasses. They fell to the carpet when Xavier pinched her hip.

“I’
m honoring your request to not give you any hard evidence I’m a werewolf.” His whispered response tickled her ear and stirred tendrils of her hair. “As long as you don’t see me shift from one form into another you should be fine.”

“I appreciate that. It makes life two hundred times easier.
” Scratch that. Being in such close proximity to him was not making life easier. Every nerve ending in her body tingled with suppressed energy. “What are you doing here, in my bed?”

“Trying to sleep, but someone’s talking is having a detrimental effect on that act.
”

Rotating to face him, Sophia propped her head on her hand,
while she traced a finger over his goatee-covered chin. The hair was soft and beckoned a deeper investigation. “Why are you trying to sleep at all? Didn’t you want to get an early start?” She swept her gaze over the shredded fragments of clothing that clung to his body. “What happened to your suit?”

“An unhappy side effect of becoming my wolf counterpart, I’m afraid.
”

“Explain to me why we were both naked after the stint in the pseudo mer-kingdom.
”

Xavier sighed in exasperation. “Must you know everything all at once?
”

“That would be helpful.
” She reined in her desire to touch the golden hair on his chest. “Tell me this instead. Why are you here?”

“To find a dragon.
” He grinned and his white teeth flashed in the gloom. “As for shape shifting, it depends on what, where, and how you shift. Sometimes, when I regain my human form, I find myself fully clothed. Other times, I’m naked. When that happens, I either assume the clothing of my last victim, or I do this.”

“What, appear in women’s bedrooms looking like a survivor from a war?
”

“No.
” He snapped his fingers. Loose fitting linen pants covered his lower half. “Along with the ability to shift into a wolf, I retain extremely limited magical abilities.”

“Lucky you, but that still doesn’t answer my question. What are you really doing here? It can’t be just because I’m a Gatekeeper. There are other ways to be taken to the Portal Master if that
’s your intention.” His eyes flashed. She ignored him. “I don’t mind helping you break the curse. I want to know your motives before we go any further.”

“You
’re very intelligent. You should apply to the Immortal Court.”

Sophia snorted. “I want nothing to do with the Court once my birthright is annulled, if you
’re true to your word.” She squeaked in surprise when he pulled her on top of him so she straddled his torso.

“I always keep my word, no matter the cost.
” He skimmed her legs and then shoved his hands under her simple nightshirt of faded blue cotton. He brushed his fingers over her hips. “I’m here because you’re my mate, whether you believe me right now or not.” He continued to trek northward until he gently cupped her breasts.

“You accept this mate stuff because Hannah had a vision? She could be lying.
”

“She could, but that
doesn’t explain my immediate attraction for you, or yours for me. I know you’ve felt it. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Maybe.
” Sophia licked dry lips as her heart pounded out a frantic rhythm. “I’m not easily impressed with men like you.” Stabs of pleasure shot through her stomach when he brushed his thumbs across her nipples. She gasped and clutched his shoulders, wishing he would move his attention to other parts of her body. “I find you irritating and self-absorbed.”

“You know that
isn’t true. Your happiness, your well-being, is first and foremost in my mind.” Xavier tugged her down so she was draped over his chest, her face mere inches from his. “I never said I was perfect or a saint. I’m neither a hero nor a martyr. I’m merely a man with a curse.” He fingered the mermaid scale tied to black satin ribbon and strung around her neck. “Nice bauble.”

“But why me?
” His eyes twinkled with laughter. Sophia’s lips tilted with an answering smile. “I’m dangerous to know. I could turn you over to Sterling at any time. My life isn’t my own as long as I’m bound to him.” She moved her fingers over his shoulders and felt the hardness of muscle. Warmth collected between her legs. It was becoming much too difficult to resist him.

“That could very well be true. In the meantime, you
’re simply a woman who wants to be understood. You crave companionship and security and I’ll give both to you.” He pressed his lips to hers then pulled away.

Tracing his cheek with a forefinger, she frowned. “I’m not at such a trusting place, Xavier.
” If she allowed herself to care for him and she turned him over to Sterling, she’d hate herself beyond measure. Sophia brushed her lips across his, tasting an unknown sweetness, wanting to take that next step but fear held her back. “I don’t want a daily reminder of my treachery. I wouldn’t want to remember.”

“Self-preservation is a very lonely place.
” In one fluid movement, he flipped her onto her back. “You can try to shut yourself away from the world, but you’ll find life is excruciating in length.”

With a soft sigh,
she let him caress her body as her insides quivered with desire. She stirred under his fingers. “You’re very persistent in your argument.” She arched against him when he closed his teeth on a taut nipple. Sophia gripped his shoulders, her breath coming in short gasps. “It’s been a long time…”

“You
’re wavering and in that I have at least won a small victory. I won’t push you.” Xavier smiled against her lips. “But when I want an item I pursue it with single-minded determination, especially when the item in question is meant for me anyway.”

She tangled her fingers in the hair of his chest and pressed a kiss to his shoulder, breathing in his signature spicy oaky scent. “I’m not a piece of art to be possessed.
”

“No, you
’re much more valuable and you need to believe that.”

“If you want me to believe in all this mate stuff, you’re going to have to allow me breathing room. Possessiveness can only go so far. I need time to think about being anyone’s mate, yours or someone else’s.
”

Xavier growled and the sound tickled her already sensitive skin. “You have another man?
”

“No, just you.
” She held his gaze, shadowed in the darkness. “I’m willing to accept the possibility of you being my mate. I’m asking you to be patient.” Her eyelids prickled with tears. She furiously blinked them away. She hadn’t cried since Evangeline and refused to do so now. Once Xavier got what he wanted from her, would he move on to greener pastures? Were they really mates or was it a story he told to get her into bed and help him with the quest? Or would he leave once he was free from the curse, whichever came first? She didn’t want to know the answer to those questions for fear her heart wouldn’t be able to withstand the pain. “Xavier…” Words died as he manipulated her lips, his tongue searching every inch of her mouth.

He pulled away to stare at her. “We
’ll revisit the subject at a later time. You have my word.”

“Why?
” Her pulse raced and her core throbbed with unfulfilled need. “I think you’re a tease, Xavier Leighton.” She desired him, that much was certain. Would she come to love him? Already, he’d wormed his way under her skin, regardless of how much she pushed him away.

His soft laugh filled the small room. “Perhaps, but I find the thought of making love to you with an audience slightly distasteful. I need to do a better job of staking my claim around here.
”

With a shiver of thwarted anticipation, she followed his gaze. Calvin lurked in the heavy shadows near the ceiling.

“Why, my lady, would you pick him for a consort?” the ghost asked in an injured tone.

“What the hell, Calvin?
” Sophia glared. “You’re a
ghost
. That means you have no solid parts. No matter how much you want to be with me, it’s never going to happen, got it? If I want to do the nasty, I’ll pick Xavier, not you, okay?” She didn’t want to delve into why else she’d choose the werewolf to satisfy her needs beyond having solid body parts.