Charmed by the Werewolf (23 page)

Relief washed over her. The truth was out in the open. Now she could at least try to put a spin on the tale. “So what if Xavier is a werewolf? I didn’t have concrete proof of his status until recently, and remember you advised me not to bring in any more fake paranormal subjects.
” She pushed at her glasses. “You don’t like that, remember?”

“Ah, but it’s not the whole story.
”

“That depends.
” Restless, she left her chair, almost colliding with Sterling. When he didn’t offer up further comment, she sighed. “Xavier is a werewolf, that much is true, but in his defense, he’s trying to lift a gypsy curse to become human, so he won’t be a paranormal for long.” Her heart lurched when she realized she missed Xavier, longed for his comforting, over-protective presence.

“
The state of his humanity doesn’t concern me.” He came to a halt near the office door. A frown marred the hard set to his lips. “Tell me, what are his plans once he’s free of the curse?”

“I…
” Her cheeks burned anew. Should she answer truthfully, tell her boss she hoped as soon as Xavier’s curse was lifted, he’d throw her to the ground and jump her bones? Would Sterling find the humor in that? “I hope he’ll stick around. Right now, we’re still attempting to gather ingredients for the potion.”

“Ah, a potion, huh?
”

Damn
. An expression akin to joy spread over Sterling’s face, out of place with his evil persona. “The gypsy said she’d lift the curse if we brought her the ingredients for a magical potion. Xavier will need to drink the concoction by the end of All Hallows Eve.”

“Interesting.
” He tapped a forefinger against his chin, his dark eyes gleaming.

She fought against the urge to vomit. “Why interesting?
”

“Nothing to be concerned about, Miss Raines, but make no mistake, I
will
have the werewolf eventually.”

“He won’t come willingly. He’s a stubborn man.
”

Sterling smiled, and Sophia nearly bolted from the room in terror. “Oh, he will, because I have something he desperately desires.
”

She laughed at the absurdity of his statement. “There
’s nothing you have that Xavier could possibly want. He’s your opposite in every way conceivable.” Her insides clenched when she remembered the way Xavier’s eyes glowed when he looked at her. “You could never understand what drives him to succeed.”

“Poor, trusting Sophia. You forget—I have you.
”

Her knees buckled and she slumped into her chair.
Nothing would stop Xavier from coming after her—not even the threat of death. Tears sprang to hers eyes. She blinked them back. “Once he’s free from the curse you won’t be able to touch him. He’ll be fully mortal and beyond your grasp.”

“True, but then I don’t expect him to succeed in his quest.
” He straightened his tie. “This interview is over, my dear. I’ll be in touch.”

“What do you mean he won’t succeed? We’re close to obtaining the last of the potion compounds.
” The urge to run screaming from the room pressed in on her. She needed to return to Xavier, hide him away, keep him safe, and reassure herself that he could survive an attack from Sterling.

“I’m sure you are, but because you
’re bound to me, I control your destiny.” He moved to his desk and seated himself behind it. “Did you really expect me to let you wander off into the sunset with a happy ending?” He picked up a pencil and began to conduct an imaginary orchestra. “After all, what would happen to
my
reputation if your life was sealed with a kiss and you married your true love?” If his laugh could take on an existence, it would be a black, shapeless thing, the type of entity that haunted children in dreams. “You love him, don’t you? My poor, pathetic underling has gone and fallen for a werewolf.”

“I…
” She gave up trying to deny it—to him or herself. Xavier had gotten under her skin, past her defenses, and into her heart. Now, she’d do anything to keep him away from Sterling. She shoved her glasses up the bridge of her nose when the words wouldn’t come.

“After the death of Evangeline, I, in my capacity on the Judgment Panel, added ten years to your servitude because you pissed me off. That brings you up to what, ninety years? What would you say if I were to null your contract and let you seek the employment of your choice in the Realm of your choice?
”

“What would I have to do?
” Long experience with him had taught her to be very wary of anything he said.

The Portal Master waved a hand in dismissal, tossed the pencil on the desk. “Bring the werewolf and the gypsy potion to me. I
’ll discuss my plans for you further at that time.” He tapped a few keys on the keyboard. “But do have a care. You have little more than two days. After that, Golden Boy will be nothing more than a furry pet. You’ll be bound to me for what will most likely be the rest of your miserable life with no hope and no love.” His grin was wide. “That’s the sort of ending
I
prefer.”

“But—
” The office door flew open with enough force to crack the window glass, admitting a highly agitated Mona.

“Sophia, we need to go. I saw that dragon person wandering around downstairs, and I think he recognized me from the elevator yesterday.
” She rocketed into the office, her dark curls streaming behind her. “Ooh, is this the Portal Master?” She came to an abrupt halt near Sterling’s chair. “You look so much different than the last time I saw you. You were all dark doom and gloom then with threatening curses and dire warnings.”

“Of course he’s the Portal Master.
” Sophia’s jaw hung open when her roommate batted her eyes.

“You really should try to smile more, sir. A face as handsome as yours doesn’t look as good as it could with all that scowling, and your unfortunate choice of wearing black all the time isn’t doing anything for your complexion.
” She leaned forward to straighten his tie. “Silk. Nice.”

Sterling blinked in amazement. “Pardon me?
” The silky purr of his voice heralded dire things.

Sophia jumped from her chair. “Mona, leave the nice Portal Master alone.
”

“But maybe he wouldn’t be such an evil man if he had a friend. Maybe he just needs someone to talk to or a home-cooked meal.
” She smiled at him. “Now, I can’t cook but maybe you’d like carry-out?”

“Mona…
” Sophia hoped she wouldn’t be blasted to the Arkadva Mines right in front of her. “Come on.”

Sterling cleared his throat as the stupor of surprise wore off. “The lost daughter of the Moussai family.
” His eyes gleamed red and he rested his gaze on Mona. “I regret to inform you my heart is as black as the night. I have no redeeming qualities whatsoever, but thank you for your concern.”

“How do you get your eyes to do that cool glowy thing? Can you teach me?
” Mona scooted closer to him to peer into his face. “Sophia doesn’t ever let me do anything fun like that, but I guess you can’t blame her since I tend to break things or catch things on fire.”

“Glowy thing?
” Sterling made a weird choking sound. “What?”

Sophia stifled a laugh at the flabbergasted expression on
his face. Mona’s constant chatter had broken down lesser men than the Portal Master. “Your point, Mona?” She gathered her purse then slunk to the door, keeping a cautious eye on her boss.

“Yes, why exactly are you here, Miss Moussai?
” Sterling got to his feet, staring at Mona as if she were a puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. “I’ve been lenient regarding your case up to now, but if you wish, I’d be happy to turn you over to the proper authorities. The dragon, for one, is very interested in you.”

Mona’s lavender eyes clouded with uncertainty. “I’m happy where I am, thank you, with the exception of Sophia’s strictness.
” She smiled and twisted a strand of hair around her finger. “See, if you would just not frown so much I’m sure you wouldn’t feel the need to be so terrorizing all the time.”

“I
’m the Portal Master and I’ll be feared at all times! I can take your wretched soul and bend it to my will!” Sterling’s roar reverberated through the small office. “Get out before I change my mind.”

Sophia hustled Mona down the staircase and past Astral’s desk in record time. “Are you happy now? You ticked him off. That won’t bode well for anyone, least of all me.
”

“He’s not that bad, Sophia. I think he’s just misunderstood.
”

“You’ve got a lot to learn about life if you think a dark angel is misunderstood. Do you realize he could zap you with his magic and you won’t exist anymore?
”

Mona waved her comment away. “Don’t be silly. He just needs to spend some time with better role models.
”

“Promise me you won’t disturb Sterling further.
” Sophia ushered her friend down the hallway that held the mini-galaxies. “I’ve got enough on my plate worrying about Xavier. I don’t need your drama, too. Which leads me into my next question. Why
are
you hiding in the Mortal Realm?”

“It’s complicated.
”

“Fair enough.
” Sophia sighed. “Just don’t get into any more trouble. I’m kinda busy with Xavier’s issues.”
Even more so now
.

When they stumbled through the Portal into the guest bedroom, Xavier rushed to Sophia’s side and gathered her into his arms with a low growl.

“Tell me—”

She
held up a hand. “So help me, the rain better slack off by tomorrow morning because if we don’t find that damn rainbow soon, I’m going to run away.”

Werewolves are often portrayed as beasts of great strength, who also possess acute nocturnal vision, increased sense of smell, are immune from aging and from most physical diseases due to the constant regeneration of their physical tissue. However, when they return to human form they are subjected to the same mortality as regular human beings. There are some schools of thought that state the werewolf retains enough knowledge to assist his killing, recognition of victims and evasion of traps being among its skills.

Shortly after dawn the next morning, Sophia’s patience with the werewolf snapped. “Let’s face it, we’re lost.
” She glanced through the rain dotted windshield. For miles around the only thing she could see were empty fields filled with the detritus of dried cornstalks and soybean plants. “I thought you said you knew where we were going.” She refused to think of its origin as she fought with a useless road map, not having the energy to figure out how to refold it. “To hell with it.” She wadded up the map and crammed it into the glove compartment.

“I know exactly where we are.
” Xavier’s lips twitched with the beginnings of a grin. “And might I say what a lovely mood you’re in this morning.” When the smile finally broke, it was a very wolfish affair.

“Shut up.
” She sank into her seat and crossed her arms over her chest like a recalcitrant toddler. “Perhaps you’d care to enlighten me on our location, or would you rather sit here for another pointless thirty minutes?” The chilly air, coupled with the damp, made it downright uncomfortable. She shivered, regretting her choice of thin button down shirt and knee-length denim skirt. She looked askance at his side of the car. “Why don’t you close your window?”

“I like the fresh air, and all the experts agree that spending quality time with a loved one is beneficial to the relationship.
”

An
eager expression appeared on his face as a flock of geese flew over the car. “You should’ve eaten before we left. I don’t feel sorry for you if you’re hungry.”

“I’m not hungry—at least not for food.
”

Sophia’s cheeks flamed at his implication while her stomach fluttered as a host of butterflies
awoke. Another round of hot, steamy sex with the werewolf would definitely pass the time. She ignored the thought. “Where are we?”

“I
’m certain the rainbow’s end is around this general vicinity.” He leaned over the middle console to brush a lock of hair over her shoulder. “As for your creature comforts, well, I can fix that.”

Pinpricks of excitement pulsed through her at the touch of his fingers. She craved him as a carnivore craves meat. “Oh, I have no doubt about that, but put your libido on hold. We have work to do.
” She put up a hand to fend off his impending advances. “Don’t you want to finish this potion?”

He grasped her hand, rubbed his goatee against the palm before releasing it. “Of course I do, but unlike the other men of your acquaintance, I can multitask.
”

“How? You’re not doing anything except annoying me.
” He pushed his seat back as far it would go. “The sun hasn’t come out to form a rainbow, so we’re really just wasting time.” One minute Sophia sat in the passenger side of his elegant silver sports coupe, the next she straddled him in the driver’s seat, her face inches from his with her skirt bunched around her thighs. “What are you doing?”

“Passing the time.
” Xavier ran a finger along her cheek. “You said yourself there wasn’t sufficient amusement here, and it looks like you’re cold.” He brushed his thumbs over the hardened peaks of her nipples sending waves of pleasure straight to her core. “Or you’re aroused, either way, the outcome will be the same.”

A shiver of desire raced down her spine, mingled with the edginess already in her body to cause a slow smolder. “But we’re on a road. What if someone needs to get through?
” She wriggled on his lap as tiny flames licked at her nerve endings. He tightened his grip on her waist. “We’re in public.”

He
made an exaggerated show of glancing through each window. “It appears no one else is around, unless you count the few cows in the field over there.” His lips whispered over her neck. “Will there be too many more excuses? You know what your nearness does to me.”

“No, no more.
” With slow deliberation, Sophia licked her lips, grinning when his eyes darkened to a rich honey color. “I’m tired of living my life covered in excuses.” She leaned forward and kissed him, angling her mouth over his so she could gently bite his bottom lip. “I want to live. If that means I’ll have to be a Gargoyle then so be it, but at least I’ll still have you, right?” A niggle of doubt crept into her mind. “You won’t leave after you turn into a human?” She stared at him over the tops of her glasses.

“Absolutely not.
” His growl filled the cozy interior of the car and quaked through her chest. He ran his hands over her thighs and under her skirt. “How many times do I need to tell you I’ll never abandon you?” He gripped her hips and pulled her tighter against his chest. “You’re mine, Sophia, for as long as we have together.”

As her eyes filled with tears, she buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. “I don’t deserve you.
” A sob escaped, surprising in its intensity. “Sterling wants me to bring you and the potion to him before you can drink it. He offered to let me work in the Realm of my choice for any employer in exchange.” She lifted her head and met his gaze. “He’s never given me that sort of freedom before.”

“Sweetie, listen to me.
” Xavier caught her face between his hands as his gaze bored into hers, freezing her with their golden light. “We’ll get through this the same way we made it through everything else. Sterling only has power over you if you let him have it. Please don’t worry.” He wiped away her tears. “Better?”

“Yes.
” She walked restless fingers down his chest. The brown cashmere of his sweater was soft to the touch and invited further exploration. “Now, do you plan to keep talking or did you have something else in mind?”

“What do you think?
” He claimed her lips in a hard kiss, plunging his tongue into her mouth as if searching for treasure. Sophia kneaded his shoulders in her attempt for closeness but he wrenched his lips from hers. “Lean back for me. There, that’s perfect.” He grazed a nipple with his teeth through the thin cotton of her shirt. “I should have brought the SUV. I cannot ravish you to my liking without a proper back seat.” He slipped his hands under her shirt to further torment the sensitive buds.

“I’m sure you’ll manage.
” She shifted on his lap as his arousal made its presence known. Leaning into him to better blaze a heated path over his jaw to his throat, she teased his Adam’s apple with her lips.

“Smart girl.
” He pushed up her shirt, shoving the bra with it then took one hardened bud into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it. “How bad do you want it?”

“You’ll have to do better than that, werewolf.
” Not for all the magic in the realms would she admit to nearly being on fire from his touch. She squirmed on his lap, succeeding in making his erection strain against his jeans. Desire twisted through her body. She needed to touch him. “I’m not some inexperienced girl you can take to bed with just one touch or—” Her breath caught as his hand disappeared under her skirt and he shoved the crotch of her panties aside. “What the hell?”

“
Don’t issue a challenge if you cannot back it up.” His laugh changed into a growl when he slipped a finger into her heat, stroking, and drawing out her moisture. “Is this what you had in mind or would you like higher stakes?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.
” Sophia could barely think let alone concentrate on forming words. Shivers coursed over her skin to blend with the inferno he’d already created to form a thunderstorm of desire. When he added a second finger, she lifted her hips to allow him greater access. “Xavier.”

“Sorry, did you want something?
” His golden eyes darkened, his pupils dilated with need while he pumped his fingers in and out of her core. “Because if you did, I didn’t hear you.”

“Oh, geez.
” When Xavier pinched the tiny bundle of nerves, and rubbed his thumb over it, Sophia dug her fingernails into his shoulders. Flames of need burned her skin, consumed every inch of her body in response to his busy fingers. “I’m going to…oh yes, right there…no don’t stop…oh hell. Ah!” She slumped against his chest as strong ripples of pleasure ebbed out from her very soul, tingled through every nerve ending, made her eyes cross until she thought she’d catch fire and blow away in the chilly breeze.

“That’s my girl.
” A supremely masculine chuckle issued from him. “I’m not finished though.” He nudged her back toward the steering wheel. “Ready?”

“Yes.
” Shaking and tired from her release, Sophia batted his hands away from his fly then undid the button to his jeans, tugging the zipper down. His hard, rampant length sprang into her waiting hands with no stitch of underwear in sight. “Commando, really?” She stroked his velvety soft member, teased the rounded head until he groaned and gripped her hips grinding her against him.

“For the moment, yes.
” His eyes sparkled as he slid her panties down her thighs. “You have to admit it’s quite convenient.”

Before she could answer, the werewolf raised her up and impaled her. Sophia gasped, repositioned her hips,
amazed at the fullness within her. “Show me what you’re made of, lover.”

That was all the encouragement he needed. With one last savage kiss, Xavier thrust up into her. Sophia pushed down each time he
moved. Their bodies met with the warm slap of flesh, pounding with vigor, until he dug his fingers into her hips, driving her down as he shoved into her once more. With a little cry, she slipped over the edge of reality with the force and sensations of jumping out of an airplane and sagged into his chest. He fell into his own release seconds later with her name on his lips.

“Werewolf, you’ll be the death of me.
” Tiny spikes of pleasure darted in and around her body to lull her into a fuzzy haze. “I think I may be addicted.”

His arousal pulsed.
“That, my dear, is the best news I’ve heard all week.” The soft hair of his goatee tickled her neck as he nuzzled her there.

Her bubble of well-being burst at the sudden blast of loud mooing in the car. “Ack!
” As an explosion of moist air warmed her ear, she attempted to climb over Xavier’s chest.

“What the hell
?” He dumped her onto the passenger side of the car. “I believe you’ve succeeded in making me deaf with your squawking.” He sent her a rueful glance before turning his attention to the brown bovine head that poked through the driver’s side window. “I must warn you that cattle are a favorite snack of mine.” He bared his teeth in a grin then touched the cow’s nose with an elegant forefinger. “You’ll be a very tasty meal indeed.”

With another loud moo, the cow showed the whites of her eyes in obvious terror then bolted away to join her two other companions on the road.

“You didn’t have to scare her.” Sophia readjusted her clothing. “She probably was just curious.”

“Yes, but how long had she been standing there?
” With care, he tucked himself into his jeans and zipped up. “How does it feel to be an exhibitionist for a bunch of cattle?”

“Kinda creepy.
” Glad for the cool air that chilled her skin, Sophia smiled. “Can we do it again?” She wasn’t joking when she told him she was addicted. She’d much rather spend the day in bed with him than be stuck in the middle of nowhere with cows and rain.

“Not for a little while.
I’m not a young man anymore.” He leaned over the middle console and grasped her hand. “After the festival, will you move in with me?”

Unexplainable sadness crept over her, battling with the licks of joy that he’d asked instead of ordered. “I don’t know. We’ll have to see what happens with Sterling.
” She stared out the windshield. The little herd of cows headed slowly their way. “You may not want to be with me after…everything.”

“I have no doubts the results of the potion will be true. I
’ll become human, your birthright will be thrown out, and then you and I will be free to live our days stress free.” He jammed a hand on the steering wheel. The sharp blast of the horn interrupted the idyllic silence, but the cows didn’t budge. They merely lifted their brown heads, blinked, and went back to standing in the road.

“And if I decide to relocate to another realm and work?
”

“Then I
’ll follow wherever you go.”

Tears stung her eyes. She blinked them away. “What if things don’t go according to plan?
” As much as her feelings for him grew and evolved into love, her constant fear was that he’d abandon her once he gained his humanity, or worse yet, if she turned him over to Sterling, he’d lash out in anger and leave her to her fate.

Either way, Sophia was terrified she’d have to reconcile to an existence without him. Words of love or even commitment hadn’t been exchanged between them
. Would they have the chance?