Desert Wolf (14 page)

“Cause I have big ol’ clown feet. If we’re done discussing it, can we go?”

They were definitely not huge feet. The shoes might be big or maybe they seemed bigger because they hid her feet away. Odd. It bugged him, like sand in his boot, grating against his skin and he couldn’t do anything about it. Tossing her his extra jacket, he said, “Put that on. Then these.” He set down a pair of gloves on the back of his jeep along with the extra helmet, before sliding his fingerless gloves on.

“Um, we’re taking your bike?” Trepidation quivered in her tone. In every conversation they’d shared, she’d been curious, teasing, playful, guarded and more than once, a little belligerent. Not once had he heard even a hint of fear.

“It’s faster and more efficient. You’ll also have the helmet, gloves and jacket on so most will assume you’re a healer I’m taking somewhere.”

The front door to the guesthouse opened and Faust glared out. “You aren’t taking her anywhere on the bike.”

She pivoted. “Faust…”

“No,” Cassius raised his hand, interrupting. “Silence. You are a guest here, Hound, and you’re her Guardian, but that doesn’t make you a keeper or in charge of her, much less me.”

The Omega said nothing, but Faust abandoned the doorway to stride toward them. A quiet level of violence sheathed his actions. “You are not taking her away from where I can watch her back.”

“She’s mine to guard, my guest. My rules. Sovvan.” He snapped her name, then almost wished he hadn’t because she jumped. “Do you want to get out of here for a while or not?”

Glancing from him to Faust then back, the woman raised her chin, squared her shoulders and said, “I want to go for a run, so that means yes, I want to get out of here.”

“Then put on the gloves, the jacket, and the helmet, and we’ll go.”

Faust caught her arm. “Sovvan…”

“No, he’s right. I’ll be fine. The disguise makes sense. His healer had some of this on that night, and he’s Alpha. Who’s going to stop him?”

Lately, a lot of wolves wanted to stop him, but Cassius let them sort out the argument. He’d spent the last two days making preparations for Claire’s arrival, sorting out the wolves and sending out two Hunters to track Juan Garcia down. Trask’s men were needed elsewhere, and Johnny’s orders were explicit. If he couldn’t find Juan alive, he didn’t need to return. The hot-headed wolf had a lot of issues, but he couldn’t resist a challenge, and he wanted to be on Cassius’ good side.

While he may not share Sovvan’s restlessness, he wanted a good run himself. The only way to provide her with one was away from the pack, and they needed a ride to do it. Straddling his bike, he backed it out of the parking space as Sovvan tugged on her gloves. She and Faust were still glaring at each other, arguing on some level that required no words.

“You can’t go with me everywhere,” she said, finally. “You can’t protect me from what I have to do. I need to run, I need to get out of here because the walls are closing in on me.” Every word drenched in truth left Cassius frowning. He hadn’t realized how claustrophobic she’d grow. His intention had been to protect, not smother.

“I don’t like it.”

“I know.” Sovvan balanced the helmet in her gloved hands then tugged it on. Her awkwardness betrayed her lack of familiarity with it. “And I’ve never been on a bike before either. Not sure I’m especially fond of the idea.” The last she said with a glance at him. His baby was a damn safe place for her to be. “But I trust him.” The revelation swamped him. “He needs me too much to let anything happen to me, and I believe him when he says he’ll protect me.”

“You can’t stand for her to touch you,” Faust said, raising his gaze to meet Cassius’. “How do you expect to have her riding behind you?”

Still basking in the
trust
comment, Cassius didn’t even mind the Hound’s very fair question. “The gloves and my jacket will provide insulation. We’ll be fine. This is about letting her wolf be free for a bit.” Then because he felt somewhat generous, he added. “How is your wolf handling it?”

“I’m fine.” The snarled response came across exactly the opposite, but Cassius let it slide. “Sovvan, stand still.” He fixed the chin strap for her helmet, then zipped up her jacket, before glaring at him again. “One piece. Perfectly healthy. No wounds. Clear?”

“Are you asking me to take care of her or not eviscerate you?” He grinned when he asked, because the Hound was officially on his last nerve.

The other wolf actually laughed, then said, “Anytime you want to try me, man. Anytime.”

“No.” The word slammed into the boiling tension between them, and Sovvan pointed a finger at Faust. “You will not throw down a challenge, do you hear me? Your temper is up because I’m restless and you are, too, you just don’t want to admit it. There will be no fighting.”

Cassius snickered as Faust dropped his gaze. The very dominant wolf playing submissive to the Omega—it was almost cute. Then she whirled and glared at him. Her gorgeous brown eyes flashed gold briefly.

“That goes for you, too, Mr. Alpha Badass.”

He swallowed his smile at the husky charge. “As you wish. Now get that sweet ass on this bike. We’re done playing.”

“Somehow I doubt that,” she muttered, then she straddled the bike behind him. Even braced for the contact, her light touch on his shoulders sent a frisson of awareness down his spine. The leather helped to create a buffer, but his reaction had little to do with her being an Omega. At least, he didn’t think it did.

Her weight was light compared to his, and her thighs braced against his hips as she found the foot rests. Muscles tightening, she gripped him in anticipation, but her hands on his shoulders were too light.

“Wrap your arms around me,” he said over his shoulder.
Fuck it.
If they were going to be in trouble, he’d find out before he started the bike.

“Are you sure?” Thankfully, she didn’t seem off put by his desire to limit their contact until he was ready, but then why should she? She knew what she was, what he was, and what could happen.

“Do it.” The order rolled out of him, and she slid her hands down. Her arms came around him, and she gripped him above his abs. His jacket was open, so the leather gloves were warm against his t-shirt. His heart rate kicked up a notch, and his cock pulsed once. The action pressed her completely flush to his back, and he could almost imagine the feel of her breasts beneath the leather. Shuttling those thoughts aside, he throttled the motor on and hit the remote to open the gate. “Hold on.”

It was the last order he’d give her for now, since he accelerated down the hill. His normal pace was to tear down it at speed. The wind and the bumps were fun, but she was too new to riding, so he moderated himself, but not too much.

Plenty of wolves turned and waved as he rode through, and the main gates opened when he raised his fist. They’d heard him coming. Outside, he followed the winding road and eased into the curves. Her death grip on him stayed firm, but she flowed with him as he leaned into each twist in the road.

The ride up the mesa had been done at a controlled speed in deference to the other vehicles, but the more her tension seemed to ease, the faster he went. When they reached the base and he turned off the access and onto the byway, he was able pin the speedometer at a little over eighty.

The wind in his face, the setting sun on the horizon, his bike between his thighs and a beautiful wolf at his back…Cassius wanted to howl, the wild urge the first in a long time.

“Are you all right?” he asked over his shoulder.

“Hell yes,” she cried, laughing. “Faster.”

Whatever the lady wanted.

T
he reckless sensation
of racing along the darkening roads in the middle of nowhere filled Sovvan with exhilaration. She clung to Cassius, aware of the rigid line of muscles beneath her gloved hands. Despite being pressed against his back, the helmet kept her from having any skin-on-skin contact. A part of her wished she’d never put it on, so she could feel the breeze in her hair, but then the bike would roar beneath them and they would race the wind.

Euphoric, she laughed. She lost track of the miles as he raced along, instead she tracked the changing terrain. At first she thought they’d headed out into the desert, but the gradual ascent and the appearance of green amongst the vegetation suggested they’d switched paths toward the mountains. When or how, she didn’t care. Hell, she didn’t know which way it was back to the mesa.
And I’m not gonna think about it.

Four days of being trapped behind walls in a foreign town amidst a strange pack with its enigmatic Alpha and bloody history left her eager for any new experience. Even one involved in vanishing into the wilds with the same Alpha she’d come to help.

When he finally did slow the bike, he turned onto a pitted and pothole filled road that dropped off entirely to a dirt track. She dug her fingers into his belly at every bump, and a laugh eased from him.

“We’re fine. It feels worse than it is.”

Since she’d gritted her teeth together to keep them from clacking with every bounce, she took his word for it. Slowing further, he eased over onto what might be the shoulder of the dirt trail and parked the bike. The stop left her still vibrating even as the engine quieted. The headlight switched off and then they were alone in the dark.

Feet braced against the earth, Cassius laid his hand over hers on his abs. “We stopped. You can let go.” If it had been more than a hint of amusement in his voice, she might have been tempted to hit him. As it was, she was glad for the helmet when heat flushed her face. Letting him go, she tried to climb off the bike at the same time. Off center, she would have stumbled, but he caught her arm.

“Easy.” Her eyes adapted to the dark, and his expression seemed one of concern. “Still feeling the engine?”

“Yes.” She squeezed his hand in gratitude then released him so she could get the helmet off. It was hot inside it, and she wanted to taste the night air. Free of it, she took a deep breath then released it, relaxing. Cassius dropped the kickstand and dismounted from the bike. When she tossed him her helmet, he set it on the back and then walked away from her.

It took a moment, before she realized he’d walked toward an edge. Peeling off the gloves, she followed him and tried to resist the urge to shake out her legs. How long would they tremble as though she were still on the bike?

Overhead, the stars spilled across the sky and she halted, captivated by them. The sun had only set a short while before… “There are so many?”

“No lights from cities to drown them out.” He settled against a rock and pulled out a long cylinder. It took her a moment to recognize a cigar. “No people to spoil the land with their trash. No noise to create so much static, so you can’t hear the wind or the sound of a heartbeat.”

A match flared, and he lit the end of the cigar. It glowed red as he nodded to something below. “No one to spoil what’s mine.”

Stuffing her gloves into the pockets of the leather jacket, she joined him slowly. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

“Only now and again.”

At his side, she looked over the edge and sighed. The earth fell away at a dizzying pace. Blow, nestled like in a bowl, was a valley with trees and what looked like a lake. No lights illuminated the woods, only the drench of the moon still low on the horizon edged the shadows.

“This is all part of Sutter Butte?”

“Yes.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It’s perfect. Untouched. No one mines it, no one cuts down the trees and no roads have been built to punch through. It’s situated perfectly to be of no use to anyone else.”

“Wait a minute,” Sovvan said, glancing at him. “This is yours, not just Sutter Butte’s?”

“Yes. I found it when I was…fifteen? Sixteen? Hiked the whole length of it. Slept there for a few weeks. Camped out then went home. Came back again and again. When I was old enough, and had enough money, I tracked down who owned it and I bought it. Every inch, every speck of dirt all the way to the road.”

If they had such a gorgeous place… “Why do you live on that mesa then?” She almost regretted the question. He was her host and she was all set to insult where he lived, but damn, it was so…bland. The temperatures had fallen rapidly along with the sun, but she was warm enough in her jacket.

“They aren’t ready for this. It’s not as defensible and I’d have to make some changes to bring housing in.” The tip of his cigar flared as he took a long drag, then he exhaled. A hint of cherry sweetened the scent of tobacco. “One step at a time.”

She almost wished it were daytime, so she could see all the colors. Still, all the keyed up nerves she’d experienced earlier were gone. “Is it safe to run here?” It was cold, but if she shifted…and then she could explore. The place was important to Cassius, since he’d come there for years.

Maybe if she explored it, she could understand him better.

“It’s why I brought you. There’s a trail there.” He pointed to the left. “It angles down, and it’s a little steep but easily managed.”

Excited, she stripped off her jacket and strode back toward his bike. She dropped the jacket over the seat, then stripped off the shirt even as she toed off her shoes. The jeans went next, along with her bra, panties and socks. The chilly air caressed her overheated skin, and she shivered.

“Damn.” The compliment skated over her, and she didn’t look at Cassius. It was rude to stare, and he damn well knew it. Still, she’d teased him she’d show him hers when he showed her his, and he’d done that several times in the pool. Unlike him and Faust, she wasn’t all hard muscle and cut. Even Serafina had the most exquisite musculature, fierce and feminine.

Sovvan had always been on the leaner side, a little more delicate in stature and bone structure. Stretching, she rose on her toes and reached for the sky, then relaxed and closed her eyes. Her wolf rushed to the surface as eager as Sovvan to run. The split second between agony and ecstasy spliced through her as her bones broke and reshaped themselves. Her muscles slid and then fur raced over her. The moments suspended between human and wolf always seemed long until she landed on all four feet and shook herself.

Not especially large or remarkable in her wolf form, she nonetheless stretched and tested her balance.

“Come here.” Cassius’ voice beckoned to her, and she couldn’t refuse his command.

Turning, she faced the Alpha then padded toward him, keeping her head and tail both raised. He crushed out his cigar and crouched at her approach. His expression didn’t look anywhere as remote as it had earlier. If anything, she saw open interest and welcome in the curve of his mouth.

Power radiated from him, sheathed him, as though to keep him permanently distant from the rest of the world.

“You’re a pretty little thing,” he murmured, then reached out as though he intended to pet her.

Shying away from his outstretched hand, she woofed, a half-growl, half-bark. Firstly, touching her wolf was an intimacy she hadn’t granted him and secondly, she wanted to run—not to reflect him. She searched herself as she danced away a couple of steps. Her heart was steady, and she didn’t feel off center any longer.

The throb of his growl tickled her, and she sneezed. “Come. Here.”

Yes, the command struck her full force, but she resisted the urge to roll over and show him her belly. Omega did not mean submissive, nor did it mean dominant. It also didn’t mean she had to give into the primal urges of their species. Wolves didn’t have to be so rough and raw, though she doubted Cassius or any of his wolves appreciated that fact.

The meanness in the thought stabbed at her conscience. They’d never been allowed to move past their basic urges of protect and pack, so she shouldn’t judge them. Especially when Cassius invited her to do exactly what she was judging him for.

Whining, she bowed her head then scooted forward on her belly, tail thumping. Ears perked, she glanced to find him bracing his hands on his thighs. “You’re a beautiful wolf, Sovvan, and nearly as contrary as you are a woman.”

She could live with that compliment, so she thumped her tail again and tilted her head. Stretched against the warm earth, she watched him. If he really wanted to touch her and risk the imprint so far from Summit, she would allow him to do it, but he would have to make the move.

“You’re not coming here because you think I’ve forgotten what could happen.” His mouth twisted as he shook his head slowly. “Don’t ever assume I haven’t thought all the angles through, little one. I’m always thinking about angles, motives and when the other shoe will drop.”

Edging forward another inch, she kept her ears tuned to him. Something in the moment they were sharing seemed really important, but she couldn’t pinpoint it beyond the anticipation of what would happen if he touched her. The intense nature of his scent weaved around her, riding the cool breeze. Cloves—the cigars, she suspected, though they had a hint of cherry to them, which made them sweet. Sand—the landscape he claimed as his own. The plants, the spices—those came from Maria’s cooking. The musk—that was all Cassius, and she drank in the top notes of his sunshine-infused scent.

His hand closed over her scruff and she closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable wash of fury and temper. Gripping her, he pulled her closer. He must have taken a seat because she was in his lap as he stroked his hands over her ears, then along her sides and over her back. Firm, steady caresses which settled her uneasiness and relaxed her until she leaned into the touch.

Fear didn’t swamp her, nor did fury. Tilting her head, she tried to see his face. Another long rub and he tucked his chin against her head and rubbed his cheek to her. It took her a moment for reality to sink into her. He marked her with his scent, snapping once she pulled away and glared at him.

One tentative sniff told her all she needed to know, she had him all over her. What the hell?

Cassius chuckled. “I told you, I protect what’s mine.”

Bastard
. She curled her lip off her teeth and growled.

Not looking away from her, he raised his hand to his nose and sniffed. “I smell like you, too, sweetcheeks. So consider me yours, for the time being.”

He really was crazy. Rebellion flooded her, and she abandoned him for the path he’d indicated earlier. Sure enough, the steep route led her away from the cliff and she raced down it, watching her balance. At the bottom, she dove into the brush and rolled against the green. Flipping onto her back, she wiggled until the crushed leaves coated her.

Bouncing to her feet she shook and checked her fur again. His scent continued to cling to her, so she rubbed against a tree and then another. Soon she found pine the crushed needles released a pungent scent which stung her nostrils. A roll amongst them did the trick.

Finished, she stood and shook only to come face-to-face with a huge wolf, nearly twice her size. Ears pinned, she tilted her head and circled. She would not be held or caged or whatever the hell it was he attempted to do with his marking. It was one thing if the sexy, damn wolf wanted to take her out to dinner or court her, but the heavy handed way he’d rubbed all over her…

Sovvan shook her head, clearing the buzzing from her ears. Cassius hadn’t moved. The great beast—and the hell of it was he was even more beast as a wolf than he was as a man—continued to watch her, his mouth open and wearing an almost wolfish grin.

Testing him, she darted left and paused. He didn’t move. She darted to the right, and wagged her tail. He remained still.

What the hell did he want? To drive her nuts? Did he even know how to play? Lunging forward, she snapped so close to him she actually felt his whiskers as she drew away and yet the wolf never flinched.

Aggravated, she pivoted and marched away. She didn’t make it five steps before he was suddenly in front of her again.

Three more times she tried to engage him, but he didn’t do anything more than stare at her. Irritated, she did the dart left, then right, before spinning and lunging in the opposite direction. She cut right avoiding their earlier trail and ran. The trees surrounded her, but she didn’t slow down. Stretching her muscles, she raced along. Her slighter build and lower center of gravity kept her closer to the ground. Sometimes, other wolves told her she was the size of a dog, not a wolf.

She didn’t care what they saw or didn’t see. Size didn’t matter when she knew how to make the most of her attributes. One didn’t have to be tremendously strong in a fight, if one could outrun and outwit the enemy.

Every half dozen strides, she varied her direction and plunged through bushes and onto fresh paths, then zig-zagged a parallel path back along the way she’d come. Not once did she slow or waste time looking behind her. Tracking the scent of water, she used it to guide her even as she switched her path. The more she ran, the freer she felt and she didn’t slow until her lungs burned and her muscles trembled with fatigue.

Panting she paused and caught the sound of water lapping against the earth—the scent she’d been homing in on earlier. Intrigued, she pushed her way through the brush and nearly sighed. The moon shone across the water, turning it nearly silver. Sitting on her haunches, she drank in the view. Peace rushed over her, and she didn’t flinch when movement pressed the brush aside and the brute of a wolf stepped out next to her.

He nuzzled her cheek and she flicked her ear at him, refusing to interrupt her serenity overlooking the lake.

It was so damn beautiful. The big wolf bumped her again, so she snapped at him. He rubbed against her side then walked toward the water. At its edge, he shifted and the moonlight seemed to gather over him and bathe him in silver and shadows. Standing, Cassius glanced at her. “Shift, Sovvan. Come talk to me.”