Devlin Dynasty 2: Fall Fury (5 page)

“My body is fine.”

He leaned back in the chair and slung one arm casually over the arm. “Yes, it’smore than fine. At least what I can see of it.”

“Your comments are inappropriate.”

“You liked it, though, didn’t you?”

What an egotistical asshole! How dare he assume that because he complimentedher body that she’d find him the least bit appealing! “I think this conversation isover, Mr. Devlin.” Enough was enough and she had her limits.. Maybe her bodyliked what he said, but the professional inside her didn’t. She waved the waiterover and asked for the check.

“I’ll take care of that,” he said, opening his wallet and pulling out his credit card.

“No, it’ll go on The Rising Storm’s expense account. This was a business dinner, where we had a business discussion.” And that’s all she’d remember about tonight.

He shrugged and put his card away. “Suit yourself, but I’d like to take you out onmy own dime sometime.”

Not if he were the last man on earth and she was desperate to the point ofbegging. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Let’s just keep things between usstrictly business.” Which meant quit looking at her like he was still hungry.

“Oh, I think we’ve already progressed way beyond strictly business.”

Who the hell had he had dinner with tonight? They hadn’t touched on personalissues at all, other than the fact he’d personally insulted her business acumen.

She signed the check and stood, waving to Francois and heading out the door. Max, of course, was right behind her. As soon as the front door shut she turned tohim, whispering so the few people walking around couldn’t hear. “Look, Max. Idon’t know what you think is going on between us, but let’s get it straight rightnow. We have a business relationship, and that’s all we’ll ever have. I don’t mixbusiness with pleasure. Ever.”

His gaze lingered on her mouth when she spoke. Dammit, why did her nippleshave to harden? She really needed to get laid soon, because for some reason heridiotic hormones had suddenly decided to target Max Devlin as if he really
 
was
the last man on earth.

“Don’t you feel what’s between us, Shannon?” he said, reaching for her arm and trailing his hand up and down her wrist. When he slipped his fingers inside the cuff of her jacket and rested them on her racing pulse, she wished she had argued harder with Logan about inviting Max here.

She shook off the feelings of confusion. “I don’t feel a damn thing for you butirritation, Max. Let go of me.”

“I don’t think you really want me to let go of you.”

“I don’t think you really know what can happen to you if you mess with me.”

He arched a brow but held on to her wrist, rubbing the skin back and forth untilshe broke out in a sweat.

“You want me to mess with you. In every way imaginable.”

Really, the man was insufferable. What an incredible ego to think that all he hadto do was flash his sexy grin at her and she’d spread her legs. Her body mightrespond to him, but her mind fought him every step of the way. “I don’t want adamn thing from you, Max. In fact, I can end your contract with The Rising Storm in a heartbeat. One conversation with Logan and Aidan and not only willyou be out of a job, you’re very likely to get your ass kicked.”

His lips wavered as if he were fighting a smile. “I don’t think you’ll do that.”

She wanted to scream. Instead, she lowered her voice and spoke slowly, hoping itwould penetrate his thick, Neanderthal skull. “Try me. Now, let go.”

He continued to hold her arm. The strangest thing was, he wasn’t holding onto hertight enough that she couldn’t break free. He
 
wanted
 
her to pull away. Butdamned if she’d do what he expected. He’d thrown down the gauntlet, dammit,and she was going to stand firm until
 
he
 
backed off.

He inhaled deeply, then met her gaze. She rocked back on her heels at theintensity of his eyes. More golden than green now, narrowed slits that were filledwith a palpable passion that shot between her legs. She moistened, desire seepingfrom her slit and wetting her panties. Her pussy throbbed deep inside, her breastsswelled, and her lips parted as she struggled to find her next breath.

“You don’t wear perfume,” he whispered, lazily running his thumb over her palm, then entwining his fingers with hers. “I can smell your sweet scent. You’re aroused.”

He could do no such thing! It wasn’t possible. She didn’t want these thoughts inher head, didn’t want her body to react the way it was. “No!” she cried. Giving upon her earlier mental challenge, she pulled her arm away and turned from him,desperate to return to the hotel so she could slide into the safety of her car and gohome.

Home, where he wouldn’t follow, where she could get her head on straight, andget her body in line with the here and now. What the hell was happening to her?

Not bothering to turn to see if he was following, she hurried toward the hotel. Assoon as she crossed the main entrance, she signaled for the valet to bring her car. She released the breath that she’d been holding, then finally turned around.

Max was nowhere to be found. He hadn’t followed her, nor was he still standingon the corner where they’d spoken.

Where was he? She looked around, but couldn’t see him. It was late, and the French Quarter was never empty. Still, he stood out enough that she should beable to easily spot him among the tourists.

She had no idea where he’d gone. Frankly, she didn’t care. The only thing she feltwas relief that she’d managed to extricate herself from whatever weird spell he’dcast on her.

The valet brought her car and she slipped inside, locked the doors, and sped away,opening the sunroof for some air. She hoped the drive to the condo she sharedwith Kaitlyn would help clear her head. Her sister would know immediately thatsomething had happened, unless she emptied her mind and her emotions ofeverything having to do with Max Devlin.

She drove out of the city and into the secluded part of town where she and Kaitlynlived. She loved the cooler feel to the heavily wooded area, and even though shelived in a complex with hundreds of other people, she still enjoyed the dense treesand secluded forest.

Pulling quickly into her parking spot, she stepped out, then froze as she heard arustling in the trees behind her. With a quick turn, she scanned the area. Theparking lot was well lit, but the forested area beyond was pitch black.

Instinctively her thumb searched for and found the panic button attached to hercar alarm. Ready to punch it if she saw someone coming from the trees, her heartleapt into her throat at the sight of a quick moving animal darting briefly out ofthe woods.

It stopped right outside the tree line. Shannon’s heart pounded against her ribs.

What the hell was it? Some kind of dog?

No dog had yellow eyes. Eyes that glowed, and seemed to be staring straight ather. It had a long snout and gray and white fur, but that was no dog. She couldn’tmove, afraid the slightest movement would cause the animal to strike. A lowgrowl emanated from the creature, and it took one step forward toward her.

She hit the panic button and the shrill car alarm sounded. In her hazy panic, shebarely even registered the earsplitting sound.

At least it scared off the animal, who turned and bounded into the woods,disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared.

She punched the button and silenced the alarm, her pulse speeding so hard itmade her dizzy. Flopping back into the front seat of the car, she fought for control

over her breathing, trying to settle her nerves.

When her legs felt steady enough to stand, she got out of the car, set the alarm,and walked briskly to the front door of her condo.

During the short trip to the front door, she felt as if the wolf still lurked within thetrees, watching her. She could actually feel its eyes on her, but refused to turnaround and look.

As if she hadn’t had enough turmoil today, now she had to face the fact that she’dnearly been attacked by a wolf.

A wolf. She’d never heard of wolves prowling the woods here. Hell, she didn’teven know there were wolves in New Orleans.

What a fitting way to end an already miserable day.

Chapter Three

Max watched Shannon make a frantic dash to her front door. Hidden safelyamong the dense trees, he knew he wouldn’t be seen by anyone who happened toinvestigate the shrill sound of her car alarm.

Figured, no one even came out. Not that she’d been in any danger. He’d neverhurt her. But it had been stupid to walk out of the forest like that. What had hehoped to accomplish? That she’d instinctively know who he was? That she’dcome to him, embrace him in his wolf form and tell him that she wanted to bewith him? Or even better, he could have partially shifted, leaving himself halfhuman so that she could have recognized him. That would surely have endearedher to him immediately.

Hey, babe, lookin’ for a hairy guy who likes quiet walks on the beach and theoccasional piece of raw meat? Are you up for a little howling at the moon? Andhow do you feel about sex with a half man, half wolf? Pretty hot, huh?

Damn, if that was the best plan he had, he was screwed, and not in a good way. The problem was she blew away his normally clear, logical approach to things. All he wanted to do when he saw her was rip her clothes off piece by piece,preferably with his teeth, and lick every square inch of her body.

Twice.

He kept his eyes on her as she slipped inside and closed the door. Probably tossedsome furniture in front of it too, just for extra safety. He’d seen the look on herface when she’d spotted him. That wide-eyed fear in her eyes. She knew nothingabout his kind.

This was going to take some time. Gain her trust first, then revelations. Not theother way around. He was moving too fast and he knew it.

Try telling his body to be patient. It wasn’t listening to his head. At least not thehead located on the upper part of his body.

No sense lingering here. It hadn’t been difficult to follow her home since shedrove along the tree-lined streets. Not too far from the hotel either.

After she’d run off at the restaurant, he figured he’d better give her some space. So he’d headed for the nearest wooded area and shifted, needing a run to clear hisown head. And while he was at it, thought he might as well as try to pick up thescent of other packs.

Problem was, the only scent he focused on was Shannon’s. He’d picked up herunique scent when she drove past him, and he’d followed, ending up in front ofher condo, no doubt scaring the hell out of her.

Enough. Pushing thoughts of Shannon from his mind, he took off in a run. Themoonless night left him free to roam at will without the chance of anyone fromthe nearby roads spotting him. He ran for miles, stretching the travel kinks fromhis legs and breathing in the scented night air.

He’d stop occasionally, sniff the area around him to see if he could pick up apack’s scent. Nothing yet. But then again he didn’t expect to find many, if any,wolves in this area.

The thought both excited him and punched him with a loneliness he hadn’texpected. He was alone here, and if he found a pack and challenged the alpha forleadership, then he’d have a new family. But his current family resided in Boston,and he had to adjust to the fact he was on his own now.

His brother Jason had to do it when he moved from the pack to follow hispolitical career in Washington. And he’d adjusted just fine. Max would, too. Besides, they’d known this was coming from the time they were young pups. The Devlin family was well connected in politics and industry, and it was their primegoal to branch out in all geographic areas and establish dominance. This project in New Orleans with the Storm family was just what they’d been looking for as ameans to gain a stronghold in the south.

After wandering a bit, Max came upon a lake. While there were some heavilypopulated areas around the calm water, there were also plenty of places withdense trees and unoccupied land. He noted his surroundings and marked his scent. First off, to find it again, second, to alert any other packs in the area that there wasa new wolf in town.

He spotted a few houses along the way, nestled deep within the trees and noneighbors within visual distance. Skirting around the front, he noted the For Salesign on one.

There was a dense wooded area right behind the house. He traveled within,feeling at home with the smells and sounds of the forest. He picked up a scent ofwolves, too. Faint, but there nevertheless. Whether they were still here or not hedidn’t know, but at least they had been here once before.

Yes, this place would be perfect. A huge two-story house, with a porch thatsurrounded the entire perimeter. Perfect. He’d come back, maybe even bring Shannon with him to see how she reacted. After all, wherever he set up house,she’d be living with him, so it was important she liked the place too.

He returned where he had changed and hidden his clothes, shifting back to hishuman form. He’d made sure to shift into wolf form far beyond the busy French Quarter, leaving his clothes near a crop of trees that hid him from view. After aquick walk back to the hotel, he stepped inside and hurried to his room, ready fora shower and some sleep. He’d already prowled half the night away, andtomorrow he’d have to do battle with Shannon over their public relations programagain.