FMR (21 page)

this way about any man ... wolf ... whatever he was. It didn't matter.

All that mattered were the strong, heady sensations he stirred in her,

both body and soul.

Rummaging through the pocket, she finally found the foiled packet.

"Got it," she grinned, holding it up triumphantly between her fingers

and climbed back onto the mattress.

"Allow me," she giggled like an imp, ripping the packet open and

slid the rubber into place. Ray's cock bobbed. It was thick, hard and

ready for her. Jac's sex was moist and slick with her own juices. She

was ready, too and rolled on top of him, saddling his chest.

"Jac, this is a dream come true." Ray smiled up at her.

"Yours or mine?" she asked then gave a low groan of pleasure as

his heated palms cupped her breasts. She arched her back, leaning

into his sweat caresses. His touch was like magic, primal and hot, yet

tender and loving at the same time.

Somewhere, muffled in the scattered clothing, Jac's cell phone rang.

He stopped in mid-motion. "Let's ignore it," she whispered, not

wanting to break the mood. "Please, Ray, don't stop."

Ray gave a raw chuckle and nodded. Jac leaned over, tantalizing

him with her breasts. He covered the fleshy mounds with kisses, then

deftly took a peaked nipple between his lips and suckled. Jac's entire

body trembled with escalating desire. Splaying a hand over his chest

to steady herself, she encircled his cock with the other hand. Her hips

lifted, then she slid onto his shaft in one swift move.

"Oh God," he moaned, releasing her nipple and cupped the back of

her neck. He drew her to him, kissing her as she rode his cock.

He filled her completely. Jac relished the sensation, moving her

hips to the erotic rhythms which pulsed inside her. Her sex gripped

Ray's cock, seeking undiluted pleasure from their conjoined bodies.

His hands slid down her body, then held onto her hips. Ray thrust

upwards, matching her increasing tempo.

"Oh, Ray! God, yes!" she gasped while they moved together. She

clung to him, riding his cock until white-hot sparks of passion flared

inside her. Jac let out a wordless cry. Her climax imploded and

rocked her world.

Jac's orgasm rippled through his cock, squeezing his shaft tight

within her velvety-softness. The feeling was exquisite. The moon

fever flowed through his body, hot and unyielding. Sweat beaded his

brow. He stroked inside her, her sex still squeezing around his

hardened length with the aftershocks of her climax.

For a split second, everything around him blurred. Ray gave a low,

animalistic growl. The
sithech
-blood boiled in his veins like liquid

fire then peaked. He gave into his climax with a hard shudder of

release and then closed his eyes.

"Oh God, I'm sooo wiped out," he groaned, opening his eyes.

Jac raised her head from his chest. "Same here, wolf-man." She

winked. "Tell me, is it always this intense during a full moon?"

Ray chuckled, shaking his head. "I honestly don't know. It's never

affected me quite like this. And it's all because of you."

"Me?" She giggled, rolling off him onto her side and propping up

on her elbow. "I'm innocent. I was just doing my job, minding my

own business when, just a few days ago, I met you. Crazy, huh?"

"So, you're saying being my mate's crazy?" He raised an eyebrow.

He was half-kidding and half-serious. Ray sat up, reaching over to

flick on a lamp beside the sofa-mattress. He then glanced over to

study the expression on her face.

Jac licked her lips in a nervous gesture. "I honestly don't know,

Ray. I mean, I'm certainly feeling things for you, too."

"But, you're not sure, are you?" he asked, softly. He leaned close,

brushing the stray hairs away from her face with a tender touch. "It's

okay. I understand. The last few days have been quite strange for

you."

"Strange? That's an understatement." She laughed, easing the

tenseness between them. "I feel at times like I've fallen into
The

Twilight Zone
, but–"

Ray's cell phone rang, cutting her off.

"Damn it," Ray cursed under his breath and slid off the mattress.

Quickly disposing the condom in a nearby wastebasket, he reached for

his jeans and unclipped the phone. He glanced down at the lit-up

screen.
Good timing, bro.
"It's Bruce," he informed her, then flipped

open the phone. "Hey, what's up?"

He contained his emotions, yet paced the floor with brisk strides as

he listened to Bruce. He was elated with the news that Ernie had

uncovered a clue to Jac's attacker. "Great! I'll meet you at the diner in

a few." Snapping the phone shut, he turned to face Jac. Her aura once

again gave off a nervous-hue.

"Ernie might have found a clue to the identity of your
sithech
-

attacker." He informed her as he grabbed up his clothes and began to

hastily put them on. "I'm heading over to the diner and meeting up

with the rest of the pack."

"Good." She slid off the mattress, reaching for her jeans. "I'm

coming, too."

He recalled how she'd appeared at the urgent care center ... teary-

eyed and trembling. There was no way he would subject her to any

more danger. Already dressed in his jeans and shirt, he reached out

and took her hand. "No, Jac, you can't go with me."

"Why not?" She stubbornly raised her chin and held his gaze. "I

want to go with you."

"It could be dangerous, Jac." He sensed the frustration swelling up

inside her. With a heavy sigh, he wrapped his arms around her waist

and drew her close. "Please, pixie, try to understand. Tracking down

a rogue wolf is a very serious business."

"Let me just come with you," she pleaded. "I promise I won't get in

the way."

Ray's gut tightened. He squared his jaw and firmly shook his head.

"No, you can't go."

"Aw, Ray!" Her dark eyes flickered with irritation.

He leaned in, giving her a tender kiss on the lips. "Jac, I just want

to keep you safe. If anything were to happen to you ... " His voice

trailed off. He didn't want to dwell on the negative.

Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Listen, I was beginning to

doubt I had a mate. I thought I was destined to be just a pack

guardian ... until I met you. Whether or not you accept it, you are my

mate. I love you with all my heart, Jacqueline. Please stay here for

your safety and my sanity, okay?"

The determination in her eyes melted away. "All right, I'll stay."

She slowly nodded. Her eyes looked moist, as if she wanted to cry,

but she didn't. "But, promise me you'll call as soon as you find out

anything."

"I will, pixie." Ray sighed, hugging her to his chest. "I promise."

A good, hot shower was just what she'd needed. After Ray had left,

she bolted the doors and headed toward the bathroom. She turned the

knob until the hot water steamed up the tiny room. Stepping into the

stall, she let the pelting droplets wash away her uneasiness.

I still can't believe he won't let me go with him.
She let out a

frustrated sigh and reached for the bar of soap. Yet, his confession

had surprised her.
I love you with all my heart.
She'd wanted to cry,

but had refrained. Jac knew Ray had feelings for her, but his blatant

confession touched her.

Until now, all she'd cared about was her writing career. Sure, she'd

dreamed of a man who would love and cherish her, but she hadn't

expected to find him ... less alone, the fact that he could change into a

wolf.

Jac lathered up then rinsed the soap from her body. Through the

door, she heard her cell phone ring. "Damn it," she cursed, recalling

the ignored phone call during their lovemaking. Shutting off the

water, she exited the shower, wrapping up in a plush towel. By the

time she reached her phone, it had stopped.

Depressing the button for her message box, she had two missed

calls. Both were from Frank Collins, her editor. "Oh, great!" she

huffed, as she replayed his messages. They were short and simple.

"Got your email. Give me a call ASAP."

Scrolling through her phone directory, she pressed the

preprogrammed number and headed to the kitchen to make some tea.

Yeah, a strong cup of chamomile will help take the edge off my

conversation with Frank,
she thought with an amused smile.

He answered on the first ring. She hadn't even said 'hello' as he

riddled her with questions. "Jac, what the hell's going on? You

haven't called. I've been worried sick. What's going on? Talk to me."

"Calm down, Frank. I'm all right. Really," she reassured him.

"There was just a slight change of plans, that's all."

"Well, I got your email. Are you still researching the story?"

"Uh, Frank, I hate to tell you this, but there's no story."

"What do you mean there's no story?"

Oh boy!
Jac drew a deep breath to steady her nerves. She had to

tell him ... without losing her job in the process. "There's not a shred

of evidence that crazy werewolves are running amok in a small town."

She gave a nervous laugh as she pulled the mug of hot water from the

microwave and put her teabag in to steep.

"My contact said – "

"Your contact's a nutcase. I've done some research and this town's

normal ... perfectly normal." Jac crossed her fingers. With any luck,

her editor would decide to drop the wolf story.

"Great!" Frank sighed into her ear. "That's just freakin' great!" She

could hear the frustration in his voice. "So, what are we supposed to

do now?"

"Actually, I did come across something that would make a nice

human interest story," she smiled into the phone. Jac proceed to tell

her editor about the small town renovation story. "You know, a small

town that's getting a facelift, so to speak. I've already spoken to one

of the contractors. He's willing to be interviewed. That is, if you're

interested in the story. What do you say?"

There was a long pause over the receiver. She took a sip of her hot

tea and waited, hoping her idea would work.

"Oh, okay. But I'm not happy this werewolf story didn't pan out,"

he grumbled. "My contact was adamant about strange goings-on in

Heather Grove."

"It's like I said before, your contact's a nutcase. I've found no

evidence whatsoever, so it's a good idea to drop it." Jac hated lying to

her editor, but she knew it was all for the best. Besides, she owed the

sithech
-pack her loyalty since they'd disclosed their existence to her.

"Fine," he mumbled. "Have your story to me in a few days and I'll

send a photographer down next week for pictures of the renovations to

accompany your story."

"That's great. Thanks so much, Frank." After saying their

'goodbyes', Jac depressed the 'off' button. Placing her cell phone back

into her bag, she picked up the mug and took a big sip.

Jac exhaled a sigh of relief. "That's one less thing to worry about."

She felt a sense of satisfaction, knowing Ray and the pack would be

pleased. A chilly draft brushed down her spine. Dressed in nothing

but a towel, she was shivered. Crossing the room, she decided to find

her suitcase and change into warmer clothes.

Still, she wished Ray would call. She was curious about what Ernie

had found out about her attacker. However, Ray had been right.

Despite her momentary stubbornness, she was really glad he'd

squelched her protests to go with him.
And besides,
she thought with

a smile,
I have to work on the new story.

* * * *

into Jewel's Family Diner. The members of his pack had gathered at

their usual table in the back. Their anxiety was radiating off their

auras in a rainbow of brilliant colors as they talked among themselves.

Crossing the diner, he set his sights on Bruce, who was still dressed

in his police uniform and stood at the head of the table. His longtime

friend glanced over and smiled. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Glad you're here, Ray," he said with a curt nod, then stepped back,

offering Ray a seat at the head of the table.

There was no single alpha leader in the local
sithech
pack. Ray

immediately sensed their conversation was about him and his kin. His

stomach clutched with nerves. He drew a sharp breath and focused on

control.

"So, what's up?" Ray swept a gaze over the faces gathered around