something like that? No one could say.
No one but Heather.
Within an hour, she’d thrown a couple of hastily packed bags into her car, withdrawn as much cash as her cards would allow, and hit the highway. Heading somewhere, anywhere. Away from the red-rimmed eyes that pierced the night. The ones staring at her now, as she slept.
She jackknifed up, screaming. Her heart was racing by the time she realized that the red came from her alarm clock, and the hands were Cody’s, callused and calm. But the wingbeats outside were real—the sound of bats taking flight. Had they been hanging around her roof again? Heather collapsed into Cody’s chest. He curled around her, whispering softly. If that solid body couldn’t shield her from harm, nothing could.
He’d check her into the nearest mental ward if she said it. Vampires. No, she wouldn’t say a word. She’d run from that world and into his, and damn it, she’d take refuge as long as she could.
CHAPTER TEN
Cody breathed in Heather’s sweet scent and held her close. Tight as his arm was around her chest, she squeezed it even closer a dozen times in the night until she’d fallen asleep, peace inching its way cautiously through the consuming darkness.
It took him another hour to get to sleep after that. His canines pushed at his gums and every muscle roared for the blood of whoever created that nightmare. He’d find the scum, rip him limb from limb. But he had to force his wolf down—again. The beast had nearly fought his way out twice tonight. First in the temptation to mark her as his mate, and now with the urge to destroy an unknown enemy. But there was a right way of doing things and a wrong.
He wouldn’t give Heather the mating bite until she wanted it as desperately as he did and understood what it meant. Neither could he kill the enemy until he knew where to direct his rage. Right now, all he could do was soothe and protect. Love her, as he’d never loved anyone before. Even if it killed him to wait.
He took solace from that scent—his and hers, intertwined. He’d have to scrub her good and hard in the shower before he let her go to work. Much as he wanted to shout it to the world, no one could know about them. Not yet.
Her heart beat steadily under his hand. When she stirred, he kept his eyes shut, wondering what she would do. He’d gone to bed with plenty of women. But waking up with one? He’d never tried that. Never even been tempted. But with Heather, it seemed totally natural. Instinctual even.
Not a good thing, because every thought, every responsibility had fled his mind the minute he walked through her door. How was he ever going to earn his father’s respect if he was distracted by a woman? He couldn’t afford that now.
His wolf gave a grumpy snarl.
She helps us. We keep her!
Cody fought back a response.
Damn it, I want to keep her, too! I just have to keep my head screwed on!
An internal snarling match ensued that only died down when Heather’s muscles shifted then flexed. When she slid away, hair brushing his shoulder, his wolf nearly let out a whine. Cody calmed the beast, determined to see what she would do. Would she bury her face in her hands and shed tears of regret? Hide in the bathroom for an hour then breeze out to work, pretending nothing had happened? Would she—
A kiss. A long, silky kiss, right on his cheek, one that sang with barely restrained hope. Just that light touch was enough to set his heart hammering. It was all he could do not to reach out for more or promise her everything.
Cody gulped. If this woman wasn’t destined for him, no one was.
The pad of her finger made a slow, lingering journey over his shoulder, leaving a warm trail that reached his bones. It traced the curves of his ear, lingering over the scar, then smoothed his eyebrow. If there was anything better than making love to her, this might be it. He could have howled when it ended, the bed shifting as she stood. Cody fought hard to
No one but Heather.
Within an hour, she’d thrown a couple of hastily packed bags into her car, withdrawn as much cash as her cards would allow, and hit the highway. Heading somewhere, anywhere. Away from the red-rimmed eyes that pierced the night. The ones staring at her now, as she slept.
She jackknifed up, screaming. Her heart was racing by the time she realized that the red came from her alarm clock, and the hands were Cody’s, callused and calm. But the wingbeats outside were real—the sound of bats taking flight. Had they been hanging around her roof again? Heather collapsed into Cody’s chest. He curled around her, whispering softly. If that solid body couldn’t shield her from harm, nothing could.
He’d check her into the nearest mental ward if she said it. Vampires. No, she wouldn’t say a word. She’d run from that world and into his, and damn it, she’d take refuge as long as she could.
CHAPTER TEN
Cody breathed in Heather’s sweet scent and held her close. Tight as his arm was around her chest, she squeezed it even closer a dozen times in the night until she’d fallen asleep, peace inching its way cautiously through the consuming darkness.
It took him another hour to get to sleep after that. His canines pushed at his gums and every muscle roared for the blood of whoever created that nightmare. He’d find the scum, rip him limb from limb. But he had to force his wolf down—again. The beast had nearly fought his way out twice tonight. First in the temptation to mark her as his mate, and now with the urge to destroy an unknown enemy. But there was a right way of doing things and a wrong.
He wouldn’t give Heather the mating bite until she wanted it as desperately as he did and understood what it meant. Neither could he kill the enemy until he knew where to direct his rage. Right now, all he could do was soothe and protect. Love her, as he’d never loved anyone before. Even if it killed him to wait.
He took solace from that scent—his and hers, intertwined. He’d have to scrub her good and hard in the shower before he let her go to work. Much as he wanted to shout it to the world, no one could know about them. Not yet.
Her heart beat steadily under his hand. When she stirred, he kept his eyes shut, wondering what she would do. He’d gone to bed with plenty of women. But waking up with one? He’d never tried that. Never even been tempted. But with Heather, it seemed totally natural. Instinctual even.
Not a good thing, because every thought, every responsibility had fled his mind the minute he walked through her door. How was he ever going to earn his father’s respect if he was distracted by a woman? He couldn’t afford that now.
His wolf gave a grumpy snarl.
She helps us. We keep her!
Cody fought back a response.
Damn it, I want to keep her, too! I just have to keep my head screwed on!
An internal snarling match ensued that only died down when Heather’s muscles shifted then flexed. When she slid away, hair brushing his shoulder, his wolf nearly let out a whine. Cody calmed the beast, determined to see what she would do. Would she bury her face in her hands and shed tears of regret? Hide in the bathroom for an hour then breeze out to work, pretending nothing had happened? Would she—
A kiss. A long, silky kiss, right on his cheek, one that sang with barely restrained hope. Just that light touch was enough to set his heart hammering. It was all he could do not to reach out for more or promise her everything.
Cody gulped. If this woman wasn’t destined for him, no one was.
The pad of her finger made a slow, lingering journey over his shoulder, leaving a warm trail that reached his bones. It traced the curves of his ear, lingering over the scar, then smoothed his eyebrow. If there was anything better than making love to her, this might be it. He could have howled when it ended, the bed shifting as she stood. Cody fought hard to
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