Read Online Unconditional by Lauren Dane - Free Book Online Page A

herself under control again. A kindness shouldn’t make her cry, for God’s sake.
    “How can I help you?” Josh spoke quietly from where he’d perched to keep an eye on her while she made the call.
    She shook her head. “You can’t. I’m fine. I just need a moment.”
    He clearly wanted to, but he stayed where he was, which she appreciated more than she could say.
    She took a deep breath and tucked her phone into a pocket. “Let’s go back inside. I think the contact Lark just gave me is Damon’s mate.”
    He reached out and brushed his thumb over her cheek. “I hate that you’re upset. I know you have reason to be. It’s not that. I just want to make it better.”
    She smiled a little and meant it. “That’s enough, really.”
    They went back in, and while she finished her breakfast, she found out the contact was indeed Damon’s wife, Gina.
    “She said she got a message to call Owen this morning before I left for work. Must have been Lark. You’ll like her. Gina, I mean.” Damon ducked his head on a very sweet smile.
    She didn’t know a whole lot about the mate thing. Only that wolves mated for life and had some sort of genetic tie that happened during sex. They seemed protective, but she wasn’t entirely sure if it was that all wolves were protective or if it was specific to mates or what.
    “If you’d like the help, I’d like to come out to the scene with you,” Pam offered as they walked out to the car after they’d finished eating.
    “Another set of eyes is really welcome, thanks. I know I’m small town and you have your territory.”
    Pam waved that away. “I don’t care about that. A missing woman is what’s important here. And that she’s a witch, one of us. You need to hold back with human authorities, and I have to do that from time to time so I can help there too.”
    They drove out to the gas station, and Pam led them to the parking lot where the SUV had been seen last.
    Josh touched her arm to get her attention. “I’m going to shift. Stay right here and I’ll be at your side. Do you understand? Don’t go anywhere without me.”
    She snorted. “You know, I’ve been a cop all these years without a werewolf at my side. I’m not dead yet.”
    He frowned. “And I aim to keep it that way.” He slid a hand up her arm, leaving tingles in his wake. “Things are different now. This enemy is…you could be dead and it’s not happening if I have a say and I do.”
    Was she going to argue? Oh sure he was being bossy, but he was right. This mage stuff was different. And she wanted to see what he looked like as a wolf.
    “Fine. Just keep up.”
    He rolled his eyes and then began to get naked. Pam and Damon had headed off on another trail into the rather large park so it was just her and Josh standing in a thick copse of trees.
    She really should be looking away. But hot damn. His upper body was hard and muscled and tawny, like he worked outside a lot. But she remembered. Mmm. He’d always had that olive complexion.
    But now those wide shoulders were even wider, drawing down a hairy (but not too hairy) chest to a narrow waist.
    He put his shirt, shoes and socks into a backpack.
    “I’ll carry that for you.” She was so proud that her voice sounded reasonably normal given how much her mouth watered as she stared.
    He turned, his hands at his zipper, and no matter how many things she yelled at herself, she could not tear her gaze away from the vee of skin, and hair, exposed as he stopped halfway down.
    “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
    He didn’t wear underwear. Good Lord above. He unzipped and she kept staring.
    “You’re playing with fire,” he said in a low growl.
    “Huh?”
    He tipped her chin with one finger. “You look at it like that, and I won’t be able to finish unzipping without injuring myself.”
    She blushed, the heat on her neck and cheeks enough to make her glance away.
    But he was back, closer this time, and without thinking, she slid her palms up the bare