Katie Reus - His Untamed Desire

“You need to tell Angus,” Hector said quietly.

Her head snapped up and her dark eyes were conflicted. “If I do, you know what will happen.”

Hector nodded. As she’d suggested, Angus was definitely not the forgiving type. He meted out punishment with the kind of harsh brutality one would expect from a three-hundred-year-old Alpha who’d managed to maintain control of the New Orleans territory for as long as he had. And Daphne was a favorite among her pack. Angus and his mate, Iris, were close to Daphne’s parents. This would not go over well at all. “This guy is stalking you, Daphne. You get that, don’t you?”

“Of course I get it. I just don’t want him to get hurt. I feel bad for him.” Unshed tears glistened in her eyes as she looked away from him.

Oh, hell. Covering the distance between them, Hector pulled her off the stool and gathered her in his arms. Without her boots she was a little shorter and her face fit right against his chest.

She sniffled a little and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. “You probably think I’m being stupid for being worried about what happens to him,” she muttered.

He sighed. “No, I think you have a big heart.” That didn’t mean Hector had to be magnanimous toward the guy. He planned to find out everything he could about the human-turned-vampire and make sure he stayed the hell away from Daphne.

After a few minutes she pulled away from him and wiped at her eyes. “Thanks for listening. I’m sorry you even have—”

He shook his head. “Stop. I’m not sorry. You clearly needed to tell someone about this. It doesn’t matter that you’re a shifter and he’s a human—well, a vamp, now. Being stalked isn’t something anyone should have to deal with, let alone deal with by themselves. And you haven’t told anyone, have you?”

Flushing guiltily, she shook her head.

He was pissed she’d been keeping this to herself, but scolding her wouldn’t get him anywhere. She’d just been trying to handle it in her own way. “Come on. I’m sleeping in the guest room and I know you must be beat.” He didn’t bother asking if he could stay over because leaving wasn’t an option.

For a brief moment it looked as if she might argue, but she just sighed and turned toward the entryway. “All right. I’ll get you some extra towels in case you want to take a shower.”

• • •

Daphne lifted her face up to the pulsing jets of her shower, savoring the feel of the heat cascading over her body. She was beyond stunned that Troy had shown up at her townhome. Even more so that he was now a vampire. The last couple months at school she’d almost felt like a prisoner, trying to hide from him all the time. She’d been so sure that when she returned home she’d be leaving that problem behind her. Maybe she should have done things differently.

Deep down she was terrified that she’d somehow led him on or given him a mixed signal in some way. She’d always kept things professional but maybe . . . Oh, hell, who knew? After turning off the shower, she wrung the water from her hair before wrapping herself in a big fluffy towel. The shower had helped somewhat and now all she wanted to do was sleep and forget about Troy.

She really hated that Hector was even aware of any of this. It was so embarrassing. She could take care of herself and didn’t want him to view her as some kid. She’d just never thought she’d have to deal with a stalker. That was something that happened to celebrities. Once she’d brushed her teeth and twisted her wet hair up into a clip, she eased the door open and stepped into her bedroom.

Hector was sleeping in the next room, but shifter hearing was keen and she didn’t want to disturb him. It was sweet that he was staying over even if it did make her feel like he was trying to take responsibility for her. She didn’t want a babysitter or bodyguard. She wanted him as a lover.

And she didn’t want him to think of her as his sister’s friend or someone he needed to look out for, but as a woman. She wanted to feel his body over hers and—she let out a yelp as she ran into the trunk she’d pulled down earlier from her walk-in closet.

Her bedroom door flew open. Hector stepped into her room, claws unsheathed, his jaguar clear in his gaze. Blinking, he scanned the room then focused on her. His eyes quickly turned full human as he retracted his claws. “Are you okay?” he rasped out.

“Yeah, I just . . . why aren’t you in bed?” He might be fast, but there was no way he’d made it from the guestroom to hers that quickly.

He shrugged and a spicy, pure masculine scent rolled off him as he stared at her.

She realized he’d likely been sitting or lying outside her room. She narrowed her gaze. “You don’t need to stand guard outside the whole night. I’m a shifter too and completely capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know. But that doesn’t change the fact that I want to take care of you too,” he said quietly.

Oh. Daphne struggled to find the right words, any words, but he continued.

“I think it’s time for that kiss.” His gaze traveled over her body in a lazy path of unabashed admiration.

She was wearing a towel, but the way his gaze was blazing a trail from her head down to her pink toenails made her feel completely bared to him. If she was braver, she’d drop the towel, but there was no way she could do that. As a shifter, she was comfortable with her body and nudity, but Hector had never seen her naked and it would definitely change things between them if he did. Especially if she dropped her towel and he wasn’t interested. That thought doused some of her lust.

Hector frowned at her as he stepped farther into the room. “What are you thinking?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed and he walked toward her until they were inches apart. Nervously she licked her lips and felt a small jump inside her belly when his gaze zeroed in on her mouth. She’d fantasized about what it would be like to kiss him, but now that she was faced with the reality, she knew it would be better. Had no doubt in her mind.

“Lie on the bed,” he whispered.

It took a moment for his words to sink in. “What?”

“Now.” There was a commanding edge to his voice that took her off guard, mainly because she really liked it.

Daphne didn’t know if she should keep her towel on or what kind of kiss required her to lie down, but she did as he said. Anticipation and desire hummed through her in equal measures.

Hector stood at the end of the bed, tall and intimidating, and without his sweater on, sexy as sin. She’d noticed his chest when he’d walked in—she’d have to be blind not to—but as she let her eyes travel over all those hard, muscular planes her belly tightened with need.

Without a word Hector kneeled on the bed, never taking his gaze from hers. His green eyes were smoldering and practically electric as he watched her. He gently took one of her ankles and lifted it toward his mouth.

She might be wearing a towel, but the position would give him a perfect view of everything underneath it. Instead of kissing her ankle, like she’d expected, he gently ran his nose over her skin, inhaling slightly, as if he couldn’t get enough of her.

God, just watching him holding her leg was turning her on. Her inner walls clenched involuntarily, and even though there was no way possible he could have known, his eyes narrowed a fraction. Had he scented her desire?

Scooting farther up on the bed, he inched closer to her, forcing her thighs to spread wider. When they did, her towel pushed up higher on her thighs. She made a move to hold it back down, but he just shook his head.

The thought of him being a demanding lover was so deliciously erotic. He would take, but she knew he’d be giving. Still holding her ankle, he continued his path up her leg, never touching her with his mouth. Never kissing her.