Vivian Arend - Black Gold

It was terribly hot. Gem patted her napkin over her forehead and neckline. She drained her water glass, and still the heat rampaging through her system refused to cool.

She’d already decided this was one of the most unusual evenings she’d ever spent when the constant stream of, for lack of a better term, hussies parading past their table began. No less than a dozen women came over. Supposedly to welcome her, but it was clear enough after the second faked casual hello they were there to see if Gem was a challenge to their hopes to hitch up with the Alpha.

Even in her mind-fuddled state, she was shocked. Some women would go to any lengths for attention, but this kind of approach was far too blatant to be effective. Getting your way around the male of the species, human or wolf, took a little more finesse.

Evan appeared uncomfortable with the whole situation. When he managed to scatter the final of the convoy like the squawking crows they were, he tossed Gem a less-than-in-control grin.

“Sorry about that. Ignore them.”

“Do you get this much attention from women all the time?”

“Well…”

His bravado was back, his expression changing as she stared at him, and the kiss they’d shared returned in vivid detail. She flushed. “I mean, not that I don’t think you’re attractive. You are, very, but…”

The tension between them dissipated as they both laughed. Evan winked. “Why, thank you. But yeah, it’s part of the hardship of having a high-ranked position and no partner.”

Gem considered his dilemma. “What would they have done if we had turned out to be mates?”

He paused in the middle of lifting his glass to his mouth. “How good are you at arm-wrestling?”

She smiled. “Is that a northern euphemism for displays of power?”

Evan nodded.

Interesting . Back home they all knew their place. There was little movement up or down the ranks in the pack, and everything stayed very dignified and orderly. Getting asked to show how strong she was—that hadn’t happened in a long time.

She rested her fingers on the back of his hand. “Excuse me if I break any rules—this isn’t a common situation for me.”

His sexy grin flashed. “Trust me, darling, there’s not much you could do to surprise me.”

She shrugged. Wolf hierarchy games had never thrilled her. She opened the mystical part of herself and let a smidgen sneak out. Just a tiny bit, like she had back at the airport.

Well, that was the intention. Maybe she was more tired now, or the confusion of the strange scent had affected her ability to maintain control. This time her power didn’t sneak, it ripped through the pub like a low-level sonic boom. All faces whipped in their direction. A few wolves fell to their feet. Chairs tipped as bodies scrambled back, eyes wide with…fear?

Oops .

“I have no idea why—” Sheer embarrassment heated her face, again. It seemed she was going to spend her entire time in the Yukon either aroused or embarrassed. Or both.

Evan stared slack-jawed for a minute before breaking out into a deep, strong laugh that shook the room harder than her momentary loss of control. He rose to his feet, turning with his palms open, his confidence streaming out like a calming balm.

“Relax, it’s okay. Everything is fine.”

The pack members dipped their heads, then turned back to their activities, music resuming. The overall tone in the pub remained subdued for a few minutes, with an awful lot of questioning glances tossed their direction.

The receptionist from the front desk, Caroline, popped in the doorway and glared at Evan. She rolled her eyes before making her way to a table occupied by a human couple. Gem overheard her commenting to them about music systems and overload feedback.

Great. She’d made the Takhini pack have to do damage control around humans. She was toast. She was going to be sent home on the first plane south, without a chance to complete her research.

“I stand corrected. That was not what I expected.” Evan’s tone was light, but a tad more respectful than before. Maybe.

She struggled to apologize enough to make up for her blunder. “I’m so sorry. I had no intention of making a public display that loud.”

He shrugged. “I’ve always been told it was the quiet ones to watch for, and in your case, that’s true. You pack a pretty punch there, sweetheart. Not quite as powerful as me though…” Evan polished his fingernails against his shirt, before tossing her an outrageous wink.

Forgiven? That easily? “I’m not in trouble?”

He pushed her empty water glass away to make room for the arriving plates of food. “No. No trouble. And thank you—all the women who have been hounding us should give me a bit of a reprieve, at least until you’re out of town. They aren’t going to mess with you, darling. Just in case, you know.”

The rest of dinner passed in a blur. She didn’t taste a thing, couldn’t remember a word she said. When Gem finally closed the door on Evan’s grin she was more confused than the last time she’d been alone in her hotel room.

Only her years of training in etiquette had allowed her to sit and chat with the pulse of sexual desire firing through her veins. She turned and headed toward her suitcase, kicking off her shoes, stripping the confining sweater and skirt away. There were more than a few times she must have lost her concentration, if the amusement on Evan’s face was any indication.

She was getting very tired of people finding her entertaining.

The aching need swirling around her refused to diminish. It was as if a shimmering layer of an aphrodisiac lay over her skin, from her toes to the top of her head. Nothing had ever turned her on like she was now.

And, Lordy, the music. The pounding beat drove lust hard. She still heard it, and in a flash, there was nothing she wanted more than to have passion surround her. Push her farther down the road toward an urgent release. She clicked on the radio and fiddled with the knobs until she found a local station with a similar rhythm.

There was a mirror mounted over the dresser, and she caught a glimpse of herself. Her light pink bra and panty set shone like pale cotton candy against her dark skin. She pulsed her hips in time with the music, letting her hands drift above her head in imitation of one of the women on the dance floor.

Only that lucky lady had a man opposite her, someone to stare in admiration. A partner to caress her, draw their torsos close and grind their bodies together to let the heat between them escape. Gem had nothing but this frustrating sexual urge and no one to ride it with.

Like usual.

She cranked up the volume then slipped back into position before the mirror to resume her dance. Fine. If she was alone, that meant she could go for it. Swing her body to the beat and do whatever she wanted. And if Evan found her a solution in the morning for her troubles, that was wonderful, but in the meantime…

If she had to take matters into her own hands, she had a lot of experience with that as well.

The faint scent of laundry soap rose off the bedsheets, and Shaun nestled deeper in the covers to make himself a nest. Hmm, that almost, but not quite, feminine fragrance. Some of his happy thoughts faded.

Female? There was no female in his room. Sadness slammed into him like an earth slide.

He sniffed harder. Man, whatever they washed the linens in not only smelled good, it kinda…turned him on. A momentary confusion scrambled his brain—and the idea he might have had a wee bit too much to drink passed by, waving madly. He ignored the mental suggestion, stuck his tongue out at it, in fact.

He was a wolf, damn it. He could hold his liquor.

One mad grope gathered the covers into his arms, and he buried his face in them to breathe deeply. The interesting scent vanished, covered by the cloying after-burn of dusty dryer sheets.