Linda Johnston - Untamed Wolf

Sara wasn’t sure who moved first, but she was suddenly engulfed in Jason’s strong embrace.

His mouth came down on hers, softly at first, then picking up a heat and fierceness and intensity that she felt helpless to do anything about but respond in kind.

No. She never felt helpless. This was exactly what she wanted, precisely where she wanted to be: in Jason’s strong, sexy embrace. Kissing him as if there was nothing, no one, in the world but them.

But as her hands raced under his clothes and up his back to clutch his heated flesh, she heard, in the distance, the sound of conversation.

“I—I’m sorry,” she gasped. “This wasn’t right.”

“Oh, I’d say it was very right,” Jason muttered.

LINDA O. JOHNSTONloves to write. More than one genre at a time? That’s part of the fun. While honing her writing skills, she started working in advertising and public relations, then became a lawyer … and still enjoys writing contracts. Linda’s first published fiction novel appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won a Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the Year. It was the beginning of her versatile fiction-writing career. Linda now spends most of her time creating memorable tales of paranormal romance and mystery.

Linda lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and two Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Visit her at her website, www.lindaojohnston.com.

Untamed Wolf

Linda O. Johnston

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Untamed Wolf is dedicated to wolves, real and shape-shifters. It’s also dedicated to our military, covert and otherwise. It’s dedicated to Maryland, including the Eastern Shore and the area south of Baltimore, where we visit often. Plus, it’s dedicated to my friends and my readers … and, of course, to my husband, Fred.

And it’s especially dedicated to Mills & Boon and the Nocturne series, its editors and most particularly my wonderful editor Allison Lyons. And last but definitely not least, it’s dedicated to my excellent agent, Paige Wheeler of Folio Literary Management.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Extract

Chapter 1

Sara pulled her car up to the formidable black wrought-iron gate at Ft. Lukman. She had been driving her small hybrid for more than an hour from D.C. to this out-of-the-way military installation on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Stopping at the security kiosk, she pulled her ID from the purse on the passenger seat. “Lieutenant Sara McLinder, reporting for duty,” she told the guard, a tall man, wearing a standard camouflage uniform similar to the one Sara had on.

So far, nothing here looked different or surprising, no matter what Sara’s superior officer, General Greg Yarrow, had suggested. Of course not.

Even so, maybe she should have waited until tomorrow, as the general had said. It was early evening already, and she wouldn’t have much time to get settled.

On the other hand, it hadn’t been an order, and Sara didn’t like to delay. Facing new situations quickly and immediately was more to her liking than waiting.

“Is General Yarrow behind you, ma’am?” asked the soldier.

“The general will be here tomorrow,” she said.

“Very good, ma’am.” He looked over her identification and passed it back. “Everything looks in order. Welcome to Ft. Lukman, Lieutenant.” The private saluted and the gate slid open, away from the car.

Sara saluted back. “Thank you,” she said, then drove onto the base.

The general had provided her the layout in advance. She knew that the building comprising the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters where she was to stay was to the right once she entered the base. That was where she headed. She was also aware that the cafeteria, not far from the living quarters, should be open late—a good thing. She hadn’t stopped to eat on the way and was hungry.

Rather than pulling into the small enclosed garage, she parked in the open-air lot closest to the BOQ, finding a space at the far end, near a wall. She removed her suitcase on wheels from the trunk of her car. She had already been given a set of keys, so she had no problem either getting inside the functional-looking concrete building or into her apartment after taking the elevator up one floor.

Interestingly, or not, she didn’t run into any other people. Also a good thing, since she didn’t really want to have a gabfest. Not now.

She didn’t spend much time assessing the quarters where she would stay as long as the general kept them at this base. The place resembled a tiny one-bedroom apartment. That was good enough.

She was back outside in only a few minutes, walking in the remaining daylight along a sidewalk toward the cafeteria. As she neared it, she began to see people—others also in camo fatigues and thick-soled shoes similar to hers.

She wondered if she would be able to discern any differences between the two main units now present at Ft. Lukman. That was one of the reasons General Yarrow intended to station himself for a while at this base. He was in charge of Alpha Force, the special-ops unit that had been headquartered here for a few years. A new special-ops group, the Ultra Special Forces Team, had only been assigned here about a month ago to prepare for a highly classified and critically important team assignment with Alpha Force, and the general had heard about some friction between the two units.

He wanted to observe it—and, if necessary, make some changes.

Sara, as the primary aide assigned to General Yarrow, would be his eyes and ears and, if necessary, his mouth.

A group of four enlisted personnel—two men and two women—stood by the building’s entrance. They stopped their conversation and saluted her, and she saluted back.

Interesting, since the general had said that things were fairly low-key and informal here at Ft. Lukman. These soldiers were therefore probably among the new arrivals.

The general had also hinted at a lot of other things about what went on at Ft. Lukman, none of which could be real. He liked to joke. His sense of humor was obviously quite different from hers. But she always admired how serious he appeared, even while jesting.

Inside an entry hall, Sara saw people going in and out through an open doorway in the middle—obviously the way into the cafeteria. The aroma of grilled meat grew stronger the closer she got, confirming her assumption.

The place was smaller than she’d anticipated for a base this size—a long room crowded with occupied tables. She headed toward the food line and picked out a hamburger and fries, then got a soft drink.

Once she paid, she looked around for an empty spot and saw none. She could get the meal to go, but for now was carrying a tray.

“Hi,” said a female voice beside her. “You look lost.” Sara turned and saw a woman in camo uniform with layered tawny hair and a big smile—another lieutenant, like her. “You wouldn’t happen to be General Yarrow’s aide, would you? We were told you’d be here tomorrow, but I don’t think anyone else is expected right now.”

Sara smiled. “Good guess. I’m Sara McLinder.” She saw that her new companion’s name tag read Hodell.

“I’m Colleen Hodell. Welcome. Here, we’ll make room at our table for you.” She gestured across the room where some other soldiers were seated around a table. “They’re all Alpha Force members.”