Buck Naked Read online

  “She’s exactly my age—we’re twins,” Sadie said. “But fraternal, not identical.”

  Fiona arched one auburn eyebrow. “And is she experiencing the same symptoms you are?”

  “Not that I know of. I think she would have said something.”

  “Well then—she’s probably safe. The Gene has been known to skip members of a family, even twins.” Fiona looked pleased.

  “What? But how is that scientifically possible?” Sadie protested. “I mean, we’re twins—we should have most of the same DNA including the Juvie Gene.”

  “Indeed, my dear but there’s nothing scientific about it,” Fiona said. “Ultimately it is the will of Lady Moon that decides which female will have the Gene and which female’s Gene will activate. Perhaps she simply doesn’t have plans for your sister to become a Juvie. If she’s your age with no male to claim her and she still hasn’t begun the Rejuvenation process, she should be all right.” She smiled. “There—that’s one less worry off your mind, I’m sure.”

  “Um, I guess so.” Sadie wasn’t at all sure she believed that some unknown deity held her sister’s fate in her hands, but Fiona seemed certain that if Sammie hadn’t started going through Rejuvenation so far, she probably wouldn’t start it now. That was a good thing—she hadn’t been looking forward to explaining to Samantha that her body would soon undergo a process which would make her physically twenty years younger and send her into a state of hyperfertility which would result in sex with a stranger under the full moon. And don’t forget the whole turning into a prehistoric animal afterward, a sarcastic little voice whispered in her head. Can’t leave that out—it’s practically the best part.

  “Well, I’m glad I could put your mind at ease.” Fiona smiled at her.

  “Thank you.” Sadie rubbed her temples again. “Now if only you could help me get rid of this headache.” She looked around the crowded shelves. “Do you sell ibuprofen here? You know—Advil?”

  “Oh, Advil won’t help that headache, my dear. What you need is the touch of an Alpha.” Fiona nodded wisely.

  “But—” Sadie began but just then the shop bell jingled and another customer came in.

  Feeling that she couldn’t take up any more of Fiona’s time, Sadie left the Cougarville Chemist with a sigh. It seemed that her life was about to get a whole lot more interesting than she had ever bargained for.

  She just wished she could have Mathis to help her through it.

  Seventeen

  Rubbing her throbbing temples, Sadie trudged back to her office and let herself in the front door. The reception area was empty so she got quite a shock when she walked back to her private office area and found Liam Keller lounging like a lazy cat behind her desk.

  “Mr. Keller?” Sadie stopped just inside the doorway and put a hand to her racing heart. “What are you doing here? And how did you get in? I was sure I locked the door.”

  “Locks don’t bother me.” Keller shrugged, as though her locked door was a minor annoyance at best. “I came to make sure you’d received my gifts. And to bring you another one.” He raised a brown paper bag with grease stains on the side. “I brought you a Sloppy Sally—that’s our famous pulled pork sandwich down at the Den—along with a side of slaw. And fries, of course.” He smiled, showing teeth much longer and sharper than Sadie remembered them being the day before.

  “Mr. Keller—”

  “Liam, please.” He gave her a lazy grin.

  “Mr. Keller,” Sadie said again firmly, as she stepped all the way into her office. “I am very grateful for all you’ve done for me since I got here but you can’t just come in my office unannounced like this.”

  “Actually, I can.” He grinned and shrugged, his broad shoulders rippling under the expensive-looking dark green sweater he wore. “I own this building—I’m your landlord, Sadie.”

  “You are?” Sadie was nonplussed. “I didn’t know. The rental agency—”

  “Is also owned by me. So you see—” He broke off abruptly and sat up, his nose wrinkling. “What the hell?”

  “What—” Sadie began but before she could get another word out, Keller was striding around the desk and invading her personal space.

  Taking her by the shoulders, he pushed her up against the wall. Pressing his face to her neck, he inhaled deeply. The feel of his skin against hers made Sadie shiver.

  “Mr. Keller, please!” She tried to shove him away but it was like pushing against a brick wall. He was at least as big as Mathis and apparently not inclined to stop sniffing her until he felt like it. “Get off me!” she demanded.

  At last he stepped back, a grim look on his handsome face.

  “Why is another male’s scent all over you?” he demanded. “Not just any male—that fool of an herbivore, Mathis!” His eyes narrowed. “And you’re wearing the same clothing you had on yesterday. Did you spend the night with him?”

  Sadie felt her face go hot but she straightened her rumpled sweater with dignity. So much for being a gentleman—clearly her buried instincts had been correct. Liam Keller was not a nice guy.

  “That isn’t any of your business,” she said icily. “It’s between Mathis and me.”

  He scowled. “So you’ve made your choice? Did you let him bond you to him?”

  Sadie frowned. “Well—”

  “Wait, of course not!” Keller laughed suddenly. “He had a mate before and his kind can only bond once. Idiotic herbivores. So he can’t form a life-bond with you.”

  “I like Mathis,” Sadie said stiffly. “And anything we have between us stays between us. You have nothing to do with it or with me.”

  “Oh, no?” He raised one eyebrow at her mockingly. “You might be singing a different tune come tonight when the moon is full, my lovely Sadie. You’ll need a male to breed you and bond you—one who’s Alpha enough to help you find your true form.”

  “That . . . that might not happen,” Sadie denied uneasily. “Fiona told me sometimes it takes a long time to reach that, uh, point. And I haven’t been Rejuvenating for that long. I only noticed the major changes a few days ago on my birthday.”

  “Did Fiona also tell you an Alpha can smell when you’re getting ripe?” He sniffed her again. “And under all that herbivore stink, I can tell you’re getting extremely ripe and ready, my pretty little Juvie.”

  “You’re lying!” Sadie exclaimed.

  “Most certainly not. When you first came in, you were rubbing your temples—you’ve been having a headache that won’t go away. Correct?” He raised his eyebrows at her.

  “Well . . . yes,” Sadie admitted grudgingly.

  “But just now it’s gone. Also correct?”

  “Mostly,” Sadie lied. Actually, the headache had drifted away as mysteriously as it had come in the first place.

  “That’s because I touched you, my little Juvie.” Keller stroked her cheek lightly with his fingertips. “The touch of an Alpha is the only thing that can alleviate such pain. And it will be the only thing that can help you tonight.”

  “Don’t touch me!” Sadie jerked her head away from his light caress.

  “Even if my touch ceases your pain?” he murmured.

  “Even so,” Sadie said evenly. “I’d like you to leave my office, but before you do, I need to talk to you about paying for the tires you sent my way yesterday.”

  “No payment necessary,” Keller said silkily. “The tires were a gift. As was the cheeseburger yesterday and lunch today.” He nodded at the bag still sitting on her desk.

  Sadie frowned suspiciously. “Why are you so eager to give me gifts? Is there some kind of Shifter law that says if you give a Juvie enough gifts you have some kind of claim on her?”

  “Very shrewd.” Keller’s leaf-green eyes narrowed speculatively. “Actually, there is a Shifter tradition that any female who accepts three gifts from a male is technically under his protection . . . which gives him a claim on her when it comes to making her his mate.”

  “What?” Sadie demanded. “Then