Wen Read online

  “You need to go, Wen. I really can't help you now.”

  “I disagree.”

  She gaped at him.

  “I need you to pull this off.”

  “Are you insane?” She secured her towel a little more. “I don't have a death wish. We’ve had sex once. I can remove your scent if you get out of my way and let me in that shower.”

  “No. This ghoul maker is dangerous, and so are those rogues he’s seeking shelter with, but I can handle them. I just need to get close enough to take them out. You can help me do that. I'll be the target they come after if shit hits the fan, not you.”

  She shook her head, gazing at him with disbelief etched on her features. “I'm not talking about that. You want me to play lover to you as a cover to get in deep with those pricks, but that means we're going to have to keep having sex. I'm not naive, Wen. You have the urge to test a mating. I wish I could forget everything about my childhood but I was raised in your culture. Every time you touch me, that urge is going to grow stronger. Your scent on me will grow stronger too. Am I wrong?”

  “No.” He wouldn't lie to her about that.

  “And if I taste right to you, if you have those strong feelings, you're going to mate me. Period. Nature is going to bitch-slap you so hard, you won't have a choice. Am I wrong about that?”

  He frowned, saying nothing.

  “I'll take that for a no. You’re either damn sure I'm just going to be O positive with a little lack of iron in my bloodstream when you do bite me, or you already know someone else is your mate, so you feel safe enough to risk it. Which is the case?”

  “I've never found someone else I wanted to test before. You're the only woman I've ever had feelings for.”

  “That makes it worse. What if you bite me and it's instant insanity time?”

  “Then I'll know you're my mate.”

  “And what then? You'll find super VampLycan strength and be the first man ever to resist claiming a mate? Are you that delusional?”

  He hesitated. “I'm sure I can control the urge to bite you. I also wouldn't be the first one to resist claiming a mate. It just doesn't happen often.”

  “I've never heard of that.”

  “You've been gone a long time and weren't privy to what was going on in other clans. Another VampLycan refused to claim a mostly human half-breed for his mate in Decker's clan. His love for her was strong enough to make sure she wasn't killed. Decker would have taken her out. Lorn knew it was a death sentence to his Kira if he made her his mate while Decker ruled.”

  She studied him. “Do you love me, Wen?”

  He drew in a deep breath and released it. “I always have, Gerri. You will never know how close I came to killing the humans you dated. I wanted to rip them to shreds every time I read about one in a report. I would never endanger your life by taking you as a mate. I know it would be a death sentence for you in the long run. My clan leader would accept it but my parents wouldn’t.”

  “Then walk away. It's too risky.” She blinked rapidly. “Because I know I wouldn't be strong enough to say no if you asked me to go home with you.”

  “I'd rather have this time than none at all.”

  She glanced away and hugged her waist.

  “We don't have forever, but I'll take whatever time I can get with you. The memories will be easier for you to live with than me.”

  Gerri whipped her head up and peered at him. “How do you figure that?”

  “You have a much shorter lifespan, G.L. You're going to haunt me long after you're gone.”

  She closed her eyes and walked to him. “Goddamn you, Wen.”

  “Is that a yes?” He hugged her around her middle. “Will you come with me until my mission is completed?”

  “This is so damn stupid…but count me in. I'll regret it otherwise. I already do,” she admitted. “But I love you too.”

  He lifted her, determined to carry her to bed and make love. This time he'd take it slower, with her facing him, and be more prepared for the way he was going to respond to her. He'd keep his skin or put on a muzzle if he needed to, just to keep from biting her.

  But the way his chest tightened and how strong his urge was to claim her told Wen more than a blood test ever could. She was his mate.

  Chapter Three

  Gerri woke with a big, warm body curled around her back. Memory was instant. Wen's hand cupped one of her breasts, his leg wedged between hers while they’d slept. The feeling that woke her was his stiff cock lightly tapping against her ass. She bit her lip and lifted her head off his other arm, which pillowed it.

  One glance at the clock and she clenched her teeth. Her shift had started three hours before. Her boss would be pissed enough to fire her. She’d also lost her chance at getting laundry done.

  “Go back to sleep or I will fuck you again,” Wen rasped, his husky voice sexy.

  “I'm going to be sore,” she admitted, feeling tenderness between her legs. “Human, remember?”

  He adjusted his body a little on the bed and nuzzled her shoulder with his face. The kiss he placed there was open-mouthed and he raked his teeth gently against her skin. “Sorry. We had a lot of time to make up for. I could bleed for you.”

  “No.” She hated the way his offer had her stomach knotting.

  “You can take my blood. That's safe and it will heal you.”

  “Pass. I'd rather feel a little pain than be hornier than hell. I know it's going to make me feel higher than a kite and give me an adrenaline rush, since I’m not hurt. Mom clued me in.”

  He chuckled. “That's not a bad thing.”

  She dropped her head back against his arm and closed her eyes. It was time to change the subject. “I'm shocked my phone isn't ringing. My boss should have called me.”

  “I turned your phone off after you fell asleep.”

  Anger surged. “You what?”

  “You don't need that job. You're working for me now. I also returned the key to the old woman after you fell asleep, so she'd never miss it. I braced your door too. You should always put those bars across it. Some asshole could have gotten in the same way I did.”

  “Don't say that about the job thing when we're naked. It sounds obscene.”

  His hand on her breast gently squeezed. “You're worth every penny.”

  She jabbed him in his ribs with her elbow. “Not funny.”

  He laughed. “Was that supposed to hurt? It kind of tickled. You're going to have to work harder at it.”

  She wiggled and turned, facing him. He straightened his legs to allow it and rolled over onto his back. His hair was messy from sleep and his usually harsh expression was soft from him just waking up. The sight of him stretched out on her bed with the sheet low on his hips killed her urge to slap him. She reached out instead and ran her fingertips over the muscles along his stomach.

  “I thought you didn't want me to fuck you.” His hand gripped hers, stopping her from caressing him.

  “Couldn't you have a pot belly?”

  He grinned. “No.”

  She studied his chest and muscled arms. “You're beautiful.”

  “Couldn't you use the term studly or handsome?”

  Gerri grinned. “I said I'd never sleep with a guy prettier than me. You blew that one out of the water.”

  He suddenly rolled, knocking her flat on her back and coming down over her. He pushed up with his arms, lifting his chest away from hers. He lowered his gaze and licked his lips. “You're the pretty one, G.L. All soft curves.” He looked into her eyes, a glint of humor showing in his gaze. “You are a tiny powerhouse of sex appeal.”

  “Tiny powerhouse?”

  He braced his weight with one arm to free the other. He gripped her hip with one hand. “You're short but you've got the best ass and breasts I've ever seen. Spread your legs.”

  “Anyone is short compared to you. And I want to but I'm really sore, Wen. We did it four times last night and you weren't exactly gentle those last two.”

  He opene