“Because I’m human?”

She waved that off. “Nina was human. No, because like I said, I haven’t dated in a while and they’re both just very protective. And you know yourself that right now things are very hinky with Pellini out there.”

He nodded. “There’s a story there, isn’t there? About the not dating?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Dinner. Tomorrow night. Perhaps a movie? And if things go well… Well, there are other things we could try.” He loved the way her eyes widened and then her pupils enlarged and her breathing quickened. “And you can tell me then. I want to know you.”

He walked her back to her car and she gave him her address and phone number.

As she moved to get inside, he stepped close, his body caging hers against the door.

One hand slid up her waist and over the side of her neck, essentially collaring half of her with his palm and fingers.

She fought the limpness that her body wanted to give him. Not in public. She didn’t want to give in to him all the way just yet. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to turn away when his lips met hers.

Her arms slid around his neck as the soft, gentle kiss became more intense. The edge of his mustache tickled her top lip, his scent, the scent of an alpha human male, strong and spicy, filled her nose, rode her senses.

His tongue stroked over the seam of her lips and she opened her mouth to him, letting him inside. His taste, chocolate and coffee and man nearly knocked her off her feet.

Oh how she wanted more but he broke the kiss and took a step back, slowly letting go of her neck. “I could do that all night. But you deserve better than a parking lot. I’ll see you tomorrow night then. Seven.”

She resisted touching her fingertips to her lips until she’d gotten onto the 520 bridge heading back into Seattle.

Chapter Three

Ben walked off the elevator and saw Lex and Cade there with two guards. He saw the resemblance then between the other Wardens and the one he couldn’t get his mind off.

He’d quickly driven home and showered, changing out of his jeans and T-shirt and into khaki pants and a button-down shirt. Her taste was in his mouth like it belonged there.

Shaking his head to try and dislodge her, he reached out and shook hands with Lex and Cade and waved them into his office.

Lex sat and leaned in. “Why do you smell like my sister?”

Megan raised a brow and hid a smile.

“I, uh, well your sister and I have started to date I suppose you could say.” It was disconcerting that they could smell her on him even after a shower. He was glad they hadn’t had sex, he wasn’t ready to have to explain that to them.

“You could say? What the hell does that mean?” Cade’s voice was a low growl.

“Oh for cripe’s sake! She’s an adult. He’s an adult. Stop it or I’ll tell Nina.”

Ben wanted to thank Megan but he just leaned back in his chair. He had to approach this as an equal. He wished he’d had more time to think on it but it was something he had to deal with right then.

“I just met Tegan this evening. I’ve asked her to have dinner with me because all we had time for was coffee. I’m sure she’ll tell you more if she feels it’s necessary.”

“What are your intentions?”

“Cade!” Megan stomped to him. “I’m telling you this as your sister, not as a member of your Pack. Let Tee tell you all this if she wants. If you meddle…look, please. Let her have a life.”

Ben wondered what that comment meant. He supposed it had something to do with Tegan’s saying she hadn’t dated for a long time.

“I want to respect Tegan. I’m not asking to marry her. I just met her. But I like her a lot. I enjoyed her company and I want to spend more time with her and get to know her.

I’m an honorable man, my intentions are not something I’m going to share with you other than I’ll treat her with respect and honesty. And now we’re moving on to our conference call with Nick, Gabe, Tracy and Agent Benoit.”

Once the other three Alphas and the FBI agent were on the line they began to compare notes.

“Today I received a call. Jack says Pellini has been pressuring Tina, the Fourth in National, for more control. Templeton is holding Pellini off for now but I think it may be time for some of the Packs to break with Jack. It’ll be authentic and keep Pellini thinking National and Templeton are still in his pocket. Tina is too weak to challenge Jack so all this internal politicking will keep Pellini busy for a while.” Ben sighed. Templeton Mancini was the National Alpha and right at the moment, Warren Pellini believed him and the National Enforcer, Jack Meyers to be in his pocket when really they were working with the FBI and some of the other Packs to try and bring him down. This was complicated by the fact that their Fourth was in fact a Pellini pawn and they’d recently lost their Third to Pacific when he became Tracy Warden’s mate. Damned werewolves were more complicated and political than humans.

“I’ll go first,” Gabe Murphy, the co-Alpha of Pacific Pack and Cade and Lex’s brother-in-law, spoke over the phone line. “It’ll mean more coming from me because I was Third for a long time and used to count Jack as a good friend.” They were still good friends in fact. But the plan was for Jack to look dirty, which put Gabe in the position of publically holding his old friend up as a liar and a fraud. Kept Pellini feeling in control while they looked for ways to take him out.