2: Leer - Pack Takeover (2 page)

They
are
wild animals. Let me confirm that for ya.

He didn’t talk the entire time we walked. Not until we were at my door. He said directly, “Look. My name is Leer. I’ve been looking for you.”

I blinked.

“For me?”

“Yeah.” Getting a little antsy, he jerked his head toward the door. “Mind if we talk about it inside?”

Chapter Two

Truth is, some sense of self-preservation could have kicked in any time. But no, it was like I was under his spell, not thinking for myself. Something about being with him was just right. I can’t really explain it.

I unlocked the door, pushed it open and gestured for him to go in. But he shook his head and let me step inside first. I turned just in time to see him checking behind, as if someone were out there--maybe following us.

Shivers crawled over my back.

Leer closed the door and faced me, putting his hands on his hips. That was the first time he looked indecisive--a little unsure. Finally, he repeated, “My name’s Leer.”

I offered him another one of those pathetic smiles.

My apartment was small, more claustrophobic than it had ever been with his big form looming, taking up half the space. I wanted to back up, but there was no place to go. I asked, “So…Leer…how do you know my name and where I live?”

He hesitated to answer that.

I didn’t want to ask again. Truth is, I didn’t want to talk at all. The pheromones were making me swoon. I’m sure my eyes started going all dreamy on him, and I licked my lips a few times, too.

He asked, “You want to sit down?”

I staggered backward, into a chair…collapsing. I fanned myself. “Whew. Is it hot in here or what?”

He tugged at his shirt. “Yeah, a little.”

It wasn’t hot.
We
were hot.

What I didn’t know then is… He was having the same reaction to me.

I reached over and flipped on the light. I don’t know why I didn’t do it when I first came in. Maybe because his eyes glowed--kinda lit up the room. And there was moonlight coming in through the front window.

I told him. “You can sit.”

“Thanks.”

He swamped my sofa. It sits a little low. One of those old, wide-seated ones.

His knees were at an angle. I remember wondering just how tall he was. Six foot six?

He rested his arms on his thighs and leaned forward, eyeing me closely. “I knew you lived over this way…because I was looking for you.”

“For me? Why?”

I settled back in my chair, letting my legs sprawl out. I think it was instinct or something. Let my scent crawl out from between my legs, ya know? My short skirt rode up on my thighs. I didn’t bother to push it back down. I wasn’t exactly sitting spread eagle, but I was half reclining, resting my head on the back of the chair… waiting for him to explain what was going on. I felt like I was drugged. Totally lethargic, like the whole scene was in slow motion or something.

“You’re on the list.”

I had to laugh a little at that. One of those nervous laughs. You know. “What list?”

He put a hand to the back of his neck, rubbed. Refreshed his scent? I sure noticed it more about a minute later. I swooned. Actually moaned aloud.

He said, “This is gonna sound crazy.”

“Try me.” It sounded like a come on, more than what I intended.

Leer’s head came up. His eyes skewered me. That wolfish grin reappeared and he said, “I’m gonna have to.”

I sat up. I knew he was talking about
taking
me. My panties were suddenly in a bunch. Literally. I’ve since discarded with the wearing of them. But right then, I had on a pair of hip huggers. I had to try and discreetly pull them out of my crotch.

Leer didn’t miss my efforts. And that’s when I heard him growl for the first time. I don’t think he meant to do it. It just came from deep down in his chest.

I asked again, “What list?”

“The kin list.”

“Kin?” I had to think a minute. The relative list? He didn’t look like any relatives I had. And if he was kin, what I was thinking about--consumed with--was downright sinful.

He said, “Apparently…the minute you were born…”

I frowned. The minute I was born?

“The elders can sense these things. They keep the records. Not to mention they have a lot of doctors and nurses--”

“Wait. Kin to what? What are you talking about?” I wished he’d just stop talking and get to what I brought him home for. But now he had me curious.

And apparently, he couldn’t get to it without talking through it first. He ran his hand through his hair again. There was a little silver at the temples, but he didn’t look old. Not at all.

Leer admitted, “I’m having a little trouble thinking.”

I tried to be flip. “What is there to think about?”

“Kayty.” He just blurted it out. “I’m gonna get you pregnant.”

I was speechless for several seconds. Then I laughed. I’m sure a few expletives crossed my lips. But they died in the air between us, and so did the false laugh.

He was dead serious.

I swallowed hard, then cleared my throat and said, “I should’ve finished my beer.”

He nodded. “We should’ve got another round.”

I agreed. “Maybe two.”

The truth was, I wanted this guy to jump me--in spite of what he’d just said. I couldn’t wait for it. And I was scared to death. I mean, there was no question that he was big enough to hurt me. Definitely, he could rape me if he wanted.

He looked virile. In fact, he looked so damn sexy that I
wanted
his children. I know it sounds stupid. But, on the spot, I went from being alone to wanting to belong. I wanted to be his. To be connected forever.

Leer said, “I’m having a little trouble with self-control here.”

His fingers were clenching and unclenching. He kept tucking his chin, looking--no--darting his gaze around the room.

I watched him, half-afraid of what he was trying to control. Maybe, somewhere deep down inside, I’d been waiting for him all my life. I knew, instinctively you might say, that we were going to end up together. Call it kismet. Call it destiny.

He called it kinship.

What that really meant was that I was a breeder. Somewhere back in the family line, a werewolf had crossed with a human in my tree. The gene doesn’t dominate the line, thank God. But when it resurfaces, there’s a few signs that tip off the elders. Life lines in the palm, shape of the eyes, that sort of thing. They’d been waiting, watching my mother, her mother, my grandma. Just waiting.

You see, Garou--that’s another name for werewolves--are short on breeding females. Their bitches are just that. A lot of in-fighting. They kill each other off regularly. If it weren’t for the kin-lines, they’d have likely gone extinct altogether.

I’ve learned a lot about my relatives since that first night when I met Leer, as you can see. Now, without going into the whole deal, you may be wondering… so why don’t they just mate with human women, like their ancestors did? Well, they could. But that opens a whole other can of worms. I’ll probably get to the worms later.

Leer said, “Look. I just wanna jump your bones.”

I didn’t think twice. “So get to it. We both know you’re not leaving here without what you came for.”

We both held our breath.

I didn’t blink. I’m sure of it. But I must have. Because, not a half second later, he was on me. Well, he was kneeling between my legs, on the floor in front of me. Both his hands were on the arms of the chair. His nose was in my throat.

He was sniffing me.

Oh my God! There is nothing more sensual than a werewolf that is panting for you, getting ready.

They get so close that you are all but touching. Their pheromones fill your senses. You pant back. You can’t help it. And you become moist all over. Your skin sweats. Your crotch drips. Your mouth salivates.

At least, that’s what it’s like for kin.

You know, I’d always had great ears. Could hear sirens before they turned the corner, birds and insects that no one else heard. Smelled smoke long before anyone else did. Sneezed repeatedly over strong perfumes. Could taste faint nuances in unusual dishes. Now I know why.

And now I know what those senses were meant for.

I sniffed him back. With my eyes closed, I inhaled time and time again. I don’t know when I reached for him, cradled his face--licked his jaw.

But that was all it took. The next thing I knew, he lifted me up out of the chair and grumbled, “Where? We need more room.”

My apartment actually had a huge living room, but I didn’t question him. Instead, I clung to him, my arms around his neck, nuzzling him. “Mmmm. The bedroom’s in there.” I lifted my head, ever so slightly.

I don’t remember the trip to the next room. Another blink of the eye. Werewolves cross the time barriers. I never knew that before. Or speed. God knows what it is they do. But they can get from point A to point B before I can do much more than blink. It’s a little freaky. One minute they’re behind you. The next, they are staring right down into your soul from six inches in front of you.

That’s why they’re such good hunters, I think. And why they don’t get a lot of guff from other species. Garou mostly have to worry about their own kind. Which is a little sad, when you get thinking about it.

Anyhow, he could have laid me on the bed. I think I half-expected it. But no, once in there, he paused, smelled the air, looked around--then slid me down his body. I felt the ridge of his arousal. It was definitely a road bump to notice.