Shifter's Claim (The Shadow Shifters) (41 page)

“No, you’re not,” he said in a slow, casual tone that made her feel just as uncomfortable as if he’d demanded she stay instead. “You’re still standing there watching me. You’d get a better view if you came closer.”

The arrogant jerk, she thought, but didn’t fire those words at him exactly.

“I think I’ve seen enough,” she replied instead.

He gave her a curt nod and a shrug of those perfectly cut shoulders. “Suit yourself.”

Before she could reply, he lay back on the bench. His feet planted firmly against the floor, his thighs flexing, preparing to hold him steady as he lifted hundreds of pounds. The rippled planes of his abs uncurled, like a feast being uncovered for consumption. As his arms rose, his fingers wrapped around the metal pole, closing, opening, closing again before he boosted it off the rack. Glossy dark biceps flexed, muscles bulged. Jewel’s nipples hardened, intense spikes of pleasure traveling from the heavy mounds to rest with a persistent throb between her legs.

He’d just completed his fifth repetition when the heat clawing at her had Jewel’s knees about to buckle. Instead of falling to the floor, panting after a man she didn’t know, and in desperate need of sexual release that she hadn’t required in years, Jewel decided retreat was best. The first step was the hardest—as was probably the norm—but she did finally manage to move one foot and then another, all while still trying to watch every pull and release of muscle on his body, including, but definitely not limited to, the bulge between his legs that she was almost certain had increased in size as she stared. Her mouth watered as her back slammed into another wall, jarring just a semblance of sense into her. Shaking her head, she finally pulled her gaze away from him, turned, and ran like she was being chased by police all the way back to her room.

Truth be told, Jewel always felt like she was being chased, like at any moment her secret would be revealed and everything she’d risked her life and her father’s life for had been for nothing. There was no way Ezra Preston, the stranger who had come to Perryville weeks ago behind a lot of hushed conversations and worried looks on behalf of Jacques and Mr. Perry, could know anything about what she’d done before she came here. Absolutely no possibility he could be here to unveil the secrets she guarded so closely. Still, as she closed the door to her room and leaned back against it, common sense said it was best she steer clear of him totally.

*   *   *

Five hundred pounds of steel were nothing in comparison to the heaviness Ezra felt throbbing between his legs. He’d scented her the moment she’d stepped into the gym: the fresh, intense scent of arousal that had permeated his senses, filtering through his body like a fast-acting drug. The high was instant and powerful, almost causing him to lose his grip on the bar holding the weights. That’s what made him stop and sit up. He wanted, no, more like needed, to see her up close.

So he’d called to her and she’d stepped out from behind the wall to address him. But she hadn’t come further as he’d requested. She hadn’t come to him the way he’d craved. Instead she’d continued to watch.

And he’d been content to let her.

Lying back and giving her an unfettered view of his growing erection and whatever else she’d been entranced by so long she’d only been able to leave when she wasn’t sure she’d be able to continue resisting.

Ezra heard the beat of her heart, he sensed the thrumming of hot blood in her veins, the dampening of the tender folds between her legs. Everything about her had been embedded in his mind since the first day he’d seen her having lunch with Priya. Only twice since that day more than a month ago had he seen Jewel Jenner at the resort. She worked closely with Bas’s Lead Enforcer, Jacques, performing administrative tasks. Originally Bas had thought there might be a romantic link between the two but Jacques didn’t have the
companheiro calor
, the mating scent of the Shadow Shifters.

One morning Ezra had timed his appearance in the administrative offices of Perryville Resorts to coincide with the arrival of most of the staff. Jewel always arrived first. She unlocked the front glass doors that were marked in bold block letters and switched on the lights, her computer, and the Kuerig machine that sat on a stand leading down a small hallway. That hallway led to Jacques’s office and the sales directors’ office. Jewel sat up front in a partially enclosed space, while just on the other side of her the receptionist sat to greet anyone coming in with questions.

Instead of startling her by going in right behind her, a few minutes passed and the receptionist went inside.

“Is Mr. Germain in?” Ezra had inquired once he’d finally decided to go into the offices himself.

“No. He isn’t,” the receptionist, who looked more like a college student than a professional office worker, informed him. “May I leave him a message that you were here?”

The request was stilted, as if she’d rehearsed it enough to memorize it but not enough to say it with any type of sincerity.

He’d smiled at her efforts, remembering a time when he was young and carefree, or at least young.

“Just tell him Ezra stopped by,” he’d replied.

And just like a few minutes ago in the gym, Jewel had peeked around the wall to look at him. When he caught her gaze that time, she’d cleared her throat and stepped completely into the outer area coming to stand right beside the receptionist. She didn’t reek of fear, but there was definitely a stand-offish quality to her, as if she’d rather remain out of sight and possibly out of mind.

“He’s meeting with Mr. Perry this morning. When he returns I will tell him that you were here,” she told him, looking just over his shoulder as she spoke.

“Thanks,” he’d said, keeping his gaze steady on hers. After all, she was the one he’d come to see. “I’ll stop by later to see if he’s in.”

“That’s fine,” Jewel stated in a clipped tone.

Ezra nodded. “Will you tell him that I will be back?” He was speaking slowly, watching, waiting for her to look at him.

He wanted the seal to their connection, the lock of gazes, the first step in the dance Ezra knew they would partake in. When it finally came, it took his breath away. Her eyes were green, a softer shade than his that for some reason didn’t strike him as natural, and they were secretive. Ezra was instantly intrigued. Later that day when he’d returned, Jacques was indeed in the office and so was Jewel. She’d been at the receptionist’s desk, and instead of having to go back to Jacques’s office, the shifter had come out to meet him. As if he’d known what Ezra’s plan was all along.

As Jacques stood near Jewel, Ezra noted nothing between them. No simmering arousal, no
calor
signifying that they’d been intimate. That had solicited an immediate smile.

The next time he’d seen her had been at night when she was coming back into the resort. He had no idea where she’d been all day as he’d been looking around for her. She appeared rested and peaceful upon her return, so much so he’d considered that her day had been spent in her lover’s bed, legs spread, body open in surrender to another man. A deep rumble in his chest, the barely restrained growl of his cat, signaled just how much Ezra disliked that thought. She hadn’t noticed him at all that night as she moved through the entrance, down past the restaurants to the elevators. He thought of following her to her room but didn’t think he’d be able to control his arousal or the rage that someone else might have been touching her. The smart option—which Ezra liked to think he took at all times—was to keep his distance. And he had, until now.

Don’t miss these captivating novels of

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by A.C. Arthur

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Passion’s Prey

Available from St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Also by A.C. Arthur

Temptation Rising

Seduction’s Shift

Passion’s Prey

PRAISE FOR A.C. ARTHUR

and her Shadow Shifter novels

“Deliciously edgy, sexy, and certainly not to be missed. A.C. Arthur knows how to deliver the heat.”

—Lora Leigh, #1
New York Times
bestselling author

“The shifter universe just got sexier with the kickoff to Arthur’s sizzling new series, Shadow Shifters … intriguing.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“Arthur does a great job of building up the sexual tension … I’ll be looking for the next one in the series.”

—
Under the Covers

“Romantic … exciting … fast-paced.”

—
Genre Go Round Reviews

“I am in love with A.C. Arthur’s new series, Shadow Shifters. From start to finish, I was absolutely hooked … an incredible roller-coaster ride! With amazing suspense and sizzling sparks, Arthur creates a fantastic cast of characters that have secrets and lusts and so much more … highly recommended to all paranormal romance lovers.”

 —
Romancing the Book

“
Temptation Rising
has everything a good book should: action, adventure, suspense, mystery, and fiery-hot passion … The love scenes are intense and the detail, especially when they wind up in the jungle, is amazing … A.C. Arthur is a talented author and readers will eagerly look forward to the next one in the Shadow Shifters series.”

—
Romance Junkies Review

About the Author

A.C. Arthur
was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where she currently lives with her husband and three children. An active imagination and a love for reading encouraged her to begin writing in high school and she hasn’t stopped since. Her debut novel
Object of His Desire
was written when a picture of an Italian villa sparked the idea of an African-American/Italian hero. Determined to bring a new edge to romance, she continues to develop intriguing plots, sensual love scenes, racy characters, and fresh dialogue—thus keeping the readers on their toes! Visit her at:
www.acarthur.net
.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

SHIFTER’S CLAIM

Copyright © 2014 by A.C. Arthur.

Excerpt from “Hunger’s Mate” copyright © 2014 by A.C. Arthur.

All rights reserved.

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eISBN: 9781466840867

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / August 2014

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.