What This Wolf Wants (8 page)

Just the idea of his lips pressed to her in a hot open-mouthed kiss sent a burst of anticipation through her.

Agh. No kissing. No mating, no encouraging of any kind. You have
a clinical objective, both medical and personal. Not a romantic one. Of
any kind.

She stalked off to change into a pair of khaki pants and short-sleeved top. Then she grabbed her medical bag and headed out to the Kolter house.

Less than ten minutes later she slowed as she drove up the long concrete driveway, admiring the large garden that took up nearly half the right lawn. Bright and cheerful flowers of all sizes and shapes lifted their faces to the sun. A variety of green plants were blended throughout, providing a lush touch. A large bubbling fountain reigned in the middle of the circular garden. Decorative stone and wood benches were scattered throughout, inviting a passerby to come sit, take a load off and simply enjoy all the natural beauty.

Jackie exited her truck and took a deep breath. The scent of lilacs and honeysuckle tickled her senses. Several butterflies danced from one flowing bush to another and she sighed with longing. She even took one step toward the garden when the front door opened.

Slowly she turned her attention away, only to let out another sigh of longing. This one brought on by the man leaning against the door frame, watching her with piercing green eyes. He didn’t even try to hide his interest. Instead, Zan took a thorough visual examination of his own.

Starting from her face down to her toes and back again, only pausing at her breasts and the junction between her thighs.

She should be upset at his blatant perusal, and she was. Really mad. Only at how her nipples tightened under his predatory gaze, and the long liquid pull of desire that swirled low in her belly.

No
, she hissed at herself. It wasn’t pleasant to be scrutinized in such an obvious way. It was rude. Women didn’t stare at a man’s groin when they checked him out.

Of course that was when she realized she was looking at the front of his pants, and the subtle rise of the soft material. She jerked her attention to his face, unsurprised to find a satisfied smile on his face.

Clinical objective
, she chanted silently to herself before taking a step towards Zan.

“Thanks for coming.”

I haven’t yet.

Aghast at her immediate response, and praying to God she hadn’t said that out loud, Jackie flattened her lips in a thin line. “Of course. A doctor always has time for a patient.”

A gleam of something, irritation maybe, flashed in his eyes and then was gone. “Glad to hear it. Come on in.” Jackie followed Zan in the large house, trying desperately not to notice the breadth of his shoulders, and the way he carried his muscled body with easy grace. And his ass!

She tightened her grip on her bag to keep from reaching out to touch his butt and forced her head to look at the inanimate surroundings. “I didn’t think the place was furnished.”

“It’s not really. One bedroom is and I took that. Dean was kind enough to obtain cots for the boys.” Meaning Joe and Scott. He pointed to a room on the right. Pocket doors were slid back in their housings. Light streamed in from the large windows and filtered over a beige leather couch, two fabric chairs, black coffee table and an enchanting armoire with foldout doors, open to reveal a large television set. “The den still has furniture and the kitchen has the basics, along with a table and chairs.

Other than that, it’s empty.”

He led her to the back of the house where the kitchen was. More windows opened into the backyard, giving her an unobstructed view of the enormous, lush lawn backed by the forest. Off to the left was a sparkling swimming pool and next to that was a jacuzzi.

Jackie felt that longing unfold inside her again. She loved swimming. And she was going to kill Kaylie, then Dean, and finally Zan.

First, her Lupa put the idea of using the house as both Jackie’s living quarters and off-site medical arena for shifters. Jackie could push that off, especially since she not only didn’t have the funds to rent—much less buy—such a magnificent home. Then, Dean plops his brother into the house for the duration of his visit, which meant when Zan contacted her, Jackie had no choice but to make a house call. Now that she’d seen the garden, the pool, and the front part of the house, which would be ideal for a doctor’s office and waiting room, Jackie wanted it all.

Male shifter included.

Chapter Eight

“I thought the kitchen would work. Unless you want to use the bedroom.”

“What? No. I mean…” Jackie drew in a deep breath to steady her nerves. “The kitchen is fine.” She set her bag on the table, opened it, and applied some hand sanitizer. “I want to check your back first.”

“It’s fine.”

Jackie raised a brow. “Aren’t you military men supposed to obey orders?” She twirled one finger in the air. “Turn around.” Grudgingly, though Jackie saw his lips curl up, Zan obeyed. “And take off your shirt.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Zan whipped the tee off and presented her with the wide expanse of his back. The white bandage wrapped around his ribcage only emphasized his dark skin and the mouthwatering masculine build of his torso. Between his shoulder blades was an angry welt, but nothing compared to the gash that marred his skin Saturday night. The sudden urge to lick and kiss the ugly mark took her off guard and she fisted her hands to gain some control.

But she had to touch him.

With one hand she outlined the healing wound, fascinated by the texture of his skin. Zan’s muscles tightened underneath her exploring fingertips and she dropped her hand. “This should be gone in the next day or so.”

Zan merely grunted in response.

“Now I’m going to check your ribs. I don’t want to undo the bandages, but I will be poking and prodding. Let me know if I hurt you.” She thought standing behind him would be better. Call her a chicken, but that way she wouldn’t have to look in his eyes or feel the weight of his stare as she touched him. Boy was she wrong.

Her arms wrapped around him, bringing her into closer contact with his body. While her fingers pressed carefully over his ribs to assess the damage, her lips were so close to his back that if she stuck out her tongue she’d be able to taste him. And despite all her mental warnings, she really wanted to taste him.

Abruptly she stood back. “You’re a fast healer, even for a shifter.” She blurted, hoping he didn’t hear how ragged her breathing was. “Couple more days and I think you’ll be good as new.” Another grunt or growl, she wasn’t certain, was the happy response.

She really needed to get her libido under control, especially since the most intimate part of this checkup was at hand. She flapped the hem of her shirt, needing some air to combat the growing heat of her body. At the same time she flipped a chair around and sat near the edge.

When he shot her an undecipherable look over his shoulder she waved him over. “Let’s have a look.”

Zan obliged, to the extent that he came way to close and turned sideways. With him standing it put his hip right at her eye-level. Perfect for checking his wound, not so perfect for her heart. The organ began to pick up speed the second his legs brushed past her knees. Her traitorous eyes shifted from his hip to the unmistakable, and unapologetic, tent in the front of his sweatpants. And it was growing.

She had to wipe suddenly damp palms on her thighs before reaching the waistband of his. When her fingers touched his flesh he let out a harsh sound. “Did I hurt you?” She craned her neck to see his upturned face and closed eyes.

“Only in the best possible way.”

Her fingers flexed and she took two deep breaths before cautiously edging down the material. As she did, it pulled tighter and lower across his erection. While he didn’t pop free—she told herself she wasn’t disappointed—a thick mat of dark hair began to reveal itself and she nearly passed out. The man wasn’t wearing any underwear.

Another one of those long liquid pulls came and she felt damp and swollen between her legs. She’d close them to ward off the need, but Zan’s legs were in the way. And with him being a shifter, there was no way to hide the scent of her arousal from him. He could smell it a mile away.

She took another deep breath and tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

Clinical, clinical, clinical.

“Hold this down.” she ordered, referring to his pants.

“You know,” the husky timbre of his voice made her look up, and she gulped. He knew what his nearness did to her and by the heat that blazed in his eyes, he was doing it on purpose. Tricksy wolf. “You could just pull my pants down lower.”

A ringing began in her ears. The blood in her veins moving at ludicrous speed no doubt. As much as she wanted to yank his pants off, the sight of that bad boy springing to full attention might be the death of her.

“We’ve already had that discussion, Zan.” She referred to her less than friendly quip yesterday about using his pants to strangle him. “Just hold the material. Please.”

Once again Zan complied, stretching his pants wide, and a little too low for her comfort. Doing her best to ignore the extra flesh bared to her thirsty sight, Jackie used a nail to pry the tape around the bandage and partially pull it off. When she saw his wound she straightened, a frown marring her face. There were no raw edges. No odd smell. No infection. In fact…

She glared up at Zan. “This wound looks a week old.” He didn’t even have the grace to look ashamed. No, the louse just let out a smooth chuckle. “I know, but how else was I going to get you to come here?”

Her grip tightened on the bandage and with a swift yank, she ruthlessly ripped it free, taking several hairs along with it if Zan’s wince was any indication. “I don’t like liars, Zan.” She tried to push him away but he didn’t so much as budge.

“It wasn’t a real lie, more like a tiny fib.” He turned fully toward her, and with his legs still between hers, the move forced hers farther apart.

She arched her back when Zan loomed over her. “And I don’t like people who use their size to intimidate others.” Zan paused, and then tilted his head. “Fair enough.” With lightening speed he reversed their positions. Only while he was now sitting down, she was straddled across his lap, his erection thick and hard and urgent against her sex.

One large hand was wrapped around her neck, the other tight against her ass. “What are you doing?” What was supposed to sound reproachful came out in a heated whisper.

“I want you in my arms.” He pressed his face to her neck and inhaled. “Your scent is driving me crazy.” The long, slow glide of his teeth was followed by a sultry lick of his tongue. Her body flared to life, trembling at the rush of sexual heat that engulfed her.

Her hands were on his shoulders, her fingers flexing over the muscles that rippled when she tilted her hips for a better angle. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know that ever since meeting you, the darkness inside me has lifted.” He stroked her back as he continued to nibble on her neck. “I know that you smell like a dream and taste even better. I know that I want you.” She would not melt!

“This isn’t,” Jackie took in a breath when he edged his hand under her shirt. “This is too fast.” Belying her words, her legs snaked around the back chair legs and her hips began a slow rocking motion. She moaned softly, making his cock pulse harder.

His voice rough, he said, “Not fast enough. Otherwise, I’d already be inside you.”

Jackie gasped and Zan took advantage of her parted lips, slanting his mouth over hers and thrusting his tongue inside. He commanded the kiss from the start, taking possession, his tongue dueling with hers. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, the heat from his body seeping into hers, surrounding her, stroking her from the inside out.

Jackie swore an electric current burst through her body, sending fire racing through her bloodstream. She couldn’t think, could only feel.

Then she was falling back, supported by Zan’s muscled thighs and one strong arm. Somehow he’d unhooked her bra without her realizing it, until he pushed both her shirt and bra high on her chest. He let out a small groan, his eyes darker with desire as he eyed her creamy flesh like a starving animal. Her thighs clenched as another rush of need soaked her panties. Her hands fell to grasp his calves when he gently glided one hand from her belly to between her exposed breasts and back again. The muscles in her stomach trembled under the hand that splayed wide over her.

“You’re incredibly beautiful.” His voice was a stroke of velvet, a caress all its own and it sent delicious shivers of arousal to destroy her control. He was too masculine, too seductive, too good at making her a slave to her body. Giving in to this man would be dangerous.

Blood rushed to her head, the ringing in her ears louder now.

Then he cupped one mound and descended on her, suckling her breast with an urgency that echoed in Jackie. She arched her back sharply, forgetting what she’d been thinking and why Zan touching her was not a good idea. Because this was damn good.

Her breathing had grown hectic with each flick of his tongue against her nipple. She dug her fingers through his short hair and into his scalp, silently demanding more. His hips rocked up, rubbing the hard length of his cock over the folds of her pussy and hitting her throbbing clit just right. She pushed back against him, lust becoming a greedy beast that clawed for release.

If she could just twist a little to the left.

Zan suddenly froze above her and Jackie nearly snarled in disapproval, opening her eyes at the same time to see an upside down view of the kitchen. And, to her complete shock, a pair of large black boots, facing away from her, and attached to living male legs.

Her shriek was cut off as Zan whipped her up against his chest so fast she thought she was going to puke.

“Get the fuck out of here, Scott.” To Jackie, Zan sounded beyond pissed and if she were on the receiving end of that command, she would have high-tailed it into the next state. Unfortunately she couldn’t make herself move anywhere. Not only did Zan have his arms banded about her in a purely possessive and unbreakable hold, she was too busy hiding her face in his neck while mortification stomped all over the passion she’d felt only seconds ago.