A little while later, I found myself rushing to get back to my bungalow to see if the mysterious male-model burglar was still there. I pulled up in the driveway a few minutes later and parked my SUV near the house. Then I thought of hitting the wolf and what Cruz had insinuated before I left. But I know for a fact that I hadn't imagined hitting the wolf. I slowly walked to the front of my car to check the damage, wondering why I hadn't thought to do it earlier. But waking up to a naked man in my living room, asleep on my couch, had thrown me for a loop.Walking slowly toward the front of the car, I looked down and the front grill had been smashed, so it had definitely happened. I sighed, looking around the house to see if there had been tracks. Near the house were bare human tracks that I followed around to the side of the house. But they stopped abruptly, and wolf tracks picked up in their place."No!" I said in disbelief, looking down at the wolf tracks. "There's no way he could hav
When I came out of the bedroom, dressed and ready to go, Cruz gasped as he let out a low whistle. "Wow! You clean up pretty good."I smirked. "Thanks. So do you.""Ready?" He raised an eyebrow. "As ready as I'll ever be." I started to grab my little black clutch purse, but Cruz stopped me. "You won't need that," he replied. "It'd probably be something more to keep up with at the bonfire. I want you to just relax and enjoy yourself tonight when we get there.""Okay." I was wearing my Smartwatch so I had cell phone access, just in case I needed it. I had a feeling that Cruz wasn't telling me everything, but I had decided that tonight was my night to do something wild, and I wasn't about to back down now. Besides, how much trouble could you get in to at a bonfire?He offered me his hand, and when we walked outside a new sports car was parked in the driveway. "Wow! Nice car." I smiled, taking it in as I headed to the passenger side. Cruz followed me around the car and opened the door f
The bonfire blazed, casting the party goers into a romantic light. Somehow in this place, the sensual, erotic nature of the party seemed natural. But I didn't expect it when a drop-dead gorgeous man stepped in front of me and placed his hands on my hips and looked into my eyes as he pressed his lips to mine and then parted my lips while grinding his length against my sex, causing moisture to pool between my legs.Then Cruz turned my head, and he brushed his lips across mine and then another pair of hands were on my waist as Cruz's lips and tongue found mine. Then strong hands pulled my chin away, and I was looking into the most gorgeous blue eyes I'd ever seen. He pulled me aggressively toward him and crushed his lips to mine, pressing himself against my sex through the thin fabric of my dress.Another pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist as he kissed down my neck. His hands moved to my breast, pinching my nipple between his fingertips. I thought it was Cruz, but when I looked
Xander fell asleep, and I was nearly asleep, too, when Elias took my hand and motioned with his head for me to come with him. My legs were like jelly when I stood, but he caught me, keeping me from falling. Soon, I found my sea legs and let him lead me from the room."Where are we going?" I asked, my voice low. "I want to take care of you," Elias said, his voice soft. "Please, let me." He led me into the bathroom and one whole wall was the shower. He stood me by the far wall while he fired up the jets. Once they were warm, he took my hand and led me into the walk-in shower.The warm water felt heavenly as it rushed over my body, loosening my stiff muscles. Then he ran shampoo through my hair and gently washed, slow, sensual. Satisfied, he pulled me into the stream of water and rinsed my hair.Then he ran conditioner through my hair as the scent of coconuts wafted toward me. "You keep conditioner here?" I smirked. Elias shrugged. "What can I say? Xander's a diva."I burst out laughin
"Are you sure you want to know?" The savory taste of bacon filled my mouth as I nibbled on a slice."Yes, of course." Xander stabbed a pancake and slid it onto his plate. "Tell us everything."Elias waited patiently while buttering a biscuit, watching me as if I were a long-awaited movie. "Well, I'm a veterinarian...."Xander smirked, his eyebrows raising nearly into his hairline. "Seriously?"Elias chuckled, shaking his head as he laid a slice of bacon inside his biscuit and took a bite.I nodded, looking at them both as if they had four heads. "Yes. I put myself through college to become a veterinarian."Elias tilted his head to the side. "Why did you decide to become a veterinarian instead of a doctor?" He shrugged. "I'm a doctor, and it takes just as much education to become a veterinarian."I shrugged. "I guess it's because I've always had a closer connection with animals than with humans."Xander's expression suddenly turned serious. "How so?"I shrugged. "I'm not sure. I've nev
We spent the rest of the evening laying around, sleeping, and making love in the most erotic weekend I'd ever had. Then Monday came around and it was time to go back to reality. "Morning, sunshine," Xander said, rolling over on me, careful to spare me of his full weight. "Morning." I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him a long, lingering kiss. "I have to get ready for work."A mischievous smile played on his lips. "Now that's not a good wakeup call." He kissed down my neck and started rocking his hips against my center."Xander, I have to go to work." I started to get out of bed, but Elias stopped me, pulling me to his chest like a life-sized doll."Don't go just yet," he cooed in my ear. "Please?"I scoffed. "What is it with you two? Don't you have to go to work?" I teased. Elias chuckled, wagging his eyebrows as his lips curled into a sexy smile. "Yes, of course. But that doesn't mean we can't have a quickie."I laughed. "With you two, it's never quick."Xander propped him
As I drew near, the smoke was even more dense, as if it were still on fire. I hit the button on my Smartwatch and dialed nine-one-one."Hello, what's your emergency?" the woman answered on the other end. "Yes, there's a fire out here at on the outskirts of town on the other side of the oasis! The smoke is so dense I can't see two feet in front of me!" I slowed the car way down and kept an eye out to make sure I didn't hit another wolf... or worse."Yes, ma'am," the emergency operator reported. "The fire department and emergency medical personnel are already on their way.""Thank you... and please hurry!" I clicked off my phone, hoping and praying it wasn't my clinic. A moment later, I pulled into the long drive and flames shot up from the clinic. "No!" Slamming on the brakes, I threw the car into gear and cut it off. Then I jumped out and ran for the clinic, leaving the car door open. Flames shot out the windows of the clinic and suddenly the front windows blew out. I dove on the gr
Later in the afternoon, Xander made a call and more people arrive to help search for the dogs and other animals. "Dr. Carran," the fireman said. "Luckily, all of the animals had been set free before the fire. From what we can tell, no animals were in the building."I nodded. "Thank you. But how could that be? How did they get free and not Maria and Macy?"The fireman sighed. "I hate to say this, but it was arson. From the position of the bodies, it appears that the two ladies had been knocked unconscious before the fire was set, which would explain why you didn't hear any screams. Also, the arsonists probably set the animals free."I nodded as tears welled up behind my eyes. "Why would they set the animals free but not Maria and Macy? It just doesn't make sense." I couldn't imagine what Macy and Maria had gone through in their final moments, conscious or not. "Is there any evidence, anything at all, that could tell us who did this?"He shook his head. "No. But forensics is still worki