“Surreal” didn’t come close to describing her evening repast with Gavin. Megan had heard of slick lawyers with their legal talk meant to make your eyes roll back in your head. Met with a disinterested one who made her actually want to murder someone. Given her current experience, she didn’t hold lawyers in very high regard, so she certainly never expected to lust after one.
I’m a grown woman. And yet, much like a moon-struck teenager, she clung to Gavin’s every word, trembled inwardly every time they innocently touched. Even worse, she couldn’t help hoping he’d touch her more.It completely and utterly annoyed her, yet she couldn’t stem the reaction, but she could make sure things didn’t go any further.Once dinner was over, again he led her with a firm hand in the middle of her back. He held open the door for her and tucked her hand in his arm as he walked them to the parking lot. His courtly gestures didn’t do anything to help her attraction.Why can’t he act the uncouth jerk? It made it so much easier to dislike him.Refusing a ride home wasn’t an option, not when she lacked cab fare. However, she’d not counted on the intimacy of his two-seater sports car. Did he purposely brush her knee and thigh with his fingers every time he shifted?Did it matter? The result remained the same; she shivered each and every time. God, I hope he can’t guess how he affects me.Could she blame her extreme attraction on some kind of psychological syndrome? Wasn’t there one that made women fall for men who swooped in like a hero promising rescue from a dire fate? In her case, was she mistaking her gratitude that he wanted to defend her as attraction?Nah. Face it. The guy was hot. Handsome. Sexy. With a voice made for late-night radio and dirty words.Or, even better, dirty acts. It’s been much too long since I’ve indulged in some naughty fun.The purring engine shut off a moment after he pulled to the curb in front of her building. Miracle of all miracles, he’d managed to scoop a spot. Displaying, once again, an uncanny agility and speed that nagged at her, he somehow managed to make it to her side of the car within seconds of parking.After opening the passenger door, he held out a hand to her, and as she clasped it she couldn’t help a quiver in her lower belly as their flesh touched. Was it her or had he sucked in a breath? With a firm clasp of her hand, he aided her from the low-slung vehicle.Once on the pavement, he didn’t immediately release his grip, and she bit her lip, uncertain of what he expected from her. She’d meant what she said earlier. She wouldn’t put out. I’m not that kind of girl.Her body, on the other hand, disagreed. We could totally be that kind of girl, and enjoy it.“Thanks for the ride,” she said, even if it was the banal kind.“You’re welcome.”“I guess I’ll be hearing from you.” And probably dreaming, her imaginative sex life so much more active than her reality-based one.“I’ll be in touch tomorrow,” he said as he laced his fingers through hers and walked her to the glass door of her building.“You don’t need to escort me to my apartment. I am more than capable of seeing myself the rest of the way.”“A gentleman always sees a lady home.”“Are you always a gentleman?” she blurted out. She bit her lower lip a moment later at the implication he wasn’t. He wasn’t her family or a close friend to whom she could just speak her mind or, as her cousins complained, insult at every turn.Instead of taking offense, he laughed, a low baritone that again set her nerves atingling. “Most definitely not. Most would actually compare me to the wolf.”“Because you’re wild?”“Partially, but more because I’m a hunter. When I see what I want, I go after it.”“And what do you want?”As the elevator door closed, encasing them in a small space where she remained much too aware of him, he didn’t immediately reply, but he did stare down at her, an intense gaze that had her dropping her eyes to study the scuffed floor.A finger tipped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Would you run like a scared rabbit if I said I wanted you?”“No, but I might hurt you in your man parts if you try to take liberties.”A wicked smile curved his lips. “Is that a challenge?”No. Yes. Conflicted, she managed to stammer, “N-n-no, it’s not a challenge. We need to keep things professional. Don’t you lawyers have to swear some kind of oath about not sleeping with clients?”“Who said anything about sleeping? But, in answer to your query, yes, we are ethically obliged to try and keep a distance and not engage in personal relationships. However, once I’ve acquitted you, all holds are off.”“You’re that confident you’re going to win.”“Yes. I rarely lose, especially when it’s something I really want. So prepare yourself. Once I’ve cleared your name, I will pursue you. And we will become involved.”Cocky. Self-assured. So utterly male … and sexy. But she was a modern woman. Surely she wasn’t falling for his caveman tactics? How dare he dictate. “You make it sound so ominous. As if I don’t have a choice.”“You don’t. Don’t you remember what I said? I’m a wolf, and I always get what I want.”The sound of a ding prevented her from replying, as did the swish of the elevator doors opening. Hiding her racing pulse and flustered thoughts proved easy as Megan stepped from the elevator cab and, with quick steps, marched to her door.When she fumbled the keys to unlock it, his hand covered hers, which didn’t help, not when such awareness flared between them.The tumblers clicked, but she didn’t open the door, instead turning to face him.He stood close, much too close. It made her much too aware once again of the size of him, of the overwhelming maleness of his bearing. What is the matter with me? She’d dealt her whole life with imposing men. She’d never had a problem before putting them in their place.Peeking upward into his chiseled countenance, she uttered a polite and dismissive. “Thank you for everything.”“No thanks needed. I’m doing what I must.”Despite her insistence on nothing personal between them, she couldn’t help a miffed squirt of irritation that he’d relegated her to the status of a chore. “Must? I didn’t realize you felt forced.”“You misunderstand. I am representing you because I can’t stand by and watch a gross miscarriage of justice. Nor can I allow the woman I intend to pursue, ardently I might add, to suffer against obviously false charges.”When put like that … Before she could reply, firm lips pressed against hers, stealing words and breath. No time to react. No time to reciprocate. The electric touch was there one moment, gone the next.“What was that?”“Since I didn’t have a contract, I sealed our deal with a kiss.” With a naughty wink, he strode away from her and back to the elevator.She stared at his receding back. Even in a suit, the rear of him shouted, I’m hot!With her lips tingling and body screaming for more, Megan could only numbly blink as he tossed her a sensual grin over his shoulder and said, “See you tomorrow, little rabbit.”Then he was gone, in body perhaps, but not in mind.Enclosing herself in the comfort of her apartment, Megan leaned for a moment against the door, struck dumb by the kiss and the promise she read in his parting words.As her new lawyer, yes, he’d have to see her, but why did she suspect he meant more than that?Probably because he’s stated quite emphatically that he’s interested in me as more than a client.Forget indignation at his caveman intent to claim. The woman in her couldn’t help but flush in pleasure.He wants me.And God help her, but despite the complication, she wanted him, too.Making an appointment and giving warning was never any fun, which was why Gavin showed up on Fabian’s doorstep right after leaving Megan.Give the cameras that recorded everything that dared encroach on his territory, Gavin wasn’t surprised when the master of the house himself opened the door, a dark brow raised. Fabian presented him with a cool, “To what displeasure do I owe this visit?”At least the older wolf—who in his early forties counted as older than Gavin’s early thirties—no longer pretended a fondness for his creation. In the beginning, Fabian had tried to take Gavin under his wing, more like have him bend on a knee to his overlord paw, but Gavin would have none of it. The ruthless manner in which the crime lord had turned Gavin in the hopes of having a lawyer join his legal team had stroked Gavin the wrong way.Changing Gavin into a Lycanthrope hadn’t cured him of his stubborn nature, or his desire to be his own man—and now wolf.How dare Fabian upset the carefully ordered l
Tired and feeling kind of grubby, Megan couldn’t wait to get home, strip, and take a long, hot shower. When the police showed up in the middle of the night—which truly was a cruelty given even the birds weren’t awake yet—and dragged her away, they’d not given her time to bathe or dress properly. Why bother when they had her exchange her pajamas at the station for a lovely orange jumpsuit? Apparently, they’d expected her to stay awhile.She’d thought herself a tad bit screwed, too, until Gavin arrived with some good news. It appeared as if her new lawyer might prove himself useful after all. He’d manage to spring her with the most simple of logic, the truth.It seemed someone wanted Megan’s butt in jail. Question was, why? Wasn’t it enough she stood accused of murder? Did they have to compound the insult by taking away her freedom to find justice?As she bounced from one foot to another—clad in some truly comfortable purple fleece-lined Crocs—she almost wished she’d ask to keep the oran
This was bad. Oh so bad.In his defense, when Megan had told Gavin she wanted to go he’d tried to say no. Several times as a matter of fact. Then she leaned in close, placed a hand high up on his thigh, and whispered, practically against his lips, “I’m going, and you can’t stop me. So either we go together, or I go alone.”Bested. By a woman. Which was how he found himself in a den of iniquity, with his future mate, regretting his decision. Especially when he noted the interested leers of the men patronizing the place.His lip curled in menace, and he couldn’t help a low growl, which Megan, thankfully, didn’t hear. But it did force him to put a lock on his more primitive side.This wasn’t the time or place to get jealous. He knew on a rational level that he needn’t fear competition from the men in this place, but his possessive side, which until now he never suspected existed, really didn’t like the male attention directed her way.With a boldness he would not have suspected her capabl
Once again, Gavin insisted on accompanying Megan to her apartment door. Talk about dancing with temptation.Bad enough dealing with him in the closeness of his car, especially after that devastating kiss, then having the scent of his cologne enveloping her as other building tenants forced him to invade her space. But she doubted her willpower if he entered her apartment, a place that would offer privacy and a bed. A bed that hadn’t seen any exercise since her move here.I need him to go. Quickly. Exiting the elevator, she took brisk steps to her apartment, only to slow as she approached the door to her place, a door not quite closed.Key in hand, she hesitated.“Move away from the door,” he ordered, but she didn’t jump to obey.“Maybe I didn’t close it properly when we left earlier,” she muttered, reaching out with trembling fingers to push at the portal. It swung open.Before she could truly comprehend what she glimpsed, Gavin had inserted himself between her and the open doorway, blo
Megan fumed all the way to the hotel.I can’t believe they invaded my space like that.Did they really think the loss of some stuff would make her plead guilty?Like hell.But she did find it worrisome that someone would go to such destructive lengths to try to pin a murder on her. Who hated her enough to want her in jail? Or was it she was just that the most convenient scapegoat?Of other concern was the ardent interest of her lawyer. When he’d issued his invitation to have her stay with him, her first impulse was to say yes, especially since she got the feeling he didn’t mean in the guest room. Then sanity kicked in, and she found herself refusing.Getting involved with the man who was supposed to convince a jury and judge of her innocence wasn’t in her best interest. Neither was accepting any favors from him. But what choice did she have?She couldn’t very well pull money out of a secret offshore bank account so she could hire some other swanky lawyer. Poor little secretaries didn’t
How the fuck did a cat get in the room? was Gavin’s first thought when the caterwauling started. It took only another second to realize he was getting a call. His phone sang the old Purina cat commercial song, which involved a lot of meows, which drove his inner wolf mental.Bloody Broderick. The irritating feline had gotten his hands on Gavin’s cell somehow and put it as his ringtone. Gavin had yet to figure out how to change it.I’ve really got to try that brownie recipe I found on the Internet but replace the marijuana with catnip. The resulting blackmail video might atone for some of his pal’s pranks.Sliding out of bed, leaving the warm and cuddly body of his mate—after last night she’s mine, even if she doesn’t know it yet—he padded naked, but for the phone in his hand, to the bathroom and shut the door.“What do you want?” he answered, forgoing a hello.A tad grumpy? Damned right. He’d harbored other plans for waking up that didn’t involve speaking to his friend while a naked de
The meowing ringtone woke Megan, but comfortable in the bed, she didn’t bother to stir—although she did crack an eyelid to admire the flexing, tight buttocks of her lawyer/lover.My lover.Not quite the stupidest thing she’d done lately but, given her situation, not the brightest either.At least her lapse in judgment resulted in a phenomenal night of sex. Apparently, Gavin’s skills weren’t just in the courtroom. The man knew how to play her body, leaving it pleasantly sore and, more surprising, hungry for more.Indeed, just thinking about the pleasures of the previous eve had arousal stirring and her skin tingling. How rare to find a man who attracted her and on more than one level. Not only did his body attract; his mind wasn’t too bad either.Another unexpected aspect about Gavin was her ability to sleep with him. Sleepovers weren’t her forte. Something about the vulnerability of sleep made her restless and unable to enjoy but the lightest of slumber, a habit she’d not managed to dr
ElainaFinally, we arrive at the parking lot, Anna is waiting as patiently as ever. It’s still early, and we’re the only people there, thank goodness. We step into the back, look at each other, our bodies trembling with an identical need.“Not here. Let’s go home,” he says.I grin, knowing what he means. This is home. But so is the crumbling old parking lot with the river running alongside it. He rummages in a cupboard, finds a T-shirt and shorts and pulls them on, while I slip into my T-shirt, my panties, reach for my jeans.But he stops me. “That’s enough,” he growls.He wants me to sit in the passenger seat in just my panties? Okay then.“What about your bike?” I ask as we take our seats. “Don’t you want to ride it back?”“I’ll pick it up later.” He gives me another burning look. “There’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight right now.”A shiver of delight goes through me.I’m his. I’m really his, I keep telling myself.THE RAIN HAS CLEARED NOW and the morning sunshine is brillia