Page 8 of Wed Or Dead

Her own heart shoved hard against her chest. “How long…” Kayla licked her lips. Why was her mouth so dry? “How long have you known?”

He brought his head in close to hers. Inhaled her scent. Pressed a light kiss to her cheek. Did he taste the salt of her tears? “Since the first time you walked into my bar.”

What? Kayla shook her head, lost, confused. He’d known since then, and he’d still married her? Still fucked her?

His claws skated lightly over her throat. He didn’t break the skin. Didn’t hurt her. But she knew one slice would cut open her jugular.

“Are you really going to kill me now?” Gage asked as he pulled back to study her with a cocked head. “Just hours after our wedding?”

She was supposed to.

That was herjob.As a hunter, she was the one sent out to keep the humans safe in this world. When a supernatural crossed the line and started killing, her team was sent in. They delivered justice. They were the heroes.

Only she didn’t feel like any kind of hero.

She felt like a killer.

“Was screwing me part of the deal?” Gage demanded as his voice roughened even more.

Her eyes narrowed at that insulting question. Maybe it was deserved, and maybe it damn well wasn’t. Instead of stabbing him, she wanted to punch him.

“If so,” Gage continued with a shake of his head, “that was a rather fatal mistake.”

They were at a supernatural standoff. Claws versus silver. If he’d just sheathe his claws…

“Because now that I’ve had you,,,” Gage smiled at her, and revealed his growing canines.Sharp.“I think I want another bite.”

He’d kept his fangs from her. Kept the claws away last night. But it looked like he was done playing nice.

So was she.

The bed was rumpled. The air smelled of sex. He was naked.

She stared into his eyes. If he knew what she was, then Kayla had no idea why he’d married her. Sure, she’d been ordered to say the “I do” bit. She’d been told to do anything necessary in order to get past his defenses.

Gage Riley ran the wolf pack in Vegas. Since the wolves had moved to town just eight months ago, hell had hit the city. Supernatural madness. Attacks. Killings.

The pack had to be stopped.By any means necessary.

But sex wasn’t a means. Making love was more. Far more.

“Lower your claws,” she told him and managed to keep her voice totally calm. Rather impressive under the circumstances, but she’d been trained to be cold. Passionless.I’m not that way with him.“You aren’t going to kill me.” Those words were the truth because she’d learned a few things about Gage during their time together.

More than a few.

He wasn’t a heartless bastard. Not a cold-blooded killer.

I won’t be wrong about him.

His gaze hardened as he studied her. Then the half-smile that had always charmed her curled his lips. “Killing you isn’t what I have planned at all.”

He dropped his claws and there still wasn’t so much as a scratch on her skin.

Gage glanced down at his chest. She’d nicked him with the blade, and drops of blood trailed over his skin. Blood—and the faintest plume of smoke.

The old legend was true. Werewolves—or, in this case, wolf shifters—and silver just didn’t mix.

“Now are you gonna cut my heart out?” he asked and his smile hardened. “Though to confess, sweetheart, it sure feels like you already have.”

---