Page 37 of Wolf Desired
“You’ll never win these humans over unless you start seeing them as equals, Rafe, starting with Artemis,” Maddox called after him, but the alpha heir failed to acknowledge him.
Maddox opened the packet and slid out their assignment sheet, along with surveillance photos. He almost felt sorry for Rafe. The heir thought he would dismiss Artemis’s role in the group. He hadn’t yet realized that their human was all spitfire and determination. She would not sit idly by while the males took down a drug den.
Their human. Where the fuck had that come from?
Maddox wanted her. He could no longer deny how much she stirred him, but he couldn’t have her, especially after what he’d done to Isabella.
* * *
RAFE
As if heweren’t already in a bad mood after dealing with Kingsley’s team and that fool Jason, now Rafe had Maddox on his case. But Maddox wasn’t being an ass, despite being a white wolf. He was spouting the truth.
What has she done to deserve your wrath?
Maddox had an uncanny way of pointing out the heart of the matter.Artemis had done nothing wrong. Perhaps that was what angered Rafe the most about this entire situation.
Since the moment he had first seen her, she’d stood up to everyone around her. Not that she had a choice with no pack behind her. Most females in her position would have fled or submitted to keep from standing out. But not Artemis. She didn’t back down from any of the males. . . humans and shifters, who could all snap her fragile neck. Her beautiful, graceful,delicateneck.
Damn, that female was too fragile to go up against humans, let alone shifters, but she was here, a part of this program. He needed to accept that, accept her.
At least having her on his team gave him better control over her. With three shifters to protect her, nothing would happen to her. And she was smart, as Maddox pointed out. Rafe had no issue with having her participate intellectually, but he would not risk her physically. The first challenge had left her bruised from a simple fall out of a tree. She’d never survive a fight against a shifter.
Rafe followed her scent to the woods on the opposite side of the buildings. He wanted to speak with her after his encounter with Kingsley. To let her understand what being on his team would involve, but mostly to make sure she wasn’t too upset with him.
He caught Tiernan’s scent along with hers, which relaxed him, knowing Tiernan had stayed with her. He would certainly protect her.
As he followed their scents toward the stream, he slowed. He didn’t hear any talking. A moment later, he understood why. Tiernan had one hand behind her neck, holding her locked to him as his mouth captured hers. The way Tiernan leaned over her, controlling the kiss, controllingher,captivated Rafe. She looked exceptionally soft and submissive, so different from how he was used to seeing her. It added to her allure, making Rafe’s cock twitch as he envisioned himself in Tiernan’s place. He couldn’t tear his eyes from them, especially Artemis.
Then the intoxicating scent of her arousal wrapped around him, and he suddenly envisioned the female stroking his cock. His erection strained against his pants. Rafe had never been jealous over a female before. Until now.
Tiernan reached behind Artemis with his free arm and removed the band from her ponytail. Lush blonde hair spilled over her shoulders. A moan, subtle, feminine, went right through Rafe. In response, a low rumble started deep in Rafe’s chest. His wolf wanted her.Rafewanted her.
He pushed his wolf down. Tiernan needed Artemis to keep him from going feral. And she washuman. Blood-bonding her would ruin Rafe. As an alpha heir, he couldn’t risk weakening or losing his shifter abilities by performing the sacred ritual with a human. But sex, yeah, he’d take her in a minute. If she offered.
Artemis opened her eyes and looked directly at Rafe. She didn’t scream, run, or even turn away. Instead, she deepened the kiss, sliding her fingers through Tiernan’s hair. . . as she kept her eyes locked on Rafe.
He knew at that moment he had to have her. One way or another, hewouldhave her.
* * *
ALYSSA
Tiernan’s tongueslid between Alyssa’s lips, his shyness completely gone. As he explored her mouth, taking his time gliding along her lips and even gently sucking on her tongue, a tingling spread through her. The way he held the back of her neck, as if to say she was his, felt nice, really nice. The idea of being claimed instead of being thrown away made her feel desirable, worthy even.
A soft nip of her lower lip had her toes curling. Tiernan had a naughty side, but he wasn’t pushing her. She liked that. Hell, she liked everything about him. He respected her by telling her the truth. That wasn’t something she’d had a lot of from her parents growing up, not until it was too late.
Tiernan held her gently and yet with a modicum of force, enough to say he didn’t see her as some fragile doll. A lot of the guys in the Secret Service snubbed her, didn’t think she belonged, and that was without knowing her background.
“That’s nice, really nice,” she said when Tiernan pulled away. Those gray eyes of his sparkled with a brilliance she hadn’t noticed before. “I guess your wolf liked it too.”
“Fuck my wolf. That was all me. He’ll get the bond in time, but you, Artemis, you’re mine.”
Fear moved through her. This was happening too fast.
Tiernan’s smile disappeared. “I’m overstepping, aren’t I?”
“Just a bit,” she said, forcing herself to relax. Tiernan wasn’t a bully. Far from it. Just eager.
