Page 44 of Wolf Desired
“God, that feels good, Rafe,” she said, leaning into his hand. “I don’t understand how you can be so tender and yet be willing to kill Tiernan without any thought.”
He gripped her hair suddenly and pulled back, forcing her to look up at him. “I don’t kill recklessly or for pleasure.”
“But you kill willingly.”
“You don’t know my world, Artemis.”
“I know enough.”
“You can save Tiernan.”
“Oh, I plan to. I won’t let you touch him.”
He reached out to touch her again, but she jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”
“I didn’t cause this. I have been trying to help Tiernan.”
“Help him? More like help yourself. I’m sorry I ever let you touch me,” she said as she stormed off.
He intercepted her. “Why did you let me touch you?”
She glared at him, then turned her gaze off to the woods, toward Tiernan. “I don’t know,” she answered, and he could hear the truth in her voice.
“I think I know.”
Hazel eyes tipped back to him, waiting.
“You figured I could save Tiernan. That by getting involved with me, I’d bend to your wishes to save him.”
“I didn’t know you planned to kill him. Not until after you touched me.”
His wolf growled deep inside for accusing her of something as vile as using her body to control him. “I’m sorry, Artemis. I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did. You’re no different from most of the males here. You think a woman isn’t capable of the job and the only way she can achieve her goals is by using her body. Wake up, Rafe. Women aren’t sexual objects. We have brains, and we know how to use them.”
She turned and walked off, her shapely backside tormenting him with every step. But she was right. About everything. Mostly everything. He didn’t want Tiernan to die, not even if it meant he’d have a shot at Artemis.
CHAPTERTWELVE
MADDOX
“Artemis?” Maddox said as she sailed past him without even acknowledging his presence. She looked mad. More than mad. Pissed off.
Trailing right behind her, Rafe, and in the distance, Tiernan.
Damn, something had happened, and Maddox had missed it. He hated being the last to know, especially when it involved Artemis. And she was smack dab in the middle of this, whatever this was.
Maddox’s wolf went on high alert as Rafe approached. The shifter’s eyes were darker than usual.
“Rafe?” Maddox asked.
“Stay out of it,” Rafe said as he stormed by. It was more of a response than Maddox got from Artemis.
Maddox shot ahead to Artemis. “What happened?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Her voice was curt and her cheeks flushed. After glancing at Rafe, who walked parallel to her, several feet to her right, she looked forward again.
Maddox stepped into her path and sniffed her. She smelled of Tiernan, though his scent was weak on her. He’d held or kissed her, perhaps, but nothing more.
