Page 6 of Rogue Wolf

That last thought tore through her like a bushfire. She wanted to rush up to him, throw her arms around him and kiss him.

He was an oasis of pleasure in this endless desert of pain and destruction. But Tamaska remained where she was.

Kodiak had duties now, ones that must be crushing down on him. To become the leader was burden enough, but under these circumstances… It twisted and turned with all he needed to do.

Not even the fact her man was going to be the new alpha, and if she got turned, successfully, her at his side, could lighten that burden.

A smile broke over his strained expression as he turned and looked at her. Everything lit up inside and Tamaska hurried over to him, unable to resist.

He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, his mouth whispering kisses and bites against the sensitive flesh of her throat.

Her body flooded with heat and a low, sweet ache only he could ease.

He closed his fingers on her hip, slipping one beneath the loose waistband of her jeans. “You smell good enough to eat. Feel even better.” He bit her earlobe making her heart flutter wildly.

“There’s no one around out here,” Tamaska said, the words slipping free.

He groaned.

“Any other time, and I’d be ripping you out of my clothes,” said Kodiak as he embraced her. “Unwrapping you like a gift.”

He sucked on her artery and she sighed, arching for him.

“Any other time, and I’d stick a bow on and say have at it.” She looked up at him and curled her hand against his cheek. “But there’s so much work to do and I can’t have them thinking you’re playing favorites.”

“But I am…”

“Kodiak,” she whispered.

He pressed his nose to hers and sighed.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve got so much fucking shit to do. This…this is all bad, Tamaska.” He sighed heavily, his stress visible in the thick lines on his forehead.

She smoothed the lines away with her fingers. “I know. But you can do it. I have faith.”

“It’s gonna take more than faith,” he said, kissing her cheek.

She reluctantly stepped out of his embrace. “Can I help, though?”

“No.” He ran his thumb over her lips as he looked her up and down. “You don’t have to do this.”

Tamaska smiled. “You’re the second person to tell me that. Yes, I do. Otherwise, I’ll never be accepted.”

A darkness entered his eyes. “Tamaska…”

“What is it?” A sharp pain lanced her. “Did you learn something about my transformation?”

“No, we have to finish cleaning up this place before we do anything else. It’s too risky to leave it looking like this.” He swallowed hard, as if pushing away emotion. “If the cops come…”

But she didn’t need to say even if they got it spotless, nothing they did could hold up to modern forensics or even a bit of a dig around in the garden.

She placed her hand on his throat, like she could comfort him from that. The heaviness of his pulse slowed under her palm as she tried to think of something.

Actually…

“I’ve got an idea to help with that,” she said. “I—”

“No.” Kodiak took her hands in his, lifting them from his chest and squeezing them tight. “Leave it all to me.”

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