He sipped his whiskey, deciding he could watch her do that all night long.
When howls rang out, carrying over the valley, she switched her grip on her knife. “Are those regular wolves?”
“Just so. Gray wolves.”
She relaxed a fraction, lowering her blade. “Can you understand them?”
“Aye. They’re hungry and frustrated. Flocks of sheep are just out of their reach. The scent is maddening to the pack.” I can relate, he thought when his mate pulled her glossy mane over her shoulder, teasing him with her own luscious scent.
He fantasized that she’d bared her neck for his bite, and his fangs throbbed for the hundredth time tonight. He wanted all those silken tresses fanning out over a pillow as he rode her. Curls tickling her puckered nipples as she mounted him . . .
“Do they truly mate for life?” She turned from the window and caught him leering at her breasts, licking a fang.
No’ my best look. He wrenched his gaze from her chest to meet her eyes. “From the instant they find their mate, a wolf will remain true forever.” I will be true forever, Kereny.
Taut seconds passed between them; then she resumed her knife play. Spin, toss, flip.
Not exactly sleep-inducing. “What’s on your mind, huntress?”
She cast him a look from beneath those thick lashes. “Tell me you’ll give me a choice about transforming my species.”
“No. You must become immortal. If I told you I’d give you a choice, I’d be lying.” He held her gaze. “And I will never lie to you again.”
She took his measure. “It seems one of us believes what you’re saying.”
“Mark my words: I want your trust, and I’m going to earn it.”
She waved that away, as if he’d uttered something ridiculous. “If I died for some reason, you could always use the ring then. No need to turn me now.”
He wouldn’t survive her death again. He’d nearly lost his mind the first time, and that had been before he’d comprehended what Kereny would become to him: the meaning of everything. “No’ an option, lass.”
Clearly back on mission, she started toward him, peering at him like he was a target she was determined to hit. She probably saw him as another headache to contend with, the latest monster of the week.
When she sat beside Munro, his beast prowled inside, wanting even closer to its mate.
“Do I make you nervous, wolf?”
“Bit.”
“How can that be? I’m merely a mortal.”
“Because I want you dearly, and I have a feeling you’re about to use your wiles on me.” Judging by the ache in his cock, she’d already begun.
She canted her head. “Do you think they’d convince you not to turn me against my will?”
“No’ a whit. But denying us would challenge my self-control as never before. No’ to mention control over my beast.” The ongoing howls outside were like spurs to it. Down, creature!
“You said you have more control than most Lykae.”
“I did. Before the warlocks got hold of me.” Before he’d fed his beast pure rage. Munro drank deeply from his glass.
“The nymphs seemed certain that we’d make love tonight.”
He coughed on his whiskey. To claim Kereny this very night . . . catching her gasps with his lips as he fitted his swollen shaft inside her cunny . . .
“Are you planning to take me?”
Would give anything! “Nay. Nay. Aside from the fact that I could hurt you, I also will no’ risk getting you pregnant.”
“I thought you’ve wanted children.”
He had ever since Tàmhas had passed centuries ago. Now, in a stunning reversal, Munro didn’t. Already his mate had been forced to accept too many changes. And he would insist on still one more, the greatest yet.
How much could she be expected to handle? “I would be humbled to have them with you, but no’ for a verra long while. We’ve got all the time in the worlds for bairns. After you become immortal.”
“Always back to that. Why do you get to make this choice about my life?”
“Because I have a fated interest in your longevity.” Oi, that sounded shite. Where was his effortless charm?
“Hmm.”
His tension only increased. “Hmm? What does that mean?”
“Full confession: I did plan to use my wiles on you. After all, I had so much success with them in the cave.”
He scowled at that.
“You were utterly in my hands, mine to do with as I would. A puppet, really. Or more like you were a violin and I a virtuoso—”
“Are you done?”
She shrugged. “I’ve ultimately decided against that plan. You’re too old for games, and I’m too tired. But I will wear you down eventually.” She sounded sure of herself. Yet then her gaze landed on his lips. Her pupils dilated, and her heart stuttered.
He turned in his chair to face her and leaned in until their knees touched. “Will you? I think immortality tempts you. I think I tempt you. You already want me any way you can get me.”
Ren scoffed, “You sound as drunk as the entire populace of New Orleans.” But she did want him. Badly. Just one more kiss, and then maybe she could put him behind her.
No, Ren!
His eyes held hers as he said, “You could’ve killed me in the cave. You knew I would wake, yet you spared me. You wanted me to come for you, seize you, take you for my own.” His sensuality smoldered, making it difficult to concentrate.
“I spared you because I kill evil immortals. You’re not evil; merely insufferable.”
“Then insufferable Lykae must be just your type—because I’m doing it for you.”
He was. God help her. His imposing size seemed to suck the oxygen out of the room, leaving her light-headed. That immortal spell came over her again, and for the first time she recognized it for what it was.
A haze of lust.
How could she desire someone so deeply when she resented him just as much? “Keep dreaming, wolf,” she said between shallowed breaths. Deciding that retreat was the best course, she rose and strode from the dining room.
He called, “Doona walk away from this, Kereny.”
She didn’t look back, even when his chair scraped across the floor.
A split second later, he grabbed her hand and tugged her around to face him. “Tonight you were eye-fucking me all through dinner, getting nice and wet for me. You crave more of what we started in the cave.”