A Wolf's Savage Embrace (12 page)

Kat watched Luke closely; her eyes widening slightly.
She knew that he was mad as hell – but it couldn’t be avoided. She had broken too many rules as it was already, she thought with a sigh. She needed to find Harper and get all of this mess finished. Perhaps, once that was done… No! She couldn’t think that way! Who knew what Lexie’s Coven was capable of? And
she
had been the one to kill the stupid bitch – no one else. She had practically
begged
Desmond to let her finish her off. And now
she
was the one who needed to deal with the consequences – not these people that she had grown to care for so much. And it wasn’t fair to let Luke get caught in the crosshairs because of her and her freaking messed up life.

“Here’s the deal,” Luke said finally - his tone low and dangerous. He slowly walked over toward the bed – as if he were stalking her; and Kat felt her body flush from the mere heat of his gaze.
“You’re stuck with me until we find your sister.” As he spoke, his eyes traveled over her body very thoroughly, and Kat swallowed hard – wanting nothing more at that moment than to grab the twisted sheets and cover herself - but her stubborn pride wouldn’t allow it. She needed him to think that he didn’t affect her the way that he did.

“No!” She burst out, knowing that her instructions were that he could not be with her. Who knew how much damage she might have already done? They had
seen
them together – for God’s sake! It didn’t matter that Luke had been in his wolf form – that bastard that got away
knew
it was a Were that she was traveling with – and that just wasn’t good. “I’ve told you…I need to find her alone.”

What little resolve that Luke had left, snapped with her words.
He reached over, and in one smooth, fluid motion - grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off of the bed and slammed her up against his body. Kat gasped at the current that ran through her as their bare flesh made contact.

“You listen to me,
Katrina.”
He hissed - his eyes blazing into hers. “I saw what they did to your sisters’ family. I can track her – you can’t. And as much as I’m sure it pains you to admit it - you need me - and are
not
doing this alone! I absolutely forbid it.”

That last statement instantly got Kat’s dander up, and she glared right back at him - her eyes spitting fire.
“You forbid it?” she ground out. “You listen to me – you puffed up jackass. I can do this on my own! I don’t freaking need the big bad wolf to protect me!”

“Well,
that
is just too the fuck bad!” He shot back. “This is how it’s going to be. We find your sister, and then you can both go along on your merry way!”

That is -
if you still think you want to,
he silently added. “And in that time, I promise not to touch you again.” He finished, hating himself for making a promise he knew he couldn’t keep. It was taking every ounce of strength that he had at the moment not to throw her back down on the bed and take her again...and again.

“You’re touching me now,” Kat whispered defiantly, her eyes going to the hand circling her upper arm, and Luke dropped it as if he had been burned - and took a step back, his lips turned up into that damn smarmy grin of his and she instantly felt the loss – deep in the bowels of her soul.

“That I was – my mistake. Go and take your shower, red,” he said, turning and grabbing his discarded jeans from the floor and slipping into them. Kat watched him with intense interest, loving how the worn material hugged his muscular thighs so enticingly. The man could definitely rock a pair of jeans, she thought with a groan.

When he faced her again and saw her gawking at him – his smile only widened.
Before she could stop herself; her eyes traveled to the fly of his jeans – which was still unbuttoned, and she flushed to the roots of her hair. Holy shit! She cursed, trying to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat. He looked like a freaking Calvin Klein ad! Now
that
was just playing dirty.

“Luke, this isn’t finished,” she said, trying desperately to keep her voice steady.
“I need to do this alone.”

“Well, sorry about your bad luck, red.
That’s just not going to happen - so you might as well stop trying to convince me. You’re beginning to sound like a damn broken record.” With that he scooped up his t-shirt and headed towards the door, pulling it over his head as he walked. He slammed his feet into his boots and glanced back at her. “I’m going to grab us something to eat.”

It wasn’t until he closed the door behind him that Kat let out the breath that she had been holding.
Damn it! Why were things just getting more and more complicated? She chewed at her bottom lip as she debated on whether or not she should just grab her stuff and get out while Luke was gone – but after only a moments deliberation she decided against it. He would just track her if she did that, and just be all the more pissed off at her – and at the moment, that was the last thing that she needed. The man looked as if he was about to spontaneously combust as it was.

She plopped down on the edge of the bed and buried her face in her hands.
Shit! She had made a total mess of things! Just what in the hell was she going to do now?

Chapter
4

Luke placed his to go order at the small diner across from the motel and pulled his cell phone from the pocket of his jeans – calling Desmond.
After what seemed an eternity, the vampire finally answered – sounding completely ticked off at being disturbed - and Luke didn’t need to be a genius to figure out what he had to have been doing.

“Lucas,” he said, sounding completely distracted and Luke sighed heavily – knowing that the vamp was surely otherwise occupied with Abby at the moment.
Christ, he thought with a shake of his head, and a grin – when
wasn’t
he pre-occupied with the beautiful little fey?

Since the two had become mated, it was like freaking honeymoon central at Desmond’s estate – even to the point that Desmond’s brother Marcus was making himself scarce.

The two were irrevocably in love - and had absolutely no qualms what so ever of letting everyone around them aware of that fact – and, if Luke were to be honest with himself - he was a tad bit envious. What they had, he thought with a slight frown- was what he found himself wanting with Kat.

“Is that Luke?” he heard Abby ask, and his smile instantly reappeared.
Desmond was one lucky son of a bitch, he thought with a chuckle. “Hey, Luke!” she called into the phone, and he heard Desmond laugh.

“Did you want to speak to him, sweetness,” Desmond asked her softly, and he could hear the distinct sound of the two of them kissing.
Oh, Christ…
really
?

“Listen, Des,” Luke said, hoping to make this quick, so that his friends could get back to enjoying each other.
“I just need to know if you came up with anything on Lexie’s Coven.”

“Abby, my love - would you be so kind as to run downstairs and grab me a bag of blood?” He heard Desmond ask her affectionately - and knew with a deep, sinking feeling that the reason for the sudden desire for a snack was that he wanted to speak to him in private – and t
hat it wouldn’t be good news.

Desmond kept nothing from Abby - and would most likely be the only
manorexic
vampire on the planet if it meant spending time with his mate, instead of feeding – so if he didn’t want her to hear their conversation- it was because he most likely didn’t want her to worry - even though, ever since they had bonded they could feel the others emotions.

His point was proven valid a moment later when he heard Abby’s beautiful, musical laughter and then a loud smack.

“Ow!” Desmond grunted into the phone. “What the
bloody hell?
You hit me!” He bellowed - his tone one of complete shock; and Luke had to grin – even in spite of the feeling of unease that was gnawing at him.

“Oh, quit being such a baby,” he heard Abby laugh.
“I know you want to talk to Luke in private. You can’t hide it from me, sweetheart – but just know this…I
will
find out eventually. And I only smacked you on the arm –
and
… it was merely a love tap - cripes!” With that, he heard Abby kiss Desmond again, tell him that she loved him - then call into the phone, “Tell Kat I said
Hi
–and that I miss you both horribly, and - please come back safe!”

“I will.
Miss you too, Abs,” Luke replied with a grin. God, he adored that woman!

There was silence on the other end of the line, until finally he heard Desmond sigh. “That woman will be the end of me,” he whispered darkly - and Luke burst out laughing.

“Ah, but what a way to go, my friend,” Luke chuckled, and heard his friends deep, rich laughter.

“Indeed it would be.
And well worth it.”

“So,” Luke finally asked; not wanting to put off the inevitable any longer. “What did you find?”

“I’m afraid that it’s not good.” Desmond replied, his voice growing serious. “Her coven was strictly dark arts. They place no value on life – human or otherwise, and wish only to obtain power. That is how that bitch was able to raise Argramon in the first place. They are known for holding ancient writings with spells that have been strictly forbidden for ages.”

“Shit,” Luke breathed into the phone – not liking this at all. He told Desmond about finding Harper’s parents, and the strange symbols carved into their bodies – then the run-in with the two men at the house.

Desmond was silent for a long while – finally he spoke; his voice low. “Lucas, for reasons I have yet to discover, they are in dire straits to get their hands on Katrina and her sister - for what I believe is more than just retribution for Kat killing the witch. There is something much more involved here - which I am afraid was proven valid by the murder of her sister’s parents. Whatever you do - do not allow Katrina out of your sight. And once you have found her sister; I want you all to return here immediately – where you will be safe. I fear this is much bigger than we had originally thought.”

“Easier said than done, my friend,” Luke sighed.
“That woman is as stubborn as the day is long, and just keeps insisting that she needs to do this alone.”

He heard Desmond chuckle softly into the phone.
“You, brother; are preaching to the choir,” he said – and Luke couldn’t help but smile.

He knew how quickly Abby could frazzle his friend with her head-strong ways and utter lack of self-preservation – but, he also knew that Desmond wouldn’t have it any other way.
He loved Abby with his entire heart and soul and would change absolutely nothing about her. They would each gladly give up their life for the other – and it was mind blowing.

“Lucas,” Desmond said, finally.
“Stay with her no matter what – but I beg of you - be on your guard. I fear that some of the people she feels that she can trust - are not worthy of it.”

“I will do my best,” Luke promised, hoping that it was one that he could keep.
The waitress smiled and waved, trying to get his attention - and he nodded quickly. “Listen, Des. Our foods up, and I’ve got to get back and make sure that little fireball hasn’t made a run for the border. Thank you…for everything.”

“Take care of yourself, Luke.
Call me if you need anything at all - and I will do the same as soon as I find anything more.”

“Will do.”
With that, he ended the call and walked over to the counter - and the blushing waitress.

As soon as Luke walked through the door – he immediately searched the room for Kat - a small part of him worried that she had, indeed, taken off on him.

He felt the air rush back into his lungs when he saw her emerge from the bathroom - freshly showered and looking absolutely breath-taking in her tight jeans and t-shirt – her glorious hair pulled up high on her head in a silken ponytail. Christ, she was beyond breath-taking, he thought to himself.

His body tightened when his gaze swept to her lips, remembering how they had tasted beneath his, and he mentally shook himself.
If this plan of his was going to work – he needed to keep his desires at bay.

“Hope you’re in the mood for a burger, red” he said, setting the bags down on the small table near the window.
Kat just graced him with a smug smile and walked over to the bag and opened it. Grabbing one of the burgers – she sauntered over to a chair on the opposite end of the room, and gracefully sat down – and Luke couldn’t help but wonder if she even had a clue as to how beautiful she actually was.

“The silent treatment just doesn’t become you, sweetheart,” Luke laughed, as he sat down at the table and dove into his food with gusto- trying to keep his thoughts off of her and the smooth, graceful movements of her perfect body.
Christ!

“Screw you,” she bit out between bites – glaring at him.

“I believe you already have,” he replied evenly. “And quite thoroughly, I might add – well, that is if memory serves me correctly. Care for a little refresher?”

Kats face blazed red as her eyes – with a will of their own, moved over to the tangled sheets on the bed next to her.
Crap! Crap! Crap!

“You’re an asshole,” Kat grumbled, trying desperately to get her pounding heart to slow down, and her stomach to stop fluttering.

“Oh, you don’t even know the half of it, lover.”

“I am
not
your lover!” She yelled before jumping up and storming into the bathroom - unceremoniously slamming the door behind her with a resounding boom.

Luke burst out laughing and continued eating as if nothing had happened.
“Oh, baby,” he whispered to himself, “you are so much more.”

Kat stood at the sink and splashed cold water over her face – trying desperately to calm the frantic beating of her heart.
Damn that mangy dog! She silently seethed. That man could set her off faster than anyone she had ever known before. She took a deep, calming breath and dried her face. She needed to concentrate on finding Harper, and
not
the arrogant ass sitting in the other room stuffing his face as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

She took another deep breath – trying desperately to calm down.
She knew that he was at risk because of her, and she hated herself for it -but she also had to admit that she wouldn’t be able to track Harper without him. She had no idea where to even begin to look for the girl – and Constance’s letter only helped so much.

Kat glared at her reflection in the mirror – her eyes narrowing at the sight of her kiss swollen lips.
“God, Winslow,” she groaned. “You
really
suck!”

Summoning up all her resolve, she turned and went back into the bedroom – to face the man who had completely turned her world upside down.

“All right, Blackwater.” She said softly. “You win…for now. You can help me find my sister,” she conceded and glanced at him sitting there, a completely smug smile plastered across that perfectly chiseled face of his. He folded his arms across his massive chest and gave her a wink.

“Glad you’ve finally come to your senses, red,” he purred, and Kat had the overwhelming urge to slap him – then kiss it and make it better.
Holy cow, she was pathetic – and she was beginning to think just a little bit insane as well.

She knew deep down in her gut that she shouldn’t be doing this – but things had changed.
She was sure that her mother had no idea what they would run into at Harper’s house – she tried to rationalize. Her mother would probably be thrilled that she had Luke with her now – knowing how well Were’s could track.

Kat grimaced slightly as her mind screamed at her –
Yeah, dumbass! And if that were the case – then why haven’t you called her and told her what happened?

Kat shook the thought off and tried to give Luke a smile.
“The no-touching rule still applies, Benji,” she said, her brow arching slightly.

“Not a problem,
Glinda
,” he replied softly, although she noticed with a little flutter of her heart, that he wouldn’t meet her eyes. She brushed it off – not wanting to entertain any more thoughts at the moment. She was confused enough.

“So, what’s our next move?” She asked.

Luke stood and gathered up the trash from their meal - his movements sleek and fluid, and Kat found herself again, cursing his damned good looks. He was liquid sex - and she just wanted to dive in and drown herself in him. No lifeguard required. Dear Lord!

Luke dropped the bags into the trash can and stretched – his cursed muscles straining and flexing so freaking temptingly that she was practically
drooling
all over herself.

“Well?” she prodded, hoping to distract herself from his glorious form.

“We go find you sister. Haven’t you been listening?”

“I really hate you right now,” she bit out, her eyes narrowing.
“You know that, right?”

“Oh, baby,” he whispered, that grin still on his lips and his eyes twinkling devilishly.
“I know lots of things.”