Heat Rising: A KinKaid Wolf Pack Story (5 page)

“What?” Kaleb drew back and straightened. Mental images of him and Rosa sparing, her body wrapped around his—under his. Kaleb’s cock jerked.
Shit.

“I want you to teach me how to defend myself. Hand-to-hand combat, mixed marital arts. Whatever it is you think would serve me best.”

Shaking his head, Kaleb retreated deeper into the kitchen. He needed another cup, maybe a half dozen more cups of coffee before he could deal with this. Putting his hands all over Rosa would drive him nuts. All that contact would only serve to drive to the forefront of his mind what he was working damn hard to ignore: his desire for Rosa went a hell of lot deeper than friendship. “Why?” Was about the only coherent thing he could utter at the moment.

“Why would I not want to learn?”

Pouring another mug full of his favorite Columbian roast, he glanced back over his shoulder. “Because you have an entire team of enforcers whose job is to protect, not only the pack in general, but especially the alpha family.”

“Come on, Kaleb.” Rosa rounded the bar, joining him within the narrow confines of the kitchen. “Tensions are higher than ever between our pack and the Gregorsons, and I think it’s wise for me to learn how to defend myself. If I’m attacked, my wolf will only get me so far.”

Kaleb turned, his back pressed to the sink, and Rosa closed the distance between.

She reached out and curled her fingers around his arm, the soft warmth of her hand charging his nervous system. “I’ve heard my brother and Landry speak of how good you are
more than once. And if I’m going to learn, I want to learn from the best.”

This close, his brain was about two seconds from shorting out from her scent. “Rosa,” he rasped. “I-I…”

“You’re not afraid I’d kick your ass now, are you?” Her lashes lowered, and Rosa’s blue gaze flashed in challenge.

Damn
. The little she-wolf knew how to press his buttons. A rumble set off deep in his throat, and from Rosa’s grin, the female knew she had him.

“Fine.” He sighed. “When do you want to start?”

“How about now?” She beamed, spun, and aimed for his back door.

“Now?” Absently, Kaleb plopped his cup onto the counter, coffee sloshing onto the surface. Shaking his hand free of the spill, he went after her.

She pulled a band from inside her pocket, then worked her hair into a thick ponytail. “Yes, now.” She peeked over her shoulder. “You don’t have to work today, right?”

Kaleb shook his head, air rushing in and out of his lungs. He would have preferred time to get used to the idea. Prepare himself for the day he’d meet her at the gym. Not right now, and in his backyard.

“Okay, then. Let’s get to it.” She nodded, then unlocked the door and headed outside.

He groaned, stabbed his fingers through his hair, and marched over the threshold. How the hell did he get himself in these situations?

Kaleb stepped onto the small landing and inhaled deep. Spring had just arrived, and the air was still crisp and cool. Thank goodness. He was going to need all the cold breezes Mother Nature could muster.

After pulling off his socks, Kaleb jogged down the steps and onto the thick green grass of his backyard. Rosa stood in the center, her stance wide, waiting on his approach. Spotting a twig on the ground, he grasped it in his palm before joining her.

“What are you going to do with that?” Her hands went to her hips. “Start a camp fire?”

He rolled the wood between his fingers. “This.” In one swift move, Kaleb was behind Rosa, her back to his chest, the twig at her throat. Her breath hitched, and Rosa’s fingernails dug into his forearm. “If this was a knife, you’d be dead already.”

“Point taken,” she breathed, then yanked down on his wrist, tucked her head, and ducked out of his hold, twisting his arm behind him in the process.

“Shit!” Kaleb hissed.

Rosa held onto his arm, his shoulder rebelling at the uncomfortable angle. She plucked the twig from his fingers. “How about that? This really does work.” She chuckled and let him go.

“Where did you learn to do that, Ms. I-Don’t-Know-How-to-Fight?” Kaleb rolled his shoulder, massaging the joint with his palm.

“I don’t.” She shrugged. “But that doesn’t mean I haven’t picked up a few things over the years watching you boys train.”

“So you’ve been watching us?” He braced his hands on his hips, enjoying the rush of pink filling Rosa’s cheeks. She really was adorable—an intoxicating mix of innocence and fire.

“Sometimes it could be very…” An innocent smile lifted the corners of her delectable mouth. “Educational,” she added.

He shook his head. “Yeah. Right. Educational.” Kaleb cleared his throat. “Okay, let’s move on to a few more advanced moves.” And quick, or he’d end up embarrassing himself if they stood there any longer staring at each other, because a certain part of his anatomy was becoming way too interested.

Half an hour later, both of them had worked up a good sweat. Kaleb yanked his T-shirt off and tossed it to the ground. Rosa pivoted, clutched the hem of her hoodie, and tugged it off over her head. She rotated back around, wearing only a white tank and her yoga pants. The thin white cotton dipped low at the neckline and stretched over her full breasts, the creamy tops of which rose and fell with each inhale and exhale.

Damn, what he wouldn’t give to bury his—Rosa bounced back and forth on the balls of her feet, her ponytail swinging.
Dear God…save me.

“Come on,” she taunted him, both palms out and up, curling her fingers inward as if begging him to take her on. “What else you got, big boy?”

He blinked, swallowed hard, and jerked his gaze back up to her face. “What?”

“Come on…” she insisted. “I’m ready for you.” Rosa grinned.

“Okay, okay.” Kaleb smothered a laugh and eased a little closer. “Take a swing at me.”

“You want me to punch you?” One blonde brow arched. “In the face?”

“That’s right.” He nodded. “Go for it.”

“All right.” Rosa slipped into her fighting stance, drew back, and swung. Her fist came straight for his jaw.

Years of training had honed Kaleb’s reflexes. He didn’t have to think. Only act. He blocked her punch with one arm, then dove for her waist, wrapping his arms around her. His leg went for the back of her knee, knocking her off balance. In one smooth action, Kaleb took her to the ground and onto her back. He rolled onto her, the weight of his body trapping her beneath him.

“Damn!” she spat. “I didn’t even see you move.”

Her gaze settled on his, and the jasmine and pine scent that was uniquely Rosa, morphed. Deepened. A smell so rich and decadent it could only be one thing—lust…arousal.

Fuck!

The pheromone arrowed to his cock, swelling him rock hard. Her mouth parted, and the pink tip of her tongue appeared, wetting her lips. An invitation that needed no words. And Kaleb couldn’t deny her—couldn’t deny himself any longer. Who moved first? He wasn’t sure, but suddenly they were kissing. Silky and raw. That was the only way to describe kissing Rosa. It was like gliding over the most luxurious fabric ever made, yet at the same time she left him ripped open and exposed for the taking.

Her fingers speared into his hair, tangling and tugging at the roots. The sting lit up his nerve endings, but he didn’t give a shit about the pain. Hell, at that moment, she could yank the stuff out by the handfuls, and he doubted he would care.

Rosa wiggled, then nudged him with her hip, and Kaleb rolled onto his back, taking her on top. Straddling his hips, she tore away from his lips on a groan.

“Oh, God,” she whispered. Rosa jumped up and marched toward the house.

What the hell?

Kaleb launched from his position on the ground and charged after her retreating form. Leaning in, he wrapped both of his arms around her waist, lifted, spun, and took Rosa to the ground on her side. She shrieked right before the air left her lungs with a
humph
. But the impact didn’t slow her down. With her legs scrambling for escape, Kaleb held on.

“Never turn your back on your opponent,” he murmured at her ear, his voice deep, hoarse. A product of the lingering arousal heating up his veins. Rosa’s movements slowed, calmed.
Good.
Surrender
. That didn’t take as long as he’d thought.

He loosened his grip an inch or two. “Are you—” The rest of his question died a quick death from the blow delivered by an elbow to his diaphragm.

Rosa lunged free from his hold and onto all fours, making for a quick escape.

“You little…” Kaleb growled and sprang from his knees after her, managing to grab hold of her hips by his fingertips. But, it was enough to halt her progress.

Rosa cried out, collapsing onto her stomach.

“Got you!” Kaleb crawled over her prone form, pushed her ponytail aside, and hovered with his mouth inches above her flesh. “That was clever, but I…”

That’s when Kaleb saw it. And his limbs froze. Paralyzed by the appearance of a thin brown line embedded like a tattoo in Rosa’s flesh, its direction pointed north above the neckline of her tank.

“What are you doing?” Rosa squirmed. “Get off me!” she growled.

“Is that…is that what I think it is?” A tremor rocked his body.

“Kaleb, I swear…” Her voice cracked.

“How long?” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I mean, when did it start?”
Christ.
That would explain the sudden, intense arousal she’d experienced minutes ago. Rosa was going into heat—not that he wouldn’t have wanted her despite the pheromones. His desire for her had been growing, deepening ever since his senior year in high school.

“Four weeks,” she whispered, her forehead pressed against the thick grass. “Kaleb, you have to swear to me you’re not going to say anything about this to Evin or Landry.”

Four weeks?
And none of them had picked up on a damn thing. She’d been hiding it well. Granted, it had been a little easier to push her buttons lately, but with the Gregorson’s uprising, Kaleb hadn’t given it much thought.

“You can’t ask me to keep this a secret, angel.”

Rosa jerked, but Kaleb wasn’t about to let her go yet. Not until he had a handle on what they were going to do with this new information.

“I can, and you have to!” she spat. “Landry—my brother—they’ll lock me up until this is over. And you know I’m not exaggerating.”

She was probably right. Scooping Rosa up and hiding her away, making sure no other man could get near her would be his next move as well. Pretty soon, she would be vulnerable to any male who wanted to claim the alpha’s sister. Once her heat was in full swing, whichever shifter she slept with would become her bonded mate. And from what he understood about females in full heat, the need to mate overtook them—it couldn’t be denied.

“They would only be protecting you from yourself,” he stated.

“Dear God! I don’t need protection. I need time.” She shoved back. “Let me go!”

“What the fuck is going on here!” It was Landry.

Before Kaleb could glance over his shoulder toward his partner, a heavy blow slammed into his torso, knocking him over and off Rosa.

“Kaleb, have you lost your mind?” Landry stood over Rosa, offering her his hand, but his glare was fixated on Kaleb.

“It’s okay,” Rosa said, pulling herself up off the ground. She dusted the loose grass off her front side. “It’s not what you think.”

“Yeah,” Kaleb added and rolled onto his feet. “And if you’d given me a second before blasting into me, you would have known that.”

“All I know is that I walked around here, heard Rosa yelling at you to let her go, and then saw you on top of her.” Landry crossed his arms. “What was I to think?”

“Man, you know me better than that.” Kaleb shook his head, his gaze falling to Rosa. Her eyes were wide—pleading—and the desperation on her face punched every soft spot around his heart. “Rosa asked me to teach her a few fighting skills. That’s all we were doing.” Kaleb didn’t miss her long exhale. He just wished he felt as relieved as her about aiding and abetting her attempt to hide her rising heat from the alpha and his partner.

“Is that right, Rosa? The moves he was showing you had to do with fighting?”

“Damn, Landry…” Kaleb swung his attention to the other male. “Are you serious with this? Do you really think I would try to hurt her?”

“That’s all it was,” Rosa interjected. “Come on, you guys.” She stepped between them.

Landry lowered his glare and shook his head. “No. You’re right. I know you would never hurt her.”

“Damn, right,” Kaleb said.

“I apologize. It’s just when I saw you on top of her, and Rosa sounded upset…” His palms went up in a show of surrender. “I overreacted.”

Kaleb grunted. “What are you doing here any way? I’m off duty this morning.”

“The alpha’s called a mandatory meeting. Stefan Gregorson has responded.”

He’d come off like a complete ass.

Landry was surprised Kaleb hadn’t decked him earlier that morning for insinuating the male had been trying to hurt Rosa. But after Kaleb hadn’t answered his door, and Landry had picked up on Rosa’s distressed voice coming from the back of the house, throw in what he’d found when he’d gotten there… Every protective instinct inside him had fired. And at that moment, he didn’t see his best friend, only a male Landry had to eradicate from Rosa’s body.

Hours later, after his head had cleared, he’d cringed over the memory of his action. God, he was a jerk. He’d known Kaleb for too long and shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. Landry scrubbed the day’s worth of beard growth along his jaw. He was sure his appearance looked about as rough as he felt.

Pulling up alongside Rosa’s Jeep in front of her home, Landry shoved his SUV into park and cut the engine. The day had already been a long one spent meeting with the alpha and his team of enforcers about the Gregorsons. According to Evin, Stefan’s couriered written response had been heated. A litany of rants about their alpha’s lack of respect toward the other male and his lateral position as leader. Gregorson had stated he would definitely make a personal appearance soon to retrieve his misguided pack member, but he hadn’t said when. Of course not. He’d rather keep them all in suspense and the KinKaid pack on constant alert.

More fun that way for the bastard.

As a result, Landry’s day had sucked. So why the hell he thought ending it by adding a confrontation with Rosa was going to make things any better eluded him.

Landry exited the vehicle and made his way up her sidewalk, worrying the set of keys between his fingers, the metal clinking in time with the dull thump of his boot heels on the concrete. But he couldn’t go home without checking on her first and getting a couple of things off his chest. Like why she’d gone to Kaleb and not him about this sudden urge of hers to learn how to fight? Yeah…he and Rosa had a few things to talk about.

At her door, Landry pressed the illuminated button of her doorbell. It didn’t take long before the sound of her feet padding across her wood floors came from the other side. The lock clicked, then the door swung open.

Wearing a pair of white shorts that stopped mid thigh and a pink T-shirt emblazoned with a set of fangs and a message that said something about
Wanting to
Do Bad Things
scribbled
across the front, Rosa cocked her hip and slapped a palm against the jam.

Fuck.
The number of “bad things” he wanted to do just got a hell of a lot longer, and every one of them involved Rosa in that shirt, beneath him, on her knees in front him, her back against a wall with her legs around him…

“What are you doing here?”

Landry blinked and yanked his head out of his fantasy. “You know… That’s the second time I’ve been greeted that way today?” He mirrored her hold on the wood. “If I was a sensitive guy, I might start developing a complex that people aren’t happy to see me.”

“Maybe you should smile more and then others might not think you’re always the harbinger of doom.” She smirked.

“I’ll try to work on that.”

Rosa dropped her arm, stood back, and Landry crossed the threshold. A warm glow from a couple of lamps on her end tables in the den lit the interior. The smell of peaches filled the space from a candle somewhere in the room, the fragrance mixing with the floral notes of the woman beside him. A provocative combination that teased his senses.

“So what brings you here this late? And please tell me it’s good news despite the grumpy look on your face.”

“I just wanted to stop by and see how you were after how things went down this morning.”

“Ah…” Rosa headed for the kitchen and Landry followed. “I’m fine. You want something to drink?”

“Any beer?”
Please say yes.
He could really use a dose of alcohol to smooth his rough edges. Being here with Rosa—alone—had him feeling strung too tight.

“I think I might.” Rosa aimed for the refrigerator, her hips swayed with each step. Not intentionally. No. That wasn’t her style. She was as down to earth and unassuming as the stereotypical
girl-next-door, and it made her all the more desirable.

He couldn’t recall exactly when he’d begun to fall for the alpha’s sister. But he did remember the exact moment when he’d realized he had done just that—fallen in love with the one woman he could never have. It was the night of her eighteenth birthday. Landry had only been on the job as an enforcer for her father, the alpha at that time, for a year. Rosa’s date had arrived, and she’d descended the stairs wearing an off the shoulder dress, the tight fitting bodice a swirl of pale blue, and the skirt a solid crisp white. Her blonde tresses had hung long and straight over her shoulders, brushing her waist. He’d never seen anything more beautiful. By the time Rosa had reached the last step, she’d not only completed her journey, but she’d claimed his heart along the way. And when the other male reached for her hand, a wave of jealousy, unlike anything he’d ever experienced, had swamped him, blurring his vision and punching his fangs from his gums. Landry had ducked out of the room to keep from adding murder to the list of his family’s sins. After that night, for him, nothing had ever been the same.

Rosa pulled the fridge door opened, and leaned in, her pink T-shirt riding higher on her waist, exposing a wide slice of the smooth, creamy skin beneath. His pulse leaped at the sight. Reflex coiled his fingers into tight fists. He had to, or risk closing in and acting on what his body screamed it wanted to do—to touch.

Take.

Claim.

Down, Dog! She’ll never be yours.
She’s Evin’s twin sister—a member of the alpha family.
Why would they ever approve of her bedding a bastard male?
Shit.
Why the hell would she ever seriously consider a relationship with a shifter possessing such a tainted pedigree? Not to mention the questionable judgment he had when it came to his sexual appetite. Landry squeezed his eyes shut and mentally shook himself.

“Yup,” she said. Landry popped his eyelids open as Rosa straightened and whirled back around. “I was right. I did have one left.” She handed over t
he Bud Light.

Thank God.
In a swift one-two action, Landry had the cap off and downed a long gulp.

“Guess you
were
thirsty.” Rosa chuckled.

“Been an extra long day.” Landry sighed. “Speaking of that and how my day started, since when have you wanted to learn how to fight?”

“Why do you ask?” She shrugged and strolled off toward her den. “I think it’s probably been long overdue that I learn a few defensive moves. Don’t you?”

Landry joined her in the room, but headed over toward one of the dark windows that overlooked her backyard. Better this way if he kept his focus trained on something else besides Rosa. He was much more comfortable in the role of protector than as a covetous male.

“That’s true,” he grumbled, watching the shadows dance across the lawn as the breeze rocked the leaves in the trees. “But why Kaleb?” There. He’d said it. That was the real root of his problem, wasn’t it? The sore spot he’d been nursing all day—why she hadn’t called him.

“What?”

He spun, facing Rosa. “Why Kaleb? Why didn’t you call me? You know I would have been happy to train you.”

“Because you’re my brother’s lead enforcer. You have better things to do with your time.”

“Bullshit.” He jammed the bottle of beer onto one of end tables with a
smack
of glass to wood.

“Excuse me?” Her hands went to her hips. And damn if that arrogant stance didn’t hit him like a hot bolt of lust.

“You know I’m never too busy for you,” he rumbled, his voice dipping low.

Rosa sighed, and her arms fell back to her sides. “I knew you’d make too much of the request and go overboard. Sometimes it’s just easier to approach Kaleb. Besides…” Rosa rounded the loveseat separating them, then leaned her hips against its back, putting them a couple of feet apart. “We both know how impressive Kaleb’s skills are as a fighter.”

When he’d moved, Landry had no fucking idea. But the next thing he knew he had Rosa’s back locked to his chest in a firm hold. One of his arms snaked around her shoulders, the other secured around her waist.

“What are you doing?” Rosa growled and squirmed against him, nestling the sudden hard length of his arousal into the small of her back. She froze, but the sound of her breathing had quickened.

Landry leaned in, tucking his chin at the curve of her neck. “Shh…I’ve got you,” he whispered at her ear. “Looks like Kaleb overlooked a few moves.”

Damn, she was so close.
Bad move, Michaels.
Every heavy thump of her heart resounded through his chest. The heat of her flesh seared him through his clothes.
Bad, bad move.
Unable to resist the temptation, Landry tracked a path along the length of her slim neck, inhaling deeply: Jasmine and sex. God help him, she was aroused.

“How is it possible you can smell so sweet—so utterly delicious?” Landry tightened his hold, and a tremor rolled through Rosa. There was no mistaking the subtle vibration, and no way in hell was it fear setting off the quake. Not based on the scent exploding inside his head and triggering an ache in his nuts, rivaling even his worse case of teenage blue balls.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he inched his hand up to cup her jaw. “Rosa…” Her name came out rusty, the syllables thick with his own arousal. What he wouldn’t give for just one taste of her mouth. He didn’t deserve it. Yet dammit…he couldn’t fight it any longer. Landry turned her chin, edging them closer. Shaky puffs of air escaped Rosa’s lips as her eyelashes fluttered. Then she glanced up, her sky blue irises meeting his gaze.

“Kiss me,” he growled, barely recognizing his own voice. “For God’s sake. Kiss me now or tell me to get the hell out.”

A moan bubbled up from Rosa’s throat, and her mouth found his. The caress so feathery light at first that for a moment, he wasn’t sure she’d actually closed the distance. Then she leaned in, fully sealing their lips together, and his mind shattered.

The jarring melody of Disturbia’s
Meaning of Life
rang out from the location of his hip—his cell phone—the alpha.
Shit.
An elbow landed in his gut, sending the hamburger he’d eaten a couple of hours ago up into his esophagus.

Rosa latched onto his fingers at her jawline, bent them back, and twisted out of his hold.

Son of a bitch.

Before she could take another step, Landry reached out and snagged her other arm, yanking her back, her chest pressed to his. “Ouch,” he stated, staring down at her, his tone dry. “Guess I might have been wrong on the comprehensive nature of Kaleb’s training program.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Guess so.”

His ring tone looped and went for round two in its attempt to gain his attention.

“You going to get that?” Rosa indicated his phone with a nod.

What the hell am I doing?
“Yeah.” Landry uncurled his fingers from her flesh, and Rosa stepped back.
Get your head on straight, Michaels.
He grabbed the cell from its clip at his waist. The display read, “the alpha”. In reality, it was perfect timing. What had been happening here needed to be brought to a screeching halt before things went too far.

He tapped the green answer bar. “Landry.”

“There’s been a change in a few of the details,” Evin stated. “I need you back here.”

“I’m on my way.”

The call ended, and Landry replaced the device in its carrier. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted Rosa standing near the kitchen with her arms folded across her chest.

Yeah
. This was awkward. And should have never happened. The sister of his alpha deserved a hell of a lot better than hooking up with the son of a male who’d deserted his own family and his people. Not to mention the fact Landry had had more men and women beneath him than he cared to count…or could remember.
Fuck, yeah
. She deserved a whole lot better.

“You need to go,” she stated, more matter of fact than a question.

“The alpha has a few more things he wants to go over with me.” Landry headed for the exit. Something he should have done ten minutes ago.

“Of course.” The sound of her footsteps placed her right behind him.

At the door, he grabbed the handle, pulled, then spun, facing Rosa. “Listen…I—”

“Don’t.” As the door swung open, Rosa seized the narrow edge, stopping its motion.

He’d planned to apologize, but her command had him choking it back instead. Would it have been the truth anyway? Did he really regret their kiss?
Yes…?
Her taste had left him only wanting more.
No?
Same explanation. She was delicious.

“We kissed.” Rosa shrugged. “That was all. I don’t want to hear
sorry.”

“Are
you
?” God, he needed to shut the fuck up and just leave.