Hot and Dangerous (Decorah Security) (5 page)
Read Hot and Dangerous (Decorah Security) Online
Authors: Rebecca York
He ran his
hand from her shoulder to her elbow, stroking her possessively.
“I’ll tell
you anything you want to know, but I think it may help to talk to some of the
other lifemates.”
“There are
others?”
“My brothers
and my cousins.”
“How . . .
how did you get that way?”
“As far as we
can figure, a long-ago Druid ancestor asked the gods for special powers.”
“That’s what
you were chanting—Druid?”
“Gaelic. I
think my ancestor got more than he bargained for. And it’s been passed down
through the generations.”
“What do you
mean?”
He dragged in
a breath and let it out. “It used to be . . .” He stopped.
“Something
bad?”
“Yeah. It’s a
sex-linked trait. Only boy babies survived. And half of them died the first
time they had to make the change—at puberty.”
“That’s
scary,” she breathed.
“Yeah. But my
cousin Ross married a geneticist. They have a little girl. And she’s going to
give the boys hormone treatments that will get them through that first change.”
She nodded,
accepting what he had told her.
He made a
small sound. “Werewolf social relations used to be . . . strained. Each guy was
the head of his own pack. But Ross showed us how to work together. Especially
the married men.” He laughed. “The wives have helped socialize us—but there are
still some dominance issues. Like if we gather at one guy’s house, he’s the
alpha while we’re there.”
She nodded.
He could feel
himself relaxing—finally. It was going to be okay, because he’d found the right
woman. Someone beautiful and smart and able to wrap her head around what he
was.
“Everyone
will welcome you into the family.” He laughed.
“What?”
“I know
they’ve been taking bets on when I’d find a mate. I’ll bring you to meet the
clan as soon as we get back to Maryland, but I’d like to be alone with you for
a few more days, first.”
“Um—they’ve
probably heard the news. Maybe you should call them and tell them you’re okay.
And I should call my parents.”
“Right. I
wasn’t thinking.”
“Do you mind
if I tell them I met the man I’m going to marry?”
He went very
still, and he saw her flush.
“I mean . . .
I . . .”
He gathered
her close. “I’m glad you were thinking it. Yes, the man you’re going to marry.”
oOo
Jenna nodded
again, knowing she belonged to this man, body and soul. She’d dated other men,
and she’d had good relationships, but she’d never met anyone she wanted to
spend the rest of her life with.
This was
different. This was her man. Her mate. He’d excited her from the first moment
she’d seen him. She hadn’t guessed what he would mean to her. But how could
she? This was a situation so unique that she never could have dreamed it up.
He climbed
off the bed to find the covers he’d tossed on the floor, and she admired his
body. His muscles were well defined, but he wasn’t like a bodybuilder. More
like a runner, and she imagined him in the woods at night.
“Do you have
to change to a wolf when the moon is full?” she asked.
“No. That’s
just a legend. I change when I want to.”
“You live
where you have room to run?” she asked.
“Yes. On the
edge of a park. A werewolf wouldn’t do so well in the middle of the city.”
“I want to go
out with you at night. I want to see you as a wolf, and not because we’re in
danger.”
“You will.”
He pulled up
the covers, tucking them tenderly around her, then settled down beside her
again. Closing her eyes, she snuggled against him, thinking that she hadn’t
realized there was something basic missing from her world. She’d focused on her
work. Now everything was different. Lucky for her she’d been brave enough not
to run away.
“If you’d
taken off, I would have followed you,” he growled.
She raised
her head and looked at him, just a bit warily. “You read minds, too?”
“No. But it’s
not hard to imagine what’s circling through your head. Remember, I was the one
who was trying to run away—from you.”
“Lucky for me
you were there when I needed you.”
He gathered
her to him, stroking his lips against her cheek. “Lucky for both of us. I think
we should celebrate.”
“What do you
have in mind?”
He answered
with a wolfish laugh, and she held him tight, thankful that she had found this
incredible man to share the rest of her life.
THE END
oOo
PRAISE FOR REBECCA YORK
“Rebecca York
delivers page-turning suspense."
—Nora Roberts
“A true
master of intrigue.”
—Rave Reviews
"Rebecca
York's fast-paced suspense, innovative stories and sexy characters set the
standard for paranormal romantic suspense."
—Ann Voss
Peterson
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ABOUT REBECCA YORK
A USA Today
Best-Selling Author, Rebecca York is a 2011 recipient of the Romance Writers of
America Centennial Award. Her career has focused on romantic suspense, often
with paranormal elements.
Her 16
Berkley books and novellas include her nine-book werewolf “Moon” series.
KILLING MOON was a launch book for the Berkley Sensation imprint. She has
written 50 books for Harlequin Intrigue, many in her popular 43 Light Street
series. Her recent releases include DARK WARRIOR for Berkley and DARK MAGIC for
Carina Press. Two Harlequin Intrigues, SUDDEN INSIGHT and SUDDEN ATTRACTION,
will be published early in 2012.
She has
written for Harlequin, Berkley, Dell, Tor, Carina Press, and Pageant Books.
Her many
awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards
from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic
Mystery. And her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award
for Romantic Suspense Series.
Many of her
novels have been nominated for or won RT Reviewers Choice awards. In addition,
she has won a Prism Award, several New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf
awards and numerous other chapter awards.
oOo
Web site:
http://www.RebeccaYork.com
Facebook: Ruth Glick
Twitter: rebeccayork43
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BOOKS BY REBECCA YORK