Single Wicked Wolf (6 page)

“I didn’t want you to be surprised. We’ve been preparing for our approach for some time, but the pilot had to circle some bad weather.” The explanation matched her assumption.

“I appreciate your worry and how do you know it was bad weather?” She hadn’t heard any announcement, but then, she’d also been asleep until fifteen minutes before.

The steward interrupted with plates of cheese and fruit. Her stomach growled and she pressed a finger to her lips at the rather bellicose nature of the sound. Demonstrating incredible manners, the steward said nothing more than, “Can I get you something else? We have some fresh bruschetta, lamb roast with baby potatoes or a seafood salad.”

She wanted all of it, but she glanced at Giovanni. “How fresh is the lamb roast?”

“It was prepared for heating before we left earlier today,
Signor
. Though I will say it is likely to be a bit dry.” Despite the warning it still sounded tasty and she didn’t want seafood salad.

“We’ll both take the lamb,” he answered and after the steward walked away, Murphy sighed. At the soft sound, Giovanni glanced at her. “
Cara
?”

“I was thinking the seafood salad sounded tasty.”

His swift frown told her he caught the white lie. Not pretending anything more, she raised her brows. The narrow look to his eyes worried her briefly until he chuckled. “You are irritated with my ordering, but not so irritated with my choices.”

“You are smart.” Laughing would neuter her point so she kept her expression as calm as she could muster. Spreading one of the cheeses onto a thin wafer, she tested the scent before taking a bite. The last thing she wanted to try and digest was spoiled cheese. It wouldn’t kill her, but it sure wouldn’t be pleasant.

“
Si
, I am not going to ask permission each time I offer to take care of you,
cara
, but I do insist you speak up if you disagree with the choices I make.
Capisci
?”

“Fair enough. I actually think the lamb sounded good, but what I’d kill for is a steak.” The tension eased immediately and he nodded once.

“I placed an order for a meal to be served in our suite at the Langtry. It will be delivered within thirty minutes of our arrival.”

Their suite?
“Giovanni…”

But he silenced her with a finger to her lips, then leaned toward her and said in a subvocal whisper. “
Cara,
I promised you pleasure. You did not want to travel to Willow Bend this late, and you will not be tired…the suite is merely an accommodation to let us play.”

Anticipation quivered in her belly and she glared at him. “You do not fight fair.”

The corner of his sensuous mouth curved. “I am not fighting at all.”

The steward returned with their meals and served the lamb and new potatoes on real plates with real cutlery. As promised, the meat was a little dry. It however satisfied a craving. She remained vividly aware of the wolf next to her throughout the meal. Suspecting he missed little, she didn’t bother to hide her reactions to him. They were both adults, and their interlude in the Rome airport whet her appetite for what a night with him would entail when they had no limits—on time or space.

He smelled so damn good to her. It wasn’t soap or cologne, not after their shower. He didn’t wear a store bought fragrance and they’d used the same, plain unscented soap. Detecting the similar hint of it on him that she wore left her basking in his aroma—masculine wolf, power, and pure male. It turned her on as much as it made her feel safe.

“Where did you book our suite?” The best part of a wolf lover, they could play all kinds of games. The games they didn’t need were second guessing, wondering about intentions or whether he was into her or not. He was definitely into her and she liked the way his attraction made her feel. More, she enjoyed her desire for him.

“The Langtry,” he’d finished his meal and since she’d returned to her tea, he nodded to her plate.

“I’m done…it’s not really what I want right now anyway.” The Langtry was a very expensive hotel. Giovanni did not seem to mind spending his money.

Another flash of a smile and he stacked their plates together. “It is but an
appertivo
to the main course.”

Tease. “I thought we had that earlier.” She waited a beat, draining her tea first before adding. “I’m thinking it was more of a palate cleanser so we can start fresh.”

The barest hint of vibration, a subvocal growl that made her tingle in all the right places. Triumphant, she grinned and met his gaze.
Oh yeah, I got him.

Leaning in, he gave her a hard, swift kiss. The electric contact lit every nerve and she clenched her thighs. They were on a plane. That bathroom didn’t have any room. Not that she needed more than enough to mount his… “Soon,
cara mia
, but we must still land and arrive at the hotel.”

“True, but that doesn’t mean we can’t play.” She traced her nails over his thigh. “Tell me about you. Like what do you do?”

The conversation had to be quiet and she had no trouble hearing him. The steward cleared away their meal and cups then offered them wine and dessert. They both declined.

After he walked away, Giovanni leaned his head against the seat but faced her. “I do whatever is needed.”

“I understand some of it.” He’d said he was a Centurion after all, and she knew it was similar to being Hunter. Hunters protected the pack from within and without. They moved freely, offering aid or discipline wherever and whenever needed. They were a bit rootless, however, because they did travel so much. “But I meant what do you like to do when you’re not doing what needs to be done?”

Could she make the question more awkward? If her lack of finesse bothered him, he didn’t show it. “I raise horses,” he murmured. “Salvatore has his vineyards and I own a couple, but I am not so good with the grapes. The horses though, I enjoy them.”

“Really?” Stunned, she covered his hand with hers. “They don’t have problems with your…” His wolf? Some prey animals just never settled around them. Growing up in Willow Bend meant when she’d wanted a puppy, the idea had been discouraged and she’d had to go a few miles outside of town for horseback riding lessons.

“Horses are very accommodating creatures.” His expression softened. “They trust what they are raised around, their instincts are solid. If you truly mean them no harm, they understand that, too.”

A thousand questions bubbled through her mind. “Do you raise a specific breed?”

“Calabrese.” No mistaking his pride or affection. “They are one of the oldest breeds in Italy, dating back to before the founding of Rome. I have a farm in the Calabria region. Perhaps someday you will visit and I will introduce you to them.”

The longing to see his farm flooded her, but before she could answer the seatbelt lights came on and the captain began welcoming them to Chicago. Leaning into her seat, she glanced out the window. She was home in the United States. The lights twinkled below as though the night sky had been scattered across the landscape. As soon as the next day she would be in Willow Bend. Seeing his horses sounded awesome, but she doubted they would ever be more than a dream. Once she was home in Willow Bend…

Deplaning from First Class had a certain cachet. She didn’t have to wait for a long line of people to leave ahead of her. When Giovanni rose, the others waited for him. With him as escort, they were the first two off. The only issue came when it was time to head to customs. Her U.S. passport sent her to one line while his Italian to another.

“I’ll meet you on the other side,” she said with a wink. The reminder of his invitation to play seemed to soothe his irritation.

The Immigration agent reviewed her passport, and his eyebrows rose at the number of stamps as he flipped through. “You’ve been busy.”

“Yep, coming home. First time in a couple of years.”

“Well,” he said with a grin. “Anything to declare?”

She slid the sheet across, signed and filled out in full. He reviewed the information. Stamped it, then returned her passport and paperwork. She’d need them again at Customs. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you.” Still grinning, she tucked her passport into her purse and collected her carry on before walking to the cleared area and waiting. U.S. citizens and foreign nationals had to travel through two separate lines. Fortunately, the lateness of the hour meant they weren’t battling long lines. Her heart buoyed at the sight of Giovanni striding toward her. He claimed her bag from her and she chuckled. “I have two big suitcases, are you planning on carrying those for me, too?”

Possession simmered in his gaze when he met her gaze. “Yes.”

Thirty minutes later, and after the custom’s agent randomly inspected her suitcases much to Giovanni’s annoyance, they finally made their way to the rental cars. He’d hired an SUV, and it took him five minutes to collect the keys and lead her to where the car waited. Bags loaded, he walked to the passenger door and opened it for her.

“I have GPS,” he told her, meeting her gaze levelly. The trek through the airport had left him in a mood. After spending the last several hours with him, she recognized the tautness in his control. He’d really hated the men who’d pawed through her clothes and items. Not that they’d done more than cursory inspection. It had been the principle of the thing. “Get in the car, Murphy.”

The hint of rumbling growl had her thighs clenching again. Rising on her tiptoes, she pressed a hand to his chest and nuzzled his chin. “I like it when you’re bossy.” The vibration beneath her palm suggested a subvocal growl, but she continued to nuzzle his jaw. A moment later, his hand fisted her hair and his mouth closed over hers. The sizzling kiss left her weak kneed and leaning on him truly.

When he broke the kiss, a hint of a smile softened the hard line of his lips. “I will remember you said that,
cara
.” So much dark promise in the words and she shuddered.

“I hope so.” Regaining her balance, she pivoted to slide into the car and his hand landed against her ass. The sting sent heat sprawling through her and she jumped. Meeting his gaze again, she caught a glimpse of the wolf in the man’s eyes.

“Trust me.” Two such simple words, and yet…they asked her for so much more.

“Yes.” She whispered, the sharp slap reminding her of the burn of his bite on her shoulder. The lazy curl of liquid need intensified. “How long till we get to the hotel?”

“We’ll get there much faster,
cara,
if you get into the vehicle.” The rumble returned, deepening his voice with a hunger to match her own. But he wasn’t pissed off anymore.

Satisfied, she settled into her seat obediently and strapped on the seatbelt. Giovanni strode around the vehicle and paused. Violence perfumed the air and she twisted to see what had snared his attention.

A tall, broad shouldered man strode along the sidewalk to them. No, he didn’t stride—he prowled. Power surrounded him and her skin prickled at the rise of aggression from Giovanni. Even inside the closed, running car, she could scent the male dominance play filling the air.

“Giovanni Conti.” The voice wasn’t familiar neither was the man himself. But she didn’t know every wolf in the United States.

“Julian.” Giovanni’s Italian accent emphasized the syllables in Julian’s name. Nothing friendly lived in that tone.

Julian? Oh shit.
Murphy unbuckled her seatbelt, but a flicker of movement from Giovanni’s hand stilled her.

“You were to wait for an escort.” The warning notes in Chief Enforcer’s voice sent ice slithering along her spine. She’d heard all kinds of stories about Julian. He was dangerous, powerful and he controlled all the Enforcers in the United States. Lone Wolves, each and every one, the rumors said he had the power of an Alpha and that even the Alphas didn’t mess with him if they could help it.

“I have an invitation,” Giovanni didn’t back off an inch. “Do not concern yourself, Enforcer, with the business between Seven Hills and Willow Bend. It does not involve Lone Wolves or your attack on my Alpha’s mate.”

Murphy’s brain locked, and panic welled in her gut. Since they’d met Giovanni, her wolf had been relaxed, but all of that evaporated at the escalating tension beyond the vehicle. A part of her wanted to get out, to help or at least diffuse the situation. Another part wanted to flee. Her wolf’s agitation writhed over her skin and she clenched her sweaty palms closed.

She had to calm down. She
had
to. Two aggressive dominants did not need her fear to push them. Breathing exercises had her sucking in air noisily through her nose, then out through her mouth.

Julian still stood on the sidewalk and Giovanni hadn’t moved from his position near the driver’s side. A whole vehicle separated them, yet she could scent the power pooling in the air between them, filling in all the space until it seemed to smother the air she fought to breathe.

“You are a
guest
in this land. You will be escorted to Willow Bend. The rules applied to your Alpha and they apply to you.” As he spoke, Julian took a step toward the passenger side of the car.

Closing her eyes, Murphy willed her wolf to listen to her. They had to be calm. Posturing between wolves was vital to establishing order of dominance…the door next to her clicked, and suddenly Giovanni and Julian were nose to nose.
Oh fuck me.
Her wolf scrabbled against her and she fumbled for her purse. Digging into it, she dragged out her cell phone. Dammit, she’d forgotten she’d turned it off before she and Giovanni took their shower. She turned it on.

The seconds it took to get the phone to light up dragged with agonizing slowness.

“You were to come alone,” Julian stated, his tone so remarkably unflustered. How could he appear so nonplussed in the face of Giovanni’s near silent rage?

“Who I travel with is none of your concern.” He was inches from the Enforcer, all but body blocking him from her door. If her phone didn’t—
thank God
—the screen lit and she opened the phone app and chose Mason’s contact immediately.

The ringing phone split the taut hush between the pair. Mason answered on the second ring. “Murphy! Did your plane get in?” Warmth and welcome intertwined the words and her wolf whimpered. She tried to contain the sound, but her Alpha heard it. “What’s wrong?”