The Fire Inside (7 page)

“Ouch. I can only imagine how that feels.” Luken sniffed the
air and laughed. “But I can tell you made at least some progress with her.”

Konrad picked up the table leg next to him and threw it at
Luken, who rolled, dodging it as he laughed harder. Tyra’s scent hung on his
clothing, and he tried to let it soothe him. At least she now resided in his
den.

“So why are you here? And you owe me a new living room.”
Luken stood up, picking pieces of sheet rock out of his hair as he surveyed the
damage. “In fact, next time call ahead and I’ll meet your ass outside.”

“You know I’m good for it.” Konrad rose to his feet. There
were holes in the textured light blue walls, and none of the furniture had
survived. “I guess I should call the contractors and have them start earlier.”
He sighed. “I’m going to need your other bedroom.”

“Hmm.” Luken stared at him for a moment as if he wanted to
say something and then shrugged. “You know where everything is.”

“Yeah.” Konrad twisted to the side and winced. “Damn, if
that wasn’t a dirty kick to my ribs.”

Luken laughed. “Hey, I don’t want to hear it. You came
really close to depriving me of any chance at little Luken juniors.”

“It wasn’t my fault the sofa spilt that way. Maybe you
should go on a diet.”

Luken gave him the finger and laughed as he walked toward
his bedroom.

Alone again, Konrad headed for the bathroom in the hallway.
A solid coating of sheet rock dust covered his black slacks, and his shirt hung
in tatters. Once inside, he closed the door and turned on the water. As he went
to take his slacks off, his phone rang. His heart increased its tempo as he
pulled it from his pocket. The face showed his home number. He hit the answer
button and was talking before he could even get the phone all the way to his
ear. “Tyra? Are you okay?”

“Yes. I just…”

Her quite voice reached his ears and he sighed. The sadness
he’d felt coming from her earlier now seemed to leak out in her words.

“It’s not you…okay?”

“Okay.” Before he could say anything else, the call was
disconnected.

A knocking sound brought Tyra away from the fog of slumber.
She lifted her head from the pillow and a hank of dark hair fell in front of
her face. She swiped at it, pushing it behind her ear as she squinted, trying
her best to block out the shafts of sunlight streaming through the gap in the
blue curtains. Sleep had evaded her most of the night. Several times she’d
contemplated leaving, but with effort she’d brought her fear to heel. With a
groan, she plopped her face back into the pillow. Konrad’s scent filled her
nose. Sleeping in his bed, surrounded by that wondrous smell, had been soothing
to her emotions and torturous on her body.

The knock sounded again and she sat up, scooting from
beneath the covers and across the bed as she realized someone had knocked on
the front door. On bare feet she padded through the house to the entryway,
rising up on her tiptoes to look through the peep hole. Her eyes widened as she
stepped back, flipped the lock and yanked open the door. Konrad stood in front
of her, his clothes from the night before ripped and ruined. Through the tears
in his shirt she saw a faint bruise on his side. “Holy hell, what happened to
you?”

She backed up and he walked inside, closing the door behind
him. Dust of some sort had turned his black slacks gray. Had another pack
attacked in the middle of the night? “I thought you said that your den was
secure?”

He grimaced. “It is. This is nothing. It’ll be gone in a few
hours.”

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and pursed her
lips. “This sure as hell doesn’t look like nothing.”

He stepped toward her. “Why are your eyes swollen?”

She turned away from him and retreated into the bedroom.
“It’s nothing.” She sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him that she’d cried half
the night. They’d both drawn the evasive line, and she felt fine with not
crossing it. She had no wish to open that can of worms right now. The memories
of the past had plagued her enough last night.

She knew he’d followed her. Without turning, she asked, “So,
when do you plan on taking me to gather my things?”

“Whenever you’re ready. Do you have to work tonight?”

She turned to look at him; displeasure had laced his last
question. “No. I’m off this weekend. I won’t go back ’til Monday.” The smile
that lit up his face had her insides doing funny things.

“Good. I want to show you around and introduce you to some
of the pack members today.”

Her heart fluttered as a mix of fear and desire warred
within her. The realness of the situation slammed into her.

Konrad walked toward the doorway leading into the walk-in
closet. “I’ll let you think about it while I get dressed.”

Her chest tightened. He’d been waiting for a response and
she’d been so mixed up in her own thoughts she hadn’t answered him. Before he
disappeared through the doorway, she reached out and gripped his forearm.
“Konrad.”

She felt his muscles tense under her grip. After a moment,
he turned his amber gaze in her direction. Desire bloomed inside her. Last
night, his kiss had cooled the flames, but now they seemed to return with new
intensity. The close proximity of the bed behind her became a temptation. One
she really needed to avoid. “Um…do you like coffee?”

“Coffee?”

“Yeah. I’ll go make some.” She turned and beat a path toward
the kitchen, irritated with herself for letting him put her on the run. Where
had the tough girl gone, the one who had learned the hard way not to show
weakness?

She crossed over to the light-wood cabinets and began
rummaging through them for coffee, finally finding it in the last one on the
top row. The black coffee maker sat on the counter, its cord wrapped around it.
Her hands set to work as her mind spun with a whirl of thoughts. It would be a
temporary situation. Her apartment would still be waiting for her when they
finished assessing the threat Xabier posed. Her gaze went toward the bedroom,
where she could hear Konrad moving around. Did she want it to be temporary?

She’d told him she’d give this a chance. With a sigh she hit
the on button and braced her hands on the counter, her head hung low. A huffed
breath parted her lips. She heard his approach and raised her head, looking at
the coffee pot as it sputtered and released steam along with the dark liquid.
His movement stopped behind her and she turned to stare at him. He looked
wonderful in the dark polo shirt and low-slung jeans. The fabric hugged his
large biceps, showing every crease and line of his muscles. He leaned against
the island in the center of the kitchen, his hands at his sides, amber gaze
studying her.

“What’s your favorite color?”

She couldn’t stop the short, surprised laugh that escaped
her lips. “Ah…green, I guess.”

His gaze locked with hers. “I like green as well.”

She glanced down at the tile floor as her pulse jumped.

He pushed away from the counter and placed his finger under
her chin, tilting her face until she once again returned his gaze. “Don’t hide
from me.” He nipped at her lower lip.

Her breath hitched at his close proximity as her body began
to tingle. She wished it was as simple as not wanting to hide. What she would
give not to have her past plaguing her present. His gaze dropped to her lips.
Would he kiss her again?

The coffee pot sputtered loudly and released a burst of
steam, breaking the intensity of the moment as it announced its completed
cycle.

He grinned, reaching around her to pull open the cabinet
behind her. “Coffee’s ready.”

She heard the clink of two mugs as he gripped them in one
hand behind her. The move had brought his upper body into contact with hers. A
breath filled her lungs, bringing in the wonderful spiciness of his scent. Her
fingers curled into a tight fist as she fought the urge to touch him, and then
he moved back, sitting the cups on the counter. She blinked rapidly then
turned, heat rising in her face as she reached for the coffee pot. “Ah…do you
like anything in your coffee?”

“No,” he said, watching as she filled the mugs.

She grasped one mug, ready to pick it up and hand it to him,
but his large, strong hand covered hers. Her fingers released the handle and he
gripped her hand lightly, raising it toward his lips. Her eyelids went to half
mast as the fullness of his lips touched the tender flesh of her inner wrist.

“Thank you.” He released her hand and picked up the steaming
mug, making his way toward the small table in the center of the room.

She picked up her own cup and turned, leaning against the
counter, not trusting herself to sit close to him while her hormones seemed to
be trying to jumpstart into hyper drive. She wasn’t sure how to deal with this
charming side of him. His dominant tendencies were still present, but more
subdued than usual. She studied his mirth-filled expression as she sipped her
coffee. If she had to guess, she would think he was trying to woo her, and she
had to admit the thought held appeal.

He sat back in the high-backed wooden chair and stared at
her, smiling. “What is your favorite food?”

She couldn’t fight the smile that started lifting the
corners of her lips, so she hid it behind the coffee mug by taking a sip of the
hot brew. He’d taken her quite literally last night. She lowered the mug and
answered. “Steak.”

He lifted one brow as if he were filing away that
information.

She loved steak, but on her budget she didn’t get to eat it
very often. “What do you like to eat?”

He raised the mug to his lips and took a drink of his coffee
before answering. “I like a lot of different stuff. But I would have to say my
favorite is lamb.”

She smiled. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had lamb before.”

“It’s good.” He stood and approached the sink, sitting his
empty mug inside it. “If you’re ready, we can head to your apartment.”

She’d been enjoying their easy banter, but with his words
came the realization she was standing in front of him in yesterday’s rumpled
dress with bed head and morning breath. She placed her half-empty cup next to
his. “Yes. I’m ready if you are. Just let me get my shoes.”

She turned and made her way down the hall to his bedroom.
Her gaze landed on the heeled sandals she’d kicked off beside the bed last
night. With quick movements, she slid her feet into them and walked back to the
kitchen, running her fingers through her hair in an effort to tame the unruly
locks.

He looked up as she came toward him, a smile lifting the
corners of his full lips. “Ready?”

She nodded and didn’t resist as he gripped her hand in his,
leading her to the front door. The heat of his skin warmed her palm. They
stepped outside and were welcomed by the bright warm sunshine. The humidity
level had begun to climb, but it was still early enough that it felt more like
indoor pool than sauna.

Konrad had backed into the driveway and she noticed that a
few of the neighbors across the street had either stopped what they were doing
or peeked out through windows to look at her. Konrad assisted her into the
passenger seat of his truck and as he closed the door, she squirmed. She could
only image what she looked like to his pack members. Suddenly she wished she’d
asked to at least borrow a brush before coming outside. She slouched down in
the seat as he opened the driver’s-side door and got in.

He closed the door and looked over at her. “What are you
doing?”

She’d slid down ’til her head was level with the dashboard.
Keeping her gaze averted from him, she sighed. “We’ve attracted an audience.”

He turned to look out the windshield and then back to her.
“They’re just curious.”

She gave a half laugh. “Yeah, they’re probably wondering how
you got stuck with a rumpled mess like me.”

Konrad leaned over and used his index finger under her chin
to turn her head toward him. “Because I’m the luckiest wolf in the world.”

Her eyes slid closed as he closed the distance between them.
His lips were soft and sweet against her own. And then he pulled back and her
eyelids fluttered open.

“And you look absolutely lovely, rumpled clothes and all.
But if it bothers you, we could certainly remove the dress.” He gave her a
wicked grin.

She couldn’t help smiling in return. “And I’m so sure that
you only recommended that option to put my nerves at ease.”

“Of course. I can suffer through anything as long as it
brings you comfort,” he said, a teasing lilt lacing his words.

She sat up and playfully hit him in the arm as he started
the truck. His laughter filled the enclosed space and she felt her chest
tighten. The sound of his laughter was like music to her ears. A sound she knew
she’d want to hear again and again. She watched him as he drove. Every once in
a while he glanced in her direction and bestowed a smile on her, but he never
pressured her to talk. He was happy in the silence between them, as if he knew
she just needed a few moments to sort through her own thoughts.

The thought of keeping things between them temporary became
more like a security blanket. But was it time to let go of it? She’d once
thought that she’d lost all traces of her humanity. She’d clung to her wolf,
cutting off any emotions that weren’t directly connected to her survival. But
she’d managed to claw her way back to the emotional living. It had been horrid
at first, dealing with all the grief and anger at once after the years of
keeping it suppressed. When the next full moon had approached she’d become
afraid that slipping back into her animal would bring with it the security of
dead emotions. Unsure that she would ever have the strength again to let go of
the peaceful void, she’d stolen a bottle of over-the-counter sleep aids. When
they were no longer strong enough, she’d sought out a doctor.

But was she strong enough to be what Konrad needed and
deserved? Back then it had been the animal or humanity. But with Konrad it
would be both. She wouldn’t have the ability to cling to one or the other. And
if she took the leap and became part of a pack…became a true mate…would she
have the strength to not lose herself again if something bad happened? She
didn’t know the answer, but looking at him now sure made her want to try.
Everything was happening so fast, she didn’t know whether she could even trust
her own emotions. With only a few days in his presence, she now questioned the
choices she’d made. Would it really be wrong to reach for a little happiness?

The truck came to a stop and she watched as he put it into
park and silenced the engine. When he turned to face her, she smiled. She
wanted to try.

“You ready?”

She nodded and then they both exited the vehicle. He met her
in front of the grill and reclaimed her hand. She could get used to this. Fear
started to rise with all the what ifs, but she tamped it down. She wanted to
enjoy her time with him.

Tyra looked up as she heard a feminine voice call out her
name. She spotted Sylvia stepping down from the last step onto the asphalt of
the parking lot, a big grin on her face.

“Hey, Sylvia.” Tyra and Konrad came to a stop as Sylvia
approached them.

“I can’t thank you enough.” Sylvia’s gaze went back and
forth between Tyra and Konrad. “Tim hasn’t taken another drink since…well, you
know. He’s been really nice to me too.”

“I’m glad things are looking up for you.” Tyra noticed the
fading color of the bruise Tim had given Sylvia a few nights ago. She really
hoped things continued to go well for the woman.

“I was on my way to the store, so I won’t hold you two up.
But I have to say,” Sylvia looked Konrad up and down, “you sure know how to
pick ’em.’”

Tyra felt heat climbing up her neck and face. She didn’t
need to look at Konrad to know he most likely held a cocky grin.

“Well, I’ll see you later.” Sylvia strode past them and on
to her car.