The Fire Inside (8 page)

“That lady has good taste.”

Tyra looked up at Konrad. She rolled her eyes. “Come on
before your head gets any bigger.”

He laughed and something clenched inside Tyra’s chest as she
simultaneously tightened her hold on his hand, leading the way to the rickety
metal stairs. Yes, she could definitely get used to that sound.

She dug through her purse and pulled out her keys, making
quick work of the lock. They crossed over the threshold and she watched as
Konrad closed the door behind them. “It shouldn’t take me long. I just need to
pack a few items, and I figured I should go ahead and shower and get dressed
while we’re here.”

“What can I do to help?” he asked with a devilish grin.

She couldn’t help but smile back him, liking this playful
mood he was in. “You can sit and wait.”

He placed his hand over his chest. “You wound me.”

“I think you’ll live,” Tyra shot back over her shoulder as
she made her way into her bedroom.

She reached into her small closet and gripped the black
duffle bag at the bottom, tossing it behind her to land on the bed. Suddenly
she felt flustered as she scanned the contents of her closet and began removing
items to pack. She wanted to look good today, but she didn’t want to go
overboard.

As she began folding various shirts, pants and skirts, her gaze
fell on an emerald-green tank top. Several people had said it made the color of
her eyes pop. She sat it aside and finished packing the other items before
crossing over to the small dresser and pulling out a pair of white shorts. Next
she gathered up various bra and panty sets, setting a white lacy set aside to
wear for the day.

Tyra walked out of her room and felt her pulse kick up a
notch as she caught sight of Konrad sitting on her sofa, his gaze intent and
focused on her. “I’ll just be another few minutes.”

He gave a brief nod and a smile that had her tingling all
over. She walked into the bathroom and closed and locked the door. Resisting
the temptation of his body, and the silent things his looks promised her, would
be harder than she thought. She disrobed and showered quickly. As she stepped
from the tub, she realized she’d left her clothes on the bed. She wasn’t used
to people being in her house.

A little late now. For a minute she thought about putting
yesterday’s dress back on, but then a wicked side she didn’t know she had
relished the thought of parading in front of him draped in a towel. Hey,
turnabout was fair play. She wrapped the bath sheet around her and tucked the
end in at the top near her breasts, a smile lifting the corners of her mouth.
Part of her wondered how he would react. She opened the cabinet to retrieve her
toothbrush and the toothpaste and her gaze fell on the prescription bottle
beside them. The smile left her face and her hand trembled as she reached for
it.

The full moon was Sunday night. That was the whole reason
she was off this weekend. She’d made up yet another story of a family member to
visit, so she could spend the time crashed in her bed, running from this aspect
of her life. How could she possibly be around Konrad on the full moon?

Her belly gave a nauseous roll as she dropped the pills on
the counter, and her hands came up to cover her face. Why did she have to be so
dysfunctional? Her muscles stiffened as she brought her hands down.
No
.
She could do this. She had to know if there was any chance she could even
return to natural life. She closed the cabinet and stared into the mirror on
its door. She looked so much like her mother, who had been strong and fearless.
Even when the bald-headed bastard who took her life threatened and taunted her,
she had flung insults back his way.

What would her mother think of the person she’d become? What
would she say about a daughter who let fear guide her every decision?

Tyra yanked the cabinet back open and retrieved her
toothpaste and toothbrush. With swift strokes, she brushed her teeth as she
pulled her resolve into place. She didn’t have to worry about the choice now.
Today, she’d enjoy herself. Tomorrow she’d worry about how to manage her shift.
Surely she could make some excuse to spend the full moon by herself.

Finishing her task, she gripped the pill bottle in her hand
and headed out of the bathroom. A low growl caught her attention a second
before she found herself caged, her back against the wall and Konrad’s firm
body pressed against her front.

His cheek skimmed against hers and she could feel his warm
breath against her ear. Her lips parted on a sigh as his hands gripped her
hips, pulling her pelvis flush against the evidence of his arousal.

“You tempt me beyond reason.”

Her body shivered against him as he nipped and kissed her
neck before claiming her mouth. His tongue caressed the seam of her lips and
she parted them, allowing him to thrust inside. Desire bloomed inside her,
heating her body degree by degree. In an instant he’d consumed her with such
passion that all other thoughts fled except the one that had her moving in
closer to him.

His hand found her breast and she moaned into his mouth as
she wrapped her arms around his neck. The pill bottle hit the floor with a rattle,
bringing her out of the sensual fog that had begun to enfold her. She pulled
back with a gasp, releasing his neck to clutch at the towel that now hung
loose, threatening to spill down her body.

Konrad’s amber stare remained fixed on her, his dark pupils
dilated, as he took a step back. She squirmed under the intensity, her body
tingling and missing the weight of his. Her gaze dropped to the floor, landing
on the pill bottle next to his feet. His knees bent as he reached for the
orange-tinted bottle. Panic and embarrassment swirled within her as she swiftly
bent and gripped the bottle before his hand could touch it. She couldn’t
explain the pills to him. She didn’t want to see pity or revulsion in his
eyes—didn’t want him to think less of her.

Oh who was she kidding? She knew he deserved better than the
broken mess she’d become. But still she felt the selfish need to hide behind
the facade of a normal were. Her grip tightened and she clutched the bottle to
her chest, holding his gaze once more. His brow furrowed curiously. Could she
lie to him if he asked about the medicine?

“You should get dressed,” Konrad said in a throaty whisper
before touching his lips briefly against hers—a slight grazing of skin that
stole her breath.

She blinked rapidly as he retreated back into the living
room. Goose flesh erupted all over her skin as the cool air caressed her,
making her miss the warmth of his embrace. On shaky legs she turned and headed
for her bedroom. He hadn’t pressed her for answers even though she had clearly
seen his inner battle to hold in the questions. Their kind didn’t get sick.

But she would take her blessings when they came. She would
take advantage of the short reprieve he’d given her.

The day passed by in a wondrous flash. Any lingering
uneasiness had faded rather fast. Tyra smiled and laughed more than she had in
years. They had visited the control station of the den, where she’d received
many looks and whistles of approval that had Konrad glaring down some of his
other pack mates.

After that stop, Konrad always seemed to be touching her, as
if he were laying his silent claim. She hadn’t minded in the least. In fact the
attention he paid her went a long way toward easing some of her nervousness.
His fingers had played several times over the back of her neck, sending a
tingling sensation to zip through her body. A few times he had even led her
into a quiet corner or behind a tree to kiss her passionately until her knees
grew weak and she’d leaned into his solid body.

They had stopped for a late lunch at a small restaurant run
by one of his pack. She’d ordered a large juicy steak and her eyes had slid
closed with the first flavorful bite. It had been cooked to perfection. Konrad
had ordered lamb with mint sauce, and had offered her a bite. She’d moaned in
gratitude as the morsel had melted in her mouth. She could definitely see why
he enjoyed it so much.

Now the sun rode low on the horizon as Konrad tucked her
into his side and they strolled quietly beside a small lake in a secluded area
of his den. The heat of his palm warmed her hip.

“What are you thinking about?”

Tyra stopped, turning to face him as she wrapped her arms
around his neck. “About how this has been one of best days I’ve had in a long
time.”

He smiled, enfolding her in an embrace that brought her body
flush with his. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. I like having you with me.”

“I like seeing you interact with your pack. You all act like
one big family.” Something she’d missed. Her father’s pack had been small,
leading her to believe its size was responsible for the intimacy shared among
its members. But Konrad’s was large, and yet they still shared the closeness.

“I thought most packs were like that. Is that why you
distance yourself so much? Was your alpha cruel?”

Her gaze drifted to his chest. “No. Never cruel.” Sadness
started creeping in and she didn’t want it to spoil this moment with him. She
looked back up at his face, letting a smile play at her lips. “So, you have me
out here all to yourself. What do you plan on doing with me?”

“You’re evading.”

She slid her hands up the tight muscles of his chest,
digging her nails into his pectorals lightly. “Am I doing a good job at it?”

“For now,” he whispered before nipping at her lower lip.

Her lips parted and he rushed in, gliding his tongue
provocatively against hers. Heat coiled inside her as his hands skimmed her
bottom before lifting her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around his waist
as he sank to his knees on the grass.

The new position brought her core into contact with his
erection, and she gasped, clinging tighter to him as he kissed and nibbled her
neck. Her hips rocked against him as deep need clawed at her insides. She
wanted him like she’d never wanted another. The need to feel his flesh against
hers had her hands scrambling for the hem of his shirt. She pushed him back
long enough to rip his shirt over his head.

Her hands roamed over his upper body, relishing every hard
plane and line. Her tongue and teeth played at the flesh of his neck and
shoulder. Konrad growled his approval as he palmed her breasts in his hands.
She felt the straps of her tank and bra slide down her shoulder, Konrad’s lips
tracing each inch of skin he bared.

A cool breeze floated across her flushed skin as he bared
her breast. Her nipple had drawn into a taut peak.

“You’re so beautiful,” he sighed before pulling the tip into
his mouth.

She cried out as she fisted her hand in his hair, holding
him to her chest in a silent plea for him to continue his exquisite torture.
Her hips moved faster against him.

Konrad kissed his way back to her mouth, mumbling praises
against her skin before reclaiming her lips. She felt his hand dip into the
front of her white shorts, and she leaned back to give him greater access. Her
body trembled and she grew slick with need as he dipped his fingers lower,
caressing her sensitive flesh.

“Yes…Konrad…please.” Her body burned like never before and
she needed the release he could give her.

He nipped her ear. “So soft…so wet.”

She ran her tongue up the length of his neck and then moaned
as he began to stroke the sensitive skin that burned for him. Her hips moved in
abandon against him as he recaptured her nipple in his mouth. His tongue and
teeth played a wicked game against her flesh as his talented fingers slid back and
forth across her slick folds. Each stroke took her higher, causing her clit to
swell and her pussy to throb. When he dipped a finger into her core, she cried
out, a spasm running through her as her walls clenched his digit. Her orgasm
rocketed through her as her body writhed against him, and she screamed, head
tossed back.

Spasms racked her body as she sailed away on a tide of
ecstasy. She wanted him. Needed him. Now. She reached for the fly of his jeans,
but he stayed her hands and gathered her close to his chest, one strong arm a
band of steel at her back. Frustrated, she growled against his chest and tried
to fight off his hold.

“Shhh, Tyra. God knows I want you bad, but someone is
coming.”

His words washed over her like ice water. She hadn’t even
been paying attention to her surroundings. Never had she felt safe enough to
let go like this before. But now she could hear the approach and could even
scent the familiar smell of Konrad’s pack. Staying close to his chest, she
slipped her arms back into the straps of her bra and tank as Konrad removed his
hand from her shorts.

“Oh! Konrad, sorry. I didn’t know you were busy.”

Tyra peered over Konrad’s shoulder at the tall golden-haired
man approaching. A few seconds later a dark-haired woman came up beside him.

“No problem, Cole. You coming in from patrol?”

“Yeah. We were about to head to Javin’s. You gonna come, or
are you planning to keep your new mate all to yourself?”

The dark-headed woman popped Cole in the arm. “Cole, I
swear. Please excuse my rude mate.”

Konrad laughed. “No problem, Savannah. I’m used to him.” He
tilted his head to look at Tyra. “What do you say? You want to go hang out for
a bit, or should we go back to the house?”

As much as her body burned to get closer to Konrad, she had
a feeling it would be safer—for now—to be around others. “I think we should
probably go hang out with the others.”

“We’ll be there right behind y’all,” Konrad called out,
keeping his gaze on Tyra.

* * * * *

Tyra laughed as Cole delivered the punch line to his joke.
They’d arrived at Javin’s a few hours ago, and the pack members there had
welcomed her as if she’d been there for years. She sat between Konrad’s legs
and leaned back against his bare chest. He hadn’t bothered to put his shirt
back on earlier. Various couples sat similarly around the fire pit, while
others mingled and filled plates with BBQ and other side dishes. The moon,
nearly full, cast a warm glow over the large backyard. The humidity was
actually bearable, and even a nice cool breeze would waft past every once in a
while. Everything seemed perfect, except for the tall blonde female who kept
staring at her from across the yard.

Konrad nuzzled her neck and she squirmed as goose flesh
spread over her arms, a smile lifting the corners of her mouth. She was tempted
to ask him to stay with her for the night, but she wasn’t sure if it would be
the best idea. Once would never be enough with him, and besides that, being in
heat meant she would be fertile as well. Yeah…definitely no going back after
that.

Babies? Hell, she’d never really ever considered children
before. With her plans to remain unattached, it had never been an option. She
gave a silent giggle. A child made of her and Konrad would have a stubborn
streak a mile long. Konrad looked at her questioningly, a smile lighting up his
face. She stared back into his amber eyes before laying a light kiss on his
full lips.

“What are you thinking about?” Konrad whispered.

She shook her head slightly. This wasn’t a conversation she
was ready to have, especially here. Things were moving way faster than she’d
ever expected. She needed a moment to think. She pushed up on his knees and
rose to her feet. “I’m going to get something to drink. You want something?”

He looked up at her, a quizzical lift to one perfect arched
brow. “No, I’m good.”

She turned and walked toward the large raised wooden deck,
where all the food and beverages were located. Even though warning bells were
silently sounding in her head, she didn’t want to back off. For once in her
life she had a chance at real happiness. The idea of seizing the chance both
thrilled and scared her. She had so many issues that needed to be dealt with,
but as she looked across the yard and saw Konrad staring at her, raw hunger
clear in his gaze, she wanted to be strong enough to conquer her fears. She
wanted to be what he needed.

“Hey, gorgeous!”

Tyra turned to look at the male addressing her. She smiled
as recognition dawned on her. Javin smiled back, his bright-blue eyes gleaming
with mischief. Definitely a ladies’ man, this one. He wore his dirty-blond hair
in the slightly mussed fashion that had become popular with men. His golden
skin was on display as he wore only a pair of basketball shorts that rode low
on his lean hips. “Hey.”

“I see Konrad finally let you out of arm’s reach.”

She laughed. “He is slightly overprotective.”

“Hell, I would be too, if you were my mate.”

She walked up the steps and found a place in line along the
wood railing, Javin stepping in behind her.

“Like you’re ever going to find someone to put up with your
ass,” Luken spoke from behind Javin.

Tyra turned with her back to the rail so that she could
converse with the two of them as they waited in line. “Is he that bad?”

Javin huffed. “No. Luken’s just mad because Katya moved on.”

“Oh, and who was it you were dating again, Javin? Oh yeah,
that’s right, your hand, I forgot,” Luken replied, voice heavily laden with
sarcasm.

Tyra laughed as Javin gave Luken the finger. With a smile,
she accepted the plastic cup filled with beer from the woman who’d been put on
keg duty. She turned, about to add her own quip to the witty exchange, when out
of the corner of her eye she saw something black moving fast. She’d noticed it
too late to react. Her back hit the wooden rails, and the splintering of wood
rang in her ears a moment before she hit the ground, beer raining down on her
and the blob of black fur that landed on her.

Everything happened so fast. Roars sounded. Suddenly the
black fur flew to the side. Tyra scrambled to her feet, her gaze whipping from
one place to the next as she took in the scene in front of her. Konrad stood in
front of her in his wolf form. A loud growl rent the air as he bared his teeth
in the direction of a naked woman being restrained by Luken.

The woman shook her blonde hair out of her face and glared
up at Tyra. She was the same woman Tyra had caught staring at her on and off.
Clearly she was pissed as her breaths sawed in and out of her lungs and she
fought against Luken’s hold. Tyra’s gaze panned the area. A few people had
shifted, others were in various states of disrobing, readying themselves to
shift and defend.

She noticed the basketball shorts Javin had been wearing
hung off one of the broken boards that had made up the railing. A look over her
shoulder confirmed he was now behind her, his hackles raised as he protected
her from the rear.

“She’s weak, Konrad! She doesn’t deserve to be your mate!
The bitch didn’t even try to defend herself.” The last part came out in a
wheezed breath as Luken tightened his arm around the woman’s neck.

Konrad shifted back into his human form. “Get her out of my
sight!” he roared.

Luken jerked the woman to her feet.

Tyra stood silent, eyes wide.

“She didn’t even shift! I could have killed her! I should
have. It should be me with you.” The last she cried out on a broken sob as
other wolves growled their displeasure toward her.

When Konrad turned and faced her, she saw silent fury
burning in the depths of his amber gaze, but almost immediately the fierceness
turned to concern as he pulled her into his arms. She didn’t know what to
think—what to do. The woman was right. She hadn’t even partially shifted. She’d
hardwired her brain not to shift on reflex. Who was she kidding?

“Are you hurt?” Konrad breathed into her ear.

The sound seemed deafening in the quiet that surrounded
them. She didn’t have to look around to know that all eyes were on her. Did
they see it too? Did the others know how weak she’d become? A shaky breath
entered her lungs as she pushed back from Konrad’s chest. She couldn’t stay
here. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, then ran.

“Tyra, wait,” Konrad called out to her retreating form, but
she didn’t stop. “Damn it!”

His gaze panned the group that remained silent. The more
submissive wolves hung their heads low, avoiding his gaze, while those who had
more dominance looked around, an edginess riding their shoulders. But even they
didn’t meet his gaze. He moved past his pack members and out the side gate in
pursuit of Tyra.

How in the hell had this happened? He knew Lara had some
major jealousy issues after he’d ended their short-term fling, but he never
would have guessed that she’d have the balls to attack his mate. Jealousy must
be a powerful emotion indeed, if it caused someone to put her life on the line.

He had no idea what he was going to do with Lara. He’d gone
for her throat, and would have succeeded in killing her had Luken not snatched
her away so fast. He’d had to force himself to change back into his human self
before he went after her again, and if Luken got hurt for protecting her, then
what-the-fuck-ever, but he knew that later when his temper cooled he would have
hated himself if Luken had been hurt.