
BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON
By
Sydney Somers
© copyright January 2008, Sydney Somers
Cover art by Eliza Black, © copyright January 2008
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.
To Jaycee. For brainstorming, listening, inspiring, and talking me down off the "I'm-stressing-and obsessing" ledge on a daily basis.
"You want me to what?" Harley McKinnon dropped into the chair opposite her boss's desk, juggling the stack of file folders in her arm. She brushed impatiently at a loose strand of brown hair that had worked its way from the clip at the back of her head. "It sounded like you were sending me on assignment."
Her boss pushed an envelope across the polished oak desk. "You leave in two days."
Harley didn't so much as glance at the envelope. "Tomorrow was supposed to be my last day."
Mac leaned back in his leather chair, his Cuban cigar dangled out of his mouth. With his short, square, salt and pepper hairstyle and piranha personality, Harley always thought he reminded her of the short tempered editor from the superhero movies.
A pair of manipulative green eyes pinned her in place. "Harley, I took a chance on you three years ago."
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Barely. For three years, she'd heard this line and she groaned inwardly knowing what would follow it.
"Your dad and I are playing golf next week." He followed the reminder up with another pointed look. "You're not slated to start teaching your journalism class for another few weeks, and your mother told me you already sent the final revisions for your novel off to your editor."
This was why people didn't go to work for their parents' best friend. There was no separation from work and home life.
Harley managed to swallow most of the sigh that worked up her throat. "Fine." From experience she knew if she didn't agree now, Mac would launch into wartime stories about how he had saved her father's life and brought him back to her mother. One of these days the stories would stretch back as far as the Second World War knowing Mac.
Snagging the envelope, she dragged in a resigned breath then opened it. She drew out a plane ticket. "Antigua? As in the Caribbean?"
Mac winked. "See. It's not so bad. What else did you have planned for the next week anyway, wilderness camping and yoga? Aside from a little investigative work, you can even work on your tan and sip on those fruity drinks with the cute umbrellas."
But Harley had been looking forward to the camping and yoga. It had been forever since she had taken a little down time and, with being done at the magazine and shipping off the final revisions for her first suspense book, she needed the break.
"There's nothing to this assignment, just a little poking around, asking a few questions."
Harley skimmed the file folder that came with the envelope, and frowned. "An adults only resort?"
Mac nodded, a glimmer of something in his eyes sent of alarm bells in her head. "I hope you were expecting me to go alone."
Mac shoved away from the desk, set his Cuban in the crystal ashtray, and reached for the health shake his wife insisted he drink at least twice a day. Harley recognized the banana and caramel aroma. Her mother had begun fostering them onto her dad for the last couple weeks. "You'll blend in better if you take someone, a guy someone, so I'm sending David along with you."
Harley bolted to her feet, almost losing the files to the floor. "No way." She couldn't get the refusal out fast enough. There was no way she'd share a plane, cab, or anything else with the brown nosing creep who routinely strolled into the women's bathroom--by mistake of course. Sure. His excuses were getting old seeing as how he'd worked for the magazine longer than she had. "I'll find someone."
Mac smiled at her, and she realized he'd half expected a complete refusal. "Okay then. I'm sure you won't have a problem. Who would turn down an all expense paid trip to a five star resort?"
"Someone that may need more than two days notice and doesn't already have a passport?" Harley slid the envelope on top of the pile she carried. She knew she should have called in sick today.
He waved his hand towards the door. "Well, David is on standby if you can't get anyone else."
A shudder snaked down her spine. She'd rather pay a male escort to go with her than so much as share a conversation with David.
Mac drained his health drink then, remembering his cigar, popped it back in his mouth. "Glad we have that settled. I have a good feeling about this one."
Harley pinched the bridge of her nose. The first stirrings of a migraine prickled behind her eye. "What's the story here?"
"My source told me there is something going on down at the resort he worked for."
Harley snorted. Too much tanning and beach volley ball? She hitched her hip against the corner of his desk. "Such as?"
"He didn't get into it." Mac tapped a few keys, his gaze trained on the computer monitor. She waited for him to add something before realizing he was reading his e-mail. Mac was, according to his very computer literate wife, an e-mail slut.
Setting the files aside, Harley leaned across the desk, her palms flat on the smooth wood. "Let me make sure I have this straight. You're sending me down there to investigate something, but you don't know what?"
He didn't take his eyes off the screen. "I've got a vibe."
Wonderful. Mac's vibes paid off only thirty percent of the time. His last vibe had landed her in jail for suspicion of scalping tickets at a basketball playoffs game. "So I'm supposed to go down there and just poke around? Behind the pool bar maybe? Could be I'll find a lead on your mystery story while parasailing."
Mac stubbed out his cigar. His lips twitched, but he contained the smile. "The guy already made the reservations. It's harder than Fort Knox to get into this place, but you're all set."
"When did you make the reservations?"
He at least had the decency to look guilty. "Last week."
She could have hit him. "You knew I was going to be done this week."
"Don't get your panties in a bunch. You were wrapping up that whistleblower piece. I didn't want to divide your concentration."
Harley paced away from the desk. "No. You knew I'd tell you I wasn't going." She glanced over and saw Mac absently rubbing his shoulder. His old war wound, the bullet he had taken trying to drag her father out of an ambush.
Manipulative. Plain and simple.
Sighing, Harley returned to the chair. "So what else did this guy say?"
"Just that this story would put the magazine, and the journalist reporting it, on the map."
Harley didn't bother to remind him she didn't need to be made. With her first book done, and her journalism class this fall, she was perfectly happy with her life.
"If you're not sure," Mac continued, "I can send Val down instead."
"Val would spend ninety percent of the time smearing herself in sun-block."
Mac stared at her expectantly. "So then...."
"I'll go." Harley folded her arms across her chest. "But I want to talk to this source first."
The phone rang. Mac ignored it, punching the button to direct the call to his voice mail. "You can't. He disappeared."
"Really?" She didn't bother to disguise her skepticism.
"We were supposed to have a meeting, face to face, and he didn't show. What does that tell you?"
"That maybe he's just blowing hot air."
Mac scoffed. "Sometimes, Harley girl, I wonder how your instincts ever pay off. Don't you smell the story here?"
What she smelled was bullshit, but she recognized the determined glint in Mac's eyes. She'd be on the flight to Antigua whether she really wanted to be or not. "So I leave in two days, huh?"
Mac beamed. "That's my girl."
Harley set her bag down on the table near her front door and kicked the door shut.
"Hey," an indignant protest came from behind her. "If you don't want me to stop by, you could just tell me."
Harley smiled, her heart kicking up hearing the familiar sexy voice.
Cole leaned in the doorway, hands shoved in his jeans pockets, his blonde hair still wet from a shower, and those brown bedroom eyes that melted into her every time she held his gaze for more than a second didn't waver from her face.
She turned away before he noticed her staring and headed into the kitchen.
He strolled into the apartment behind her, flopped on the couch and stretched out like he did every day when she got home from work. Being a freelance photographer, Cole made his own hours, but she only ever saw him go on assignment once or twice a month.
"So tell me beautiful, how was work?"
Her stomach gave a soft tug hearing him call her that, and like always, she quickly squelched the feeling. Cole talked that way to everyone, and there was no point in reading anything into it.
Harley slid the jug of milk into the fridge, fighting off the urge to walk over and jump him just to see what he'd do. "I'm going to Antigua in two days."
Cole sat up and draped an arm across the back of the sofa as he stared over the counter separating the two spaces. "Really? You're finally taking a vacation?"
"Actually it's work." She glanced back to the counter, focused on folding the paper bag into a square so she didn't have to look at him and pretend she wasn't really looking.
"One of Mac's vibes?"
Harley laughed, wondering when she'd gotten so edgy around him that she needed to keep her distance. "Yeah. Some tip about this adults only resort."
His eyes brightened before he jumped over the couch and walked into the kitchen. "Adults only, huh? I thought you swore off men?"
"I did." And what had she been thinking with him just across the hall? Right. Cole wasn't interested in her. Not really anyway. There were plenty of times she caught him watching her, even caught the brief flicker of heat in his eyes before he glanced away. But after last month when an evening of too much Tequila prompted her to find her nerve, she had foolishly asked him why they hadn't hooked up. He gave her one of his trademark wolfish grins, said she was too good for him, brushed a chaste kiss across her forehead, and said goodnight.
Cole stared at her, waiting.
Harley shook her head. "It's just a business trip."
He cocked his head in that arrogant-and-I-know-it way of his, a knowing smile hugging the corner of his sexy mouth. "He's making you take someone isn't he?"
"Why would you assume that?"
"Because sending you to an adult only resort alone would mean less time to investigate anything when you'd be dealing with horny guys looking to coax you into hammocks made for two."
Harley shot him a sidelong glance. She swore she detected a hint of jealousy in his tone. Crazy.
"So who are you taking?"
"I don't know yet. Mac wants me to take David. I told him I'd find someone else."
"I'll go."
"No." There was no way she'd be able to concentrate on work with him lounging around next to naked.
Cole's eyebrows knitted together, but she ignored the hurt look she knew was just for show.
"Besides," she added, "You wouldn't be able to keep your eyes off all the other women. They'd know you weren't into me." She kept her tone light, knowing he wasn't nearly as much of a playboy as he pretended to be. At her last count he had only had three dates in the last six months.
"I'd behave," he promised. His gaze held hers for a moment longer than usual.
A slow heat stirred Harley's middle before she shifted her attention away from the six-foot-two temptation in front of her. "That's the point, you couldn't behave. We'd be pretending to be a couple. So, no." It was one thing to ask him on a date and get turned down, and another all together to go away, pretend to have a thing for each other, only to return home and go back to the way things were.
"Come on, Harley. We've known each other for a couple years. Who else could you take and be perfectly comfortable with? And I wouldn't be trying to take advantage of you."
That was the problem. She wished he'd take advantage of her. Too often. She was almost at the point where she needed to read something dark and nightmarish before bed to fight off the dreams of Cole.
Harley shook her head. "No."
"You're not even going to consider taking me?"
Not unless she wanted to come back half in love with him. She knew it would only take one thought, one 'what if' and she'd be a goner. Ever since she kicked her ex out months ago, she'd managed to keep 'what if' far from her mind where Cole was concerned, unwilling to screw up their friendship--aside from that last time with the Tequila--just because he still did funny things to her insides.
Cole grabbed her hand and warmth seeped into her skin. Tempting brown eyes tunneled into hers. "Please?"
Lowering her eyes to their joined hands, she tugged it free. "Absolutely not."
Cole paced the length of his living room, trying to figure out what in the hell he'd been thinking.
Go away with Harley. Pretend to be her lover. Get her into bed. Come home and go back to normal.
Damn, he was an ass to think he could have his proverbial cake and eat it, too. She sure as hell deserved better than a guy who just wanted to go away with her so he could get into her pants. Even liking Harley as much as he did, he'd been damn tempted to take her up on her offer of 'hooking up' a month ago. Turning her down topped his list for stupidest mistakes ever. But he knew then, just as he knew now, Harley wanted a guy who planned to stick around.
That pretty much put him out of the running.
And yet, just a few minutes ago he'd been trying to convince her to let him go along.
Cole flopped back on the couch and rubbed his hands over his eyes. He needed a change of scenery and not just the temporary kind. He should go get a paper and look for a new apartment instead of picturing Harley in a skimpy two-piece swimsuit that left nothing to the imagination.
Living across the hall from her... it had been fine when she still lived with Greg. Watching her kick that bastard out--seeing as he was just shy of doing it himself--had made him realize Harley possessed more backbone than he imagined. Of course afterwards he got to know her, really know her, and it screwed up his plans of coercing her into bed while she was on the rebound.
Cole stood up. Maybe if he promised to let her have the bed, she'd let him go?
Cursing under his breath, he stalked around the room. This was stupid. Did he think he could go down there, drag her into bed, spend hours figuring out what made her scream the loudest, and then come back and pretend it didn't happen?
Maybe she'd go for it.
Jesus, he needed his head examined. No, what he needed was to get laid and take away some of tension that rose inside him every time he saw Harley. It would help if he didn't go over there every damn day, and it sure as hell didn't help that on top of her being sexier than hell, she was actually fun to be around. He'd even watched chick flicks with her.
The calendar caught his eye. Well that explained his enthusiasm to play her lover. The full moon was in two days. His desire for her was always the hardest to control at that time, which was why he usually made a point to take an assignment out of town then. His current employer had changed the dates of his next job, leaving him across the hall from her at the worst possible time.
Which actually gave him the perfect excuse not to go anywhere with Harley. He'd never be able to keep his hands off her. With a full moon he might be able to keep the beast caged inside him and remain in human form, but his desire would be a whole lot harder to tame if he and Harley were in some tropical paradise with a big bed, a hot tub, and those patio loungers made for two.
He glanced at the door, knew it was Harley who stood on the other side even before she knocked. Crossing the room, Cole pulled it open just as she raised her hand.
Hand poised to knock, she frowned up at him. "How do you always do that?"
Cole propped a shoulder in the doorway, finding even the way her eyebrows scrunched together impossibly cute. "You couldn't find anyone else, huh?"
"Nope."
He tipped his head knowingly. "David called, didn't he?"
"Yup." Harley didn't roll her eyes, but he guessed she wanted to.
"What time do we leave?"
"Six-thirty AM, day after next."
Grinning, Cole tried and failed to remember all the reasons he should refuse. "Try not to look so happy about it, gorgeous."
Harley fiddled with the ticket in her hand, trying her best not to look at Cole. Not an easy feat when he sat right next to her, and each time he shifted to get more comfortable, she could smell his soap. The scent alone triggered wicked daydreams of crawling into his lap and inhaling freshly shaven skin along his jaw.
As though to further torment her, Cole leaned back in the small airport chair, his long legs crossed and stretched out in front of him. His navy button up shirt revealed a tantalizing expanse of the smooth chest beneath, automatically calling to mind the one time she had seen him in only a towel. A pipe had broken in his apartment, leaving him with no hot water, and he'd asked to finish his shower at her place. Had she known how much she would enjoy the sinful sight of him, she would have messed with the pipes herself months before.
Sunglasses covered his eyes, making it impossible to see in what direction his gaze traveled. More than once she felt him watching her, but whenever she subtly glanced over, his face gave away no sign of interest. Wouldn't be the first time she read too much into one of his passing glances.
Harley tucked the crumpled ticket into her purse before she destroyed it completely. This was her last chance to get herself straightened out. In another few moments, they'd be boarding the small plane that would take them the rest of the way to the secluded resort. After that, she'd have to pull off an Oscar worthy performance--pretending not to be crazy about Cole while she pretended to be crazy about him.
Another pulsing migraine thumped behind her eye socket. Harley closed her eyes, fighting off the approaching ache.
Cole cupped the back of her neck, and she stiffened.
His warm breath caressed her ear. "Relax. If we catch it now, it won't get bad."
It wasn't the first time he had recognized the signs that she felt a migraine coming on and had massaged the pressure points at the base of her skull. But each time he did it, his hands lingered longer and she found it increasingly difficult to move away. Less than a month ago she had actually relaxed so much she leaned against him and drifted off. A couple hours later she woke up to find he'd fallen asleep, too. He jolted awake seconds after her and all but jumped off the damn couch with an excuse about being late for a date.
Cole's hand fell away as he glanced around the small airport.
Harley tried to zero in on what had captured his attention. "What? Hot chick at two o'clock?"
His lips twitched before he leaned back into the seat, but he didn't relax. He pushed his sunglasses down. Sleepy brown eyes took in every inch of her. "I only have eyes for you now, remember." Instead of the arrogant boast she expected, his voice washed over her, soft and sensual.
"I'll be back." Harley didn't look at him as she stood and headed towards the closest restroom. Once inside the small space, she studied her reflection. Loose strands of brown hair had escaped from her clip and curled against her forehead from the humidity.
She couldn't do this. She couldn't. Cole was too... sexy, smart, sexy, fun, sexy, thoughtful, sexy--Damn it.
Harley dug out her cell phone, relieved to see there was in fact a signal. She dialed her sister's cell number. With any luck she'd still be at work.
"How's it going so far?" Her sister's chipper voice came over the line and Harley relaxed.
Studying her amber colored eyes--nothing special about them--she groaned. "This was a mistake."
Kathy's indelicate snort made her chuckle. "It wouldn't be if you just told him how you felt."
"I tried that." And just look how good that turned out.
"So try again."
"Kath, we've been over this." Over and over and over. Harley sighed. Why was she still so hung up on this guy anyway?
"Then why are you calling me?"
She leaned against the countertop, facing the stalls. "I have no idea."
"Because you want to tell him. You know you do."
"It might ruin our friendship." Ultimately, she'd rather have Cole as a friend than not in her life at all. Given his initial response on that subject, Harley couldn't be sure that pushing wouldn't make things strained and uncomfortable between them.
"And it might be the smartest thing you've ever done. Take a risk."
"Easy for you to say, your risk paid off." What did it really matter anyway? This was an assignment, not a pleasure trip. Even if she had the balls to come right out and say she had a thing for him, this wouldn't be an appropriate time or place to tell him. "I'll call you when I get back."
Kathy sighed. "You should tell him."
"I know." But they both knew she wouldn't say anything.
"Have fun," Kathy said before she hung up.
Harley tucked the phone in her bag, splashed some cold water on her face and left the restroom. She could do this. She could. If Cole could play the game, then so could she. She was a journalist and journalists did what they had to, to get the story.
Not paying attention to where she was going, Harley collided with a solid chest, and nearly bounced off it. Two sturdy arms steadied her and she immediately stepped out of the way, barely acknowledging the dark haired man.
He leaned towards her as she passed--and sniffed her?
Some men were downright pigs. Shooting the man a scathing look, Harley headed back towards Cole.
Where was Harley? The woman needed to explain a few things. He stared at the small terminal's sliding door as another small group of passengers filed into the room. Not good.
None of the pairs of eyes passing over him could be considered blatantly hostile, but that made little difference to him.
The airport was full of werewolves.
Even in their human form, Cole had no trouble picking them out and every one who approached the small desk at their gate was definitely capable of shifting. It couldn't be a coincidence that Mac sent Harley to dig up a story at a resort that appeared to cater to his kind if the crowd around him was any indication.
His gut tightened, his instincts pushing him to full alert. This was not good.
"Something wrong?" Harley slid into the seat she'd vacated a few minutes earlier, her golden eyes full of concern. Unfortunately, for him, she didn't miss much. Mac had made a good call sending her, but it was a shame they'd be getting back on the plane and going home.
"Where are we going?" Cole demanded. He hadn't bothered with the specifics before. It made no difference to him what resort they were headed to in Antigua. Noticing the speculative glances aimed their way since Harley's pure human presence drew some attention, their final destination became damn important. "Where are we going?" he repeated in a lower voice, knowing full well many could still overhear him.
"I already told you...."
She had? "When?"
"Last night when you stopped by while I was doing yoga."
Ah, well, that explained it. Some of those poses got him so hard he had difficulty concentrating. How could he not imagine sliding his hands over her pretty bare ass right when she slipped into another tempting position? Even thinking about it now....
Cole slammed the door on that thought before it got him into trouble. "Who owns the resort?" He had a nagging feeling he already knew.
Harley tipped her head as though she considered how much to tell him.
He resisted the urge to strangle it out of her, his unease increasing by the minute. "Come on. I know you did your homework. Who owns the place, Harley?"
"A man by the name of Dash Windsor."
Cole dropped into the seat. Ah, hell. This was just what he needed. Why hadn't he asked her before this? That's right, he had. Only he'd been too busy thinking with his cock.
The announcement to board the waiting plane came over the speakers. Most of the gathered crowd headed for the gate.
Harley picked up her bag. Cole didn't move.
She started past him, and Cole grabbed her wrist. "We're not getting on the plane."
Confusion clouded her expression. "What?"
"We can't go to that resort." Knowing Dash owned the place only made the decision easier to make.
Harley perched on the edge of her seat and crossed her arms. "Why not?"
"Because ...." Think. Think. "Because I have a bad feeling about this." He tried not to wince at his brilliant attempt to convince her.
"Oh, well then, we better go back home," Harley teased before she stood up.
She took three steps before he caught up and sidestepped her. "I mean it."
The half smile fell away from her lips and the corners of her eyes narrowed. "You wanted to come with me, so we're getting on the damn plane."
Cole shook his head. "No, we're not."
If a cartoonist sketched her now, smoke would be steaming out of her ears. "Fine. I'll go without you."
"Your reservation is for two," he reminded her.
If looks could kill.... "Then I'll tell them I dumped my sad excuse for a lover on the plane and plan on leaving on the next flight. I shouldn't need more than a few hours to see if there is anything to Mac's vibe."
"Harley ...."
"Look, if you don't want to go--and I frankly can't figure out why you've just changed your mind on me when we're nearly there--I'm getting on that plane with or without you." She picked up her bag and spun around, striding for the gate.
Cole reached her side the same time she pushed on the door. "What did Mac say about this place?"
Harley sighed. "Only that a guy named Reginald called him and said there was a huge story here."
Dash was not going to be pleased. "But this guy, Reginald, didn't say what the story was?"
Shaking her head, she adjusted the strap of her bag. "He disappeared before Mac could get any more details out of him. Thankfully, he'd already made the reservations for me and a guest."
Cole stared through the glass at the people--people like him--boarding the plane.
She arched a brow, her lips tight at the corners of her mouth. "You change your mind or what?"
He didn't bother to hide his annoyance. "Something like that."
Cole stayed close to her as they boarded. Harley seemed immune to the speculative glances the other passengers shot at her. He was thankful there were a few empty seats in both directions between them and the closest shifter.
Once Cole stowed their carry-on bags above their heads, he slid into the seat next to her.
Her eyes tracked his every move and Cole knew his edgy behavior only drew more of her attention. Not that it could be helped. Had he been paying more attention to his surroundings instead of thinking about how sweet that pouty mouth of hers would taste, he would have caught on sooner.
Harley gazed out the window. "I wonder what Reginald was talking about." She toyed absently with the hem of her skirt, and his eyes were drawn to the tempting shadow between her thighs. Any other time he would have gladly preoccupied himself with imagining the feel of her skin as he slid his hand under the edge. Right now his mind was focused on what would happen if Harley saw anything. A large group of wolves running around an island might be hard to miss.
He didn't like this. Why was it that every time he looked forward to getting to know Harley on a more physical level, something like this happened? Then again, if he had to keep her from digging around, what better way to distract her than coaxing her into his bed and keeping her there?
"What?" Cole asked, vaguely aware Harley had said something to him.
"I wish I'd spoken to Mac's source."
Cole tensed, knowing full well plenty of sets of ears could hear her.
"Maybe then I'd know what I was doing here," Harley added.
Intent on stopping Harley from saying anything else, Cole did the first thing that crossed his mind.
Her eyes widened a heartbeat before he leaned in and slanted his mouth across hers. For a moment, she didn't respond and he half expected her to shove him away or slap him.
His body jolted with surprise when she gripped the front of his shirt and held him close. Warm lips parted under his and he swept his tongue inside, a burst of lust tangling in his gut at the first deep taste of her. A groan built in his throat as he inched closer, and slipping an arm around her waist, he drew her closer. Her breasts pressed against him as she tilted her head back, giving him better access to her mouth.
Harley shuddered in his arms, the scent of her arousal snaring the wolf's full attention, and making his cock ache. She draped one leg over his thighs, the provocative gesture an invitation he couldn't refuse. Cole nipped her bottom lip, tugging it between his as he skimmed his hand under her skirt. Her thighs trembled, relaxed, then trembled again when he started to slowly inch upward.
Not even in his most wicked fantasies had he imagined she felt this good. Too good. And if he didn't stop now, he'd never want to.
Reluctantly, Cole drew back. Swirling amber eyes stared up at him. Questions burned in the heated depths, questions he didn't even know if he could answer.
Being the coward he was when it came to Harley, Cole leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes and mumbled, "Wake me when we get there?"
Harley stared at him. Wake him when they got there?
No. He didn't just say that, not after giving her one of the most memorable kisses of her life. Hell, her muscles were still in meltdown and he was practically snoring.
Ass.
Harley adjusted her seatbelt and tried not to recall how good it had felt when his hand slid up her thigh. With her skin still hot to the touch, she could have happily spent the rest of the flight imagining what might have come next if the jerk hadn't decided on a nap.
By the time they landed, she was still annoyed. More than annoyed really. She'd given herself a pep talk at three in the morning about this. About the danger of believing anything she shared here with Cole was more than for show.
Cole didn't seem to care that she was pissed off. He was too busy watching everyone else to pay attention to her. Trying to pinpoint the source of his interest, Harley quickly surveyed their immediate surroundings and frowned. Her white halter top and yellow skirt covered more skin than some of the other women, so she couldn't begin to guess why so many of the other vacationers stared at her.
Curious, she checked to make sure there were no rips in the skirt or toilet paper stuck to the bottom of her sandal. Most tried not to make it obvious, but she could feel their interest in her regardless. Whatever their problem was, she didn't care. Just like, she didn't care that Cole had dragged her headlong into one hell of a scorching kiss only to shut down on her seconds later.
After setting her bags down in the resort's lobby, Harley took a seat at a small cocktail bar while the others in front of them checked in. Cole went in search of a rest room, leaving her to think up at least a hundred ways to pay him back for his stunt on the plane.
Raised voices caught her attention, and she automatically tuned into the heated discussion while appearing to be absorbed in a stack of monogrammed cocktail napkins.
"I'll take care of it," a man snapped.
"The way Dash took care of Reginald? We needed him." The feminine voice was low, accusing.
"Reginald is long gone." Already the voices were fading as the couple walked away, the woman's response too low to hear.
Reginald? Mac's source, Reginald?
"Harley?"
She glanced up as Cole nodded towards the reception desk. Harley picked up her bag and walked the short distance towards the clerk, "Reservation for Harley McKinnon and guest." She shifted her attention towards the open door near the bar where the voices came from. A moment later a lanky blonde emerged from the same door, followed by a giant black-haired man on her heels.
Fingers tapping over keys brought Harley's attention back to the desk just as the young woman nodded politely. "One moment, please." She ducked into the open door behind the glossy black counter.
"Problem?" Cole stepped up beside her, not sounding surprised they had run into a problem.
Frowning, Harley leaned over to try and get a peek at the computer screen. "I don't know."
A moment later a striking man with blonde hair and eyes almost the same shade as Cole's emerged from the inner office. Dressed in casual island attire, his smile was polite, but tense as he approached them. Curious eyes passed over her with barely veiled appreciation then widened briefly as he noticed Cole beside her.
He returned his attention to Harley, held out a hand. "I'm Dash Windsor. I own Paradise Moon."
Beside her, Cole tensed as Mr. Windsor swallowed her hand with his. "Is there a problem with my reservation?" When the owner came out to talk to you that was never a good sign.
"Call me, Dash. And yes, unfortunately there is a problem. It seems we've overbooked, Ms. McKinnon. I'm afraid I don't have a room to offer you."
Cole studied the man on the opposite side of the counter, not missing Dash's gaze lingering a little too long on Harley.
"I'm sorry about the inconvenience, Ms. McKinnon. We'll gladly reimburse your flight costs."
Harley raised a questioning brow at Cole before focusing every inch of her five-foot-seven annoyed self on Dash. "I confirmed my reservation yesterday. You mean to tell me you gave my room to someone else since then?"
Dash nodded regretfully. "I apologize for the oversight. New computer system. We're still working out the glitches."
Harley cocked her head, and Cole knew she didn't buy it. She recognized a bogus story when she saw one. And the more she thought there was a story here, the more she would dig her heels in. Harley might be sent packing, but if Mac didn't send her back, he'd send someone else until he was satisfied. Better for everyone that Harley remained with Cole to keep an eye on her.
Cole draped an arm around Harley's shoulders. He ignored the slight tension that snapped her spine straight and knew Dash hadn't missed it either. It didn't take a genius to realize she was pissed at him. "Maybe you should double check." Cole motioned to the computer. "Harley and I were really looking forward to this."
Dash's gaze slid from Harley to Cole, his head tilting in silent consideration. "All right then. Let me see if another arrangement can be made."
Harley relaxed into him and for a moment Cole let himself get distracted by the warm weight of her body resting against his. The breeze blowing through the wide terrace doors to their left gently lifted her hair, and the apple scent of her shampoo drifted on the air. The memory of her hot mouth, soft and pliant beneath his, stormed through him. He edged closer, letting his arm slip from her shoulder to her waist. Her breath sucked in as he grazed the side of her breast in passing.
Cole caught Dash's arched brow and ignored the curious amusement that flashed in his eyes. "Well?" Cole prompted.
"It seems I do have a couple of bungalows that may be suitable for you. I'll have Georgia show you the way."
Cole stepped away from Harley, forced his eyes not to linger on her mouth for more than a heartbeat. "You go on ahead. I'm going to make sure everything is in order here."
She frowned, but oddly enough didn't object as she followed a petite redhead out the terrace doors.
"My office then," Dash suggested, his lips twitching before he pressed them together.
Cole inclined his head, following Dash behind the counter and into the spacious office behind. Two entire walls were made up of windows that overlooked the resort. Beyond the palm trees and cabanas, sandy beach meant sparkling, turquoise water.
Instead of taking a seat, Cole remained standing while Dash settled behind the glass desk and leaned back in his chair. "I have to say you're the last person I ever expected to see here."
"It's a long story."
Dash idly tapped a pencil against the date book open in front of him. "She's not like us and not supposed to be here. You must know that."
"Yeah well, she thinks there's a story here, so if you make her leave she's only going to want to stay." The potential repercussions of Harley finding anything aside, he almost enjoyed telling Dash there was nothing he could do.
Dark eyes narrowed. "She's a journalist?"
Cole nodded, pretending to be engrossed in an impressionist painting of the ocean from the view of the office.
"Perfect. Another fucking headache I could have done without." Dash scrubbed his hands over his face.
Amused at pissing Dash off if nothing else, Cole slid into the chair opposite the desk. "What are you doing here anyway? I didn't think you came down here all that often."
"There was a problem that needed my attention." He let out a breath. "So what kind of angle is she working?"
"That's the only upside. Harley doesn't know."
Leaning forward, Dash frowned. "Run that by me again."
"Her boss got a call from Reginald someone or other. He said there was a story here, but he didn't show for a meeting with Harley's boss. But he obviously said enough to catch the old man's interest."
Dash stood up, turned to face the bank of windows overlooking the beach side of the resort. "Well, Reginald is now unhappily abroad. So he shouldn't be a pain in the ass any longer."
"Is he why you came down here?" Cole relaxed into the chair, half wondering what Harley was doing at this moment. Maybe shimmying into a sexy little two-piece swimsuit.
"Seems he was getting a little too forceful with the staff. Rumor has it he planned on challenging me when I arrived."
With Dash being an Alpha, someone had to be incredibly confident or incredibly stupid to even think about challenging him. "Did he?"
Turning around, Dash grinned. "He'd already left by the time I arrived. Some associates of mine caught up with him yesterday and I believe he's now roaming about Italy somewhere. He knows what will happen if he returns. Reginald's brother still works here, but I'm keeping an eye on him." He crossed his arms, his smile widening. "So how do you fit into all this?"
Cole opened his mouth.
"No, wait. You were so preoccupied with getting laid, you didn't bother to find out where you were actually going."
He let his glare speak for itself. He didn't need the obvious pointed out to him. This whole mess could have been avoided if he'd bothered to get more specific about the exact resort they were going to.
Dash shrugged. "You wouldn't be the first." He returned to his desk, one golden eyebrow arching in curiosity. "You haven't claimed her, have you?"
Tensing, Cole leaned forward. "Don't get any ideas."
"If she's available...." Dash's innocent look grated on his last good nerve.
"She's damn well not available," Cole snapped.
"Oh, so you plan to claim her then?"
Not liking the direction the conversation headed in, Cole stood. "It's none of your damn business."
"She's very attractive...."
"And off limits."
Dash's grin faded. "She doesn't know about you, does she?"
Cole ignored the comment and strode for the door. "Let's not pretend either one of us gives a shit what the other is doing in their personal lives."
"What, a guy can't care about his little brother?"
Stopping, he glanced over his shoulder. "Half-brother. And no." Sure as hell not when Dash hadn't bothered with him after Cole's mother had walked out on all of them years ago.
"So why haven't you told her?"
Annoyance gave way to anger. "Stay the fuck out of it, Dash."
"Fine." Dash stood up. "Keep her distracted and then get her away from here. I'll let the rest of the guests know. There's a general rule about guests not shifting while on the resort grounds, staying only to the jungle while in wolf form, but sometimes things happen. And with there being a full moon tonight, you do realize I'm going to have to compensate everyone. "
"I'll write you a check."
Dash nodded. "Good. Now about Harley...."
Cole spun on his heel and left the room. He stopped by the desk to ask directions to their bungalow, shoving all thoughts of his half-brother out of his head. If he didn't calm down, Harley would have something else to speculate about. The last thing he needed her fixating on was his and Dash's family connection.
The walk to the bungalow was short, and he found himself pleasantly surprised to find theirs built out over the water. He didn't see Harley in the main room as he scanned the cozy area, taking immediate notice of the king-sized poster bed. The wrought iron frame would be prefect for a little bondage play. Cole's insides quickened at the thought of wrapping Harley's pretty hands together, leaving him free to tease every inch of her until she screamed his name.
Get a grip man.
Sliding open the terrace door, he found Harley leaning against the rail, her attention firmly on the turquoise water. Her short skirt hiked up her thighs as she leaned over the edge to look at something in the water.
He thought about walking up to her and simply slipping his arms around her waist. His cock twitched at the thought of pressing against her first class ass. A quick stab of guilt prodded him in the chest. She'd be pissed to know he had no intentions to let her poke around the resort, at least not without him.
Cole propped a shoulder against the doorjamb and admired her legs a moment longer. "Nice view, huh?"
Harley tensed then turned around. Her lips parted in a slow smile, the warm breeze tugging at her hair. Cole wished they weren't here because of the story.
She pinned him in place with a heated glance that had the animal inside him raking his claws. "Why did you kiss me on the plane?"
Cole shrugged. He hadn't expected the question and with the memory of how she'd melted into that kiss, the silky brush of her tongue across his, his arousal increased ten fold. If she continued to look at him like that....
A change of subject was definitely called for. "How do you know this Reginald guy wasn't just looking for his five minutes of fame when he contacted Mac?"
She waited a beat, just long enough to make Cole think she wasn't finished talking about that kiss. "I thought it was possible, likely even. Until I arrived. I overhead two people, a man and a woman saying Dash Windsor had taken care of Reginald. What do you think that means?"
Cole could tell her the truth, about Dash sending him off the island, but then she'd only want to know where and how he came by that information. Seeing as how he wasn't ready to tell her or anyone that he and Dash shared the same father, he let it go. It was bad enough the questions were rolling through her mind about Reginald to begin with. He didn't need her asking him questions about his and Dash's nonexistent relationship. "Maybe they just meant fired him. Maybe he screwed up and Dash let him go, and Reginald decided to get back at them with a little negative press. That kind of stuff happens all the time."
"Maybe," Harley ventured, but Cole could tell by the troubled light in her eye she wasn't convinced. And unfortunately for them, that meant he needed to keep her from digging too deep. She might be ready to put her journalist career behind her to focus on teaching and writing, but he knew when the story bug bit, and Harley was definitely infected.
"I think I'll take a look around."
He cursed under his breath and let her get as far as the middle of the room before he caught up with her.
Cole's hand clamped around her wrist, drawing her back around. "Hold on a sec."
His brown eyes flicked over her face, pausing half a second longer than usual on her lips. Just long enough for her heart to pick up speed. Harley drew in a soft breath, all too aware Cole stood much closer than he made a normal habit of, but she couldn't make herself back up.
He leaned forward, blatant need reflected in his eyes.
"Nobody's watching," she whispered then wanted to smack herself for interrupting him when he was only inches away from her mouth. But Harley couldn't just fall into some casual kiss-and-touch relationship. She knew it would be too easy to enjoy, too easy to get used to.
Too easy to be hurt when the charade was over.
Cole rocked back on his heels. "Right." His hand fell away as he stepped back.
Determined to find anything in the room to focus on besides the man still too close for any peace of mind, Harley started to unpack. "Maybe we should establish some ground rules."
"Ground rules," he echoed, following her to the bed where she'd left her suitcase.
Was that annoyance she detected in his voice?
"Yeah, I mean we don't want to get... awkward or anything." Anything meaning get too attached to him.
His lips twitched. "So what did you have in mind?"
Space. Lots of it. Harley grabbed a stack of folded clothes and moved away from him. "Well, for starters I think we should save the affectionate displays for when we're around other people."
Cole stayed on her heels, closing the dresser drawer after she slid her clothes inside. He planted a palm on the edge of the wood. "Like the kissing."
Harley's heart thumped, his sensually charged proximity disturbing her in every way. "Right," she managed.
He eased closer, his voice softening. "But don't you think we need to look... comfortable with each other?"
She swallowed past the sudden dryness in her throat. "Why wouldn't we look comfortable?"
"You froze up on the plane when I kissed you."
Her chin shot up. "I did not. Besides, you caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting it."
"But that's the thing, you have to be expecting it. Which is why a little practice might be in order." His arms encircled her, the warmth from his palm burning into her lower back.
"Practice?"
His other hand trailed across her waist to her hip, his fingers gently massaging. "You can't be so jumpy around me."
"I am not jumpy."
Cole leaned in and scuffed his jaw across her cheek. Harley shuddered.
"See," Cole whispered against her hair. "Jumpy."
"That wasn't jumpy, that was...." She broke away as his mouth slid down her neck. Deliciously persuasive lips seared a hot path to her collarbone.
Catching her chin in his palm, he tipped her head back. "You were saying," he prompted.
She was? Right. She was about to say....
Cole kissed her again and her world spun inward. Harley clung to him as his tongue pushed past her lips. She moaned, sinking her fingers into his shoulder. The rich masculine taste of him as he deepened the kiss made her want the two of them naked. Now.
His arousal brushed her belly, and instinctively Harley rubbed against his cock, dragging a tortured groan from Cole in the process. His hands tightened around her waist before inching upwards. At the edge of her halter-top, his fingers teased her exposed midsection then slid beneath the stretchy fabric. The pad of his thumb skimmed the underside of her breast.
His mouth caught the shaky moan that rose from her throat. She had never been more turned on and he was doing little more than teasing his thumb across her skin. Harley stretched up on her toes and pressed herself against him. The soft ache between her thighs intensified at the tantalizing contact.
Cole growled deep in his throat, turning to press her against the dresser. He worked his wicked mouth along the column of her throat, nipping gently before stroking the same places with his tongue. When her body felt ready to burst into flames she grabbed his chin and pulled him back to her mouth.
Seconds later--maybe minutes--she drew back and rested her forehead against his chest. "See, not jumpy."
Cole didn't move for a long moment, then he abruptly stepped back. "Glad we've established that. It's hot. I'm gonna take a shower."
Harley stared slack-jawed as he disappeared into the bathroom. The click of the door shutting snapped her back to reality. How did he do it? How did he kiss her like that, hold her, make her feel so damn hot and achy and then just walk away as if it meant nothing to him?
On a frustrated exhale, she flopped on the bed. That was because it didn't mean anything to him. He didn't have a thing for her. Although he obviously didn't find her completely unattractive or she doubted he would have agreed to come along, Cole was playing his part. Just like she was supposed to be doing.
Only she had failed miserably.
Refusing to mope, Harley waited until she heard the water turn on before she got up. There was no point in waiting here when she could at least take a look around. Outside their bungalow, she followed the short wharf to the beach, then a cobblestone pathway lined on both sides by towering palm trees. After passing the pool, where she glanced longingly at the small waterfall grotto, Harley turned away from the crowd, curiously aware of the pairs of eyes that followed her. She might have chalked the stares up to her more provocative clothes, but it wasn't just men interested in her presence.
Disconcerted, she followed another path into a denser part of the surrounding jungle, unsure of where it would take her. As long as nobody stared at her, she didn't care. A bird cawed overhead and she tipped her head back to watch the bright colored creature chatter down at her.
Her foot caught the edge of a stone and she shot forward. Stumbling, Harley managed to catch her balance. She glanced back over shoulder, frowning at the pair of shorts in the middle of walkway. Someone must have dropped them on their way to or from the pool.
Five steps further up, she spotted a shirt and a... pair of boxers? Harley smiled. Maybe somebody had a few drinks and wanted to get a little closer to nature.
Raised voices caught her attention, and after a moment she recognized them from the resort's lobby.
Careful not to give herself away, she inched down the path, staying close to the thick foliage growing at the edge of the path between her and the couple in heated discussion.
Sensing movement behind her, Harley whipped around.
The pathway behind her was deserted. Frowning, she glanced back in the direction of the arguing couple who'd suddenly grown silent.
Harley blinked, disbelieving the sight in front of her even as adrenaline pounded thick and fierce through her system.
A black and gray wolf blocked her path.
Harley backed up, then and froze as the wolf took a step towards her. Her heart pushed up into her throat, her mind screaming for her to run. Afraid to take her eyes off the large animal, Harley fought back the panic. Should she run? Scream? Curl into a ball and play dead? No, that was what someone did with a bear, wasn't it?
The wolf curled its lips in a vicious snarl.
Harley inched backwards.
"Easy," Cole whispered, coming up behind her. "Don't move." Instead of being relieved to see him, her fear intensified at the thought him getting between her and the wolf.
He eased her behind him, his body tense, poised for attack. He could not be thinking of doing something stupid.
"Cole," she warned.
He didn't respond, his eyes never wavering from the wolf.
Harley's rapid heartbeat counted off the seconds in triple time.
Cole took a step towards the wolf, mumbling something Harley couldn't make out. Something about, not her?
Breath held, Harley waited. The wolf stopped snarling, his bristled fur lowering before it turned and plunged into the foliage.
Neither of them moved for a long moment then Cole finally turned around, his tense expression relaxing. "He's gone."
Harley could only stare at the spot where the wolf had disappeared. And just how in the hell did a wolf get to Antigua? They certainly couldn't be native to the environment, could they? "Where did it come from?"
Cole shrugged indifferently. "Maybe he got loose."
"You think he's somebody's pet?" Harley shivered at the thought of crossing paths with the animal again.
"Maybe. I'll walk you back to the room. You can change or shower if you want. I'll talk to the staff about it, then we can go to dinner."
Harley sidestepped him. "You don't find it a bit odd that there is a wolf running loose on the resort?"
"Not a whole lot surprises me anymore." He started back towards the pool, glancing back over his shoulder. "You coming?"
"Yeah." Left with little choice, she followed him back to their bungalow, wondering why he wasn't half as concerned as she was about the animal.
Picking up a lilac colored sundress, she slipped into the bathroom as Cole went to let the staff know about her run in with the wolf. Washing off the sticky humidity made her feel better, but alone her thoughts drifted towards the kiss she and Cole had shared. Next time, even if it meant begging him not to walk away, she would somehow convince him to do all the wicked things she had dreamt about.
She had just finished drying off when he returned.
"The owner's," Cole said from the other side of the door.
Opening the door farther, Harley frowned. "Dash Windsor has a big wolf for a pet?"
"Apparently. He's back in his pen now." Cole smiled. "You wearing that tonight?"
She glanced down and realized she had stepped into the room with nothing but the skimpy towel around her. His gaze slid over her, hot and hungry. Heat surged through her middle and pooled in between her thighs. "No."
He took a step towards her, the interest in his expression enough to put her on edge.
Abruptly Cole changed directions and flopped down on the bed. "Hurry up then. I'm starved."
She glared at him. What the hell was a matter with him? He really couldn't keep doing that. One minute he looked like he would devour her on the spot and the next act as if she wasn't even in the room. Harley let the bathroom door slam behind her as she finished getting ready. Some men were just so damn .... The proper term escaped her, maybe because there were too many that fit, she couldn't settle on just one.
After she dressed and slipped her sandals on, Harley found Cole on the beach in front of their bungalow. He didn't even look at her as they walked in silence towards one of the resorts' three restaurants. They were shown to a small table hidden from most of the dining area by wrought iron framework and green foliage that wrapped around the bars. A small dance floor stood off to their right where one couple swayed to a Latin beat.
Cole took the seat to her left, the table just large enough for her to avoid brushing against him.
He picked up the menu. "What do you feel like having?"
Sex. "Not sure." Her eyes drawn to the dance floor once more, she watched as the couple maneuvered in an erotic tango. She felt Cole's attention shift to the pair as the couple's hands slid down each other, their caresses purposely sensual. The dark haired man brazenly cupped his partner's breast. Her back arched in response before he lowered her into an elegant dip. With her dress hiked up past her knees, the man's hand slid up her thigh before he pulled her upright.
One song melted into another as the couple swayed and groped each other in a seductive dance she couldn't manage to drag her gaze from. With every turn and embrace, their hands explored and enjoyed, and Harley couldn't stop her body from tingling at the thought of Cole's hands moving the same way over her.
After the second song ended, the couple disappeared off the dance floor.
Ignoring the achy pressure that made her cross her legs tighter, Harley shifted in her seat. The weight of Cole's primal gaze nearly pushed her to the floor. She swallowed and met his eyes. "What?"
He said nothing.
Harley set the menu aside. "Cole, you're staring at me." Like he was contemplating taking her right there in the middle of the restaurant. Oddly enough she didn't find a whole lot wrong with the image of Cole dragging her dress up and hauling her onto his lap to straddle him.
His smooth laugh washed over her. "Thank you for pointing out the obvious." Cole lifted up her hand, brushed his lips across her wrist. His smile teased. "Better. Not so jumpy." His thumb drifted back and forth across her skin. "Have to keep up pretenses," he reminded her.
"Right," she answered, her breath oozing out in a gentle whoosh.
A moment later their waiter appeared. Harley managed to get her order out, aware that Cole's attention didn't leave her once. When it was his turn to order, she took a moment to study his handsome face, wondering how he so easily appeared to be enchanted with her. She needed to take a page out of his book.
Dinner was agonizing. Every other moment, Cole found an excuse to touch her. A gentle squeeze of her hand, the soft brush of his finger across her cheek as he tucked her hair back, and the soft whisper of his lips against hers when he noticed whipped cream at the corner of her mouth. By the time they had finished, Harley's whole body was humming. One more heated look in her direction and she was liable to combust on the spot. Even knowing that once they were behind the four walls of their bungalow he'd drop the act did nothing to slow the heat flickering under her skin.
Cole led the way back to their room, guiding her along a torch lit path now that the sun had set. Music and laughter carried on the evening breeze, but they seemed to be moving away from it. She wished they could go down to the beach, have a bonfire and just....
But that was what real couples did. And she and Cole were not a real couple.
Maybe once she reminded herself of that another thousand times, she could be as slick about the whole thing as he seemed to be.
Cole stopped in front of her and she collided with his back. "What ...?"
His arm slid around her, tugging her close. "Shhhh, listen."
Harley heard only the breeze wrestling the leaves overhead and the very faint sound of music. "I don't hear anything."
"This way," Cole led her down another path and the surrounding jungle closed in on them. Harley couldn't help but think of the wolf from earlier, but that memory was quickly forgotten as soft moans filtered through the trees ahead of them.
That was what he heard? The passionate pleas were still so muffled she couldn't begin to guess how he'd heard them from where they stood moments before. As they approached, the moans grew louder. Cole tugged her off the trail and into the shadows as the path opened up in front of them leading to a gazebo. The same couple who danced back at the restaurant were locked in each other's arms in the center of the wooden structure.
The blonde's head dropped back as the man's lips trailed down her neck. His hand moved under her skirt and, judging by the woman's groans, he caressed her in all the right places.
"We should go," Harley whispered, but didn't move, unable to peel her eyes off the couple in front of her.
Cole moved behind her. His arm came around her waist as he hauled her back against his chest. "No." His breath teased her cheek, and she knew if she turned her head she'd find his mouth right there. "He's going to touch her and we're going to watch." His deep, raw command rumbled against her neck.
A delicious shiver curled up Harley's spine. "It's not right," she protested, only to find herself riveted to the erotic sight before her. The man pushed the straps of the woman's dress down, exposing two high breasts. His finger glided across her skin to one hard nipple. He pinched it lightly, then bending his head, licked the tip before pulling it into his mouth.
Harley tensed, warmth creeping through her system, all too aware of Cole at her back. He shifted closer and she felt the unmistakable nudge of his erection at her back. The answering ache deep in her sex, unleashed a carnal craving to have Cole mirror the other couple's movements.
As she watched them on the gazebo, Harley leaned more fully against Cole. The arm around her waist drifted higher the same moment the other man shoved his partner's dress up out of his way. His hands slowly slid up the woman's thighs. She wasn't wearing any panties, and a moment later the man sank his fingers into her.
Harley rocked back on her heels, both to ease the throbbing between her thighs and to contract her inner muscles around it.
Cole growled softly behind her. His mouth grazed the side of her neck and her eyes drifted shut. A moment later he lifted her breast into his palm, his thumb making wide circles around her nipple that pushed against her dress.
In front of them the woman shoved the man away from her. She dropped to her knees in front of him, undid his pants. She gripped the base of his cock and licked him from base to tip. The man's tortured groan rode on the air.
Cole ground his arousal against her bottom, and she hissed out a breath. It felt too good to stop. Harley didn't care if it was an act or not at this point. She wanted his hands on her too damn bad to worry about what would happen when they went home.
The woman's mouth shuttled up and down the thick cock in front of her, coaxing another loud groan from her partner.
Cole's hands slid under her dress. Through the thin cotton of her panties, his fingers traced her already damp folds. She shivered in wicked delight.
Growling, the man in the gazebo lifted the woman into his arms. She wrapped her legs around the man's waist as he leaned her back against the solid pillar. They both cried out as he drove into her, his hips thrusting in a savage rhythm that appeared to punish as much as it pleased.
Cole's fingers slipped past the edge of her panties and stroked down her wet slit. Harley bit her lip to trap the moan burning in the back of her throat. She squeezed her thighs together only to have Cole push them apart before he swirled his thumb across her clit. She rocked back against him, her body strung tight by the desperate need swallowing her.
Cole nodded towards the couple still fucking in front of them. "Do you want me to do that to you, Harley?"
Hell, yeah. She managed a shaky nod, too caught up in the fire rushing through her veins.
"You want me slide my cock deep inside you?" He sank a finger into her.
Harley jerked at the erotic invasion. "Yes," she whispered.
The other couple's feverish groans ricocheted through the quiet night air as they found their release.
Cole pushed another finger inside her. "Tell me you want me to fuck you, Harley." His voice was a harsh demand wrapped in silk.
Fiery threads tightened and pulled in her body. "I want you, Cole."
His teeth scraped her neck. "You want me to what?" He pumped into her again, harder this time.
"I want you to fuck me." Harley squeezed her eyes tight, grasping for the sweet whispers of release.
Cole's satisfied groan rumbled against her shoulder. "How about we go up there right now?"
It took Harley a moment to realize the couple had vanished.
"Or we could do it right here." His fingers pumped fiercely into her and this time Harley didn't hold back her moan. His thumb rolled back and forth across her clit.
"So," Cole prompted. "Here or there?"
Cole stiffened behind her a moment before she heard someone cough directly behind them.
Harley went still in his arms, the scent of her arousal fading as she shoved her dress back in place.
Cole didn't need to turn around to know who stood behind him. The son of a bitch had some fucking timing.
Keeping Harley discreetly positioned behind him, Cole turned around. "Evening," Dash nodded politely. "Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to reassure Ms. McKinnon that my friend was back in his pen."
Cole resisted the urge to knock him out, Alpha or not. "I already informed her of that." And the bastard damn well knew it.
"Good."
The three stood in an awkward silence before Dash finally nodded again. "Well, good night. I hope you're enjoying your stay."
Harley didn't move until Dash left.
"Tired?" he asked, taking in her flushed cheeks and sleepy eyes.
"A little."
Setting his hand at her lower back, he steered her back onto the path. "Let's go back to our bungalow."
She didn't say anything beside him. She didn't have to. Her desire, her arousal still lingered on the air and for the first time he realized just how much she might want him, too. But it didn't matter. It would never work between them. How could he do this to her? God, he wanted her, but would she be able to go back to the way things were when they got back to the city? And they'd have to. He wouldn't hurt her the way his jackass friend had. She deserved better than a man who had no intention of committing to any woman--any fully human female anyway. Ever.
At the steps leading to the wharf, he paused. "You go in. I'll be right there." He knew it was on the tip of her tongue to ask him why, but she only nodded and continued on.
Cole stared into the darkness. "Stalking me now? I don't think that's a very brotherly thing to do, is it?"
Dash grinned as he stepped out into the light. "Nope. It's a full moon tonight."
Crossing his arms, Cole glared at him. "No kidding? I think I missed the memo."
"I won't be able to keep most of them from shifting tonight. You know that."
"Harley won't be going for any midnight strolls if that's what you want to know."
Dash nodded. "Good." He turned away, then swiveled back around. "I have to know... are you serious about her? Because if you're not...."
"I already told you, she's not up for claiming."
"You must have some will power. Even I couldn't willfully resist someone I cared about tonight."
Cole said nothing, knowing exactly how close he'd come before Dash had interrupted them.
"So you still have no plans to claim her then." Dash shoved his hands in pockets. "Why not?"
"I would never mark her without her being aware of what would happen."
"Well, she can hardly make the choice for herself if she doesn't know about you."
Cole started down the wharf.
"You should tell her."
He whipped around. "And you should fuck off."
"She won't leave."
Irritated now, Cole snapped, "Leave it."
Dash didn't seem concerned at the underlying growl in Cole's voice. "Just because your mother left when she learned the truth, doesn't mean all human women will."
Cole took a step towards him, stopped just short of knocking Dash on his ass. "Back the fuck off."
"That's what's stopping you, isn't it?" Dash cocked his head as though he had a light bulb moment. "You care for her. You want her, but you won't claim her."
"What I do and don't do has never been your concern, nor is it now." Cole flexed his fist.
"Maybe. But if you aren't going to claim her, I just might have to."
He knew Dash was intentionally pressing his buttons, but that didn't stop jealousy from rearing its ugly head. He grabbed Dash, yanking him closer. He'd heard enough.
"Cole?"
Fuck. Cole turned around at the sight of Harley standing there, immediately releasing Dash, half surprised his brother had let him get away with that much.
She crossed her arms. "Is there a problem I should know about?"
Dash shook his head. "No problem. We were just having a bit of a disagreement about the loose wolf. I understand your boyfriend's concerns now." He nodded. "Good night again, Ms. McKinnon. Perhaps you'd like a full tour of the island in the morning. That is, if Cole doesn't mind. He'd be welcome to come along if he wished."
"She'll let you know," Cole growled, knowing it was another provocation.
Dash disappeared as stealthily as he'd approached. Cole waited until he was gone before he followed Harley down the wharf and inside their bungalow.
She stopped in the middle of the room. Her eyes drifted around the room before settling on him.
"You can have the bed," Cole said before he reached for her again. He couldn't cross that line. Not when he knew it would hurt her when he didn't stay. And he couldn't.
Disappointment flashed across her face before she nodded and turned away. She headed for the bathroom and he felt like an ass as he heard her get ready for bed.
Needing some air, he slid the terrace door open and walked out onto the deck over the water. The bright moon hung low in the sky and he felt the power of it pulsing under his skin. Maybe once Harley went to bed he'd go for a run, burn off the desire still rushing fast and hot through his bloodstream. The light went out behind him. He waited, listening for the sound of the bed covers being pulled back.
Silence.
The boards creaked behind him, but he didn't turn around. Harley stepped up beside him. Dressed in a pale yellow silk gown that came to mid-thigh, her long brown hair cascading down her back, she looked so amazing standing there in the moonlight, his chest ached.
She tilted her chin up, her voice a silken wave that wrapped around him. "I want you, Cole. I know you want me, too, at least a little. Can't you give me just one night?"
Cole didn't move, didn't breathe as she leaned up and brushed her mouth across his. Harley molded her body to his before her hands tangled in the ends of his hair as she tugged him closer. "Please," she whispered, her breath whispering across his neck. Her teeth nipped his jaw. "One night."
He closed his eyes when her hands moved between them, down past his waist. How could he stop himself? She was giving him what he wanted. To touch her, make love to her with no strings, no expectations. Offering herself to him.
But could he control the animal inside him that craved to claim her, to make her his in such a primal way, that defied all logical reasoning against it? If it meant the difference between having her tonight or walking away, he'd take his chances.
Catching her chin, Cole tilted her head back. "Are you sure? Because I can't be the man you want me to be. I can give you tonight, but beyond that...."
"I know." Her quiet voice stirred his heart, tugging at him in places he didn't want to acknowledge.
He captured her mouth, the beast raging at the taste of her. He focused on delving deep between her parted lips, running his tongue over hers until he would happily drown in the sensations coursing through him. In place of his blood, lava burned through his veins, wild and hot. His cock ached to find its way into her slick center, but there was time for that. If he only had one night, he'd make damn sure it felt like much longer. For both of them.
Harley slid her hands around his waist and, cupping his ass, she rubbed against his hard length. Sharp and exquisitely sweet sparks zipped down his spine and straight to his groin. The back of his knees hit the wide lounge chair behind them, and Cole realized she'd walked them backwards.
"Sit," she commanded, her eyes bright with determination.
His mouth tipped into a wide grin before she gently shoved him backwards.
Harley stood motionless in front of him. He clenched his hands tight with the need to rip the tantalizing spaghetti-strapped fabric off her. She didn't say anything, leaving only the soft rush of the water hitting the beach and faraway nightlife sounds of the jungle between them.
She pushed her hair behind her shoulders, and Cole followed the natural movement as he had a hundred times. She complained about the long tresses and every time she mentioned getting it cut, he'd persuaded her not to. He wanted to run his hands through it, use it to hold her in place when she would finally take him in her mouth. His cock twitched, both at the erotic image and the incredible sight she made before him as she tugged first one and then the other strap past her shoulders.
Riveted, he watched her push the nightgown down. Two full breasts, their firm dark pink nipples, taunted him.
Harley shook her head when he reached for her. "Not yet." Her lips curved in a sinful smile that promised more than he dared to consider.
She pushed the gathered folds past her hips and when the yellow silk pooled at it her feet, she stepped free. The only indication of her nervousness was the short gasps of air sliding past her lips and way her fingers curled and then lengthened against her bare thighs.
Cole held her gaze. His heart thumped at the mix of desire and hopefulness that swirled in her amber eyes. Eyes he'd been haunted by since she had booted that jackass of an ex out. What had that moron been thinking not wanting Harley in his life? She was a strong, smart and fun, sexy woman.
And she made Cole ache for her in ways no woman before had.
"You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He meant it and every word felt scraped from his throat before it squeezed closed. How would he find it in him to walk away from her?
Harley took two small steps towards him. Cole didn't move, couldn't take his eyes off her.
She closed her hand around his wrist and guided it to her. "Touch me. Please." Harsh need echoed beneath her soft plea.
Her eyes drifted shut when he lifted her breast into his palm. Cole raked his thumb across one erect nipple. Harley moaned, and the raw sound whipped his insides into action. Looping an arm around her waist, he hauled her down to his lap. He smoothed her hair back from her face, stared into her anxious eyes, then crushed her to him.
Her mouth softened before he devoured her with a savage intensity that made him struggle to keep the animal inside him caged. Seconds later Harley parted her lips and invited him deeper. The teasing swipe of her tongue made his hips pitch upwards. Only his cotton shorts stood between his cock and pure hot bliss.
She planted a palm against his chest, glancing away to draw in a breath, then brought her attention back to him. "I know that whatever happens is only for tonight, but you have to know.... I need you to know that I've wanted this, wanted you so much ...."
He kissed her again, knowing he couldn't say anything to reassure her it would go beyond tonight, but for the first time in his life he wanted it to. She felt so right in his arms, he wondered how he'd ever be able to let her go.
Harley straightened, bringing his hand back to her breast. "Don't stop. Not until the sun comes up."
In the distance a wolf howled, but she didn't pay any attention to it. He made sure of that. Cole caught the greedy tip of one nipple with his fingers and tugged. He did the same with the other, holding Harley steady as she arched into him. Leaning forward, he trapped her nipple between his lips, raking it with his teeth before he sucked it into his greedy mouth.
"Yes," Harley groaned, her head dropping back. "Your mouth... had I known...."
He curled his tongue around the other one.
She shuddered, her breath catching. "... I would have jumped you months ago."
"Oh, yeah?" Cole drew lazy figure eights across her nipples. "What stopped you?"
Harley smiled shyly. "I didn't think you wanted me."
Cole took her hand and brought it to his cock. "As you can clearly tell, you were wrong."
Her fist closed around him. "Good to know." Harley teased the head of his cock through his shorts, her grin widening. "Maybe I should take a closer look."
Because he knew the minute she stroked her tongue down his shaft he'd want to come, Cole caught her hand. "Not yet."
Shifting Harley around, he faced her outwards so she looked at the ocean, her perfectly sculpted ass cuddling his cock. He started at her shoulder, skimming his lips up the side of her neck.
She turned her head, and he caught her luscious mouth with his. Cole cupped her breasts, both thumbs grazing the hard points as she rocked against him. He groaned at the bolt of lust that nearly speared him in two. He slid a hand down her belly, felt the muscles tighten under his palm. Circling her navel once, he moved lower, past her hip and down the inside of her thigh.
Harley squeezed her thighs together. "I think you missed a spot." Harley caught his hand and settled it between her legs. "There. Right, there," she murmured.
Cole tunneled through the curls, parting the slick flesh. "Is this what you want?" He swirled his finger over her clit.
She jerked in his arms, her ass grinding against him in shameless response. "That would be it." Her voice was low and smoky as she shuddered.
Up and down Cole glided his fingers along her slit, circling the swollen knot with slow, sweeping strokes. "Good. But just so you know, we're just getting started."
Harley dragged in a breath and clamped her thighs together, desperate to keep his hand exactly where it was. Thick waves of pleasure ribboned through her with every short sweep of his thumb across her clit. And just when she thought the tight ache building in her core would implode, another gentle flick spiraled the exquisite tension higher.
He pumped his fingers inside her, and Harley moaned long and loud, not caring who might hear. She spread her legs wider and at the same time pushed back against his cock until Cole's breathing quickened.
Fingers bit into the inside of her thigh. "Don't make me embarrass myself," he pleaded, right before he sank his fingers into her heat again, over and over.
Lifting her hips, Harley rolled into each thrust.
"Why don't you help me out here?" Grabbing her hand from where she rested it on his thigh to steady herself, Cole brought it between her legs. "Let me see you touch yourself." He teased the pad of his thumb across her clit. "Please."
Heat stole across her cheeks at the thought of him watching her do something she only did alone, alone when thoughts of Cole drove her to find some kind of release.
His breath warmed her neck before his lips caressed. "For me." He slid another finger into her, and hot currents jetted through her. She'd give him whatever he wanted just as long as he didn't stop.
With one hand between her legs, his other guided her fingers along her damp folds, his palm burning into the top of her hand. The combined intensity sent her simmering body into a rolling boil. His cock rubbed against her bottom and Harley dropped her head back against his shoulder.
"Come for me," he coaxed, strumming her clit between her own fingers before he plunged harder into her center. Her inner muscles clenched as he rubbed the aching spot within, shooting Harley into a star-spotted oblivion that swallowed her whole.
Cole swiveled her around, trapping her beneath him. He caught her mouth in a fiery kiss she felt echo through her entire blissfully sluggish body. He scraped his teeth across her nipple. "You don't want me to stop yet, do you?" Hungry brown eyes held her captive.
"Absolutely, not."
His devilish grin made her smile. A second later he sat up and stripped off his shirt. Propped on one elbow, Harley slid her palm up the smooth chest, knew it felt better now than in any of her fantasies.
He caught her hand and brought it to his cock. "Do you see what you do to me, how badly I want you... how badly I want to make you scream my name?" His shorts came next and she admired his athletic frame against the silhouette of the full moon.
Leaning forward, he hooked his arms under her knees and jerked her forward. On his knees, Cole bent his head to her thighs and stroked his tongue along the damp seam of her sex.
Harley clawed at the lounge mattress beneath her, her hips arched as he gently licked her clit. She couldn't come again, not yet. It was too soon. But every slick lash of his tongue nudged her back towards the edge. She tried to wiggle away only to find herself imprisoned when his hands cupped her ass. She bit her lip, trapping a moan as his teeth dragged across the tight knot, tugging it between his lips. Two fingers slid into her again and she screamed, a second orgasm tearing through her.
Cole hovered over her. "I've wanted to sink my cock into you for so long."
It was her turn to tease him. She shook her head. "Not yet." Harley gripped his hips, tugged him up her body until his impressive erection hovered above her face. Flicking her tongue across the engorged tip, she lifted his sac into her palm.
A deep groan rumbled up from Cole's throat. His eyes slid closed. "Do it again." He nudged his cock at her slightly parted lips and she opened, taking him in her mouth.
Big, smooth and hard, just tasting him stoked the fire already burning anew deep in her core. She sucked and laved, sliding her filled palm up and down to match the hungry rhythm of her mouth.
Cole's groans became strained as he braced his hands above her and sank himself past her lips. His hips rocked harder as he pumped his cock into her mouth. "That's... wait... I don't want to... not yet...."
Harley curled her tongue around his shaft, teasing and nipping before sucking him deep.
Cole jerked back, slid his hands under her ass and plunged into her in one powerful thrust.
"Cole." Harley yelled against his neck, lifting her hips to meet him. Hard and fast he slid into her, and she clenched her muscles around him each time to keep him there. Over and over, he drove into her, his breathing as harsh and ragged as her own. For leverage Harley dug her heels into the mattress, cradling him between her thighs every time he drove into her.
Cole slanted his mouth across hers and his tongue swept inside. Under the scorching assault, her body ignited, and every feverish thrust sizzled through her bloodstream.
"You're mine," Cole growled fiercely before he kissed her again. He adjusted his angle, picking up speed. His body thundered against hers, hard, hot and fast.
Harley tilted her head back. Primal brown eyes blazed down at her, a flicker of tenderness swirling amidst the desire. Her chest caught, her heart no longer thumping from just the charged currents that whipped through her. Now her insides tightened with the knowledge she was definitely falling for Cole. Hard.
Very hard.
Cole's mouth found Harley's at the same time lightning speared her core. Everything inside turned hot and twisted sharply as pleasure crashed through her.
One last thrust and Cole tensed, his muffled groan more of a tortured howl. With her pulse hammering in her ears, Harley held tight to him. She didn't want the night to end. Cole brushed a kiss across forehead. For a moment Harley could only hope that the tenderness reflected in his eyes meant that maybe... just maybe, there would be more than just tonight for them.
Afraid to believe, she didn't cling to the possibility, instead banished it from her mind as Cole rolled to his side and tucked her against his chest. She wasn't cold as the soft evening breeze caressed her skin. With his arm locked around her, she drifted off to sleep, wondering if the howl of wolves in the distance was real or all in her imagination.
Harley stared down at him, smiling at the gentle snores that started a few minutes before. Sitting up, she poked his arm. "Wake up, sleepy head."
Cole growled, snagged her around the waist, and pulled her close. "It's not morning yet."
Her laugh bubbled out before he nuzzled her neck and her thoughts shifted to the very naked male tangled in the sheets beside her. "It's actually close to noon."
He cracked open an eye. "Really?"
Harley nodded, her chest tightening with the knowledge that when he got up, the incredible night she'd remember forever would be over.
"I don't think there is any reason to get up, is there?" Cole's mouth curved into a suggestive grin.
Not even the spark of desire in his eyes could stop her stomach from rumbling. "Food."
"Ah." He closed his eyes again.
Because she didn't want to be the one left in bed whenever he decided it was time to move on, she stood up first.
"Not with the sheet, sweetheart." He caught the corner of it and tugged.
Grinning, Harley let it go and smiled as he sat up. She dodged his groping hands. "I'll go, get us something to eat, and then you can have me for dessert." Harley waited, half expecting him to hold her to her one night only bargain.
Cole lips parted in a devastating smile. "Sounds great to me." He flopped back in the bed, hands tucked under his head. "Don't be long."
She pulled on a pair of panties and shimmied a blue sundress over her head. "You don't have to worry about that."
Harley smiled as she left the bungalow. She wouldn't think about anything beyond the last few hours and whatever time she had left with him. No matter what came next, she wouldn't regret what had happened between them.
Just outside the closest restaurant, Harley caught sight of the same woman she'd heard arguing in the resort's main lobby. Forgetting about breakfast, she followed the woman down a path that led past the pool. She called out, but the woman either didn't hear her, or ignored her.
By the time Harley rounded the next bend the woman had vanished. Maybe she'd scared the girl off? Hurrying her pace, Harley jogged further down the trail, noting the cobblestones gave way to a dirt path. Around the next bend two piles of clothes were bunched at the side of the path. From the same fool who lost his clothes yesterday no doubt.
Not knowing where she was going, Harley thought about turning around, but her curiosity got the better of her. More clothes were strewn across the path and she could only wonder if there wasn't some kind or orgy going on close by.
Hushed voices reached Harley's ears. She slowed her pace, creeping forward so as to not give away her presence.
"We burn it to the ground," an angry voice snapped.
Someone snorted. "He'll hunt us down."
"So then we take care of him, too," another voice chimed in, the woman's.
Take care of who, Harley wondered?
Something smashed against a tree--a glass? "Dash shouldn't have kicked Reginald off the island. Maybe it's time someone challenged the Alpha."
"Forget challenging him. We just take him out."
"Honor demands...."
Someone growled. "Fuck, honor. Dash Windsor didn't honor my brother when he barred him from the island."
Harley tensed. They wanted to take out Dash Windsor? As in murder him?
"Maybe if Reginald hadn't gone to the press, he'd still be here," a calm voice reasoned.
The sound of a fist striking flesh froze Harley in place and kicked her heartbeat into overdrive.
"My brother would never risk exposing us. The journalist would have been under control if Windsor let Reginald handle it instead of sending him to Europe. Instead, we have her trooping under our feet as we speak."
Jesus, they were talking about her.
Harley took a step backwards and a twig snapped under her foot. She squeezed her eyes shut, her breath locked in her chest.
The voices continued. They hadn't heard her. Relief whispered through her. Turning around, she knew she had to find Cole. Together they could go to Dash, to warn him.
Harley stopped dead in her tracks.
Three wolves stood on the path, blocking her escape.
As a group, they stalked towards her.
Fear iced down Harley's spine, but she didn't move.
One more circled around the others. She recognized the gray and black one in point position from before. How did he get loose again? And where had the others come from?
As she stared, the lead wolf curled his lips in a vicious snarl.
How far would she get if she ran? One she might have stood a chance of escaping, but four. The odds weren't good.
"Don't move, Harley."
Cole circled around in front of her. Where had he come from?
He squeezed her hand, but didn't look at her. "I need you to trust me, okay? Very, very slowly, I want you to edge farther up the trail."
The words no sooner left his mouth than another low growl sounded behind them.
Cole pulled her closer towards him as the wolves circled. "She has nothing to do with your feud."
Harley gawked at Cole. "I don't think they speak English."
Cole ignored her. "I suggest you back off. You know who I am. Think how difficult your lives will become if you fuck with me."
The snarling increased.
"Fuck," Cole growled. Keeping her close, he tugged his shirt off.
"What in the hell are you doing?" Harley hissed. She could only stare as his shorts came off next. "Are you out of your mind?" Full-blown panic threaded her voice. "Cole?" He was losing it.
He took her hand, but didn't take his eyes off the circling wolves. "I need you to trust me."
"I ...."
The large gray and black wolf lunged at them. Cole shoved her to the ground, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. She rolled to her side at the same moment....
No. It wasn't possible. She did not just see.... He couldn't have....
Harley blinked rapidly, unable to suck in an even breath as the man beside her only moments ago collided with the attacking wolf, only he was no longer a man.
Werewolves?
The hysterical thought bubbled into her brain and she might have screamed at the insanity of it if one of the other large animals hadn't pinned her in place with a laser precise gaze.
She scrambled backwards, adrenaline drowning out the panic that would have immobilized her.
This wasn't happening.
The wolf circled, then charged towards her. Harley raised her arms to block the attack.
The bronze colored wolf--Cole?--skidded in front of her, the sound of vicious snarls and growls filling the air.
From behind him, the gray wolf struck, sinking its teeth her protector's back.
Howling, he whipped around, shaking the gray wolf loose before launching at him. The other wolves stood motionless as though they cared who came out the victor.
Harley was too scared to do more than inch away, couldn't take her eyes off the two wolves tearing at each other.
The gray and black wolf howled as he was forced to the ground. Teeth clamped over his jugular, and Harley waited for blood. Instead, the dominant wolf held back.
Brown eyes flicked towards her.
Harley shook her head. No fucking way.
More howls filled the air and Harley's heart pounded faster. Another group of wolves appeared and surrounded the smaller group. One moved towards Cole. Harley didn't think, just moved, grabbing the branch at her hand and swinging it at the approaching wolf.
The silver wolf eyed the bat nervously, took a step back.
"Harley, it's fine."
Shifting her attention, she saw Cole on the ground, blood pouring from a deep wound on his shoulder. Behind him, where the small group of wolves cowered, three men and two women now stood. Completely naked.
What in the hell...?
Only the recent arrivals remained as wolves.
Sensing no animosity, Harley ignored the silver one and crouched beside Cole. She hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the shirt he'd stripped off earlier and pressed it to the still oozing wound.
Cole flinched, his face unreadable.
The last few moments sank in, replaying themselves in her mind. Cole...? And wolves?
She glanced over her shoulder at the silver one. His eyes were still fixed on the branch at her feet. She shook her head. She couldn't have seen it. People couldn't turn into wolves. Not in real life. There had to be a rational, objective explanation. Right?
Pushing to her feet, she backed away. This was fucking insane.
"Harley." Cole tried to stand, but his knees buckled. "Wait."
She met his gaze briefly, then fled.
Cole stared after her, the pain radiating down his back and chest stealing his breath. "Harley," he shouted.
Dash knelt beside him. "She'll be fine."
Cole dropped his head, wincing when his brother peeled back the shirt to examine the wound. "She wasn't supposed to find out like this...."
"Which is why you should have told her."
Cole snorted. "Aren't we a little old for I told you so?" Dash probed at his wound and he jerked away. "Do you mind? That fucking hurts."
"It needs to be stitched."
"I need to find Harley."
"Why, so you can bleed all over her? Go to the infirmary. I'll make sure she's fine, okay? I won't touch her," Dash promised at Cole's doubtful look.
Not liking it, but knowing he'd be good for nothing if he didn't get stitched up, Cole allowed Dash to help him to his feet. The ones who arrived with Dash led the others away. Cole felt some small measure of satisfaction seeing the wounds he inflicted on the small faction's leader. If he had so much as breathed on Harley....
"She's safe," Dash reminded him, damn near reading Cole's mind.
But she might not have been if Dash hadn't shown up. He grabbed his brother's arm. When Dash turned around, Cole offered his hand. "Thanks."
Dash gripped his hand, his grin widening. "Any time."
The resort's doctor had just finished stitching him up when Dash strolled in.
"She's in your bungalow."
Cole didn't know whether to be relieved or not. "She is? I though she would have been halfway to the airport by now."
Dash leaned back against the counter. "She's not your mother, Cole."
Thank God for that. Still, that didn't mean Harley would be any more accepting of his kind than his mother. "You saw the look on her face."
Dash shot him a well, duh look. "You shifted right in front of her."
"What choice did I have?"
"None, but she had no warning, nothing to make her think for a second you are what you are. She just needs time to process it all."
Cole began to cross his arms, winced as the topical anesthetic was already wearing off. "And you think she's just hanging out in there thinking?"
"Most likely. She's a journalist. She's probably trying to look at it from all the objective angles."
"Or she's packing." Chances were she already had.
"You won't know if you don't go to her."
"So she can tell me how much of a freak I am?" That he sure as hell couldn't handle.
"Fine, have it your way. Sit here and throw her away. I know of someone who'd be more than happy to take her off your hands."
"If you wanted a mate, you'd have one already."
"Maybe I just haven't met a woman who would embrace the change." Something in Dash's casual shrug felt off.
"Somehow I don't think that's it."
Dash stiffened, his eyes darkened enough to make Cole suspect he had hit on a touchy subject. "We're not talking about me." Dash glanced at Cole. "But Harley would make a good, strong mate I think."
Cole growled and sidestepped Dash. "Don't go near her."
Dash shoved him back a step. "Then stop being a pussy and go talk to her."
He knew Dash was right as his brother strode away, yet it took him almost an hour to build up the nerve.
And it fizzled out on him the second he walked into the bungalow.
Harley tensed as the terrace door slid open behind her. She wanted to turn around, see for herself that it was in fact Cole, but a fear she didn't understand kept her rooted in place. She wanted to believe she had imagined that scene in the woods, but she knew she hadn't. It would have been easier to deal with if she had, could have chalked it up to stress or something.
But Harley hadn't imagined it. The more she replayed the details in her mind, the more convinced she became. Yet... how was it possible?
"Is it a good sign you're not halfway home already?"
Hearing his voice soothed her much more than she would have believed. He stepped up beside her and instead of moving away from him, Harley inched closer. After a long moment she found enough courage to look him in the eye.
Cautious brown eyes regarded her the way he might a timid child. "On a scale of one to ten, exactly how freaked out are you?"
Harley mulled it over. "Eleven."
"Very reassuring," he teased. Tight lines near his eyes showed his uncertainty.
"So," she prompted.
Cole nodded in understanding. "Where would you like me to start?"
"Somewhere between A and Werewolf would be good. And on the off chance the encyclopedia definition might be out of date, feel free to direct me to a website with the proper information."
"My father was a werewolf. My mother wasn't. She left when I was three after a full moon triggered my first shift."
"But there was a full moon last night. Did you...?"
Cole shook his head. "Most times I'm able to control it."
"When can't you?"
"When I'm very pissed."
"Does that happen often?"
A pained frown crossed his face. "I'd never hurt you if that's what you think."
Harley reached for him. Not only to reassure him she could handle this, but because she needed to know, to feel for herself that Cole was still very much himself.
Strong arms held her tight as she closed her eyes and buried her face against his neck. "You could have told me before now."
Cole snorted. "If I had, you would have locked me out of your apartment."
Harley tipped her head up. "Not if you did your shifting thing."
"Right," he mocked. "Then I would've had to catch you before you ran out of the apartment and ended up struck by a taxi because you didn't watch where you were going."
Given the fact that she had run just a short time ago, she couldn't argue his logic. "So the ones who attacked us, they wanted to hurt Dash?"
"The black and gray one was Reginald's brother. Seems he was a little pissed Dash removed Reginald from the island for stirring up trouble."
"I guess Mac was right about his vibe this time." Cole stiffened, and Harley added, "I'm not writing a story about this place, or any of you."
He caught her chin in his palm. "Are you okay with this, okay with what I am?"
Harley smiled up at him. "It'll take some getting used to seeing as how I hadn't planned on falling on love with a werewolf." The second the words left her mouth, Harley tensed.
Cole lips parted in a satisfied grin right before his mouth swooped down to capture hers. The fierce possession behind the kiss banished any remaining doubts about him... about them.
When they pulled back, Cole's smile burrowed deep into her heart. "I hadn't planned on falling in love with you either." He gently tucked her hair behind her ear. "I'm glad we came here."
Harley swallowed past the tightness in her throat. "Me, too." Pressing a kiss to his jaw, she buried her face against his neck. Even in her wildest dreams, she hadn't imagined ending up with Cole in quite this way.
Curious, she glanced up at him. "So how does someone become a werewolf anyway?"
"Either by birth, or...." He angled his face away from her.
"Or," she prompted.
Hopeful brown eyes turned back to her. "By choice."
"Oh." A hundred more questions trampled through her brain. Some that would no doubt require lengthy explanations, but those could wait for now. "So your dad's a werewolf, too, right?"
"Yup."
She somehow couldn't picture Cole's bookish father trotting through the woods. "Huh. Any other secrets I should know about? Like a little woman tucked away in a den somewhere with wolf cubs?"
Cole grinned. "Not quite. But I do have an older brother."
"I thought it was just you and your dad?"
"It was, for the last fifteen years." He shrugged. "Turns out my brother might not be such an ass after all."
"Will I get to meet him?"
His lips curved in a secretive smile. "I think that can be arranged."
"Do you werewolf types do anything else other than turn into wolves?" If he told her he'd live forever, she'd be pissed.
One golden brow winged upward. "Not really. Why? What else would you have me to do? Fly?"
Harley shrugged, then nodded pointedly inside at the bed. A naughty smile tugged at the corners of her mouth "So do I get to put a leash on you?"
His eyes flashed and he leaned forward. "Only when the moon is full." He skimmed his lips across hers. "And only if I get to return the favor."
"There's still a full moon tonight, right?" Pressed from shoulder to thigh, Harley's body responded to Cole. She reached out to catch his mouth as it passed. His fingers tunneled into her hair as he cupped the back of her neck and deepened the kiss.
With heated precision, Cole swept his mouth back and forth across hers, slowing the momentum until every cell hummed and burned for him.
Werewolf and all.
The End

