A howl wakes me from sleep. It’s close, really close.

Curious to see my first sign of wildlife, I move to the window, searching for the sound, when it happens again. This time, though, it feels like it’s coming from below me.

Looking down, a gorgeous, black animal stands at my back, sliding glass door. He howls again, directly at the door.

Interested, I make my way down the stairs then freeze when I see the animal. It’s not a dog. No way is that thing a dog. It’s huge, standing about as tall as I am, his paws way bigger than my hands. His coat may be a beautiful black, but it’s his teeth that he licks that gets my attention.

“Good boy,” I coo, not knowing the first thing about wolves and if he can hear me or not. It must be a wolf or some crossbreed that I’ve never heard of before. I knew there were animals in these mountains, but hell, this thing is enormous.

I take a step back when the animal growls, vibrating the wall and the glass, the only thing separating us.

The wolf must sense my unease because it suddenly goes down on its belly, resting his head on his front paws. It still watches me, but makes no sound.

Looking into his eyes, a momentarily pause hits me as the navy blue catches my attention, but I dismiss it quickly.

“I’m going to head back to bed, big guy. You take a little rest.”

A low growl comes from him as he paws the door.

If he thinks I’m opening that door for him, he’s sadly mistake. There’s no way I’m going to end up being his next meal. However, if he could break through the glass or wanted to, he could have already done so.

“Night, big guy.”

I turn on my heel and race up the stairs, hearing him howl. Shutting and locking my door, I then rush to the window and look down at the back deck. The animal is back to lying down, a soft whine coming from him, almost making me want to go back down and open the door. Almost. Instead, I crawl into bed and sleep eventually overtakes me.

By seven a.m., I’m on the phone, leaving messages for my lawyers and realtor who don’t answer my calls. If they don’t call me back soon, I’ll be making more phone calls. Not only that, I spread the contract out and go through the pages one by one to see if there are any differences in any of them, coming up with nothing.

There isn’t enough coffee on the planet at this moment to calm me. It’s nine a.m., and I’ve called both of my guys twice again. Each time, the damn recording played, and each time, I lost my cool just a little bit more. They made damn good money on this transaction, and I want some answers.

A loud bang comes to the front door, and for the first time, I wonder what’s wrong with the doorbell. I know the house has one, but all that people do is bang.

As I make my way to the door, there’s a moment of hesitation. Carter could be behind that door, ready to move his things into the house, with his guys backing him up. If he moves his things in here, how in the world will I get him out when all of this is straightened out?

I inch backward as the banging starts again.

“Izzy, open the damn door,” Carter demands. The sound of his voice sends a pulse of warmth through me. There’s no denying the man has me on edge, but I can’t let him in without figuring out what’s going on.

A tap on the sliding glass door catches my attention, and I turn in a whoosh. Owen stands there, hand on hip, huge smile across his face.

“Open up, Izzy. He’s not goin’ anywhere until we unload his shit.”

“No.” My answer has him chuckling.

Suddenly, Carter is standing next to Owen, a playful expression on his face, like he knows what I’m doing and reading my mind, which is impossible.

“I need to get ahold of my people and straighten this out,” I say through the door. “I’ll get it sorted and have my lawyers contact you.”

“Izzy, open the door.” Carter’s eyes penetrate me, compelling me to open the damn door.

Inside, I war with myself, knowing it’s a bad idea, but thinking bad ideas aren’t so bad.

Damn.

I find myself slowly making my way to the door and unlatching it.

“You really shouldn’t move anything in, Carter. As soon as I get this ironed out, you’ll have to leave, so there’s no point.”

Owen chuckles as he steps through the door, goes to the front, and unlocks it. The same guys from yesterday start coming into my house with boxes and furniture.

“Holy shit,” I whisper.

Carter wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me to him, causing my body to slam against his with an “ooph.” He brings his lips down on mine, and my treacherous body gives in immediately. He tastes all masculine, and as our tongues dance, the passion begins to fire red-hot. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling my chest against his, and he lets out a low, deep growl, causing my core to tighten.

“Al—Carter, where do you want this?” Owen’s voice breaks through the fog this man puts me in, and I pull back immediately, the warmth of embarrassment washing over me. I’m a thirty-one-year-old woman who just got caught making out with a man I don’t know.

Carter growls louder this time, making the hair on my arms rise to attention. “Master,” Carter responds, turning back toward me.

Looking at Owen, I see he has boxes labeled bedroom. “Wait! He can have the guest room down the hall.”

Owen chuckles, shaking his head, and moves away without taking my words a bit serious.

“Carter, you’re not sleeping in my room with me.”

With his hands behind my back, he presses me deeply into him, negating the small distance I had put between us with my jump back movement. He skates his nose across my cheek then our noses touch. My breathing comes in shuddered breaths. There’s something happening here. Something serious. Something crazy, considering a man I just met is moving in with me and part of me, deep down, likes it.

“No sense in havin’ them do double work. You know, as well as I do, your bed is going to be mine. May not be tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but someday … soon.”

A full-out shiver racks my body. I know he feels it because he smiles.

Crap.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re cocky?”

He smiles.

“And persistent?”

Smiles wider.

“And …? And …?”

“Knows what he wants, and that’s you, Izzy.” He drops his lips down on mine again, and thoughts drift from my brain, leaving the wonderful sensations of his lips.