Jaemus couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much… fun. Wait. It was possible he’d never had so much fun. When he looked back on his life, fun wasn’t a large part of it. As a child, he’d always been concerned about getting his next meal. He and Reardon hadn’t played in the streets, carefree like most children. Their mother loved them, but she didn’t know how to take care of them. They took care of her most times.

As he’d gotten older, he and Reardon had turned to questionable techniques to get food and other necessities. Reardon had basically fought anyone anywhere if it’d meant gathering some riches for their family of three. Where his brother had been better at attacking first and asking questions later—while he was counting his earnings—Jaemus had taken extra jobs that no one wanted to do. He’d also excelled at relieving people of their riches and possessions in a more… secretive manner. There hadn’t been a pocket in Ireland he couldn’t pick.

It was in this manner that the McAlator brothers had kept themselves and their mother fed, clothed, and housed in a sufficient shelter. When Reardon’s father came for him, there had been a period of time that the burden of supporting himself and his mother fell solely on Jaemus, but he’d managed. He’d done it.

That was all he’d done though. He hadn’t had time for anything else. Certainly not fun.

Carrying this beautiful woman in his arms after making all those people cheer and laugh had been exhilarating. His entire body felt charged with an energy as potent as the energy he’d always felt on the battlefield, but it was totally different. Good different.

Sexy-woman-in-his-arms different.

Nika wasn’t asking to be put down, either, as Jaemus ran through the woods away from the theater and trading post. In fact, her arms were wrapped around his neck, her sweet face buried in the slight fur covering his neck, her enchanting smell filling his sensitive nose.

Her heart beat a quick rhythm his ears could hear. But she wasn’t afraid. That rapid thump of her heart paired with the scent of her arousal swirling around him screamed that fear was the last thing she felt. If he thought he’d wanted her this morning in her office, that was nothing compared to his desire for her right now. Watching her laugh through the show, seeing that smile light up her entire face… gods, he could look at her and never grow tired of her beauty.

But she hadn’t smiled for the whole show. No. That man sitting behind her had upset her. Jaemus figured that was Robert, the man who wanted her trading post, and he’d been all too eager to whisk her away from anyone who wanted to make things difficult for her.

As much as he didn’t want to, Jaemus slowed his jog. If he kept running, he’d reach Silver Moon Wolf Sanctuary, and how would he explain bringing Nika there? In wolfman form no less.

Slowly, he loosened his grip on her legs, letting them slide down his left side, careful to avoid letting her make contact with one very hard erection contained only by the ripped jeans he wore. Somehow he didn’t think she’d be thrilled with the knowledge that a beast like himself was aroused by her.

But she doesn’t know I’m a beast.

She assumed it was all an impressive costume. She thought he was still a normal human in fake wolfman skin… or fur as it were. She had no comprehension of what a mistake it would be to think of him as anything besides a monster.

Nika didn’t release her arms around his neck when her toes hit the ground. Instead, she gazed up at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, her pale green eyes studying him. Closely. Too closely.

Jaemus took a step back and she had to let go of him. He was too tall for her to hold on to. He had to shift back to human before she made discoveries he wasn’t prepared to allow her to make.

Holding his clawed hand up, he hoped she understood he meant for her to stay right there. When she didn’t move, he ran back and bolted into one of the stalls in the small building behind the theater. He shifted, clenching his jaw so he wouldn’t let out any suspicious grunts as his body reformed itself. After throwing on the jeans and T-shirt he’d worn earlier in the day, he raked his hands through his hair, doing his best to tame the wildness out of it. He hung the ripped jeans he’d used as part of his costume on a small peg in the stall and exited the building without running into anyone.

Jaemus sprinted back to where he’d left Nika to find she’d wandered back toward the theater. Why had he thought she’d stay if he’d commanded her to? He was the dog, not her.

As he approached her, she turned and stumbled to a stop. “That was a quick change. I figured you’d be at it for hours, trying to de-costume.”

“I’ve got a routine that makes it easy.” Unfortunately that routine involved him being cursed by his werewolf brother.

“More comfortable?” she asked, smiling at him in a way that instantly made him want her back in his arms.

“Aye.” He fell into step beside her as Daisy meandered over to join them.

“I imagine that costume isn’t all that easy to wear, but it’s so amazing.” Her face beamed like the summer sun above them as they emerged from the woods. She turned to face him and placed her hand on his forearm, sending ripples of… something through his body. “You were so amazing. Did you see the audience? They loved you.”

“You’re too kind, sprite.” Why did her approval mean so much? He barely knew her.

“I’m not being kind, Jaemus. I’m telling the truth.” She rubbed her hands together. “I know Carrie got some great footage. You up for working with her to make a video ad now?”

He wasn’t sure what a video ad was, but if Nika wanted him to do it, he would.

“Aye. I can do that.”

“Great. Carrie’s probably at the post by now.”

With Daisy chasing dragonflies around them, they walked up the path to the trading post, conversing pleasantly about the show, the audience, the number of cars still in the parking lot. Nika was careful not to say anything about Robert, and finally Jaemus couldn’t let it go any longer.

“Was that Robert behind you on the bleachers at the show?”

Something like a growl came out of Nika and again it made Jaemus imagine her as a wolf like him. She’d probably have such lovely chestnut brown fur. He shook that vision out of his head. She didn’t deserve that curse, and he shouldn’t be imagining her like that. Why was it so easy to picture though?

“Yeah, that was him, the jackass.” After letting Daisy in, she stomped into the trading post, holding the door for him to follow her. “Came to check you out.”

“To see if I could save your ass.” His gaze dropped down to that lovely ass beneath her skirt. He quickly looked up when she spun around to face him again.

“Exactly.” The frown on her lips turned up into a grin. “And you definitely showed him you could save it.” She smacked a hand to her behind and wiggled a little as Daisy circled around her.

Could wiggling kill a man? It had to be possible. Nika could really… wiggle.

“Just did the job you asked me to do, sprite.” What other jobs did she need him to do? Pull her body up against his? Capture her mouth with his? Bury himself deep inside her until she panted his name? “Does he bother you often?” As he recalled, the man had just called this morning and then he’d shown up this afternoon. That was persistent.

“He bothers me incessantly.” She huffed out a breath as she led him to her office and motioned to the couch.

After watching Daisy sprawl out on the rug, Jaemus sunk into a seat, hoping Nika would sit beside him, but she chose one of the chairs in front of her desk instead. Almost as if she were keeping her distance from him. Had he mistaken her scent? Had she not been aroused when he’d carried her in the woods? He sniffed and could still smell it—the aroma of desire. She was definitely attracted. Did she not trust herself?

Did she not trust him?

She shouldn’t. Firstly, Nika had only known him for two days. Hardly enough time to grow to trust anyone. Secondly, he wasn’t worthy of her trust. He was a killer, like the rest of the men in Reardon’s army. Like Reardon.

Although Reardon has found a way to be happy.

Brandy was pure of spirit. The way Jaemus had watched her interact with her son and the wolves at her sanctuary told him enough about her for him to label her as truly good. She clearly loved Reardon too. So if his brother could find someone who accepted him, could Jaemus find that as well? Did he want it?

“Robert Senclair is like a pesky mosquito buzzing, buzzing, buzzing around my head. Someday, I’m going to slap him,” she clapped her hands together in front of her face, “and he’ll be nothing but squished guts.”

Aye, I want it. I want her.

“I’d be happy to squish him for you.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as Nika’s gaze zeroed in on his arms and the scent of her attraction intensified. That’s right. These muscles aren’t just for show, sprite.

She squeezed her eyes closed and jutted out her chin. “I don’t need you to squish him for me. Not over his interest in me anyway. I can take care of myself there.” Her mouth was no longer turned up in a grin as she folded her arms across her chest.

Jaemus put up his hands. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to overstep my bounds or insult you.”

She raised a hand to her face and pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head slightly. “No. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I snapped at you like that. Robert makes me… he makes me… he’s just insufferable. Wanting my land, wanting my post, wanting—”

“You.” Jaemus barely contained the growl threatening to come out with that word.

“Yeah. Me.” Her shoulders slumped. “He can’t get it through his sparsely covered head that he and I will never, ever be together.” Nika’s entire body shuddered. “And not just because I’m not physically attracted to him.”

“But because he’s an ass,” Jaemus said.

Nika pointed at him. “Precisely. An ass. A BIG ass.” She waved her hand. “Anyway, instead of jumping down your throat, I should be thanking you for getting me away from Robert just now. He would have pestered me all day.”

“And he’s waiting to do so out there.” Carrie suddenly filled the doorway to Nika’s office. “Robert didn’t leave when Wolfman over here, so knight-in-shining-fur, swept in to the rescue. He followed me back to the post and has been pacing a worn track on the floor in aisle six.” The girl rolled her eyes. “So one of you come out here and deal with him, because I don’t get paid enough to.”

Carrie swiveled and marched away as Nika rose to her feet to follow.

Jaemus stood and stepped in front of her. “I know you want me to save you with The Wolfman Show so Robert won’t be able to take your business, but,” hesitantly, he reached out his hands and rested them lightly on Nika’s shoulders, “I’m willing to help out in any areas that you wish me to, sprite.”

He braced for her to get angry with him, but instead she put her hand atop his right one still on her shoulder. Her skin was hot against his and the instinct to carry her off again was hard to ignore.

“Thank you, Jaemus.” She patted his hand then lowered hers. “Are you hungry?”

“Most of the time, aye.” Though he was a different kind of hungry than usual right now.

“Good. Follow my lead.” After telling Daisy to stay, she grabbed her purse, taking the strap and putting it around her head so it rested on her shoulder and across her chest. The way it made her shirt press against her bosom had Jaemus willing to follow her anywhere.

He walked behind her, fighting the impulse to jump over her and tackle Robert to the ground. Going a few rounds with the man would release some pent up energy. Actually, it probably wouldn’t take more than one round for Jaemus to emerge the instant victor.

“Nika, I think we should—” Robert stopped speaking when Nika held up a hand, but kept walking right past him.

Jaemus trailed behind her, but not without giving Robert a look that could kill. He grinned when the smaller man shrank back a bit.

“I’m taking my new Wolfman for a bite to eat in celebration of his outstanding performance this afternoon.” Nika stopped at the counter where Carrie was leaning. “Zavier is due here in about ten minutes, right?”

“Uh-huh. Don’t worry about a thing here, Boss. There are a few customers in the local author section of the post and several others in the furniture area, but Zavier and I can handle it.” Carrie looked at Jaemus. “You and I have a date to make a video ad too. I caught some amazing footage of you in action.” She smiled a great big, mischievous smile as she wiggled her phone. “Hey, Robert, do you want to relive our Wolfman’s magic?”

Robert grumbled and stalked over to Nika, but again, Jaemus got in the way.

“I wouldn’t touch her if I were you,” he said in a low voice.

“Where did you come from?” Robert asked. “Wolfman actors don’t grow on trees.”

“Definitely not on them,” Jaemus said, “but in them. The forest has many secrets.”

“That’s ridiculous. You’re not a real wolf.” Robert poked a finger into Jaemus’s chest then appeared horrified at the stiff muscles he discovered there.

“Who’s to say what’s real and what isn’t?” Jaemus was having some real fun with his cryptic answers and questions. The baffled expression on Robert’s face only fueled the fire. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, this kind woman wishes to feed me, and I intend to let her.”

Jaemus held out his elbow to Nika who pleased him greatly when she didn’t hesitate to slip her arm around his.

“See you around, Robert, though I’d rather not.” Nika let Jaemus lead her out of the post.         

Once they made it outside, she squeezed his arm, bringing her body closer. Before Jaemus knew what was happening, Nika reached up on her tiptoes and dropped a kiss on his cheek right where that scar sliced through his short beard. That light press of her lips to his skin made Jaemus certain he’d need more from her.

Much more.

****

Damn, he smells good. Sun-warmed bark and moist soil and something almost primal that Nika couldn’t name. She’d meant the kiss to be a mere peck on the cheek. A thank-you kiss. Nothing more.

But that hum. The one that rasped out of his throat. The one that reached deep down inside her and started a wave of sensations that undulated throughout her body. Yeah. She couldn’t ignore that hum.

Stepping back, she looked up into his golden brown eyes and traced her fingertip along the scar on his cheek. “What happened here?”

“Almost drowned. Something cut me underwater.” He looked away for a moment, and Nika was sure there was more to the story than that, but she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. She had a feeling that wasn’t his only scar. He’d mentioned unexpected travel, and if he wanted to get out of his brother’s home bad enough to take her up on her lousy barn offer, something wasn’t right there either. What had Jaemus been through? He’d offered her help, but did he need some too?

“What do you want to eat?” Not that she had a ton of money to blow on going out to eat, but she’d make the money back. Jaemus’s Wolfman would make the money back.

“There’s only one thing I have a craving for right now.” He closed the small gap between them and slid his hand along her cheek up into her hair.

When his lips captured hers, her body melted against his without consulting her. Her mouth automatically opened when his tongue sought entrance and the way it explored made her knees weak. As if sensing her instability, his arms came around her for support and he pulled her closer while his mouth did things that made her head spin, her heart pound, and her core tingle. No man had ever gotten her so fired up with a mere kiss.

Nika snaked her hands up Jaemus’s muscled arms, memorizing the contours with her fingertips. She laced her fingers together at the back of his neck, hoping that if she hung on to him, they could maybe kiss forever. She didn’t care if they didn’t stop to take in oxygen. Who needed oxygen when she could have this instead?

And she hadn’t had this in so long. Too long.

Jaemus angled his head, deepening the kiss and pulling a moan out of Nika’s throat. His lips turned up at the corners as they remained pressed to hers, and she knew he considered her audible response a victory.

Men. Always keeping score.

She wasn’t about to complain, though, because his victories were bringing her body back online. She’d been afraid that perhaps due to sexual neglect she wasn’t capable of getting this aroused anymore. There had been times when she wondered if her non-attraction to Robert was because she was sensually dead.

But Jaemus was proving that ridiculous theory wrong, wrong, and wrong. She was definitely able to become aroused. Her body could be ready for sex. A big something behind Jaemus’s jeans told her she was doing a pretty good job of heating him up too.

He slowed the kiss now, his tongue caressing hers in long, lazy strokes. When he ended the kiss, she actually licked her lips, savoring his flavor like she would ice cream.

“That was better than I imagined,” he said in a low, husky voice.

“You imagined kissing me?”

“Aye. Since I first saw you, sprite.” He touched a coarse fingertip to her lips and she couldn’t stop herself from kissing it. “These are dangerous. You didn’t know they were, did you?”

She shook her head, unable to speak as his finger traced her mouth, down her chin, and along her neck.

“Well, they are. You’d better only use them on someone who can handle their power.”

“Someone like you?”

He cupped his hand on the back of her neck under her hair and lowered his head so his lips were right by her ear. “Only me,” he whispered.

Heat pooled between her legs at his words, his proximity, his grip on her. “Maybe I could make you something to… umm, eat… at my place?” She arrowed a thumb to the barn behind the trading post.

“Perhaps you could simply unwrap something.” He tugged gently on her tank top.

“Yes. That. C’mon.” She grabbed his hand, loving the size of it and envisioning the size of his other body parts.

Quickening her step and churning up gravel as they passed, she got them to her barn in record time. She fumbled with the lock on the door, but when they finally spilled into the barn, she came to an abrupt halt.

“Wow!” She walked to the middle of the cavernous space—the now ultra-clean cavernous space—and spun around in a circle. “How in the world did you get this done before the show?”

Jaemus leaned against one of the stout beams, but the outline of his erection was still there. Still waiting. Still looking for a spot to bury itself.

Nika had a spot. Oh, God, did she have a spot.

“Dylan and Meredith helped me.” He said the words casually, but his eyes were tracking Nika’s movements as if he didn’t want her to get away from him.

Hell, she wasn’t running anywhere.

“Well, it looks amazing already, and I’d love to know your renovation plans,” she stalked over to him, feeling sexier than she’d felt in forever simply because of the way he looked at her, “but right now, we have other plans.”

“Thank the gods.” He nearly chased her up the stairs to her loft apartment, and Nika didn’t mind the pursuit. It made her feel wanted and not alone and maybe a little powerful that she could turn on a man like Jaemus.

Arrowing her arms out to different corners of the room, she said, “Living room, dining room, kitchen.” Then she pointed down a hallway. “Bathroom and—”

“Bedroom?” Jaemus asked, a sexy arch to his eyebrow.

“Yeah, the bedroom is down there.” She chuckled when he rubbed his hands together. She let out a full-on squeal when he charged at her, picked her up around the thighs, and folded her over his shoulder. “Eager, are we?”

“I don’t want you to change your mind.” He poked his head in the bathroom first then continued to her bedroom.

When he set her down on her feet in front of her bed, she slid her hand under his T-shirt and pressed her palm to his abs. His shaky inhale let her know what her touch did to him.

“Honey, a report of a tornado whipping this way couldn’t make me change my mind.”

Grinning, he freed her of her purse and set it down on the bedside table while she kicked off her sandals. Before she could take anything else off, he was back in front of her.

“May I unwrap you, sprite?”

She threw her hands out to her sides. “Have at it, Wolfman.”

Jaemus paused, something in his beautiful eyes looking… disturbed.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Do you not want to be called Wolfman? You’re just so good at portraying one. I meant it as a compliment.”

“A compliment?” He angled his head, like a German Shepherd would, as if considering the notion. “Aye, you—and only you—can call me Wolfman.”

With that decided, he started on his unwrapping task, pulling her tank top over her head and dropping it on the end of her bed. He grabbed the waistband of her skirt and shimmied that down her legs to pool at her ankles. When he kneeled before her, she used his broad shoulders to hold herself steady while stepping out of the skirt.

She wore only her bra and panties, both a pale green that matched her eyes. Silver leaf earrings still adorned her ears and a long silver chain with a silver leaf pendant rested between her breasts.

Jaemus’s gaze combed over her, his eyes lingering on that leaf pendant. “You wear the leaf, the mark of a woodland sprite. I’ve picked the right name for you as well.”

Aw, hell, if he kept looking at her the way he was right now, he could call her any damn thing he wanted.

She took a step forward and grabbed the hem of his T-shirt, raising an eyebrow in question. When he put both his toned arms up, she took that as a green light and slowly peeled off the shirt to reveal the same gorgeous chest of muscles she’d seen on his Wolfman. Without the silvery fur spattered about, however, she got a better look at the definition, the sheer strength contained under his skin.

And she’d been right about other scars. Many of them. Some looking as if they’d been the aftermath of a pretty deep, painful injury. She ran her fingers over the ones on his pectorals then ghosted over the ones along his ribs. She hated the idea that he’d ever been in pain.

He put his hand over hers and stopped her exploration. “Old wounds, sprite. From a former life. Nothing to worry over.”

She nodded. He clearly didn’t want to discuss that former life or his injuries. She’d circle back to that conversation some other time. Not now.

Not when she wanted so desperately to feel him inside her.

As she unbuttoned his jeans, she kissed those scars, loving the feel of his skin against her lips. When he raked his fingers into her hair and gently pulled her up to lower his mouth to hers, she wanted him naked right away.

Breaking the kiss, she pushed his jeans down his long, sturdy legs—where she found more scars—and crouched to untie his boots and pull them off.

He stepped out of his pants and with them both still in their underwear, he scooped her up and deposited her onto her bed. When he climbed over her and draped his body atop hers, she instinctively rubbed against him, loving his weight on her. He nibbled at her ear and liquid heat rushed to her core, anticipating, yearning, preparing.

“Gods, you smell so good,” he whispered, running his nose along the flesh at her neck.

“You smell like the wild outdoors,” she said.

He stilled on top of her. “Do you fancy that smell?” He was so quiet, she swore she could hear his heart beating inside of him.

“It’s currently my favorite smell.” She arched against him, her thigh slipping between his legs and grazing his balls.

A low rumble vibrated out of him as he nudged her bra aside and closed his mouth over one breast. His tongue teased her nipple until it ached with need. Ached for him.

In the next few seconds, they rid themselves of their undergarments and rolled back onto the bed together. Jaemus teased her opening with the head of his erection and something inside Nika broke free. She’d been worrying so much about the trading post. She’d been missing her tato so much. She’d cut herself off from her friends as she struggled financially.

Being with Jaemus like this right now, however, made all that disappear.

She was just a woman.

He was just a man.

They’d found each other, and they were both about to get lost.