Nina couldn’t tell which was more exciting: spending her days with Raoulf or spending them hunting for a new home for her catering business. She hadn’t been this happy and content in a while. If he weren’t here, she’d probably be in bed alone under the sheets watching the latest movie on the Hallmark channel. With him being here, she realized what she’d been missing before. A companion. A really close friend. Someone she could confide in. Raoulf was so easy to talk to. Not once had he questioned or chastised her about any of her motives, even when it came to discussing all the great things she had planned for her new business venture.

“I probably won’t be able to replicate the startup that I started down in Texas, but I’ll come pretty darn close. I lost so much after leaving there,” she said.

“Sometimes it makes sense to just start over,” he said.

They were both seated on the couch after a light dinner. She had a tall glass of sweetened iced tea and he was enjoying a beer. She curled her legs up under her and turned to face Raoulf. This time she didn’t hide the fact that she was admiring him. She ran her gaze across every inch of him. He didn’t seem to mind. Maybe he was used to women eyeing him. He was perfect. Yet, it seemed like every scar on his chest held an untold story about him.

He was shirtless, which suited her just fine. The lesson she gave him on making homemade buttermilk biscuits turned out to be a kitchen disaster…and a fun experience. He didn’t have hands for handling cooking tools, kitchen gadgets, and measuring utensils, but his big, rough hands and calloused fingers appeared to be useful for other things. Like bringing her car back to life. The day he’d walked up her driveway was the day he brought hope back into her life. She wanted to trust again. And with Raoulf, trusting seemed possible.

If she had seen the scars on his chest earlier, she probably would’ve known that he might have been a shifter. The marks—the scratches and bites—were obviously scars from fights. Physical fights. From animals with sharp teeth and claws.

She reached out and touched his suntanned skin, running her fingers just under his ribcage. Among a few scars and the ink from a tattoo was something that looked more natural and distinct. Almost like a birthmark. The impression appeared to be horseshoe shaped surrounded by a circle.

“I didn’t know you had a birthmark. I have one too.”

“Oh? Where?”

She blushed. “On the same side. Near my hip. When I was young, I thought it was ugly, but my mom always said that it was a sign of good luck and that I had been kissed by an angel.”

“I’ve heard the folklore about that, but it can also stand for other things as well.”

She moved to the unnatural scar near the birthmark.

“Did this happen when you were ten too?” she asked him.

“I was seventeen, I think. I don’t remember what I was fighting about but that happened while I was in wolf form,” he replied.

“And you were subject to all of this as a child…”

He shook his head. “It’s not what you think. Most of our kids are sheltered. Very sheltered. Home-schooled. We have some private schools too. The ones that fight…like I did…choose to fight. It’s merely fun and games at that age. That’s what young wolves do. We play around and fight.”

“Can the children do anything besides getting involved in play fighting?”

“It just depends on what you want to be known for in your Pack. I was known as a rebel and I’m damn proud of it. I fought for fun and games. I wasn’t conditioned to be an Alpha like Dane was. I was conditioned to physically protect my Pack from outside threats.”

“Makes sense. I guess. I’ve only known a few shifters and they never talked Pack politics and dynamics at all. They were pretty introverted if you ask me. You said your brother was trained to be an Alpha. You mean a leader of the Pack?”

He nodded. “He was. And he is our current Alpha. Probably will be for a very long time.”

“What does it feel like to be a wolf?”

“My wolf and I are one and the same. I’m connected to him on every level. Except when we disagree on something. Even though our bodies are linked, sometimes we can both have minds of our own.”

“Kind of like having split personalities?” she asked.

“Not that extreme. Although, we do have cases where a man and his wolf are disconnected beyond reason. Luckily, there aren’t that many cases.”

“Do you sometimes wish you weren’t a shifter?”

“That’s like asking me if I wish I weren’t alive. I am who I am. I’d never choose not to be a shifter,” he said.

“In Texas, I knew a man who didn’t want anyone to know he wasn’t human. He said it was for the best and that people would destroy him if he ever revealed himself.”

“Would this person happen to be the business partner you told me about earlier this week?”

“It is. I was a fool to trust him. I’m glad I found out what I did about him before I locked myself into that agreement. And I’m not talking about the fact that he’s a shifter.”

“What else did you find out?” Raoulf asked.

“I overheard him talking about us and our agreement with his brother. He mentioned to his brother that all I was to him was a tool to be used and that he was going to set the example—to show him how it was done. He told his brother that he needed to get with the program and do the same thing. It sounded like he was making a suggestion to his brother to use women in any way he needed for his benefit. I didn’t run from him because he was a shifter. I ran because he was without morals. Not only that, when his brother realized that I knew they were shifters, he became delirious. His brother threatened me, and he…did nothing. I believe he fears his brother. I felt I needed to get away for my protection. I didn’t wait around for explanations or apologies or anything. I just gave the money back and left.”

“I’m sorry, Nina.”

“I’m over it now. I guess it helps to talk about it. There’s no one really that I can explain this to without having them looking at me like some gold-digging fluke.”

“The agreement you made with him isn’t uncommon,” Raoulf said. “The difference between your deal with him and others is that these things are entered into as a result of that person’s own free will. No one is forced. It’s strictly business. He should have never led you on into thinking anything else could come of it.”

“That’s why it hurts the most. He wasn’t just a random businessperson to me. He used to be my boss and a friend of mine. I even dated him. He made it seem as if what we had could develop into something more. I was an idiot to believe him.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Tell me the truth, Raoulf?” she asked. “Why are you really here with me? I know you like to eat and all that, but why are you here with me now when there are so many other women in this town for you?”

“Because I’m not interested in being with another woman.”

“Maybe you haven’t run into the right ones.”

He sat his beer down on the coffee table in front of them. “You think that I’m here just because you provide me meals?”

“I guess.”

“Look at me.” He waited until their gazes were locked before stating, “That’s not true. I came to you for one reason, but now I’m here for a totally different reason. Ever since we met, I’ve been consumed with this feeling of…I feel like I’m home. My home is hundreds of miles away but I feel like I belong here. Even if I wanted to, my wolf would not let this rest. This isn’t a feeling I can just shake. I can’t leave you alone.”

“Raoulf…”

He moved toward her, closing some of the gaps between them. He stroked his fingers through her curls, threading them downward through her curls until they sprang back upward against her face. Then he used the back of his hand to push her hair back from her face.

“Beautiful,” he whispered. “I can never let anyone else harm you or have you. I mean you no harm. I swear it. I swear it on my life.”

“Raoulf, I never doubted my safety with you.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and then his tongue darted out between the seam of his mouth. It was the same gesture he’d shown while sitting at her dinner table, enjoying her meals. He was sexy as hell. Nina wanted to do more than just watch him eat with those tempting lips of his.

Raoulf slid his palm across her cheeks until it finally came to rest at the nape of her neck. Her lips parted in silent invitation and he accepted. The first gentle brush of his lips on her sent a mix of sultry heat and passion plunging down through her. At first taste, she knew she’d never get enough of him. He was gentle, yet firm, teasing her lips apart with his delicate tongue.

Nina placed her hand on his chest and immediately experienced the intensity of the fire blazing between them. Tenderness turned into urgency as he covered her lips with his mouth. Their tongues danced, sensuously. His heart beat in sync with the consistent pulsing of blood through her veins. She raged with need.

He pulled away, his chest heaving up and down with unspent desire. His gaze ravaged her face with the eyes of his wolf. Pupils dilated. Irises swirling with a mesmerizing jade hue.

“I’m not here just for the food. Do you understand now how much I want you?”

She nodded. “I want you too.”

“Do you understand the effect I’ll have on your once we’re together?” he asked.

“I’ve…” She didn’t want to discuss how she knew. She’d made it a point to leave that part of her life behind but, along with his companionship, Raoulf had re-opened her past. “I know about the imprinting. I can handle it. I know it’ll pass. I just need you now.”

Raoulf lowered his head once again and claimed her mouth. She couldn’t deny herself what she truly wanted based on her past. And she wanted him, even if it was just this one time. He left her lips just long enough to plant delicate kisses over her face. His lips felt like velvet against her skin. Her palm was flat against his chest and the pads of her fingers gripped his smooth, silken skin. Under his softness was nothing but hardened muscles.

He returned to her lips, deepening the kiss with each stroke of his tongue. His hands slipped behind her back and he laid her against the plumpness of the couch and then covered her body with his. She parted her legs to accommodate his size. His eyes darkened when she met his gaze again. He cupped the back of her neck and pressed his wet lips against her throat.

“You’re mine,” he murmured against her skin. “I’ve finally found you, but you’ve always been mine.”

She moaned as his fingers slipped beneath her blouse to tease her nipple, arching against his palm as he stroked it to form a hard pebble.

“Christ, Nina. I bet you’re as sweet as those cobblers you make. I want to taste you,” he whispered.

Her hands skirted along his chest in a furious desperation, molding her fingers to every inch, every scar he’d endured.

She slid her fingers up through his long, black hair and dragged his mouth back to hers. She was so deep in the moment that she didn’t realize he’d unbuttoned her blouse. He unhooked her bra in the back and tugged down the fabric until her breasts spilled free. His body wasn’t the only thing that was hard. His rock solid evidence of desire was pressed against her hip. Raoulf cupped his hand over one of her breasts, sliding his fingers across her sensitive nipples.

Nina felt like she was going to die of need if he didn’t enter her body soon. What had come over her? She wanted this. Needed this. Nothing else mattered. Not even the remote possibility that he’d be gone tomorrow…away in another town or state.

Her breath rushed from her when he caught her nipple into his mouth and suckled. She arched upward and let her moans escape her lips.

He murmured sweetly and groaned against her flesh. He laved a slow trail down the center of her belly until he’d reached her waistline. He hooked his thumb into the waistband of her tights and kissed softly along her skin as he slowly pulled them down her legs. He was unwrapping her like a package or a sweet treat to be devoured. He took his time doing it, teasing her with light kisses and slow licks against her body. He paid keen attention to her midsection, near her hips. Right where she’d told him she had the birthmark.

She was ready and wet even before he pulled her panties off of her. His eyes feasted on her body when she was completely naked. When he lifted momentarily to unbuckle his zipper and pull his belt from the loops, she caught a glimpse of his erection pushing against his blue jeans. He came down over her again before taking off his denims. That didn’t stop her from pushing her hands down into his briefs and stroking his cock. He was big and heavy and the crown was already wet with pre-cum. She wrapped her agile fingers around the thick width of him.

He groaned inwardly as she tested his firmness, his forehead creasing with arousal.

He pressed his mouth against her neck again, running his tongue up and along her throat. He trailed downward to feast on both breasts. He made good use of those big, calloused hands, finding the core of her desire and sliding his fingers between the swollen lips of her slick pussy. Delicious waves of heat pulsed erratically through her body.

“Raoulf.” She couldn’t hold her wanton responses at bay. All that mattered was his fingers and mouth on her body. With reckless torture, he slid a couple of fingers within her and stroked her until her legs fell open.

He alternated between gazing upon her, observing her as she writhed beneath him, and claiming her cries of pleasure with his kisses. As she’d guessed earlier, his fingers were skilled and delicate against her clit. Soon, she was begging him for release. He drew out her pleasure, taking her to the edge and then reining her back in just before she fell over a cliff of ecstasy. Her insides began to twist and tighten. Her wanton reactions were beyond her control now.

“Oh my God,” she cried out against his lips.

“That’s it,” he whispered back. “Let me hear how good this feels to you.”

Her body began to tremble and he dropped his head once more to flick his tongue across her nipples. She pumped her hips upward to meet each stroke of his hand. More. She needed more.

He laved at her flesh, sucking her nipples, and teasing the areoles with delicate strokes. His thumb rubbed delicately at her clit in the same consistent tempo as the fingers that drove and pumped her to insanity. Her body quaked under him.

Her mind numbed…

Tension faded…

Her doorbell rang.

She pumped her hips in sync with his fingers

Wait, what?

Her doorbell rang again.

She gasped and propelled herself forward. “Stop! We have to stop.”

“No one will come inside…” he protested, but after seeing her tense up, he slid his thick fingers from her body.

Nina swallowed down her disappointment and listened intently, trying to figure out who could be outside her door. She never had visitors.

Still aroused beyond reason, she pushed gently at her chest and then folded herself upward just as she heard a thud on her doorstep and then a door slamming shut in the distance. A truck engine started and the driver drove off.

“It’s the UPS guy,” she panted.

She rose, grabbed her blouse and slipped into it. Her panties were nowhere to be found and her jeans were inside out on the floor.

“We shouldn’t have done this,” she said, embarrassment setting in.

What had she done? This wasn’t her. She wasn’t like this.

He said nothing as he stood to fix himself in his jeans, re-zip, and re-button.

As they got dressed, the spark that once filled the room had dissipated.

“I…uh…I wanted to stay the night to make sure you were okay,” he said.

“Why would I not be okay?” she asked, confused. “I think I need some time alone. Maybe I acted too soon. I…I want someone.” She shook her head and moved to open the door. “But it’s probably too soon.”

“Understood.”

He grabbed his shirt and jacket on the way out the door. There was a thick envelope in the middle of the doormat right where the UPS guy had left it. Raoulf picked it up and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” she said, briefly skimming the address.

Upon seeing the address, her breath caught in her throat and the envelope fell from her shaking fingers.

“Oh…oh no,” she exclaimed.

Raoulf turned around again and immediately came to her side. “What? What’s wrong?”

“It’s…it’s from Warren…my ex,” she panted. “This can’t be happening.”

Nina witnessed as Raoulf’s eyes clouded over in darkness again, but this time she saw something different within him. The expression he held on his face was feral. His lips curled downward in agitation.

He bent down once again to pick up the envelope and slid his finger under the seal. Inside of the envelope was a picture of her standing next to Raoulf beside her car. The hood was propped open. The photograph was grainy, but she didn’t need to contemplate too long before realizing when the picture was taken.

“He’s found me,” she mumbled.

Raoulf turned the photo over to reveal a note written on the back in a red marker.

“Fool me once…shame on you. Fool me twice…shame on me. When I ask people to do something and they agree then I expect them to do it without reneging. You’ve both wasted my time. Bring the bitch to me or I’ll send someone else to get her.”

“Over my dead body,” Raoulf remarked.

She cringed. “What’s going on?”

“I’m a bounty hunter. Warren Chestnut sent me to find you.”

The painful truth gutted her from the inside out. Nina took a step backward. On the second step, her heel caught on the doormat and she fumbled over the threshold. If Raoulf hadn’t anticipated her fall, she would have been flat on her back.

But gratitude wasn’t what Nina was feeling inside.

“Stay away from me,” she demanded when he reached for her again. “All of you! Stay away.”

She slammed the door shut in his face.