After Emma retrieved her phone and returned to her place on the sofa to make the call, Aidan came over to sit beside her. She appreciated that. In many ways Aidan was a very nice guy…um…werewolf.

She took a deep breath, filling her senses with the musky aroma that was Aidan. Perhaps it wasn’t some expensive aftershave she inhaled. The scent that drew her could be a blend made up of his natural element—deep woods and moist earth, combined with the primitive essence of a powerful male wolf.

She still had trouble melding the two entities—the man beside her and the golden-eyed wolf that had hurtled into her bedroom last night. In her books, where she’d been somewhat removed from the concept, it had seemed perfectly plausible. Faced with the reality, she discovered that the chasm between man and beast was too wide for her mind to make the leap.

That worked to the pack’s advantage, she supposed. Most people would assume they’d imagined seeing a large wolf in a populated area where no wolves had roamed for centuries. If someone happened to witness an actual transformation, they’d assume they’d had too much to drink or needed new glasses. A casual sighting would be passed off as a trick of the light or somebody pulling a prank.

Emma couldn’t hide behind those excuses, but she wanted everyone else to, especially her mother. Betty Gavin answered on the second ring.

“Emma, my God, where are you?”

“Mom, I’m so sorry to worry you. I’m at the Palmer House in Chicago with Aidan Wallace.”

“The Palmer House? With Aidan?”

Aidan slid his arm around her shoulders, and for the space of this phone call, Emma decided to pretend that what she was about to tell her mother was true. If a fiction writer couldn’t weave her own fantasies, then who could?

“I didn’t want to tell you right before I left because I didn’t know how everything would go, but Aidan took me out for a drink and dancing after the signing Wednesday night. We had a terrific time, and I broke up with Doug the next morning.”

“Wow, Emma. And Aidan is there with you now?”

“Yes.” She snuggled into his warmth and he cooperated by holding her close. “He invited himself along on my book tour and then changed my hotel reservations, which is why you couldn’t find me where I was supposed to be. We’re in the penthouse and he’s spoiling me rotten.”

“A whirlwind romance! I love it! So is he continuing on with you to the other cities on your tour?”

“Not exactly.” Emma battled her guilt at deceiving her trusting mother by remembering that deception was the only way to keep Betty safe. “Because the weather’s turning out to be a problem, anyway, Aidan’s setting up a virtual tour which I can do from anywhere there’s an Internet connection.”

“I think that’s very smart, Emma. I never did like the idea of all that flying around when the weather’s bound to be miserable. Good for Aidan. I can see already that he’s looking out for you. Are you both coming back to New York, then? Because I’d love to have you both over for dinner. Nothing fancy, probably not what Aidan’s used to, but I—”

“Maybe soon, Mom.” Emma’s heart squeezed as she thought of the approaching letdown. “But Aidan and I want to spend some time alone, so he’s arranged a tropical getaway for us.”

“Oooo, I like that! So classy. Where?”

Aidan’s arm tightened around her. He was close enough to hear both sides of the conversation and had to know how her mother’s enthusiasm cut her to the quick.

“He won’t tell me! It’s a surprise, so I’ll just have to let you know when I get back.”

“Can’t you call me from there?”

“I could, Mom, but I’ll be…sort of busy.”

Her mother laughed. “Of course, of course. Never mind me. Call me when you get a chance, but I don’t want to be the bothersome mother who needs her daughter to check in twice a day. Just…have fun.”

Emma’s throat tightened. “I will, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you, too, honey. And I’m so happy for you.”

“’Bye, Mom. I’ll be in touch.”

“’Bye, sweetie.”

Emma disconnected the call and buried her face against Aidan’s shoulder. “That was awful, just awful.”

“You handled it beautifully.” He stroked her hair.

“It wasn’t hard. She would never in a million years suspect that I would lie to her about something like this. She’s always wanted a special man in my life, somebody she considered good enough for me. Now she thinks I have one, but I don’t, and I just hate that I lied to her about it.”

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t forget why you’re doing this. You’re protecting her.”

Battling tears, she sat up so she could look at him. “You know what? I wish you’d never read one of my books. And if you had to read one, I wish you’d decided it was stupid and tossed it in the nearest dumpster.”

“Emma, by writing about werewolves, you were going to attract a Were’s attention sooner or later. Isn’t it better that I’m the one who made the first contact, instead of some nutcase like Theo?”

“So you’re saying I would have been sucked into the werewolf world eventually, simply by writing the books I do?”

He combed her hair back from her face as if she were a little child he needed to comfort. “I think so, yes.”

“That makes no sense. A bunch of people write about werewolves. Are all of them being monitored?”

“Depends on whether their werewolf characters are anything close to the truth. In one story I picked up, the Weres had wolf faces and hairy, humanoid bodies, so they were ugly as sin, plus they ran around killing and eating people.” He made a face. “Disgusting.”

He was so clearly offended that she couldn’t help but smile. “So that book went in the dumpster?”

“First I ripped it in half, and then I threw it in the fireplace where it burned to a satisfying crisp.”

“I see. Remind me never to present you with a bad book.”

He laughed. “That might be the only time I’ve done that. Usually I just toss them if they’re bad.”

“You’ve read a lot of werewolf books, then?”

“Quite a few. It’s a hobby of mine. Anyway, you can imagine how happy I was when your werewolves turned out to be responsible citizens and loyal pack members.” He gazed at her. “In other words, your Weres have dignity. I appreciate that take on the subject.”

She shrugged. “It was my fantasy of how they would be if they did exist.”

“And we do.”

“I know you do, Aidan. But I have to say that sitting here on the sofa with you, when you’re so human, I can’t imagine that you can suddenly turn into a wolf.” She studied his face. “When I look into your eyes, I see a man.”

“Are you absolutely sure about that?”

“Yes. All I see is…” Her voice trailed off as something in his eyes began to change.

The difference was subtle at first, a slight altering of the pupils. Then his focus sharpened, and a primitive light began to shine in those golden depths.

Her breath caught.

“The wolf is always there, Emma.”

As she responded to the intensity in his eyes, her pulse quickened and sexual awareness danced along her nerve endings. “Always?”

“Yes.”

“Even during…” She swallowed. “During sex?”

“Especially then. When you become aroused, your scent drives me crazy.” He paused and his glance flicked over her. “It’s driving me crazy now.”

She shouldn’t be surprised that he could sense the hot desire simmering just under the surface, ready to spill over at any moment. Whatever he was, man or wolf, she wanted him. “Are you going to…shift?”

“I will soon if I stay here with you. I should leave…take a walk…” He hesitated. “Unless…well, unless you’re willing to help me stop it.”

A familiar ache began low in her belly. “By having sex?”

“Yes, but considering how my family has interfered with your life and forced you to lie to your mother, I wouldn’t blame you for denying me.”

He had a point, but she craved what he offered. By denying him she’d deny herself. “I’m not into revenge.”

“Maybe not, but what about self-preservation? You know I’m committed to Nadia.”

“Have you had sex with her?”

“No.”

That single word meant more to her than she’d ever let him know. “Why not? She’s lovely.”

“She doesn’t excite me.”

Fierce joy surged through her at that admission. Nadia didn’t excite him, but she, Emma Gavin, did.

“I don’t excite her, either, so we’re not tempted by sex. One day we’ll create the union that will benefit our families, but not yet.”

“It seems so cold and calculated, Aidan.”

“It’s my duty.” He cupped her cheek and gazed at her, his eyes growing more wolf-like with every passing moment. “And you’re running out of time. Will you let me take you, Emma Gavin?”

She thought she’d die if he didn’t. “Will the sofa hold us?”

Standing, he scooped her up in his arms and headed for her bedroom. “Not for what I have in mind.”

Her heart beat wildly in anticipation. No man had ever made her feel like this, as if she were a prize he’d won and now intended to savor to the fullest. But Aidan wasn’t a man, she reminded herself. As he’d said, the wolf was always there.

He tumbled with her onto the bed, which was still in disarray from the night before. He rolled her onto her back, and then rolled again, pulling her on top of him. Her robe loosened, and he dispensed with the tie in one swift tug.

“There.” His white teeth gleamed as he cupped her breasts, urging her down to his waiting mouth.

But they were human teeth, not a wolf’s sharp canines. Bracing her hands on either side of his head, she leaned down so that he could suckle. He was a man, his fingers long and lean as he massaged her breasts. Straddling him, she lowered her hips until her throbbing clit brushed the hard ridge of his penis straining against the black jersey of his sweats.

He made a sound low in his throat, and it was the groan of a lusty man, not the growl of a mating wolf. But in another time and place, he would become that wolf. Nadia, his chosen companion, would be able to join with him as both wolf and woman. Emma hated knowing that she could not.

Yet she had him with her now. That would have to be enough.

Slowly she rotated her hips, rubbing against him, teasing him with what he could have if he removed that barrier of cloth that separated them. With another soft groan, he released her breasts, leaving them damp and quivering. Shoving his sweats to his knees, he put his hands around her waist.

“Ride me, Emma.” His voice was rough with desire as he started to lift her.

“Not yet.” Wiggling out of his grasp, she slid back along his powerful thighs and felt his muscles bunch. When she wrapped her hand around his thick penis, he arched toward her and his breath hissed between his teeth.

“Maybe I’m into revenge, after all,” she said. “This is payback for what you did to me while I was lying on the living room rug Friday night.” Then she lowered her mouth to his cock.

The wild, erotic taste of him nearly made her come. She tried to tell herself that in human form he was no different from any other well-endowed man. But that wasn’t true. His flavor was different, his scent was different, and as she made slow, deliberate love to that most male part of his human body, his groan became a low growl. The wolf was there.

Combing his fingers through her hair, he lightly pressed his fingers to her scalp. He trembled as if cradling her so gently took great restraint. The pressure of his fingers increased a little more as she took him deep into her mouth and massaged his balls.

His rapid breathing told her he was skating along the edge of release. As she teased and caressed him, coaxing him to let go, she wondered if he’d allow himself that much loss of control.

Then his grip tightened. “No more.”

She decided to honor his wish, but she took her time releasing him. Her upward progress included numerous licks and nibbles that prompted him to swear softly under his breath. But he didn’t pull her away, and she loved knowing he loved every second even though he had to battle for control.

At last, with one lingering kiss on the tip of his glorious penis, she lifted her head and met his gaze. “Revenge is sweet.”

“Come here.” Continuing to cup her head in both hands, he urged her forward.

She looked into his eyes as she crawled toward him and allowed him to draw her close for a long, hot kiss. The seductive movement of his lips and tongue pulled her down, down, into a whirling vortex of sensation. She missed the moment when he transferred his grip from her head to her hips.

Without interrupting the kiss, he guided her into position, sliding his cock into her with such fluid grace that it felt like dancing. When they were locked together, he sighed against her mouth. “I could stay like this…forever.”

The words, so sweet and sincere, pierced the armor she’d been vainly constructing around her heart. She lifted her head to gaze down at him. “Don’t you dare fall for me, Aidan.”

“I can’t.” But the truth was there to see in his golden eyes. He was going down for the count, just as she was.

“I can’t fall for you, either.”

He kneaded her bottom with his talented fingers. “So, don’t.”

“I definitely won’t.” She closed her eyes because it was the only way she could lie to him. “I’m only here for the sex.”

“Yeah.” His voice was husky. “Me, too.”

She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “And the research.” Then she began to move, showing him with her body how she felt, even if she couldn’t say the words. Her gaze locked with his as she began a steady rhythm. The glow in his golden eyes reflected the same emotion she felt, the one neither of them could name.

Gradually she increased the pace and watched the fire build in his eyes. He held her hips loosely, allowing her to be in control. Even as his jaw clenched and his breathing grew labored, his touch remained gentle.

Surely that took effort. Her trust grew as she began to understand how deeply his protective instincts ran. Man or wolf, he would go to great lengths to keep her from harm. And her trust was returned. In this moment of intimacy, he’d surrendered completely, allowing her to be in command.

She shifted the angle slightly and felt him begin to tremble beneath her. “Let go, Aidan,” she murmured.

He struggled to breathe. “Will you?”

“Yes…soon.” She pumped faster. “Come with me.”

“Emma…” He rose to meet her, his movements in perfect cadence with hers.

“I’m here.” She began to pant as her womb tightened. “Now, Aidan. Now.”

With a groan he held her still and surged upward. She climaxed at the moment of impact, and his name fell from her lips in a cry of pure joy as his orgasm flowed into hers.

They rode the wave together, freed for that brief moment from the forces that conspired to keep them apart. Despite those forces, she knew they’d forged a bond…and it was growing stronger.

He had to know it, too. Quivering in the aftermath, she looked once more into his beautiful eyes. The emotion she’d glimpsed before was still there. Vibrant and strong, it said more than words ever could.

And it would have to be enough.