Her Lycan Lover by Susan Arden Page A

sure if she were the one. Quite sure. His wolf senses never lied.
    The room was quiet save the exchange of their breaths. Whatever had transpired, he’d crossed some barrier with her. As inexplicable as Sherry’s moods, and just as real. He hoped not as transitory. His own pulse kicked up. This felt like a chase, like he was targeting his prey. He had to leap or die trying or more like open mouth… insert paw.
    Sherry’s tone was cool steel. “Oh, I think you’re quite accomplished in saying exactly what you mean. I’m the fool. When will I learn to stop listening?”
    “Don’t do that. Have dinner with me. Once. I won’t bite you.” The perspiration dried on his skin, creating a rippling of goose bumps over his flesh. He shivered, chalking it up to his temperature rather than her proximity.
    “You’re a shifter. Lycan, aren’t you? I thought your kind were, in fact, known to bite.”
    “Untrue. I don’t mark females. Never have and I’ve no plans to change.” As the words sprang from his lips, each tasted hollow. An erroneous sentiment. If only it could be forgotten as quickly as it had been spoken.
    “Why am I not surprised? I’m only a challenge to a man who has no intention of a future except one filled with alcohol and meaningless sex. This could only get better if you said there was some pool you started as to my going out with you. Is this a bet, Quinn?”
    “Never. But damn that would outdo fantasy football.”
    Her eyes widened and he stopped smiling.
    “I was kidding. About that. Totally, serious about dinner.”
    “My goodness. I can’t recall a more enthralling invitation for dinner. Red Riding Hood comes to mind.” She shook her head, and rolled her eyes. Liquid eyes. Was she about to cry? His imagination was in rare form this morning.
    Except, Sherry seemed to weigh his words. And her eyes became brighter. She blinked rapidly. Fuck! He’d never been smooth. His words had somehow hurt her. Should he retract them and start again?
    “Sher, you see…” He stopped. It had been a long time since he was speechless.
    “What? You’re holding back. Just spit it out. Whatever you have to say. Jeez, the anticipation is unreal.”
    The space between them crackled with a tension that arose each time he tried to tell her his thoughts about his dream. Normally, by now Sherry would have already let loose on him or spun around, giving him the back of her head.
    Instead, she licked her full lips, spreading a sheen of glistening moisture he hungered to taste. The wolf in him nearly growled and he closed him mouth to prevent Sherry from noticing his lengthening canines. He had one thought. Fully formed and nearly blinding him to all else. He had to sample her mouth. Had to know if she were the one. This time, he’d do what he should have upstairs.
    “Give me what I desire.”
    “What?” she whispered, clutching her throat. “Calm down.”
    “I am calm. Somehow—don’t ask—but I know you need my help.” He waited for her response, watching her eye color turn almost fully black from the rapid dilation of her pupils. She lifted her hand and placed it on his arm. The contact was electrical, sending a charge over his skin. Sherry squeezed his arm as if testing his strength. He commented, “You’re not arguing.”
    She shook her head and remained silent, running her hands over his bare arms and stepping closer. So close her breasts grazed his chest. The contact delivered a jolt of pleasure.
    For several seconds, he was overcome by a driving force that exuded complete control on his awareness and fueled a tingling of his wolf senses that told him his mate was near. A crazed rippling need to claim her shook his whole body. He placed his hands on her hips, drawing her to him, and bent his head to capture her mouth. Her lips were velvet, luscious and had him groaning. She didn’t resist. If anything, she melded to him. They were two missing pieces to a puzzle he’d carried around. Something as