Mating Hunt by Bonnie Vanak

dangerous.”
    A sickening feeling slammed into her. “Damnit, Kyle, I didn’t come all this way just to have you go animal on me. Can’t you control this?”
    “I’m trying,” he said quietly. “It’s taking every bit of my control not to throw you down right here and mount you.”
    “I can’t return now.”
    His mouth a tight slash, Kyle clasped her wrist. “You must.”
    The low command in his voice brooked no refusal. She took his hand, noting the gentle grip compared to the sexual violence flaring in his eyes.
    She could smell his arousal, spiked by the pheromones flooding from her pores. Kyle’s big body tightened, his gaze darkening, a pulse beating wildly in his throat. Stricken, she watched the bulge in his crotch grow considerably larger.
    She wanted to lie beneath him and spread her legs open.
    She wanted to run away, screaming and crying.
    A rill of fear skidded down her spine as she glanced at his long fingers, remembering the swiftness and skill of his wolf and those vicious claws. But Kyle would never hurt her. Arianna settled for raw honesty.
    “I want to be with you, Kyle, but I’m afraid. Most of all, I’m scared for those poor kids, taken away from everyone and everything they’ve ever known. Please, don’t let them die. I beg you, leash the beast long enough for us to rescue them and return them to their parents. And then you can do whatever you wish to me.”
    Something dangerous glinted his gaze. “Anything I wish? You promise?”
    Arianna swallowed hard, remembering whispers of velvet ropes, blindfolds, exquisite pleasure bordering on pain. “Anything. I promise.”
    Tension rode his jaw. He breathed through clenched teeth, staring into the forest, every muscle taut as a bowstring.
    Finally he gave a rough nod. “All right. I’ll help you find the young.”
    Relief filled her, making her legs tremble. “Thank you. You’re not a savage, Kyle.”
    But the intent gleam entered his gaze again. “Don’t underestimate me, Arianna. You may regret it.”
    Maybe. But for now, she’d remember the respect and friendship they’d always shared. “I wish things could be different.”
    “Me too,” he rumbled.
    “It’s my fault... if I wasn’t so scared, Aiden and Darius never would have put you in this position. I hate this.” Swallowing hard, she stared at the ground.
    Warm fingers clasped her chin, lifted her face. Gently, he stroked along her cheek, his touch soothing. With a sigh, Arianna leaned into him. This was Kyle, the guardian who kept her safe.
    “It’s not your fault. And if I ever meet the son of a bitch who did this to you, who took a brave little girl and made her terrified of sex, I’ll kill him.”
    Arianna looked up, her heart pounding hard as he dropped his hand. Kyle’s mouth hardened as he stared into the forest.
    “Change your socks. You’ve been tracking through the rain and need to keep warm.”
    Kyle stood watch as she sat on the rock to change her footwear. Her wolf sentinel, who’d had sworn a vow to protect her from all harm. But he never promised she’d remain a virgin.
    She hated coming into heat during the full moon. It equaled pouring gasoline on a smoldering fire. And Kyle was fire enough.
    Minutes later, she followed him through the thick pines, mimicking his moves. Staying still when he did to listen, scanning the ground. They did not speak.
    The hunt gave her the opportunity to study her guardian.
    He was rugged as the harsh timbers and jagged mountains surrounding the ranch. And he possessed a smooth virility that made females turn their heads to give him a second glance.
    He was sexy, edged with danger. And soon, she would become his and his alone.
    Arianna’s breathing hitched. Something primitive and exciting awoke, triggering her sensuality, along with the damnable fear. But this time, she pushed the fear aside, combing through thin cobwebs of memory.
    An image flickered... chained and bound naked to a wall. Being helpless and unable to