My willpower crumbled to dust. Groaning, I twisted and slid a hand into her hair, tugging her head back as I plunged my tongue between her lips.
She opened with a pleasure-laden gasp. Then she stroked her tongue against mine, meeting me with equal eagerness. The honey-and-roses scent of her arousal flooded my lungs. The heat of her pussy scalded my thigh.
In a blink, I had her on her back, one knee planted between her legs. I deepened our kiss as I ran a hand up her T-shirt and found a soft, pliant breast.
Charlotte moaned, winding her arms around my neck as she lifted her hips. She ground her pussy against my erection, then wrapped her legs around my hips.
A growl vibrated my throat. I broke off the kiss and moved down her jaw to her neck, sucking at her skin while she gasped beneath me. She tossed her head as I nipped at her earlobe before kissing her neck. My lips brushed the puncture wounds. My beast’s fury punched through me like wildfire. Deep in my chest, bone shifted.
I reared back, stumbling away from the bed. My chest heaved, and I shook my head hard as I struggled to contain my beast. I was on the verge of shifting.
“Beck?” Charlotte sat up, her forehead furrowed and her lips swollen from my kiss. The edge of her T-shirt caught on oneperfect, pink nipple before dropping to her waistband. Desire glazed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Go to bed,” I ordered, my voice emerging harder than I’d intended.
Her frown deepened. She scrambled to her feet, then reached for me. “What’s?—?”
“No!” I slashed a hand through the air as I put more distance between us. “For once, do as you’re told.”
Her angry gasp followed me as I swung and went to the door. I left before I could apologize—or yank her back into my arms and finish what we’d started.
I didn’t stop until I was in my bedroom with the door locked behind me. I sat on the edge of my bed and put my head in my hands, my elbows braced on my knees. The blizzard raged outside.
My bear snarled in my mind, furious that I’d walked away from our mate.
Because I didn’t need that blood test. Charlotte was mine. It had been obvious from the moment we met. But I couldn’t dismiss the marks on her neck. Or her sudden headache or the fact that she’d walked into a snowstorm like someone compelled her to do it.
Her advisor had given her “insomnia” pills. She was an orphan with no family. Was she also a vampire’s bait? But what could an ancient vampire possibly want with Bear Cove? My brothers and I were no match for the might and power of the vampires. Three or four ancients working together could annihilate us. Our population dwindled more every year. The rest of the supernatural community left us alone because we simply weren’t a threat. We had nothing they wanted or needed. So why send Charlotte to Bear Cove? I had to know. And once I knew the truth, I could figure out what to do next.
But I needed to know something else first.
Rising, I went to my nightstand and grabbed my phone. Everett answered on the first ring.
“Alpha. What do you need?”
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re up late.” I glanced at the window. “Or early, I guess.”
Everett’s tone was mild. “I have an eight month old.”
“I want you to test Charlotte’s blood.” I paused. “If you have any suggestions for getting a sample, I’m all ears.”
Everett was quiet for a beat. “Blood is always best, but I can collect DNA from other sources.”
“Like what?”
“Fingerprints. A cheek swab. Hair as long as the root is attached.”
My mind flashed to Charlotte’s bathroom. “I can get you hair.” I thought of the dishwasher, which held a coffee mug she’d used. “And fingerprints.”
“Then I can get you those test results by dawn.”
Chapter
Seven
CHARLOTTE
Iopened my eyes to purple pre-dawn light filling my bedroom. Immediately, a crushing wave of embarrassment followed.
