Vivid, wild memories whirled through her head.The wolf’s unusual bone structure, the feel of its coat under her palms, the way its powerful body shuddered as it changed to a man, the feel of said man’s tongue on her flesh, his teeth biting on her nipple…
“Lady?Are you awright?”
The mechanic’s alarmed voice made Regan jump and she gave him a startled look.
Worried blue eyes stared at her.“You were moanin’ a little.Are you in pain?”
Regan’s face erupted in hot shame.Moaning?Where the hell was her brain?In her pants?In Declan’s?She gave the hovering man what she hoped was a reassuring smile, wishing her pussy would stop clenching with eager want.“I’m okay.”
Turning her attention back to the handset, she scowled.Peter wasn’t answering.She’d have to ring his command.
Still chewing on her bottom lip, she looked out through the grimy front window of the store.No grey wolf.No black-haired, silver-eyed Irishman.
Maybe it’s all in your head?
“Detective Thomas’s desk.”
The smooth, female voice with a faint German accent on the other end of the line made Regan blink.An uneasy shiver shot up her spine.“May I speak to Peter Thomas please?”
There was a short pause.“I am sorry, Detective Thomas is not available at the moment.”
Regan bit back a curse.“This is his sister.Do you know when he’ll be back?”
“I am sorry, no.”The woman paused again, and inexplicably, an image of a tall, voluptuous blonde filled Regan’s head.“This is Peter’s partner.Can I help with something?”
Regan frowned.Partner?Peter’s partner was a gruff man called Michael Williams, Doughnut to just about everyone.The woman on the other end did not sound like Doughnut at all.Unless Doughnut had been taking voice-acting lessons, that was.Or had undergone a sex change.
“Miss?”The female voice floated down the phone line.Low.Calm.Confident.“Regan?”
Regan gripped the phone harder.Something felt wrong here.Surely Peter would have told her he was getting a new partner?Yet how else would the woman on the other end know her name?Another icy chill shot up her back.
“Regan?”The woman repeated, and this time Regan detected an edge in her otherwise poised voice.“Are you alone?Tell me where you are and I will come get you.”
“Lady?”
Rough fingers touched Regan’s shoulder and she jumped, almost dropping the phone.
The mechanic stood beside her, looking more anxious than ever.“You don’t look well.Your face’s gone all white.Are you sure you’re okay?”
“She’s fine,” a deep, rumbling and oh-so-familiar voice answered, the exact second a long arm reached forward and took the phone from Regan’s hand.
She turned, heart thumping, pussy fluttering and stared up into stormy, grey eyes.
Declan shook his head slightly, very deliberately hitting the disconnect button on the hand piece.“Just a little stubborn, is all.”
“Who the fuck’re you?”The mechanic blustered, wide-eyed stare darting between Regan and Declan.“Is this the guy who did this to you?”
Declan turned his head, giving the man a level stare.“Go away.”
The mechanic’s mouth fell open.“Listen, mate, I don’t know who you think you are, but?—”
He didn’t get any further.The low, animalistic, savage growl sounding in Declan’s throat stopped him dead and he took a stumbling step backward.
“I’m the man keeping this woman alive,” Declan said.He turned back to Regan, eyes a smoldering, angry silver.“No matter how hard she’s making it.”
Rex’s tail was scratchy.Peter swiped at it and the lizard sank its needle-like claws into his shoulder in retaliation, climbing closer to his neck.
The low hum of the rising elevator did little to soothe Peter’s agitated nerves and the almost undetectable pull of gravity only made his already churning gut feel worse.Jesus, what the fuck was going on?
