Lure of the Blood by Doris O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page B

instincts kicked in with a
vengeance at the instant blush staining her cheeks. Marnie’s slender hand
grabbed for the sheet to cover herself. The wince of pain she couldn’t quite
stop, as she tried to shift up the bed, had him reaching out to help her.
    “What the fuck has he done to you, little one?”
    She froze in his arms, the slight tremble
telling him all he needed to know and he propped her up against the cushions
with infinite care, tucking her hair behind her ear, better to see her face. At
least her hair smelled like her and he indulged himself for a moment, taking
one handful of the soft mass and inhaling deeply.
    “Ion please … Don’t.”
    His wolf’s angry growl made her flinch and he
made himself release her. Of course she didn’t want him this close––she made
her choice, after all––and wasn’t this what he wanted? Lucas had claimed her;
his bite marks on her body a clear signal to his wolf that she was off limits.
It was just as well; humans weren’t for him, especially this one. Even
now––polluted, by someone he called a friend––she called to him as clearly as
though she was wearing his mark. He ground his jaw together, the urge to
release his fangs almost overwhelming the self-control he was so proud of.
    However, all that anger evaporated in a puff of
smoke when a trembling hand settled on his arm to stop him from leaving.
Instead of the contempt he was expecting to see in her face, her expressive
eyes shimmered with tears. Her other hand went to cover the bite marks on her
neck, silent tears falling down her cheeks as she shook her head.
    “Please don’t look at those. I was such a
goddamn fool.”
    A glimmer of hope settled in his chest like a
hot poker at those whispered words and his body reacted in typical fashion.
Marnie’s eyes widened when she noticed this, her breathing growing shallow.
Against his better judgement, Ion had to smile at the ridiculous position they
found themselves in. What the hell was he going to do with her? His wolf’s
growled suggestions in his ear made his voice gruffer than he intended it to
be. “It happens; Lucas can be very persuasive. If he hurt you, I shall hunt him
down and…” The silent tears running down her cheeks––her eyes, as wide as
saucers––stopped his outburst.
    “No, please, no. I couldn’t stand anyone else
dying because of me.”
    She went so pale Ion thought she was going to
pass out on him, before she raised her chin to look at him. The sight of her
small teeth biting her bottom lip was the only indication of the nervousness he
sensed in her, mixed with steely determination. He balled his hands into fists
to stop himself from crushing her to him and tasting that lush mouth. 
    “He didn’t do anything, I…I… hell, I don’t want
to talk about it.”
    “Good, ‘cause I don’t need to hear how he
fucked you senseless in my bedroom.” Her soft gasp at his growled response had
Ion shooting off his bed, throwing the damned cushion across the wall with such
force that the painting fell to the floor with a loud crash. “The girls will
have breakfast ready soon. Make sure you wash his stench off you, before you
come down, or I can’t vouch for the reaction you’ll get from the pack.”
    And then, not waiting for Marnie’s response,
Ion stalked from the room, slamming the door shut on his way out.
    “Everything okay, boss?”
    Jenkins’ sudden appearance out of one of the
spare bathrooms did nothing for Ion’s mood, and his beta had the good sense to
duck his head and make himself scarce. Entering the room, Ion cursed at his
reflection in the mirror.  Covered in mud and leaves, he looked every inch the
wild animal he was, the eyes of his wolf looking back at him. If she hadn’t
known what he was, his appearance like this in her room would have made it
perfectly clear to her. It was a wonder Marnie hadn‘t run away from him
screaming in terror.
    He groaned in relief when he stepped under the
hot stream of