Matthew's Return [Wolves of Climax 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever - Serialized) by Stacey Espino Read Free Book Online Page B

she’d never known. She wondered if she’d see the red wolf again.
    Cassidy stole a peek at the man beside her. He had an emergency blanket over his lap, but she could see he wasn’t wearing any pants. The man was completely naked. He wasn’t even wearing his trademark toque over his unruly red hair. He looked devastatingly handsome with the scruff on his face. She’d already dressed back into her jeans and sweater, although it had been awkward doing so in the passenger seat. Her undergarments were MIA.
    “Where are your clothes?” He’d gone down on her, but they hadn’t done anything else together to warrant his nudity.
    “Guess I was thinking ahead.” Patrick turned and winked at her. “Maybe we’ll get some time together—just you and me.”
    She’d sit on his cock right now if he asked her. Her hormones were always in flux around these men. The hum of the engine and uneven road beneath the tires were the only sounds in the truck. She had so much to say and ask, but couldn’t form even one coherent thought.
    “Watch it!” she yelled.
    A naked man cut across the cones of light ahead. He’d been there one second, gone the next. “What?” Patrick slammed on the brakes, the truck swerving before coming to a dead stop.
    “Didn’t you see him? That man?”
    “What man?”
    “A naked man ran across the road.” She pointed to the bush on the side of the road he’d disappeared into. Patrick pulled the truck to the gravel shoulder of the road and then cut the engine.
    “Wait here. I’ll check it out.” At least he didn’t think she was crazy.
    The door had already closed behind him when she called out. “You have no clothes.” The night air was sharp, chilling her even with clothes on. What did he plan on doing? And who the hell was that man? Could it be the hiker-killer or maybe her brother? Patrick was impulsive, seemingly fearless. Now she had to worry about the guys back at the diner with the killer wolves and Patrick running off on a dangerous goose chase.
    Silence settled into the cab. A few minutes after Patrick left and the interior lights timed out, leaving her in complete darkness. She couldn’t hear any sounds out of the ordinary. Please be okay.
    When he didn’t return after a lengthy absence, she braved slipping out of the truck. The windows were already humid from her breathing. Cassidy couldn’t stand the stale air and wondering what was going on a second longer. She stood on the gravel shoulder, barely breathing, hoping to hear Patrick in the distance. Then she swore she heard him, just off in the distance. It sounded like a low groan. Was Patrick hurt? Leaving the door ajar, she walked away from the truck, her arms outstretched. She wasn’t sure where she was going or what she’d do when she got there, but the sudden desire to help Patrick overwhelmed her. Maybe he was injured, lying somewhere just inside the forest.
    She came to a tree, her fingers feeling the pattern of bark like a blind woman to braille. The trees were close together, so she was able to move from one to the other while always having her hand grounded on at least one trunk.
    “Patrick,” she whispered.
    This time she couldn’t hear him, so wasn’t sure which direction to follow. She moved deeper into the forest, the smell of black earth and pine growing stronger. At times she was tempted to shout Patrick’s name, but held back in fear of what else may hear her. The experience with Corbin was still fresh in her mind, making her nerves more ragged.
    The ground was uneven, the forest sloping down a hill. She almost lost her footing several times on the moist leaf litter, but used the trees and saplings for balance. This was the direction Patrick had taken. How far had he ventured? Had he returned to the truck by another path? She’d moved so deep that she feared she wouldn’t be able to find her way out now if she tried. If she never saw another forest again, it would be too soon.
    “You should be