Moon Shadows by Nora Roberts Read Free Book Online Page B

the rest?
    Here and now, she thought, while his scent was buzzing through her senses, while she could hear the urgent beat of his heart, feel the heat of his blood swimming just under his skin.
    And what then? How could it be love, how could it answer anything when it was a lie?
    â€œGabe.”
    â€œDon’t think. Let’s not think. We’ll just . . . oh, hell .” Cursing, he drew back, dug his phone out of his pocket. “Sorry. Don’t move. Don’t think. Yeah, Gabe Kirby,” he said into the phone.
    She saw his face change, that light of lust and humor clicking off into concern. “Where? Okay. No, calm down. I’ll be there in ten minutes. Keep him warm, keep him still. Ten minutes.”
    He shoved the phone back in his pocket even as he reached for his jacket. “Sorry, emergency. I’ve got to go. German shepherd, clipped by a car. They’re waiting outside my office with him. I don’t know how bad, or how long. I could—”
    â€œDon’t worry.” She hurried with him to the door. “Just go. Take care of him.”
    â€œSee me tomorrow.” He turned at the door, pulled her into him for one quick, hard kiss. “For God’s sake, see me tomorrow.”
    â€œYes. Tomorrow. Go. Good luck.”
    â€œI’ll call you.” And he was already running to his car.
    She watched him pull out, speed away, then sagged against the doorjamb. The dog was in good hands, she thought. Caring ones. And it was best he’d been called away. Best for him, and for her.
    He gave her hope, she thought, and what could she give him but shock and pain? Unless, she told herself and ran her fingers over her silver cross, she found the cure.
    â€œLet’s get back to work, Amico.”
    She worked through the night, and just before dawn curled up with Amico on his bed for a few hours sleep. The wolf dreams came, as they often did when the moon was nearly full and her system too tired to resist. So she dreamed of running through the night, power pulsing through her, hunger gnawing at her belly. She dreamed of hunting, following the scent, her eyes so keen they cut through the dark.
    In the dream she had only one purpose, and no restrictions of conscience to bind her. She flew through the night, free to take what she willed with fang and claw.
    Tracking, stalking the one she wanted. In that last leap, she saw his face, the terror, the revulsion in his eyes. And when she bit into his flesh, she knew nothing but pleasure.
    She woke with Gabe’s scent on her skin, and her own tears on her cheeks.
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    S HE sought him out. To do otherwise would be cowardly. No dream, no matter how horrid, would make her a coward now. Before she went by his office, she swung into Luna with fresh stock.
    She’d timed it to arrive just shy of opening. Though she heard Shelley wandering around in the front, Simone moved quietly, working in the storeroom.
    The music came on, the New Age–type of instrumentals Shelley seemed to think went best with the tone of the products. It didn’t matter to Simone if she played Enya or Iron Maiden, as long as the products moved.
    She needed more equipment for her lab, more of the drugs she could only get, and at a vicious cost, through the black market.
    And if the risk she was preparing to take with Gabe turned around to slap her, she’d need running money.
    She heard the footsteps approach, then Shelley’s startled yelp when her manager opened the storeroom door.
    â€œGod! I didn’t know you were back here. You scared the life out of me. Amico! You sweetie.” Shelley crouched down to exchange friendly greetings with the dog.
    Shelley was five-feet-nothing. All dramatically streaked brown hair and energy, with a pretty freckled face and a flair for drama. She wore bright colors. Today’s choice was grass green cropped pants and a fitted jacket, and lots of clattering bracelets.
    Even without her