Projected Pleasure by Jennifer Salaiz Read Free Book Online Page B

her knees she gave herself room to maneuver. She wasn’t ready to see if wiping out across the grass going lord-knew-how-fast would cause her a critical injury. Best play it safe for now.
    Marley felt her muscles flex in her legs while she crouched down, preparing to run. The air settled into her lungs, feeding her adrenaline, and without hesitation, she surged into the damp morning air.
    Seconds later, she was at the back of the estate, flying so fast her eyes burned when she saw it. A ghostly apparition walked through the trees away from the estate. Stunned from the sudden appearance, she skidded to a stop.
    “Cole,” Marley called, walking toward the figure as it began to disappear through the trees. She was really going to have to have a talk with Cole about watching over her. This was becoming ridiculous.
    “Cole, wait up.”
    Marley edged through the trees cautiously. She wasn’t stupid enough to go bursting through there, right into the arms of some fellow follower of Jordan’s. Zachary might believe no one remained, but she wasn’t so sure.

    Projected Pleasure
    49
    “Cole, dammit, if you don’t stop, you’re going to piss me off. This is as far as I’m going, so either come out or you can stay in there by yourself!”
    Seconds flew by and nothing happened. The moment she started to leave movement caught her attention out of the corner of her eye.
    Without hesitation, Marley dropped to the ground. After Jordan plowed into her from the side so long ago, she wasn’t making the same mistake again.
    A dark red wolf growled not two feet away. Slowly, she edged back, trying not to make any sudden movements. The task was proving impossible due to her own body’s reactions. The need to protect the estate pushed every fear from her mind.
    Pains began shooting through her, enhancing the twisting feeling in her stomach. The red wolf took a step closer, and Marley pressed her palm against her abdomen, taking a step to the side also. Slowly, they began to circle each other, and she had no doubt she’d probably end up dying. She could run, but that would lead the wolf right to the estate.
    The apparition appeared at the corner of her vision almost distracting her, but she refused to look in that direction. If she did, it would be over. The wolf would rip her apart before she got a chance to move.
    A crippling pain brought Marley to her knees. The scream was automatic. She waited for an attack, but one never came. Looking up, the wolf was gone. Screams came back to back while the pain twisted insufferably.
    While she dug her fingers deep into the dirt, Marley tried to think of a distraction. She began hitting the ground as hard as she could, welcoming the small pain. Compared to what her body was going through, it didn’t even faze her. Fire poured through every inch of every limb.
    “Zachary!”

    50
    Jennifer Salaiz
    She needed help. She needed anything besides the urge to rip her own skin apart. Her husband was right. The pain went beyond anything she’d ever felt before. “Zachary!” Marley repeatedly screamed.
    Not three minutes had gone by, but Marley was sure two eternities already passed. Her body collapsed to the ground pulling itself into a fetal position. The sound of one of her ribs cracking allowed her to let out the most piecing, agonizing scream she could manage. Then her world went black.

    * * * *

    Zachary awoke covered in sweat. Something was wrong, he could feel it. Aches covered every muscle in his body, and it wasn’t sickness. Werewolves didn’t get sick.
    “Marley?”
    Confused, he got out of bed. He ran, bursting through the door to Demetri’s room. Kylie was feeding the baby, looking at him in alarm.
    “Zachary, what’s wrong? You can’t just burst in here. Do you know how bad you scared me? Where’s Marley?”
    Tightening collected in his chest. “You mean you haven’t seen her this morning?”
    “No, Zachary. I heard the baby crying and made him a bottle. I figured she was