What This Wolf Wants by Jennifer Dellerman Read Free Book Online Page A

a morning person.” Though he didn’t think that was what she planned to say, he went along with it. For now. “And I apologize for my comment. Let’s just chalk it up to being…overwhelmed.”
    Her eyes opened with relief. “Agreed. Let’s start over. I’m going to check your wounds. And while I know you’re in pain, let me know if anything feels extremely tender or hot. Either could be signs of infection.” Gritting his teeth, Zan forced himself to remain still as she slowly ran her hands over his chest. Closing his eyes only intensified her deft touch, making it harder to keep his hands at his side. He wanted to tangle them in her hair, fill them with the sweet curves of her ass he couldn’t help noticing last night, and hold her tight to his throbbing erection.
    The idea had so much merit that he tilted his head up and glared at the ceiling, hands in fists at his side.
    “You lost a lot of blood last night.” Oblivious to Zan’s internal struggle, Jackie dipped her hands under the edge of his sweats to check the gash on his hip. His eyes crossed at the unintentional caress.
    “Thank you for caring for me.” Though he was undoubtedly thankful, the husky timbre of his voice was due to the sheer want coursing through his system.
    “With your accelerated healing and metabolism, you’re probably hungry.”
    Oh, God yes. Yes he was. He dropped his gaze and from her small gasp, he knew he couldn’t hide the type and depth of his hunger. Under the cotton top he could see her nipples pearl, which only intensified his desire.
    If he didn’t step back, he was going to do something that, while he wouldn’t regret, he somehow knew Jackie would.
    “If you wouldn’t mind, I could use some food.” As if on cue, the sizzle and scent of cooking sausage wafted through the door.
    Jackie blinked, as if his words freed her from a trance, then she backed quickly away to slide out from the bed. “Certainly. Help yourself.
    It sounds like Ben already has.” She crossed to a door he assumed went to a bathroom and added, “I’ll be out in just a minute.” Zan blew out a harsh breath and used up that minute to get his body under control. Then he padded into the kitchen where Ben had indeed made himself at home. He was by the stove, cutting up potatoes while he kept an eye on the frying sausage.
    Zan sat down at the small kitchen table, wincing as the move pulled on the stitches at his hip.
    “Here,” Ben dropped potatoes, a cutting board and a large knife in front of Zan. “I take it you know how to use one of these?” Zan nearly smirked because, yeah, he could handle a knife. “I get by.” At ease, he began chopping potatoes into inch squares.
    Ben watched the flash of the blade and gave an approving grunt.
    “So, how’d you and Dean get separated as kids?” The blunt question threw Zan off guard. He paused and looked up, just as Jackie entered the kitchen. Her face was dewy, as if she’d just washed it, no make-up highlighted the curves of her cheekbones or slicked over the soft plumb of her lips. Her hair was tidy once again, pulled into a thick tail at her back.
    She glared at Ben as she sat across the table from Zan. “That’s rude, and none of our business, Ben.”
    “And your point?”
    Despite himself, or because of his innate humor that had all but disappeared several months ago, Zan chuckled. “I don’t mind.” Jackie turned her doe brown eyes to him and a southern body part reared its greedy head. “You don’t mind?”
    The only thing he minded right now was Ben’s presence. Biting back a groan, he returned to his task. “I actually don’t remember much. In fact, I didn’t know I was adopted until I was fifteen and had pissed off my older sister for the millionth time. I thought the strange memories I had of an older brother were dreams, or a figment of my imagination.” He shrugged it away. “When I was about six, my family was killed. My mom was able to escape with me, but she died