Therian Prey Read online

  “They dove into a car and took off. Ava’s scent faded as soon as I left the house. I think she was taken out the back by someone else.”

  Her heart gave a rebellious lurch. “Why wasn’t someone protecting her? Why did you follow me?”

  “Even I can’t be in two places at one time. At the end of her shift, I made sure she was locked inside the house then I headed back to your shop and waited for you to close up. Kyle was supposed to be here by now.”

  “And while you were following me, they got Ava!” Guilt and fear welled within her, gripping her stomach as she struggled to swallow. “We have to find her! We have to—”

  “Get the hell out of here. The wolves will be back.”

  Her befuddled brain fought against the implications of what she’d just seen. “Who are you? What are you?” Even the question sounded ridiculous.

  “Quinton Jenaro. Call me Quinn.” He slowly approached, his dark gaze cautious yet resolute. “Kyle was hoping to defuse the situation before Osric found you, but Osric was closer than we realized.”

  Osric? The name slammed into her mind like a baseball bat, spiking her anxiety. If her worthless excuse for a father was involved in this mess, she was in serious trouble. Osric Parlain was more of a threat than…werewolves?

  Instinct engaged and she made a mad dash for the door. Quinn caught her around the waist then spun her around and pressed her back against the door.

  “We don’t have time for this,” he snapped, his hands remaining on her upper arms. “I’m here to protect you. You don’t need to be afraid.”

  She laughed, the sound sharp and nervous. “Protect me from what? Stalkers and thieves?” She banged on the door with her heel.

  “This isn’t a joke.”

  “I figured that out when people started turning into animals!” She glared while awareness sped her pulse. He was huge, tall and heavily muscled. A hot tingle slid down her spine, igniting heat low in her belly. It had been like this in the store. As soon as she looked into his eyes, lust erupted, making her restless and hot. Despite her mistrust and his frustration, desire arced between them. She did her best to ignore the unwanted distraction and focus on the danger. “Why were you able to toss them around like toys?”

  “I’ll explain everything as soon as we put some distance between us and the dogs.”

  The way he spat the word “dogs” made her pretty sure he wasn’t one. “Why would Osric kidnap Ava? Every penny we have is tied up in our business.”

  “This isn’t about money.” Quinn shifted his hands to the door on either side of her head and leaned in close. With his nose just touching her hair, he inhaled slowly. “When did the burning start?”

  He asked the question so softly she thought she’d imagined it. As if of their own volition, her hips pushed forward, lightly rubbing her pelvis against his thigh. “This morning, right after you came into the store. What the hell did you do to me?”

  “I didn’t do anything to you.” He heaved a frustrated sigh and raised his face. “You’ve never felt this before?”

  Confused by his odd behavior, she shook away the sensual pull. “What’s your game? I thought my life was in danger. Do we really have time for this?”

  “You’re right.” He eased his body away, but his dark gaze lingered on her mouth. “The harder you fight the hunger, the more insistent it’ll become. If this is your first season, there’s no way you can control it.”

  “Control what?”

  He started to say something then shook his head and pushed off the door. “Let’s get you to safety then I’ll explain.”

  “Not a chance. If those things are really coming back, I’ll stay with friends tonight and have the police waiting for them when they return.”

  “If you care about your friends, you don’t want them involved in this.”

  Quinn was right. She couldn’t intentionally endanger her friends. Still, she knew little more than his name. And the fact that he was incredibly strong. She’d learned at a young age how dangerous it could be to blindly trust the wrong person.

  “I appreciate the warning.” Easing her hand down and behind her, she slowly unlocked the door. “I’ll disappear. Go off the grid. I spent most of my childhood like that. I know how to do it.” But what about Ava? Could she hope to find her sister without Quinn’s help?

  He just shook his head. “Kyle told me to expect a fight.”

  With no other warning, he dragged her away from the door and pulled her hands behind her back. The cool press of metal sent a jolt of fear through her system an instant before anger burned through the pause. She jerked and twisted, screamed and cussed, determined to prevent her other wrist from being caught. With humiliating ease, he bent her over the back of the couch and secured the handcuffs.

  “This will be as unpleasant as you make it. Remember that.” He held her in place with the press of his body while he used a bandanna to gag her.

  She continued to cry out, but the gag sufficiently muffled her voice. Yanking against the cuffs only hurt her wrists. This was happening and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  He paused to relock the door and grab her purse then lifted her to his shoulder and headed out through the kitchen. He’d said he wouldn’t hurt her, that he was here to protect her. Yeah, right. Women weren’t kidnapped for their own good. They were kidnapped for the depraved pleasure of men.

  Yet he stopped to lock the back door as well. Odd behavior for a deranged killer.

  The small yard was edged with mature trees, offering daytime shade and privacy. Why couldn’t she live in one of the condos, with cardkey entrances and security cameras?

  His truck was blocking the gravel drive where her car and Ava’s were parked. No one paid attention to what went on back here. He’d planned this exit well. Though his truck was midsized, it had an extra-large cab with four doors. He pulled open the door behind the driver’s seat and lowered her to the ground. His gaze searched hers, the look intense and assessing.

  “I’ll pull over and let you up once we’re out of town, but I can’t risk you causing a scene.”

  Was he just being cautious? He acted as if he knew her or had been warned by someone who understood her contrary nature. He kept mentioning Kyle, but she didn’t know anyone named Kyle.

  His hands were warm and strong, oddly evocative, as he lifted her into the truck and settled her on her stomach. He pulled off her shoes and stashed them behind the seat. Then he tied her ankles and bent her knees, loosely tethering her feet to the handcuffs. The position wasn’t as uncomfortable as she’d feared, but it was extremely effective. Not to mention humiliating.

  He slipped in behind the wheel and the engine roared to life. Carissa turned her head and angled her face so she could see Quinn’s profile. With his shaggy dark hair and rugged features, he looked right at home in this mountain setting.

  “Hey, Kyle, it’s me.” Kyle again. Who the hell was Kyle. Quinn had a cell phone pressed to his ear with one hand while he maneuvered the truck with the other. “You were right. Osric is working with wolves. Blue River pack would be my guess. They know the area.”

  He paused while Kyle responded, but she could only hear the muffled rhythm of Kyle’s voice.

  “No. Osric’s scent was still strong in the house. I couldn’t have missed them by much.”

  Osric’s scent? He’d mentioned Ava’s scent too. Humans didn’t identify each other by scent. Or toss wolves around like stuffed animals. She ground her teeth into the bandanna and closed her eyes. Apparently the werewolf craze in Hollywood had spread to Colorado.

  “She didn’t give me too much trouble, but she’s mad as hell right now.” She opened her eyes as he adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see her. He had the audacity to smile. “I’ll check in when I reach the cabin. Talk to you then.” He returned the phone to his pocket then asked, “You doing okay back there?”

  She glared at him. She was gagged. How was she supposed to respond?

  He glan
ced over his shoulder and chuckled. “I guess I shouldn’t have gagged you if I was going to ask questions. Give me ten more minutes and I’ll find somewhere to pull over.”

  The truck bumped and swayed, her body rubbing against the cool leather seats. A slow, flowing heat spread from her shoulders to her knees. Her nipples prickled and tightened, her breasts feeling full and sensitive. Had he put something on the bandanna? What was triggering these sensations?

  No, she couldn’t blame it on him, at least not directly. She’d been horny as hell ever since he walked into her store.

  A low growl rumbled deep in his throat. He fidgeted, raking his hair with his fingers then adjusting his position in the seat. “What got you going again?” His voice was so soft she barely made out the words. “Are you excited by danger, or do you like being tied up?”

  Humiliated by the taunt, she arched and wiggled, releasing her frustration in an exasperated cry.

  The more she struggled, the more intense the heat became. Her body clenched, focusing the urgency between her thighs. She wasn’t a virgin. She knew where these impulses led, but she had never experienced anything faintly similar to this demanding desire. Why now? Was he right? Did danger excite her?

  She tried to lie still, to breathe through the bizarre craving. Her pulse seemed amplified, pounding in her ears and between her legs. She groaned and turned her face into the seatback, embarrassed and confused by her own body.

  The tension mounted, compressing with painful intensity. Each time the truck bounced or swayed, her hips rocked and her pelvis rubbed against the firm leather seat. Her nails dug into her palms as waves of tingling need washed over her.

  This wasn’t some unexplained itch that disappeared as quickly as it formed. Something was seriously wrong. Panic joined the emotions already assailing her composure. She turned her head back around and tried to capture Quinn’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

  The truck dipped violently and her head bumped against the seat belt housing. Pain curled through her craving, amplifying the heat. Had they left the pavement?

  Her skin felt stretched, stinging, and her blood seemed to boil. Was she feverish? This had come on so suddenly.

  Cool air wafted across her damp skin and the cab light blinked on. She heard the impatient scrape of metal against metal as he maneuvered the seats forward. What the hell was he doing? She needed help not more room! The door slammed and darkness descended again. Then the door beside her knees opened. Yes! Now he’d untie her and set her free. But free to do what? She could barely think beyond the roaring in her ears.

  He unfastened the rope and tossed it into the bed of the truck before sliding her across the seat. Guiding her feet to the ground, he helped her stand then firmly closed the door. She leaned against the side of the truck as he dug the key out of his pocket and released the handcuffs. Then she yanked the gag off and rubbed her wrists, conflict raging inside her.

  Trembling with uncertainty and want, she turned and glared into his eyes. “What did you put on the bandanna? This isn’t natural.” Each ragged breath sent a fresh ping of sensation ricocheting through her body.

  “You honestly don’t understand what this is?” He sounded genuinely incredulous. “How old are you?”

  “I’m not a fool. This is lust. But why… I’ve never…” His arms wrapped around her and slowly drew her toward him. She put her hands on his chest and arched away. “Stop it! I will not…”

  He ignored her protest and applied gradual pressure until her elbows buckled and she collapsed into his embrace. Her face came to rest against his throat and Carissa inhaled his scent. Like cool mountain nights around a campfire, his smell was complex, evocative and so very different from hers.

  “I did not drug you.” He paused then shifted her head into the bend of his arm so he could see her face. “You’re in heat. Try to calm down.”

  She laughed, gripping the front of his t-shirt with one hand while her other arm wrapped around his body. His hips were lean and his back felt hard even through the material of his shirt. “You’re insane.”

  “Are you a virgin?”

  “Oh my God!” She twisted out of his arms and hurried away. “Are you one of those freaks who likes little girls? Sorry to disappoint you, asshole. That ship sailed years ago.”

  “Then you’ve only been with humans?” His tone growled with obvious disapproval.

  Her knees gave out and she caught the side of the truck for support as reality spun around her. He was there a second later, lifting her into his arms as if she weighed no more than a child. Closing her eyes made the vertigo worse, so she focused on his chin, refusing to think, determined to free her mind from the whirling.

  When the world finally stabilized, Carissa found herself in the backseat of the truck again, only this time Quinn was with her. He sat to one side, and she lay half on the seat and half in his arms. He’d planned this, moved the seats forward to accommodate his legs!

  “Let me go.” She tried to sit, but his arm tightened around her shoulders, holding her in place. Reality came crashing in. Ava had been kidnapped by werewolves or someone who employed them, and she was the prisoner of… She had yet to determine Quinn’s exact role in this nightmare.

  “I know you’re frightened, but I can’t let you run.” His breaths seemed unusually deep and his gaze centered on her mouth, not her eyes. “How strong have the impulses gotten? Did you try to ease the burning during the day?”

  His arm felt solid and warm against her shoulders, his hand lightly resting against her upper arm. She wanted to touch him, slip her hand under his shirt and count the muscular ridges from his navel to his neck. “The ‘impulses’ only accelerate when you’re around.” She fisted her hands, refusing to give in to temptation. “Which makes it damn hard not to think that you’re the cause.”

  “I am, but not in the way you mean.” He lifted her and pressed her against his chest. “Inhale my scent and tell me what happens.”

  With her face flush with his skin, it wasn’t as if she had a choice. She tried to take short, shallow breaths, but each time she inhaled, calmness spread through her body. “How are you doing this?” she whispered against his skin, unwilling to abandon the comfort.

  His fingers pushed into her hair and he raised her again, bringing her face up to his. “My scent will only work for so long. Very soon, you’ll need more. You’ll need this.” His lips brushed over hers, caressing without really kissing.

  “No.” She shook her head. “If being around you is doing this to me, then—”

  “It’s too late. It’s already begun. The cycle will continue until your body gets what it’s craving.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “A female’s first season generally grips her at a much younger age. You’ve been secluded from others of your kind, so your body didn’t—”

  “Am I a werewolf?”

  He shook his head. “The men in your house weren’t werewolves. They were Therian wolf-shifters. You’re a Therian shifter, but right now you’re latent. Your animal nature has yet to be defined.”

  “Am I supposed to know what the hell you’re talking about?”

  His smile was slow and patient and he swept his fingertips along the side of her face, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Let’s tackle one problem at a time. We need to get your cravings under control before your scent draws a crowd.”

  She covered her eyes with her hand, not ready to admit how easily her body could confirm his statements. Her core ached and her senses hummed. She was charged and ready for detonation, ready for sex! She needed a hard, thrusting…cock, filling her emptiness. The graphic word fit her mood, matched the urgency of her need.

  His lips grazed her temple then drifted toward her ear, and tingles danced down her spine. “If you let me touch you, I think we can buy ourselves some time.”

  With a distressed cry, she scrambled off his lap, surprised when he let her go. “When you left the store, things calmed down. Just give me a fe
w minutes in the fresh air and I’ll be fine.”

  “No you won’t.” His tone was absolute. “Your scent is too strong. You’re not getting out of this truck until we’re at my cabin.”

  “Then you get out.” She stared past him into the night. If he would just leave her alone for a few minutes, she could bring down the intensity a notch or two.

  “I know what you’re thinking, but it won’t work. Even if you managed to get yourself off—which you probably wouldn’t—the craving would still be there.”

  “Then how will you touching me help?” she snapped, ready to crawl out of her skin.

  “I’m not a scientist, but I know they’ve tried for generations to duplicate the chemical reaction produced by Therian heat. We’re shifters. Our bodies transform and change at will, which is something they haven’t been able to re-create in a lab.”

  “What does that have to do with what I’m feeling?”

  “You’re in heat, sweetheart. Your body is calling to mine. It’s producing pheromones and hormones and all sorts of other moans.” When she didn’t react to his attempt at humor, he went on in a serious tone. “Then my body responds. Until you absorb the male version of the chemical cocktail, your body will go right on burning.”

  Leaning against the opposite door, she drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Are we talking saliva or semen?” She knew the answer, but she needed to hear it, needed to solidify the destination in her mind. Her abdomen was cramping so badly her entire body was starting to tremble.

  “Both, and more besides. My body chemistry is changing, and so is yours. The cycle shifts our scent, perspiration, the oil on our skin, saliva, my semen, even our blood. It brings our bodies in sync, makes us more attractive to and more compatible with each other.”

  “There is no way around it, no way to fight it?” Her shoulders shook and her teeth began to chatter.