His pupils enlarged, and his voice was deep as he pointed to a part in the trees. “Want to take a walk? There’s a great footpath and a stream that way. The view is awesome.”

So tempting. “You have a meeting in thirty minutes. I don’t want to make you late.”

He shrugged. “I’m a big boy. Besides, we won’t go far.”

“Lead the way,” she said, already cursing herself for her weakness. What was it about this guy that clouded her judgment?

Gently, he peeled her hand off his arm. Disappointed, she started to put some space between them, but he took her hand instead, completely swallowing it in his. The spark from the contact zinged up her arm and spread all over her body. Tightened her nipples and made her ache to get closer.

Lips hitching up, he tugged her hand and they started off. As they entered the mouth of the trail, she forced her attention to a different kind of scenery.

“It really is beautiful here. I like to walk in the mornings if I get up in time, and I can’t imagine any place more scenic to get my exercise.”

“The trails are great for that purpose, but never venture out alone,” he said, his tone deadly serious. “The grizzlies have been really aggressive again this summer. There are also black bears, moose, and any number of dangers. If you went off alone and got hurt, we could find you by following your scent, but it might be too late.”

“I knew that, but it’s easy to forget that dangerous things can be found in pretty packages.”

He gave her an odd look. “Don’t I know it.”

Jax didn’t explain and she didn’t ask, though she was curious. She wondered what made the man tick, what pain lurked in his past. She sensed whatever rode him was more than losing his former life as a Navy SEAL, being turned into a shifter, though that was bad enough. Without being told, she knew it would take a lot more than a fledgling friendship and a few strolls in the woods to crack his armor.

Had any woman ever managed that feat before? Had there been anyone serious?

There wasn’t now, she decided, or he wouldn’t be holding her hand. There wouldn’t be this spark that threatened to ignite when they touched. Jax didn’t seem the sort of man to stray once he’d set his romantic course. If he ever did.

Did he date? Did he do hearts and flowers? No. This man would take and possess. He’d envelop his lover and have her drowning in such a way that she’d never want to come up for air. He’d be her air, demand everything of her, and she’d willingly give.

What nonsense! Daydreaming would never make the ultimate man of her fantasies emerge from the mist and carry her away to be delightfully ravaged until the end of their days.

Men like that didn’t exist, except in movies and books.

“This is one of my favorite spots,” he told her, pointing ahead to where the forest grew sparser. A small stream burbled, the sun catching the water tumbling over rocks. The area around it was green and lush, just right for lazing the day away.

Too bad they couldn’t. “Do you come here much?”

“Not as often as I’d like, but I get out here now and then, mostly when I go for a midnight run.”

She’d give anything to see his wolf in this enchanted place, in the moonlight. What would it be like to run with him, to be like him? Instead, she observed, “You told me not to come out alone, but you take the risk.”

“I have an advantage, don’t forget. The only creature that’s likely to bother me in wolf form is a human, and out here there’s little chance of that happening.”

“Still.” She huffed.

He turned to face her, stepping real close. “You worried about me?” Reaching out, he stroked the curve of her jaw with his fingers. She was too distracted to answer as he lowered his head. Took her mouth.

Fire. Sweet, unmerciful flames, licking at her as sure as his tongue slipping inside. Tasting, stroking. She pressed into the hard line of his body, savoring his full lips claiming hers. His earthy male scent drove her crazy, and she wanted more. Against her stomach, his erection came to life, plumped, grew long and stiff, burrowing in as though seeking what it wanted most.

Both hands framed her face and he explored, swirling his tongue, muscles bunching against her straining body. This man made kissing an erotic, seductive art form. No one else had ever compared to how damned good he felt. Right here, taking what he wanted.

Pulling back some, she opened her eyes. She wanted to see his face, and she wasn’t disappointed. He was as lost as she was to the moment, eyes closed, black lashes fanning on his cheeks like lace. Groaning, he opened his eyes and broke the kiss. The glaze of arousal lifted bit by bit, and his expression grew fierce.

“I can smell him on you,” he rasped. His lips pulled back some, showing his sharp canines. The same teeth that had killed those men.

“Wh-what?” she stammered.

“Aric. I smell him on you.”

This morning. Aric’s kiss. He was jealous! “Oh. Well, he’s a pretty good kisser.” Anger darkened his face and she figured teasing him on that issue wasn’t smart. “But he didn’t do a thing for me. Zip.”

He subsided some. “Oh? What about my kiss?”

She pretended to think about it. “Hmm. It was marginally better.” At his crestfallen look, she couldn’t keep up the charade. Grinning, she twined her arms around his strong neck. “I’m kidding. You sexy thing, that was the most wonderful toe-curling kiss I’ve ever had. Rocked my world.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

He yanked her against him, hand splayed at her waist. Narrowing his eyes, he rumbled a warning. “Don’t let me smell him, or any man, on you again. I won’t be responsible for how my wolf reacts. I wouldn’t hurt you, but him? All bets are off.”

Swallowing hard, she could only nod, not certain how she felt about the mandate. Looking smug, he planted another steamy kiss on her mouth, stepped back and took her hand.

“Now, unfortunately, I have a meeting to get to.”

He walked her back to the compound, never letting go of her hand. She didn’t understand his reaction to Aric putting the moves on her, and had a feeling he didn’t, either.

“I don’t know what Nick will have us doing this afternoon, but I’ll see you later,” he promised, once they were inside.

“Sure. Later,” she managed. He swung around and she watched his fine ass sway back and forth in his jeans until he turned the corner.

Good God. Maybe a man from her fantasies could become a reality after all.

Jaxon could barely concentrate as Nick moved to the front of the meeting room. His erection throbbed in time to the headache pounding at his temples. What in God’s name was wrong with him? Half an hour alone in Kira’s presence and he was ready to jump the woman and have his way.

Her scent was driving him insane. It was like he had a zillion ants crawling under his skin, the urge to mate her—fuck her until they were both limp and exhausted—almost a physical pain.

He’d been nuts to kiss her, much less make demands they weren’t ready for. Who was he kidding? He’d never be ready to settle down with any woman. Not after—no. She was a nightmare he would not revisit. The only purpose Beryl served now was as a fitting reminder of why he was alone. Why he would stay that way?

He’d take back what he said to Kira about staying away from other men. Tell her it was a mistake, which was the truth. It was as though someone else’s mouth had been saying the words, but he hadn’t been able to stop them.

But this itching under his skin was abominable. He had to find sexual relief ASAP. And not from his own hand. He needed to bury his cock in a hot, willing sheath and fuck until he couldn’t breathe any longer. It wouldn’t be Kira, no matter that the idea made his wolf whine in distress.