Under Her Skin

hiking through Yellowstone like I'd planned.

And look where that decision got me.

'You wouldn't understand,' was all I said.

His gaze was steady. 'I thought we'd just established that we're both capable of understanding a lot more than the other realizes.'

I let out an impatient sigh. 'All right, then how's this? I don't want to tell you. I don't know why I'm even talking to you. You're my kidnapper.'

'Not really.' Softly, but the words still resonated. 'You're part of the pack now. And as enforcer, I keep the pack safe. Even if it's from themselves.'

This wasn't a conversation I wanted to explore. I yawned, hoping he'd take the hint.

He did. Daniel pushed his chair back and stretched. 'Are you going to give me trouble if I take a shower?'

I eyed him warily. 'I won't throw a radio in with you, if that's what you're talking about.'

He grinned. 'Good to know, but I meant, can I trust you not to run away while I'm in the shower? I don't want to have to tie you to a chair, but I also don't feel like chasing after you with soap in my eyes.'

I looked away from his smile, which was charming, sexy, and dangerous all at the same time. It wasn't the dangerous part that unnerved me; it was the other things.

'I'll stay put.' But only because you'd hear me if I didn't.

Daniel went in the bathroom and I sat on the bed, debating whether to climb under the covers, since the room was chilly. Finally I decided to wait. I'd shower once Daniel was done, then I'd borrow one of his shirts to sleep in again. At least they were long enough that modesty wasn't an issue.

I cast one longing look at the window and the freedom that lay beyond it, but then sighed. Daniel would chase after me, stark naked and soapy, then he'd probably tie me to a chair after all. The thought of sleeping sitting up while duct-taped didn't appeal to me. No, I'd wait for another chance to escape. One had to come up.

After about ten minutes, Daniel appeared in the door frame. His hair looked darker wet, and drops of water still beaded his skin. All he had on was a towel slung low on his hips, the white color emphasizing his tan. He ran a hand through his hair, flinging more droplets away. With that simple, muscle-rippling gesture, he made me forget everything for a moment and just stare.

No wonder he isn't human. No normal person could be this sculpted and gorgeous.

It occurred to me that I was still staring even though several seconds had ticked away. Look away, stupid! flashed through my mind. So I did, dragging my gaze up his chest to meet his face.

He wasn't smiling. He wasn't scowling. No, he was just staring at me with such an open hunger that a painful clench grabbed me below the waist. All at once, I wasn't chilled. I was warm, bordering on sweating.

This is wrong. All wrong. Don't you dare. You need to snap out of this right now.

'Stockholm syndrome,' I whispered. It could only be that. Who in their right mind got turned on by their kidnapper, no matter what he looked like?

'Or something else.' Daniel's voice was equally soft, but it contained an undertone that sent a shiver through me. 'Wolves can tell their intended mate by scent, sometimes before they've even sighted them. Once the two meet…things are inevitable from there.'

That wildness was lurking in his eyes again. It made me twist the bed sheets with my fingers.

'I'm not a wolf.'

Daniel just smiled, dark and sensual and promising.

'You will be soon.'

Chapter Six

A tentative knock sounded at the door. 'Can I come in?'

The voice was feminine. I would have said no, but as there was no lock, so what was the point?

'Fine.'

A girl with auburn hair came in. It took a moment, but then I recognized her from the other night. Daniel's cousin. Damned if I remembered her name.

'I brought you some clothes,' she said. 'Hope they fit, but if they don't, you can take them back. The store's right down the street.'

The girl set a couple bags on the bed. I'd barely left this room for two days since the night of the gauntlet. Confusion and uncertainty overwhelmed me. What had started out as a twisted hostage scenario had changed into something more: I could now sense the rain before it started, hear noises from further away than humanly possible, and had recurring dreams about turning into a wolf that had turned from terrifying to

strangely exhilarating instead.

No, what had me hiding in my room at the moment was that I was increasingly drawn to Daniel. I craved his scent more than food, followed him with my gaze whenever he entered the room, and had to literally fight with myself not to touch him when he was near. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The worst part was, I was pretty sure Daniel knew what I was going through.

He'd tried to talk to me for the past two days, but I refused to speak with him. I didn't trust myself. I should be focusing on the fact that I was changing into a monster, and not be secretly fascinated by my new senses, or lusting after the person who held me prisoner. The night of the full moon loomed in front of me like an executioner's axe. Whatever control I had over myself now, I knew it would be gone as soon as that ghostly orb rose in the sky. Some primal, burgeoning part of me was looking forward to that.

'…thought we could have a soak,' the girl was saying. 'That always helps me when I'm upset.'

'What?' I hadn't been paying attention to a word she was saying.

'The hot springs,' she repeated. 'We have indoor and outdoor ones. I bought you a swimsuit. Anything's got to be better than being cooped up in this room day and night.'

Outside. With just her. I gave her a quick, cagey look. Maybe this was my chance. She was petite, looked about nineteen or twenty, and seemed nice. Let's hope she was gullible, too.

'Sure. Thanks,' I added, smiling. 'What's your name again? I'm sorry, I don't remember.'

'Laurel,' she said with an answering smile. 'Here, I'll leave so you can change.'

'Can we go to whichever spring has the least amount of people? I'm, ah, shy about being in a bathing suit around strangers.'

Growing up spending my summers at Lake Michigan, that was a lie, but she didn't know that. She nodded.

'Sure.'

I lowered my voice. 'He doesn't need to come, does he?' I asked, with a nod toward the rest of the cabin, where Daniel was. 'I'm so tired of him shadowing my every move.'

She lowered her voice as well. 'I'll talk to him.'

My smile widened. Nice and gullible. My luck was changing.

* * *

If circumstances were different, I would have been awed at how beautiful this place was. The cabins were set near the end of the mini-town and spaced well apart for privacy. The mountains loomed majestically around all of it. Forests bridged the bottom of the mountains, adding a more secluded feel, and the steam rising up

from the rock-bed hot springs looked both soothing and inviting.

But, sinking into the warm mineral water, I was reminded of my tub at home in my apartment. A stab of longing went through me when I thought about my parents, who I'd meant to call before leaving on my camping trip. My older sister, Leigh. My nephew, who'd just turned one last month. My coworkers, who made the long hours from nine to five pass much more quickly. My best friend Brandy. Her boyfriend Tom, who told me in confidence right before they left that he was going to pop the question. Would I see any of them again?