Diamond Dust

He went for honest. “It was carry you out, or shift in public.”

“Shit.” She leaned closer, peering into his face. “Really? Well, I’m glad you went Tarzan on me then, but what the hell? I wasn’t in any danger, you know.”

Tyler wasn’t as sure of that as she seemed to be. “You know why we’re in town?”

She nodded. “Conclave. You guys vote for leadership then somehow the leader deals with territorial- distribution issues. You had the first part of the meetings in Dawson City earlier this summer, and you’re supposed to finish them here.”

Not bad. “You’re well informed.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’m…kind of well connected in the Takhini pack. That was part of the reason I stepped in at the restaurant. I knew the wolves involved in the potential rumble would listen to me without an argument.”

Tyler glanced at Justin, but his guard was being true to his word. He’d stepped far enough away he could keep an eye on what was going on around them, but he mustn’t have heard her comment, or he would have given Tyler an “I told you so” look.

“Well connected means you understand how typical shifters react in power situations?”

“Considering I just had my fingers wrapped around a bear’s gonads, uh, yeah. Violence is not the option of last choice, it’s usually the first. Getting physical is like breathing to shifters, or at least to wolves.”

Tyler watched her take another drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as she offered him the bottle again.

“Bears are worse.”

Her snort of disbelief only made his bear more agitated.

“I’m serious. You mention getting physical as a first option. Bears do that, step in and fight before trying to talk things through. But there’s a violence built into us beyond protecting or wanting to win. Most bears don’t give a damn if they get hurt during the power exchange, as long as their opponent ends up hurting harder.”

She was thinking it through. “What does this have to do with you almost shifting?”

“My bear admires you.”

Her eyes widened. “You guys don’t do the mate thing, though, right? Like you’re not telling me that—”

If only it were that simple. “No. Bears don’t have fated mates, but my bear likes you. Not only physically, but your knowledge and your bravery. On an animal level he somehow senses you’d be good for me.”

She slouched on the bench, staring out over the water. “Well, isn’t that sweet. I’d be good for you. This day gets better and better.”

Tyler considered his options, discarding them as rapidly as they popped to mind. Perhaps downplaying the physical attraction between the two of them was best, and he should appeal to her human side.

“Good for me as in politically. It’s vital I end up on top by the end of the voting. Not because I crave the power, but because there are a few territories that need to be straightened out, and my main opponents are the ones who got them into trouble. If it were a matter of a cage fight, or leadership ripping out each other’s throats, it would be different. These men aren’t reasonable, though. We’re talking communities of people—innocent women and children—who will be hurt if the wrong people come into power.”

She rose to her feet, pacing in front of the bench. “I still don’t see where I fit into this. Win the vote, then. Takhini pack will support you as much as we can, but that should mainly involve us doing a better job of keeping our hotheads out of fisticuffs with bears at large.”

“Takhini’s help guarding the peace is a start. There are also a few events in the next week where I’d be grateful if you’d act as my assistant.”

“Oh boy.” She crossed her arms and stared into space. “Well, that might be possible, but we have to talk to Evan, because he’s usually got my schedule wrapped up.”

“I’ll speak to him first thing in the morning, then.”

“Email is the quickest way to get hold of him.”

She rubbed the back of her neck, and he remembered her fall. “You must be exhausted. Did you see a doctor?”

“Don’t baby me. I’m fine, but I am ready for this day to be over.” She smiled tentatively. “I must seem very unorthodox to you. Believe me, this day has been weird even by my standards.”

He didn’t care. His need to protect her and care for her was buzzing as his bear gloated over her somewhat agreement to act as his assistant.

Assistant sounded more professional than date, but at this point, whatever got him what he needed was fine by him. “Allow me to take you home.”

“It’s only a couple of… Oh, why the hell am I even trying? You’ll probably pick me up and carry me if I protest.” She turned and whistled at Justin who jerked in surprise as she gestured him closer. “We’re done. You got wheels waiting somewhere?”

Justin glanced his direction, an unspoken question on his face. Tyler leapt to his feet and spoke before Justin could blurt out anything dire. “We’re driving Caroline home. The rest of the details will be dealt with tomorrow.”

Justin nodded and pulled out his phone.

Tyler offered his arm to her. “Walk with me?”

Her fingers curled around his biceps, and he slammed his lips together to stop a rumble of satisfaction from escaping. His desire to roll over her life and simply take control had to be fought. At least for now.

If she’d meet him in the middle, he could concentrate on his job and ease the beast within.

The ride to her apartment passed in silence as she stared out the window and Justin, fortunately, held his tongue. When they stopped, Tyler followed her out of the vehicle, motioning Justin back. His guard rolled his eyes but remained on the sidewalk.

She tapped in the security code at the front doors. “You don’t need to walk me up.”

“Humour me.”

“I hope you realize if I weren’t so exhausted, my answer would be hell no.” She waited for him to push the doors open then led him to the elevator. “I’m capable of taking care of myself. Remember that, and we’ll get along much better.”

Tyler held his peace until they hit her floor and she had the deadbolt unlocked.

She turned in the doorway. “There we go. Safely home. Thanks for the lovely evening, and we’ll be in —”

He twisted her to the side and pinned her to the wall. Frustration, hunger—it all came together in one moment of need that had to be answered.

“Maybe it’s the fact you can take care of yourself that makes you so damn attractive.”

He wrapped one hand around the back of her head, the other at her hip as he kept her completely under his control. He caught her with her mouth open as he kissed her. A rush of excitement roared through him at her taste, and his bear finally settled in satisfaction.

She hesitated, and he wondered if his balls were in danger, then she thrust her fingers into his hair and dove wholeheartedly into the kiss. Tongues tangling, bodies pressed tightly together. She wrapped a leg around his thigh, opening her body to him. He used both hands to lift her, lining up their mouths better while easing his erection between her thighs.

Caroline groaned as his lips left hers, kissing his way along her jaw to her neck. The sound fluttered as he took hold of her earlobe and sucked lightly.

“How hard did I hit my damn head this morning?” Her muttered complaint was negated by the fisted grasp she maintained on his hair, holding him to her throat. She was nearly purring with satisfaction as he tasted her skin.

He licked, once, and her full-body shiver made the hair on his arms stand on end with the desire to take more.

To hell with restraint, he wanted to take it all.

Control fled as he latched his mouth onto her neck and sucked. He played her with his tongue, tormenting them both as he rocked against her, taking the final liberty he’d allow himself this night.

She swore and jerked his hair, tugging hard enough to break the seal between them, but not soon enough