Werewolf in Alaska

“Then let me explain, at least a little. Now that you’ve discovered I’m a werewolf, I can’t let you waltz out of here as if nothing happened.”

She nodded. “Exactly, so the easiest thing is to wring my neck. But you don’t seem to want to, so what’s the alternative?”

“One option is taking you as my mate.”

“What the hell?”

“I didn’t say I was going to do that. It’s one option.”

Heat sluiced through her. She couldn’t tell whether it was from indignation or sexual excitement, but she chose anger over arousal. “Sorry, buddy, but that doesn’t happen in my world. In my world, the woman has a choice in the matter, and no male, no matter how hairy, gets to declare that he’s going to take me. Got that, Jake?” His proposal was primitive and it was wrong. But not without appeal, damn it.

“I get it, Rachel. Believe me, I’m no more eager to choose that option than you are.”

“Why not?” Now she was insulted.

“I have a deep and abiding conviction that Weres should never mate with humans.”

Yes, she truly was insulted. “That’s not what Duncan MacDowell says.” She held up the book she’d been reading. “He thinks it’s a swell idea.”

“Duncan MacDowell is an idiot.”

“That explains all the notes in the margins. You were marshaling your arguments.”

“I was.” He cleared his throat. “So mating with you is out, which means we have to come up with a different solution.”

“Great.” Putting MacDowell’s book on the bedside table, she grabbed one of her shoes and began loosening the laces so she could get it back on. “Let’s sleep on it. I’ll be in touch.”

“You misunderstand.” His large frame filled the doorway, blocking her exit. “Until we come up with that solution, you’re staying with me.”

Her jaw dropped. “You’re holding me prisoner?”

“I’d rather say I’m detaining you for your own good.”

“How is holding me prisoner going to be for my own good?”

“Let me put it this way. You know enough to be dangerous. If you were to escape, I’d be obligated to report that to the Were Council. They would dispatch other Weres to find you and detain you.”

“You mean hunt me down?” Breathing grew difficult as she imagined being chased by werewolves.

“In a sense.”

She shuddered.

“I’m assuming you’d rather stay here with me than go through that.”

“Well, duh. How about I leave and you don’t report me because you trust me? I’m a very trustworthy person. Ask anyone.” She got one shoe on and started working with the laces of the second.

“Can’t.”

“I’ll take an oath, sign in blood. I have some pictures of me naked in a wading pool. You can have them for blackmail purposes. The idea that you’d show those pictures around will keep my lip zipped forever, guaranteed.” She tied her second shoe.

A hint of laughter flickered in his eyes. “How old were you in those pictures?”

“Four.”

“I’d like to see those sometime.”

“Let me run home and get them!” She stood. “I’ll leave my wallet here as collateral. I’ll—”

“Sorry. You’re not going anywhere. Not until I figure out a plan.”

She blew out a breath. “This is freaking unbelievable.” That tiny flare of humor in his gaze made her feel a little bit better, but not much.

He shrugged. “I’m not any happier about it than you are.”

“Sounds as if we’re in for a lovely evening, then.”

“It is what it is.”

“Guess so.” Be careful what you wish for, she thought as she gazed at him. She was about to spend several hours in lockdown with the man of her dreams, and he hated the prospect. Also— small detail—he wasn’t a man.

Chapter 10

Jake had been in tight spots before, but he’d always figured a way out of them. This fuck-up with Rachel could turn out to be the granddaddy of all exceptions. Although he did his best to project calm acceptance of an unfortunate situation, he was a mass of nerves.

On top of that, he was hungry—for food, mostly. But the minute he’d walked into his house and discovered it was filled with Rachel’s scent, he’d become hungry for something far more complicated, something a simple dinner wouldn’t take care of. Finding her propped up on his massive bed had tested his willpower more than anything had in years.

He needed to get her out of his bedroom, pronto, before he did something really stupid and seduced her. She might not be seducible, of course, but he had a gut-level feeling that she was. His instincts were sharply honed in that regard, and Rachel was giving off little sparks of interest in between her bursts of outrage. Her scent had changed subtly, too, ever since he’d confronted her.

Having her stay with him for the next few hours would be easier if he kept them both far, far from that bed while they worked on a solution to this gigantic problem. He took most of the responsibility for the mess they were in, but she sure as hell hadn’t helped.

Damned nosy woman. But he’d been afraid she’d grab the chance to poke around his place looking for the wolf. He should have anticipated that and locked his door. He couldn’t help admiring her tenacity and concern for another creature, though, even if she had landed them both in hot water.

Hands on her hips, she stood watching him. “Now what?”

“I could use some dinner. Have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“Hungry?”

She paused as if thinking about it. “A little.”

He turned from the doorway. “Then let me thaw a couple of steaks for us.”

“Um, you know, I’m really not that hungry, after all.”

He pivoted to face her again. “Would you rather have something else? I think there’re some chicken breasts in the freezer, or I could—”

“No, you go ahead. I’m more tired than hungry. You eat, and I’ll stretch out on your bed for a little while and rest.” She sat on the edge of the bed and untied her running shoes.

He gulped. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” She glanced up.

“Take anything off. I mean . . . don’t take a nap . . . on my bed.”

“I won’t mess it up, Jake. I admit I rearranged your pillow while I was reading, but I’ll put everything back the way I found it. Sheesh, I didn’t know you were such an anal neat freak. It’s not like I’ll get under the covers, if that’s what you’re worried about. Never mind. I’ll just . . . relax in the living room.”

“I’m not worried that you’ll mess up the bed.” If only she knew how much he wanted to mess it up with her. He switched back to the safer topic of food. “It’s just that I thought you were hungry, and suddenly you’re not. It’s kind of late, and you said you haven’t had dinner, so surely you want something to eat.”

She leaned down and fussed with the laces of her shoes. She made a big production out of it, almost as if she needed something else to concentrate on so that she didn’t have to look at him. “Maybe I’ll have something later.”