Phantom Wolf

The bed was soft and the sheets crisply white. He closed his eyes, remembering how they had once tangled together in hot, slick need, perspiration glistening on her soft skin as he loved her long and hard.

Shay gave a bitter snort. He loved her once. And then one Christmas Eve everything had shattered, and her loyalty proved exactly how brittle love was.

When she emerged from the bathroom, patting a ragged towel on her hair, a fresh linen shirt damp against her skin, he steeled himself against a hard kick of desire.

“Sam, I’m sorry for everything that happened.” Sorrow filled those big blue eyes. “Can you forgive me for not being there for you?”

He could not speak. Instead of answering, he headed past her into the bathroom.

“Do you always bring a gun into the shower?”

Only with you, he thought. The Sig was a hard reminder of his identity, his obligation to the team.

Not to a pretty Arcane who’d shattered his trust all over again.

The door closed behind him with a firm click.

Chapter 13

“It’s okay, it’s okay, Sam, wake up!”

Velvet-soft voice, urgently calling. A light snapped on. Cold sweat trickled down his temples as Shay sat up, ready to coldcock the new threat.

No threat. Just memories of the past and the fire that changed everything. Instantly he surveyed the surroundings. Motel room.

Eyes wide, Kelly sat on the bed. “You were having a nightmare. I wanted to wake you up, but you were thrashing around and I didn’t want to get punched.”

Shay shook off the nightmare visuals. “Smart. Never try to wake me up abruptly. I could hurt you.”

She glanced at his hands fisted in the sheet and the curve of his biceps. “Even though you wouldn’t mean it.”

Kneeling beside him, she placed a soft hand on his tensed shoulder. The thin blanket beneath him was soaked. He’d slept on the floor, giving her the bed. The golden glow from the bedside lamp sheened her face, sharp with worry.

Aware of his half-naked state, the sheet falling to his waist, Shay looked around for his pants. He pulled the sheet around his waist.

“You called my name.”

“Um.” Embarrassed, he couldn’t speak.

“A bad one, huh?” Sympathy tinged her husky voice.

“No big deal.”

“I’ve had dreams. I know how bad they can be.” She gave a soft smile and sat on the bed, patting it. “That floor looks really uncomfortable. Come on up. I need to talk to you.”

Shay shook his head.

“Please, Sam?”

Damn. Those big, woebegone eyes got him each time. Shay sat, kneading the cords and tendons in his neck. Gods, they felt tighter than piano wire.

“It’s okay to need someone to hold you after a bad dream. Do you want me to hold you, Sam? Will that help you sleep?”

Hell no, his brain decided.

Oh, yeah, his body declared.

Brain lost the battle as he gave a jerky nod. Kelly wound her warm, soft arms around him. It felt so good, feeling her against him, her warmth chasing away the black coldness of the dream. Remembering, Shay’s heart pounded hard. Don’t go there. Gods, the thought of losing her as he’d lost his family, the panic clogging his throat as he’d tried to rescue her.

Gently, he pulled away from her and sat back, rubbing a hand over his face. “I’m okay.”

She pushed at her tangled, silky hair. “I hate that you’re having nightmares. It’s my fault. I did this to you, because we fought.”

The tightness in his chest increased. Shay waited.

“It was selfish to think only of myself and my father, after you’d lost your whole family. You’re right. That night I was judgmental and blind and didn’t think about how much you needed me. How much my words could hurt you. I’m so sorry, Sam.”

Kelly didn’t meet his gaze but stared at the floor. He knew her, knew how it stung her pride to admit this.

“Hey,” he said softly. Shay took hold of her chin, lifted it to meet his gaze. “I was wrong, too. It’s normal to turn to your own flesh and blood to protect them.”

“Maybe. But I neglected you, Sam, and after everything we shared, you deserved so much more.” She put a hand on his arm. “Can you forgive me and let us start over?”

Start over? Not possible. Years ago, maybe, when they were younger, but things were too complicated now. “There’s nothing to forgive, Kel. Let’s get some sleep.”

But she didn’t move, only looked around the room and shivered, her blue gaze haunted. “It’s hard to fall back asleep after a nightmare. I had plenty after I left Tennessee. Sometimes I’d wake up and wished someone would hold me, tell me it was okay, instead of being alone.”

So forlorn and sad. He rubbed his chest, resisting the urge to give the comfort she’d never had.

Shifting his weight away from her, Shay tried for levity. “This nightmare wasn’t as nasty as waking up to Renegade in the field. That wolf’s morning breath could melt steel.”

Kelly laughed, an enchanting sound. Mint-green silk flowed over her body, clung to her curves. Her nipples stood out in rigid points against the fabric. He felt a jolt of hard need.

Shay felt fully awake as Kelly sighed and leaned against him. Oh, man, too awake. Especially certain parts...

Kelly nuzzled against his throat, giving a pretty little sigh. “You always know how to make me feel better. Wish I could do the same for you.”

Feel better... His mind automatically shifted to sex. Closing his eyes, he buried his face against her hair, inhaling sweet jasmine and fresh raindrops. Need surfaced, chasing away the night sweats.

She lifted her head, eyes questioning. Shay stared at her soft, red mouth.

He brushed his lips against hers, a bare nuzzle. And then she made the sweetest purring sound beneath his mouth.

Hello.

He deepened the kiss, pulling her hard against him, her body so soft and warm, Kelly’s heart beating fast as a hummingbird’s wings. Losing himself in her sweetness, he drank in the promise of abandon in her lips. Thoughts of loss and grief vanished, driven away by her excited little breaths. Erotic heat spiraled through him as he claimed her mouth and felt her hands squeeze the hard muscles of his shoulders.

Vaguely, he wondered if other lovers had soothed away her bad dreams. The thought bothered him. Shay hated the idea of another man touching her, his hands skimming her smooth skin, his lips pressing against hers.

Mine.

Even though he had no claim, he wanted Kelly exclusively for himself.

All these years, he’d dreamed about touching her again. Caressing her soft flesh, feeling her quiver beneath his questing hands as she did now.

Beneath the insistent pressure of his mouth, her lips grew soft and pliant. Shay kissed her deeper, as if his last breath depended on it, each inhale and exhale feeding him life. Sliding his hands down the slope of her back, he cupped the sweet roundness of her ass, drawing her closer. Kelly climbed into his lap and wrapped her long,