Betting the Moon

When magic takes hold, there's no bluffing the heart. Cannon Pack, Book 4 Mari Thornton, professional gambler, prides h...

Author: Rae Beverly

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When magic takes hold, there's no bluffing the heart. Cannon Pack, Book 4 Mari Thornton, professional gambler, prides herself on playing high-stakes poker the old-fashioned way: with skill, charm and luck, and without using her magic. She’s determined to win the Las Vegas Poker Extravaganza’s gold bracelet and million-dollar prize, but Tucker Manning’s raw, sexual appeal is throwing her concentration off. Way off. An up-and-coming poker whiz, Tucker plans to enjoy every second of this tournament, especially when he feels Mari’s magic brush up against his werewolf power. With luck, he’ll win and win big, taking both the tournament and the green-eyed beauty whose magic oozes out of her hot body like honey. Proving that last year’s winner is a cheat will make the victory all that much sweeter. When she senses Bryson Bascomb’s dark, supernatural influence over his opponents, Mari agrees to Tucker’s proposal to help expose the vampire’s trickery. But Bascomb isn’t going down without a fight. And the fallout leaves Mari wondering if she can trust Tucker with her life. Or if in the end, he’ll throw in his hand…and throw her under the bus. Warning: Mix in hot glamour, wild fangs and sexy incantations, and you get a no-holds ride of sex and winner-take-all thrills. And maybe, if you’re lucky…true love.

eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. Samhain Publishing, Ltd. 11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B Cincinnati OH 45249 Betting the Moon Copyright © 2012 by Beverly Rae ISBN: 978-1-60928-780-1 Edited by Jennifer Miller Cover by Angela Waters All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: April 2012 www.samhainpublishing.com

Betting the Moon Beverly Rae

Dedication

Love comes in many different forms. I hope, dear reader, that you accept love in whatever form you find it.

Chapter One Let the Games Begin

“Good call, Mari.” Mari Thornton tossed a smile at veteran player, Jack Braith, then concentrated on stacking her chips. She glanced at the other players hoping to win big at the annual Las Vegas Poker Extravaganza Tournament and recalled seeing a few of them throughout the previous days as they moved in and out of the conference rooms housing the large tournament. At last, the remaining players had come together for the final elimination games. She checked for any tells, noticed the weariness in the lines surrounding their eyes, then scooped up the cards the dealer slid to her. Five long days of fierce competition showed on the faces of the less experienced players, but she felt as fresh as she had on the first day. Letting her magic guide her, she searched for last year’s tournament winner and found him at a table on the farthest side of the room. Although she competed in a variety of tournaments each year, she’d never competed directly against him. He didn’t play many tournaments, but when he entered, he always won. Although she made a habit of getting to know her competitors, she’d never wanted to get close enough to meet the man. Was that because he never socialized with the other players, appearing elusive and unapproachable? Or because his presence had always made her uneasy, even repulsed, so that she unconsciously stayed away?

Betting the Moon

She shook the ill sensation off. Never mind. If he made it to the final table along with her, she’d give him his first loss. The lights of the chandeliers in the huge ballroom of the new Bellissimo Hotel and Casino sparkled on the mahogany edge of the poker table, and for a second, she imagined the room filled with handsome men and beautiful women moving gracefully to the sounds of orchestral music. Instead, the click of poker chips and the voices of the predominantly male players were her only music. But it was music she loved to hear as long as the stacks in front of her continued to grow. She sighed, envisioning her future once she’d won enough money to build a nice nest egg. Then she’d have time to dream of wearing a gorgeous gown and gliding around a ballroom with a handsome tuxedoed man. Until then, she’d better keep her mind on the cards. Mari calculated her odds of drawing the ace she needed and the possible moves of her opponents. Aside from Jack, she doubted the other players would pose major obstacles in her advancement toward the final playoff table. She adopted a poker face and reminded herself not to get overconfident. After all, Lady Luck could throw her fortune to any player at any time. She studied the youngest player at the table, taking note that he swallowed right before making a bet. He didn’t hide his tell well, but nothing was impossible in poker, not even having a rookie win the big pot. Competitors sat at the numerous tables as the games started whittling down the number of players and sending the losers to the hotel’s bar to drown their disappointment. Pulling out of the hand, she tossed in her cards and let the two rookie players battle it out. The men, each sexy in his own way, could tempt any woman to forget about business in favor of a night of pleasure. When was the last time she’d had two men in her bed? A flicker of lust fluttered in her stomach. Forget that. When was the last time she’d even had a man in her bed?

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Poker and pussy don’t mix. Although her mentor, legendary poker champion Tommy Wilson, had originated the phrase with male players in mind, she appreciated the warning. The warm glow that came whenever she thought about him faded as a familiar twist in her gut reminded her of his recent passing. Tommy’s warning was sound advice, but being one of a handful of female players on the circuit made for a lonely life. A girl’s gotta have a little fun, Tommy. Mari took a sip of water, using the gesture to glance around the room again. Several men tried to catch her eye, but she moved on, not acknowledging their interest. Adding a little pleasure after her business was finished was one thing, but she tried not to mess around while working. Besides, why risk it with any man she deemed less than a solid ten? The next few hands came and went without much work on Mari’s part. After the two rookies risked too much and paid the ultimate price, she found herself pitted in a heads-up game with Bruce Tarlinger. Good ole Bruce. She wondered if he still had an eye for a good-looking woman. Mari leaned forward, letting Bruce get an eyeful of her cleavage, and was rewarded with a blink of his focused stare. The tell was clear enough from the man whose nickname was The Stare. He’d earned his handle by staring down less experienced players, making them nervous and prone to mistakes. She leaned forward a bit more, pretending to stretch her back. “I guess it’s just you and me, Mari.” She shot him a sultry look that didn’t extend to any other part of her body. “Uh-huh. Just us, Bruce. But try and take it easy.” She bit off the “on little ole me” part. After all, she didn’t want to overplay her hand.

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Bruce blinked again, his gaze falling back to her breasts. The dealer started the next hand, however, and jerked him out of the fantasy showing on his hungry expression. Mari checked her cards again and made the opening bid. Bruce blinked yet again, then kept the ball rolling, tossing chips to the center of the table with a shaky hand. Damn, who knew the girls would rattle him so much? Could he be overdoing the male enhancement drug? She shook her head, hoping Bruce would mistake it for a slip in confidence. Mari took a big breath, covering her gasp when Bruce dropped his cards, then hurriedly picked them up again. The dealer glanced at her, her surprise noted in her raised eyebrows, but Mari ignored her. Holy hell, Bruce. Get a hold of yourself. He was making this way too easy. Bruce was off his game, and a few minutes later, Mari won big and pulled in the chips. Bruce’s discomfort at being short-stacked showed on his face, and Mari couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. But not sorry enough to lose. One more quick hand came and went, and the game was finished. Like the pro he was, Bruce rose and gave her a congratulatory nod. “Well played, Mari.” “Thanks, Bruce. Praise means a lot coming from you.” Although her impulse was to give him a comforting hug, she resisted. He might misinterpret her gesture, then she’d have to shoot him down and risk embarrassing him. Mari nodded her thanks to the dealer and located her next table. Four players already waited for her to take a seat, but she was in no hurry and intended to use the break between games to her advantage. Instead of grabbing another bottle of water or conversing with anyone, she used the walk across the room to size up her opponents and give them a show of her sexy sway. Games aren’t won just by what you do at the table. She tossed her hair and thrust out her chest. Tommy had been so right.


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The biggest man was the only one she recognized. “Raider” Murdock, a corporate raider-turned-pro poker player known for his sexist attitude, would get impatient—and careless—the longer she made him wait. Not that he wouldn’t enjoy watching her. In fact, his attention was already centered on her— or at least on her long legs, which she’d shown off by wearing a short skirt and hooker heels. According to Tommy, she gave the phrase “dress for success” a whole new meaning. The other men’s gazes traveled the length of her, then back to her face, but she didn’t give them the satisfaction of letting them know she noticed. Instead, Mari fluffed her hair and casually checked out the rest of the room. She scanned from one table to the next, taking stock of each participant before moving on. Familiar faces stood out in the crowd and she silently ticked off their stats, checking her memory for their weaknesses and strengths. The sound of a big win, however, caught her attention and she turned to see what had happened. Two men squared off in a head-to-head standoff. The middle-aged man, a veteran who had more than one championship bracelet to his credit, kept his face unreadable as he studied his opponent. But she knew Ben Watkins wasn’t happy. How could anyone be happy when they held so few chips? The other player had his back to her, and she paused to admire the broad muscled shoulders beneath the black denim shirt. Shiny white-blond hair tickled the collar of his shirt, and Mari fought the strong urge to run her fingers through the strands. Instead, she clenched her fists and kept her arms at her sides. He shifted sideways in his seat, a deliberate move she’d bet was done to show casual confidence. Like a pro, he accepted his fellow players’ congratulations with grace. Mari narrowed her eyes and examined his profile. Was that Tucker Manning? She’d seen a grainy photo of the rising star in Poker Hand magazine.

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If that was him, the picture hadn’t done him justice and certainly hadn’t caught the overwhelming appeal of the man. He radiated sexuality along with a friendly persona Mari suspected was unaffected and unrehearsed yet used with purpose and precision. The tow-blond hair curved around his ears and led her attention to the square jaw covered in a perfect GQ stubble. She imagined skimming her fingertips along the virile jaw to slide over his lips. Full lips, almost too full for a man, drew back in a grin highlighted by a dimple. A dimple that had to have a mate on the other side. Without warning, he turned to look at her, proving her correct about his dimples. Startling pale blue eyes sparkled with interest as he took his time studying her. He was more than merely handsome. He was undeniably the best-looking man she’d ever seen. No movie star could put his looks to shame. The intensity of her yearning ripped through her, making her weak in the knees. Heat flared in those captivating orbs, contradicting the easy language of his body and lighting an answering burn inside her. Her breath shortened as though his internal fire had sucked the air from the room. She swallowed, her heart thudding against her chest, and she had no option but to dive carelessly into those amazing eyes, forgetting where she was. Until she sensed the energy within him. Oh my God. He has power. But what kind of power? Was he a male witch, a warlock or maybe even a sorcerer? Although she didn’t detect magic like her own, she was sure he had a force lingering just below the surface of his skin. A force contradicting his easygoing manner and setting her nerves on edge. Does he sense my magic? Is that why he’s staring at me?


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Suddenly, he sent her a “how the hell are ya?” grin, disarming her and making her smile in return. Shit, don’t smile back! She frowned, sure she’d made a huge and possibly costly mistake. What next? Would she wiggle her fingers at him like a silly schoolgirl? She had to be careful. Instinctively, she knew he was no ordinary player in either life or poker. No, he was the kind of man who could tear a woman’s heart out and have her thank him for taking it. Unnerved more than she wanted to admit even to herself, Mari whirled around and strode to her table.

Tucker had arrived late, positioned himself outside the ballroom’s open double doors, and waited until most of the players had settled at their tables. He’d scanned the room as he always did, looking for past tournament winners and current frontrunners on the circuit and noted those who had already been eliminated. So far, so good. Five days of play in the biggest tournament he’d ever entered, and he was still standing. After he won this thing, he’d have enough to repay the seed money Daniel had loaned him. Then he’d be free to start his own pack. Plus, he’d be the first werewolf to ever win a poker championship. He smirked. Yeah, right. Like he could announce that to the world. He imagined the expression on Daniel Cannon’s face when he repaid the money the pack leader had fronted him. Downing the drink he’d brought in from the bar, he tossed the empty glass to a passing hotel employee and sauntered into the room. The prickling sensation on the back of Tucker’s neck broke his good mood and sent him into high alert. He stood taller, stiffening at the underlying current

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of… What the hell was that? A darker energy permeated the air. Something familiar, yet it was a force he couldn’t identify. He scanned the interior of the room again. Where was it coming from? At last his gaze fell on last year’s champion, Ty Bascom. Although he’d never met the man, he’d seen his photograph in gambling magazines and on poker websites. Bascom entered very few tournaments, but always came out on top, giving him the best track record on the circuit. Tucker studied Bascom, then took a step toward him, certain the strange sensation came from the champion. Better to find out now than later. “Hi, Tucker. Good to see you’ve made it this far.” Turning to the rotund man who’d grabbed his arm, Tucker tamped down the startled beast inside him, then forced a smile to greet Tomas “The Tank” Harding. Didn’t he know not to sneak up on a man? But it was difficult not to like the jolly guy. “Hey, Tank.” He was just about to tell Tank to be careful who he grabbed when he saw her. The sight of the gorgeous female swept Tomas and everything else from his mind. How he’d missed seeing her before, with her streaming golden hair and her shapely body, was a mystery. The girl’s legs ran to the moon and back, and she had a rack that would make any man’s mouth water. Tucker mumbled something to Tomas, but he couldn’t have told anyone what he’d said. His focus centered on the amazing woman as he tried to remember her name. Mari Thornton. Photographs of her had shown that she was beautiful, but they’d only hinted at the vibrancy of the woman. None of her vivaciousness had leaked into the flat images. Still he had to wonder how such mesmerizing sexuality could not have come through in even a poorly executed photo. How could the stunning physical allure she exuded not be caught and held like a


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tangible object? He flexed his hands, trying to ease the itch in his palms. If only he could touch her… Was she human? Probably. He didn’t dislike humans—aside from shifter hunters, of course—but things would be much easier if she were a werewolf. Either way, he appreciated a beautiful woman when he saw one. He licked his lips. Why not appreciate her in his bed? Making an excuse to get away from Tomas, Tucker took his chair, then started going through his normal preparations. But his mind stayed fixed on Mari. Even after the game had started and had gone on for several minutes, he found he couldn’t break free. Fortunately, the other players at the table were no match for him, and he was still able to dominate the game. More than once, he turned in his chair to gaze at her, forgetting the action on the table. She knew how to use her charms, all right. He stifled a chuckle when she thrust out her chest to divert an opponent’s attention from his cards. A flip of her hair and another player paused, his hand held in midair, forgetting to toss in his chips. She had the men exactly where she wanted them. She was stunning, and she knew how to use her attractiveness as a tool much the same way he used a laid-back personality to win people over and put them at ease. His well-honed persona didn’t hint at the danger he kept from breaking free, and he wondered how much of her skill relied on practiced strategies involving her beauty. How would she react when her charms didn’t work on him? Of course, the other side of the coin could land heads up. Would his charms work on her? He shook his head, opting out of the current hand and denying his interest in her at the same time. He needed to concentrate on the game, not the woman.

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There’d be plenty of time for fun later. For now, his primary objective was to beat his main competitor, Willie Holden. Nonetheless, a part of his mind couldn’t help but stray back to her. By the sounds of cheers behind him, he guessed she’d already finished her match. Damn, how he wanted to turn around and see the victorious expression on her stunning face! Making a move based more on his need to see her than on skill, he took a gamble—after all, that was the name of the game—and went all in, placing everything he had on the line and forcing Willie to do the same. As luck would have it—and he was a very lucky man—the cards fell in his favor. He won and shouts broke out around him. Many hands patted him on the back as he slowly shifted in his chair. He lifted his gaze to meet Mari’s, and surprise lit up her eyes. Emerald green assessed him, narrowing for a moment, then widening. Her eyes sparkled as though she was on the verge of tears, but he sensed she wasn’t about to cry. Instead, the surprise he’d first seen swiftly changed into an inquisitive and hungry look. She had a hunger much like his own. A hunger that wanted as much out of life as it could get and would challenge anyone who dared to get in her way. Her face, angular without being severe, had an ethereal glow, a loveliness he would’ve thought only an angel could claim. Golden locks streamed over her shoulders, flowing over the ample swell of her breasts—breasts that strained the buttons of her blue blouse. A short skirt led to long legs, while hips showed her to be a woman who was unafraid to display her curves. Her skirt, fitting snugly enough to make men drool but not too tight as to seem slutty, clung to her body, miraculously revealing everything and nothing at the same time.


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Realization struck him dead center. Her physical charms weren’t all she had to offer. She had magic. Her eyes widened as though she’d heard him. For one delicious moment, he thought she would come to him. Instead, she whirled around and hurried toward the exit. Unable to do anything else, Tucker followed her, his mind reeling, his gut filled with an overpowering yearning to have her. If simply looking at her made her bolt, would introducing himself scare her off for good? He nodded, not really hearing the remarks and greetings of those he passed. He was too intent on catching up to her to pay attention to anything except the way her ass moved up and down, shifting her skirt in enticing ways. She glanced back once and her features scrunched into a confused mask. He picked up his pace. Following her through the double doors of the ballroom, Tucker checked the open lobby area of the second floor, searching for her. A flash of golden hair caught from the corner of his eye turned him to the right, and a sign pointing the way to the restrooms gave him reassurance that he was headed in the correct direction. Bursting through a set of metal doors, he barreled down the empty corridor and passed by several Employees Only doors. Holding on to the edge of the wall for balance, he skidded around the corner just in time to catch a glimpse of her face through the closing gap of the ladies’ restroom door. He slammed to a stop and for the first time wondered what he’d do once he caught up with her. Granted, he wanted her. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised to find his shaft flying high, ready for action. He checked and was relieved to find no bulging sign of an erection. Unsure what to do, he backtracked around the corner and plopped into the only chair in the long, empty corridor leading back to the lobby and the ballroom

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beyond. If she wanted to continue playing—and of course she did—she’d have to get by him first. No way would a pro like Mari Thornton forfeit a chance at winning. All he had to do was wait for her to reappear.


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Chapter Two Ante Up

Mari pulled the door open a crack and peeked out. Seeing no one lingering in the hall, she let out a pent-up breath and stepped into the hallway. Even now she couldn’t understand her reaction to Tucker. Sure, he was hot, but she’d been around handsome men. Plenty of them. None had affected her like Tucker had. Although he’d done nothing to her, said nothing to her, she’d still reacted like a trapped victim under the unblinking stare of a predator. Hell, she’d taken off as fast as a frightened bunny. Then he’d rushed after her and rattled her even more. She frowned, irritated by the way she’d handled the situation. She’d sensed something different about him, and it had unsettled her, but to respond the way she had? So not cool. She prided herself on keeping her emotions in check during a tournament, and when she’d lost her composure, she’d had no option except to get away from him. But why had he chased her? She nibbled at her lower lip, then forced herself to stop, rubbing her lip as though to rid herself of the nervous tell once and for all. She paused, needing a couple of deep breaths before she dared to head down the hallway. If she was lucky—and she was always very lucky—he’d given up and gone back to the tables. Mari listened to the quiet, straining her ears to pick up any sound, but heard nothing. The coast was clear, and she was through acting like a silly girl. Taking a steadying breath, she strode forward, her game

Betting the Moon

face firmly in place, determined to be ready the next time she saw him. Smiling with a confidence she didn’t quite command, she turned the corner and ran into a wall of testosterone. “Finally.” Mari jumped away from Tucker, but recovered quickly and tried to step past him. “Excuse me, but—” “Not so fast.” He sidestepped and blocked her path, causing her to bump into him again. “Holy hell.” Shaken, Mari shuffled back a foot, lifted her gaze to his mesmerizing blue eyes, then struggled to look away. “Hang on a sec, will ya?” He took her by the arms, steadying her, and pulled her closer. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mari pushed away from him, but he held on to her. An intoxicating scent of aftershave and a unique masculinity drifted to her, sending an unfamiliar but oh-so-wonderful feeling through her entire body. Tingling from her head to her toes, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, for a moment unconcerned that he’d cornered her. “I just want to introduce myself.” She opened her eyes to find him scrutinizing her. His eyes reminded her of the eyes of a Siberian husky, soft yet mesmerizing. Her breathing grew shallow, her throat constricting. Relax. Poker players studied each other all the time, in and out of the game. This was no different. In the same second she’d had the thought, she knew she was fooling herself. The way he studied her was different. Deeper. More intense. Sexual. “Okay. Fine. Do it, but let me go.” She cast a pointed look at the hand still clutching her arm.


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“Sorry.” He released her but didn’t step away. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” Did he mean in the ballroom, when he’d chased her down the hallway, or when she’d slammed into him? Probably when she’d slammed into his big, strong, masculine, virile… Stop! “You didn’t startle me.” The flash in his eyes told her he recognized her lie. When the time is right, go all in. Heeding another of Tommy’s lessons, she stuck out her hand. “I’m Mari Thornton.” Unlike a lot of the male poker players who often tried to intimidate her with an overly strong handshake, Tucker took her palm in his and gently but firmly squeezed her hand. “Hi, darlin’.” He gave her a crooked smile and out came the adorable dimples again. “I’m Tucker Manning.” “It’s nice to meet you, Tucker.” Damn, why was her voice trembling? “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back.” Again he stepped in front of her, but this time he knew better than to grab her. She glanced at his hands, strangely irritated that he hadn’t. “So do I, but I need to do something else first.” Although she was intrigued, she kept her curiosity hidden. At least she hoped she did. Instead, she arched an eyebrow and adopted an irritated expression. “Fine, then do it. Just let me pass first, then you can do whatever it is you need to do.” Darting to his right, she attempted to hurry past him and once again failed. He grabbed her, then crushed his mouth against hers. She gasped, struggled to push him away for a moment, then drew in his breath, her mind reeling. He wrapped his arms around her, tugging her closer until nothing separated their bodies.

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Fight! Scream! Call for help! Kick him in the balls! But, suddenly, kicking was the last thing she wanted to do to his balls. Instead, she kissed him back and tugged on his shoulders, needing him, wanting him like an ice-cold drink on a blistering desert day. He moaned, then sucked as she slid her tongue into his mouth. An explosion of desire erupted inside her, blasting outward in spirals of heat. She pushed her breasts against his chest. He slid his hand lower to inch the material of her skirt higher. But the fire of desire inside her couldn’t wait. Lifting her leg and wrapping it around his, she hitched her skirt higher. He rubbed against her mons, his shaft hard against her as he fondled her butt. Slipping her hands along his wide shoulders, she itched to run her fingers through his hair and hold on, keeping his kiss to her lips. He nibbled at her bottom lip, then slammed her against the wall. He drank from her as much as she did from him. She bit his upper lip in return, and a sexy groan rumbled in his throat. “Get higher.” His voice had changed, gone deeper, grittier, almost animallike in a sexy growl. She obeyed his command by jumping and wrapping both legs around his waist. The rough texture of his jeans rubbed her inner thighs as his belt buckle’s cool metal pressed into the curls above her pussy. Breaking the kiss, he grazed his teeth down her throat, nipping at her skin to follow a path between her breasts. He mumbled incomprehensible words against her skin and used his body to hold hers against the wall. Fumbling, he tried to unbutton her blouse. She giggled, brushed his hands off, then pretended to undo the buttons. He brought his lips to her shoulders, alternating kisses with nibbles as he moved to


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her ear. Closing her eyes, she let the spell flow through her mind and out her parted lips. The buttons undid themselves and when she opened her eyes, she found Tucker staring hungrily at her cleavage. “Is something wrong?” Had he noticed the buttons moving by themselves? Did he sense that she possessed magic? He shook his head, then after a quick look asking for permission she didn’t bother to give, he yanked her bra down and pulled a breast free. She gasped, wondered if he’d torn her bra and found she didn’t care. Instead she arched, meeting him as he found her nipple. He would take what he wanted and she wouldn’t regret giving it to him. Mari moaned and reached for his hand. Taking it, she pushed it between their bodies and placed his palm over the vee of her thong. Tucker worked his fingers underneath the lacy material. “Oh, God. Yes.” Damn, he knew exactly what to do and how to touch her. She cried out, her clit pulsing with need. Tucker ran a finger between her wet folds. Circling the tender button of flesh, he rubbed her, matching the rhythm with his tongue as he tortured her nipple. When he broke free, she cried out. “No. Don’t stop. Keep sucking.” “Say my name.” His breath warmed her cheek, his intense gaze on hers. “I want to taste my name as you say it.” “Tucker. Tuc—” He muffled the sound, his mouth crushed to hers again. She clutched his shoulders, digging her nails into the material. Toned muscles worked under her fingers, and she imagined ripping the shirt from him to feel his granite-like chest under her palms and against her breasts. Another quick spell, this time on the buttons of his shirt, and she pushed aside the denim. “Oh, my God.” His chest was a hard rock turned into tanned skin.

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Keeping her to him, he carried her away from the wall and sat her down on the chair, then dropped to his knees in front of her. “What if someone sees us? An employee, maybe.” He tossed a look down the corridor, then shook his head. “Then they’d better watch or get the hell out because I don’t intend to stop until I damn well want to.” His wicked grin filled her with excitement. “I wouldn’t mind an audience.” I need to stop him. Hell, I need to stop me. He ran his palms down her legs, then skimmed them along her calves. The simple touch sent spirals of heat rushing through her. She parted her lips, the anticipation of what he might do next wiping away her concerns. She moaned, then reached for him as he pulled away, but he didn’t go far. Pushing her skirt to her waist, he shoved her legs apart, then tore the thong from her. She grasped the arms of the chair, her hands growing white with her grip. She held her breath as he leaned forward. Tucker planted kisses over her belly then dipped his tongue inside her belly button. She squirmed, the coolness of the air conditioning on the wet spots he’d left fighting the heat between her legs. He seared her skin with his eyes, adding to the fire burning hotter inside her. Leaning forward, he tracked his tongue over her skin and tickled the crack of her pussy. “Oh, wow.” She’d whispered, but the sound echoed in the quiet hallway. Placing a finger to his lips to warn her to be silent, he gave her a wicked grin, then brought his head lower again, slipping his arms under her legs and bringing her to him. She held her breath, her heart racing. He pulled her folds apart and blew. Her body trembled, not against the chill of the air, but in anticipation. “Please.” “Do you want me to eat you?” His eyes flashed with hunger, his mouth parted, the pearly white of long eyeteeth peeking out over his lip.


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A brief wonder at the length of his teeth flitted through her consciousness only to be swept aside by mind-numbing lust. She groaned and tried to force him closer. He darted his tongue out to tickle the fleshy part of her. Pinpoints of desire shot out from her core. She inhaled, her body exploding under the sensations his touch gave her. “Hmm, you already taste so good, and I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. I’m not sure I can handle the sweetness of your clit.” His wicked grin turned her already topsy-turvy stomach to mush. “Do you taste as good as I think you will?” She cleared her throat, her gaze fixed to his, and scooted lower on the chair. “Find out for yourself. Now stop teasing me and get busy.” She ground out the words, mangling the sounds. Yanking her legs up and lifting her bottom higher, he dove in, latching his mouth to her pussy. She yelped, then threw her head back in ecstasy. He sucked, nibbled and tugged at her throbbing clit, keeping her folds open with his thumbs. Mari clutched her breasts and squeezed. “Yes, yes!” she cried out, the blackness of orgasmic ecstasy closing in. She tensed and whipped her head to the side. Yet, just as she was about to explode, he stopped the delicious torture. “No!” She lurched in the chair, reaching for Tucker as he pulled away from her. Amber mixed with the blue in his eyes. “Why the hell did you stop?” Tucker licked his lips, then wiped his mouth. “Did you like that?” She gritted her teeth against her frustration, sat up and grabbed a hunk of his hair, but he didn’t seem to mind the roughness. “What do you think?”

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“Hey, don’t get upset, darlin’. I don’t plan on letting you go without for long.” His features hardened, thrilling her with excitement along with a spark of fear. “You’ll be mine soon enough.” His? For once in her life, she didn’t mind a man getting possessive. Not when the unfulfilled craving still churned inside her. “Tucker…” He cocked his head to the side as if to question her. “Time’s getting short. Don’t you think we’d better get back in there?” Mari’s mouth dropped open a second before the anger hit her. “You’ve got to be kid—” His mouth was on her clit again, tugging, nipping, sucking until she couldn’t think, much less speak. He sucked on her, sliding his tongue around her clit, then down to dive inside her pussy. Sweat broke out along her forehead. She shuddered, readying for another, bigger climax. Tucker clutched her breasts and sucked harder. Taking her aching clit between his teeth, he brought her sensitive nub inside his mouth with such force that she couldn’t help but let her cry ride along with the rush of her orgasm. She kicked out, her heels finding purchase on his shoulders. Tucker held on to her until her shudders stopped, then broke away from her and sat back on his heels. Wiping the glistening wetness from his mouth, he buttoned his shirt, rose and stared down at her, a cocky expression on his face. “See you at the tables.”

Two days. Mari bit her lower lip, noticed Jimmy Osala watching her and struggled to put on her game face. Not that it mattered now. Jimmy was out of the


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competition. Still, she didn’t like getting caught in an unguarded moment. She nodded a greeting to him, then walked to the other side of the room closest to the chair where she wanted to sit. Even seating was a strategic move at the championship table. People crowded into the room along with hotel personnel and television crewmen to take seats in the spectator section overlooking the large oval table positioned under lights and cameras. Mari stood aside to let the workmen do their jobs. Unlike the elimination games of the previous days, the action during the finals would be broadcast around the world on various sports channels. Two damn days. Tucker hadn’t spoken to her since he’d left her high and not-so dry in the hallway two days earlier. After that, whenever she glanced his way—and she hated how he’d caught her every time she’d looked—he’d give her a cocky smile, then turn away. Hell, he’d even disappeared when she’d shown up at the hotel bar for a friendly round of drinks with the other players. Forget about him. She could imagine Tommy glaring at her, his weathered face filled with the wrinkles he’d gained through decades of traveling from one tournament to the next. She could kick herself for letting anything happen while she was working. Much less an impromptu sexual romp with a competitor. Although she’d really hadn’t had a choice. Once Tucker touched her, she couldn’t have resisted him any more than she could’ve resisted betting on a royal flush. Worse, now that he’d given her a sample of what sex with him would be like, she couldn’t get him out of her head. He didn’t matter. He was just another man.

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How many times had she tried to convince herself that he was nothing special, only to fail miserably? But he was gone now, apparently beaten during his last game. She wished he would’ve stayed around, but if the last two days of avoiding her were any indication, he wasn’t about to show his face at the final game. He doesn’t matter. Maybe if she repeated the idea often enough it would stick and drive away all the other—and way sexier—thoughts of him. If she was going to win the championship she couldn’t afford any more stupid mistakes like the ones she’d made since they’d hooked up. She dipped her head, hiding her irritation as she remembered how she’d blown several solid hands because she’d been thinking about him. What was wrong with her? Did she want to lose her chance at the big win? Over a man? Oh, but what a man! She groaned and ran a hand through her hair. He doesn’t matter. She repeated the phrase and vowed not to let a sexual encounter cost her the championship. Not even a sexual encounter with someone as amazing as Tucker. Tucker Manning could go screw himself. A moment of determination filled her until her next thought swept it away. Unless she could screw him first. She groaned louder, catching the attention of a nearby cameraman. “Are you okay, Ms. Thornton?” She thanked him for his concern but waved away his help. Seeing that the game was about to start, she moved to her chair. Closing her eyes, she envisioned herself winning the final hand and thanking the cheering crowd. She could even see herself reaching for the large pile of prize money. She grinned.


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Nothing did wonders for a girl’s competitive juices like picturing a big fat payday. “You must be thinking about me.” Mari’s eyes flew open to find Tucker sitting across from her. The wave of desire coursing through her rocked her to her core, and if she hadn’t already been sitting down, she would’ve dropped to the floor. Damn, but the man was fine. The hunter-green shirt he wore worked well with his white hair and flashing eyes. Her focus dropped to the edge of the table as though she could see through the thick wood. Too late she realized what she’d done and jerked her gaze up only to meet his smug smile. “What are you doing here, Tucker?” He acted flabbergasted, but she sensed he was anything but surprised. “Where else would I be? I’m one of the finalists.” “No you’re not. I checked the sheet. Your name wasn’t on it.” She blanched as soon as the words left her mouth and a moment before his shit-eating grin spread wider. “Oh, yeah, that’s right. I heard you were looking for me. But you’re wrong. My name was on it. Some secretary made a mistake on the first list and they had to repost it. Caused quite a scandal for about a minute. I guess you missed the second posting, huh?” “I wasn’t— Uh, I didn’t— Look for you, I mean.” Judging from the heat rising in her neck, she was sure her cheeks were as red as the fire engine she’d need to put out the flames his sexy smile had ignited inside her. “Maybe looking isn’t the correct term.” “That’s right. I wasn’t looking—” “Maybe stalking is a better description.” The gleam in his eyes baited her.

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“What the hell are you talking about?” Embarrassment mixed with irritation made her stomach knot while her heart did an uneven pitter-patter. The man was irritating, self-centered and smug—and she couldn’t wait to get him between her legs again, damn him. Tucker leaned forward, put his elbows on the table and lowered his head to whisper, “Hey, don’t worry about it. I get groupies all the time. But I hope you know—” he gave her a wink, “—that what we did together was special. That you’re special. I’m just sorry we didn’t have more time.” “Me? A groupie?” She couldn’t keep her voice from rising in pitch. “Are you out of your mind?” The clamor around them quieted as everyone’s attention turned toward Mari. If she’d thought she was embarrassed before, she now understood what real humiliation felt like. She swallowed, then gave the crowd a little wave. “Please. Don’t mind me. Go on back to what you were doing.” “That’s right, everyone. We’re having a little pregame chit-chat is all.” Tucker turned his bright-light grin on them before resting back in his chair. Imagine. Calling her a groupie. He was nothing more than a foul-mouthed— Although his tongue was wonderful… Great big jerk— She wondered how big he really was… Son of a bitch! Mari opened her mouth, ready to spew a barrage of four-letter words at him but immediately shut it when the other players started taking their places. Instead, she fumed and shot dagger-eyes at Tucker, wishing she could kill with a look. Or at least maim him so he could never hold another hand of cards again. Drawing on her resolve, she tossed her hair back from her shoulders and greeted each of her opponents. Barry “Sugar” Shankman, so named because he always had a pocket filled with sugar cubes for fast energy, tipped the rim of his


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baseball cap at her. Bob Maroni, a self-made millionaire whose quick wit made him an entertaining man in any situation, slapped Barry on the back and told him to quit “flirting with someone completely out of your league” even as he winked at her. A young man named Steve Tilly took the chair on the other side of her and gave her a quick handshake. His sweaty hand gripped hers, and she had to resist the urge to pull away and wipe her palm on her skirt. If he was nervous already, he wouldn’t last long. Nonetheless, making it to the finals was a credit to his skills. Mari smiled a greeting and tried to recall how many online tournament wins it had taken the boy to earn his entry ticket. Two more players, Ari Fleishman and Ramona Ray, joined the table, taking their respective seats while they chatted. Mari wiggled her fingers at Ramona, giving the other woman player a “well done” look for making it to the finals. Charles “Judge” Bean, a retired lawyer nicknamed after the famous Old West judge, slid into the spot next to Mari and patted her on the shoulder. She asked after his wife and was about to inquire about his oldest son graduating from Harvard when another young player sporting a peach-fuzz beard flopped onto the chair next to Tucker. “Hey, dude. You’re Tucker Manning, aren’t you? Good to meet ya. I’m Percy Billan.” Peach Fuzz grinned at Tucker as though he were a superhero. “I’m a big fan, dude.” Mari rolled her lips under to keep a giggle from surfacing. The poor kid didn’t realize he’d end up with a nickname of either Dude, or worse yet, Peach Fuzz. Of course, with a name like Percy a nickname might not be so bad. Tucker thanked him, appearing self-conscious and slightly annoyed at Peach Fuzz’s exuberance. Tucker’s introductions of the others were accented with exclamations of “wow” and “awesome” from the excited newcomer. Tucker

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rolled his eyes at Mari, but even his silly gesture couldn’t detract from his sexiness. He doesn’t matter. Repeat, repeat and then repeat again until you believe it. The memory of Tucker’s tongue in her mouth, then trailing along her breasts to lick her nipples brought a slow inhale, along with a heavy dose of anger. Did he think she’d forgiven him? If so, he was crazier than she thought. Mari glared at him, but he was looking past her. Miffed by his inattention, she thrust out her chin and turned to see what had him so captivated. Ty Bascom, winner of the past two years’ tournaments, tipped his black cowboy hat toward the audience then at the other players before finally taking his place at one end of the oval table. She studied him, taking in his lean form, the black silk shirt that looked as though it shimmered with a life all its own, and the bolo necktie hanging loosely around his neck. Long, black hair rested against gaunt cheekbones accented by a hawk-like nose, thin lips and dark sunglasses. Yet it wasn’t his appearance that captured her attention. Mari shifted in her chair. The man might not be ruggedly handsome like Tucker, but he had a chilling appeal. Emphasis on the chilling part. “Hello.” The voice, melodic and compelling, spoke of darkness and mystery. Everyone returned his greeting, but Mari couldn’t get a word out. Although he had a magnetic pull she couldn’t explain, he radiated a bad vibe, almost as though he were the Grim Reaper ready to snatch her life away. She frowned, not caring when he saw her reaction. Almost by instinct, she recited a protection spell, lifting an invisible barrier around her. Bascom reached for his bolo tie and adjusted it. Long, manicured nails made Mari cringe. “I do hope everyone is ready to lose.”


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If anyone else had made the comment, good-natured bantering would have ensued. Instead, they ignored him, taking their time instead to put their chips into short towers. “What, pray tell, is the matter?” His thick Southern accent, along with his formal, old-fashioned manner of speech might’ve been charming coming from another man. “I guess they didn’t appreciate the joke, dude.” Amazingly, the young man didn’t fawn over the champion as he had the other players. Bascom removed his sunglasses and stared at Peach Fuzz. Eyes, so light they almost looked silver, glittered with a coldness that made Mari shiver. “I was not joking…dude.” To his credit, Peach Fuzz tried to hold Bascom’s stare, but it wasn’t long before he ducked his head, breaking contact. Tucker, on the other hand, didn’t have any problem standing up to him. “Leave the kid alone, Bascom.” Bascom slid on the sunglasses, then tilted his head at Tucker. “And who, may I ask, are you? His father, perhaps?” The joke earned a few chuckles, including Tucker’s. “Well, now, with my randy past starting at a very tender age, I can’t be certain, but I’m going to guess I’m not his dad. The name’s Tucker Manning. Remember it so you can read it on the check they’ll hand me once I’ve played your ass under the table.” The electric current passing between the two men made the hair on Mari’s arms stand on end. She studied them and noted each man’s dangerous countenance. The revolting sensation she always felt whenever Bascom was in the room overwhelmed her and, for a moment, she had to grip the arms of her chair until the dizziness passed. Behind the dizziness and revulsion came power, dark and vile, rolling off him in waves. What the hell was he? Why hadn’t she

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felt it before? Was the power the cause for her revulsion toward him? Maybe if she’d gotten closer before now, she would’ve sensed the evil seeping from him. She dragged in a long, slow breath, closed her eyes and willed herself to fight it off. Needing to concentrate on anything besides Bascom, she centered her attention on Tucker. What was Tucker? His power, dark yet different from Bascom’s, sifted toward her. He didn’t make her feel sick to her stomach like the champion did. Instead, his darkness was tempered by another side. A side that told her she could trust him. Worry worked its way into her, stiffening her spine and making her bite her lower lip. Tucker caught her nervous habit, yet instead of shooting her a knowing smirk, he glanced at Bascom, then nodded toward the exit and arched an eyebrow, asking her to meet with him during the first break. Mari stopped biting her lip and gave a nod she hoped no one else would notice. The announcer began the tournament, his loud voice booming over the sound system. Jolted from her thoughts, Mari gave the audience a half-wave when he introduced her. She even managed to force a small smile as the camera swiveled in her direction, keeping the cool outward appearance needed in a competition. Inside, however, she fought to stay in control.


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Chapter Three

Game Play of the Supernatural Kind

Mari studied the interaction between Bascom and Ramona, and sent another silent message of encouragement to her friend. Not that her encouragement had done any of the others any good. One by one, the reigning champion had defeated four of the eight players, leaving Mari, Tucker, Ramona and Judge Bean. Poor Peach Fuzz had folded quickly and left the game in the first hour. Steve, Bob and Ari had given Bascom a fight for the chip lead but had soon walked out the door, too. In fact, the game had gone surprisingly fast, considering the competitors were the best in the world. Mari checked Tucker, who leaned back in his chair, obviously expecting Ramona to lose the hand and go out in fifth place. Tucker, who still maintained his easygoing attitude, toyed with his chips, picking up four or five of them, then dropping them to the table, only to stack them up again. Having studied him for a while, however, Mari was fairly certain his nonchalance was only skin-deep. In fact, judging from the way he kept glancing at her, he was having the same problem she was. How was Bascom winning so easily? Bascom was cheating. Of that much she was sure. Plus, she had a gut feeling he was using supernatural powers to win. But she still couldn’t figure out exactly what he was even though the repulsion she felt whenever she saw him had diminished. She stared at him, intent on discovering his secret. He didn’t have the look of a warlock or a sorcerer. Besides, she hadn’t heard of a practicing sorcerer in over a decade. No, he had a different kind of power.

Betting the Moon

She sighed, letting her frustration show. Tucker caught the sound and flashed his dimples at her. She shrugged her shoulders in the slightest possible way, then nodded toward the champion who hadn’t looked at his cards for several minutes. Instead, he’d kept his focus centered on Ramona. Tucker made a face as if to say, “I don’t get it either, but be careful.” What does he think I’ve been doing? She had to give it to Ramona. A lesser player would’ve lost her chips by now, but Ramona kept coming back, winning then losing only to win enough to stay alive. She’d never taken the chip lead from Bascom, but she was hanging on. In fact, she was hanging on enough that Bascom’s mouth had thinned even more, showing a rare sign of irritation. Come on, Ramona. Don’t let him take you out. Mari wished she could raise a cheer for her fellow lady at the table, but she knew better than to openly take sides. Mari leaned backward, stretching her spine, when suddenly the champion did something he hadn’t done during the game. Slowly, almost seductively, he slid off his sunglasses. Gone were the piercing silver eyes. Dark eyes, blacker than a moonless night, swept over her on their way back to Ramona. A cold chill blew through Mari, freezing her to the bone. Her teeth chattered from the biting temperature, and she crossed her arms, suddenly more frightened than she’d ever been. She willed herself to keep breathing and gripped the arms of her chair as though she’d float away if she didn’t have something to cling to. When the cold finally subsided, she looked at Tucker, knowing her fear showed on her face and not caring. She found him searching her, alarm hardening his features. He mouthed the words “Are you all right?” and


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somehow she managed to nod. The tension in his face eased a bit, and he turned toward Ramona, drawing Mari’s attention along with him. Holy hell. Mari’s mouth fell open as she stared at Ramona. Ramona’s eyes were glazed over and her expression was slack. A thin line of perspiration glistened above her upper lip. The woman stared straight at Bascom, ignoring everything around her. What had he done to her? Although Mari had no evidence to think Bascom had done anything, she knew with an overwhelming certainty that the strange man had taken control of Ramona. Was her friend under the grip of the freezing wind? Mari pulled her chair closer to the table, bent forward and whispered to Ramona. “Ramona? Ramona, do you hear me? Are you okay?” “Is there something wrong?” The dealer’s gaze darted between Ramona and her supervisor, who stood nearby. However, neither seemed willing to intervene. “Do you think maybe she’s had a stroke?” Judge Bean’s voice had never sounded so weak. Was he affected, too? “Calm yourselves, my friends. She is fine.” Bascom smiled at them but his gesture had no warmth behind it. “What the hell did you do to her?” Tucker lowered his tone, but the strength behind his words didn’t falter. “As I already said. She is fine.” Bascom narrowed his eyes and hissed, “Ramona, my love, what are you going to do? Are you going to play? Or will you fold?” Although his voice came out in a hiss, the strange mix of melodious tones and underlying power remained. Bascom’s questions sounded more like demands for Ramona to follow his lead. Mari racked her brain and tried to come up with a way to change the

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situation but couldn’t. Unless she used magic. She bit her lip and wrestled with her promise to never use her powers during a game. Would helping Ramona be worth violating her promise? Before she could decide, Ramona made her move, betting all her chips. Tucker cursed under his breath, putting Mari’s own reaction into words. Although she didn’t have a clue what Ramona’s cards were, she had a horrible feeling that Ramona had made the worst move of her professional career. The hand was over in a flash, leaving Ramona without any chips. Ramona stood, her limbs shaking so hard that Tucker rushed around the table to come to her aid. Glaring at the smug champion, he escorted Ramona to the sidelines and into the arms of her anxious husband, then helped them walk toward an exit. “What’s going on here?” Judge Bean flattened his hands on the tabletop and searched Mari, then Bascom. “She just blew her game out of the water, but I don’t think she even knew what she was doing.” Bascom turned toward the older man. “Ya win some, ya lose some, dude.” His imitation of Peach Fuzz was perfect. “Surely you have heard the saying before. Have you not, old man?” “Who you calling an old man?” Judge Bean’s face grew splotchy as he snarled at Bascom. Cameramen and commentators moved closer, hoping to get a closer look at the confrontation. Mari laid her hand on Judge Bean’s arm and whispered, “Take it easy. The world’s watching.” Bascom’s caustic laughter surrounded them as though it were a living thing that could crush their spirits. “I feel I must ask. Are you losing your hearing, Judge? Did you not hear me? I am calling you an old man. No, wait. I am in error.” He flattened his palm over his heart. “Please do forgive me. I misspoke.


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You are not an old man.” Bascom pushed forward and glowered at the older man. Mari gasped at the black fury, the utter hatred she saw in his eyes. What the hell was Bascom that he could summon such power and evil? Panic shuddered into her, and she let go of Judge Bean’s arm. “Be careful.” Yet she doubted her friend heard her whisper. “That’s more like it,” Judge Bean sneered, but his voice wavered. The champion sneered. “Look at me, Judge.” He narrowed his eyes, a surge of electricity sparking in them. Judge Bean did as he was commanded. “You are not simply an old man.” Bascom lowered his voice and added another sneer. “You are an old. Fat. Fart.” Judge Bean was out of his chair and standing over Bascom before Mari knew what was happening. Lunging for Judge Bean’s arm, she pleaded with him to sit down, but he acted as though he didn’t hear her. A tremendous struggle showed on his face as he scrunched his features together, clenched his jaw and flexed his hands as though fighting the urge to throttle Bascom. Slowly, deliberately, Bascom tipped back his cowboy hat, pushed back his chair and stood up. Getting an inch from the older man’s face, he chuckled, but the humorless sound soon faded away. His black eyes glittered as he leaned in to whisper in Judge Bean’s ear. Mari strained to hear what he said, but couldn’t. The older man inhaled sharply, bellowed a curse, then snatched Bascom by the collar and flung him to the floor. Gasps mixed with cheers as the champion landed facedown. “Please! Stop!” Mari strained to hold Judge Bean, but she was no match for the irate man. Fortunately for Bascom, the hotel’s security men jumped in to restrain the player-gone-wild. He was still shouting curses as they dragged him out of the room.

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Bascom rose, unharmed and unfazed by the attack, and faced the cameras. “I do hate to say it, but I think the old gentleman may need his medication adjusted. Could someone see that he gets proper medical care?” Like you really give a damn. Mari scowled at him, unable to find words harsh enough to express her contempt. “Damn, what the hell happened?” Tucker’s back. Thank God. Mari turned to him, her mind whirling. “I-I’m not sure.” The clamor continued for several minutes as the spectators rehashed what they’d witnessed and event coordinators tried to calm everyone down. Mari and Tucker took their seats, brushing off the media who tossed questions at them. Had she heard what Bascom said to Judge Bean? Did she think Ramona was ill? What were her chances of winning against the champion? Mari shook her head, refusing to speak. Instead, she studied the evil man who had returned to his chair and was stacking his chips, acting as though nothing had happened. “Ladies and gentlemen, would you please take your seats?” The announcer’s face was flushed with excitement, but he did his best to maintain a professional attitude. “Due to these unforeseen circumstances, we’re going to take an unscheduled break. Play will resume at three o’clock.” Tucker took Mari’s arm and led her to a corner of the room. “We have to talk.” She shook off his hold, then needing support, rested her back against the wall. He stepped closer, glanced around at the crowd and tucked his head next to hers. “We have to talk.” “You said that.” Her nerves were raw, and she wondered if she could handle any more surprises. “So talk.”


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Tucker met her gaze. “You have magic.” He tilted his head as though daring her to lie. “You’re a witch, right?” Fear whipped through her as she wondered whether to admit the truth. Could she trust him not to expose her? But she couldn’t deny it any more than he could deny the powerful energy she sensed coming from him. “I am. But what about you?” He looked away for a moment, then back at her. Did he think he wouldn’t have to answer? “I don’t have magic.” “Okay, maybe not magic. But you have power. An energy. I can feel it.” He glanced around, checking for anyone who might overhear. “Have you ever heard of the Cannons of Colorado?” “No. Should I have? Besides, what do they have to do with—” she waved her hand outward, “—this craziness?” “The Cannons are a group of people who all have the same, uh, condition.” She blew out a breath, then ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t understand. What kind of condition?” He studied her as though deciding what he could or could not say. At last, he took a long, slow breath and released it. “Lycanthropy.” Her mind blocked out the noises around them. “Lycanthropy? Wait. Are you talking about werewolves?” “Yeah, werewolves. I’m a member of the Cannon pack.” His blue eyes twinkled. Was he kidding? Irritation burned in her gut. Enough was enough. “You’re telling me you’re a werewolf?” He shushed her, putting a finger on her lips. “I don’t want everyone to hear. Do you?”

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His touch ignited the low embers that had started the day they’d met. Unable to control her urge, she darted her tongue just past her lips to wet the tip of his finger. Tucker looked at the dampness glistening on his skin, then with his blue eyes flecked with bits of amber, he licked the tip of his finger and moaned. “Damn, if only we had time right now.” Mari swallowed, wanting the same thing he did, but she resisted—for now. “Don’t lie to me, Tucker. Werewolves don’t exist.” The image of his mouth, long teeth sticking over his lips, his eyes changing from blue to amber flashed across her mind. Could he be telling her the truth? She’d heard stories, but they were only stories, right? Tucker snorted, then pushed a strand of hair away from her cheek. “You witches always amaze me at how little you know. Werewolves do exist. Trust me on this one.” She accepted his answer with an imperceptible nod, her gut telling her what she’d seen was real, but she still couldn’t ignore the lingering doubt stiffening her spine. He was different, all right. But a werewolf? She closed her eyes, letting the impression she received from him soak into her. The dark energy she’d felt earlier floated beneath the surface. It wasn’t black like Bascom’s darkness, and it was pushed down, layered with the light of a purer energy on top. She just hoped Tucker had more light than dark inside him. “Have you used your powers here?” If so, how had she missed it? The corners of his mouth twitched upward. “Other than changing into a werewolf, I don’t have magical powers like you. Besides, I could ask you the same thing.” “You could.” She bit her lower lip, her nerves still frayed. “No. I never use magic in poker. I prefer to use my natural skills. It’s not fair to the humans.”


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“I agree.” He reached out to touch the spot he’d touched before, and once again, an overwhelming urge to suck on his finger trembled through her. “For your sake, you should stop biting your lip. It’s a major tell that you’re nervous.” He darted his hungry gaze between her eyes and her mouth. “But it’s one hell of a turn-on, too, so if it’s up to me, I hope you keep doing it.” “I guess it depends on whether I want to play poker or play with you.” Kiss me, damn it. She closed her eyes, willing her pulse to slow down. Keep your mind on the game. She sensed that he’d edged closer and she opened her eyes. His face was so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “You know what, Mari Thornton?” “What?” Her breathless question floated in the air between them. “If a hundred or so people weren’t hanging out around us, I’d throw you on top of the table and fuck you like you’ve never been fucked.” Her first thought was to act offended. But that would’ve been an act. She inhaled, drawing in his scent, and decided to take a risk. “You know what, Tucker Manning?” “Yeah?” “I’d let you.” The wicked flash of his dimples weakened her knees. Running her hand along his shoulder, she struggled between what she had to do and what she wanted to do. “Unfortunately, we have a problem to solve first.” Tucker’s frustrated reaction echoed her own. “You’re right.” He dipped his gaze to her lips before taking a deep breath and bringing his attention back to her eyes. “I think it’s pretty obvious Bascom’s using powers.”

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“I agree. Did you see the way Ramona acted when he stared at her? She seemed like she’d lost control of her mind and her actions. Why else would she have bet the way she did?” “Judge Bean didn’t behave the way a seasoned pro would act either. I’ve seen him in pressure situations, and he’s one of the coolest men around. For a human.” “What does that mean? Don’t you like humans?” “I like them well enough. But they don’t always have the coolest heads.” He regarded her, bringing butterflies to her stomach. “Still…I’m starting to like witches a whole lot.” She blushed, could feel the heat in her cheeks. Tucker glanced behind him, drawing Mari’s attention with him. Bascom sat at the table, his legs stretched out in front of him, his feet locked at the ankles, arms crossed. His face was a composed mask as he grinned into a television camera. The woman reporter interviewing him was entranced, her focus squarely on him. If she became more enamored, she’d probably end up drooling on his boots. “Bascom must’ve cast a spell on Judge Bean and Ramona. I didn’t see it happen, but I can’t explain it any other way.” When Tucker didn’t respond, she added, “Tucker? What is it? Do you know something I don’t?” “No. It’s just a feeling I’m getting. The answer’s at the back of my mind, but I can’t make it come to the front.” Tucker’s face closed up, concern etching lines in his brow. “He didn’t use an incantation. At least, not in the way you’d think. You didn’t see him utter a hex, did you? I sure didn’t.” Mari studied Bascom again as though she could see the answer on his face. But when he returned her appraisal she wished she’d never laid eyes on him. “No. He’s not using magic. At least not any kind of magic I know.” She


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shuddered. “I couldn’t like that man any less if I tried. He’s so cold, so unfeeling. And his eyes. Urgh, his eyes see right through you.” Tucker went rigid, staring at her hard. “What did you say? Something about his being cold?” “I said he seems so cold. Like if I touched him he’d feel like ice. Shoot, a cold wind swept over me when he looked at me.” “Okay, let’s think about this. Bascom’s cold, and he has a power about him. Not a magical power, and he’s definitely not a werewolf.” Mari nodded, intent on keeping her eyes off Bascom. “Right. Plus, when he was looking at the other players, he seemed to have a weird control over them. Like some kind of mind control.” She paused, dragging in a breath. She stiffened as an idea started forming. An uneasy part of her didn’t want the thought to come. Tucker’s smile was anything but happy. “Okay, he’s cold, has some kind of power and can exert a strange kind of control over people. Plus, he’s the palest dude I’ve ever seen. Hell, the man looks like he’s never seen the sun. When you put all that together, what do you come up with?” She glanced from Tucker to Bascom, running everything Tucker had said through her mind. But the answer she came up with didn’t make sense. At least not to a rational person. “Come on, Tucker. You’re not saying what I think you are.” She widened her eyes, hoping he’d laugh her fear away. “Are you?” Tucker lifted an eyebrow. “You tell me, darlin’. I think we’re on the same page.” “I know everything points to that conclusion, but they don’t exist except in fairy tales and scary movies. I’ve been all over the world, and I’ve never met one.”

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Tucker took her by the arms, forcing her out of her denial. “You mean like werewolves and witches don’t exist? I’ve never met a ghoul before, but I know shifters who have. Not to mention demons and other supernatural beings.” He ran a hand through his hair. “So why not…vampires?” “Can this be for real?” First a werewolf and now a vampire. And other supernatural beings existed, too? Hell’s bells. “If I were a betting man—” Tucker’s grin grew wide, “—I’d go all in and bet he is. Worse, judging from the way he speaks, I’d say he’s an old one, which means he’s strong. Still, if what I’ve heard is true, most vamps, unlike our friend over there, prefer not to come out in public, much less put themselves in the limelight. He’s got to be mucho powerful to handle the scrutiny.” Panic flowed through her even with Tucker nearby. “He’s using his vampire powers to win.” The alarm she’d felt before came to an abrupt end as fury took its place. “He glamoured them, didn’t he? Damn him. Will they be all right?” She glared at Bascom, the fury inside her boiling to the surface. She pushed at Tucker, determined to make her way to the champion and do something, anything to prevent him from hurting someone else. “We have to stop him. I don’t know how, but we have to do something.” Tucker’s fingers dug into her arms as he whirled her around and took her face between his hands. “Mari, calm down.” “But we have to try.” “I know and I agree. But going off on him in front of all these innocent humans would be dangerous. You don’t know what he might do. To you or to them.” Mari’s heart pounded as she drew in one harsh breath after another. Bit by bit the anger subsided, but her resolve didn’t fade. “Then what do you suggest we do? Should we ask him very politely if he’ll please play nice?”


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Tucker’s chuckle was just what she needed. “Damn, but you’re amazing when you’re angry. I know that sounds corny, but it’s true.” Again, she felt her cheeks heat, but she had to keep her mind off the pleasure he could give her. “Stop it. We can’t think about things like you-know-what while that beast sits over there, free and clear after hurting people.” “Look, Mari, I think you’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, but I realize what we’re up against. Can I help it if you still turn me on even during a crisis?” The laugh burst out of her before she knew it was coming. “Tucker Manning, has anyone ever told you you’re crazy?” Those enticing dimples made another appearance, and her pussy tightened in response. The man might have been crazy, but he made her want to ride him anywhere, anytime. “More times than I can count. So you’re just now figuring that out?” He slid his hands along her arms, then pressed his lips to hers. The kiss, tender at first, deepened, growing from warm to blazing hot in seconds. Mari leaned into the kiss, then brought her arms up to clasp her hands behind his neck. He enclosed her in his arms, cocooning her from the outside world and all its problems. Their tongues danced together in her mouth, then she slipped hers out to tickle his lip and tease the corners of his mouth. “Tucker? Mari? Are you two a couple?” Surprise broke through the hazy fog of desire, propelling Mari away from Tucker. She rubbed her swollen lips and used the gesture to hide her grin. The reporter who’d asked the question thrust a microphone in front of her, but she waved her hands in front of her to ward him away. Tucker came to her rescue again, stepping between them and stating that they both had no comment to make.

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He swept his arm around Mari and bent closer to whisper in her ear. “Stay cool, darlin’, and don’t look him in the eyes when he removes his glasses. I don’t know how, but we’ll figure out how to take this damn vampire down.” Vampire. She hadn’t said the word, as though not saying “vampire” out loud would make everything Tucker had said untrue. Mari bit her lower lip, glanced at Bascom who sat grinning at her, then slid into her chair. A vampire. Hell’s bells.


47

Chapter Four

Keep Your Damn Eyes off Me!

Relief swamped through Mari as the end of play was called. Thankfully, the earlier disruption had shortened game time. Otherwise, she doubted she would’ve been able to keep from going out. Keeping her head bowed and her eyes on her cards had kept her in the game—barely. But she had the short stack and a long way to make up tomorrow. Blowing out a long breath, she stood, ready to forget the usual pleasantries at the end of a day’s play in favor of dashing out of the room. Anything to get away from Bascom. “Mari.” She couldn’t help herself. She had to look at him. Ty Bascom locked his silver gaze on her, forcing her attention. The cold shiver she’d experience earlier shuddered through her again. But this time the chill grew even colder, freezing her until she had to clench her jaw to keep her teeth from chattering. A sense of foreboding overwhelmed her, enveloping her in a darkness that was almost tangible. She tried to move, tried to step away, but found her body wouldn’t respond. Panic gripped her, ripping thought away. “Do forgive me for the familiarity. I should have asked your permission first. May I be so bold as to use your first name?” She nodded, slowly, stiffly. Just let me go. “Wonderful.” Bascom tilted his head to her. “And please, do call me Ty.” Ty? The name didn’t fit. Not like Bascom did. Not like the word evil did. Yet she nodded again, unable to do anything else.

Betting the Moon

“I thought perhaps you would like to get a drink with me.” The corners of his mouth lifted as he arched an eyebrow at her. “Would you like to join me, my sweet? Perhaps even for a bite to eat?” Mari wanted to shout at him, to tell him she didn’t want to be anywhere near him, much less sitting across from him at a dinner table. But her voice was lost. “Mari.” Tucker’s hand on her arm jolted her out of the trance. “Let’s get out of here.” Bascom’s cold, dead eyes shifted toward Tucker. “Let the lady speak for herself.” She stepped closer to Tucker, relieved to be able to move again. But she still wasn’t ready to confront Bascom. Fortunately, Tucker was ready to do it for her. He let out a low growl and slid his arm around her waist. “Mari, what do you want? Do you want to go with Bascom?” Tucker growled. Like a wolf. “No.” Bascom’s eyes darkened, and Mari’s throat closed up. Frightened by his intense stare, she attempted to soften her answer. “I mean, I appreciate the invitation, but—” Her brain froze, unable to finish the sentence. Once again, Tucker came to the rescue. “But she’s already accepted an invitation from me.” Thank you, Tucker. Feeling like a bobblehead doll, she nodded again. Bascom’s eyes lightened. Although his face was a mask of composure, fury intensified his stare. Mari leaned into Tucker, needing the extra support. “Very well then.” The tiniest of sneers lifted the corner of his mouth. “Perhaps another time.” Tucker pulled her away, giving her an excuse not to respond. Bascom’s look had shaken her more than she’d thought possible. Men had looked at her in many ways, but she’d never seen the type of hunger she’d seen in Bascom’s eyes.


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A hunger that wanted more than mere sex. He wanted her body and her blood. She clenched her fists, fighting off the bile rising in her throat. But she sensed he wanted more. Yet what more could he possibly want? Her soul? She struggled to keep up with Tucker as he strode toward the exit. Once in the lobby, he pushed her against a wall, then flattened his hands on either side of her head. “Are you okay?” The pounding of her heart thudded in her ears, and for a moment, dizziness swept over her. As though finding a life preserver in a turbulent sea, she found Tucker’s eyes, saw the worry in them, and met his gaze. “Take slow and easy breaths. Don’t worry about doing anything else. I’ll take care of you.” A whimper escaped her, but she didn’t care. The only thing she wanted was to feel safe in Tucker’s arms. Safe from the evil she hadn’t known existed until a few hours ago. She did as he’d told her, drawing in one breath, then releasing it in a long flow, until at last the cold left her body and her pulse returned to normal. Or at least as near to normal as it could get standing close to Tucker. “I don’t know what happened.” He growled, the sound low and mean, and yet comforting. “Just think what he could do if he glamoured you.” She shuddered. “I’m not sure he didn’t.” “If he had, he would’ve slapped the old voodoo on you and taken control of your mind. Don’t look him in the eyes again.” Irritation flashed alive and Mari ducked under his arms, then moved away from him. “I know, and I didn’t during the game. But then, afterward, when he said my name…I couldn’t resist. Are you sure he didn’t glamour me?” “I don’t think so. He caught you like a deer in headlights but I don’t think he really tried to put a mind hex on you.”

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“Oh, my God. If that wasn’t glamouring me, I’d hate to find out what the real deal feels like.” “Let’s just make sure you never do.” Tucker clutched her arm, pulling her with him. “What the hell, Tucker? Will you stop dragging me?” “Bascom just came out. Do you want to hang around and have another little chat with him? Or would you rather come with me?” Mari glanced back over her shoulder and found Bascom staring at her. The icy chill zipped through her again. She started to turn back, but Tucker jerked her forward. “Come on. We’ll go to my room and discuss what to do next.” “Your room?” He shot her a sly grin. “Or yours. We need privacy.” His grin faded away. “Take your pick. You can stay around here and have the vamp give you a mind meld or you can come along with the big bad wolf. What’s it going to be?”

“How do we fight a vampire?” Mari remained standing even when Tucker stretched out on his king-sized bed. “We can’t pull out a stake and stab him through the heart with all the spectators and cameras. Although the idea is appealing. Or can we?” His chuckle gave her much-needed warmth. Would she ever warm up after experiencing Bascom’s cold stare? “As much as I’d like to, no. After all, I don’t have a problem with his being a vampire as much as I dislike cheaters of any kind. And glamouring your opponent is cheating, as far as I’m concerned.” “I agree. Using magic would give me an unfair advantage. Besides, I like the idea of winning because I’m good.” She grinned at Tucker’s bemused expression.


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“What I meant to say is that I’m the best. So I’ll win, barring any cheating by anyone else.” “Well, at least you don’t lack confidence in your abilities.” “I think my record of tournament wins says it all.” He sat up and patted a spot on the bed next to him. Why did she suddenly feel like Little Red Riding Hood? But she had to wonder, was Red’s wolf as hot as Tucker? “No thanks. I’ll sit over here.” She slid into the hard, uncomfortable chair next to the small, generic hotel table. “Suit yourself.” Instead of staying where he was at the end of the bed, he slid over to the side closest to her. “I’ve gotta ask. How set are you on your no-magic policy?” “I told you. I don’t use magic when I play.” “I get it. But have you ever encountered a cheat before?” Mari shifted in her seat as the sinking impression settled in the pit of her stomach. “Sure I have. Every player does at one time or another.” “Have they been human or supernatural?” He was leading her, but what choice did she have except to follow along? “You and Bascom are the first supernaturals I’ve met at a poker table. To tell the truth, I haven’t met too many supernaturals—other than witches.” Tucker leaned forward. Was he closing in for the kill? Yet Mari found herself leaning toward him instead of away. He was magnetic, commanding. Not in the scary way Bascom was, but in a purely sexual I’ve-got-to-have-you kind of way. She let her gaze drop to skim over his crotch and fought against licking her lips. Hmm. She wondered how the big bad wolf tasted. “Tell me. How did you handle the human cheaters?”

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“If I could show the officials how they were cheating, then I exposed them.” Oh, my. Her gaze flicked over him again. She’d sure like to expose him. “And if you couldn’t?” “Then I did my best to beat their butts.” An image of her spanking Tucker’s bottom brought a smile to her face. “At the table, of course.” Or maybe she should be the one to lie on the table and let him spank her? She ran her palm over the smooth surface. Lust lashed her, sending heat to her pussy. “You have a special way of putting things, darlin’.” Her gaze met his, the sparkle in his revving her libido a notch higher. “I guess. But you get what I mean, don’t you?” Oh, please get what I mean! Tucker brightened, the ends of his lips curving into a wolfish grin. “Yeah, I do. But I doubt we can prove Bascom’s cheating. All he’d need to do is glamour the official into believing him instead of us.” She frowned and shook her head. “So how do we stop him?” Tucker lunged toward her and grabbed the arms of the chair. She squealed but didn’t try to get away. He moved his face close to hers. Mari inhaled, taking a whiff of his heady, musky scent along with her breath. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, darlin’.” Would he mind if she licked him? Probably not, but somehow she managed to stop herself. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at.” He grinned, showing his white teeth. The better to eat you with, my dear? The memory of his head between her legs sent flares to light the coals of desire. “Well, since I don’t think tying him up and holding him hostage is a viable alternative, that leaves us with one choice.” She stretched, using the move she’d done to distract her opponents to thrust out her chest. Tucker’s gaze fell to the swell of her chest, lingered, then lifted to her face again. Amber flecks dotted his dark eyes.


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“And what’s that?” she asked. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to break your promise.” His lips, full, yet masculine, tempted her to press hers to his, reminding her of how forceful his kiss had been, how his tongue had slid between them to tantalize her with a quick skim over her lips. “No. I don’t want to.” Ask me to do something I want to do. Like wrap my legs around you. “Think of it as payback.” “Payback?” She leaned to the left, brushed the side of her breast against his arm, and earned a groan from him. “He used his power on Ramona and the rest, and now you’re going to use your magic on him. It evens the playing ground. Hell, it’s payback.” He had a point. “I try not to make promises, but when I do, I don’t like breaking them.” “Sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to do. Besides, you made the promise to yourself, right? So I don’t think yourself will get too upset when you break it.” Damn, but she loved his grin. Among a host of other things about him. “Oh, ha-ha.” But the grin was wiped away by his serious tone. “Think about it, Mari. If we don’t use your magic against him, what other weapon do we have?” “How about your powers as a werewolf?” “Well, I could kill him, but I try not to take a life—undead or living—if I don’t have to. The pack kind of frowns on it. Unless it’s in self-defense, of course.” His chuckle washed over her. “I don’t think him winning a hand would count as a direct attack on me.”

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A zing of excitement tightened her neck. What would he look like in his werewolf form? Would he remember who she was? Would she be in danger? But the danger factor only added to his allure. “I agree. Bloodshed isn’t the answer.” “Other than biting him, I only have one thing to offer. He can’t glamour a shifter. That and my good looks are all I’ve got.” She couldn’t help but giggle. “Don’t forget your modesty.” “Judging from what happened earlier, however, I’d say he could most likely glamour you.” Mari shivered, remembering the cold hold Bascom had put on her. “So what’s it going to be, Mari? Is keeping your promise more important than keeping Bascom from glamouring innocent people? Or from putting a vamp hex on you?” He did have a point. A damn good point. “Maybe you’re right.” His amber-lit eyes twinkled with mirth. “Darlin’, I’m always right.” He grew serious. “Then we agree? You’ll use your magic?” “Okay. But we have to be careful. I need all the advantages I can get.” “Don’t I know it? You may be a witch, but I don’t think you’re much of a match for an ancient vampire.” “Oh, so you don’t think I can take him?” She wasn’t sure she could either, but why did he have to assume as much? “I didn’t say you can’t handle yourself, but let’s face it. You’re going to need a lot of help. That’s where I come in.” She crossed her arms and smirked. “And just how will you help, since I’m the one with the magic?” “I’ll play bait and distract him, giving you time and cover to do your thing.” He was right, of course. She would have a better chance if she could blindside Bascom. “Makes sense. Unless you get hurt in the process.”


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Tucker snorted. “Don’t worry about me, darlin’. I’ll hold my own. You just try not to look at his eyes.” “I’ll do my best. Not that I can take care of myself like you can, of course.” She grinned. Men and their egos. He placed his hands on her shoulders and rubbed her arm. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Did he just try to placate me? She smothered a laugh. “Thanks. I’ll try.” In the meantime, maybe she should show him just how strong a witch she was. She crossed her legs, narrowly missing his crotch with her knee. A move that wasn’t lost on Tucker. “So do you believe everyone deserves a little payback?” He narrowed his eyes, suspicions clouding his face. “Why do I feel like I’ve just stepped into a trap?” She ignored his question. He’d get his answer soon enough. “I think I owe you some payback, darlin’.” “How so?” “Do you remember our hookup in the hallway?” “I’ll never forget it.” The sincerity behind his words hit her, giving her more incentive to carry out her spell. “You kind of took me by surprise, you know? Then you took control of me.” He slid his hand off the arm of the chair to skim along her thigh, slipping his fingertips under the hem of her skirt. His touch awakened her nerves, then sent a thrill up her leg. “Are you sorry I did?” “No, but I think you deserve a little payback of your own.” “Really?” He swallowed, then ran his tongue over his upper lip. “I do. And it’s my turn to take over.”

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She murmured the magical words under her breath. Tucker tensed up, then let out a yelp as he was yanked into the air. Mari slipped under him, getting out of the way seconds before he landed in the chair. “How the hell?” Not giving him a moment to react, she waved her hands and murmured a binding spell. Tucker’s hands clutched the chair arms. He jerked and yanked his arms, trying to get away, but the hex held, keeping his hands glued to the wood. Growling, he lifted his head to glare at her with amber-rich eyes, then snarled, exposing sharp fangs. “Hell’s bells!” Mari plopped onto the edge of the bed. “You really are a werewolf. I guess maybe I didn’t truly believe… Wow.” Tucker growled again as his ears pointed and fur replaced the stubble along his chin. “Are you changing?” Alarm pierced her, but still couldn’t compete with her curiosity. “Are you still in there?” Tucker stopped struggling and ducked his head. She sensed the struggle had turned inward with a battle to stay human warring with the animal wanting to be set free. “Tucker?” He lifted his head, his gaze meeting hers. Fur no longer trimmed his jaw line and his eyes had returned to blue, his fangs receding as she watched. “Uh-uh.” She dropped to her knees in front of him. “No, don’t hide them. I want to see your fangs.” He renewed his fight to get loose. “What are you up to, Mari?” “I told you. Payback.” She inched toward him and ran her hands over his thighs. He sucked in a breath, his gaze fixed on her. “Damn, that was something.”


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“I didn’t scare you?” “Not a bit.” At his surprised expression, she added, “I know. I would’ve thought I’d run like a rabbit.” She rubbed her hands over his thighs again, then gave him a sultry look. “But I think it’s sexy as hell.” Tucker’s anger was gone from his eyes, replaced by a different kind of predator’s gleam. “How sexy?” Mari positioned herself between his legs and tugged the button of his jeans open. “This sexy.”

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Chapter Five

You Show Me Yours and I’ll Show You Mine

Tucker sucked in a breath, scooted his bottom to the end of the chair, then lifted it higher, allowing Mari to tug his jeans to the floor. She yanked off his shoes, followed them with his jeans and tossed them away. His shaft already stood at attention as she wrapped her hand around him. “Ooh, I like it when a man comes prepared.” “If I had it my way, underwear would be banned.” She stretched over him, her lips only an inch from the tip. “I hope it’s okay that I wore panties.” “Darlin’, you keep doing what you’re doing and you can wear anything you want. As long as you know it’s gotta come off sometime.” He started to say more but lost his train of thought when she touched the end of her tongue against the tip of his cock. “Go on, darlin’. Wrap your sweet mouth around me.” Instead of giving him his wish, she continued to toy with him, flicking her tongue lightly over his slit. He groaned and worked to free his hands, but her spell held him as securely as chains would have. “You’re killing me.” The evil grin she gave him was sexy as hell. “I don’t think so. But even if I am, do you want me to stop?” “Hell, no. Still, I wouldn’t mind if you turned me loose so I could help.” “Not a chance. I like you this way.” She cupped his balls while she stroked him with her other hand. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she dove in, taking every inch of his shaft inside her mouth.

Beverly Rae

“Oh, shit!” Tucker jerked, then moaned as she matched the up-and-down slide of her hand with the movement of her mouth. Dragging on him, she pulled, then released, then pulled again. The whirlwind of lust began in his abdomen, then spiraled outward. His cock grew harder, longer, pulsing with need. Her silky blonde hair, so close yet miles from his reach, tempted him to reach out and clutch a handful of the soft strands, and he flexed his hands, desperate to touch her. He moaned, unable to resist the delicious torture of her teeth as she teased his delicate skin, toying with him, pretending she just might take a nibble. Instead, she sucked his skin in and fondled his balls. His stomach tightened with need, and his shaft jerked as his lust spun out of control. He groaned, giving voice to the urgency whirling inside him. “Eeggh, let me go.” She glanced up, shot him a questioning look. “What’s wrong? Can’t you get away on your own? Or is this witch too much for a big, strong wolfman?” She grabbed his shirt with both hands and yanked it open. Buttons flew everywhere, and she laughed, obviously enjoying herself. “Mmm, nice abs.” Keeping one hand on his shaft, she placed a palm flat on his chest and skimmed it over his stomach. Her fingers tunneled through his hair, making a path to his shoulders. He thrust out his chin toward her chest. “How about you? Let me see what’s under your blouse.” Seeing his hunger echoed in her eyes was all it took. She whispered a spell and her blouse opened, exposing her braless breasts. “Man, oh, man.” His lips parted, his gaze raking over her. “Come here, Mari. Quit fooling around and free my hands.”

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She shook her head. “Not until I’m ready. Until then…” Another spell and her skirt dropped to the floor. He groaned and struggled against his invisible restraints. “I thought you said you had on panties.” She glanced down, gasped coquettishly, her fingers over her mouth, then brought out a very big grin. “Oh, my. Looks like I lied.” “That’s one lie I’m okay with.” He took her in, aching to feel swell of her soft stomach under his palms. Even now, he could taste her perky nipples, each surrounded by a beautiful brown areola. He licked his lips, his gaze fixed on the curly blonde strip of hair between her legs. “Sit on me, Mari. Ride me.” She hesitated only a second, then slid onto his lap. He tried to arch upward, to encourage her to let him enter her. She flattened her hands on his chest, pushing her breasts together, and leaned forward. Tucker latched on to her nipple and sucked, closing his eyes in his relief to finally touch her. He circled her hard nub with his tongue, eliciting a soft mewing sound from her. Pushing her breast against his face, he sucked harder, adding a nibble between licks. Her other breast tickled his cheek. “Ooh, yeah. Suck on me, Tucker.” He obeyed her, using his mouth and tongue, wishing he could use his hands. If he could, he’d grab her bottom and force her onto his cock. As if she’d read his mind, she reached for him, then guided his already weeping shaft into her pussy. He let out an “ahh” that melted with hers. Moving her hips back and forth, she inched his length inside her, until at last she threw back her head and let out a cry. He thrust upward, driving as hard and fast as he could.


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Sweat broke out along her forehead as she matched him, riding him like a cowgirl breaking a wild horse. Digging her fingernails into his skin, she paused, tensed, then cried out again as a shudder ripped through her. She continued to ride him, shifting her body to the front, then the back, her vaginal muscles clamping onto him, possessing him. Sex-clouded eyes looked down at him. “Bite me, Tucker. Use your fangs and bite my breast.” “Let me go, Mari, so I can do this right.” “You’re doing just fine.” Cupping her breast, she offered it to him again. “Bite me. Just a little. I want to see your fangs.” As though she’d put a charm over him, he shifted almost before he knew it was happening. Fangs sliced through gums as the Change overtook him. He inhaled, once, then twice, calming the wolf inside him, keeping him restrained. Mari’s eyes grew wide, and for a moment, he saw fear in them. But the fear was soon swept away with heat. She bit her lip, an imitation of his fangs sliding past his lower lip, then circled her hips, driving him over the edge. He growled his release, then bit her breast as she clung to him, shaking through a climax of her own. She mewed soft, sexy sounds, sounds filled with longing and with pain, before finally dragging in a ragged breath. He fought to keep control, part of him wanting to do more than give her a small bite. Part of him urged him to bite deeper, longer, enough to change her. The battle waged inside him, tearing him into two parts until he had no choice but to either take her as his mate or release her. Tucker jerked away from her and saw the two small trails of blood sliding down her breast. “Mari.” She fell on him, resting her forehead on his shoulder. He could hear the hammering of her heart even over his own pounding beat.

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“I—I didn’t mean to take it this far, Tucker.” “You didn’t?” Had she not liked it? Slipping off him, she turned her back on him and hurriedly threw on her clothes. “No, I didn’t. I was just going to tease you.” He tilted his head, enjoying the view of her round bottom, then forced himself to ignore the carnal juices still flowing in him. “I didn’t mind. In fact, I’m glad you did.” She whirled around, the misery on her face shocking him, making him forget everything else. “I’m sorry, Tucker. I’m totally ashamed.” “Are you kidding me? Trust me, darlin’, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of.” Her pleasure at his compliment broke through her dismay but only for a moment. “But I practically raped you!” He was sure he’d misunderstood her. Once he realized he hadn’t, the laughter spilled out of him. “Why the hell would you think that?” She was confused now, sputtering her words. “I put a spell on you. You couldn’t move, and even when you told me to let you go, I didn’t. I held you against your will. I am so, so sorry.” He had to stop laughing at her before she became less ashamed and more irritated. “Against my will? Hardly. Okay, maybe physically. But don’t worry about it, Mari. You didn’t do anything to me I didn’t want done. Besides, if I’d wanted to get away, all I would’ve had to do was shift.” He almost laughed more at her surprise. And if he were truthful with himself, he’d have to admit he wasn’t so sure he could’ve broken free even in wolf form. He just hoped her magic would be as strong with Bascom.


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Beverly Rae

Mari traced a finger down the middle of Tucker’s chest and wondered if anything could ever wipe the smile off her face. But didn’t she have reason to smile? After riding him on the chair, he’d thrown her into bed and taken her time and time again. Did all werewolves have such incredible stamina? Or had she just gotten lucky with Tucker? She snuggled under his arm and played with the chest hairs leading a path down to the curlier hairs around his shaft. “I’ve been watching you for a while.” She rested her chin on his chest and stared into the crystal blue eyes. “You have?” His laugh warmed her from the outside all the way to her heart. “Get that look off your face. I don’t mean it in a stalkerish kind of way.” She pretended to be more relieved than she felt. “I’m glad. For a minute there, I thought I’d have to call security.” “Let’s not forget who tied, or stuck, or whatever you call it, my hands to the chair.” She poked him playfully in the stomach. “Ouch. Okay, tough girl. Knock it off.” She made a fierce face and shook her fist at him. “Then you better remember who’s stronger.” He chuckled, then gave her his own version of a poke—on the end of her nose. “I meant, I’ve been watching your career for a while.” “Really? But why?” “Why wouldn’t I? You’re one of the best in the world.” “Yeah, but I would’ve thought you’d follow one of the top male players. They have great records, too, you know.” Especially Bascom. No, don’t go there. “True, and I followed a few of them as well. Men like Phil Ivey and all-time greats like Doyle Brunson. But let’s face it. Given a choice between looking at photos of Brunson or you, which do you think I chose?”

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“Wow, talk about a backhanded compliment. I beat out senior-citizen Brunson.” “Barely.” He chuckled at her scowl. “Although his background’s not as interesting as yours.” Now he’d really caught her interest. “Wait a sec. You read about my life outside of poker?” “I sure did.” He grew thoughtful. “Now let me see if I remember this right. You grew up on a hippy commune in California—” “It’s not a commune, it’s an ashram, and my mother was its spiritual leader.” “What’s an ashram?” He played with her hair, winding it around one of his fingers. “An ashram is a place where people go to grow spiritually. Ours was located in the hills between Los Angeles and Malibu. People came to worship, to do yoga, to do whatever it was they needed to do to find happiness and fulfillment.” “Like I said, a commune.” She tweaked his nipple, earning a loud yelp. “It’s not a commune.” “Was your mother a witch, too? Or was your father a warlock?” Tucker frowned. “It’s surprising how little I know about witches.” “You probably know as much about us as I know about werewolves. And more than I know about vampires.” Bascom’s evil eyes struck her, chilling her, and she moved closer, using Tucker’s warmth to shake off the image and the chill. “Neither one of my parents had any powers of any kind. But my grandmother was a very powerful witch. The magic sometimes skips a generation.” “Too bad for your mom.”


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Was it? Sometimes she thought her mother had gotten lucky. “What else did you find out about me?” “I know you like to eat weird stuff like chicken pizza.” “What’s so weird about chicken pizza?” “Eck.” He faked a shudder. “Nothing I guess. I just can’t stand birds. Especially chickens.” “So I guess you never raided a henhouse.” He arched one haughty eyebrow. “Foxes raid henhouses. Not wolves, and definitely not werewolves.” “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” “I’ll let it pass. This time.” She giggled and snuggled closer. “I also know you tend to bet aggressively when you’re short-stacked.” “No, don’t. Let’s not talk about game play. Talk about the personal stuff.” She had to admit it. She was touched that he’d delved into her background and wanted to hear more. “I know you like to give back. You do a lot of work with charities.” She rose up on her elbow to study him. “You really did do some digging.” He looked sheepish, almost as though he were a shy young boy with a crush on his teacher. “What can I say? I found you interesting. Besides, your background told me a lot about you. Obviously, you’re giving and generous. I mean, how many people give thirty percent of their income to charity?” She bowed her head, unwilling to take the praise. “It’s a purely selfish move. I love helping people because it makes me feel good.” “Bullshit. You’re a good person, so own it.” He tugged her around, placing her back against his chest and sliding his arm under her breasts. “I also know you live modestly and not in a mansion.”

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“Why bother with a big house when I’m rarely home?” “You also like to go hiking and camping, which, in my book, puts you way out in front of anyone else.” “Okay, since you know so much about me, how about telling me something about yourself?” “What’s to tell? I was born a werewolf and I grew up with the Cannon Pack in the Colorado Mountains.” “Oh, come on. Like I said, I don’t know about werewolves, but I’m betting not many end up in a Las Vegas poker tournament.” She craned her neck to see him. “I’m right, aren’t I? If there were, I would’ve sensed they were special like I did with you. Or are there other supernatural beings I don’t know about? Ones I can’t sense. Worse things, maybe?” She felt his chuckle rumble into her back. “Worse things? Meaning werewolves are bad enough? Dang. What a dig.” “You know what I mean.” “Yeah, I know. Vamps.” He kissed the top of her head. “Naw. Or at least I haven’t run into anything else yet. I think most supernaturals are like werewolves. We tend to stick close to home and either stay in the mountains or work in one of the pack’s businesses in the city.” “Then how did you end up on the circuit?” “I wanted to do the lone-wolf routine for a while, then start my own pack. But I didn’t count on catching the gambling bug. Anyway, I got lucky because my alpha, Daniel Cannon, staked me in getting started as a professional player.” “For having turned professional a little over a year ago, you’re doing really well.” “Ah, so I’m not the only one who’s done a little Googling.” “Okay, I admit it. I’ve been tracking your progress, too. At least now I understand why I haven’t found much about your past or your personal life.”


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She had, in fact, been fascinated with his fast rise in the rankings. “So your pack’s okay with your profession? Especially since it puts you in the limelight?” “They’re used to me doing whatever the hell I want.” She waited, sensing there was more. “Actually, I’m the white wolf in my pack, which is like being the black sheep among humans.” “What does that mean? When you change, do you change into a white wolf?” “You got it.” She rolled over to face him. “Really? Isn’t that rare?” She studied him as though she could see the wolf beneath the human skin. “I’ve never seen a white wolf.” She watched, ready to see his reaction. “But I’d like to.” Tucker flipped her on her back, then pulled her hands above head, snaring her wrists in his large hands. Her heart pounded, and her breathing quickened. Amber flaked his eyes, and the tiniest bit of fang slipped over his lower lip. “Darlin’, be careful. You might just get your wish.” “I know what I’m asking.” Then realization struck, alarm stiffening her body. “At least, I think I do. You wouldn’t hurt me, would you?” His expression softened. “I could never hurt you. As a wolf or as a man.” The way he said it brought a lump to Mari’s throat. She knew she could trust him to keep her safe. Not just from him, but from everything. She sat up, pulling the sheet over her body. “Then do it. Let me see Tucker the white wolf.” He studied her, obviously trying to decide whether to do as she asked or not. “I don’t know if this is a good idea. I wouldn’t want to scare you off.” “You won’t. I’ll stay calm.”

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“The Change isn’t easy, you know. Bones break and reform, and the noise can be unsettling to humans. In fact, the whole thing can be pretty gruesome to watch. You might want to close your eyes until it’s over.” “Not a chance. I want to see.” She clamped her mouth closed, catching the who I’m getting involved with from slipping out. As far as she knew, their involvement would be over once the tournament was finished. He tilted his head, his expression serious and thoughtful, and she waited for him to decide. At last, he flung off the covers and strode to the other side of the room. His enticing buttocks flexed as he kept his back to her, then swung his arms as though warming up for a run. The muscles in his broad back flexed with each swing. Damn, but he was hot. All of a sudden, he stopped. Had he changed his mind? She stared at him and was about to ask what had happened. She opened her mouth, ready to question him, then blinked once. Then twice. Was her eyesight getting bad? Why did he look fuzzy? Then it hit her. The distinct outline of his body was dissolving, growing hazy. He was shifting. Crack! The sound startled her and she clamped a hand to her mouth. Was that a bone breaking? Tucker’s arms twisted, turning toward the front of his body. His butt, so enticing before, became narrower, then lengthened at the end. More cracking sounds made her grit her teeth against the agonizing sounds, but she wouldn’t look away.


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Without warning, he dropped to the floor, still with his back to her. She yanked the sheet and held it under her chin like a protective shield and watched, mesmerized as his legs broke in half then reformed. Oh, my God. She pulled the sheet higher, just under her eyes, like she was watching a horror movie she couldn’t turn off. A film spread over his body, turning tanned skin to white. Fur. He’s growing fur. Spellbound more than any hex could ever do, she couldn’t take her gaze from him. Her gut clenched as she balled the sheet in her hands and waited, unable to look away. She gasped as a long, white tail broke through his skin. His body shook, then slowly, he turned to face her. His face contorted, growing longer and narrower. His mouth, no longer human, spread wider until jaws formed and fierce white teeth showed as he drew back his lips in a snarl. Ears sprouted from human ears, and the last resemblance to a human’s head was gone. The white wolf, bigger than any she’d ever seen, padded toward her, then stopped. He tilted his head to side, reminding her of how he’d done so earlier. “Tucker?” It was silly to ask, but she had to anyway. He bobbed his head once, then one more time, and took another step closer. She held her breath and waited. Would he attack her? They stood staring at each other for a minute or more before she found the strength to move. Dropping the sheet, she scooted toward the end of the bed on her hands and knees. He gave a low growl, one that sounded more tentative than angry. “Tucker?” Amber eyes regarded her as though waiting for her to go on.

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“Tucker. You’re frickin’ amazing.” The grin sliding over the wolf’s face was unmistakable.

“Are you ready?” Tucker, dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans that hugged his body in all the right places, closed the door behind him and strode into Mari’s hotel room. She tingled just looking at him, but once she started remembering him stuck to the chair, his wild eyes scouring her body, the tingle transformed into a full-blown bolt of electricity. If only they had time… She’d love to do more than imagine the possibilities. “I am.” Mari shoved her lustful thoughts away and tried to appear more confident than she felt. Tucker’s expectant look had her averting her face from his, and she checked her lipstick in the mirror, then fluffed her hair. Fake it until you make it. Was the phrase one of Tommy’s? Or one she’d heard somewhere else? “Have you got a spell ready? You know exactly what you’re going to do?” He shifted back and forth on his feet and dug his hands into his pockets. Okay, maybe he wasn’t as confident as she’d thought he was. This was so not good. “Uh-huh.” A whisper was all she could get out. “Well, do you?” She was nervous enough without having him badger her. “I said I did.” She cringed, hating the strident tone of her voice and covered by tugging at the formfitting skirt and blouse she’d thrown on. The blouse revealed an ample amount of her cleavage, maybe too much, and for the hundredth time, she considered changing. But time had run out.


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Keep your mind on the plan and off him. “When you distract him, I’ll cast the hex to make him forget he’s a vampire. I don’t think the spell will last more than a couple of days, but that should be long enough.” “How will I know when you’re ready to make your move?” He came behind her, his ocean-blue eyes raking over her image in the mirror. “I’ll give you a signal like this.” She tugged on the lobe of her left ear. “Okay. Got it. When you tug on your ear, I’ll cause a distraction.” She shot him a questioning look. “No, Mari. I’m not changing into a wolf in front of a shitload of cameras. We want to distract people, not have them run out in a panic.” “Too bad. I’d like to see Tucker the Wolf again.” “That can be arranged. Privately.” “Then what kind of distraction are you planning?” “A small one. But be quick. I doubt it’ll throw him off for long.” She turned around and ended up with her breasts against his hard chest. Oh, my. The fire he’d already started inside her burned brighter as his gaze locked on to hers. He took her by the arms, holding her close and trapping her between his granite body and the dresser. “You look incredible.” He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, then brought his lips closer. “I wish we had time.” His breath, warm on her skin, scrambled her brain. Unable to do otherwise, she stared into his eyes and tried to breathe normally. “Time for what?” The corners of his mouth lifted. “Come on, darlin’. You know what.” Of course she knew. Hadn’t she thought the very same thing? In fact, she’d done nothing else but think about the previous day’s escapades from the moment they’d parted. He’d taken a starring role in her dreams, too. She glanced

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at the chair, a duplicate of the one in his room, the one where she’d held him captive, and had to resist licking her lips. “Are you sure—” “Am I sure we don’t have time?” Tucker traced his thumb over her bottom lip. “Yeah, I’m sure. Except for maybe a little of this.” He took her head in both hands, holding her still as he pressed his lips to hers. She inhaled, drawing in the fragrance of a musky aftershave along with a scent she couldn’t define. Suddenly, she remembered the way his fangs looked, the way they’d felt on her skin, and she slipped her arms under his to grip his back. The kiss was soft at first as he teased her with a lick, then a nibble. But she needed more, wanted to give him more. Unable to stand the teasing a second longer, she leaned her head back and plunged her tongue inside his mouth, demanding he give her what she needed. He groaned, enveloping her in his arms to leave no space between them. He sucked on her tongue, then lightly bit her upper lip. Taking her breast, he fondled her, finding her taut nipple through the material of her blouse. He massaged the hard nub, stroking her and stoking her fire. She melted into him, pushing her pelvis against the bulge beneath the denim. Moaning, she took his hand from her left breast, then slid it under the top of her blouse, under her bra to find the nipple of her other breast. A growl rumbled in his chest and throat, and for a moment she wondered if the wolf was free. If she looked into his eyes, would she see amber flecks? She swiped her tongue around his mouth, searching for fangs, but found none. She made a disappointed sound.


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He pulled up the side of her skirt, then skimmed his hand over her thigh to cup her buttock. He squeezed both breast and butt cheek at the same time, and she cupped her hand around his neck. His silky hair tickled her fingers. Mari lifted her leg, opening herself to him, and he didn’t hesitate to explore the crack between her cheeks. Her mind blanked except for one goal: to get Tucker in bed and underneath her. Another growl, different in tone from the first, ground out of him, and he pushed away from her. Panting, he wiped his mouth, his intense gaze fixed on her. “Damn, woman, we don’t have time for this.” His words may have denied her, but the waves of emotion coming from him were undeniable desire. Mari pulled her blouse together and smoothed down the skirt. “Hey, don’t go putting all the blame on me. I didn’t hold you down this time.” “I’m not blaming you for anything.” He licked his lips. “Except maybe for being the hottest woman I’ve ever met.” She blushed. What the hell could she say? “Umm…” Tucker took a step closer to her, hands out to take her, then abruptly backed off. “Whew. How about we keep our mind on the business of getting rid of Bascom?” A grin turned the corners of his mouth up. “But after that? Nothing’s going to stop me from having you again.” “I’m looking forward to it.” His grin brightened his face. “Well, then, let’s go get the bloodsucker so I can get you back in bed where you belong.”

“You seem a tad under the weather today, Mari. Are you all right?” Bascom’s smoother-than-silk tone called to her, urging her to look away from her

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cards and into his eyes. Instead, Mari continued to do what she’d done through the two hours of game play. She kept her eyes on the table, the dealer and Tucker—and away from Bascom. “I’m fine, thank you.” The allure of the vampire had grown stronger every minute. So far she’d held out, refusing his silent call to look at him, but she wasn’t sure how long she could keep it up. Sweat trickled down her spine, and she almost wished she could give in. “Mari, did your mother not ever tell you that it is impolite not to look at someone when they are talking to you?” Bascom’s teasing voice echoed in her head. “Why are you so interested in how Mari’s feeling, Bascom?” Tucker’s voice was, to anyone else listening in, conversational and light. But she knew better. She could hear the warning edge behind the words and silently thanked him for drawing the vampire’s attention away from her. “Should I not be interested? Do you not wish good health to your opponents?” The murmur of the audience grew louder. Mari could feel the stares of those surrounding her and tried to concentrate on her cards. So far she’d managed to win most of the hands, cutting Bascom’s stack lead and placing him in last place in the chip count. Tucker was holding his own, yet if she had to wager a bet, she’d swear he was throwing hands to help her increase her lead. “Most of them.” She doubted anyone in the entire room had missed Tucker’s meaning. Hell’s bells. Don’t take it too far. They didn’t want to force Bascom to use his power. Not yet. Granted, they’d agreed that Tucker should bait the vampire, but she hoped he wouldn’t jump the gun.


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Bascom’s chuckle held all the warmth of hell frozen over. “Mr. Manning, your talent for subtlety is sorely lacking. But no matter. I do not take offense.” Mari lifted her gaze to find Tucker grinning at Bascom. She shot him a pointed look. Take it easy. Don’t show your hand yet or he’ll realize we’re up to something. She raised Bascom’s current bet, making both men check the growing pot. If she could keep her head down and make the right plays, she could take him out. “Oh, goody. I’d hate to think I’ve offended you.” Tucker continued to taunt the vampire. “Watch out, Bascom. Your stack is dwindling by the second. But hey, coming in third isn’t so bad.” His chuckle was filled with animosity. “Er, wait. I’m wrong. Coming in third would totally suck.” Mari cringed at Tucker’s emphasis on the last word, especially when the announcer repeated the exchange to the television audience. But she couldn’t do anything more to warn him to slow down. Instead, she concentrated on the cards in her hands and calculated the unlikely odds of Bascom holding an ace. If she was right, she had him beat. Mari stated her bet, listened to the awed reaction of the crowd to her large wager, then moved her chips to the center. Sensing Bascom lean forward, she focused on the green cloth of the table and said a quick prayer. Would he take the bait? If he did, he’d lose big. Amazingly, Bascom matched her wager. She let out a slow breath and waited. “Mari.” Almost as if she couldn’t help herself, she glanced up at Bascom. Had he said her name out loud? He still had on his black sunglasses, but she could feel his

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intense glare. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to glance at Tucker, who had his focus squarely on Bascom. Tucker! “Mari, look at me.” Like a moth to a flame, she brought her gaze back to Bascom. A chill raked over her, making her shiver. She opened her mouth, hoping to warn Tucker, but found she couldn’t speak. “Mari, keep your eyes on me.” The chill intensified, turning to a cold that froze her to the bone. She placed her cards face down and gripped the side of the table. Shit, shit, shit, shit! Slowly, Bascom lifted his hand toward his sunglasses. She struggled to breathe, struggled not to pass out. Her body shook, from fear and from the dead frost capturing her. He was taking off his sunglasses, and she’d see his eyes. Tucker, please, help me. Drawing on every ounce of strength she had, she lifted her right hand toward her earlobe. Her hand shook as she grappled to remember the words of the commanding spell. If she could say the spell at exactly the right moment, she might have a chance of controlling the vampire. If the spell worked on vampires. Tucker! Her hand was at the tip of her ear when Bascom pulled off his sunglasses. Suddenly, the world around her disappeared, clouded over by a blackness as deep and endless as the universe. Her breath hitched in her throat, and the hair on her arms stood on end. The overwhelming cold broke apart only to turn to a fire that threatened to burn her from the inside out. Then, as swiftly as the darkness and fire had swept over her, it was gone. Left behind was only one thought: she must do whatever Bascom wanted.


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“Mari. Fold.”

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Tucker darted his gaze back and forth between Mari and Bascom. The vampire hadn’t uttered a word since matching her bet, but he had the terrible impression that Bascom had caught Mari in a trap. “What the hell?” Mari paused, her hand only centimeters from her earlobe. Bascom leaned forward and whipped off his sunglasses. “No.” Tucker’s hissed exclamation came too late. In horror, he watched Mari toss her cards to the table and declare she was out of the hand. An uproar erupted around him as stunned spectators shouted their disbelief. But he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Like Ramona and the others, Mari’s eyes were glazed, her jaw slack and her face expressionless. Bascom had glamoured her. Bascom spread out his cards for everyone to see. Putting his sunglasses back on, he slid his body lower into his chair and waved at the audience as though their astonished reactions were praises for his move. With Mari bowing out of the bet, Bascom gained a large chip count and took over first place. “You son of a bitch.” Tucker kept his voice low even though he doubted anyone could’ve heard him in the noisy room. Bascom feigned a hurt expression. “My word, have I done something wrong? Whatever the case may be, my friend, I would urge you to keep a civil tongue.” His grin oozed evil. “A man could regret his words very quickly around me.”

Beverly Rae

Tucker glared at Bascom, his palm itching to throttle the vampire. The beast inside him ached to be set free, to disregard the television cameras and the throng of innocent humans. Instead, he found the director of the tournament and stared pointedly at him, willing him to call a time-out. Still, he was surprised when the man spoke into a microphone, declaring a break in play and asking the audience members to vacate the room during the intermission. At the announcement of the break, Tucker leapt to his feet and hurried around the table to Mari’s side. Bascom, startled by Tucker’s abrupt move, started to rise, then gathered his composure and settled back into his seat. Tucker took Mari by the arm and shook her. “Mari, come out of it.” But she remained silent, her gaze stuck on Bascom. “Mari, it’s me. Break free of his hold. Come on, darlin’, fight him.” “She will do only what I tell her to do.” Tucker rushed around the table faster than was humanly possible. Bascom, however, was as quick as he was and darted to the far wall. Growling, he shoved the vampire against the wall, then clenched his fists to keep from strangling him. Shaking from rage, he took a step back. Panic flashed across Bascom’s composed features a second before Bascom shook himself and straightened his shirt. Bascom adopted his slimy grin and nodded toward a few people still standing by, their attention locked on the scene. His dark eyes sparkled as he lightened his voice with a singsong quality. “Uh-uh-uh. People are watching.” Tucker lowered his head and narrowed his eyes. “Release your control over her, you asshole.” Bascom arched an eyebrow. “Be careful. Obviously you were unaware of what I am, which puts you at a disadvantage. However, I must admit that I, too, am at a disadvantage. I did not realize until now that you are someone…special.

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Tell me. Are you one of my own kind? Are you a vampire?” His wicked grin stretched wider at his shocking revelation. Tucker spat his words. “I’m no shitty bloodsucker.” “Hmm.” Bascom’s eyes glittered. “Could it be that you are a warlock? Perhaps even a sorcerer?” He shook his head, then slid his gaze to Tucker’s feet and back. “No, you have no magic.” Tucker closed the distance between them. “Let me give you a hint.” Making sure the people behind him couldn’t see, he put his face inches from the vampire’s, then shifted enough to bring out his fangs. “A werewolf,” whispered the vampire. Bascom’s eyes grew round, and he stiffened, pressing his back against the wall to get as far from Tucker as possible. “I should have known from the stench.” “Seriously, man? The stench? How about the stink of being one of the walking dead?” Bascom sneered, exposing his fangs just enough for Tucker to notice, and hissed like the snake he was. Tucker doubted any of the observers were close enough to see them. “Listen up, vamp. By the time I walk back to Mari, you’re going to have released her. Then once the game resumes, you’re going to play fair and square. None of that eye voodoo you do. Don’t take off your sunglasses again and I’ll let you keep your cold, dead heart inside your chest.” He let his fangs lengthen a little more. “If you don’t do as I say, I’ll rip it out and I won’t care who sees me do it.” “Gentlemen, is there a problem?” Bascom’s fangs disappeared, and his eyes returned to their silver color. His attitude brightened as his gaze drifted to the man who had come to stand behind


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Tucker. Tucker reversed his transformation and stepped away, plastering a smile on his face as he turned to face the tournament director. “No. No problem.” He pretended to be surprised. “Oh this? This isn’t anything. Bascom and I are old fraternity buddies, and we roughhouse once in a while. Just harmless horsing around, you know. Isn’t that right, Basky, ole buddy?” Instead of answering, Bascom stalked past the older gentleman to his chair at the table. Tucker shrugged. “Don’t let him bother you. He’s just a bit edgy. Playing at the final table can do that to a player who’s not on top of his game.” Tucker slapped him on the shoulder and sauntered away, hoping he had preempted any more questions. Mari, shaken and glancing around, looked confused as he squatted next to her. Her hands shook as she frowned at the small stack of coins in front of her. “What happened? I was about—” she paused to eye the frowning Bascom, “—to do you know what and then a horrible blackness surrounded me.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “I don’t remember anything after that.” Tucker held a hand up, shielding his mouth from the vampire. “He beat you to the punch.” Horror spread across her face. “Oh, no. Did he glamour me?” “Yeah, he did. Then he took a big pot from you.” Anger swept away her stricken look. “Damn it. Don’t tell me he took the lead?” “I hate to say it, but yeah, he did.” Tucker brushed a loose hair behind her ear, then caught Bascom smirking at them. “But don’t worry about it. He knows he can’t glamour me.” He pivoted to speak directly to the vampire. “He also knows I’m going to wipe him out.”

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Bascom blinked, his confident façade breaking. “I doubt you are any match for my skill, shif—” As though he’d just noticed the spectators returning to the room, he dropped his voice and tucked his chin. “I am a better player than you will ever be.” Tucker took his time getting back to his chair. He settled into place, then nodded at the dealer who had just taken her seat, before turning his glare on Bascom. “Wanna bet?”

“I had no clue.” Mari hurried next to Tucker, trying to keep pace with his long legs. “I mean, sure, I knew you were good, but I didn’t think you were amazing.” “Ow. I think my fragile ego just cracked.” “I’m sorry. I only meant I didn’t know you’d become so skilled. After all, you’ve only been a pro for a short time and the level of play you showed today takes years of hard work and practice.” “I guess I’m a fast learner.” She giggled. “Bascom didn’t know you were amazing, either.” “He does now.” “He sure does. You took his stack away so fast he didn’t know what hit him. I swear I could feel the hate burning through those dark glasses of his.” “Yeah, he was not a happy camper when they called the end of play.” Heading for the elevator doors, Tucker took her hand and drew her into the elevator with him. The warmth, the security of his hand holding hers struck her, and she smiled. She looked up at him and studied his strong profile. How had they come so far so fast? If anyone had told her she’d be third in line for the championship and already short-stacked, she would’ve told them


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anything could happen in a tournament. But believing she’d be tangled up with a werewolf and battling a vampire for the title? No way in hell. His eyes softened as he took her by the arms. “I hate what he did to you.” She shivered, the freezing blast once again sweeping over her. Would she ever feel completely warm? Or would the vampire’s cold touch remain inside her forever? “If I had my way, if I didn’t have a tournament to win—” she shot him a cocky smile she hoped would spread to the rest of her body, “—then I’d get as far away from him as I could.” “If I had my way, he’d have already gone back to the ground as a pile of dust.” Was he serious? Or was he playing the part of her champion? “You wouldn’t actually kill him, would you? Can you kill someone who’s already dead?” “I might not be able to take his life since it’s already gone, but I could damn well cause him to cease to exist.” The anger wafting off of him shook her. But her uneasiness was dispelled when she saw the hardness in his face ease. “Eh, don’t worry about him. I can handle him.” She laid her palm against his strong chest. Was she really a damsel in distress with her own werewolf in shining armor? When did she start needing a man? Yet she had to admit—at least to herself—that the idea wasn’t half bad. “I think we deserve a reward for what we’ve gone through today. Especially you.” She tamped down the excitement and only let a small smile show. “Oh? What do you have in mind?” “You’ll see.” By the time they made it to his hotel room, she already had a few ideas of her own. He squeezed her hand, then opened the door and waved her ahead of him.

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Mari stepped into what had been a plain hotel room and found herself lost in an oasis of roses and fragrant scents. “Wow,” she whispered. Beautiful crystal vases filled with dozens of roses sat on every available surface. White candles of various sizes flickered, casting shadows on the walls. Champagne chilled in a bucket on the table along with a large white plate of chocolate-covered strawberries. Two white robes waited for them on the petal-strewn bed. Mari took everything in and found herself glamoured in an entirely different way. “Did I say wow already? Because if I didn’t then let me say it now. Wow.” He took both her hands and bent to look into her eyes. “I’m hoping that’s a good wow.” She nodded but still couldn’t take her attention away from the beauty of the room. “Actually, it’s an incredible wow. This takes my breath away.” He let out a sigh. “Good. I figured you should have something special after dealing with the evil bastard all day. I’m glad you like it.” “What’s not to like? This is right out of a romance novel. How did you know I love roses? Have you seen the rose garden here? It’s like an oasis in the desert. I’m hoping to spend some time there once the tournament is over.” Her quizzical expression was mixed with joy. “But when did you have time to do all this?” “After you left last night—which, by the way, I hope you won’t do tonight— I made a few calls. Then after today, well, I figured some TLC from little old me might turn the day around for you.” The fluttering in her stomach increased. She placed her palms on her chest and hoped the wonderful sensation would never go away. Does he really care about me? She hoped so. Still, she needed to be sure. “Tell me the truth. Do you do this at every tournament?” “Huh? What are you talking about?”


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She bit her lip, wanting to stop herself from asking, but the words slipped out anyway. “Do you find a woman at every tournament to seduce? You know. Kind of like the old saying about sailors? A woman in every port?” “Are you shitting me? You think I do this all the time?” The stunned expression tore at her a moment before the anger flared across his face. But strangely, this time his anger made her happy. If he’d been bluffing she doubted he would’ve been so disturbed. Only a man falsely accused would be as upset as he was. Or at least she hoped so. “Calm down. I had to ask.” She picked up one of the robes and rubbed the softness against her cheek. “I can’t help it. I’ve never had anyone do something this special for me.” His anger went away as quickly as it had come. “Never? I would’ve thought you’d have had hundreds of guys trying to win you over.” “Win me over?” She couldn’t help but bat her eyes and adopt a Southernbelle accent. “Why, sir, are you trying to seduce me?” Or could this be love? She inhaled, shaken by her thought. “Well, of course, I am, darlin’.” She struggled against the burst of joy. Don’t lose control of yourself. He was talking about seduction, not love. She dropped the accent. “And you don’t have any ulterior motives?” He made a face and snorted. “You are one suspicious woman, aren’t you?” “Maybe. Probably because I’m always searching for a tell. Are you trying to make me love, uh, get a crush on you so I’ll let you beat me at the table?” “First of all, I don’t have any tells. Either at the table or right now. Secondly, I don’t need you or anyone else to let me win. You said it yourself. I’m amazing.” Damn, but she loved his cocky grin. She playfully slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t make me regret telling you.”

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“But if you’re talking about another kind of beating, then I’m in.” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t forget I’m the one who had you tied up first.” He laughed. “Oh, trust me. I haven’t. But this—” he spread his arms wide, “—is all genuine. I’m not trying to scheme you in any way. Can’t you just accept a little lovin’ in your life?” She struggled to keep the emotions suddenly swamping her from coming to the surface and put her back to him. “Someone once told me that poker and love don’t mix.” “Bullshit.” He whirled her around, making her drop the robe, until they were face to face. “Look, I’m not sure how I feel, but I do know you’re special. I care for you. Plus, for your information, I’ve never done this for anyone. Ever.” He stared at her as though trying to will her to believe him. Searching for a brief flicker of deceit left her breathless. He was telling the truth. “Mari.” She could only nod. “Let’s take this one day at a time, okay? Tonight I want to forget about the game and forget about Bascom. All I want is to enjoy being with you. Can you do the same?” “I can.” She dropped her gaze, focusing on the small patch of tanned skin peeking out the front of his shirt. But what if she wanted more? She shoved the thought away. Take it one day at a time. “Then come to bed.” Again, she nodded. She reached for the buttons of her blouse, but he grasped her hands. “No. Let me.”


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She puckered her lips, letting her breath escape in a slow exhale. He kissed her chastely on the cheek, but the slight sweep of his lips across her skin raced her pulse. The impulse to rip his clothes from him had her clenching her fists, but somehow she resisted. “Don’t move.” Slowly, teasingly he released the top button, then paused. She waited, her heart pounding, her mind spinning at the thought of him touching her. He undid the next one, then the next one, each time stopping for a moment to gaze at the skin he’d exposed. Her chest rose and fell a little faster as he worked his way down. Her shirt fell open, exposing her bare breasts. “You’re beautiful.” Tucker spoke in a whisper, an awed tone in his voice. Suddenly overwhelmed, Mari could no longer look at him and covered her breasts. But that didn’t prevent her from feeling the heat radiating off his body. “No, don’t.” He tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. “I want you to let go, to let me take care of you.” He flicked his tongue over his lips. “Can you do that?” “Yes.” She couldn’t imagine turning him down. “Okay, then.” Gently, he forced her arms to her sides. He let out a low groan and cupped her breasts, just holding them against his palms. They stood, neither one speaking. He rubbed his thumbs over her pebbled nipples. Tendrils of lust spread outward from his touch, sparking small whirlwinds through every part of her. If he did nothing more than touch her, it would be enough. She closed her eyes, telling herself to relax and concentrate on the pleasurable sensations. At last he let go of her breasts, placed his hands on her shoulders, and she opened her eyes. The longing, the simple yearning she saw in his face startled

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her, catching her off guard. Placing her palm against his cheek, she returned his look with one of her own. She almost protested, unwilling to lose sight of his face when he turned her and put her back to him. She bit her lip and waited to see what he would do next. “You look incredible in the candlelight.” She blushed, and turning her head toward him, let her smile say what she couldn’t say with words before looking away again. He unhooked the clasp at the back of her skirt, then unzipped her. The skirt puddled at her feet, and she stepped out of it. Every nerve ending awakened, every sense heightened. Again, he didn’t touch her, prolonging the agony, the ecstasy. When he finally touched her again, he glided a finger from the top of her spine to the edge of her thong. “Darlin’, you make me believe in miracles.” Tears sprang to Mari’s eyes before she knew they were coming. Her throat closed up, and once again, she found it difficult to look at him. What was happening to her? What was happening between them? He had to know what he was doing was more than a mere seduction. He answered her as though he’d heard her. “I don’t know what’s going on. Between us, I mean.” She gathered her nerve, turned and brought her gaze to his. The expression on his face was open and vulnerable, urging her to speak. But she didn’t have his gift for sweet talk. “Tell me.” “I’ve felt this…thing…between us from the first second I saw you.” He laughed, then backed away, leaving her alone. The cool air of the air conditioning brought goose bumps to her skin. He began taking off his shirt, unbuttoning it as slowly as he’d done hers. Was he teasing her again?


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“Would you listen to me? I sound like one of those sappy television movies for women.” Tossing his shirt aside, he dropped his jeans to the floor, kicking his boots off along with them. She couldn’t help but drop her gaze. But not to look away this time. Instead, she took him in, thrilling at the long, thick shaft that curved at the end. She jerked her eyes back to his and saw the amusement there. “Like what you see?” “Uh, yeah. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.” He narrowed his eyes, his wonderful grin bringing up the corners of his mouth. “Now who’s trying to seduce who?” He strode over to her and pulled her to him, cupping her bottom and lifting her off her feet. She giggled, more from nerves than anything else, and wrapped her legs around his waist. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d cast a spell on me.” She tilted her head in question. “I wouldn’t do that to you. Not again. Unless, of course, you wanted me to.” She laughed. “Besides, I was wondering the same thing about you.” She answered his grin with one of her own. He took her with him as he fell onto the bed. Rose petals surrounded her, feathery soft against her skin, and she breathed in their sweet fragrance. He buried his face against her neck, nipping at her and murmuring sweet words. She turned her head to the side, and he slid his hand to the string of her thong and yanked it from her. He growled, and she giggled at the tickle the sound made against her skin. Cupping her breast, he dragged his tongue along her neck, over her collarbone, then down the side of her breast. He licked, then nibbled, then licked some more. She tunneled her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and held him to her. Moving his hand along her leg, he caressed the tender skin between

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her leg and her mons. Eager for him to explore further, she encouraged him with a soft mew. Another growl escaped him once his hand found her pussy. Spreading her folds, he massaged her clit, and without warning, she climaxed. She cried her surprise, her joy, her excitement. He lifted his amber gaze to hers. “You’re wet. So wet I may need a big, long drink of you.” “Uh-uh-uh.” He jerked his head back and frowned. “Huh?” She adopted a sexy expression. “If you get a drink, I get a drink.” “Darlin’, you can have anything you want.” Mari giggled as he scrambled around, placing his shaft directly over her head. He grabbed her legs and pulled them apart, then after a quick and very wicked glance at her, dove his head between her legs. She gasped and clutched his firm buttocks, digging her fingernails into his skin. A tornado of desire spread outward from her pussy, spinning up to her stomach. Tucker used his fingertips to spread her lips, then latched on to her nub. He pulled at her, sucking, then biting to make her writhe and squirm. Wrapping a hand around his shaft, she pulled him to her face, rubbed his shaft against her skin and inhaled, drawing on the smell of man. But his maleness wasn’t all she smelled. Along with the musky aroma was another scent, an exotic scent that hinted of the wild. He pulled her apart more, then stabbed his tongue inside her. She moaned and arched against him, trying to put him closer than humanly possible. Cupping his balls with one hand as she stroked him, she slid her tongue over his length. He was soft yet hard, and she couldn’t resist sucking on the loose skin. He groaned, sending warm air over her throbbing nub and heralding


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another release. Her body shook, trembling then tightening for yet another climax. “Take me in, Mari.” She did as he asked, dragging his shaft into her mouth in slow, inch-by-inch moves. His buttocks clenched and his body stiffened. She could sense his gaze on her but didn’t let up, hoping to give him what he’d given her. Running her tongue around him, she felt him grow impossibly longer, thicker. She pumped him, his skin smooth under her palm. Letting out a loud growl, he thrust his hips to her, plunging his shaft down her throat. Still she took him and increased the lashing of her tongue. He was building toward a climax, but she didn’t care. She wanted him, all of him, no matter what. “Mari, stop!” He yanked away from her, and she reached out to bring him back. “Tucker, no.” His face was in front of hers a second before his mouth found her nipple. Tugging her with him, he sat back and settled her on top of him. They stopped, each savoring the moment. His eyes, almost completely amber now, bore into hers, signaling a silent warning that his beast was close to the surface. His nostrils flared, and his jaw clenched. Lifting her up by taking her under her arms, he held her suspended above him. “I’ve never wanted any woman more than I want you.” She panted, unable to catch her breath. “The feeling’s mutual.” A smile filled his face right before he dropped her to him, driving deep inside her. She shouted, first at the quick pain as her body widened to hold him, then as another climax roared through her. She grabbed his pecs, holding on as

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he rocked into her. Her breasts bounced with each new thrust and wetness spread over their legs. She threw her head back, her mouth open, her eyes closed. Moving with him, she rode him, taking him into her as far as she could. He latched on to her breast with hand and mouth, and sucked her nipple, harder, stronger. Spreading her butt, he slid his fingers into her crack, teasing her butthole and holding her cheek to keep her steady on their wild ride. Harder, faster he drove into her. Sweat slid between them, down his chest to wet her fingers. She flattened her palms against his nipples and moved her hands in slow circles. Tightening around him, she gripped him, possessing him. His eyes were all amber, his features hardened as though he fought an internal battle he wasn’t certain he would win. Mari took his face in her hands and met his gaze straight-on. “Now, Tucker. Now.” He froze, narrowed his eyes, then resumed his drive into her and quickened his speed. Pulling his mouth to hers, she kissed him and closed her eyes. His growl flowed into her mouth, mixing with her cry. He shuddered along with her, their joined bodies reacting as one. Jerking movements followed, and he clung to her, still kissing, combing their moans. The pungent aroma of the sweat mixing together assaulted her nose, putting the scent of the flowers to shame. Mari’s head swam with emotions, with a thrilling sensation of freedom she would never be able to put into words. As the climax reached its peak, then began losing momentum, he leaned against her, then turned sideways to crumple both of them to the bed.


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Chapter Seven

Up the River with No Flop in Sight

Mari listened to Tucker’s singing and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Brushing her hair, she giggled as he hit a particularly awful note. But who cared what he sounded like? What the man lacked in musical talent, he made up for in every other way. Sighing, she walked away from the mirror and pushed the bathroom door open an inch. “Tucker?” The singing stopped, and he poked his head out from behind the shower curtain. “Hey, you’re up.” The wicked grin stirred the warmth between her legs. “How about joining me? I’m crazy good with a loofah.” If only he’d move the curtain more. Then again, maybe it was a good thing he didn’t. Otherwise, she’d never return to her hotel room and get ready for the day’s play. “I bet you are. But no thanks. I’m going to take a shower and change in my room. Meet you downstairs for breakfast?” He bobbed his gaze the length of her and back again, the lust in his eyes unmistakable. “Aw, hell. I was counting on you washing my back.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m a dirty, dirty boy.” “You are too funny.” She laughed, then gave his idea serious consideration. “I’d love to join you, but we do have a tournament to win. See you in a bit, okay?” “Okay. But don’t take too long.” He disappeared behind the curtain and started singing again.

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Mari cringed at Tucker’s horrible rendition of Bad Moon Rising, then grabbed her purse and slipped from the room. Leaning against the hallway wall, she dug in her purse, trying to find her hotel key. “Now where the hell did I put it?” “I would not know, but I am happy to be of assistance.” Bascom took her arm and tugged her away from the wall. Mari gasped and tried to pull away from the vampire but couldn’t break free. “Let me go, you jerk.” Fear rushed into her, stiffening her body and paralyzing her brain. “My, my. The ladies of this day and age never fail to shock me. No, wait. I doubt any lady would speak such profanity. Which means, my sweet Mari, that you are no lady.” “You’re really going to think I’m not a lady when my knee connects with your balls.” Bascom chuckled, the sound grating on Mari’s nerves more than fingernails on a chalkboard ever could. “Ah, if you would like to touch my balls, you need only ask.” He skimmed a fingernail along her cheek. She twisted her head away from his finger but could still feel the cold on her skin. “Don’t touch me.” “I do not understand. Why, oh why, would you want to lie down with a dog? Believe me, sweet one, I am sure you will find me a much better lover than that animal.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Alas, for now, I will have to settle for the dulcet tones of your lilting voice.” She tried to wrench free again but had no better luck than before. The vampire’s fingers dug into her arm, but she refused to cry out. “What do you want, Bascom?” Lifting her chin in an effort to at least appear braver than she felt, Mari glared into the dark glasses. If she screamed, would Tucker hear her? But what then? Would he make good on his threats and tear the


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vampire apart? Not wanting to put Tucker at risk, she racked her brain for the spell she’d planned to use against him. What the hell was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she think straight? “I need a little of your time.” Her fear whipped into panic. “Not happening. I’m on my way back to my room, so if you’ll turn me loose…” She looked pointedly at his arm, then down the hallway. She steeled herself then shifted to glare at him. “If you don’t take your hand off me in two seconds, I’m going to scream bloody murder. Let me go before someone sees you, and I won’t say a word to anyone. Including Tucker.” He took his sunglasses off before she could react. An instant later, she found herself shaking from the freezing cold holding her body and mind hostage. She nodded. “Good girl. Now come with me. I have a special treat for you.” She didn’t want to go with him and struggled against her body’s betrayal even as she fell into step beside him. Her mind screamed for her to stop, to shout for help, but nothing happened. Keeping up with his quick step, Mari followed the vampire down the corridor and into the other wing of the hotel.

Tucker continued to whistle a happy tune as he entered the dining room and scanned the place for Mari. Reporters, spectators and a few of the other players milled around the room, some standing in the buffet line and others already seated and enjoying their breakfast. But he saw no sign of Mari. He stopped Mike Montana, a midlevel player who’d lost in the first rounds of the tournament. “Hey, Mike. Have you seen Mari Thornton? I was supposed to meet her here.”

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Mike juggled his plate with one hand and popped a strawberry into his mouth. “Nope, but I’d sure like to.” He swallowed loudly, then paused to give Tucker the once-over. “Don’t tell me you two have hooked up. Dang, Tucker, you dog. Way to go.” Was he so transparent that even Mike the Moron could see how he felt about Mari? “I didn’t say anything of the kind. I only said we were supposed to meet here, but I guess she’s taking longer than I thought to get ready.” Mike shrugged and chewed on a piece of bacon while he talked. “You know women. They’re always getting hung up doing their makeup and primping their hair. My wife takes two hours to get ready. Can you believe it?” Tucker did one last sweep of the interior. Still no luck. “Not Mari. She’s never late to a tournament, and I doubt she’d be late meeting me without calling.” “Beats me, then. But hey, good luck at the table.” Mike lifted his plate in an awkward salute and ambled off toward the buffet. Something’s not right. The uneasy feeling started at the bottom of his neck and spread into his shoulders and spine. Turning on his heel, he strode from the room and headed toward the front desk. The young woman behind the counter dragged her attention away from the computer monitor to give him a forced “yes may I help you?” smile. Once she’d seen who it was, however, her smile brightened, offering help in a more intimate way. Tucker noted the name on her nametag. “Could you please ring Mari Thornton’s room, Dana?” He matched her, mega-wattage for mega-wattage. “Certainly.” Dana barely took her eyes off him as she dialed the room number, then held the earpiece to her ear. He could hear the phone ring the first time, then continue to ring five more times. “She isn’t answering.”


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Before Dana could put the phone down, Tucker caught her hand and squeezed, signaling his need. “Let it ring a little longer.” Although he could see that she thought it was useless, she returned the phone to her ear and waited another six rings. He let out a pent-up breath. “Okay, you can hang up. Thanks.” Maybe Mari was in the elevator heading down to the dining room. He pivoted around and strode toward the elevator. Punching the Up button, he waited for what seemed like an eternity. The doors finally opened, and two maids walked out, skirting around him but not interrupting their conversation. “Shyla, we’re going to get caught using this elevator instead of the service one.” An older woman, her expression showing her fatigue, shifted the load of towels from one arm to the other. “It’s just this one time so we can ask Dana about Ms. Thornton, Louise. I’m sure she was on the check-out list.” Shyla, a pretty African-American girl, shot him a smile, then frowned at Louise and hurried past him. “Besides, I want management to know this wasn’t our fault. I’m sick and tired of Martin getting the list screwed up. Who knew what could’ve happened when we walked into her room?” Tucker spun on his heels and caught up with the maids. “Excuse me.” Shyla’s eyes grew wide, but her surprise soon morphed into flirtation. “Yes, sir. May I help you?” Was it his imagination or did her chest suddenly get bigger? He ignored the girl’s obvious attraction and centered his focus on Louise. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but did you say you were in Ms. Thornton’s room?” The come-hither look on Shyla’s face was lost in a mask of alarm. “Y-yes sir.” She hurried on to cover her tail. “She’s on our list as having checked out early this morning, but when we went in to clean the room, we could tell she hadn’t

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checked out. Uh, I mean, we knocked and all first, of course, and no one answered so we let ourselves in. The bed didn’t need to be made, but her clothes and toiletries were still there. We didn’t do anything wrong.” “I’m sure you didn’t. Don’t worry. You’re not in trouble.” He tried to control his nerves so he could help the girl relax. “You see, I was supposed to meet her this morning, and she didn’t show up. But you say she wasn’t in her room?” “Nooo.” Shyla drew out the word, then checked Louise, giving her time to jump in on the conversation, but Louise merely shrugged. “Look, sir, I’m not one to tell tales on others, but I’ve been cleaning Ms. Thornton’s room every night since she checked in.” “And? Was there something different this morning?” Tucker’s alarm jumped ten notches. “Yeah. Every morning except this morning, she’s left me a tip along with a note saying how nice I cleaned her room. But this morning, I didn’t find a tip. Not even a note. I don’t know, but it just seemed weird to me.” Shyla clasped her hands in front of her. “I hope we didn’t do anything wrong.” His mind whirled. Mari hadn’t made it back to her room. If she had, if she’d managed to get ready, she would’ve left the girls a tip and a note. He was sure of it. “No, no. No trouble.” He tugged his wallet out and gave them both a twentydollar bill. “Thanks for your help.” Spinning around, he headed for the elevator and the third floor. He had to try his luck at Mari’s door even though he didn’t think he’d find anything. But if she wasn’t in the dining room to meet him and she wasn’t in her room, then where was she? He pulled out his phone and dialed the private number to the Cannon Pack house in the Colorado Mountains. A familiar voice answered. “Yeah?”


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“This is Tucker Manning. I need to talk to Daniel.”

“Keep your hands off me.” Mari’s scream came out a whisper. She struggled to free her wrists from the rope binding her hands over her head, tried to fight the terror whipping through her and lost. She yanked on the rope, praying she had enough strength to pull the hook out the ceiling, but the hook held. “Do not bother trying to call for help, sweet one.” Bascom’s cold black eyes held her, suspending her fight to get loose. “I have already taken control of your voice. No one would hear you anyway, and I do so hate the sound of a woman’s screech. The best you can do is a pitiful whisper.” He pinched her naked breast. “Or perhaps you could manage a whimper. I like it when my lady friends whimper.” Humiliation ran a close second to terror. Although she could vaguely remember walking into Bascom’s hotel room, she didn’t know how she’d ended up nude and held captive. Again, she yanked at the rope. “You are a fighter. But please, take my word for it. I employ only the best workmen in my service, and I am certain the hook will hold. Otherwise, someone’s head would have to roll and we would not want that to happen, would we?” “Someone will find me. They’re probably looking for me right now.” “No one will find you. The hotel staff and security are already under my control. They no longer realize my room exists.” “Tucker will find your room.” “Doubtful. Several men guard the way. If he or anyone else attempts to rescue you before he loses the tournament, my men will kill you first, then your rescuers.”

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She didn’t want to believe him, didn’t want to believe anyone had so much power. Yet, she knew everything he said was true. Bascom circled around to her left, moving behind her. She craned her neck to follow him until he stopped next to her buttocks. He grabbed each one, pinching them, squeezing her flesh until she couldn’t help but moan in pain. Mari jerked, trying to get away from his grasp if only for a moment, but it was useless. Instead, she whimpered and hated herself for letting him hear her pain. “I can understand why the werewolf would take you to bed.” He slid his hands in front of her to cup her breasts, then trailed his tongue along her shoulder. “You are quite lovely. Not bone-thin like so many of the young girls today. No, you are a woman with a woman’s body. And as such, you should have a real man. Not an animal. Tell me. Does he fuck you from behind like the beast he is?” Mari gritted her teeth and sent a silent plea to Tucker. Please come for me. Help me! “Hmm. What seems to be the problem? Why do you not answer me? Or do you realize the mistake you made in bedding the werewolf?” Bascom tracked his tongue over her shoulder as he came around again and replaced a hand with his mouth. He sucked her nipple, hard, then scraped his teeth over her breast. Mari kicked out, aiming for his crotch, but the vampire was too quick. “What is this, my sweet?” His dark eyes grew even darker, and he ran a fingertip over the swell of one breast. “Did you let the animal bite you? Ooh, how dreadful.” Mari kicked out again and missed once more. She moaned and closed her eyes.


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His laughter echoed in the room. “My dear, please. Do you not think I would anticipate your pitiful attempts to harm me?” He pinched her chin between his fingers. “Open your eyes.” She kept her eyes closed, refusing to give in to him. He dropped his voice lower, and a strange sensation melted over her, wiping away her ability to deny him. “I told you to open your eyes.” She did as he demanded and found him staring at her. Fighting the urge to spit, she waited for him to speak. “I really would hate to tie your legs together.” He moved closer to put his face next to hers. A chill flowed from his skin to hers, and she couldn’t keep from shivering. “If I had to tie your legs, I would not be able to do this.” Bascom thrust a hand between her legs, jabbing a finger into her pussy. She screamed another whisper and tried to lurch away, but he held her as securely as the rope did. His eyes sparkled with delight as he probed her, plunging his finger harder, deeper as he finger-fucked her. She screamed again, this time adding a string of curse words. “Leave me alone! I swear once I get free you’re going to pay!” He removed his hand and chuckled. “I do so love your spirit.” Giving her a wicked smile, he held his wet finger in between them, then flicked out his tongue and licked off her juices. “But I love your taste even more.” “Why? Why are you doing this to me?” She could feel the tears forming in her eyes. No. She couldn’t cry in front of him. Bascom walked away, then turned to face her. His confused expression threw her. “To you? No, no. You have it all wrong. All this has very little to do with you. You, my dear, are merely a pawn.” Think. Think of a spell. Why couldn’t she remember a spell?

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He settled into a chair in front of her, looking like a teacher ready to hear a student’s protest of innocence. “You are here because you and your beastly lover decided to stand in my way of another championship title. Although I fail to understand why. After all, what did I do to deserve your animosity?” “You glamoured the other players into losing.” He leaned forward, the frown on his brow deepening. “Well, of course I did. But why not? I have no desire to spend any more time than necessary playing a game. The real game is taking control without anyone else realizing I have all the power. Actually, I am surprised you figured it out. I thought I was being subtle.” “You’re a cheater, and cheaters don’t deserve to win.” She snarled at him. Tucker, where are you? Bascom laughed, but there was no joy in the sound. “The world is full of cheaters who win all the time. Look at the politicians. Do you really think the people elect them? Do you not understand the machinations going on behind the silly campaigns?” He rose, walked over to the mirror and straightened his bolo tie. “But then you and the shifter had to stick your noses in where they do not belong. If he had stayed out of things and allowed me to ease you out of the tournament, then he and I could have had a gentlemanly game without all this fuss. But he did not, did he? Now I am forced to eliminate the problem.” His dark eyes slid toward her. “Granted, he still will not win, but it should prove humorous to play against him.” Bascom feigned a gasp and placed a finger to his lips. “Think about how fun it will be when he becomes so angry that he shifts and reveals himself to the world. Ooh, I can hardly wait.” Mari tried again to remember a charm, an incantation, anything to help her. Or to at least hinder Bascom.


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In a split second, he was in front of her and brushing his hand lightly across her breasts. “I do wish I had more time with you.” Licking his lips, he zeroed in on her neck. “I am sure you would make an enjoyable companion. Once you were fully under my direction.” “I hate you.” This time she meant to whisper, putting every ounce of anger she could behind the words. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” He laughed, placing a hand on his chest. “I have always wanted to say those famous words, and now I have. Thank you for that. And for this.” He opened his mouth and fangs broke through the gums. Leaning forward, he skimmed his fangs over her shoulder and up the side of her neck. Clutching her breasts, he sank his teeth into her neck and sucked, greedily drinking. His thumbs pushed at her nipples, circling them, rubbing them until they ached. Mari’s body jerked, tremors racing down her spine to spread outward into her limbs. She opened her mouth to cry out, but no sound came. He sank his fangs in again, driving them deeper into her flesh. Pain blazed down her neck and into her shoulder. Blood oozed from around his mouth and slid down her chest. Darkness offered to take her and she welcomed the black nothingness, welcomed anything that would take her away from the monster. Her strength dwindled until she could do nothing more than lay her head to the side and wait, but he pulled away just as the serenity she sought drew near. Sighing with pleasure, he wiped his mouth, then retracted his fangs. “Ah, I knew you would taste sweet.” He reached up and touched the wound, then studied his blood-soaked finger. Swiping his tongue over his lips, he sucked off the blood. “Mmm, good.” Mari glowered at him, the fury inside her boiling over. Again, she struggled to remember a spell and again couldn’t bring any words to mind.

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“Let me explain what happens next, my dear.” “Tucker will find you and tear your head off. That’s what happens next.” Bascom was unmoved by her heated threat. “I believe your thinking is unclear. But no worry.” His gaze drifted to her wound. “You, my dear, are a special person. Perhaps a witch? I can tell that you have power, magic perhaps, but something is keeping me from seeing it clearly. I am sure that is why I did not sense it until our last meeting at the table. I find it difficult to glamour you to the fullest extent of my ability. Interesting, yes, but also very irritating.” She guffawed. “I guess you’re not as great as you think you are. Or as perceptive.” Bascom glared at her. The coldness swept over her again, sending her into a blind panic. She shuddered uncontrollably. “I said you are a difficult subject. Not an impossible one.” He waved his hand in the air and the cold left her. “Know this. I will tell your wolf-lover to throw the game today, thus making me the deserving winner.” “And when he says no?” “I will come back here and wipe your mind clean.” Another shudder traveled from her head to her toes. “Wipe my mind?” “Ah, forgive me. I should explain. I mean, sweet one, that I am going to take your mind and wipe it clean of all your memories. Once I am finished with you, you will not remember anything. Not of poker, not of your life and not of your past.” Impossibly, his eyes grew darker. “And especially not of Tucker Manning.” Mari’s throat threatened to close up, but she managed to croak out the question. “And if he does what you want? If he throws the tournament?” “It will not matter, for the deed will already have been done.” Grinning, he placed a wet kiss on her cheek. “Look into my eyes.”


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Tucker pounded on Mari’s hotel door until he was sure someone would call security. But he no longer cared. He had to get inside her room to see if he could find a clue. Putting his shoulder to the door, he partially shifted to bring out more of his werewolf strength, and shoved. The door burst open, banging against the wall. He hurried inside, hoping and dreading what he might find. Although he knew the maids had told the truth, he was still disappointed to not find Mari. Clothes were laid neatly across the bed, while more hung in the closet. He searched the bathroom and noted the toiletries still on the counter. He slid his hand along the bottom of the tub, then the showerhead. Both were dry. Damn it, Mari, where are you? Telling himself to slow down, he searched the room again, looking for the clothes she’d had on the night before. But those clothes weren’t there. She never made it to her room. Panic gripped him as he realized his worst fear. She was gone. But where? At once, he thought of Bascom. Could the vampire have her? If so, what could he have done with her? To her? A growl grew from the depths of his stomach to spill from his mouth. Giving in to the beast’s anger, he laid back his head and roared. The power surged through him, calling for him to shift. Calling for him to give in and let the animal take over. But he couldn’t. Not yet. Whirling around, he ran from the room, down the hall and took the stairs two at a time until he was on the floor where the final table game would be held. Startled people jumped out of his way as he burst through the stairwell door and

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into the open area in front of the game room. Pushing reporters aside, he stormed into the room. “Bascom!” The vampire was in his chair, his legs propped in front of him as he’d done the first day of the championship game. He arched an eyebrow above the dark sunglasses. Tucker forced himself to slow down. If he made any more of a spectacle, he’d blow his chance to save Mari. His body tensed, fighting against the leisurely pace. Tucker slid into his chair, then leaned toward the vampire. “Where is she?” he hissed. Bascom took a long drink of his water, lifting a finger to have him wait. “Ah. There really is nothing like a cold drink of water, is there? Oh, wait a moment. Yes, there is something better, but it is not a socially acceptable drink, is it?” For Mari’s sake, keep your head. Don’t let him goad you into losing it. “Are you finished?” He gritted his teeth and fought the animal howling inside him. “I am not certain what you mean, but I am quite comfortable. Thank you for asking.” Bascom’s lips curved up at the sides, and Tucker wanted nothing more than to wipe the smile from his face. Hell, to wipe his face from his face. “Answer me. Where is she?” The tournament director inched forward. Tucker leaned back and ducked his head, pretending nonchalance. “Gentlemen, we’re about to start. But I’m wondering if either of you know where Ms. Thornton is.” Tucker gathered some chips in his hand and clenched his fist to keep from striking the smirking vampire. “I was just asking Bascom the same question.”


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“Hmm, it would appear our lovely Ms. Thornton is a no-show. I am assuming this means she is disqualified? What a shame.” Bascom shook his head, then shrugged. A shame is having you walk this earth for another day. Tucker lifted the corner of his mouth in a silent snarl. “Unfortunately, you’re correct, Mr. Bascom.” The director checked the schedule. “We’ll wait a few more minutes, but then I’m afraid I’ll have to disqualify her.” He turned on his heel and walked over to consult with his assistant. Tucker shoved his chair closer to the vampire. “Look, you walking scumbag. I know you’ve got something to do with whatever’s happened to Mari. So count on this. Once I find her, if you’ve hurt her in any way, if you’ve so much as put a strand of her hair out of place, you’re going to regret the day you met me.” Bascom waved his hand in front of his face and grimaced. “Urgh. With breath like yours, I already do.” “Get ready to go back to the ground, vamp.” Tucker pushed his chair back to his side of the table and forced himself to calm down. The vampire may have won this battle, but the war was far from over. The announcer broke through the chatter in the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, due to her failing to show for continuation of play, Ms. Mari Thornton is hereby disqualified. Our two remaining players, Tucker Manning and Ty Bascom, will proceed in a head-to-head showdown. Gentlemen, let’s begin.”

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Tucker didn’t know how he managed to keep from shoving his hand into Bascom’s chest and ripping his heart out, but he did. Instead, he used every ounce of strength he had to appear confident and cool-headed, even feigning interest when the beautiful casino ladies brought out the huge pile of money representing the cash the winner would receive upon earning the championship title. Tossing in his chips, he met Bascom’s bet and raised him. He shot the vamp a “take that” smile. Bascom, his glasses still in place, frowned and tossed in his cards. “Tell me, Mr. Manning. How is it that your game has improved in such a short time?” So I am getting to him. Good. The more rattled he got, the more likely he would slip-up and give Tucker a clue where to find Mari. “Has it? I guess it’s because there’s so much at stake.” “Amusing. Very amusing.” The dealer shuffled the next hand, and it came and went faster than Tucker could’ve hoped. His stack of chips was growing taller by the minute. “I guess you’re not as good a player as you thought you were. I mean, without using your little trick.” “Trick?” Bascom toyed with his chips. “Skill is no trick. I am merely setting you up for the greater fall.”

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Tucker forced a laugh and scanned the audience. A man cleared his throat, breaking the quiet of the room and drawing Tucker’s attention. He smiled and nodded at the werewolf. Good. Daniel and the others had arrived. Being a lone wolf had its perks, but having a pack to come to the rescue wasn’t a bad deal, either. Two more hands played out, with Bascom taking a small pot, then Tucker winning back his loss and more. The vampire stopped looking so serene and leaned forward, studying his cards harder than Tucker had ever seen. Not much longer, and the tournament would be over. He glanced around the room again and this time found Daniel Cannon leaning against the wall by the exit. Arching his eyebrow, he silently asked the pack leader the questions constantly on his mind. Where is she? Have you found her? Unfortunately, Daniel couldn’t give him the answer he wanted. Instead, the tall werewolf slowly shook his head. Damn. Even the pack hadn’t found her. Where the hell are you, Mari? He stamped down the tickle of fear speeding along his spine. Stay in control. His only chance was to force Bascom to give up the information he needed. But if he’d hurt her… He dropped the chip he’d been flipping over one finger to the next. Pain stabbed into his chest as though someone had driven a dagger into his heart. No. He couldn’t think that way. He couldn’t give up on her now. Some way, somehow, he’d find her. “Mr. Manning, I’m sorry. Did you hear the announcer call for a break?” The dealer, an older woman, tilted her head at him. “Are you all right?” Tucker broke away from his unwanted thoughts and watched the audience and others move out of the room. “Yeah, I’m okay. Thanks.” Bascom remained in his chair. Once the dealer left, he took off his sunglasses and glared. “Wolf, let us talk.”

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“Yeah, let’s.” Tucker rose and followed the vamp toward a corner of the room. The pack members who had remained behind started to move forward, but Tucker motioned for them to stand down. Tucker slid to stand beside Bascom, who crossed his arms and placed his back to the room. “Where is she, vamp? And don’t even try to pretend you don’t know.” Fangs broke through as the vampire hissed, “Stay quiet like a good little doggy and listen.” Tucker’s hand was around Bascom’s throat before he was aware of urge to throttle him. “Tell me where she is or I’ll break your fucking neck.” The vampire’s eyes grew wide, and he lifted a shaky hand to grasp Tucker’s. “Release me and call off your hounds, too,” he croaked. “Others are watching.” Tucker ground his teeth together, fighting to keep the wolf in check. Glancing to the side, he noted the tournament director and his assistant gawking at them. Hating to do so, he turned the vampire loose. “Talk.” “Mari is safe.” Bascom’s black gaze dove into Tucker and cold chilled his bones. He shook, whether from the cold or relief that Mari was still alive, he wasn’t sure. “Where?” “That is my concern.” Bascom jerked his hands up, palms out to ward off Tucker’s instinctive reflex to attack. “You can, however, secure her freedom and her safety.” Talk about dealing with the devil. But what other choice did he have? “How?” The vampire’s smile was colder than his touch. “I do so like a man of few words.” He chuckled and straightened his tie. “I would like to offer you a deal.” “What kind of deal? If it includes you wrapped in silver chains, then count me in.”


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Did the vamp just pout? “Pity. We were doing so much better when you stayed with one-word answers. Never mind. Here is my offer. I win the tournament, and then I tell you where to find your little lady. Easy, is it not?” “So you want me to throw the tournament.” Bascom grimaced. “I would not have put it so crassly, but yes. As long as I win the championship, then she is safe.” “The way you’re playing—without glamour to help you—I may find it hard to lose. What happens if I don’t?” He couldn’t see the difference in the vampire, but he could sense it, could almost feel the palpable change in the atmosphere around them. “If you fail, then Mari will lose everything she holds dear.” Tucker narrowed his eyes. “Exactly what is that? Spell it out.” “I should have known you would need me to state this in a simpler fashion.” Bascom sighed, appearing to be running out of patience. “If you fail, she loses her memory of everything, past, present and future. She will, in essence, be a clean slate. But, best of all, she will not remember your name, your face or even that you exist.” The vampire’s words hit Tucker hard and straight in his gut. He felt his knees grow weak and his heart beat faster. “You can’t. You don’t have that kind of power.” Please, God, let him be right. “Oh, but I do, and I will use it if I have to.” “You lousy, coldhearted son of a bitch. If I could, I’d take your scrawny body and—” “Uh-uh-uh. Be careful. You would not want to make me angry. So what is your answer, wolfman? Do you love the win more than the woman?”

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He’d give up every tournament from here to eternity if it would keep Mari safe. But could he trust Bascom to keep his end of the bargain? “You’ve got a deal. I’ll throw the damn thing, but you’d better not try anything funny.” Bascom crooked his head to the side as the crowd began filling the room again. “Then shall we return to the game?” Tucker swallowed hard, then found Daniel Cannon’s hard stare fixed on him. He shook his head again, telling the wolf pack leader not to take any action, and Daniel, in turn, waved off the other four werewolves in the room. He returned to his seat, ready to throw the game. A succession of quick hands ensued, but Tucker was barely able to focus on them. His thoughts were on Mari, remembering the way her hair shone under the lights of the casino, how she arched her back to press her breast to his lips, to his hands. But most of all he remembered her smile that always preceded her quick and easy giggle. The crowd clapped in polite response to the next hand as Tucker once again lost to Bascom. Bascom pretended not to notice the lukewarm nature of their applause and tipped his head in thanks time and time again. The dealer caught Tucker’s attention and pointedly looked at him but didn’t ask the question he could so easily see in her eyes. “Are you all right?” He gave her a wan smile and continued his losing streak. His chip stack had diminished, and he knew one more hand would end his bid for the championship. He sent a warning glare to Bascom. He’d better keep his end of the deal. Bascom merely nodded as though he’d read Tucker’s mind and opened the way for Tucker to go all in. He did, betting everything. He leaned over the table, anticipation making him bite the inside of his lip, and waited. Bascom took his


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time, however, relishing having the werewolf under his thumb. At last, he made his wager and won the hand. Applause erupted throughout the room as the tournament director took the microphone and announced Ty Bascom as the champion. Bascom stood and waved to the crowd as he accepted the championship golden belt, then turned to the cameras and saluted. “Thank you. Thank you. Of course I am delighted to add this championship to my many other achievements.” Then he pivoted to face Tucker and stuck out his hand. The last thing he wanted to do was to congratulate Bascom on his win, but he had no choice. If he didn’t, who knew how Bascom might retaliate for the snub. Slowly, Tucker stood and clutched the vampire’s hand, then held on to it when Bascom attempted to pull away. Instead, he yanked the vampire close enough to wrap his arm around the man’s bony shoulders. Smiling for the cameras, Tucker dug his fingers into Bascom’s arm and brought his head close to the vampire’s. “I did my part, now do yours. Where is she?” Bascom groaned in pain but kept up the appearance of the cordial winner and his voice low. “Why, my dear boy. Where else would she be but in my room?” “He’s lying.” Daniel, who had moved to stand behind Tucker, shook his head, then tucked his chin down to keep his voice from traveling past the vamp and Tucker. “She’s not there. In fact, he doesn’t have a room in this hotel. The guys and I checked.” Tucker’s grip on Bascom tightened, and the vampire cringed and tried to squirm away. But he wasn’t letting go. Not yet. “I would have thought you beasts could sniff her out.”

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Tucker growled, then heard Daniel’s softer growl echo his. “Talk, bloodsucker, before I show the world how real vampires and werewolves are.” He snarled, “Not to mention how easily a werewolf can kill a vampire.” “Calm yourself, dog. My room number is six-six-six. Appropriate, yes?” Daniel frowned. “We checked the rooms in that location but there’s no room with that number.” “Well, then, I cannot help it if you do not believe me.” “I believe you, all right. Now tell us how to find the room.” Tucker raised his hand to greet the reporters and paparazzi busy taking pictures and asking questions neither he nor Bascom were answering. “Or maybe you should just come along and show us.” “No.” Bascom thrust his body away, almost falling with the strength it took to get away from Tucker. He wiped off his arms as though trying to rid himself of a lingering filth. “Go to the exact same wing and find room six-six-five. Stand so you are facing the door directly across from it. If my subjects have done as I have commanded—and they always do—then instead of an Employees Only sign on the door, this time you will see my room number. Inside you will find what you are looking for. Now, whether you excuse me or not, I really must insist we conclude our conversation.” Daniel and Tucker both growled, then turned to leave. “Manning.” Gritting his teeth and forcing the wolf to stay below the surface, Tucker turned back to face Bascom. The vampire’s eyes widened at the sight of Tucker’s amber eyes. “What?” Bascom recovered his composure, then adopted a wicked leer. “Please tell Mari how much I enjoyed her company.” He licked his lips and added, “So very much.”


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If Daniel hadn’t grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away, Tucker would have shifted and torn the vampire’s head from his shoulders. “Keep moving, man. Don’t let that undead bucket of bones get to you.” Tucker let Daniel drag him from the room and into the hallway where they were soon joined by the other werewolves. “Let’s go.” Moving like the pack on a moonlit run, the men rushed through the lobby to the other side of the building and toward the guest rooms. Minutes later, they stood outside room six-six-six. Tucker pounded on the door. “Mari! Are you in there? Mari?” “Do you really think Bascom would’ve left her free to answer, much less open the door?” Daniel motioned for the other werewolves to step back, then waved at the door. “I’ll let you do the honor of breaking it down.” Tucker had already shifted enough to bring out his werewolf strength. At Daniel’s permission, he growled, then barreled into the door, ramming it with his shoulder. The door burst open, cracking in the middle where he’d struck it. He stumbled into the room, managing somehow to stay on his feet. “Mari?” The others joined him as he scanned the clean room, empty of any sign that either the vampire or Mari had been there. Except for the rope hanging from the ceiling. “No sign of her in the bathroom,” called one werewolf. But Tucker barely heard the man. He stared at the rope and struggled to swallow the bile in his throat. Walking slowly to the rope, he took the end of it and brought it to his nose. Concentrating, he sniffed, dragging every scent he could from the knotted end. Mari’s sweet scent was unmistakable. The vampire had tied her up with this rope. His rage blew through him like a category-five hurricane. For a moment, the room swam around him as his fury threatened to blind him. A low rumble

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started deep in his gut, then traveled upward until at last it exited his mouth in a window-rattling roar. Daniel and the men gave answering snarls, letting him know they understood his pain and anger. Tucker tugged. When the hook holding the rope didn’t budge, he yanked again. Again, nothing. The rope was securely fastened to the ceiling. So secure that even he couldn’t have gotten free, much less Mari. What happened to her? An image of Mari tied to the rope, at the mercy of the vampire, tore into him, shredding his gut until he was sure he’d buckle over from the pain. But he remained upright, his determination to find Mari keeping him from giving in to the agony. Summoning all his power, he jumped, grabbing the rope with both hands, and let his body fall to the floor. A loud crack resonated around the room. He ducked, shielding his face from the chunks of plaster raining from the ceiling as the hook and rope landed in front of him. Tucker sat on the floor, holding the vampire’s restraints in his hands. “He tied her up.” Daniel and the rest remained silent, knowing better than to answer. Instead, Daniel nodded, giving Tucker the time to digest the horror of what had happened in this room. “I have to find her.” Tucker’s fangs sprang forth to replace teeth. He called on his wolf, giving him more control over the human side of him. “You will,” Daniel vowed. “We will.” Tucker surged to his feet, still holding the rope in both hands. “Everyone take a good whiff. Her scent is the sweet smell.” The men crowded around him with Daniel waiting to take another turn. Once each shifter had committed Mari’s scent to memory, Tucker flung the rope


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aside. “Spread out. I want every inch of this hotel searched, including the employee’s offices. Check the garage, check the backrooms, check everywhere.” The werewolves glanced at their alpha, needing Daniel to give his consent to the orders. Daniel nodded, and as a group they spun around and hurried from the room. Tucker started to follow them but was stopped when Daniel thrust out his arm to block his way. Anger erupted in a snarl, but Daniel held his ground. “You need to be prepared.” Tucker met his leader’s gaze, then turned away, unwilling to see the message in his eyes. But he couldn’t escape Daniel’s warning. “I’ve seen what happens to those who tangle with vampires. I’ve seen the damage they can do. What you find might not be pretty.” Tucker couldn’t let himself think of the possibilities. Had the vampire erased her memories even before the tournament had begun? Would she remember him? Or would he be a stranger among all the other strangers? “She’s all right.” A rush of fear shook him. He looked at Daniel, knowing the alpha would see the panic in his face. “She has to be.” Daniel gripped his shoulder, giving him an encouraging squeeze. “Then think. Is there anywhere she might go? Someplace where she would feel safe? Someplace she might find comforting?” Tucker could almost hear the words Mari had said when he’d surprised her with the romantic rose-filled night. “Have you seen the rose garden here? It’s like an oasis in the desert.” Her smile had said it all. If any place existed where she could feel safe, that would be it. He dashed to the door, calling out behind him. “Follow me. I know where she is.”

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Mari plucked a petal from the red rose. “He loves me.” Another petal fluttered its way to the garden floor to land on the pile forming at her feet. “He loves me not.” A tear cascaded down her cheek and dropped on her arm. Does he love me? She frowned, the ache in her chest pinching her heart like a mean child poking her with a stick. Who loves me? Does anyone love me? She whimpered, her mind reaching out for a memory that wouldn’t hold still long enough to grasp it. The gray haze swirled around her, revealing only the wrought-iron bench she sat on. In some places, the mist would grow thicker, in others it would thin out. Every once in a while, she thought she saw things beyond the mist. Then the mist would grow heavier and her peek into the other world would be lost. Air particles, pushed by the swirling fog, formed interesting patterns only to break apart and drift away. But it didn’t matter. More patterns would come. She plucked another petal. “He loves me.” A vision of a face flashed before her, and she reached out, certain that if only she could touch the face, she could stop the man from leaving. His white-blond hair fluttered in an unseen wind, and he looked at her, an incredible sadness etched in his expression and in the dullness of his amber-flecked blue eyes. She reached out, but it was too late. Plucking again… “He loves me not.” Another tear fell to join the first. Please, please make him love me. But why? Why did she care so much that this stranger loved her? The pain inside her heart grew stronger. Something deep inside her urged her to fight. To think. To remember. She closed her eyes, willing her brain to function. To demand answers. Sweat broke


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out along her brow, and she reached out with her mind, calling to the stranger, calling for someone, something to appear. Cold black eyes drove at her, and she inhaled, terror gripping her heart. Fangs flashed white beneath the chilling glare. Then, as she watched and held her breath, a single drop of blood dripped from the tip of one fang. Laughter that held no warmth, no humor took away her hope. Only the promise of darkness remained. “Noooo,” she moaned. She pushed out with one arm, the rose gripped in her fist, and struck the face with all her might. The evil face shattered into shards of black glass and she rejoiced. But her joy was short-lived as a hand grasped her arm, then another took her other arm. She struggled, fighting to get away from the evil face, the monster in the mist. Fear clogged her throat, and a heavy weight crushed her chest. Still, she kept fighting, desperate to get away from the terror gripping her. “No! Let me go!” As though her words held power, the monster released her, and she jerked back, then hugged the rose to her chest. Trembling, she stared at the flower, took a deep breath and plucked another petal. “He loves me.” Tucker released Mari and stood back, horror tightening his chest. “What the hell’s wrong with her?” The clothes she’d had on last night were dirty and disheveled. Her usually neat hair was mussed, and one cheek had turned blue-black from a large bruise. Thorns pricked her hands and fingers, trailing thin lines of blood over her palms. But it was the faraway gleam in her eye that frightened him the most.

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“I’m sorry.” Daniel’s tone was filled with defeat. “Looks like Bascom did what he said he would if you didn’t throw the game.” He couldn’t think straight and he hated the whine coming from him. “But why? I did what he wanted.” He reached out, wanting to comfort her, wanting to wipe away the two puncture wounds on her neck. “You really didn’t think he’d keep his word, did you?” How could he feel so much at one time? Fury ran side by side with shock while love pushed him to not give up. Mari rocked back and forth, continuing to pull petals from the rose. Once she’d taken all the petals from one bloom, she picked up another flower from the large pile lying next to her on the bench. He’d kill Bascom for hurting her. For biting her. “He loves me not.” Please, make her stop. “Why does she keep doing that?” Anger bellowed within him, howling for him to set the beast inside him free. Free to find the bastard that had hurt his woman. “She’s in a trance, Tucker. He’s put her under his control.” Daniel turned to him, and he saw the amber in his leader’s eyes. “You’ve got to take her back. You have to break the trance he’s put her in.” Tucker could sense his eyes changing, turning amber. “But how?” Groaning, he squatted in front of her and tried to take her arms again. She screeched, jerked away, then resumed plucking the petals from another rose. “How do I fight this? I could break his neck with one swipe of my paw. I could dig my claws into him and shred his skin. But how do I fight this?” “He loves me.” Placing his hands next to her, one on top of the pile of roses, he leaned closer. He could smell the sweetness of her breath and sense the terror within her.


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“I do love you, Mari. Do you hear me? I love you. Come back to me.” His voice broke with his final declaration, and he bowed his head. He closed his eyes, struggling to draw in one ragged breath after the other. “What am I going to do?” Twisting around to look up at Daniel, he told him what he feared she would never hear. “I can’t live without her. I love her. Hell, I need her.” Daniel’s face hardened, his jaw working. “I think I know a way.” Tucker sprang to his feet and clutched Daniel’s shirt. “Why didn’t you say so? Tell me. Now, before she gets worse.” But could she get worse than she was? Daniel studied him as though trying to decide what to say. Drawing in a big breath, he let it out slowly. “Bite her.”

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Tucker released Daniel and stared at him. “What?” “I said, bite her. Don’t you see? You love her, right?” “I said as much, didn’t I?” He didn’t know why he couldn’t help but direct his anger at his leader. “He loves me not,” Mari murmured. “Then you were planning on making her your mate, right?” Daniel’s amber eyes shifted, bringing back more of his usual dark brown color. “I don’t know. We hadn’t talked about it. Yet.” True enough, he’d wanted to discuss the possibility. But taking Bascom out of the game had come first. Then, after the tournament, he could have, would have, asked. “You’ll have to make the choice, Tucker, but the only chance you have of bringing her back is to break the vampire’s hold over her. The only thing I can think of that might do the trick is for you to bite her. Shock her out of the trance. For her sake and for yours.” Tucker knelt beside her again. What would Mari want? Was she in love with him? Even if she was, would she want to become a werewolf? Then a paralyzing thought struck him. “Can she become pack?” “I assume she could. Why do you think she can’t?” “He loves me.” Mari let the petal float to the floor. He hadn’t told Daniel everything about her. Hadn’t thought it important. But now it was everything. “She’s a witch. Can a witch go through the Change?”

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Daniel took a long time to answer. Or had time stood still? At last, however, Daniel cleared his throat and spoke. “I don’t know. I’ve never heard of a witchwerewolf hybrid. But again, what choice do you have?” Daniel was right. He had no other option. He had to take the chance. Closing his eyes, he let the wolf go, giving him just enough freedom to bring out his fangs. He felt his face change slightly, taking on wolf-like characteristics with fur sprouting along his jaw line. The world around him warped, losing its color to adopt a yellow glow. He growled, softly, trying not to frighten Mari. She picked another petal from the rose and let the wind take it. “He loves me not.” Oh, but I do love you. Enough to do this. Widening his mouth, Tucker lunged forward and grabbed her. Mari screamed and beat her fists against him. He held on, hating to take her by force, then sent her a silent plea for forgiveness as he sank his fangs into her neck. Mari stiffened, her body going rigid. She gurgled, a terrible sound that usually meant death was near. He held on, driving the changing fluid into her body. Her body trembled, spasms shaking her, then she suddenly grew still. She relaxed, falling against him. Tucker held her close, as tightly as he thought she could withstand. Drawing the wolf back inside, he shifted and closed his eyes. He stroked her hair, too afraid to say anything. Several minutes passed until he felt her stir against him. She pushed away from him, a rose still clenched in her hand. Tears ran down her face as she took the last petal from the rose and let it fall. “He loves me.” Tucker gazed into her eyes, searching for any sign of the Mari he loved. “He does love you. I love you.”

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Mari tilted her head, her eyes clearing, and studied him. “I love you, too, Tucker.” A strangled cry broke free from her and Tucker pulled her to him again, pressing his lips to hers. They lingered over the kiss, savoring each other’s taste until he had to look at her. To make sure she was all right. “You remember me.” The words rushed out on a breath of relief. “Yes, I remember you.” Her smile wavered, then she touched his cheek. “I remember everything about you.”

“So when do you think it’ll happen?” Mari rushed through the front door of The Hole in the Wall Hotel and Casino two steps ahead of Tucker. “What?” She made a face at him. “The Change, of course. What else would I be asking about? When will pigs fly?” He reached for her hands and ran his thumb over the smooth skin already healed by his bite, then pressed his lips to her palm. “Tucker, you’ve looked at my hands several times today.” She placed the palm he’d kissed on his cheek. “I’m fine now.” The pain he still felt for what Bascom had done to her shone in his eyes. “Just checking.” She put her hand in his and together they strode through the lobby. “Why aren’t you answering my question?” “You could’ve been asking when I thought we’d catch up with Bascom.” “No. I can sense we’re close.” She glanced around the casino searching for the high stakes poker tables. “Plus, we got lucky that the waitress at the last place recalled seeing him here.”


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Tucker scanned the other side of the large room. “The bastard may have slipped away from the Bellissimo Hotel before we could catch him, but he didn’t get far. I’d bet on it.” He turned toward her, and she could see amber flecks in his eyes. “As for the Change, I can’t say. It’s different for everyone. But judging from how fast your hands healed, it should happen soon.” He narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this? After what he did, no one would blame you for keeping your distance.” Mari could almost feel Bascom’s fangs on her neck, and she rubbed her wrists. The bruises hadn’t disappeared yet, but each day they faded a little more with the help of Tucker’s bite. Too bad his bite couldn’t erase the memory of what had happened. “I have to do this. I have to take back what he took from me. Do you understand?” “Yeah, I do. Still, if you change your mind, just let me know and we’re outta here. Doing what’s best for you is more important than nailing the bloody bastard in his coffin.” The mix of fury and guilt she’d seen so many times since the day he’d found her in the garden swept over his face. “Again, I’m sorry for what happened, for not finding you in time, for not being able to ask you if it was okay, if you wanted me to—” She pressed two fingers to his mouth. “Tucker, I told you before. I understand. If the situation had been reversed, I would’ve used any spell to help you. Believe me when I say if I could’ve answered the question I would’ve told you to bite me.” She couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “To tell you the truth, the more I think about becoming—” she checked around her for anyone who might overhear, “—a you-know-what, the more excited I become.” “I’m just glad it didn’t affect your powers.”

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“Me, too.” Her gaze slid past him to a table almost hidden in the corner of the casino. Suddenly she found it hard to breathe. “There he is.” Tucker whirled around, seconds before Mari managed to grab him and pull him behind a slot machine. “Hang on.” Tucker’s eyes sparkled with amber. “Are you kidding me?” “We have to keep our heads and think. What do you think you’re going to do, jump him in front of all these people?” The freezing grip Bascom had put on her blew through her again, making her teeth chatter. No. she wouldn’t let it take her over. She rubbed her arms and shook off the terrible sensation. “I’d rather do that than let him get away.” Keep it together. “He’s not going to get away. But we need to get him alone. Should we call Daniel and the pack?” “No. They’re searching the outlying casinos on the other side of Vegas and wouldn’t get here in time. Besides, I want this creature all to myself.” “And me.” She peeked around the edge of the machine and spied on the vampire. Bascom stood, then looped his arm around a beautiful young brunette woman dripping with diamond jewelry and wearing designer clothing. “Although getting him alone might be a problem.” “What’s going on? What’s he doing?” Tucker eased against her to see around the edge, but she held him back. “This is an interesting development.” “What is? Is he leaving?” “I think our evil vampire has a crush.” “A crush? No way. You have to have a beating heart to feel an emotion like love.” She stifled a giggle. “Sorry, but I think you’re wrong. He’s practically drooling over her.”


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“Maybe he’s just hungry.” Eck. The thought of Bascom draining blood from the pretty woman made her sick. She cringed, her stomach flipping over as she remembered Bascom sliding his hands over her own breasts… No! Stop it! “I think it’s more than that. The way he’s lightly brushing her hair away from her eyes, the tender expression on his face… Nope. This is love.” “I think my lunch just visited my throat.” Tucker shook himself. “What woman would want a vampire for a lover? Especially a vampire like him?” “Beats me. Stay close. They’re leaving.” Mari hurried after Bascom and the woman with Tucker on her heels. Using the slot machines scattered around the room, she dodged from one to the other. Bascom and his woman stepped into an elevator and the doors slid closed. “Crap. We’re going to lose them.” Tucker rushed to the elevators, then slammed his hand against the closed door. “Not necessarily.” Mari pointed to the panel of numbers lighting up as the elevator ascended. “Let’s see which floor they end up on.” “How much do you want to bet it’s the penthouse? Or whatever serves as a penthouse in this joint.” Mari watched the numbers light up the panel one floor at a time until the top button finally lit up. She signaled for the next elevator. “When you’re right, you’re right.” They hopped into the elevator and punched the button for the twelfth floor. The door whooshed open, and Tucker peeked his head around the corner. “Okay, the coast is clear.” The marbled floor had seen better days, but the door to the penthouse was polished to a shine. Mari and Tucker stood before the door, studied it for a moment, then turned to each other.

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“I guess maybe we should’ve come up with a plan first.” Tucker nodded slowly. “I’m way ahead of you. I have an idea.” “Good, because I’ve got nothing.” He took her hand and squeezed. “Here’s what’s going to happen. But we have to be quick, okay?” “Got it. What do you want me to do?” Mari’s words came out in a breathless rush. Don’t think. If you think about it too much… Just do it. “I’ll break down the door, then grab the girl to throw him off since he’ll think I’ll be coming at him. You cast a spell on him, something to stop him or at least slow him down. Remember, don’t look him in the eyes.” She could feel his uncertainty but didn’t blame him for being skeptical that she could pull it off after failing the first time. Even she wasn’t sure she could do it. “Okay. I’ve got the perfect spell in mind. But it’ll take a few seconds to get it all out.” The worried expression on his face cut her to the bone. “I’ve got to ask one more time. Maybe you should sit this out?” “And again. No way. I need to get payback for everything he’s done to me.” She straightened her shoulders and met his determined stare with one of her own. “Let’s do this.” Amber gleamed in his eyes, and bones cracked as Tucker partially shifted. Growling low, he took a few paces back, then readied himself like an Olympic runner preparing to start a race. Mari gave him the thumbs-up and stepped out of the way. Roaring, he ran at the door, ramming his shoulder against it. The door shook, then split off its hinges and fell to the floor inside the suite. Bascom and his woman whirled around from the wall-to-wall window as Mari and Tucker spilled into the room.


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Having surprise on her side, Mari quickly murmured the hex that would freeze the vampire. How do you like the cold, Bascom? Her heart pounded so loudly she almost expected it to burst open. Fear gripped her as flashes of him taunting her, touching her, raced through her mind. Clenching her hands into fists until her nails broke the new skin of her palms, she forced herself to repeat the spell. Bascom lunged toward Mari, his fangs dripping with the blood of his lady. “Lillian, look out!” He raised his arms, his fingernails lengthening to razor-like spikes. Mari’s voice grew louder, a strange mix of confidence and fear, as she spoke the final words of the spell. Bascom’s eyes widened, and he howled an earsplitting screech. Then he stopped, arms still extended, and froze in midcharge. I did it! Oh, my God, I did it! Lillian screamed, and Mari spun around to find Tucker holding the girl’s arms behind her back. A trickle of blood dripped down her neck from two puncture wounds. “Let me go!” She struggled, but she was no match for Tucker. “Take it easy. We’re not after you.” “Maybe we are.” Mari’s gaze fell to the photographs on the coffee table. Pictures of Lillian leaning over a small child drew bile into her mouth. The woman, her fangs extended, stood over a glassy-eyed young girl. “She’s a vampire, too.” Mari glared at the woman. Until seeing the photos, she hadn’t thought she could detest anyone more than she did Bascom. “You feed on little kids?” Tucker, however, didn’t appear surprised. Instead, he tugged Lillian along with him to get a look at the photos. “Damn, I was afraid of this.” “Afraid of what?”

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Lillian tried to break free, but Tucker easily held her. “She’s a newly made vampire. My guess is Bascom’s her maker, which explains his affection for her. Vampires don’t make new vampires unless they have a very strong connection with the newbie.” Mari still didn’t understand. “So? What does that have to do with the photos?” “New vampires like to feed on young children. They think the purity of a child’s blood makes them stronger. And I’d bet anything Bascom took the photos as keepsakes. Memories of their time together.” “Oh, hell no.” Mari clamped a hand over her mouth, fearful her stomach would rebel against the images. “Oh, hell yes.” Lillian cackled, and her green eyes grew dark. “You’re not a child, but you look very tasty. Turn me loose. Now.” “Mari, turn away. Don’t look at her.” Tucker’s warning came just in time as the chill emanating from Lillian prickled Mari’s skin. Mari whirled around, gasping for breath, and faced the older vampire. Although suspended in motion, Bascom’s dark eyes were alive and searching for hers. She tucked her head, searched around her and found his sunglasses lying on an armchair. Inching up on him and keeping her eyes averted, she slipped the glasses onto his head, then dared to look him in the face. An intense sensation hit her, but unlike before, she was able to keep it out of her mind. “Screw you, asshole. Tucker, let’s get this over with.” “You bet.” Ripping a cord away from the brocade curtains, Tucker looped it around the woman’s wrists, then tied the other end to the heavy wooden arm of the huge sofa. He yanked the curtain from the rod, then tore off a strip of material to tie around Lillian’s head and cover her eyes. Satisfied, he sauntered over to stand in front of Bascom.


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“Here’s the deal, vamp. You’re going to call a press conference and tell everyone you cheated. You won’t tell them about Mari being a witch, me being a werewolf or even out yourself.” Bascom didn’t answer. “Mari, can you release him just enough for him to speak?” “I think so.” She waved her hand in front of the vampire’s face. “You flea-ridden mangy mutt. Get your witch-bitch to release me this instant and I might—” he gave them an evil grin, “—might let you live.” Hearing his rich, malevolent voice again unnerved her, but she refused to let him see her reaction. Tucker laughed and patted Bascom’s cheek. “You’re such a funny man. Have you ever thought of doing standup?” Bascom’s efforts to move were written on his face, but he couldn’t budge. He gave up, but Mari could feel the intensity of his hatred wafting off him. “Why should I do what you want?” Bascom’s icy voice raked over them. “Because, my dear man.” Tucker’s imitation of Bascom’s attitude and speaking style were perfect. “If you do not, then I will tear your lady friend apart, inch by beautiful inch.” “I do not believe you. You may be a werewolf, but you, sir, are no killer.” Tucker smiled at him. “You’re right. I’m not a killer.” He yanked off his shirt, then started undoing his jeans and kicking off his boots. “What’s happening?” Mari held her breath. Was he shifting? But Tucker ignored her, his attention on Bascom. “I’m not a killer, but my wolf is.” Bones cracked as Tucker’s nude body began changing. Limbs grew shorter, reshaping hands to paws, human legs to animal legs. His body grew blurry as

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white fur skimmed over his body, and he dropped to all fours. Growling a heartwrenching sound, Tucker the human changed into Tucker the wolf. “Wow.” She knelt, her hand extended, and Tucker walked into her arms. “You’re beautiful.” She laid her head against his shoulder and ran her hand along the white fur. The wolf side of Tucker was almost as wonderful as its human counterpart. “He is an abomination.” Mari stood, hating to let go of Tucker but knowing time was running out. Her spell wouldn’t hold forever. “Seriously, dude?” She jerked her head toward the photos. “He’s an abomination?” Tucker growled, bumped her leg, then padded over to hop onto the sofa. He growled, placing his face and his long fangs next to Lillian’s face. Mari faced Bascom. “I think you’d better do as he says.” Bascom grew silent, his lips drawn back in a silent snarl. Mari waited, trying to appear more confident of his answer than she was. “Fine. I will do as you command.”

Mari stood to the side of the stage. The media was in full force with reporters and photographers pushing as close to the platform as possible. Speculative murmurs floated around her and a few of the reporters asked her what was going on, but Mari only shrugged. Far be it from her to upstage Bascom’s lowest moment. The chairman of the Las Vegas Poker Extravaganza Tournament Committee stepped up to the microphone. He’d been very upset when she and Bascom had walked into his office and told him that Bascom had cheated. But he’d acted swiftly, calling the press conference to announce Bascom’s disqualification.


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The scowl on the chairman’s face made his already long features seem even longer. Had his hair turned grayer in the short time since he’d learned of Bascom’s cheating? He cleared his throat, testing the microphone. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming on such short notice.” He swallowed, tucked his head, then straightened his shoulders. “I’m not going to go into the details. Suffice it to say the committee has received some rather disturbing information. Information we felt should be acted upon without delay.” He turned to glance at Bascom, who stood near the side of the platform, and scowled. He faced the crowd again, then readjusted the mic. “Ty Bascom was crowned the champion in the Las Vegas Poker Extravaganza Tournament. It seems, however, we made a mistake in doing so.” He turned to motion Bascom to his side. “Mr. Bascom, if you would.” Bascom’s head swiveled toward Mari and her heart skipped a beat. Just keep your sunglasses on, Bascom, or I sound the alarm. She clutched the phone in her hand. Tucker, still in his wolf form, listened on the other end as he stood guard over Lillian. Bascom’s jaw clenched, then he faced the crowd. His body stiffened, his mouth opened, then closed. All at once, he smiled and relaxed his body. Mari held her breath. Don’t try anything, vampire. “I cheated.” Tipping his head toward her, Bascom sauntered off the stage, leaving the flabbergasted audience behind. Silence followed Bascom’s announcement as reporters and onlookers let his words sank in. Then one reporter raised his voice, shouting for an explanation, and the rest followed. An uproar ensued, but Mari remained quiet, stretching on

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her tiptoes to try to see where the vampire had gone. A cold tickle traveled up her spine, threatening to let fear take control. She lifted the phone to her mouth. “Tucker, he did it. But then he just walked away and I couldn’t see where he went. Get out of there. Now.” “I’m already here.” Mari pivoted, bumping into the solid wall that was Tucker, and relief swamped her. “But what about Lillian?” “Don’t worry. Daniel and the others finally arrived and took my place. I think they’re planning on a having a little chat with Bascom, too. Providing he doesn’t skip town and leave Lillian on her own.” “Would he really leave her behind?” Mari punched the phone off, then flattened her hand against his chest, letting the strength of him steady her frayed nerves. “I thought he cared about her.” “I think he does. But not as much as he cares about keeping his own hide safe.” He slid his hands up and down her arms, comforting her. “How are you doing?” “I’m good.” He shot her a look, and she couldn’t help but confess the truth. “I’m a little shaky at times, but I’m getting better.” He zeroed in on her. “You know he can’t hurt you anymore, right? I won’t let him.” His grin swept warmth over her. “Besides, you kicked his butt, remember?” “Yeah, I sure did. But still, I’m happy you’re by my side.” She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the security of Tucker’s presence. He hugged her tighter. “Where else would I be?” “Ladies and gentlemen.” The chairman raised his hands to silence the group. “Rest assured that a complete investigation will be forthcoming. However, since Mr. Bascom has announced that he cheated and we have no reason not to believe


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him, we are hereby setting aside his win, holding his cash prize and awarding the championship to Tucker Manning.” Almost as a unit, the spectators turned to Tucker. Microphones thrust toward him as the reporters and cameras moved closer. “Tucker, tell us what your thoughts are.” Flashes brightened the room and more reporters hammered questions at him. Did he know how Bascom cheated? Had he known during the tournament? Was Mari’s disqualification part of Bascom’s plan? Instead of answering, Tucker gave her a wink and strode onto the stage. Once the room had quieted, he stepped forward to address the crowd. “I’ll let the committee answer the questions pertaining to Ty Bascom. But like the rest of you, I am stunned by his flagrant misconduct. Poker is an honorable game played by honorable people. No one—” his gaze zeroed in on Mari, “— should ever use any means, any special gifts or any tricks to win.” She smiled and nodded as pride for him soared through her. The chairman sidled up beside Tucker. “Everyone, please help me in congratulating the true winner of the—” “Hold up a sec.” Tucker eased the man back from the microphone. “Although I appreciate the honor, I can’t accept the championship.” Another round of questions and flashes went off. Mari sent Tucker a questioning look. What was he up to? “I’d like to make a suggestion.” He caught her gaze and held it. “And a challenge. I propose a heads-up match between myself and Ms. Thornton. Let’s find out who really is the best player. What do you say, Mari?” Mari felt the heat rush to her face as everyone waited for her answer. But when she concentrated on Tucker, the noise and all the others faded away. “Game on, Tucker.”

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“You ready to lose, witchy-poo?” Mari chuckled, then bumped her shoulder against Tucker’s. “Are you so sure you’re going to win, cocky-dog?” “Cocky? Maybe.” Tucker looked offended. “But dog? Ouch. Lady, never call a werewolf a dog. Besides, if I’m a dog, then that makes you my bi—” “Don’t go there, wolfman.” Mari’s laugh turned a few heads. They stood at the side of the room where the tournament had been held. The reporters, cameramen and spectators were back in their places along with Daniel and his pack. Mari rubbed her arms, fighting the sudden chill. “Do you still feel the cold?” Tucker skimmed his soft eyes over her body until returning to her face. “A little. But it gets better every day. I’m sure I won’t feel his touch much longer.” “I hope you’re right. But don’t worry.” He slid an arm around her. “I’ll keep you warm.” She followed his glance to the pack members sitting in the audience. “I just wish Bascom hadn’t gotten away from Daniel. We still don’t know how he managed to slip Lillian out from under the pack’s watch.” Mari scooted out of his hold, then shot him an apologetic look. “We don’t want everyone to know about our relationship yet. Do we?” Although she’d wanted to keep the information quiet, hoping to stem the flood of inevitable

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questions, she doubted it would be possible for much longer. A lot of people had seen their earlier kiss in this very room. But after the tournament was over, then no holds barred. She thrilled at the thought of being with Tucker without worrying about their relationship going public. “Whenever you’re ready for the world to know about us, I’ll be ready.” “Ms. Thornton? Mr. Manning? We’re ready to begin.” The same tournament director was back in charge and waving them to the table. After the introductions and announcements had been made, the lights and cameras centered on the two players seated directly across from each other. Mari adjusted the red silk top she wore and smoothed her black skirt. “Lookin’ good there, darlin’.” A few men chuckled. “Why thank you, sir.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder, exposing more of her cleavage. “I’m happy you noticed.” “Oh, I did. I did.” Tucker sorted his chips. “Hey, how about a side bet?” Mari sensed the reporters edging closer. Audiences loved side bets. She acted nonchalant and toyed with her stack. “What do you have in mind?” “Do you remember the chair?” Thrown off base, she looked into amber-flecked eyes. “The chair?” “You know.” Tucker placed his forearms on the nonexistent arms of his chair, then pretended to try to pull them loose. “The chair.” Heat whipped through her. “Oh. The chair. Right.” She was almost afraid to ask. But too excited not to. “What about it?” “If I win, you have to sit in that chair.” Mari swallowed at the lust in his expression and hoped no one else recognized the look for what it was. “And when I win?” Tucker grinned. “Whoever wins controls the chair. Agreed?”

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“Agreed.” Oh, Tucker, I am so going to win. The dealer dealt the cards, drawing her attention back to the game. Mari lifted her cards and blinked. She was surprised her mouth didn’t hit the table. She fanned her cards, staring at them for longer than necessary, then placed them facedown on the table. Lady Luck was definitely on her side. Mari shook her head, refusing to take any cards. “None?” Tucker narrowed his eyes. “You’ve either landed an incredible— not to mention almost impossible hand—or you’re bluffing.” He studied her a bit longer before pushing all his chips to the middle of the table. “I think you’re bluffing.” The collective inhale from the audience was no surprise to Mari. No one ever went all in on the first deal. Mari let out a breath, picked up her cards, then matched Tucker’s bet. Again, the audience reacted, cheering at the phenomenal nerve of both players. The announcer tried to keep his voice down, but his excitement had his pitch rising as he related what had just happened. Both players had made bold moves. But who would win?

“Are you sure you didn’t use magic? I mean who gets a royal flush on the first deal?” Tucker gave Mari a suspicious look. Laughing, she shoved him inside his hotel room. “What can I say? Lady Luck likes me.” “I’ll say. And who can blame her?” Mari flipped the championship belt over her shoulder, pumped a fist into the air and chanted in a singsong voice, “Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I won, I won, I won.” “Damn. Lousy winner, maybe?”


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She spread the belt across the dresser, then turned and pressed her back against the edge. “Sore loser, maybe?” “Maybe.” He pulled her to him, pressing her body close to his. The flash of heat swallowed her and made the room swim around her. She laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes. How could someone so rockhard feel so comforting? His arms felt like a blanket, and the only thing she wanted to do was to wrap it around her and feel safe and secure. The heat didn’t stop there. Warmth flooded between her legs, reminding her that comfort wasn’t the only thing she wanted. She pulled away from him, swayed over to the chair and patted an arm. “Time to pay up.” Tucker arched one eyebrow. “What? Did you think I’d renege? Although I do have to admit. I’m pretty bummed about not being the one in control. I had all kinds of fun stuff in mind for you.” She leaned over the chair to tempt him with an eyeful of her cleavage. “But why not let me be in control again? Didn’t you have fun the last time?” “Well, yeah.” He sauntered over and tried to grab her, but she kept the chair between them and stayed just out of his reach. “Do you want to do something different this time?” If he’d been in wolf form, his ears would’ve pricked up. “Darlin’, I’m always up for something different.” “I was hoping you’d say that.” Waving her hand, she lifted him, the power in her magic obeying her command. “Hey!” Tucker floated in the air, then fell backwards as another wave of her hand tossed him onto the bed. “Take it easy, witch.” Mari clicked her fingers, and invisible bonds wrapped around his wrists and ankles, then around the headboard slats and the posts at the end of the bed. A

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wave of her hand, and the nightstand drawer popped open. A cock ring floated out of the drawer and into the air to hover over his head. “Aw, darlin’, you’re just hurting my feelings now.” He puffed out a breath to send the cock ring a few inches higher. “I don’t need any delaying techniques. I’ve got all the stamina you need.” Mari made a show of considering his statement, then waved her hand and the cock ring disappeared. “When you’re right, you’re right. Then how about this instead?” Another wave and a candle stuck in a base shaped like a gravy bowl bobbed in the air above his stomach. The flame flickered in the breeze from the air conditioning vent. Tucker’s eyes grew wide. “Hey, I don’t mind being tied down. In fact, I like it a lot. But dripping hot wax on me? Not so much.” “Don’t worry. You’re going to enjoy this.” A spell later and both of them were naked. Tucker whistled low, his hot gaze flowing over her. “Darlin’, you’re torturing me. Come on. Hop on top of me.” “In a minute.” She licked her lips. “I’m a little hungry.” With one thought, the candle tilted and poured a small stream of its contents. Tucker jumped, trying to throw his body out of the way as much as the restraints would allow. But when the stream hit his stomach, he gaped at it, then laughed. “Chocolate? Why didn’t you say it was chocolate? You, lady, are one wicked witch.” “Am I?” Mari crawled onto the bottom of the bed and slipped in between his legs. The candle traveled along his body, down one leg, then up the other. It stopped directly over his crotch to pour chocolate over his already extended cock. Once his shaft was covered, the candle rocked back and forth, spreading the dark treat over his stomach, his six-pack and along the wide expanse of his chest.


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Tucker raised his head and watched, excitement lighting his features. “Oh, yeah.” Mari bent over, keeping her eyes on him, and slid her tongue to trace a delicious trail from the tip of his toes up to his knee. She giggled as she raked her tongue along his inner thigh. “Oops. It’s starting to drip. I’d better get it before it hits the sheets.” Shooting him a sexy grin, she lowered her head between his legs. The fragrance of chocolate mixed with the musky scent of his crotch to form an enticing new aroma. “Mmm, good.” She licked the chocolate off one ball, then sucked it off the other. “Holy shit.” He threw back his head and lifted his ass. “I think some of it’s going down my butt crack.” “Don’t worry. I’ll get it.” Mari pushed harder against his body, craning her neck to slide her tongue in his crack. He moaned, the muscles in his legs tightening under her hands. When at last she lifted her face, she was covered in chocolate. “Looks like you got a little on you.” She licked her lips like a satisfied kitten. “I do?” Swiping a finger along her cheek, she sucked the chocolate off, then purred with delight. “You know what? I think I need more.” Slowly, seductively, she lowered her body and scooted over him like he was a chocolate Slip ’n Slide. Chocolate spread over her breasts and stomach, until she finally came face to face with him. “You taste so good.” He lifted his head and licked her cheek. “You’re right. The stuff is delicious.” “I wasn’t talking about the chocolate.”

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Tucker moaned and thrust his hips upward, causing her to slide off him. The candle still floated in the air above them. “Uh-oh. See what you did, Tucker? I want more.” “I have enough left on me. Then, of course, there’s some on you I’d like to taste.” Mari shot him a sexy look. “Not yet. Me first.” She motioned, and the candle tipped and poured, forming a brown pool on his flat stomach. Mari swirled her finger in the gooey puddle, playing her fingers up and down the ridges of his abdomen. Lying next to Tucker, she spread it over her body. Tucker’s lips parted, and his eyes fogged over with lust. Amber flecks dotted the blue. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?” “Uh-uh. No way.” She dipped two fingers into the sweetness on his abs, then pushed her hand between her open legs. “Aw, hell. Turn me loose.” She shook her head and watched him. Mewing, she slid her fingers between her folds and rubbed the chocolate over her pussy. Rubbing her clit, she brought her nipple to her mouth and sucked off the tasty goodness. Tucker struggled against the invisible bonds but never took his focus from her. Rubbing harder, Mari circled her hips and kept sucking on her now-clean nipple. Before long her body stiffened, ready for the climax. She cried out, clutching her breast, and rode the wave. “Woman, if you don’t turn me loose soon, I’m going to blow just looking at you.” Mari glanced at him from lowered lashes. “You’re going to blow, huh? Don’t you dare.” Moving quickly, she twisted around to straddle Tucker and placed her head over his chocolate-covered cock. Wrapping her hand around him, she


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cupped his balls with her other hand. The slippery confection warmed against her skin. “Damn!” Tucker lifted his head, trying desperately to reach her pussy only inches from his face. “For the love of poker players everywhere, turn me loose.” She ignored his plea and tossed her hair over to one side, then the next, to let the golden tresses feather over his skin. He moaned and jerked on his bindings. “If you won’t let me go, then at least move closer. Quit teasing the hell out of me.” She turned to shoot him a big grin. “Whatever you want, wolfman.” Taking a firm grip of his shaft, she slid her tongue down the curve to meet the white, curly hair, then shifted to lick her way back up the other side. She lowered her bottom, and Tucker’s growl heated her pussy. Although expected, his touch made her jump away, and he protested. She lowered her body again and welcomed his tongue as he lashed her tender clit. He sucked, then nibbled, then sucked some more. Sparks flew through her, turning desire into unyielding lust. Pressing her breasts against his oh-so-solid abs, she pumped his shaft with her hand and with her mouth. Using only his mouth and tongue, Tucker sent her flying, climaxing multiple times. Her body trembled, and she gasped, her pulse picking up speed to match the pounding of her heart. Moaning little sounds of pleasure, she renewed her attack. Keeping his shaft in her mouth, she circled the hardness, loving the unique smell of him along with the tender feel of his skin against her cheeks. Although she would have thought it impossible, his shaft lengthened, then hardened more. She pushed her hands under his legs and held on. This was her man. Her delicious man.

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Tucker never tired. His tongue whipped her clit, first sending quick zings of pleasure with a quick lashing, then pressing against her to give her longer surges of lust. She cried out, once again climaxing. Drained, she fell on top of him, her face next to his cock, his between her legs. “Oh, wow.” “Turn me loose, Mari.” She stiffened. His tone was harsh, demanding, and held no plea. She slid off him, then went to her knees. “Are you all right?” Amber eyes met hers. His expression was unreadable, making the tone of his voice all the more unnerving. “Turn. Me. Loose. Now.” Fearing she’d made him angry, she snapped her fingers and removed the invisible restraints. “Tucker, are you—” He had her on her back before she could finish her sentence, then grabbed her wrists and thrust her hands above her head. Placing his body over hers, he pushed her legs apart, his pelvis holding her down. His fierceness frightened her, but it was the gleam in his eyes that took her breath away. “Now it’s my turn to play captor.” She took in a quick breath, her eyes widening. At that moment, his demeanor changed, the amber in his eyes growing dim as a stunned expression wiped away all his fierceness. He pushed off, releasing her. “Aw, shit, darlin’. I didn’t think.” She saw his pain and understood what was tearing him apart. “Tucker, no. It’s okay.”


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“I didn’t mean to remind you of— I mean, I would never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do. I was just playing the game, turning the tables for fun—” She took his hair and yanked, pulling harder than she needed. “Ow!” He sat back. “Hey, I told you. I didn’t mean to do it on purpose.” “Tucker, will you shut the hell up?” He froze, then shook his head. “So wait. I didn’t upset you? You know, making you think about…him?” She chuckled. Tucker could never remind her of Bascom, no matter what he did. “I didn’t even think about…him.” She gave him an exasperated look. “Until now.” He let out a huge breath of air. “Then why’d you make that face?” “You mean this one?” She opened her eyes wide along with her mouth. “Yeah. That one.” “Because—” she touched the drop of chocolate on his nose, wiped it off, then sucked her finger clean, “—I was about to get hit in the face with a chocolate bomb.” He swiped a palm across his nose. “A chocolate bomb, huh?” “Yeah.” She leaned toward him and dragged her tongue across his chest, marking a clean path through a dark area. “Let me have a taste.” Taking her face in his hands, he brought her lips to his. She expected hunger, yearning, and they were there. But his touch held an underlying tenderness, a desire to tell her with his actions, not his words how much she meant to him. He brushed her lips with his tongue and held her with a gentleness that brought tears to her eyes. The kiss lingered, and she could feel his

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breath against her cheek. Yet when he released her, she was still unprepared for the emotion sparkling in his eyes. “I love you, Mari Thornton.” She loved the lines around his eyes, the stubble on his chin that always seemed to be there no matter what time of the day it was. “Of course you do.” His laugh warmed her heart and brought out her own. How had she managed to live without him for so long? “You’re right. I’d be a fool not to. And, darlin’, I’m no fool.” He lowered her to her back, then caressed her hair, spreading it out over the pillow. His growl, deep and possessive, sent her juices flowing. His golden eyes flashed as he touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “I want you.” “I want you, too.” He shook his head, his hand still on her cheek as he slid his thumb over the corner of her mouth. “I need you to understand what I’m saying. I don’t mean for now. I mean for always. Forever.” She was thrown off guard, then recovered as the thrill of happiness rushed through her. “You don’t even have to ask. I’m yours and you’re mine.” A smile filled with love and joy spread over his face and made her pulse quicken. He kissed her again, this time a little more forcefully, then cupped her breast. Gripping her buttock with his other hand, he lifted her bottom and positioned himself between her legs. She tunneled her fingers into his hair, then let her hands slide over his shoulders to rest against his chest. He pushed, bringing his shaft inside her and she cried out as the curved end of his cock touched her sweet spot, giving her yet another climax. She shuddered, clutching him to keep herself grounded. But when she saw the love on his face, she let herself fly, opening for him, accepting him with both her body and her heart.


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They moved together, slowly at first, then increasing speed as they synced their bodies together. As one, they moaned their pleasure, stroking each other, nibbling on each other. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on, pushing against him. Her legs quivered as wave after wave of release rocked her, but she held on, urging him to climax. Wanting to commit the moment to memory, she watched him, delighting in the way his muscles worked, the perspiration forming on his brow, the way he gritted his teeth. She offered her breast, and he took it, gently nipping at her nipple. He was a paradox, a mix of hard and tender, fast and slow, in one moment touching her hair tenderly, and in the next pounding into her. She gripped his arms and held on, matching her thrusts to his. “Look at me.” She did as he told her to do, willing to do anything for him. His gaze met hers, and she would’ve sworn he told her how much he loved her in a single look. His body tensed, his shaft filling her even more than before, and he cupped her breasts in his large hands. Grinding his teeth, he threw back his head and roared. The sounds washed over her, adding to another voice she soon recognized as her own. They clutched each other as he fell to her side. She closed her eyes, remembering his touch, his hands on her body, his mouth pressed to her skin. She clenched the muscles in her pussy as though they were still tight around his shaft, and she felt content, happy. Sighing, she stretched, then snuggled closer to him. What would it be like to wake up next to him every morning? They could plan their day together, travel together, making their schedules as professional players fit with each other’s. She played with the hair on his arm. At times, their

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careers might force them go in separate ways, but she’d make adjustments, do anything to stay with him as much as possible. Several minutes passed before she spoke. “So, are you going to the Southern Champions Tournament?” “I know you signed up for it.” “Yeah, I did.” “Then I guess I’m going, too.” He shifted to look at her. “We’re a team now, right? Besides, I wouldn’t want you running with any pack except mine.” “So you’ve started gathering your pack?” Until now, she hadn’t let herself think about life with a werewolf, much less life as a werewolf. As a hybrid witchwerewolf. “Not yet. But I’ve got a great start.” He kissed her breast. “I’ve already found my mate.” She couldn’t suppress her joy, her grin spreading wide. “You sure have.” They lay together, content to let the silence surround them. Mari let the questions race through her head. Would the Change hurt? Would she be a blonde wolf? Where would they live? So far her magic had been unaffected, but would it stay the same once she’d gone through the Change? Bascom’s face threatened to enter her thoughts, but she pushed it aside, determined not to let the memory of him have one more moment of her time. She sighed, remembering all she and Tucker had gone through to find each other. But it had all been worth it. “I knew you would, you know.” Tucker, his arm flung across her chocolate-stained body, peered at her. “You knew I would what?” “I knew you’d come for me.”


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He lifted onto his elbow and regarded her, his hair falling against his hand. “Darlin’, you could’ve bet the moon on it.” Mari snuggled against him, ready for whatever lay ahead.

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About the Author

To learn more about Beverly Rae, please visit www.beverlyrae.com. Beverly’s Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/pages/Beverly-Rae/161206580633003 Beverly’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beverly_Rae Send an email to Beverly at [email protected]

Look for these titles by Beverly Rae

Now Available: Touch Me Wailing for Love To Fat and Back Magical Mayhem Wild Things Cannon Pack Howling for My Baby Dance on the Wilde Side Running with the Pack Magical Sisters Magical Sex Sex with a Hex Para-Mates I Married a Demon I Married a Dragon Wild Things Cougar Wild Cat Clawed

Coming Soon: Magical Sisters Sexual Shift In Pursuit of the Pink Pearl

When hunter becomes hostage, the only question is: Death by bite, or by bullet?

Running with the Pack © 2011 Beverly Rae

Cannon Pack, Book 3 At night, Lauren Kade trades her white coat and dental drill for a black uniform and a gun. But not to hunt the shifters she once swore to eliminate. Driven by lingering guilt for killing a female shifter a year ago, she covertly throws other hunters off the trail. She’s good at it, too…until she’s taken hostage by a sexy werewolf whose thirst for revenge is even bigger and badder than his attitude. Daniel Cannon tried everything to outrun the pain of his mate’s murder, but when hunters take down another pack member, it’s more than he can stand. Now that he’s got one of them at his mercy, though, something strange is happening. Her day job may set his teeth on edge, but her luscious curves make him salivate. In spite of her past sins, she insists she’s reformed into some kind of werewolf guardian angel. Worse, his heart wants to believe her, and his body aches to mark her as his. Yet going against his instincts could turn him from lover to prisoner. Just when his pack needs him most… Warning: Be advised. This is not a test. Your limits are about to be pushed. Your desires will be met. Your heart will burst with pleasure and your dreams will be fulfilled. Prepare yourself for sex hotter than the sun on the driest desert. And if you dare, then run with the pack. Enjoy the following excerpt for Running with the Pack:

Lauren dropped to the back of the group and switched her gun’s safety to the off position. If she had to, she could cause a diversion from the rear easier than in the front of the group. Halfway through the alley, John went down on one knee, waited for them to do the same, then pointed to a dark corner where one building met another. She squinted into the blackness and hoped she wouldn’t see what she feared most. A small werewolf bent over the prone body of a homeless man. The man, wearing rags and shoes with holes in the bottoms, was either asleep or unconscious. His hand, however, firmly clutched an empty whiskey bottle. The poor man had no idea that a werewolf stood over him. Could she wake the man up without scaring the werewolf into biting him? If so, would John and the other hunters hold their fire to keep from hitting the man? Inching forward, she touched John’s shoulder to warn him against shooting while an innocent human was in the line of fire, but she was too late. A shot blasted the silence apart, jolting her and sending her stumbling to the side. The werewolf’s screech of pain echoed around the alley. Wounded, the shifter landed on its feet but couldn’t stand. Blood ran down its hind leg. The werewolf tried to stumble away, but lost its footing and slumped to the ground. “Gah! What the fuck is this? Help! Someone get this thing away from me!” The man dropped his bottle to scuttle away from the growling creature. The other men rushed to John, cheering and slapping him on the back. Two hunters helped the man to his feet and retrieved his bottle, then led him down the alley toward the street. Pointing his rifle at the snarling werewolf, John stood back, his chest out and pride oozing from him. “Say nighty-night, shifter.” Lauren slowly regained her feet, tears stinging the backs of her eyes. Why couldn’t she have acted faster? Disappointment mingled with guilt, tearing a hole in her stomach. But now was not the time to wallow in her feelings. She

gritted her teeth and took a few steps toward the sickening scene and the great white hunter holding court over his doting subjects. “Wait! Don’t shoot!” John and the others pivoted to her without placing their backs to the werewolf. “What, Lauren?” His eyes flashed above his gleeful grin. She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to slap the stupid smile off his face. “You promised me I could shoot first.” Why hadn’t she remembered to say that earlier? Had their discussion about Cannon thrown her off? But maybe she wasn’t too late. “I did? I don’t remember that.” John’s brow knitted and she prayed he’d taken his dumb pill today. He wasn’t the brightest man on the block and she could usually convince him to do what she wanted without him knowing she’d bamboozled him. “Yeah, you did. Granted, you were drunk.” She got the expected snickers from the group. “But a promise is a promise. And now you go and blow it.” “Seriously, babe, I don’t think—” “You don’t think and I don’t care, John. Just answer the question. Are you going to give me what I want or not?” She pouted in the way John couldn’t resist. Hoots and laughter surrounded her. “Yeah, John-boy. Give her what she wants or one of us might have to give it to her.” John punched the loudmouthed hunter in the arm. She strode to the group and positioned her body between John and the werewolf. “So the way I see it, you owe me the kill.” She turned to face the werewolf and widened her eyes, hoping to alert him to her plan. “Let me be the one to put him down.”

She watched the battle in John’s eyes and knew how much he wanted to kill the shifter. But, with the heckling of the others, he had little choice but to give in. “Fine. Just make it quick.” She blew him a kiss along with a sexy smile and waved everyone back. “You guys might want to step away. Uh, you know. I’m not that good a shot.” “Ain’t that the truth?” “Back up, dudes. You never know where her bullet will go.” At least her bumbling hunter act was still holding up. She almost shook her head in disbelief. Almost a year and they still hadn’t caught on? Wow. She stepped closer to the bleeding wolf. If he was as intelligent as she thought werewolves were, he’d catch on. At last his gaze met hers and she gave him a huge no-way-can-you-miss-this-signal wink. He blinked, then tilted his head. She wasn’t sure he understood what she was about to do, but he knew she was up to something. She aimed a couple of inches above him, allowing for the discharge from the rifle to miss him. Get ready, wolf. Taking a breath, she squeezed the trigger. The shot rang out and, after only a moment’s hesitation, the werewolf yelped, jerked, then fell silent. Taking the dirty blanket the homeless man had used, she flung it over the body of the werewolf in feigned disgust. “Good riddance.” The hunters shouted and John lifted her to twirl her around. “You did it. You finally killed one.” “Finally? But I killed the female. Remember?” “Oh, sure. Yeah. I forgot. Never mind.” John released her and turned to his men. “Grab the carcass for Lauren, men.” “No!” Her shout stunned them into inaction, giving her a moment to think. “Uh, I mean, it’s my kill, right? Then I decide what to do with the hide. And I’ve decided that I want to leave it right where it is.”

“But why waste a hide you could hang on your wall?” Lauren took John by the arm and led him away from the werewolf. “You know I don’t like trophies on my walls. Besides, it’s a scrawny thing.” She adopted an evil expression. “And I want it to stay here. I want to imagine the rats having a feast. I think that’s the best way to dispose of a vile creature like that. It’s my kill, my decision, right?” “Whatever you say, Lauren. I’m just so damn proud of you. Men, group together.” Lauren swallowed the bile in her throat and returned his hug but didn’t follow the others as they circled around John. Instead, she paced over to the werewolf, then bent down and lifted a corner of the blanket, pretending to examine the head. “Stay still until we leave. If I can, I’ll come back to help you,” she whispered. She would’ve sworn the shifter’s lips pulled back into a smile. She turned to face the group and a movement above her brought her to a standstill. The beautiful black werewolf who’d escaped with the injured female werewolf crouched on the roof above her, his lips curled back to expose deadly fangs. She took a moment to appreciate his magnificent body, then abruptly dropped her eyes. If she drew attention to him, John would start the hunt again, thrilled by the chance to bag two in one night. The magnetic pull emanating from the mystical animal, however, drew her attention back, holding her spellbound. His eyes, brilliant amber, glowed against his black face and the dark night around him. Lauren couldn’t help but study him. His body was all muscles and packed action. This creature, this regal being, was more a true hunter than John could ever be. The werewolf tilted his head, reminding her of someone else. Suddenly, realization struck her, dazing her. It’s Daniel. She smiled, a little embarrassed not to have made the connection before. She should have known. In either form, he

had the same intensity, the same sexual pull, the same overpowering presence. She frowned. The same accusatory expression? But why was his fury focused on her and not the others? Shit, he doesn’t understand. He thinks I’m with them. Panic rolled through Lauren. She had to do something before John and the others noticed him. In the end, however, it was Daniel who drew their attention. The werewolf on the roof turned toward the hunters and widened his snarl. A spine-tingling growl floated down to the hunters, and he crouched as though ready to attack. Praying her idea would work, Lauren lifted her rifle, aimed and pulled the trigger.

Who says a wolf can’t make a pussycat purr?

Cat Scratch Fever © 2012 Jodi Redford

Perfect timing has never been Lilly Prescott’s long suit. Seconds before a showdown with werewolf Dante Morgan, who owns a property that by rights should belong to her, she goes into heat. Not a simple event for a lynx shifter. No, she’s doomed to weeks of frustration that can only be soothed by frequent rolls in the hay—or her hand. Unfortunately, Dante accidentally witnesses the latter. Left shaken and highly aroused in the snow, Dante can’t believe he’s attracted to the woman who drives him crazy, and not in a good way. Worse, his father has issued an ultimatum. Marry, or abdicate his place as pack leader. On the other hand, it’s the perfect leverage. Lilly will get her land…in exchange for a wedding ring and all the sexual satisfaction she can handle. Marry Dante? No doubt he’s a poster boy for Hunks ’R’ Us, but he’s rude, arrogant and Lilly’s sworn enemy. Not to mention the thought of losing her independence is frightening as hell. When they find themselves falling victim to their own charade, though, it’s anything but hell. It’s heaven, and the last thing either of them wants. The real thing. Warning: This book contains redneck werewolves, inconvenient hormones, and a whole new use for cat toys. Uncontrollable meowing may occur. Enjoy the following excerpt for Cat Scratch Fever:

What the hell am I doing? This whole plan is nuts. She ran both hands down her face and smothered a groan. Dante chose that moment to walk back into the living room. Awarding her a cautious glance, he plopped a plate loaded with a fresh bagel sandwich and chips on her lap. “Everything okay?” She swallowed past the lump of worry lodged in her throat. “No one is going to buy this—you and I.” “That’s why we have to make it convincing.” “Trust me, I’m not that good of an actress.” Dante rubbed his jaw. “Well, my old man already thinks we’ve got something going on.” “Great. One down, a couple hundred more people to go. And that’s just counting your relatives.” She snatched a chip and nibbled its crinkled edge listlessly. The healthy appetite she’d possessed minutes ago seemed to have disintegrated. She dropped the half-eaten chip back onto the plate and exhaled heavily. “Speaking of relatives…I know my sister will never believe we’ve suddenly fallen madly in love. Crap, just yesterday I told her you were a perverted peeping Tom.” A grunt issued from Dante, and she shrugged. “Hey, I was mad.” He stroked his goatee. “Actually, that might work in our favor. I’m assuming you told her about what happened on the road?” She nodded. “So tell her I made you dinner as an apology, and one thing led to another.” His mouth tipped into another of those panty-wetting grins. “After one incredible night in the sack together, you knew you could never live without me.” She rolled her eyes. “Puh-lease. No one’s going to believe that.”

His palm curved over her knee. “I bet I can make you believe it.” She tried not to focus on the distracting way his fingers brushed along the inner seam of her pants. “Don’t count on it.” “Should I take that as a challenge?” His gaze still locked with hers, he took her plate and set it next to her coat. Planting his hands on the chair’s upholstered arms, he boxed her in and leaned so close, she easily made out the flecks of gold in his irises. Compelling as his gaze was, her attention couldn’t help straying to his mouth. Her nipples tightened as she imagined those sexy, masculine lips traveling in a slow glide across her breasts and belly. What would his goatee feel like against her skin? Would it be scratchy and irritating, or soft and ticklish? Unconscious of her actions, she reached up and traced her fingertips over his jaw. “Hmm, definitely soft and ticklish.” A wicked sparkle danced in Dante’s eyes. “Were you having dirty thoughts about my beard?” “Possibly.” “Tell me what you were thinking.” The husky persuasion in his voice proved to be her ultimate downfall. “I was wondering what it’d feel like on certain parts of my body.” Dante licked his lips in a way that was incredibly…wolfish. “I can show you firsthand.” The heat simmering inside her kicked into full boil. Dante’s nostrils flared, and the intensity in his eyes sharpened. “Christ. I smell how fucking turned on you are.” “I can’t help it.” She swallowed hard and squirmed against the cushion. “It’s the hormones.”

“No, it’s more than that. And you know it.” His face inched closer until his breath mingled with hers. “You want me, Lilly. Admit it.” “I don’t know what’s bigger—your ego, or your self-delusions.” He gave her a predatory grin that prompted flutters in her stomach. “Neither is any match for the size of my cock. But then you already know that.” He would have to bring up his impressive package at a time like this. Now she couldn’t get the damn thing out of her mind. Which wasn’t helping her present condition at all. “Another check mark for your massive eg—” The remainder of her comeback fell victim to the firm, sinful pressure of his mouth on hers. A shaky whimper escaped her. Dante took that as a convenient invitation to thrust his tongue past her lips. She’d experienced plenty of kisses in her life. Not one of them came close to competing with the consuming hunger inherent in Dante’s. She could taste his desire. Feel his single-minded focus on her. It swept her up and left her breathless. His fingers tunneled insistently in her hair, angling her head back for a deeper exploration of her mouth. His tongue coaxed hers into play, and she eagerly obliged. God, she wanted to eat him up with a spoon. And that made absolutely

no

sense,

considering

how

arrogant,

obnoxious…chauvinistic…and…and… She lost her train of thought as his roving hands massaged her breasts through her top. Inspired to do her own exploring, she smoothed her palms over Dante’s broad shoulders, trying to drag him closer and tug his flannel shirt off at the same time. He pulled back, revealing an expression dark with passion. “There’s not enough room on this chair for us both. How about if we continue this on the couch?”

“My bed is bigger.” The suggestion popped free before she could halt it. Grinding her teeth at her loud-mouthed inner slut, she waited for Dante to smirk and lob an appropriately lewd crack at her. Instead, he scooped her into his arms, knocking the bag of Brussels sprouts onto the ground. He was careful with her ankle, something she appreciated—though honestly, she didn’t even register any discomfort anymore. Likely the improvised icepack had done the trick. That, or lust had blindsided her to the point all other sensations had skulked into the farthest recesses of her consciousness. He walked down the short hallway and paused between the two open bedroom doors. “Which one?” She pointed to the doorway to the left of them, and he strode inside the small room. He carefully arranged her on top of the patchwork quilt before stretching out beside her. His mouth found the tender spot beneath her ear and quickly discovered how easy it was to reduce her into a quivery, gasping wreck. She tore at his shirt again, desperate to touch warm flesh rather than flannel. This time he obeyed her wishes and released the top few buttons before growing impatient and yanking the garment over his head and tossing it aside. She snuggled against him, a happy purr leaking free. He groaned and coasted his fingers along the curve of her spine. “Fuck, that’s sexy. Do you always purr like that?” “Usually only when I’m in the middle of a heat cycle.” His hand slid beneath her top and cupped her breast through the thin mesh of her bra. He rubbed her nipple with his thumb, and she arched into him. A feral growl rumbled from deep in his chest. “I wanna get you nekkid.” “Oh God, yes.” So much for keeping her inner slut out of this. Thankfully he required no further prompting and made short work divesting her of her top and bra. The rapt way he stared at her breasts brought a

fresh surge of moisture between her legs. She whimpered as his hand splayed over her mound. “I don’t even need to touch you to know how fucking wet you are.” She didn’t doubt it. The clear evidence of her arousal scenting the air made it pretty damn impossible to miss. With Dante’s supersensitive nose, it was probably a thousand times more noticeable. She got her verification when he buried his face in the valley of her cleavage and inhaled with a lusty moan. His pupils dilated, making his eyes look exceptionally dark and predatory. Witnessing the raw, animalistic hunger riding his features speared a sharp spike of excitement through her, leaving her dizzy and lightheaded. Plumping her breasts with his hands, he sucked her nipple between his teeth and laved it into a stiff, turgid peak with his tongue. Gasping, she wiggled on the mattress, shamelessly undulating against the hand he’d kept wedged between her legs. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as the consuming need inside her became an agonizing torment. She tugged at his hair, panting, and he finally lifted his gaze to hers. He must have read the desperation in her eyes because he reached for her zipper and worked it down. Repositioning himself, he gently eased her pants and bikini down her legs before spreading her thighs enough to make room for his wide shoulders. His thumbs slid through the wetness coating her labia and held her open to his hot, devouring gaze. A millisecond later, his tongue swirled over her clit. She jolted at the intense sensation, her limbs trembling, but Dante’s big hands kept her hips pinned to the mattress and her pussy available for his feasting. And oh God, that was exactly what she felt like—the main entree in a luscious, decadent werewolf Happy Meal.

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