With
great passion comes great responsibility...
Lucy Tullet's entire world has imploded,
thanks to the two soft pink lines staring back at her. As a professional
party-girl, she never considered settling down and having kids. Until she meets
the blood wolf—a renowned Viking vampire hunter with
a mysterious past—and spends the night in his arms. Now, thanks to him,
everything has changed. Not only are there vampires running amok in town,
hunting Lucy and her unborn child, but the blood wolf has staked his claim,
determined to both protect her and take her as his mate.
(Available on Kindle
Unlimited)
"Lucy," he repeated as he studied my face. "A
lovely name for a lovely woman."I cleared my throat and stepped back,
putting space between us. "Are you here as a bachelor
then?"Bemusement tugged on his mouth. "I'm flattered. But no."
"So, if you aren't here
as a bachelor, and you're not part of the European pack…" I let my
sentence dangle with the hope that he'd answer my unspoken question. What other
reason could there be for his presence? Unless…understanding dawned. "Are
you here to bid on one of the bachelors?"
Surprise widened his dark
eyes, and he choked back a laugh. "Uh, no. While I'm sure they're fine
men, they're not the one I'm interested in."
Heat spread through my
cheeks.
"Um. We'll just…be
elsewhere," Bailey said. "Like, over there. Yeah, over there
works."
"What?" Evelyn
asked.
"Come on, dummy."
Bailey grabbed Evelyn's arm and wrenched her toward the bar.
The blush spread down the
back of my neck. Within five minutes, the entire pack would hear about this.
Those two women were the absolute worse sort. Gossip was like air to them.
"So." I shot him
another look, my tongue suddenly heavy in my mouth.
This was ridiculous. I wasn't
the sort who gummed up in front of a man. I was the sort who took initiative,
who dragged them out onto the dance floor for a good time, who used them, then
ditched them the next morning. Yet, here I stood, nervously fiddling with my
glass, my mouth drier than the desert. All because Mr. Europe was hotter than
hell itself.
I cleared my throat and tried
again. "What are you here for then?"
His brows furrowed. "I
came to see someone. But they didn't show."
A woman someone? I wanted to
ask. Except, the words died in my throat. "And you're really not part of
the European pack?"
"No." He chuckled,
the expression lighting up his face. I loved the sound of it, deep but gentle,
as though he laughed a lot. "In fact, I only arrived in America this
afternoon."
My lips parted. "Wow.
You even managed to score a sweet tux, too. Impressive."
He bowed his head. "I
aim to please."
"Did you come to America
to meet this friend of yours?"
"I did. Guess that won't
be happening tonight, though."
"And this friend…"
Just ask! "A female friend?"
His smile broadened, flashing
a pair of dimples. "No. Just an old friend. But he's not here, and you
are. So, I call that a win."
I ducked my head, the bunnies
in my stomach launching into full-blown butterflies. Damn it, stop playing coy!
Reagan often called me a man-eater. Time to put up or shut up.
"Well then." I
handed my empty glass to the next server who strode by and grabbed two fresh
drinks, handing him one. "If you're not from the European pack, then I
offer you my sincerest apology for the way I spoke to you earlier."
"That so?" His
mouth ticked upward. "I'm honored. I get the impression you don't
apologize often."
"I'm not often
wrong," I said with a playful wink.
"Ah, beauty and brains,
then?" Before I could respond, he plowed onward. "I take it you're
here to bid on one of these fine gentlemen tonight?"
"Yup." Not that I
wanted to anymore. The only devilishly handsome werewolf I wanted to play with
was the one standing in front of me. "You sure you're not supposed to be
up there?"
"Do you want me to
be?"
Most definitely. I'd bid
every last cent on him. Problem was, from the many hungry glances sliding his
way, I wasn't the only one interested. And I wasn't known for sharing. After a
moment's consideration, I shook my head. "No, you don't belong up
there."
He clutched at his chest.
"You wound me, madam!"
"It's for your
protection, and everyone else's too. I wouldn't want to have to kill everyone
who bid on you just to get what I want."
He stepped closer, his scent
overwhelming my senses. "I'm intrigued. What is it you want?"
"You tell me," I
murmured, my voice taking on a husky note.
His fingers brushed against
mine, teasing, taunting…playing the game. I gave a slow blink and lifted my
gaze to his, my mouth curling into a sensuous smile.
"I know what I
want," he said.
"Do tell."
Without warning, he cupped
the back of my head and brushed his lips against mine. Slowly at first, tasting
what I had to offer. Teasing me with the promise of something more. I'd
expected him to ravish my mouth, but instead, he took the time to seduce me.
Heat spread through my body, and my damn knees buckled. His touch feathered
against my bare back, eliciting a shiver unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
My whole body attuned to his, and he'd done little more than offer a chaste
brush of our lips.
We parted, my chest heaving
beneath my dress. His gaze dipped to my plunging neckline, his eyes sparkling
at the sight of my flushed skin.
"I have a room
upstairs," he rasped.
Hallelujah. Because we sure
as hell wouldn't make it back to my place.
"Only if you're
interested."
I laughed. "You damn
well know I'm interested."
"Now?"
Screw the auction. Gabriel
had sent me to smooth over the press, and to donate money to a good cause.
Neither of which I'd done. But I'd already won the night as far as I was
concerned, without spending a single cent. I could easily donate the money
without bidding.
I licked my lips, excitement
dancing in my stomach. "Now," I murmured. "Right fucking
now."
He flashed me a grin. "A
woman after my own heart."
My Viking Wolf
(Available on Kindle
Unlimited)
Gwen Knight is
a Canadian girl currently living in Jasper, AB. She graduated from the
University of Lethbridge with a degree in Archaeology and Geography. Her
interests consist of playing in the dirt, designing elaborate snow forts,
boating, and archery.
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