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Chapter 26
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Wolf Tales Chapter 27
I've lost my fucking mind.That was all Riley could think, the phrase replaying in his mind as he drove through the streets of Calderwood to his house. He didn't usually have hot, scorching, incendiary sex with a woman scant hours after he'd met her. That wasn't his style. But, with Lia, it was almost as if he hadn't had a choice.Come see my house.Take off your clothes.Let me slide my cock into you and never take it out.Jesus. Just holy Jesus!At thirty-five, he had certainly been with his share of women, some of them for long periods, others short-term relationships. But none of them had ever affected him right at his core, right smack in the middle of his heart, of who he was, like Lia Popescue. He wondered fancifully if she was a witch who had cast a spell on him. Not that he believed in witches, although since accepting the reality of Mike Volka as a shapeshifter, nothing was off the plate.All he knew was, since he first saw her, touched her in the library, every fiber
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 28
They headed away from the library, riding in an unexpectedly comfortable silence. Riley wondered again what the hell he was doing. He tried to examine what had happened rationally, but it seemed sanity had nothing to do with this. He thought of the old adage about an unstoppable force and realized that was exactly what had happened here. From the moment he'd laid eyes on Lia Popescue in the library, it had all been out of his hands. Five minutes with her and he had to accept that she was the one, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. How weird was that? To be as successful as he was as a detective, Riley had to be rational, sensible, logical, all those things. And none of them applied to what was happening here.Don't fight it, he told himself. Sometimes you just have to accept what Fate brings you, especially if it was woman like Lia Popescue who rocked him to his core.He knew, however, the conversation they would have shortly could have a dramatic effect on their sit
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 29
She was telling him the truth. If this thing between them that had blasted out of nowhere like a space capsule and hit them both with the force of a runaway train was to work, then the Volkas would need to accept her. She hated to think what would happen if they didn't. It wasn't only Jamie's misgivings that had to be set to rest. She needed to know if Mike Volka was indeed wolf and which pack he descended from.Settling herself in her chair, she lifted her glass of wine, needing the drink to settle her nerves."To us." Mike touched his glass to hers.His smile alone settled her. "To us," she agreed.They kept the dinner conversation light, discussing the kind of movies and books they liked, the activities they enjoyed, things like that. But when dinner was over, they carried the dishes into the kitchen, and Mike refilled their wine glasses yet again and guided her back out to the patio. The sky was the bluish-slate color of midevening, the moon an emerging silver slice against the
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 30
Lia relaxed, her hands, still held securely in Riley's. It would happen, she told herself. Maybe not as fast as she would like, so she needed to exercise some self-control. Maybe some of the material she'd studied in the library would help, too. She'd learned a lot about packs, how they formed, what the power structure was, and how they interacted with other packs. At least it would give her the background she needed and hadn't had up to this point. The ramblings of her grandparents had hardly been enough to give her a cohesive picture.Riley trusted her, and now she would trust him to handle this and get her the information she needed. If there was one tiny bit of hesitation, it was the worry Mike's family history might identify him as a member of the pack that had destroyed hers. She'd have to cross that bridge when she came to it."All right. I leave it in your hands. They're your friends, and you know how to approach them." She lifted her face to his. "Can we seal it with another
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 31
Riley's night had been long and tense, and the condition of the victim had imprinted itself on his mind. How, he wondered, could one human being be so brutal with another? Leslie Finnegan had suffered both a broken arm and cracked ribs, a concussion and severe bruising and tearing in the vaginal area. He was sickened by the medical report and more determined than ever to find this piece of scum who had invaded the peaceful environment of his town. The worst part of it was they had no leads whatsoever. Today, after he managed to catch an hour or two of sleep, he and his partner would start the door-to-door canvas in the neighborhood to find out if, hopefully, someone had seen something out of place."He may not live in the neighborhood," their lieutenant had cautioned them. "Or even in Calderwood."That was true. But Riley and his partner had been cops long enough to know predators like this often went hunting in their own backyards. They were egotistically confident no one would susp
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 32
By late afternoon, Riley was more discouraged than when they'd started. He met his partner, Charlie Ramos, on the sidewalk. They'd decided, after the first couple of hours, to split up somewhat. They'd alternate houses on each block. That way, they'd finish up faster and could compare notes."Anything?" he asked when they met back at their vehicles.Charlie shook his head. "Nada.He'd make it a point to stop by and see Jamie and Mike before he went home tonight. They needed to have a straight and honest conversation. Electric chemistry between them aside, Riley sensed no threat to anyone from Lia. He was relying on his cop instincts here, and they had never failed him. So the questions now were, would Jamie and Mike talk to her, and what was her real motive for her search?But that was for later. Right now, he had a rapist to identify, and the prospects so far were less than nothing."Okay," he said to Charlie. "We've worked the streets closest in proximity to where the attacks to
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 33
"This is either really bad," Mike said in a tone only half-joking, "or very good. Come on, Riley. Don't keep us in suspense.""Okay, here's the bare bones of it. And the reasons why I think you should talk to her."He told them about his lunch with Lia and the afternoon they'd spent together. Told them her reasons for wanting to meet Jamie and ask about the book. He gave them his assessment of her as a person and why he did not think she was a danger to them. As delicately as possible, he hinted at the connection they'd instantly made, hoping his friends wouldn't either laugh him out of the house or be pissed off that he was pursuing a relationship - and what a mild word that was for what he felt - with someone they found suspicious.When he told them he'd brought her home to stay, they didn't seem to be nearly as shocked or angry as he'd expected."Why aren't you shouting at me?" he asked. "Or telling me I'm out of my mind?""Finish your story," Mike said, "and then I'll answer y
Last Updated : 2022-04-29Wolf Tales Chapter 34
Lia sat with her hands clenched together in her lap, knowing Riley was waiting for her to open her car door and get out. She was trying to control the worst case of nerves she could remember having in a very long time."It's okay," he assured her yet again. "I promise they won't kill you.""That's not funny," she said. "There are some things worse than death.""Well, this won't be it. You have my word. Come on, they're expecting us."By the time she undid her seat belt and gathered her purse, Riley had jogged around to her side of the car and opened the door for her. He reached a hand out to her, and she put one of hers into its blessed warmth. When he circled his fingers around it, she drew strength from him.This was so not like her. She was usually fearless, never afraid of anything. But this was so important, on so many fronts. It would be a turning point in her life."Trust me," he told her.She let out a long breath. "Okay. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."He kept h
Last Updated : 2022-04-29
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Wolf Tales Chapter 43
Lia was sure she'd never run so fast in her life. She didn't even care if Mike saw her naked when she shifted back and yanked on her clothes. She raced for the house, barely getting the back door open before she heard the ringing of the front doorbell. Scraping her hair back from her face and catching her breath, she flung open the door to see a tall, blond man in jeans and a pullover."Lia?" His voice was kind. Almost too kind, she worried."Yes, I am.""Charlie Ramos, Riley's partner." He held out his hand to her. "Riley's had a little dustup tonight. He'll be fine, but he's asking for you.""Where is he?""On his way to the hospital. I came to fetch you.""Let me just grab my purse and I'm ready."All the way on the drive to the hospital, she prayed Charlie was right, that Riley was going to be okay. And that she'd used up her allotment of bad luck.*****Lia didn't know what she would have done without Charlie. He was a calming influence as he drove her to the hospital
Wolf Tales Chapter 42
Riley's cell phone rang just as they were finishing dinner. Lia hoped it didn't mean he had to go out again. Yesterday, he'd come home early, and they had spent exciting hours going over want she needed to do to close out her old life and jump feet first into her new. Today, she had spent a fair amount of time on the phone working to make things happen. Riley planned to ask for time off so they could take a long weekend, fly back to where she'd lived, and pack up her personal things, stuff she didn't want to leave to movers.Some of the more important pieces of furniture they would have trucked here and put in storage while they decided what to do with it. The rest she'd worked out with the real estate firm handling the house. But she had clothes and books and other personal items she wanted, some things to settle. Her bank had a branch in Calderwood, so that wasn't a problem. As she'd worked during the day, she had conversations with bunica, telling her how happy she was.She'd also
Wolf Tales Chapter 41
When Lia disconnected the call, she gave Riley's phone back to him."See? You don't have to worry about me while you're gone. I'll be in good company.""Just tell him he'd better make sure nothing happens to you. There's a rapist out there."She giggled. "Riley, I don't think even the most insane rapist wants to take on two wolves, do you?"He stroked her cheek with his fingertips. "I'm just sayin'." He reached into the cupboard and took out two travel mugs. "I think we're going to need java tonight. Charlie and I take turns providing it. His wife started it when we first became partners, and it's become a regular habit." He winked. "What's a shift on duty without coffee, right?"Lia pushed back from the table. "Why don't you go get your gun and shield. I'll fix the coffee and have it ready for you."He stole another kiss. "I'm liking this more and more." He cupped one breast and gave it a gentle squeeze.She swatted his hand away. "Behave yourself. We don't have time for that.
Wolf Tales Chapter 40
"Okay." The word popped out before Lia could organize her thoughts. She was nervous and relieved at the same time. "I'll marry you."Mike tugged her out of the chair, tunneled his fingers in her hair to anchor her head, and gave her a kiss that seared her down to her toes. He thrust his tongue into her mouth, sweeping it over every surface and tangling with hers. Only when they both ran out of breath did he finally lift his head and grin at her, hunger glittering in his eyes."You had to know I'd never let you get away.""I hoped," she told him. "But you didn't bring it up.""Like I said, I was afraid it would break the spell and you'd leave." He sprinkled kisses on both cheeks. "Let's eat and we can talk about the future, okay?"In the end, it had been so easy, she laughed at herself for all the crazy thoughts she'd had. They'd gotten past the biggest hurdle. Her wolf. Everything else should be a piece of cake. Right?"Graphic designer," Riley mused when she told him. "You work
Wolf Tales Chapter 39
Lia was stirring a pot on the stove when she heard the sound of the garage door going up then the slam of Riley's car door and the opening and closing of the door into the garage."Lucy, I'm home." he called, in the age-old imitation of the familiar phrase from the Lucille Ball show."In the kitchen," she called back.Her stomach jittered with nerves, and her hand on the mixing spoon was not quite steady. All day, she'd been going over this situation with Riley, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. And all day she'd avoided the answers, not sure she wanted to hear them. She was both anxious for him to come home and dreading it.She knew he'd head for the bedroom where he'd lock up his gun and shield. Then she heard his footsteps in the kitchen."Something smells really good in here." He came up behind her, swept her hair to one side, and placed a string of soft kisses on her neck.Lia shivered as delicious heat swept over her. Her nipples beaded, her pussy ached, a
Wolf Tales Chapter 38
"I liked tasting myself on your lips last night. Did you like your own taste as well?""Yes," she breathed, and licked her own lips for emphasis."Next time I plan to mingle our tastes in an erotic cocktail." He licked her lips again. "My flavor and that of my wolf."She smiled at him. "And how was sex with your wolf?"He gave a rough laugh. "Incredible, but we aren't finished." He rose to his feet and rearranged her on the bed so she lay with her head on the pillows. "Don't move. I'll be right back."In the bathroom, he ran cold water over his hands to dial down his heat and grabbed the box of condoms he'd stopped for on the way to the Volkas. He'd been stunned to realize he had only one left in his stash. Had it been that long since he'd had sex? Apparently so, and that was a shocker. He was a man with a healthy sexual appetite, but apparently no one had appealed to it in a long time.He swallowed a smile. That was okay. Every other woman he'd ever been with paled in comparison
Wolf Tales Chapter 37
Unable to wait any longer, Riley dropped to his knees in front of Lia and began trailing kisses over her from her navel to her thighs. She trembled at his touch, gripping his shoulders hard to steady herself as he slid his mouth over her petal-soft, sweet-tasting skin. He paused a moment to swirl his tongue around the indentation of her navel before drawing a line with the tip down to her pubic curls and the curve of her mound.Drawing in a deep breath, he inhaled her scent, an intoxicating combination of the flowery soap she used, her musk, and the faint traces of wolf. His cock, which was already harder than concrete, seemed to swell even more, to an almost painful state. With his thumbs, he opened the outer lips of her pussy and took a moment to stare at the erotic sight. The petal-pink flesh had darkened to a lush rose and glistened with her juices already lubricating her.Spreading the lips open a little wider, he flicked the tip of his tongue over the hardened nub of her clit,
Wolf Tales Chapter 36
Riley pulled off his clothes, all except his knit boxers, and dropped them onto the chair in the bedroom. He'd worry about them tomorrow. Right now, he was so ramped up, so electrified, he could hardly stand still. He and Lia had not left the Volkas until after midnight. She and Mike had pored over the book - now he could understand why they spoke of it in italics - trying to trace all the different places they interconnected. Looking for relatives who might still be alive and figuring out how they could find them."Shifters don't exactly have genealogy societies," he'd said with a chuckle.Lia was in overdrive, so excited he wasn't sure she'd ever settle down."Do you realize," she said, "what this means? Maybe we can finally gather the remnants of the pack. We can be a unit again, even a small one." She tossed off her clothes, dropping them in a pile on the closet floor. "Oh, sorry." She grinned at him. "I'll pick them up tomorrow. Promise. I'm really a very neat person."He laug
Wolf Tales Chapter 35
"No," Mike said at last. "Not yet, anyway. Are you sure there's nothing else you want to tell us?" Those golden eyes seemed to bore right into her."Yes. No." She wet her lips. "I mean, I'm not sure."Beside her Riley stirred and reached a hand out to stroke her cheek."Maybe it's my turn to interject something." He cleared his throat. "It seems to me the two of you are dancing around two critical items. He held up a finger. "One. Are you related? Two." He held up another finger. "Does the book apply to both of you? There has to be a common link, so if there is, just put it out there.""But - " Mike interjected."Uh uh uh. Cop talking here. If it turns out you guys are enemies centuries back, I'll keep things under control." He leaned forward and raised a third finger. "Three. What if you are connected in some way? I know there are a lot of Romanians in this country, but how many are actually looking for this book?""Let me put this out there," Jamie said. "I've learned so much s
