Overview
Sometimes Fate brings two people together—but it's just up to them if they let their hearts rule or give into their fears.
Marcus finally makes it back home after the worst case of his career. He's looking forward to some quiet down time until he senses someone trespassing on his territory. The woman who has learned about his special gift and doesn't seem afraid of his wolf is baffling and intoxicating at the same time. Marcus is just unsure whether she means harm or way too much good.
Crystal knew the moment she stepped into the swamp and on Marcus's territory she was where she belonged. Coming from a long line of special women herself, she has no problems with Marcus's differences. If she could just convince Marcus she is his mate, everything will just be perfect.
When these two come together, the heat and passion fills the room and nearly combusts. Almost perfect... except for the vision of Marcus being killed. Can they work together to figure out who is after Marcus? Or will their Fated Love burn them?
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780857153586 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Totally Entwined Group |
| Publication date: | 12/06/2010 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 44 |
| File size: | 330 KB |
| Age Range: | 18 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Marcus let the magic pulse through his body until he felt the change start to take him. Changing into his other form had always been an escape for him, one that he welcomed. In the months since his last assignment had ended, he had been spending more time in his wolf form than human.
He stretched out his back legs and bent his head back into the light evening sky. His brother wolf wanted to hurry and run and play, but Marcus controlled him so he could make a survey around him.
His family had made sure his house and land had been well taken care of during the two-year investigation that had kept him from home. But two years was a long time, and he always made sure there was no one around when he shifted.
Immediately his senses brought him a now familiar smell. She was there again. The smell of jasmine and woman assaulted his nose and pulled at him.
He knew she would be waiting for him at the edge of the swamp on the border of his land, just like she always was when he changed.
He wasn't sure what she wanted. It wasn't like he could ask her in this form but he had begun to worry. If she were still there after his run this time, he would have to find out.
Taking off in the opposite direction of the inviting scent, he let his wolf take control and ran.
* * *
More than an hour later Marcus stalked between the thick trees to spy on the woman who waited for him. He remained in wolf form so he could move silently and not alert her to his presence.
A few yards ahead, she sat on the thick green ground singing to herself. Her low husky voice sent shivers through his body and made him want to turn into a man. Marcus fought the call of her and moved into a better position.
Her head turned to the side even though he knew she couldn't have heard him.
"I know you're there, wolf," she called out to him.
Marcus stayed where he was. He was an enforcer. A hunter for rogue super-natural beings. He wasn't sure what she was but he knew there was no way she was fully human.
She sighed and stretched her legs in front of her but didn't stand. "Are we ever going to get past this? You hiding and watching me?"
Marcus could understand every word she said. Most humans who found out about his people didn't know that. This woman did.
She shook her head causing her long black hair to flow down her back and started to sing again softly.
Marcus hunched down onto his stomach to listen and watch. He loved her voice.
She sang about lost love — never raising her voice, but she didn't need to. His ears picked up every sound she made.
Crystal Johnson was her name, he had found out. She lived on the other side of the bayou with her grandmother. She had lived with her parents until she was nineteen then she had struck out on her own. He knew where she had gone to school, where she lived and worked, but that was all. Even with all of his contacts, he couldn't find a connection between the two of them.
She stopped singing and lay down on the ground closing her eyes. "I love it here. The sounds, the quiet elegance of the swamp, and just the comfort it offers."
Marcus felt the same way. Although he doubted he could have said it the way she had.
"Won't you come out? I won't hurt you. You could rip out my throat before I made a move," she asked, not moving. Her eyes remained shut.
Marcus wanted to be closer to her. Just once he wanted to be able to touch her. To look into her eyes.
He moved onto all fours and quietly moved to the edge of the trees. She remained still, allowing him to creep closer.
When he was within range for her to see him, she opened her eyes, remaining lying on the ground. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment before she blew it out.
"You are gorgeous," she commented, gazing up at him.
Marcus would have said the same about her could he have spoken. Her dark brown eyes were warm and inviting, the smile on her face natural and white, and the petite body stretched out in front of him was just asking to be touched.
She sat up slowly. Marcus stayed poised to run or attack if need be. It wasn't necessary though. She lifted a hand.
"May I touch you? Pet you?" she asked, looking him right in the eye.
He could smell no fear coming from her. Excitement and enjoyment, but not fear or anything malicious, so he moved closer.
One of her hands brushed against his neck before she buried it deep within his fur.
"Oh wow! You are so soft," she murmured.
Her touch sent a jolt through him and he barely bit back a howl, not wanting to scare her. But her touch was warming his sensitive skin and he had to concentrate on not changing back into a man.
He pulled away and took several steps back from her.
The radiant smile never left her face. "You're even better than my dreams," she told him.
He didn't know what she was talking about so he stared back at her.
"My dreams. That is where I first saw you. Coming to me in this form. So I come sit, waiting for you to finally acknowledge that I am here," she started to explain. "The first night I came to live with my grandmother I dreamt about you. And every night since."
It didn't make sense to him. He had never heard about anyone dreaming about him or his pack.
"My name's Crystal. But you probably know that?" She raised one shaped brow at him. "And you're Marcus?" Surprised to hear his name he tensed.
"I figured you had to be. You're the only one who has been away. I came here for months before you started to show up. Right after your return to town."
So she knew who he was. That was never good news. He started to back away.
"Don't go ... please," she told him starting to lean forward.
He growled in warning. He didn't want to have to hurt her. She hadn't done anything wrong except find out who and what he was.
She froze at the sound that came from the back of his throat. "I just want to talk to you. I haven't told anyone, I promise."
Marcus wanted to believe her but he wasn't sure if it was because of the way she made him feel inside or something else. Both man and wolf wanted this female. And until he knew more, that could be dangerous.
Before he could change his mind he turned and ran back to safety.
She called after him but he never slowed.
CHAPTER 2Crystal berated herself on the entire long walk from the swamp to where she had parked her grandmother's old car.
She hadn't meant to tell Marcus she suspected it was him that was the wolf but she couldn't help herself. The feel of his fur between her fingers had been more erotic than she had expected.
She'd only had a few very quick glances of Marcus in his human form. What she had seen had been absolutely delicious. He was tall, over six feet, with black hair and crystal green eyes. The same eyes that had stared back at her in the form of the wolf.
As she came to the gravel road she paused, seeing vehicle lights bounce down the road heading towards her. It wasn't dark yet but that didn't mean that the driver would see her as she stepped out of the thick trees.
A new black truck slowed to a stop in front of her. She waited to see what the driver wanted without stepping any closer.
The dark-tinted driver window rolled down revealing the man who occupied her earlier thoughts. He didn't smile just jerked his head to the passenger door. "Get in!" he ordered.
Crystal looked back from him to the truck. Excitement at being able to talk to him was shadowed with a little doubt since he was not happy about it.
He didn't say anything else so she quickly skirted around the front of the truck and jumped inside. Once her door was closed he put the truck in drive and made a wide U-turn, heading back in the direction of his house. She remained silent while he drove, keeping his eyes on the road in front of them.
Crystal tried not to fidget in her seat too much but she couldn't help the feeling of accomplishment at finally getting so close to him.
He smelled wonderful. Like the woods he had just run through and spicy male. She inhaled his unique scent. As she realised what she had done she smiled to herself. They were meant to be. Hopefully Marcus would feel it soon too.
The small confines of the truck were playing havoc with her hormones. She wanted to reach over and run her hands over his skin much like she had his fur.
Before she knew it, they had pulled in front of his house. He reached for the door handle and got out, remaining quiet.
"So he's the strong silent type," she murmured to herself before following his lead. When she walked around the truck, she saw him waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs to his house.
Like many of the older houses located in the area, his stood tall and well-maintained against the setting sun. The porch and shutters had recently been painted a bright white. The wood under her feet as she walked up behind him was solid and in no danger of crashing through. Unlike the ones to her own home.
Marcus held open the screen door so she could enter first. Nerves now taking over, she shuffled her feet as she entered. He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her further into the house.
Crystal almost jumped out of her skin at the first contact.
Marcus manoeuvred her into the kitchen before he dropped his hand. She tried to shake off the disappointment of him no longer touching her and placed her hands on the oak table that took up most of the room.
He walked over to the fridge and she watched closely, loving the fluid movement of his body as he bent and retrieved two beers. He held one up and she nodded.
He kicked the door closed then motioned for her to take a seat.
With relief she did — her legs threatened to go out from under her as he so intently watched her.
He sat in the chair across from her and took a long pull of the dark bottle.
She watched his throat work and pressed her legs together as arousal pulsed deep inside her pussy.
"So ..." he started. "Tell me how you came to find out what I am."
His voice was calm but his eyes held a heat that her body recognised. He wasn't immune to what was happening between them either.
Crystal took a drink of her own beer, wetting her dry throat before she spoke. "Like I said ... when I first moved here I started dreaming about a black wolf that would come to me. I told my grandmother, who said I should see where the dreams take me."
She paused and waited for him to ask something. When he didn't she continued. "So I started to pay attention to the dreams and where they led. I went out to wander around different areas before I finally came to where the swamp meets your property."
She searched his face as she told the story but his expression was still closed off to her.
"I went back to that spot time and again but the wolf never showed up. I asked around town to see who owned the property and was told it was you. I was also told you worked for the government and were gone for long periods of time."
Marcus took another drink before he spoke to her for the first time. "Then I came home and you still trespassed on my property."
Crystal almost laughed but managed to keep it inside. She wasn't surprised he had picked up on that one fact. "You could say that."
"How did you put together the wolf from your dreams and me?" he asked.
She did laugh this time. "I didn't need the rumours about you and your family, if that's what you mean. I knew. I can't tell you how I knew you were the wolf. I just did."
"My family's been here a long time and no one has ever been bold enough to confront us with these rumours." Doubt sounded in his voice.
"Nor will they. The community loves you all," she admitted even though he had to know. "They would never do anything to put you in danger."
"Yet, here you are." His face tightened showing the first signs of emotion.
"I am not dangerous to you or your family," she quickly told him, hoping he could see the truth in her eyes. "I would never do anything to hurt any of you."
He leant back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why should I believe you?" Crystal leant forward and looked him right in the eye. "Because I am your mate."
CHAPTER 3Marcus stared at the woman in front of him. "You're my what?"
Her smile lit up her face. "I am your mate. I know you know what that means. Wolves mate for life and I am yours," she told him as if it should make perfect sense to him.
"I know wolves mate for life. What I don't know is why you think you are mine." It was amazing to sit across from this beautiful woman talking about the subject. He shifted in his chair hoping she couldn't tell how hard he was. He had been since he had changed back into a man.
"My dreams told me," she said simply.
He would have liked to have stood and paced. Put some distance between the two of them, but he remained hidden behind the table. "Your dreams told you that you were my mate."
She blushed a pretty red and dropped her eyes. "Yes."
Intrigued he found himself leaning forward. "What exactly happened in these dreams?"
She fidgeted in her chair for a few seconds before answering. "I told you ... you came to me in my dreams."
Marcus finished the last of his beer. "How?"
She looked up surprised. He was pretty sure he knew but he wanted to hear it out loud. It might not be fair to her but he couldn't help wanting the words to come from her mouth.
His cock jumped trapped under his jeans. "How do I come to you?" he asked again. He should probably try to stay on focus but his body wanted her so bad.
She looked up briefly before back down at her hands. "I'm waiting in the same spot. You always come to me first as a wolf. A black wolf. Sometimes I talk to you."
"Then?" he prompted.
"Then you change in front of me. Turn into a man." She was twisting her fingers as she spoke.
"What happens when I'm a man?" Marcus could see that her nipples were hard under the soft cotton material of her shirt.
"Well ... then we ... you know."
He remained silent.
"Mate," she whispered.
"And I'm the man you mate with in these dreams?" He had to be sure. To know that she knew what she was saying.
"I'm not making this up!" she told him sharply apparently over her embarrassment. "It's not just some erotic dream about a man. I know what I feel."
Marcus believed her. His wolf had recognised her as a mate right away but he had to be careful. He couldn't put his family or partner in risk. "And you believe these dreams."
She blew out a breath and took a drink. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she thought about what she was going to say.
"I told you I asked my grandmother about my dreams. I've always had unusual ones growing up but never like this. She has them too. Not about me but about her life," she shrugged a shoulder. "It runs in the family."
Marcus reached down and tried to discreetly adjust the bulge in his pants. It was getting harder and harder to listen to what she was saying and not just pounce and make her dreams come true.
"I should take you home," he told her. He needed time to think, away from distraction.
"You don't believe me," she accused looking insulted.
He stood and willed his erection to behave. "You're wrong. I do believe you."
She seemed to relax. "Okay then. I'll let you drive me back to my car if you promise me something."
She stood beside her chair and waited.
"Meet me tomorrow. Please," her eyes begged for him to say yes.
Marcus was powerless to deny her. "I'll meet with you tomorrow. We'll talk more then."
She stood her body barely inches from him. "While you're thinking about this, just remember I know what I'm doing."
It was a bold statement. She was saying she wasn't getting involved with something she doubted. But he did have doubts.
He gently took her hand and led her away from the temptation of his bed only a room away.
She didn't say anything else as he drove her to her car. Before she exited his vehicle she leant over and brushed her fingers over his hand.
"I just wanted to touch you again," she whispered intimately.
Her fingers lightly ran over the back of his hand and around his wrist. He caught it with his other hand.
Her gaze lifted to meet his. What he saw was acceptance and need. He bent his head and lightly brushed his lips over hers, much like she had done with her touch.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Fated Love"
by .
Copyright © 2010 Crissy Smith.
Excerpted by permission of Totally Entwined Group Limited.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.