Wolf Line

Chapter Three

Keri made her way down the hallway toward the grand ballroom, lingering sexual frustration hovering like a carrion bird. At some point she would step back over the line between aching need and romping desire, and heaven help anyone caught between her and Mark when she snapped, because it wouldn’t be pretty.

But ten days. Surely she could hold off the edge for ten days. She simply had to avoid him completely. Keep away from his addictive scent. If she concentrated hard enough she could do this. Heck, she’d heard of others holding off their mating drive for longer than ten days.

She sighed. The fact that the people in those stories were mainly stronger wolves had probably helped. Yet another reason being in the middle of the pack was a pain in the ass. Not only could more powerful wolves in the hierarchy boss her around, but her own body could as well.

Her wolf shuffled inside, almost…gloating. She slapped the beast down, as far from the surface as she could. Fine. She would do this. Show the lupine hussy the human had hidden depths. Maybe her wrist would get sore from masturbating, but she would not follow through on the mating just because her wolf said so.

Still—what a lousy time to be trapped on the cruise ship.

She wondered what the chances were the gift shop had an array of sex toys to stock up on. But this was a shifter-only cruise. They probably assumed no toys were needed.

Her phone vibrated and she hauled it out, relaxing as she spotted Tessa’s name.

“What’s shaking, baby?” Keri turned the corner and stood against the wall to allow a group of travelers past her.

“I need help. There’s trouble already. I’m so screwed. It’s terrible. I want to know if I can quit now and—”

“Tessa. Full stop on the mouth.”

“Stopping.”

Acting as a troubleshooter was going to require more handholding than she’d imagined. “Are you standing up?”

“No.”

“Put the phone down, do ten jumping jacks, then pace while you explain what’s wrong.” It was the same thing she’d had to deal with back in their college days. Why Tessa thought she had to tie down her cat nature was beyond comprehension.

The scent of food—baked pastries, decadent chocolate and coffee—tugged her by the nose, and Keri slipped into one of the twenty-four-hour restaurants. Shifter-specialty cruising meant there would always be food available to keep up with shifter metabolisms, even more than on board a regular sailing. She eyed the long line of baking offered up like heavenly temptation.

This might be her saving grace while her body waged hormonal war. She would simply stuff herself constantly in an attempt to satisfy one craving with another. Rich, sweet, sticky food. Licking chocolate off her fingers, mmm, licking chocolate off Mark. Off the solid muscles of his abdomen before strolling lower and—

Great. So much for food being a distraction. She was horny again.

Her phone crackled and Tessa’s much perkier voice rang out. “Back. Thank you for the reminder. Hey, I need you to go escort one of the maintenance men to the Fedoras’ suite. They’re having issues with a couple little things and want them fixed, but don’t want just anyone in there. I assured them we would use the utmost care in their accommodation.”

“Hey, no problem. Quick thinking, by the way. You want me to join the guy downstairs or—?”

“Head straight to the suite. Chad is already giving out assignments so by the time you get to their rooms, maintenance should be waiting for you.”

“Done and done, and please, can you stay on your feet? You really can do this if you’re not trying to pretend to be a desk jockey.”

“Deal.”

It was too tempting to resist. Keri snagged a chocolate éclair before leaving the restaurant and jogging toward the service elevators. The wait for the ride was better because she had the rich burst of flavour rolling down her throat, creamy and delectable. She stuck the last bit into her mouth just as the doors opened.

A group of staff pushed out as she stepped in. Someone jostled her elbow and she dropped her cell phone. The doors closed to her right as she stooped to pick it up and came eye to eye with a pair of florescent green Crocs. Whitewashed jeans, faded in all the right places, led her gaze upward, the thread-worn patch slightly to the right of his groin showcasing a nice firm package. Hmm, big enough to cause trouble and that was before he got hard.

The trembling in her limbs made it tough to stand. Made it nearly impossible to continue her slow visual scan up past the worker’s belt lashed around his hips, to the buttons running up the front of his shirt. One. Two. Three…to where the material gaped open and a plain blue T-shirt showed.

More shaking arrived, as if she were on the verge of a seizure. She knew why—there was no way she couldn’t know, not with the aroma in the small quarters making her mouth water and her nipples tighten. The final inches of lifting her gaze were less about confirming she was alone with Mark in the elevator. No, her hesitation was more about giving herself time to resist. To lock her limbs into immobility and refuse the urge to reach out and strip him here and now.

This was the third time they’d met. Surely if they were mates, he’d say something. Do something. Maybe she was wrong? Perhaps she’d hit the wolf equivalent of a hormonal overload and it was all in her head.

All she knew for sure was the ball was in his court. No way would she make the first move, just in case. Because how awkward would that be, to assume someone was your mate and be wrong?

As their eyes met, a nice little daydream flashed through her brain. It started with her punching the emergency stop button, skipped past exactly how they got naked, hesitated and moved in slow motion long enough for her to stab herself on his cock and finished with them both screaming out in orgasm loud enough to scare the dolphins leaping in the waves off the ship’s prow.

“Hey.” His smile—lethal.

She nodded rapidly, her jaw clenched tight to stop herself from begging for…something. Of course, that meant she didn’t actually say anything. Seemed safer. Really. Or she might shout something crude and risqué.

She turned to face the elevator doors, locking her gaze on the thin vertical line between them as if it was the only safe point in the world.

Taking tiny breaths of air through her mouth didn’t help—it meant instead of his scent rolling through her brain, his taste mixed with the lingering chocolate on her tongue.

In her peripheral vision his beautiful biceps flexed and her libido fluttered, landing somewhere in her belly and continuing to flap incessantly.

Mark coughed. “I hope you don’t think I’m being forward, but there’s something we have to do.”

He leaned closer and she held her breath.

Ohmygodohmygod.

His body brushed hers briefly as he jabbed one of the elevator buttons. He stepped back and smiled easily. “Works better if you tell it where to go.”

The mechanical cage rose slowly. Keri’s mouth was full of moisture. She wanted to talk, but was afraid anything she said would be accompanied by a spray of spit. Which would be an oh-so-attractive way to begin, right?

His smile faded slowly as his chin tipped downward. A gentle concern crossed his face with the tiniest bit of a crease between his eyes. It was so adorable she wanted to rub it and make everything better. She swallowed hard, regretting the action immediately as his flavour rushed through her again. Keri closed her eyes and leaned back on the wall. Don’t touch. Don’t touch.

A whisper-soft brush against her cheek made her eyes fly open. His knuckles finished a slow drag over her skin before he pulled back and showed her dark chocolate on his fingertips.

“You were in a hurry, were you?”

Oh boy. She sucked in her courage and slapped down her wolf. She rammed her hand forward. “Keri Smith.”

He hesitated. Was he as reluctant as she was to make personal contact? Yet, why would he be, other than if he was trying to protect her?

Then he lifted his hand and licked the chocolate from his fingers. The warm buzz in her belly slipped a foot lower and attached itself to her clit. She could be wearing a strap-on rabbit-assisted vibrator right now, turned on high, and it wouldn’t have as much effect as watching him.

He wiped his hand dry on his shirt and finally wrapped his fingers around hers. “Jar—Mark Weaver. We met in the crew staff room, right?”

“Right.”

She stared, mesmerized. With his hair pulled back into a ponytail, his dark, beautiful eyes were center stage. The light creamy brown of his skin turned her thoughts back to chocolate. Bad, evil thoughts she didn’t want to have to deal with right now.

But when she retreated from dangerous territory, the only thing that remained was the haunting question of why in the world he hadn’t reacted to her? She was one second away from yanking him over and shoving her tongue down his throat.

He was trapped. She wasn’t letting go. His wolf rubbed beneath his skin so hard Jared thought he might spontaneously shift, and still his intriguing stranger wouldn’t release his fingers.

He tugged a little harder. She gasped then jerked herself upright and whipped her amazing green eyes off him. Her hands disappeared behind her like a naughty child caught with her fingers in the cookie jar.

Damn, why’d she have to have a boyfriend? She was adorable, and sexy, and his wolf thought she was fascinating. So much to offer, yet so many barriers between them.

The elevator doors slid open and he gestured her out. She fled—the only word for it. He didn’t mind. That meant he got to stare at her ass as she sped down the lush red carpet. Fine. Maybe he couldn’t have her, but he could still be nice. Even women with bedmates liked being treated nice, and being a gentleman could be as much fun as having funky monkey sex.

Almost.

Kinda.

Not really, but oh well.

She stopped before oversized double doors, and he decided it was time to turn on the charm. The “just friends even though you deserve more” charm that left women feeling like a million bucks.

“So, one of the fancy suites. Nice. Bet it’s got more room than my two-by-four space.”

Keri knocked before answering. “Probably more room than yours, mine and twenty staff quarters shoved together.”

She talked to the floor. He examined the area by her feet. Nothing there.

Okay…

There was no response to her second knock either, so she pulled a pass card from her pocket and let them in. Jared glanced around in appreciation. Not only luxurious, the place was bright with sunlight. “Sweet. I love the windows. Hate the tiny things downstairs. I’d rather rig a hammock on the deck and sleep under the stairs than stay trapped in that lower berth.”

Keri nodded. “I hear you. My room is better than yours, but nothing like this.”

He waited. When he’d checked in as required at eleven, Chad had informed him he was on the maintenance crew, then grudgingly found a work belt for him when he admitted to having “forgotten” his at home. Putting Chad’s sigh of disgust aside, since it had been deserved this time, the job placement came as a huge relief. He had to continue with the charade until he found a way off the ship, but if it had turned out his pack mate had been hired to cook, or worse, entertain? Jared would have been shit-outta-luck.

Fixing squeaky doors he could do.

But Keri wasn’t telling him what specifically needed to be done. She was alternating between staring at the floor and sneaking glances at him.

His wolf rumbled again as he caught a peek into her big wide eyes. Yes, damn beast, I get the message. You like her. Down, boy. He and his wolf struggled for dominance in a way he’d never experienced before. Then the wild part inside him retreated—almost pouting—into the corner.

Being a wolf had never been so weird.

Time to get this show on the road. Or ocean, or whatever. Jared rubbed his hands together. “What’s first on the agenda?”

Keri jerked to attention. “Oh, right. Taps in the master bathroom sink are dripping.”

“Master bathroom? Man, now I’m really jealous.”

The suite went on and on, glistening gold and shining silver contrasting with the lavish textiles. Keri pressed open a door and stood aside. Jared forced himself to the far side of the doorway to avoid rubbing their bodies together, even though he really, really would have liked to do some rubbing.

The taps were an easy fix, although her watching his every move made it a little more nerve-racking.

“You trying to learn a new trade?” He glanced up from his wrench. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she seemed to have the hardest time looking away from him.

“What?” She shook herself and blinked hard.

Erratic breathing, little gasps escaping her lips. She’d wrapped her arms around her waist, her breasts framed by her arms. Her fingers rubbed her skin above her beltline, fidgeting. Even if he hadn’t seen her orgasm only a little while ago, he still would have recognized the signs.

She was turned on.

Sweet mercy. He had to get this back to safe territory. “I said I wondered if you were studying to learn a new trade, you know, with how closely you’re taking notes.”

She stuttered then backed away from the door. “I’m sorry, that was rude. No, well, I do have to keep an eye on you. Not that I don’t trust you, but the suite belongs to the Fedoras, and so they’re a little fussy about who gets to come in, and that kind of thing.”

Jared whistled to cover his shock. Oh hello, bad news. “Fedoras? As in the British royal werewolf Fedoras?”

“Right. They’re traveling with a couple bodyguards, but otherwise it’s all rather low-key. They seem very nice.”

Sure. Nice for anyone who wasn’t trying to avoid meeting up with people like them. This entire cruise-entrapment thing got better and better by the minute. Not.

“That’s…cool. So, we’ll be seeing them on the ship? I mean, the normal people will see them, not us slaves hiding in the background.”

She laughed, an honest, real laugh, and some of the tension in the air disappeared. “We’re not going to chain you to the wall in your room when you’re not on duty. The Arctic Wolf Cruise Lines is pretty good about allowing crew time to enjoy the view as well. We’re all shifters, we understand the need to have some fun.”

“Thank you for that.” He tested the taps, turning them off and on a few times as he pretended to ensure the drip was gone. Actually, it took a lot of strength to not blurt out he’d be okay with chains in his room if she were the one putting them on him.

Concentrate. Job. Then dire necessities like buying some clothes to get him through this farce. Only now he’d have to avoid meeting any of the passengers while shopping just in case. What a mess.

He picked up his tools and pivoted, stopping in confusion when he discovered Keri was staring again, her face twisted into a frightened expression. She seemed so uncomfortable around him.

A horrible, terrible thought struck. “Keri? Your boyfriend, Chad?”

“My boyfriend?” She blinked. “Um, yeah, Chad. What about him?”

Jared moved slowly. He’d seen someone act this way before, kind of like a terrified rabbit. He took her hand in his and curled his fingers around her cold digits. “He’s not the jealous type, is he? I mean, you’re not going to be in trouble because you’re here alone with me? Because you…”

She looked ready to fall over. “I, what?”

What did he say? Offer her safe keeping? Suggest she consider her options? You don’t have to be with him, I’ll take care of you flashed into his brain, and he snapped his mouth shut before the words could escape.

She was a grown wolf, with a mind of her own, but there were times even a wolf could get into a situation they didn’t know how to get out of. “Just wanted you to remember you don’t have to be with anyone who doesn’t treat you right. If you’re having any issues, you can always go to the closest Alpha. Back in Haines, my Alpha Keil is—”

“No, no wait, you don’t understand.” Her instant denial made another thread of suspicion flare. She pulled herself back to calm in an incredibly quick amount of time. “That’s very sweet of you, but no. I’m not in any trouble. And Chad isn’t giving me any grief, really. I mean.” She wrinkled her nose. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Jared nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Keri stepped back and smiled brightly. “Well, next fix? The closet door. This way.”

Her forced perky tone grated on his nerves. Whatever else was going on, that deception alone was a clear sign she wasn’t telling him the whole truth.

Still, not much he could do at this moment. He stepped quickly after her into the bedroom. Her sudden stop came far sooner than he expected, and he slammed directly into her backside.

She fell forward, and Jared tried to save them both. He snagged his fingers on her belt and together they teetered off-balance for a split second. It was no use, gravity won. They twisted and landed with a soft grunt on the bed. Keri was trapped under him, and he felt every inch of her smooth muscles, her ass soft under his groin. He rolled off her as if she were on fire.

Damn it. Last thing she needed if she had a jerk for a boyfriend was to have a strange wolf’s scent all over her.

He rolled too far and bumped into the headboard. The intricate built-in bookcase rocked forward, and jewelry and books fell on top of him.

“Shit. I’m sorry.”

She scrambled over and levered the unit back to vertical before helping pick items off him. “My fault. I didn’t…I wasn’t thinking.”

“Here. Let me help.”

He moved to replace the books, but she shook her head. “Not going to work. Just leave it in a pile and I’ll explain what happened.”

Was she going to be in trouble because of him? “I’ll explain. It was my fault. Don’t let them fire you over this, okay?”

She sat on the edge of the bed and smiled weakly. “You don’t have to worry about me being fired. But if you could fix the door, please? I should get going on a few other things.”

Jared headed to the closet sheepishly. Some help he was. Making more work for her, on top of the issues she had to deal with. He adjusted the door while watching her out of the corner of his eye as she tidied the best she could. Her entire demeanor screamed something was wrong. The way she kept stealing glances at him—he vowed then and there he was going to look out for her. Not only because his wolf demanded it, but because he kind of liked her. She had spunk.

And if there was anything fishy going on with Chad…

Jared might not be the strongest wolf around, but he wasn’t willing to let anyone suffer. Especially not someone he was interested in. Far more interested in than seemed logical.