THE WOLF WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE Excerpt #2

Hi everyone! If you've missed it, I've been posting snippets of my upcoming release (June 22nd), The Wolf Who Played With Fire, on Facebook each day. I'm putting them here in case anyone wants to catch up on anything they missed. I'd love to know what you guys think! :-)

Excerpt Two (Still in Mia's POV)

“It’s okay. I was just—” Wait. Would telling him the truth about my attempt at telekinesis be a good idea? He might laugh. “I got caught up in my thoughts. I have to be at Eternally Magick in an hour, and I’ll probably stop by the hospital later to talk to Jessa. I won’t be home until late.”

Ethan had attended a couple Pack meetings in the past few weeks, but I’d never asked for more details. If he wanted to share what he’d learned, he would tell me. However, I couldn’t wait around forever, I needed to know... “Do you know anything about the werewolf who attacked us and nearly killed Jessa?”

A long pause swept through the bathroom, and for a moment, I didn’t think he’d answer.

“His name is Jared Grant.” Ethan’s voice was close as if he stood inches from the white and blue shower curtain, hovering just out of sight. “He was the Pack’s second in command. The role changed to the Alpha’s son, Chad, who has been sticking true to his word. He’s helping the Pack come onboard with the idea of me joining them.” He let out a sharp hissing sigh. “A few of the members weren’t sure I should live, since it’s against the Alpha’s wishes for new wolves to be made. Chad convinced his father I would make a good addition.”

Strength drained from my body. I had no idea they would’ve killed him. “God, Ethan.” I braced myself against the tiled wall, uncertain if my legs would hold under the weight of that revelation. “You should’ve talked to me. H-how could I have helped to stop them if they’d tried to... kill you?” Nausea bubbled within my stomach and I wrapped an arm under my breasts, cradling my belly. An urge to puke lingered at the back of my throat.

The shower curtain jerked open, and Ethan leveled his gaze at me.

My heart skipped a beat and my foot slid on the wet tub. I tumbled forward, the fall happening in eerily slow motion.

Ethan caught me and pulled me against his solid chest. “Careful.” He kept a steady grip on me as I regained my shaky balance. “There are dozens of werewolves in the Pack. How do you expect to cause much damage?”

His words stung. Even though I wanted to be defensive and lash out, he was right.

While I tried to convince myself I was some badass witch capable of raining down chaos on the werewolves, that wasn’t me. They would squish me like a bug under their feet, especially since wolves worked together.

I pushed past Ethan and grabbed a towel. Standing naked before him had lost its appeal. Maybe if I hadn’t tried telekinesis and gotten so emotional, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“Come on, babe. Don’t pull away.” He grabbed my hips, turning me around to face him. “I don’t want you to get hurt, okay? Not after the close call in the parking garage. Plus, your friend is in the hospital because of a werewolf. I don’t trust the Pack, and they don’t trust you after you nearly killed their Alpha.”

A shiver chased across my spine that was only partly due to the air’s coolness. “I don’t want you hurt either,” I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I’m willing to risk my safety for yours.”

The gentle touch of his warm hands shifted, and his fingers bit into my skin. “Mia, I can take care of myself. It’s you I’m worried about.”

Through the heat of his words, a sting of power and desire set me alight. The sensation dimly reminded me of what I’d felt when Mr. Sexy...er…Jared...had touched me in Jessa’s shop.

Planting my palms on Ethan’s chest, I refused to let those memories take hold of me, except the feel of my palms on his hard chest melted my insides and made me pliant and willing. My body wanted Ethan more than it wanted its next breath.

Ethan stared into my eyes transfixed. He bent for a kiss, and any desire I had to keep my distance evaporated as our lips met. Lust crashed through me, and my only need was to be intimate with him. Within seconds, he propped me on the bathroom counter. His hands slid down to my knees before he made his way back toward my naked thighs.

Passion warmed me, taking away any chill I’d felt, and I parted my legs, anxious to be one with him. “Ethan, I want you inside me.”

Whatever negativity from the argument vanished like waking from a bad dream. The only importance now was getting his boxers down and rolling a condom on him. Did he have any in here? Because I didn’t know if I could wait until we reached his room.

He parted my towel and tugged me closer. My backside dangled rather precariously over the counter’s edge, but he wouldn’t let me fall. Despite, or maybe because of, all we’d been through, I trusted him. He looked out for both our relationship and for me.

Wetness formed between my legs at the fierce hunger in the way he claimed my mouth. His tongue speared me, brushing along mine with a need to possess. He slid his hand between my legs, teasingly trailing it over my lips.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and he gripped my hips, lifting me into his arms. Apparently, we were headed to the bedroom. The press of his hot erection between my thighs as he adjusted my position sent heat through me like a wildfire.

For a moment, I didn’t care we had responsibilities outside of these four walls. If he asked me to spend the day with him in bed, I would do it.

Ethan strode toward the door with the towel forgotten on the bathroom counter. As we approached the exit, he sucked in a breath and froze.

Loud banging on the bathroom door nearly made me scream, but I slapped a hand over my mouth. If it wasn’t for Ethan’s warning, I might have blown it.

He set me to my feet then blocked the door with his muscular frame. The muscles in his back twitched with barely contained aggression.

“I have to use the restroom, man.” Nolan knocked again, a little more impatient this time. “Showers can be a luxury when deployed, but come on. I have to leave for work soon.” Humor was evident in his voice, but their relationship wasn’t as strong as it had been. Was I the cause of their problems?

“Sure, just a moment,” Ethan said. He ducked his head under the shower’s spray that both of us had ignored in our burning lust then shut off the water. He wrapped my towel around me, motioning toward the shower.