“You’ll be fine. You’re already beginning to heal, and the soreness should be gone in a few hours.” He smirked and glanced at Dominic while he dried his hands. “As for being carried around by Dom, here… I suppose that’s between the two of you.”
“I think I can walk just fine.” Tatiana’s face heated with embarrassment, and she let out a nervous laugh. “I have to get back up there. Matt is probably worried, and besides, he’s got the samples.”
“Matt can wait a good goddamn minute.” Dominic’s eyes narrowed, and he moved toward her. “I want to know what she said.” His voice, strong and steady, filled the room. “Spirit—what did she say?”
Dominic inched closer. Heat wafted off him and drifted over her in erotic waves, and it took a second for her to realize she was holding her breath.
“I only heard a few words.” Tatiana’s back stiffened, and she gripped the edge of the table, fighting against the insane urge to reach up and stroke that scar on his face. Her tongue flicked out and moistened her lower lip, and she brushed the hair off her forehead as she met his challenge. “The first two were: hunter killer.”
“Shit.” Dominic stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned to Steven, breaking the spell. “I knew it. Someone messed with the horses, and I’d bet anything it was those fuckin’ Caedo assassins we snagged here on the property. They probably put something in the food.”
“It’s possible. Based on the symptoms, I’m betting on poisoning, but I have to run some tests to be sure.” Tatiana took a deep breath and looked between the two men. “Where are the men you caught? I’m sure you questioned them already, but—”
“I killed one,” Dominic said evenly, as if killing people was commonplace. “But the other got away after he shot Eric.”
“You killed him?” Tatiana’s voice was barely audible. “You just go around killing people?”
“Only the ones who try to kill me,” Dominic said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Or the people I care about.”
Tatiana stared at him, trying to wrap her brain around what he said. A chill rippled up her back, and a knot of fear twisted in her belly. This was exactly why she didn’t want to get mixed up with the Amoveo or their topsy-turvy world. They operated under their own rules, and so far, she didn’t really care for them.
“Well,” she said in a far shakier voice than she’d intended. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, and if nothing else, you’ve given me one hell of a good reason to finish my job and go home.”
Tatiana hopped easily off the exam table, but when her feet hit the floor, pain shimmied up her back. Though she did her best to hide it, she could tell by the look of disapproval on Dominic’s face, he didn’t miss it.
You’re not being completely honest. Dominic’s voice shot into her mind with his now-familiar bossy tone. There’s more. I can feel it.
“Steven?” Tatiana did her best to ignore Dominic. “Layla mentioned you have some lab equipment here. Would it be alright if Matt and I use it to run a few tests?”
“You bet.” He shucked his lab coat, revealing a rock-n-roll T-shirt, and she couldn’t help but smile. Steven may be an Amoveo, but she could tell he was a down-to-earth guy. “It’s just down the hall. Mi casa es su casa. I’ll see you two kids later. I’m going back to the cabin to check on Courtney.”
Steven whispered the ancient language, static filled the room, and seconds later, he vanished.
“That shit still freaks me out.” Tatiana shook her head and blinked. “Count me out for that particular gift.”
Turning around, she walked face-first into Dominic’s broad chest. He linked his hands around her biceps and held her firmly against him. His dark eyebrows furrowed as he peered down at her through serious eyes. She licked her lips nervously, trying not to notice the firm muscles of his pecs beneath her fingers. Yup. No fat anywhere.
“What is it that you’re not telling me, Tatiana?” His voice dropped to low seductive tones as his fingers relaxed and brushed the skin of her arms. “You can trust me. I—I would never hurt you.”
Tatiana should have been put off by the fact that he invaded her space, but that would be operating under the assumption she could think clearly. All she could do was feel—feel his fingers as they melded against the flesh of her arms or his heartbeat as it thundered steadily in his chest beneath the soft cotton T-shirt.
Before she could stop herself, Tatiana reached up and ran her fingers down the scar on the side of his face. The strip of marred flesh felt surprisingly smooth beneath her fingertips, and something inside her ached to ease the pain he must have felt. A growl rumbled in Dominic’s chest, reverberating through her as he held her close, and his eyes shifted to glowing amber orbs.
Tatiana swallowed hard but held his gaze as her fingers trailed down to his stubble-covered jaw. His eyes reminded her of a wildfire, like the ones she’d seen out west that burned bright and out of control.
That’s what she was feeling—completely out of control. No say over her emotions or her body. Everything burned. Heat flashed over her skin, and her eyes shifted into the bright yellow-gold orbs of her wolf.
“Mate,” he growled.
In a blur, Dominic leaned down and covered her mouth with his as the rumbling in his chest grew louder. Tatiana moaned and opened to him. Her arms slipped around his neck, and everything else fell away. In that moment, she let go of whatever semblance of control she had and tumbled blindly into the abyss.
Tatiana had been kissed before, but never like this.
Dominic devoured her, like wildfire consuming everything in its path. He suckled and drank from her as though his existence depended on it. He held her head in his strong hands, angling and allowing him better access. His tongue tangled with hers as she threaded her fingers through his short hair and hung on for dear life.
Through the rage of desire, she heard his voice scrape along the edges of her mind… mate.
What the hell was she doing?
Tatiana dropped her hands to his chest as he trailed hot, wet kisses along her jaw and down the sensitive skin along her neck. This wasn’t just some guy she was plastered all over. This was the guy. The one she’d been desperately trying to avoid, and here she was making out with him like some horny kid. Fear, panic, and an overwhelming sense of danger swamped her as reality came crashing back into focus.
Tatiana abruptly shoved herself out of his grasp and swiped the back of her hand over her mouth. They stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, glowing eyes locked on one another. Dominic’s fingers curled at his side as Tatiana held up both hands in a peace offering.
“I’m sorry,” she said through heavy breaths, her lips still tingling from his touch. “We can’t do this, or more to the point, I can’t do this.”
Tatiana expected him to argue or protest, but neither happened. His eyes shifted to their human state, and he gave a curt nod of agreement. “Agreed.”
“Good,” she said hesitantly. “Why aren’t you fighting with me about this?”
“I like to pick my battles.” Dominic’s mouth tilted into a lopsided grin. “For example, why don’t you tell me what else you heard in the barn?”
Tatiana blinked with surprise. She’d forgotten that’s what they’d been talking about before he kissed her senseless.
“What’s the matter, doc?” His grin broadened. “Did I kiss it right out of you?”
“You would think that.” Her eyes narrowed, and she felt her face color again. Good God, she’d blushed more in the past twelve hours than she had in her entire life. “Fine. I’ll tell you,” she huffed and moved toward him with her hands placed firmly on her hips. “Just before I blacked out, I did hear something else.”