Perfumed Heat

 Perfumed Heat

Moira gawked at the hand only a few inches in front of her. Already angry from Sylvia's comments, her blood pressure rose even higher until her temples began to throb. "Come to me" ? Who the hell does he think he is? What am I, a dog?

Ready to rip off a sharp retort, she jerked her gaze up into Artemis's face.

His head was bent towards her. Silvery-blond hair fell over his forehead and shadowed his smoky gray eyes that bore into hers, intense silver eyes that seemed to delve into her very soul.

Shivers danced up and down her spine. Her stomach somersaulted. The smooth satin of her bra began to irritate her nipples, and they hardened into tight nubs pushing against the silk of her dress.

Artemis's gaze dropped to her chest. Molten silver flashed in his eyes.

Desire shot into Moira's groin.

Artemis' gaze returned to her face. The hand he held out to her didn't waver.

The sounds of conversation faded as Moira' s breath caught in her throat. She licked her lips.

Golden sparks leaped in Artemis's eyes.

Moira finally breathed when her body demanded she do so. God, but the anticipation on his face was so intense, so dangerous, so possessive. Nobody had ever looked at her like this before. Before she realized what she'd done, she stepped closer.

The spicy fragrance of Artemis's cologne wrapped itself around her and caressed her senses.

Moira inhaled. What was that scent he was wearing? His signature cologne, Artemis Gray? But there was something different about it, another ingredient. What was it? Why did she find it impossible to resist? She took another step.

The seductive spell Artemis was weaving around her was broken by Belle's voice.

Shivering, Moira wrenched her gaze from Artemis's. One glance at Brendan, and she jerked her attention away from him too. He looked just as intense, just as dangerous as his father.

Moira's gaze leaped to Belle. She only looked worried.

Belle touched Artemis's arm. "Father, are you all right?"

Artemis ignored her and kept all of his attention on Moira. His hand remained outstretched.

Moira glanced around the crowded room. People were beginning to stare. She saw Frank Gideon, the office gossipmonger, tap Sylvia on the shoulder and whisper something in her ear.

When her boss whirled around and motioned angrily towards her, Moira made up her mind. Choosing between Artemis Gray and Sylvia James was easy. Besides, she was in a crowded room. What could possibly happen?

Moira lifted her hand and placed it in Artemis Grays' .

Satisfaction leaped in Artemis soul as he closed his hand around Moira's. She had chosen him of her own free will. Now that he had her, he forced himself to relax, forced down the instinctive demands of his werewolf soul to pull Moira into his arms, to mount and mate her here before everyone. He forced down the urge to challenge every other male in the room, to demand that they acknowledge Moira was his. Artemis was an old and powerful werewolf. He'd learned to control his feral side a long time ago.

Lifting Moira's hand to his mouth, he brushed his lips across the back of her knuckles then tucked her hand under his arm. A Belle," he said, his gaze never leaving Moira's face, "introduce us."

Silence greeted his command.

Artemis glanced at his daughter.

Hands clenching and unclenching the strap of her evening bag, Belle was staring at him. A scent of confusion and surprise drifted to Artemis. He smiled. His daughter had nagged him for years to find another mate, but deep down, Artemis knew, she never expected him to. But then, neither had he.

Lifting his other hand, Artemis traced Belle' s cheek then cupped her chin. "Don't worry, little wolf," he murmured. "Even though I never expected this, I must follow my instincts. You'll understand someday."

Artemis dropped his hand and turned to his son.

Tensed as if he were ready to run, Brendan was watching him warily. The slight scent of fear drifted around him. Artemis grinned. Seems like his cocky, self-confident son still recognized his father as Alpha.

Artemis reached out and squeezed Brendan' s shoulder. "I' m sorry, but..."

The wariness fled and Brendan grinned, "You have to follow your instincts. Yeah, I know, I'll understand someday. And, I' d never challenge you, Father."

Artemis chuckled. "At least not until I' m an old, old man, I hope."

Tucked against Artemis's side, Moira observed the byplay amongst Artemis and his children. Beneath her hand, his forearm relaxed then tensed then relaxed again. He seemed at ease, yet something about the way he had maneuvered her so that he stood between her and the entire room piqued Moira's curiosity. And what were he and his children talking about? Little wolf? What kind of pet name was that? Belle must have been a holy terror as a child. What kind of challenge was Brendan talking about? For a minute there, Moira thought Brendan and Artemis were going to fight.

Moira shifted and shivered. Standing this close to Artemis s big body was wreaking havoc with her senses. The spicy fragrance of his cologne seeped deeper into every pore with every breath she took. Every nerve she had felt overly sensitive. And it wasn't just his cologne. Somehow he was different. How? Deep down in her soul she knew he wasn't like any other man she'd ever met.

When Artemis looked down into her face again, her gaze went immediately to his mouth.

He lowered his head towards her. Beneath her hand, hard muscles of his forearm tensed again.

His scent teased her senses. She rose on tiptoe. One kiss. Just one kiss. She had to taste him.