Caged Heat (Black Meadow Pack) Read online

  Sam yawned. Now that she’d taken a shower she felt ready to drop. “No. I just got back from seeing the lawyer and was about to fall into bed when you called.”

  “Call me after you speak to him!” Nat’s enthusiasm traveled through the line. “Anyway, get some rest. I’ll talk to you later. I’m glad you’re back safe, Sam. Te extrañe. I missed you a lot. Video conferencing once a month is not the same as having you here.”

  “I know. I’m glad I’m back. I’ll call you later.” She shut off the phone and fell into an exhausted and blissful sleep.

  * * *

  She was back. Her sexy scent drifted out the open window and burrowed into Riel’s heart, making him want to howl. After five long years waiting for her to return, she was finally back. Samira. His mate.

  “Yo, Ry. You still on this planet with us?” Troy’s voice broke though his thoughts.

  Riel turned back to Troy, who sat around the pool with the rest of their friends, enforcers for the Black Meadows pack.

  “Ry? You OK?” Kane puckered his brow. He glanced up at the window Riel had been watching, then sniffed and widened his eyes. “Is that Samira Suarez? I haven’t seen her since she was here that summer after she came home from college.”

  Riel wanted to run over to her house and take her. She was his. She didn’t know it when she left, but she belonged to him. It didn’t matter that she was human. His wolf wanted her and had been waiting patiently for her return. No longer. He nodded and fisted his hands. “Yes.”

  Kane studied him, lifting his brows with curiosity. “What are you going to do about her? She’s always been very shy of shifters. I’d swear she’s afraid of our kind.”

  Riel knew it probably had to do with her mother. Samira’s family was one of the few that knew about them, because Sam’s mother had been friendly with wolf shifters before she’d died. “I’ll have to give her time to get to know me.” How the hell he was going to do that, he had no clue.

  Kane laughed. “I remember the first time you tried to talk to her. She took off before you got to say a word.”

  “She was young and shy,” Riel grumbled.

  Kane continued to laugh.

  Troy strode up to them. “Are we talking about Sexy Sam Suarez?”

  Riel growled at Troy for the “Sexy Sam” remark. He’d had to endure their teasing since they’d realized he was infatuated with her. More like puppy love in the first degree. At least neither of them had tried to date her, or he would’ve had to kill them. Sam was his.

  Kane sipped his beer. “Uh-huh. Remember the second time he tried to talk to her?”

  “Do I? She had just come home from college. Riel, that time you got two words in before she took off like a bat out of hell, didn’t you?” Troy joked.

  Riel sighed. They were having fun at his expense, and he didn’t like it one bit. “It was a busy time in her life. She was going off to volunteer in Somalia.”

  Troy slapped Riel on the shoulder. “I know. The funniest part was how you tried to puff your chest out like a Big Bad Wolf, but that didn’t help you at all. It seems to me you’re going to have to tie the woman down if you ever hope to get a full sentence in around her.”

  Riel groaned when Sam’s scent filled his lungs. His cock hardened with just a whiff of her. He wanted her. No, he needed her. He marched back to the loungers and dropped on one of them. It was late afternoon, and he wished his usual gathering with his friends was already over. He needed time to think, to decide on how to approach Sam without scaring her into leaving again.

  Kane grinned. He sat on another lounger, leaned back, and folded his arms behind his head. “Hey, maybe tying her up isn’t such a bad idea. Some women are into that. Shit, some women beg me to tie them up.”

  Troy smirked. He sat on one of the stools by the outdoor bar, stretching his legs and leaning back on the counter. A bucket with ice and cold beers sat on the surface. He shoved his hand into the ice and pulled out a wet beer bottle. “Yeah most of them are also in heat, dumbass. You know when the heat strikes they get so horny they’d hump a cactus in desperation. This is a human female. Although, I have to say she’s got a fantastic body, all lush. Those curves that make men drool, and she smells great.” He sniffed. “Almost like one of ours when in heat.”

  Riel growled and jerked up in his seat. His animal hadn’t liked another male talking about his woman. Claws pushed out of his fingers, and his canines lengthened. He eyed Troy as if he were a new threat.

  “Relax, Ry.” Troy lifted his hands in surrender. “I am only commenting on her scent because humans don’t normally smell so…hot.”

  Riel blinked through the red haze of anger covering his vision. Rage pounded in his blood, jerking the wolf under the skin to break out. He clenched his jaw hard and spoke through gritted teeth. “She’s been in the jungle and through hell for a year. I don’t want to hear another word on how hot you think she smells.”

  Troy opened his mouth to speak. “Ry—”

  “Fucking A! I haven’t even seen her yet, and I’m losing my mind.” He groaned, scrubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

  Kane threw a burger bun and hit Troy on the face. “Troy, you idiot. Can’t you see Ry’s not in the mood for your jokes. Look at him. He’s hanging on to his skin by a thread.”

  Riel blinked, drawing deep breaths into his lungs. “It’s OK.”

  Troy shook his head and stood. He brought Riel a beer. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean any disrespect. We’ve known she’s yours since the moment you saw her.”

  Riel sighed. She was the one that didn’t know they belonged together. He’d been too concerned with scaring her in the past to try and push speaking to her or asking her out. She’d appeared so alone and vulnerable that he’d felt instantly protective over her.

  Kane strode to the grill with purpose. He took the cooked meat off the fire, placing it in one of the large, covered platters. He prepared a burger and sat back down. Then he smirked at Troy. “What? Oh, was I supposed make one for you? Get your ass up and get it. Do I look like Mr. Belvedere or the housekeeper to you?”

  Troy chuckled and threw the burger bun back at Kane. “Ry, you’re starting to remind me of Chase when Sophia had the twins.”

  Riel laughed at that. Their alpha had turned into a softie around his wife. Whatever Sophia wanted, she got. It had been two years since they’d had to fight off hyena shifters trying to get their hands on Sophia’s research. When Sophia had the twins, Chase had turned into the ultimate protector. No one got near his wife or kids without calling him first. Sophia had smacked Chase upside the head a few times when the guys showed up with a gift for the newborns and he complained because they hadn’t called ahead.

  “I don’t think anyone can ever be as paranoid as Chase,” Kane said between bites.

  Riel picked up his beer bottle from the stone-paved floor, took a swig, and thought of Chase’s position. Two children and a mate. The alpha had the ultimate blessing and knew it. No wonder he was so overprotective of his family.

  Troy sat and bit into the burger he’d put together. After swallowing, he turned his attention to Riel. “Ry, what’s going on with Sam Suarez? Why is she back this time? Shouldn’t she be off volunteering in some country filled with mosquitoes, anacondas, and piranhas?”

  Riel wished he knew. After Ginny passed, the house had been locked for two weeks. The old woman had been amazing. She’d known how he felt about Sam and had asked him to wait. She promised that Sam would return to him. And now she had, but for how long?

  “I’m not sure. It could be she’s tired of being away and is ready to be home.” God, he really hoped she was there to stay. Riel didn’t think he could handle her leaving again. His patience had reached the limit.

  “You’re going to need some luck there. Maybe I can help.” Kane prepped another burger and put a handful of potato chips on his plate, then went back to his lounger and started eating.

  Riel’s impatience got the best of him.

  �
��So? How is it that you can help me?”

  “Don’t make that face. You’re not all that.”

  “I am all that. I’m already the hottest thing on two—and if I believe the women in the pack—four legs.”

  Troy chuckled. “Tell that to the sexy human who’s been running from you for years.”

  “She needs time to come to terms with my wonderful personality and amazing wit,” Riel joked.

  Kane drank from his beer bottle. “I’ve been seeing Natalia Diaz,” he said offhandedly.

  Troy choked on his burger. He coughed and gulped down his beer. “Sam’s best friend?”

  Riel smiled. Troy had asked Natalia, better known as Nat, out a few times only to be blatantly rejected by the redhead. She’d told him he was too much of a playboy for her to waste her time with him. It became one of the best ways to nag Troy.

  Kane grinned. “Yeah. Sam’s best friend. She thinks I’m adorable.” He put a bunch of chips in his mouth and made loud crunching noises as he ate.

  Troy’s clenched jaw made Riel laugh. “So what you’re saying is that you can get me inside information on Sam from Nat? And I won’t have to do any crazy stunts to get her to notice me?”

  Kane nodded. “And I can do it all without feeling like I’m doing you a favor because Nat is hot!”

  Troy threw a pickle at Kane, and Riel laughed again. They acted like two little kids fighting over a toy.

  Kane grabbed the pickle from his chest and took a bite. “What? She is hot. She’s got a body that’s made for loving.”

  Troy growled and fisted his hands. “You stay away from her body! She’s mine.”

  “Hell no.” Kane’s shit-eating grin grew. “All she has to do is say the word, and I’m all hers. I don’t recall seeing you claim her as yours. She’s a single sexy woman with a hot body. And she likes to spend time with me. Suck on that one pretty boy.”

  Riel decided to interfere before the two went to blows over Nat Diaz. The cute redhead wasn’t even there, and they were ready to fight for her. “How are you going to get Nat to help me?”

  Kane glanced back at Riel. “This is where you’re going to love how friendly I am with her. She told me she wanted to make sure Sam met someone when she came home. I didn’t realize she was supposed to come back so soon, but it seems she wants to play matchmaker. Who better to match Sam with than you?”

  Riel’s smile widened. Excitement over the possibly of having Sam see him as more than just a shifter grew inside him. His gaze drifted back to her window. Maybe if they went on a human date she’d be more receptive to him. It was worth a try. He needed to find a way to talk to her without scaring the shit out of her again.

  Chapter Two

  Sam woke with a start. She was drenched in sweat, and her hair was plastered to her face. Something had disturbed her sleep. She stood and walked toward her window. The moon was out, and she had the sudden urge to strip and walk outside.

  What the hell? She wondered if her brain had been damaged during her time in Brazil. She rubbed her hand over her arm, feeling the bumps from the scar of her wound. She’d been bitten by a wolf in the jungle. She rotated her wrist, wincing at the pull from the muscle. She’d always have the scars there. Thankfully, she’d gotten every shot known to man after it happened, and she didn’t feel any different.

  Next door, a man was swimming laps in his pool. Her breath caught in her chest. The pool was well lit. She openly gawked at his toned, muscled body as he sliced through the water. His powerful legs pushed him forward while his arm muscles contracted with every stroke. There was a tattoo on the man’s back. It was big, but she couldn’t quite make it out with all his movements.

  A strange heat coursed through her body and settled in her womb. She inhaled, closed her eyes, and was shocked by what she smelled. A combination of man, fierce need, and untamed animal invaded her senses. Oh god. Something was definitely wrong with her. What should she do? Call a doctor? A vet? A priest? A battle of wills ensued between her mind and her hormones. Her hormones won by a landslide, and she took another peek down at the man in the pool. Her nipples pebbled, her pussy clenched, and her breath hitched. He stopped swimming and glanced at her window. Panic swarmed her. She hadn’t turned on the lights, and her room was enveloped in darkness. Could he see her? She hoped not. From where he was she made out his features clearly. Was that…? Holy shit! It was him. The only man she’d ever wanted so badly she went mute around him. Riel Karven. He was her neighbor?

  His gaze was stuck on her window. And hers was stuck on his body. His big, sexy body. She ate him up slowly as her vision roamed down his muscular torso. He’d gotten much bigger since the last time she’d seen him five years ago. Bigger and hotter. A soft whimper slipped through her lips. He stalked toward the edge of the pool in her direction as if he were coming for her. She took hasty steps back and away from the window. It didn’t matter that she was in a second story with a yard between them.

  She continued to move away from the window until her back hit the bedroom door. For a second there, he’d looked like he was going to leap up to her window and—and what?

  It caught her by surprise that Riel lived right next door to her. She’d been in lust with the man since she had seen him the first time when she was a teenager. If she weren’t so socially inept, she might know more about him than just how hot he was. And boy was he hot. He was also a wolf shifter and really dangerous.

  With her skin blazing a white-hot fire, she went into the bathroom attached to her room. A shower would help her…or she’d internally combust. She felt flushed under her tanned skin. Was she running a fever? Maybe she really was sick. Or maybe she was just a pervert lusting after her neighbor. Sucia! Yeah, she was a very dirty-minded girl.

  After she turned on the shower, she stripped off the sweaty pajamas. When the cool water caressed her skin, she moaned at the wonderful sensation. Every pore in her body sighed in happiness. She shut her eyes, let the water drip over her head, and automatically pictured the sexy werewolf from across the yard.

  She panted, the sounds reverberating in the small, enclosed space. Her breathing turned erratic as air fought its way in and out of her lungs. She visualized him touching her. The only thing filling her mind were images of his hands fondling her breasts and squeezing at her nipples. Desire rose like a wave, urging her to go next door and get him. When she glanced down, her own hands mimicked the touches he gave her in the fantasy. She whimpered. She trailed a hand down her stomach and dipped between her thighs into her pussy lips. Fire rushed down to her core. Panting and almost buckling, she drew circles over her clit, flicking on the engorged nubbin. It took an insurmountable force of will to bite down on her lip to keep from calling out to him.

  Cool water kept the fire inside her under control while she played with herself. She used two fingers to pierce her sex. She squeezed at her breast and pinched her nipple hard. White spots danced before her eyes, growing wider and brighter with each thrust of her fingers into her pussy. Arousal licked at her skin. Visions of Riel biting, sucking, and taking her increased the tension in her womb.

  Widening her stance, she deepened the penetration of her fingers and flicked her thumb over her clit. Breathy whimpers rushed up her throat and out of her mouth. She quickened her fingers, and then she shattered. One loud moan and her body shook. Knees buckling, she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the tub, gasping for air. The cool water continued to rain over her heated skin. Good god. She really needed to get laid.

  After she walked out of the bathroom dressed in her robe. Temptation called her back to the window. Taking quiet steps, she peered out of the window to the side facing Riel’s yard. There was no one there.

  Movement made her turn her head. A big brown wolf ran into his yard from the woods. The animal seemed massive. His large body was covered in thick, light-brown fur. He had teeth that could probably slice and dice better than her grandmother’s Japanese knives. She gaped at him, wishing she were up close to see h
ow big he really was. The wolf stopped and looked up at her window. He howled and moved toward a lounge chair.

  And he shifted into one very naked, human Riel.

  She gulped. His back was to her, and his perfect body flexed. Holy shit, he had the sexiest ass ever. The tattoo she’d seen on his back earlier was clearer now. A large wolf head drawn in tribal ink took over his entire back. It appeared to be staring right at her, and damn did it make her shiver. When Riel sat down, she almost fell out of the window. His cock was thick, long, and fully erect.

  Dios mio. He lay down on the lounger and stroked his cock. Well, damn. She was now a peeper and didn’t give a shit. Her mouth watered, and her thoughts turned to getting down on all four and sucking him off.

  Don’t stop. I want to watch you come. As if he’d heard her thoughts, his gaze strayed back to her window. He wrapped a large hand around his cock and continued to jerk off. Beads of precum gathered at the top of his dick. He used it to lubricate his shaft and then went back to thrusting his cock into his grip. She licked at her dry lips, gawking in fascination.

  His jerks increased in pace, and her breath hitched. Gripping the window ledge, she panted in unison with his jerks. He shifted until his cock was pointed to the side. Finally, he threw his head back and growled. His semen shot out, and he continued to milk his cock. Goodness. That was so hot.

  His chest rose as he took a deep breath and shot up in his seat. She stepped back in a panic, wondering if he’d seen her. Out of its own volition, her body moved to the window again. He grabbed a towel and headed to the back entrance of his house.

  “Wow.” If there was a nosy neighbor award, she’d definitely win it. But who the hell cared? She had just visually intruded in Riel’s private self-pleasure moment and didn’t even feel a little bad about it. He was hot, and she’d gladly spend another year volunteering in the jungle if it meant she’d get to have him as her form of sexual release.

  * * *