Wanted: Wild Thing (Midnight Liaisons) Read online

  I shrugged Hugh’s big hand off my shoulder, furious. “And what if I say no?”

  “It sounds like the lady doesn’t want to go with you, friend,” Brad began mildly. Far too mild for an alpha, I thought bitterly. It was clear Brad was a bit of a liar. He gave an apologetic smile in Hugh’s direction. “Perhaps you should leave her alone.”

  “My job is to remain at her side and protect her virginity,” Hugh snarled in Brad’s face. His big hand clamped down on my shoulder again.

  Despite the fact that we were in a side room at the restaurant, several people in the next room turned to look over at us, overhearing Hugh’s words.

  “Oh, my God,” I moaned. “You did not just say that out loud in a crowded restaurant.”

  “And if she doesn’t want it protected?” Brad asked.

  “Yeah,” I said, pushing Hugh’s hand off my shoulder again.

  “Then I will protect it for her,” Hugh said. “Against her will if I must.”

  “You can’t make me leave,” I hissed at him. “This is a public place.” I was safe from him here.

  Hugh leaned in to me, his face close to mine. “I am sorry for what I am about to do.”

  “Do? What—”

  His hand moving to the back of my neck, he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to mine in a startling, fierce kiss. His lips mashed against my own, and his scent was in my nostrils, his body pressed to mine.

  Then, just as quickly, he pulled away. I stared up at him, dazed.

  “Now, we leave,” Hugh said.

  I blinked, trying to process all of this. Kiss? Leave? What? He grabbed my hand in his and dragged me toward the doors of the restaurant.

  I immediately tried to jerk away, realizing what all this was about.

  He was deliberately activating my changeling side. Hugh knew that if my curse kicked in, I’d have no choice but to leave with him. Anger burned inside me, but it was quickly swallowed up by the transformation spiraling through my body. My monster coiled and reared, and I felt my skin shiver with awareness. Anger at Hugh blossomed, then quickly turned to fear when others started to look at us.

  Damn him! I stopped struggling and gave everyone a cheerful wave, practically running with Hugh as he stomped toward the parking lot. I had to make things seem like they were normal, or else someone was sure to follow us out due to concern for me. And that was the last thing I wanted—if someone followed us, they’d get a glimpse of my scaly side.

  It was evident to me that the change was going to come whether I wanted it or not. Even now, I could feel the throb in my shoulder blades that was the onset of my wings, and my gums ached from where my fangs were about to pop. My grip tightened in Hugh’s, and I knew the pressure I was exerting would soon be intense.

  But if that didn’t communicate my anxiety, nothing would.

  As soon as we got to the parking lot, I bolted, dashing away from Hugh. He let me, and I continued on, racing for my car. My hand fumbled to find my keys, but claws were sprouting and my muscles were clenching, and it was impossible for me to concentrate. Pain erupted, throbbing through my body.

  Too late. Before I could even open the door to my vehicle, my legs gave out. I crouched, huddling around myself as my changes tore through me.

  Hugh crouched low next to me. His hand smoothed down my back, ignoring the fact that it was lumpy and the muscles were seething. “I am sorry, Ryder.”

  “You . . . suck . . .” I whispered between gasps, my hands clenched tight as my tail ripped out of my back. I gave a small cry of pain, only to have it swallowed as he pulled me against his chest, muffling my cries as he held me close.

  “It grieves me to do this to you,” he murmured, and his hand stroked my hair even as he cradled me tight.

  I fought him for a moment, but feebly. The transformation was happening, and I couldn’t stop it any more than I could stop him from holding me close.

  And what was worse? With every stroke of his hand on my hair, I didn’t want him to stop holding me.

  I’d never been held by a man before, after all. And since this one knew what I was going to turn into, he wouldn’t flinch away. Well, not much. As the scales coated my skin and my face hardened into bumps and horns, I burrowed closer to his chest, letting him hide me away in the dark, shadowy parking lot.

  And I breathed in his wildly intoxicating scent. He smelled so good. So masculine. And his arms around me felt delicious. My pulse was throbbing hard, but it seemed centered between my legs instead of its normal place. Liquid heat was pouring through my muscles and I groaned again, the presence of Hugh and his nearness sweeping away any memories of pain.

  I’d take a transformation if it let a man hold me. I was starved for it. Aching. This was one of the most deliciously sinful moments of my life, and I could almost forget that I had scales, wings, and a tail.

  His hand continued to stroke my hair as my body cramped and shivered through the change. “I have you, Ryder. I have you.”

  It was weird. Two minutes ago I wanted to smack Hugh in the face for ruining my plans. Now? I felt cherished, comforted . . . and aroused. I laid my hand on the broad flat of his chest . . . and was repulsed by what I saw. Long talons on the tip of each finger. Brownish-green scales. Bumps that crept up my arms like bizarre jewelry.

  Not a pretty sight.

  The moment ruined, I pushed Hugh away and averted my face, turning my back to him. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Very well.” He still crouched next to me, but he no longer held me. His hand fell away from my hair, and I could have wept from the loss.

  Now that my arousal had died, though, so did the transformation. I bit down on one scaly knuckle as the reversal began to rip through me, reverting me back to my cute, blond human form. Minutes later, I stood there, panting heavily, my clothing stretched and ripped in several places.

  And I straightened and glared at Hugh, adjusting my now loose cardigan. “Are you going to pull a stunt like that every time I talk to a man?”

  “I don’t know. Are you going to offer your virginity to every man you meet?” His voice was flat, cold.

  “Does it matter?” I cried out, scooping up my purse and shoving the contents back into it. I must have knocked it over when I’d changed, and makeup had spilled out onto the parking lot asphalt. “I start to turn into a monster as soon as any man touches me. I could offer my virginity to everyone I meet and no one would be able to see past the scaly thing I turn into. They think they’re getting a Barbie, and they’re getting Cloverfield instead.”

  “I . . . do not understand these things.”

  I wiped at my cheeks, hating that they were wet with tears. “Just shut up, Hugh. Just shut up.”

  Chapter Eight

  We drove back to work in silence, and I had to fake a cheery mood at the agency for the rest of the night. If Everett noticed anything weird about my now stretched-out clothing or the holes in my white espadrilles where my toe-claws had forced through the leather, he said nothing. Good man.

  Hugh was silent and surly, too, though he didn’t hover. Instead, he crossed his arms and sat on that stool and watched me as I worked. I pretended to be busier than I actually was, poking with flyers and updating calendars for the next five years just to have something to do. So I wouldn’t have to look at him and be embarrassed that I’d cried because I couldn’t have a man hold me without going all Godzilla on him.

  Life wasn’t fair. I’d just have to suck it up and make lemonade with my lemons, or I’d soon find myself with no lemons at all. And besides, I still had hope. My True Love could be out there. If I met him, he could solve all my problems. Hugh wasn’t it, that was for sure. His kiss had triggered an instant change. Brad hadn’t been it, either—I could tell that just from the handshake. So someone else was still on the playing field.

  The rest of the night passed slowly, but by the
time 3:00 a.m. rolled around, even coffee couldn’t keep me my usual perky self. When Everett offered to lock up, I thanked him and headed out with Hugh, ignoring the strange looks that Everett was tossing in our direction. No doubt he was wondering what kind of client wanted to hang around until three in the morning, but he didn’t ask.

  That was the good thing about working with shifters and supernaturals in general. They tended to be a secretive lot, so if you were equally secretive? They didn’t pry too much. Just a side perk of the job, I supposed.

  My stomach growled, and as I pulled out my car keys, I looked over at Hugh. “There’s a twenty-four-hour Chinese takeout place nearby. How do you feel about fried rice and mu shu pork?”

  “I have no feelings for them.”

  I chuckled despite myself. “Then you don’t mind if I order them. Get in the car.”

  We drove to the place. Since I had company, I ordered two family-sized meals, complete with a myriad of dishes and all the rice and hot and sour soup a person could possibly want. When we got back to my condo, I took the food into the kitchen and began to unpack tray after tray of steamed vegetables, lo mein, rice, chicken, and pork. It all smelled delicious, and I was starving. Hugh arrived at my side to sniff everything.

  “Help yourself,” I told him. I made myself a plate and sat down.

  He followed my lead, and I couldn’t help but giggle when he sat down with three of the cartons in front of himself and a spoon (Hugh didn’t like forks). He’d gone straight for the main course. Couldn’t blame him. I studied him as he ate, noticing the way his eyes widened as he took a bite of General Tso and then ate more of it. Seemed like my were-saber-tooth liked spicy food.

  “So. You knew that kissing me would change me,” I pointed out. “I don’t think I ever told you that.”

  He looked uneasily at me. “It is common knowledge that fledgling changelings are unable to control their sexual impulses.”

  Oh, great. “I like how that is common knowledge to everyone but the changeling herself. I had to find out the hard way. What else do you know about changelings?”

  He hesitated.

  “Oh, come on,” I said, getting annoyed. “What’s the harm in telling me? It’s pretty clear that I know some of the basics. I just want to compare notes. That’s all.”

  He took another big mouthful of General Tso and chewed, thinking. After he swallowed, he looked over at me. “Changeling is a human word. The fae have adopted it because it amuses them, but when I was young, your kind were called fionn gainne. It means ‘pretty scale.’ ”

  I snorted. “Nothing pretty about it.”

  He looked amused at my reaction. “Your kind are quite prized.”

  I waved my chopsticks in the air. “So I’m told. Go on.”

  “Fionn gainne are very rare, and in childhood, very fragile. The fae realm is harsh and unforgiving, which is why the fae have flourished despite human encroachment. Their realm is safe for them precisely because it is so dangerous. No one else would dare live there.”

  I said nothing. I’d had my taste of primordial town and had agreed that it wasn’t for me. “So the fae leave the baby changelings with humans because it’s too dangerous on home turf?”

  “The children are glamoured to look human and hide their natural form. And yes, then they are exchanged for a human child.”

  My eyes widened, and I shoved my chopsticks onto my plate, my stomach suddenly churning. “What happens to the human child?”

  “The fae are callous with life,” Hugh said in a flat voice. “They think nothing of toying with others as long as it serves their purposes.”

  I wanted to touch the brand on the inside of my thigh, the mark Finian had left so he’d recognize me as “his” property. The more I found out about the fae, the less I liked. “So I was left out here. Does . . . does this happen often? The baby switching?”

  He shrugged. “I have heard rumors, but the news we get from the fae realms consists mostly of what they choose to tell my kind.” His expressive mouth grew wry. “Luckily, they like to brag.”

  “So it seems.” I studied him curiously. “You’ve seen another like me, though, haven’t you?”

  “I have,” he agreed. “It was some time ago. Months. Perhaps years. The fae thought she was very interesting. She had a very wild streak until they settled her down and bred her. You might even be one of her pups. I think her name was Jer-See Dayvil.”

  “Jer-See? Oh, my God. The Jersey Devil?” My mouth dropped open in horror. “I’m related to that?” Every kid had heard of the Jersey Devil—the big, scary, winged monster in the woods that terrorized early settlers of America.

  Hugh looked uncomfortable. “It’s possible. There are not many of your kind. That is why you are so highly prized. I know of less than a dozen. Owning a changeling is quite a status symbol for the fae. Finian has been waiting for you for many years.”

  I blew out a breath. “So the Jersey Devil, huh? I guess she never found her True Love.”

  Hugh turned his catlike gaze to me. “You speak of this, but I am not familiar with it. What is this ‘true love’?”

  “A fortune-teller that had fae blood told me that there was one person on earth that is my perfect match. My True Love. If I find that person, I will succeed in circumventing my curse and won’t transform when he touches me.”

  Hugh gave me a pitying look. “Ryder. You are not cursed. The other form is what you are. That is your real form. There is no true love that can fix it. She lied to you.”

  I swallowed hard. “No. That’s not true.” It couldn’t be.

  “It is true. Your real nature overcomes the glamour when you get excited. That is why you lose control of it. That is who you are. You are not a human with a creature side. You are a creature who pretends to be human.”

  Hot tears pricked my eyes as desolation sank in. What he said had the ring of truth, and Hugh couldn’t lie to me. “So there’s no one who can save me?”

  “I have never heard of such a thing.”

  I wanted to bawl like a baby. It felt as if the rug had been dragged out from under my feet. All hope, vanished in an instant. “Then I’m screwed.”

  “I am sorry, Ryder.” Hugh set his food down and his big hand clasped my shoulder again. “I know you think I am cruel, but if there were another way for you, my task would not be so easy.”

  This was easy for him? I felt bleak. “Well,” I said. “Thanks for the kiss, at any rate. The ones I get are few and far between, and they always end badly.”

  He gave me a curious look. “Was it a good one?”

  “To be honest, it was so brief that I didn’t exactly critique it.”

  Hugh stared at me for so long that it made me nervous. Finally, he said, “Are . . . are they longer?”

  “Kisses?” I was so surprised for a moment that I couldn’t answer. My body felt suddenly flushed with arousal, but I didn’t transform. He hadn’t touched me, after all. I could get turned on, as long as I wasn’t triggered by touch. “There are lots of different kinds of kisses, Hugh. Some are short and sweet, and some take so long that they leave both parties breathless at the end.”

  Or so I’d heard.

  His gaze went to my mouth, and I felt my nipples harden in response. “Breathless? By merely pressing mouths?”

  “It’s not just that,” I told him, licking my lips. “That’s not the only way you kiss. You can nibble on the other person’s lips, or suck on them, or you can use tongue.”

  “Tongue?”

  “Yes. You . . .” I blushed. “You thrust tongues into each other’s mouths. It’s very erotic.”

  “Tell me more about this. Are you very experienced?”

  My mouth twisted into a wry smile. “Not at all. I have a problem, remember?”

  He looked skeptical, one heavy eyebrow arching. “Then how do you know how it is
?”

  I laughed, because he looked so very put out at the thought that I might be lying to him. “I have eyes, of course. I see what people do. And then there is always the television.” My eyes widened and I stood up, forgetting about dinner. “Holy cow, I haven’t shown you the television, have I? Come on, follow me.”

  He did, carrying one of the cartons of takeout with him as he followed after me. “What is this ‘television’? You will explain it to me.”

  “I’d be better off showing you,” I told him. “Sit down and I’ll get the remote.”

  He thumped down on one end of my sofa, still eating and watching me with curiosity. I noticed that his gaze was following my figure and that it focused on my behind when I knelt to pick up the remote from its place on the TV stand. So Hugh was checking me out? Must have been because we’d been talking about sexy things and his experience with women was limited. If I had no experience with men and one was right in front of me, I supposed I’d stare at him, too.

  Still, it made me feel warm, and I might have rolled my hips a little more as I strode back across my living room to sit next to Hugh on the couch. I pointed the remote and immediately the TV clicked on, the news blaring. I appreciated the way that Hugh jumped, startled, at the sight, his eyes going wide. I glanced at the TV, trying to see it through his eyes. Nothing exciting was on, just a weather report. “It’s a box that transmits pictures,” I explained to him. “And we can pick what we want to watch. Let me see if I can find something with kissing.”

  I flipped to the next channel, and Hugh jerked as horses galloped onto the prairie—an old western. I flipped past it again, and Hugh turned to stare at me.

  “Where were those horses going?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just an old western clip.”

  “Western?” He pointed his fork at the screen again. “I wish to see more of the horses. They are tasty eating and rare creatures in my world.”

  “They’re not rare here,” I told him. “And no one in the United States eats horses.”