Leader of the Pack by Lynn Richards

the back of her neck and pulled her forward. He kissed the woman who had stolen his heart.
    Several long moments later, he motioned Val over. “Can you take Emily’s friend?” The vamp nodded and took the unconscious woman gently in his arms.
    Shawn took the missing wolf.
    He gave the other man in the room a long, assessing look. He had managed to rake his claws along the vampire’s throat but already the jagged wounds were healing. “Can I trust you with Maria?”
    Cord’s eyes flashed red. “I would give my life for her.”
    “ I was afraid you’d say that.” Jared’s lips parted in a humorless smile.
    He lifted Emily high against his chest and the other men followed him out into the night.

CHAPTER TWELVE
     
    Some three and a half weeks later, Emily stood outside the bathroom door of Jared’s cabin. They had been married just short of one month.
    In a surprising turn of events, Shawn had fallen head over paws in love with one of the humans who had been kidnapped. Maria was still teasing him about his “protectiveness.”
    As for Val and Rachel, Emily was deeply concerned. Her friend had turned into a one woman killing machine, tracking down anyone or anything that remotely resembled a vampire. Val, for reasons he didn’t explain to anyone, had appointed himself her watchdog – or watch vamp. Emily took solace in knowing Val was looking out for her friend. And as for Maria and Cord? Time would only tell. The man had a lot of explaining to do.
    But Rachel’s heartache wasn’t Emily’s main worry at the moment. No, her biggest worry was locked behind a solid oak bathroom door. She pressed her check against the wood panel. “You can’t hide in there forever.”
    “ Oh yes, I can,” came the muffled reply.
    “ Why won’t you share this with me? Don’t you love me?”
    She heard the soft pad of his feet as he crossed the tile floor. “I love you more than life itself, Emily. If you were hurt, it would rip me apart. And I’m afraid, damn it. I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
    “ You’re hurting me now by not sharing this with me.” Her voice was coaxing as her fingers caressed the wood as if she were touching his face. She knew he was on the other side doing the same thing.
    Her heart turned over at his words. Last month she had been too sore and bruised from Yuri’s attack and Jared had been too out of control from his fight with Cord for them to share the magic of the full moon. Werewolves were different during the full moon. She had learned from Maria how much control was needed when mating occurred during the cycle. Especially since she was human. But she knew she could never deny Jared anything. It made her feel special and extremely loved to know how concerned he was about her. Besides, Maria said it would be the best sex of her life. When she said everything got bigger and better, she meant everything.
    It was time to get her husband out of hiding and she knew just the ticket.
    “ Are you coming out or do I have to go get someone – or some ones – to knock down this door?” She pressed her ear against the wooden panel again.
    No answer.
    “ You know who I’ll get, don’t you?” Shawn and Val would never let Jared live it down if she called them.
    “ You wouldn’t dare.”
    Emily laughed at his warning growl. “Try me, baby.” She moved back just seconds before the he slung open the door.
    Her eyes widened in shock – and appreciation – as he stepped across the threshold. A large, golden foot appeared first, followed by one long muscular leg and then the other. His sex jutted out in front of him, so heavy and thick it bowed under its own weight. Slowly the shadows revealed the rest of his body. His chest glistened with sweat and his arms were taut and flexed, as if straining to release themselves from some unseen bonds. The physical changes wrought in Hollywood horror movies had not occurred. Jared was still a man.
    And oh, what a man.
    Emily licked her lips nervously as she