“How about your Lexus?”
“Pity. I had hoped you’d take a chance and ride one of the horses.”
“I don’t ride. I don’t even know how to mount one of those.”
“Yet,” he murmured. “I can teach you all about mounting, as well.”
A shiver of sensual anticipation snaked down her spine. Of that, she had no doubt. Much as she wanted to detest this arrogant Lupine, he turned her on sexually.
For Jessica suspected those lessons would not be taught in a corral, but in his bed.
Naked.
Chapter 8
The drive to Raphael’s house took a few minutes. He didn’t speak on the way there, which made her sweat as she wondered what exactly he wanted.
She didn’t trust him. What did this wolf plan for her? Maybe he would turn her into his private maid. Or love slave. Jessica fisted her hands to hide their trembling. She didn’t know what worried her more, his anger or his obvious sexual interest.
Either could crush her. But she had her wits and hadn’t survived for all these years in a chaotic household filled with Lupines for nothing. She could handle whatever he dished out.
Darting at glance at him, her gaze dropped to his lap and a heated flush crept up from her throat.
Or perhaps not.
He drove over a concrete bridge crossing the river that bisected the ranch, into a copse of woods. They passed by a small log-frame cabin. Jessica shaded her eyes to study it.
“Who lives there?”
Raphael glanced at her. “It’s a guest house, for pack members who desire privacy.”
“Oh? Like a retreat house?”
“You might say,” he murmured.
Then he drove to a section of forest protected by a high fence. After he keyed in a number on the security pad, the iron gates opened and he continued down a paved driveway, parking before a handsome pine wood home.
With its soaring rooftop, the house looked luxurious and quite private.
He climbed out of the car, opened the door for her with a courtly air. Jessica jumped out. “Nice. J.J. builds cabins like this for all his ranch hands?”
Jingling the keys in his hand, Raphael shook his head. “I built this myself. I needed privacy and it was a condition of our agreement.”
“What agreement?”
“For me to work as J.J.’s beta while he established his pack.”
He ushered her into the house, giving her a short tour. Raphael’s office contrasted to his personality. She’d expected dark wood and burgundy walls and crystal lamps. Instead, his home had bright colors on the walls, gleaming glass and chrome, a kitchen with gleaming granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
The artwork surprised her the most. Raphael struck her as a Lupine with dark layers, mysterious and exotic. But he’d filled his home colorful acrylic and oil paintings of bright, sunny landscapes, and scenes of children scampering through fields of wildflowers. It seemed incongruous to his personality.
Jessica looked around the living room, with its built-in bookshelves, fireplace and comfortable, but expensive furniture. The fireplace mantel held a few knickknacks and white tapers in brass candlesticks.
No photos.
He took her upstairs and opened a door. “My office.” Amusement glinted his gaze. “I have hidden security cameras.”
An ivy plant draped over a bookcase containing thick leather volumes. His desk was white, with a green, ergonomically correct chair. A sleek laptop sat on the desk, along with a remote, a high tech phone and thick files folders neatly stacked in a box. Dominating the wall opposite his desk was an HD screen flanked by white shelving containing more books and several DVD’s. Stacks of file folders were piled atop a table near a row of wood filing cabinets.
One wall was all glass, affording an excellent view of the glen of trees and the pond outside the house. A red sectional sofa with bright green and yellow and blue pillows sat against another wall, with an excellent view of the HD screen and the windows.
No photos here, either.
She examined
“Pity. I had hoped you’d take a chance and ride one of the horses.”
“I don’t ride. I don’t even know how to mount one of those.”
“Yet,” he murmured. “I can teach you all about mounting, as well.”
A shiver of sensual anticipation snaked down her spine. Of that, she had no doubt. Much as she wanted to detest this arrogant Lupine, he turned her on sexually.
For Jessica suspected those lessons would not be taught in a corral, but in his bed.
Naked.
Chapter 8
The drive to Raphael’s house took a few minutes. He didn’t speak on the way there, which made her sweat as she wondered what exactly he wanted.
She didn’t trust him. What did this wolf plan for her? Maybe he would turn her into his private maid. Or love slave. Jessica fisted her hands to hide their trembling. She didn’t know what worried her more, his anger or his obvious sexual interest.
Either could crush her. But she had her wits and hadn’t survived for all these years in a chaotic household filled with Lupines for nothing. She could handle whatever he dished out.
Darting at glance at him, her gaze dropped to his lap and a heated flush crept up from her throat.
Or perhaps not.
He drove over a concrete bridge crossing the river that bisected the ranch, into a copse of woods. They passed by a small log-frame cabin. Jessica shaded her eyes to study it.
“Who lives there?”
Raphael glanced at her. “It’s a guest house, for pack members who desire privacy.”
“Oh? Like a retreat house?”
“You might say,” he murmured.
Then he drove to a section of forest protected by a high fence. After he keyed in a number on the security pad, the iron gates opened and he continued down a paved driveway, parking before a handsome pine wood home.
With its soaring rooftop, the house looked luxurious and quite private.
He climbed out of the car, opened the door for her with a courtly air. Jessica jumped out. “Nice. J.J. builds cabins like this for all his ranch hands?”
Jingling the keys in his hand, Raphael shook his head. “I built this myself. I needed privacy and it was a condition of our agreement.”
“What agreement?”
“For me to work as J.J.’s beta while he established his pack.”
He ushered her into the house, giving her a short tour. Raphael’s office contrasted to his personality. She’d expected dark wood and burgundy walls and crystal lamps. Instead, his home had bright colors on the walls, gleaming glass and chrome, a kitchen with gleaming granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.
The artwork surprised her the most. Raphael struck her as a Lupine with dark layers, mysterious and exotic. But he’d filled his home colorful acrylic and oil paintings of bright, sunny landscapes, and scenes of children scampering through fields of wildflowers. It seemed incongruous to his personality.
Jessica looked around the living room, with its built-in bookshelves, fireplace and comfortable, but expensive furniture. The fireplace mantel held a few knickknacks and white tapers in brass candlesticks.
No photos.
He took her upstairs and opened a door. “My office.” Amusement glinted his gaze. “I have hidden security cameras.”
An ivy plant draped over a bookcase containing thick leather volumes. His desk was white, with a green, ergonomically correct chair. A sleek laptop sat on the desk, along with a remote, a high tech phone and thick files folders neatly stacked in a box. Dominating the wall opposite his desk was an HD screen flanked by white shelving containing more books and several DVD’s. Stacks of file folders were piled atop a table near a row of wood filing cabinets.
One wall was all glass, affording an excellent view of the glen of trees and the pond outside the house. A red sectional sofa with bright green and yellow and blue pillows sat against another wall, with an excellent view of the HD screen and the windows.
No photos here, either.
She examined
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