Dire Cravings: Arctic Wolves Series, Book 2 Read online

  “Olivia, I own the jet. We wouldn’t have been able to get on a regular flight. Where are your belongings?”

  Shit.

  He was right. She hadn’t thought about her identification, which was back in the woods somewhere, probably splattered with the blood and guts of her travel companions.

  “How much money do you have?”

  “Enough.”

  “What’s enough? Like Kardashian enough, or Beyoncé enough?”

  Blue sat back in his seat and laughed.

  “More, l will just say that my resources are limitless.”

  “Limitless?” Holy shit. He was loaded.

  “Have you ever thought to get yourself a good insurance policy? You need one, you know. You can’t just walk around without some sort of contingency plan. I mean, there are risks.” Shut up, Olivia. He’s going to think you’re crazy. I am, I’m having a conversation with myself about a werewolf insuring himself and his money.

  “I am insured, and I have an accountant, as well as a financial advisor.”

  “Who are you insured with?”

  “Lloyds.”

  “Lloyds of London?”

  “The very same.”

  Well, she wasn’t going to argue with that. J Lo had her ass insured by Lloyds. Who was she to say a wealthy werewolf couldn’t do the same?

  Blue took her hand in his. “Are you nervous?”

  “A little,” she admitted.

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re coming home with me. How do I explain you?”

  “We met, we have chemistry, and now, you’re hopelessly devoted to me.” He grinned.

  “In your dreams.”

  “That’s true, but I’m in yours, as well.”

  She’d fallen into that one on her own. “How about we get some rest? I’m tired.”

  “You sleep. Sweet dreams, Olivia.” Blue kissed her forehead and kept hold of her hand. She wasn’t tired, she just didn’t want to have a real conversation. She had to work out the logistics of Blue. Her grandmother especially would be extremely suspicious. Even her ex, who still stopped by on Sundays for dinner with her abuela would be inquisitive.

  She was about to close her eyes when a female’s voice sounded in her left ear.

  “Mr. Varangian, it’s good to see you again. Is there anything I can get for you or your guest?”

  Her voice was too sweet. Sugar sweet. And Olivia knew when a woman was flirting. Blue still held her hand, and normally, she wouldn’t care, but the fact that the woman still tried to be appealing to Blue pissed her off. Olivia opened her eyes and turned her head in the direction of the woman’s voice.

  “Do you not see him holding my hand?” Olivia asked.

  The flight attendant, who didn’t even wear a name badge, glared in Olivia’s direction.

  “Sir?” She looked at Blue as if he were the one holding all the cards. It might be his plane, but Olivia had been the one asking the question.

  “Blue didn’t ask you the question. I did.”

  “Olivia, sweet. It’s unnecessary. Cara has been with me for a long time.”

  “And that gives her the right to be disrespectful?”

  “No, she has no claim on me, Olivia. Be calm.”

  “I apologize if I was rude to your…is she your sister, sir?”

  As if. Do I look like his sister?

  Olivia was one step away from getting out of her seat and popping the female in the mouth when Blue silenced her with a kiss. It was deep, long, and satisfying.

  “No, Cara, she’s not my sister. Do you think I’d kiss my sister like that?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Got that right,” Olivia huffed. Blue squeezed her hand, gaining her attention. She could see the laughter in his eyes. “It’s not funny.”

  “It’s cute. You’re jealous.”

  “I’m not jealous. I didn’t appreciate the disrespect.” Olivia looked up at the flight attendant. “We’re not in need of anything, Cara.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Cara turned away.

  “I’m not jealous,” Olivia repeated.

  “Overprotective?”

  “Doubt it.”

  “Defensive?”

  “No,” Olivia huffed out. “We’re holding hands. Come on, how would it make you feel if a man did that to me?”

  Blue turned in his seat to fully look at her.

  “I don’t know, Olivia. A male has never tried to gain your attentions in my presence, but if one did, it wouldn’t be good for him. But once more, you’re admitting that, to an onlooker, we appear as a couple.”

  “I… Um…that’s not—” she tried to say but ended up closing her mouth. He was right, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. “I’m going to sleep,” she grumped.

  Blue laughed again and squeezed her fingers.

  “Yeah, sleep. You do that, beautiful.”

  It had been a little over sixty years since he stepped foot in New York. Blue watched Olivia sleep. He should have realized how tired she was. This was the first time since he’d met her that she’d fallen into a deep slumber. Her light snore tickled his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder. Everything about her was appealing, from her long legs to her beautiful smile to her stubborn-ass disposition. Even when she argued with him, he had to fight to keep from getting hard. A lot of good that did. He felt like a youngling. A one-pump wonder of a lad, who’d just copped his first feel of a pair of supple breasts. If he were able, he’d have his way with her in the backseat of the town car they currently rode in.

  “Mr. Varangian, we’re about ten minutes away from Ms. Vasques’s apartment.”

  “Thank you, Taylor. How are things with the club?”

  “Red runs a tight ship. She’s excited you’ve returned to the city.”

  He just bet she was all kinds of excited. Red would be close to sixty-five and feisty. She was the only human besides Taylor who had been with him when he first came to New York. He’d virtually raised them both before leaving them in charge of his home and his club, Red’s Den. He’d named the club after Red, and had given her full control as her thirtieth birthday gift before he left.

  “How is Arthur?”

  “Good, sir. He’s a cardiologist now. Upstate.”

  Arthur, Blue’s human godson, was Taylor’s only son. Blue had watched over him for a time and had made sure the male wanted for nothing. Blue combed his fingers through Olivia’s hair when she nuzzled his neck. She moaned before settling back into a deep sleep. Even in slumber, she sought him out. He didn’t know how long she planned on fighting their connection, but every moment he spent with her was worth it. A feeling of warmth settled firmly in his gut at the thought of providing her with all the things she needed. He’d give his life for hers. If that wasn’t a sign of what she was to him, he didn’t know what was.

  “I’ve been keeping track, Taylor.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  The car came to a stop in front of an apartment building on 135th Street. Taylor stepped out and walked around to open the car door. The neighborhood had changed a lot in the last sixty years. The buildings looked well-kept, and the street was clean and free of people bunched in groups. In this area, he remembered a time when even he was wary of walking the streets at night. Not that he feared for his own safety, but that of others. He’d been a hot-tempered wolf back then. Blue kissed the top of Olivia’s head. “Beautiful, wake up, we’re here.”

  “Hmmm?” She yawned, opening her eyes. “We’re here already?”

  “Yes. Do you need me to carry you?”

  “No, thanks, I can walk.” Slowly, she stepped from the car, taking Taylor’s hand as she smiled. “I’m sorry, Taylor, is it?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Taylor gave her a slight nod and waited while Blue stepped from the car. He tagged her around the waist and kissed the side of her head, nodding in his friend’s direction.

  “Olivia, what time do you need to be at the office?”

  “I am not due back un
til the day after tomorrow I think? I have my days all mixed up because of, well, you know.”

  “I do. Taylor, have the car pick us up in the afternoon. We’ll be staying at the studio after tonight.”

  “Staying in a studio? Why? My place has two rooms.”

  “Because, beautiful. I have things I need to attend to while we’re here. I have some investments I’d like to check on, and my place is secure. This place,”—Blue looked at the lone doorman who looked to be a hundred years old— “isn’t secure enough. And we don’t need to bring any extra attention to these people, do we?” Her eyes widened briefly before she nodded in understanding. “Good.” He kissed her on the cheek before saying goodbye to Taylor.

  “Home early from your trip, Miss Olivia?” the doorman asked.

  “Yes, Hector. The mountains and I didn’t get along so well.”

  The doorman looked at Blue, and his eyes grew large before he narrowed them. “Well, it looks like you came back with a mountain of a man, if you don’t mind me saying so.”

  “Hector, stop being nosy,” Olivia joked. But Blue could tell she was bothered by Hector’s observation. The doorman opened the door, and Blue walked Olivia over to the bank of elevators. This part of Harlem had changed. It was now what some would refer to as an upper-class community. It even smelled different. He remembered when the smells of the inner-city boroughs scented of Chinese, Spanish, Jamaican, and Puerto Rican cuisine, along with the stench of piss, stale alcohol, and cigarette smoke. He found it was something he missed. Harlem no longer smelled like Harlem. The only constant was the sounds he could hear far in the distance. The metro buses and the subways. Those hadn’t changed.

  “How long do I have to stay at your place?” Olivia asked as they waited for the elevator. Now wasn’t the time to get into a disagreement with her. She was tired, and he needed to make some phone calls. Instead of answering her, he kissed her soundly on the lips.

  “You’re tired. We can talk logistics tomorrow. Or are you awake enough for another kind of discussion?” Blue said against her lips.

  “What kind of discussion?” Her eyes seemed bigger, lust-clouded, her pupils the size of saucers.

  “The kind where you cry out my name repeatedly until you can no longer speak.”

  Damn. The image of her crying out his name had his jeans tightening. Blue pulled her into his arms and made sure she could feel his erection.

  “Tempting. Ask me again after I’ve had a shower.”

  “A shower? Why do you need a shower?”

  “We’ve been in the air all day. I smell like outside and airplane.” She wrinkled her nose.

  “I don’t think I can wait until you’re done with the shower.”

  “Then join me.”

  The elevator dinged, signaling its arrival, and Blue grabbed her hand to pull Olivia in with him. Before the doors were closed, he was on her. Crashing his mouth down over hers, both trying to devour each other. One moment, she would disagree with him; and the next, she was moaning into his mouth. Crazy. That’s what she made him. Blue backed her up against the wall, pressing the length of his body against hers. “I don’t think we’re going to make it to the shower, beauty.” Blue growled into the side of her neck as he sucked the salty sweetness off her skin. She pushed against him with her hips as her body heated and the scent of her lust thickened the air inside the elevator. “Fuck, what floor is your place on?”

  “Seventh,” she panted, digging her hands into the waistband of his jeans. She was tugging him forward as she rubbed against him. He’d tried to take things slowly with her, but she wasn’t giving him much choice. He’d been gentle with her thus far, and he was hanging on by a very thin thread. She held all the control, not the other way around. He would beg to taste her desire, get on his knees to have access to the juncture of her thighs. He’d show her the power she had over him, if only the damn elevator would hurry the fuck up. They arrived on the seventh floor, and reluctantly, Blue stepped back.

  “Keys?”

  “Shit. I don’t have them. All my stuff was back at the camp. There’s no telling who has my keys. They could have been eaten by a bear for all I know.”

  Damn. He hadn’t thought to ask about her keys. “Does someone have a spare?”

  Olivia thought for a moment before she nodded her head. “Yes, my ex has a set of keys.”

  “And why is that?”

  “We’re still friends. Nothing more.”

  Blue crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her, his eyes narrowing. “Who left whom?” He needed to know because if the human male still harbored feelings for his mate, it was going to be a problem.

  “I left him. Things weren’t working out. We were better colleagues than we were husband and wife.”

  “All right, Olivia. Let’s go and retrieve your keys. Is there anything else he has of yours? If so, I’d ask that you get that back, too.”

  “Possessive much?” she asked.

  Blue stalked forward and placed both hands on her shoulders. He knew his eyes were glowing when he spoke. “Yes, Olivia, I’m finding I am very possessive. But only with you. Now, let’s get your keys, get you well fucked, and then we can get some sleep.”

  She pulled in a deep breath and shook her head. “Anyone ever tell you your delivery isn’t as smooth as you think?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then why can I smell your need?”

  She grunted. “Because you kissed me like crazy not two seconds ago.”

  “No, it wasn’t just my kiss. You have varying degrees of scents. The smell intensified when I said fuck. You want to know why that is?” Blue didn’t wait for her to answer. “It’s because you want what I have to give you, and you want it badly. Just like I do.”

  Olivia jabbed her finger on the elevator control panel before she uttered, “Asshole.”

  Blue smiled.

  Sharing a life with her would be more than interesting. It was going to be an adventure.

  Olivia hit the button again when the elevator didn’t immediately open. She had liked the way Blue talked to her, but she wasn’t going to admit it. Not even to herself. She could feel the heat of him at her back as they waited for the doors to open. She wasn’t going to let him control her. The women back in Alaska were brainwashed. She wasn’t going to turn into some sex crazed nympho because he gave good dick. Really good dick. The women tried to get her to see how Blue was the perfect catch. Perfect catch, my ass. He was domineering, always telling her how things were going to be. Even when she’d tried to assist in the forest. Correction, I did help. They were outnumbered, and she’d been able to incapacitate the men. She was officially badass. Who else could say that silver arrows appeared out of their arm? No one, that’s who.

  The elevator opened, and they stepped in. There was no kissing as they descended to the third floor. When she stepped off, Blue watched her.

  “What?”

  “He lives in your building?”

  “Yeah, he does. So, what?”

  “Why?”

  “Because this is good property. When I moved out, he did, too. It just so happened we moved to the same apartment complex.” Even as she said it out loud, she knew how it sounded, but she couldn’t think about that now. Blue said nothing. He took her hand as they walked to her ex’s door. She knocked twice.

  Santiago opened the door and looked up. Way up. She knew he was surprised by Blue’s height. Olivia had been at first, too, but she was used to it now.

  “Olivia, what the fuck! I’ve been worried sick.” Santiago looked at Blue and held out his hand. “Santiago. I’m her husband. Thank you for bringing her home safely, officer. We’ve all been worried sick. The forest rangers said there was a good chance you were dead, Olivia.”

  “I’m not dead, Santiago, and would you stop referring to yourself as my husband.”

  “Angel…” Santiago said in his husky voice. A voice she’d once loved to hear whispered in her ear. Now, it
didn’t affect her. It was nothing like Blue’s deep timbre.

  “I need my keys, and Blue isn’t a cop.”

  “Blue?”

  “Yes.” Blue took that moment to take control of the situation. Great. A pissing contest. “My friends call me Blue, you can call me Bödvar, or Mr. Varangian.”

  “All right, but who are you?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Blue asked.

  “Should it be?”

  “Keys, Santiago?” Olivia interrupted.

  “Olivia belongs to me,” Blue grunted. Olivia turned and glared up at him. Santiago on the other hand, said nothing. Not that she’d expected him to.

  “I belong to me, Blue, not you.”

  “Beautiful, you’ve always been mine.” He was using the soothing sex voice again, and she almost fell for it but shook her head to clear her mind.

  “Olivia, is this some sort of joke or something to make me jealous?”

  The nerve! Men, they came in two sizes: dumb and dumber.

  Olivia rolled her eyes. “This isn’t about you, Santiago. Now, can I have my key, please?”

  “Yeah, sure, whatever you want.” He slammed the door in their faces, and she could hear him opening and closing drawings as he searched for her key.

  “I don’t care for him,” Blue said.

  “Yeah, I got that.”

  “You work with him every day?”

  “Monday through Friday, and sometimes on Saturday.”

  “And he lives in your building. I don’t like it. He still has feelings for you. He thinks there is a chance to make amends. You need to tell him to stand down. If I do it, you won’t like my methods.”

  “Blue,” Olivia sighed, frustrated. “I don’t want to argue about this.”

  “I’m not going to argue about it. I’m stating a fact. Either you tell him to back off, or I will,” Blue growled. She watched as his canines lengthened, and his eyes started to glow.

  Fuck!

  “All right, calm down, big guy. Remember, you said you could handle the city.”

  Olivia watched Blue close his eyes and take a deep breath.

  The door swung open.

  “Here,” Santiago said, handing Olivia her key. “You’re needed at the office by the way. One of the deals isn’t adding up.”