Authors: Dixie Lynn Dwyer
“What do you mean, Dante?” She caught his gaze upon her, and she willed the spell to strengthen. He stepped back but did not release his hold on her waist. At least he felt the barrier.
“I mean, are you involved with him on a personal level?”
“Why, Dante, that’s none of your business.”
“Is that a no?”
“I think we should get back to the party. Val may need my assistance with your brother. He seemed rather charged up.”
She attempted to exit the room, but Dante stopped her.
His hand gently cupped her chin, forcing Charity to look up into those beautiful green eyes of his.
“I feel foolish saying this, but I’m incredibly attracted to you. You are…breathtaking.” He leaned down. Their gazes locked, and Charity felt the anticipation. Then his lips were suddenly inches from her own when fear gripped a hold of her heart. She slapped her hands against his chest.
“Dante! I don’t even know you, and from the likes of your tactics, I am certain that line has been used before. Perhaps on naïve women who find your money and charm irresistible, but I am a…” Charity stopped herself before she said “princess.” She nearly forgot the protocol of lesser weres to this Alpha.
The look on Dante’s face stunned her a moment as she retreated back to the shy assistant. She hoped that Dante did not have the same hypnotizing powers that his brother Maximus was known to have. Avoiding his gaze she took a few steps backwards.
A moment later she sensed him looming over her. She swallowed hard, trying to cope with the reaction she should be showing and what was naturally in her as a princess. Stunned at the moment, she didn’t sense him reaching toward her until she felt Dante touch her chin and caress it softly with his thumb before tilting it toward his face.
The look in his eyes frightened her. The yellow-tinted gleam in his eyes told her his beast was about to surface. She obviously angered the Alpha. This was turning into an incredibly bad situation because of her lack of experience with Alphas, and men in general. She struggled with a response that went against her true self and opted to maintain the lowly assistant demeanor.
“I’m sorry…” she barely got out as Dante quieted her.
“Shhh…” The sound wasn’t patronizing or insulting. He was sincere. .
“I like your spirit, Charity. Perhaps I was a bit too forward. I am not certain what came over me.”
He was appealing. He was charismatic in his approach to seduce her, and the dimple in his left cheek that kept sneaking out each time he smiled warmed her heart.
She nibbled on the inside of her bottom lip and tried to maintain some control.
“Your lips call to me. I want to kiss you.”
“Oh…I…” Charity took a step back, only to be encircled by Dante’s arms. He ensured she stayed put as he closed the distance between their bodies. The warmth and strength under the palm of his hands against the satin of her dress flowed through to her skin. Her attempt to stop his agenda by laying her hands against his chest backfired on her. Before Charity could argue, Dante’s lips covered her own, and she found herself in his full, masculine embrace.
Every muscle in her body felt as if it merged with his. Powered by their own will, her hands smoothed across and over each ripple of muscle, taut against the material of his tuxedo. Her breasts pressed against his solid chest of steel as his tongue teased her mouth, drawing desire from every part of her.
His hold was soft yet firm, warning her body to make no move of escape.
His lips were warm against her mouth, his hands smooth as silk yet strong. She was lost in the moment until a sound brought her back to reality.
He growled low and deep, and the heart tattoo on her chest felt as if it pushed against the material of her dress to reach out and touch Dante.
Feeling the moisture between her legs, the desire to wrap her legs around the man and have him ravish her body, freaked her out.
Charity pushed herself away and turned her back on Dante. Embarrassed and surprised by her panting as well as the loss she felt being separated from her mate…Mate?
Her lips tingled, and she could just imagine what they looked like after the kiss. She rubbed her fingers against her lips, trying to fix the lipstick the best she could in the low-lit room. Then she heard Dante behind her, and as he approached, she turned on him, preparing to give him a piece of her mind. She had to resist the temptation he struck her with, at least until she could get advice from the spirits.
Charity stood still as her gaze locked with Dante’s. He was breathing heavily and fighting for control of something. His eyes had changed completely. He had the eyes of a wolf. The green was bright and sparkled to an almost iridescent color.
Frightened and without a second thought, Charity ran from the room.
* * * *
Dante tried to maintain control of his beast, but it was too difficult as he realized Charity was his mate. Her taste, her scent was so intoxicating that his wolf needed more. He didn’t want her out of his arms, never mind his sight. He tried to compose himself. He didn’t want to make a scene, but her taste filled his mouth, and his nostrils flared, trying to gather more of her scent. This was such an…uncontrollable feeling. Frantic, he ran after her.
* * * *
As Charity ran through the doorway and into the hall, she slammed into Luther. He held her firmly, and their gazes locked.
“Where’s Dante? Where’s my brother?” He squeezed her shoulders tightly.
Luther’s eyes looked similar to Dante’s. They sparkled with specks of yellow revealing his wolf except Luther had more control over his beast.
Her body warmed against Luther’s touch. He eased the tension in her arms and began to inch closer to her. Charity felt the rhythm of her heart beat faster. The same connection and attraction to Dante now drew her to Luther.
His face was against her neck, inhaling her scent. She felt the desire tingle through her from being so close to Luther. Her breasts pressed against his chest. Her nipples hardened with need. She closed her eyes and tried to maintain some control. When his lips pressed against her skin on her neck, she nearly melted against his muscular chest. The veins in her neck were sensitive to his caress. Her entire body hummed with need for more. She had never felt anything like this. His lips trailed along her throat to her chin and then her lips. He kissed her quickly, plunging his tongue into her mouth and nearly taking her breath away. She gripped his arms, unable to move as he held her tightly in an embrace. She had never experienced a kiss from a man before and never two men in less than two minutes.
Another growl awoke her from the trance, and both she and Luther looked back toward the doorway.
Dante stared at them.
Charity took that opportunity to bolt. Dodging under Luther’s arm, she ran as quickly as the high heels would allow her and into a small gathering of people. She slowed her pace, and looked back to ensure they weren’t following her before retreating to a safe hideaway. She ran toward the stairway, slowing down before she made more of a scene than she already had. She needed a moment to collect her thoughts and to pull herself together. Why was she so drawn to the two men, and brothers no less?
* * * *
Charity stopped in a bathroom and freshened up. Gazing in at herself her reflection revealed flush cheeks, more prominent specks of black in her emerald green eyes, and a she felt a warm tingling sensation against her chest.
Suddenly a sensation of uncertainty twisted with want filled her. Loosening the thin strap she pushed the material of her dress away from her breast to view the tattoo. Slowly peeling back the snug black material, the heart appeared. It was slightly glowing like it had never done before.
She quickly covered it as she gasped in shock.
What is happening to me?
Why have the spirits sent me here?
What is it about the brothers?
So many questions filled her mind. She needed to get back to Val. They would have to leave. Tonight!
There was no way she was staying here in the Venificus home.
Taking a deep breath, she exited the room and went in search of Val.
* * * *
“Wait, Dante! Let her go,” Luther yelled, placing his hand against Dante’s chest. His brother was still breathing rapidly but slowly gained control of his beast.
Dante stared at his brother.
“She’s the one, Luther,” Dante whispered.
Luther glanced around them just as a few people strolled toward them. Guests were everywhere. They chose to converse silently.
“I know, brother. I felt you lose control. I felt the connection you felt with Charity. I felt it myself immediately. Her scent and the taste of her skin as my lips pressed against her neck and the kiss we shared were overwhelming.”
“She’s scared, but she is ours.”
“Are you certain?”
“I am. I sensed the desire within her. I smelled her arousal at my touch. She is intoxicating.”
Luther exhaled.
“We need to find Maximus.”
“No need.”
Maximus interrupted their conversation. He was still downstairs but able to communicate at any distance.
“Maximus, did you feel what Dante felt?”
Luther asked.
“Yes, but I am not sure. We don’t even know what she is. I could not get close enough to smell her. What is she, Dante?”
“I’m not certain, brother. I could not determine clearly.”
“We don’t know who she is or this Val fellow. He wasn’t very assertive or businesslike in his answers to my questions. He avoided the discussion and kept looking for Charity,”
Maximus exclaimed.
“Do you think she belongs to him
?” Luther asked, and Dante growled low and deep. Luther felt the same jealous sensation. If Maximus did, he wasn’t revealing the emotion.
“I don’t think so. I did not smell her on him. I can tell you that he has some were blood in him. We need to question them and find out more.”
“I think we should make them feel more comfortable. Resist the urge to possess her, Dante. We need to be certain who she is,”
Luther added.
“I see her now. She’s headed toward her boss.”
Maximus watched from a distance.
* * * *
Charity stood next to Val as he spoke to a few other weres from the Midwest pack. They were discussing the hunt that would take place at the end of the week.
“It is going to be wonderful. A true Venificus tradition,” Spencer explained before taking a sip of wine from his glass.
Val whispered to Charity. “Where did you run off to? Lord Maximus Venificus was… is quite intimidating. I nearly wet my pants from his interrogation tactics. I would appreciate it if you would stay nearby from now on.” Val’s tone told Charity he had been frightened by Maximus. Rightfully so. She had yet to meet the man, but his stare alone earlier had set her defenses up and her body into near flames of desire. It appeared she was physically attracted to all three Venificus. The thought made her breath catch in her throat. She swallowed hard.
“I had some problems of my own, Val. We might not be staying.”
Val crinkled his eyebrows and locked gazes with her. Before he could ask why, Charity glanced around the room, immediately noticing Maximus staring at her. She quickly broke the eye contact and looked at Val. Her body warmed at the idea that Maximus stared at her. This was ridiculous. How could she be attracted to all three brothers? The idea alarmed her but also did not seem so ludicrous. After all, she was a princess and they were royalty. The circumstances of this visit and this evening were unexpected.
Frustrated, she moved her hair off her shoulder and leaned in closer to Val.
“There’s some heavy stuff going on right now, Val. I’m confused, and we need to stay away from the Venificus brothers.”
“What happened? Did they try something with you?” His angry tone was surely heard amongst the group of men around them as the men stared at her and Val. Charity swallowed hard as she noticed Dante had rejoined them.
Charity grabbed Val’s arm.
Dante stared at Val and Charity. Val didn’t falter his gaze toward Dante. Charity watched as the two men stare each other down. She didn’t want a scene to emerge between the two men. Val was her protector here, but the Venificus would eat him alive if she didn’t intervene.
“If you would please excuse us, gentlemen, I believe that dinner is being served.” Charity pulled Val along with her.
* * * *
“Who is she, Lord Dante?” Spencer asked as all the men watched Charity head in the direction of the dining room area.
He tried to maintain control of his beast and the jealous feelings he had.
“She is stunning. Like some goddess,” Latikus proclaimed then grinned.
“Since when did the Venificus invite goddesses to their parties?” Spencer asked then chuckled.
“I only know that she is Val’s assistant with Caliber Securities,” Dante replied as the group made their way to the dining area as well.