"It certainly came in handy tonight," Logan commented. "Thank you, Hayley, for looking after Bryn."

Hayley smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "She's my sister-we've always looked out for each other."

"Yes we have," Bryn said with a smile. "Remember when we were little and Johnny Tebbits tried to

steal our lunch money? He was a big elementary school bully a grade ahead of me and two grades ahead of Hayley," she told the guys. "He thought he was going to have it easy, terrorizing a couple of girls." She giggled. "Hayley and I jumped on him. He never bothered us again!"

"Logan, I think we're sitting with a couple of bold, no-nonsense women. You'd better watch yourself, buddy." "Oh I don't need to. Bryn's already got me where she wants me. I think you're the one who'd better watch out. Hayley just showed us how she handles a man who gets out of line."

Jace paused, a thoughtful and speculative look on his face. "That's true, but then I like wrestling matches."

"I don't wrestle, and in cla.s.s we were told one of the best methods for subduing a recalcitrant male was to go straight for the gonads."

"Ouch." Jace squirmed in his seat. "I think I'll concede this round to you." He raised his gla.s.s in a salute while Logan and Bryn chuckled and Hayley gave him a satisfied smirk.

They spent the rest of the evening enjoying the atmosphere, drinks and conversation. When he wasn't playing man-on-the-make, Hayley found Jace to be quite intelligent. He was very knowledgeable about current events and stated his opinions with a well-thought-out thoroughness that proved there was more in his head than the measurements of the female body. In spite of the fact that the drinks were free, he limited himself to two beers, as did Logan. She had to admire them for that. Most guys would have taken advantage of such an opportunity for all it was worth.

"How about a dance?"

"Hmm?" Hayley replied, realizing she'd been lost in thought and not really paying attention to the conversation that continued around her.

"Dance?" Jace repeated.

"Oh, well..."

"Go on, Hayley. You love to dance," Bryn encouraged with a mischievous smile.

Hayley sent a moue and a narrow-eyed look her way. The thought of dancing with Jace, of having any kind of bodily contact with him, made her knees feel weak.

Jace slid from the booth and held out his hand to her. "Come on, darlin'. You're no coward."

Unable to think of a viable excuse, she took his hand, slid across the seat and let him lead her to the little dance floor in front of the jukebox. Several other couples already occupied the s.p.a.ce, for which she was grateful. At least she wouldn't feel conspicuous being the only couple dancing. The selection on the jukebox chose that moment to change to a slow song with a rolling, sensual beat. Jace expertly took her in his arms and began to move.

Hayley automatically followed his movements, her body picking up his rhythm and aligning itself to his. She stared with mute fascination into his eyes, watching the vibrant blue-green take on the glow of a banked fire. With perfect clarity, his eyes reflected his emotions. In addition to his unmistakable arousal there was something else blossoming there, something that sent a wild hope surging through her and yet scared her at the same time. Unable to maintain eye contact with him, Hayley ducked her head and laid it on his shoulder. Jace sighed and pulled her closer until there wasn't a s.p.a.ce to be found between them.

He buried his face in her hair and Hayley could feel his chest rise as he inhaled deeply. "You smell so d.a.m.n good," he growled. "Makes me feel things. Never felt like this before." His voice was filled with wonder.

Hayley shivered at the husky rasp of his tone and burrowed closer, feeling the hard bulge of his unmistakable erection pressing into her belly. Far from being offended, she reveled in her power as a woman. Her own desires rose proportionately and Hayley welcomed them, knowing they were real and right and natural-her response to this man who was making a place for himself in her life. They danced together in a world of their own, filled with heat and need, tempered by patience, longing and hope and the realization of something just beginning. As the music ended, they drew apart and smiled at each other. Each of them knew without asking that the other understood exactly what was happening. Jace placed a soft kiss on her cheek and led her back to their table.

Hayley took her seat and turned to Jace as he slid in beside her. "By the way, what are you doing here? No one told me you were coming." Jace smiled. "I more or less invited myself when Logan told me he was meeting you and Bryn." "I see," she answered. "Any particular reason why?" "Are you fishin' for somethin', sweetheart?" "Just curious." "Uh-huh. Do I really need to spell out for you why I'm here?" Jace gave her a look that melted her insides like b.u.t.ter. Hayley swallowed hard. "I think that look tells me everything I need to know." Across the booth Logan snorted on a laugh and sent a wink Hayley's way, his expression clearly conveying an "I told you so". Hayley shrugged sheepishly but was pleased. As the evening rolled to a close, Bryn began to yawn and Logan declared it was time to go. He was very solicitous of her, helping her up while putting an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to his side. Hayley saw the liquid warmth that filled Bryn's eyes when she looked up at him, and sighed when Logan bent to place a soft kiss on Bryn's lips. Jace had already risen and she slid out of the booth to find him watching her, a solemn expression in his eyes. He turned to Logan. "Why don't you take Bryn home in her car? I'll drop Hayley off, if that's okay with you?" he asked her. Hayley nodded her acceptance, a single b.u.t.terfly sending a slight flutter through her stomach. She wasn't really certain what to expect, but at the same time, she felt inexplicably safe with Jace.

As everyone agreed to the arrangements, they said their goodbyes in the parking lot. Jace led Hayley to his truck and opened the pa.s.senger door for her. She settled in and fastened her seatbelt as he rounded the front of the truck and took his place beside her.

Jace turned the radio on to some soft music, and despite the fact that there was no conversation during the drive, Hayley felt herself relax. She laid her head back on the leather-covered seat and briefly closed her eyes.

"Tired?" Jace asked softly as he pulled in her driveway.

"A little. It was an interesting evening."

"That it was," he agreed and shut the motor off while leaving the music to play. "How's the scratch?"

"It stings a bit."

"Let me see."

He leaned toward her and Hayley twisted her body around and leaned in toward him. His fingertips were gentle as they traced the outer edge of the scratch.

"It's been bleeding again. Let me take care of it," he breathed.

Not realizing what he intended, Hayley's breath caught in her throat as he nuzzled his mouth against her skin and his tongue made a long, wet and very slow path along the scratch. Her breath came in a series of quiet pants and she whimpered softly as he repeated the gesture again and again.

Jace pulled back slightly, his eyes gleaming with the now-familiar lambent light. "Feel better?"

She nodded, unable to speak.

"It really shook me when I saw you throw that guy. I felt like I'd failed you, like I should have been there to protect you. I hate that he hurt you. It won't ever happen again, Hayley. No one will ever hurt you again, I promise."

Hayley was shaken by the depth of emotion in his eyes. "Jace...I-"

"Shh, don't say anything for now. Just feel, sweetheart."

He took her in his arms, his mouth finding hers. Without thought or hesitation, Hayley opened her mouth to him as pa.s.sion exploded between them. Jace's tongue swept inside her mouth and she welcomed it with bold, insistent caresses that pulled a rumbling groan from his throat.

Her arms wound around his shoulders and his tightened at her back. His hands swept slowly up and down, pulling her closer until her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were flattened against his chest. Jace sat back, his mouth never breaking contact as he pulled Hayley with him. She ended up half draped across his lap, her legs bent and laid out across the pa.s.senger side of the seat.

They continued to explore the warm, moist caverns of each other's mouths. Jace took one arm from behind her and moved to the front of her blouse, pulling the tattered piece free from where it was tucked under her bra strap. Retaining enough sanity to realize where he was headed, Hayley came up for air, her questioning gaze finding his.

The look in his eyes was incredible-fire, pa.s.sion, need, all tightly leashed by a will of iron. His hand shook slightly as he traced the red strap of her bra downward. "I can't tell you how intrigued I am by this wispy little thing you're wearing. Are your panties all red and lacy too?"

Hayley flushed. "I like pretty things...and yes, they are."

"Oh, darlin', I like pretty things too. I especially like what'sin them." His hand continued its journey until he cupped her breast in his hand. Hayley moaned and pushed into his touch. "That's it, darlin', just let it feel good."

Jace bent to her, his mouth fastening on the rigid nub of her nipple where it pressed against the lace.

With his tongue flicking over the soft lace, he began to suckle. Hayley's body stiffened as she pushed into him, freely offering more. Her panting breaths and desperate whimpers rang through the air and her hips began to move in a needy, sensual rhythm that drew his hand down her torso and between her slightly open thighs.

Lost in the sensual fire and seeking the o.r.g.a.s.m that was rapidly building inside her, Hayley spread herself for him. An animalistic moan reverberated from her as Jace's hand began a firm, rubbing stroke that caused a wave of heat to build and build. She arched against him, gasping when he released her nipple with a stinging nip. Once more his mouth settled against her throat, lips and tongue bestowing caresses that made her shiver. Jace moved higher. In a move that made her stomach clench and ripple with need, he licked the sensitive hollow beneath her ear before applying a gentle suction.

Her spine bowed. "Mmm, Jace,please ."

"That's it, sugar. So good, so wild for me." The husky rasp of his voice sent sensation dancing across her nerve endings. "One day soon, I'm gonna have you in my bed. I'm gonna part these luscious thighs and sink my c.o.c.k in so deep. Right here," Jace emphasized his words by increasing the pressure between Hayley's thighs. "Right here, darlin'. Gonna f.u.c.k you until youscream ."

Hayley felt herself go up in a blaze of excruciating pleasure. With a wail she came, her hips undulating in a series of fast and slow movements that drew every ounce of pleasure from Jace's sure touch. All the tension that had built up during the evening drained from her body as she lay against him, slowly floating down from the pinnacle he'd taken her to. She drew deep shuddering breaths that finally slowed to normal. As they did, reality restored itself with a bang and she stiffened in his arms.

"It's all right," he murmured. "You were beautiful, Hayley, just beautiful."

She relaxed slightly but couldn't stop the wave of confusion and conflicting emotion that swept through her. "Jace, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I know you'll want me to...reciprocate, but I-"

Jace silenced her with a soft kiss. "I maywant , but I don'texpect . You're not ready and-much as I hate to admit it-I'm not ready either. At least not for anything beyond the physical. I'm more than ready for that." He chuckled. "I'm so ready it hurts, but there's more than just that between us and you and I need time." He helped her to sit up straight and adjust her clothes. "There are some things about me you need to know, things that are...complicated. So for right now, I'm going to walk you to your door and say good night. Okay?"

Hayley nodded her agreement, touched by Jace's sensitivity. She waited for him as he exited the truck, her slightly wide-eyed gaze following him as he walked around to open her door. When she stepped out, his arm slipped around her waist and she welcomed the warmth and security that flooded through her. They walked to the porch and Jace waited patiently while she dug her house key out of her pocket.

Upon opening the door, dim light spilled out from the lamp that rested on the hall table. It illuminated a section of the porch floor and sent its soft glow over them. Jace's expression was solemn.

He reached out and stroked her cheek. "Are you an open-minded woman, Hayley?"

"I like to think so," she replied softly, puzzled by the question.

"That's good to know," Jace acknowledged and leaned in to kiss her. It was a soft, sweet kiss filled with muted fire and promise. "Good night, sweetheart."

"Good night," she murmured and watched him walk to his truck.

She couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips as she heard him mutter and surrept.i.tiously adjust himself. As he jumped in his truck, she waved and closed the door, locking it firmly behind her.

Later that evening, Hayley was awakened by various muscles in her body cramping. She groaned and rolled over, pulling herself out of bed. She stood, swaying slightly, her sleep-fogged mind telling her that she must have strained her muscles when she'd flipped that rowdy b.a.s.t.a.r.d at Morgan's. With a muttered curse and groggy, shuffling steps, she entered the bathroom, filled a gla.s.s of water and downed a couple of maximum strength pain relievers.

Still half asleep, she stumbled back to bed, slid under the covers and immediately dozed off. In her half wakened state, she never thought to question the fact that she was able to see with perfect clarity in her pitch-dark bedroom.

The next day Hayley felt oddly ill at ease, as though she couldn't get comfortable in her own skin. Off and on, disturbing sensations seemed to ripple through her body, making her restless and uneasy. Strange yet compelling dreams had ruled her sleeping mind. One particularly vivid one rose above the rest and she contemplated it while sipping a cup a coffee at the kitchen table. Jace had called earlier to tell her about a client meeting he had to attend. She had nothing to distract her attention from the memory.

It was dark and she was outside walking in the woods. When she looked up through an open s.p.a.ce in the canopy of tree limbs above, the sky was clear and the moon was shining. The opalescent light in combination with a soft breeze sent bizarre, threatening shadows dancing among the underbrush. It should have been frightening, but Hayley felt a strange blend of peace and contentment. A part of her knew with unshakable certainty that there was nothing in those shadows that could harm her. She belonged there among them, could even become a shadow herself if she so pleased.

Frowning, Hayley put her coffee cup down and closed her eyes. There was more to the dream than she had first thought and ever so slowly it was coming back.

She remembered walking, searching for something or someone. She wasn't afraid of being alone, but it felt wrong. There were others waiting and she belonged with them.

"Others?" Hayley whispered and shivered. Something about this dream made it seem almost real. Keeping her eyes closed, she took a deep breath and relaxed, opening herself to the images in her mind as they unfolded before her.

She increased her pace, constantly searching for something to show her the way. She found it. A scent that tickled her nostrils. It was strange yet oddly familiar. It beckoned to her, drawing her on until she broke through a thick stand of brush into a large clearing. Gathered there, eerily silent and still, was a pack of wolves. There was an air ofantic.i.p.ation swirling among them and Hayley knew she'd been expected. These were the others. This was where she belonged.

Hayley became aware of the fact that she was panting lightly. She fought to push the distraction away, to stay with the dream.

The wolves were beautiful, sleek and lithe under coats that ranged from hues of gray, charcoal, russet and ivory. They looked at her with eyes of pale yellow, dark golden brown and rust. For some reason she was unsurprised to see hues of green and blue as well, though something told her this wasn't natural for wolves.

At the far side of the clearing the wolves stirred. Slowly the pack drew apart to leave a pathway between Hayley and the wolf who had entered the clearing opposite her. Recognition rippled through her. She'd seen this wolf before. It was the black wolf who'd appeared at the pond the first night she arrived in Whispering Springs. His blue-green eyes held her regard. Her own eyes widened as his took on a soft ambient glow. Mesmerized, Hayley walked toward him through the parted wolf pack.

It was only when she was less than a few feet away that she realized something strange. She wasn't looking down at him or any of the other wolves. Her eyes were at the same level as theirs. She stopped and looked down. Where she'd expected to see her feet, instead were paws. Large, fur-covered paws with long, talon-like black nails. Heart pounding, Hayley swung her head back up. Blue-green eyes locked on hers. The wolf's head started to blur and the features of a man transposed themselves over that fur-covered muzzle.

"Jace."

At her soft whisper, Hayley snapped out of her daze. She sat stiffly in her chair, blinking her eyes, staring at the table. Taking a deep, shuddery breath, she forced her gaze out toward the sunshine streaming in through the kitchen window. Slowly she started to relax.

"Jeez, I know I have a vivid imagination, but come on. Jace may be a wolf, but he's an entirely human one," she murmured.

Rising from the chair, she took her cup to the sink and dumped the cold coffee down the drain. Hayley left the kitchen and got ready to go out.

Satisfied that her subconscious was simply spinning tales, she left the house, got in her car and headed toward the bookstore and Bryn.

For some reason she found herself anxious for company. Being alone just felt...wrong.

Chapter Five.

The next few days pa.s.sed uneventfully. Jace continued to work on the roof as he and Hayley fell into an easy camaraderie that included a lot of mutual teasing and an obvious growing affection. There was no repeat of that intense session that took place in Jace's truck. Jace made no secret of the fact that Hayley had his full and l.u.s.tful attention, but it was tempered by a calm patience. His touches were light and his kisses were sweetly pa.s.sionate in a way that caused her desire to kindle and burn.

From the hints he'd given her, Hayley knew he was working his way up to telling her something about himself. She couldn't deny the fact that she was intrigued, but she also found herself being unusually patient.

The two of them had clearly made the beginnings of a commitment to each other and were content, if only for this short time, to let their mutual desires build, to enjoy each other's company without any pressure and to allow things to move at their own pace. On the surface all appeared calm, yet underneath something primal was stirring in both of them. They both knew it was only a matter of time before it broke free, and both seemed determined to enjoy the building tension.

One afternoon, several days after the incident at Morgan's, Hayley was at the bookstore waiting to accompany Bryn to lunch. She sat in one of the customer relaxation nooks mulling over just how much she wanted to share with Bryn about what had happened between her and Jace and how things were progressing. On one hand she wanted to shout it to the rafters, but on the other, there was a tremulous joy in hugging the knowledge to herself.

It didn't occur to her that the constant smile she wore was a dead giveaway that something was up. Bryn and Clare had been nudging each other and exchanging smiles at Hayley's obvious distraction. Bryn had already spent the morning telling Clare about their adventure at Morgan's and about the obvious something that was developing between her sister and Jace.

The sound of the bell ringing over the door announced another customer and Hayley was pulled from her distracted reverie by the sound of Bryn's voice. Her normally welcoming tone carried a distinct chill.

"May I help you?"

"Well, now, that's real nice of you to ask. Too bad you weren't so accommodating the other night."

"Sir, may I remind you that this is a business establishment. If there's nothing you need in the way of reading material, I suggest you leave."

"Reading material, hmm? How about you fetch me a girlie magazine?"

"We don't sell that kind of literature here."

"Too high cla.s.s for that, huh, little b.i.t.c.h?"

The man's insult brought Hayley and Clare charging to Bryn's defense. Each flanking her, they presented

a united front against the three men who faced Bryn across the counter.

"Leave. Now," Clare ordered icily.