“Are you all right?”1

Ryan made no attempt to hide the fact that he wanted her. Maria could see that the darkness of his eyes and every shadow in his perfectly chiseled face all attested to his desire.

“Yes,” she said as she slipped off her high heels and carried them, so she could walk barefoot in the sand.

“Are you sure that’s safe?” he asked.

Tilting her head up at him, Maria smiled. “I love the way sand feels between my toes. You should try it.”

To her amazement, he did exactly that, removing his boat shoes. “Nice.”

When he took her hand, she couldn’t suppress a tiny cry at the contact. A hot ache grew in the back of her throat, making her realize what they’d all said would happen was true. Desire, want and need had the potential to morph into so much more.

“Maria?” He turned to her, and swept her into his arms. She felt her body soften as her curves molded to his hard, muscular body. Her skin tingled from the touch of his hands as his long, elegant fingers caressed her arms.

And then he kissed her.

KAREN WHIDDON started weaving fanciful tales for her younger brothers at eleven. Amid the Catskill Mountains, then the Rocky Mountains, she fueled her imagination with the natural beauty surrounding her. Karen lives in north Texas and shares her life with her hero of a husband and three doting dogs. You can email Karen at KWhiddon1@aol.com or write to her at PO Box 820807, Fort Worth, TX 76182, USA. Fans can also check out her website, www.karenwhiddon.com.

Billionaire Wolf

Karen Whiddon

www.millsandboon.co.uk

As always, to my beloved husband, Lonnie.

Contents

Cover

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Maria Miranda had always liked her name—almost as much as she loved the sea. The melodic sound of the six syllables always made her smile. Even now, trying to fulfill the destiny she’d been given, a walk along the waves did much to soothe her frustration at her repeated failure.

All her life, she’d taken great pains to hide her beauty. Until now. She’d just turned thirty, and her father and the Drakkor Council had grown impatient. The time had come to accomplish what she’d been born to do. Somehow. So far, nothing had been as easy as it should be.

Another Friday night. She’d decided to give this place one more shot—how could she resist a bar called Sea Dragon? She took the same seat at the bar as she had the previous two Fridays and swiveled to face the crowded nightclub. Women shot her envious and sometimes downright hostile glares, while the men couldn’t seem to tear their eyes from her. Not for the first time, she found herself aching to scoop her hair back into an unflattering bun and slip her oversize, tortoiseshell glass onto her nose.

Lookin’ for love in all the wrong places...

Despite the hip-hop music blasting on the nightclub’s speakers, the old eighties song kept running through her head. As she got up and gyrated on the dance floor with yet another handsy, overly self-confident man, she wondered why on earth she’d ever thought coming here would be a good idea.

Because desperation fueled her, that’s why. Some women talked of their biological clock ticking. Well, hers had gone into overdrive. Not just because she yearned for a baby, but because her entire race’s survival depended on it. Unfortunately, for her, getting pregnant was a bit complicated.

Breathing a sigh of relief as the song ended, she gazed into her escort’s eyes and tried to imagine letting his lips touch her. Nope. Not feeling it. So she thanked him and turned to go. When he grabbed her arm, she pulled free, gave him a don’t-you-dare-try-that-again glare and headed back toward the bar.

Immediately, several other men jostled each other, clamoring for her attention. Ignoring them all, she raised her hand to signal the bartender, but someone stepped in front of her and ordered a drink for her, his treat.

“No thank you,” she said, her voice clear and cool. And discouraging. Who knew men would think that if a reasonably attractive woman came to a bar alone, it was a signal to a bunch of hungry sharks to begin a feeding frenzy?

At the lame analogy, her inner Drakkor licked its chops. Of course, the fact that she actually had come here for that reason made the irony even more delicious. And painful.

Though she wished she could be outside strolling near the waves crashing up against the seawall, she finally ordered her own drink. The bartender brought it and three more. “From the gentlemen there, and there, and over there,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“No, thanks,” she said again, pushing them away. The pounding beat of the music had begun to make her head ache. Once again, she surveyed the room, feeling out of place and unsettled. More and more she had come to realize that trying to meet someone in a scene like this didn’t work for her.

This was the third time in as many weeks that she’d come to this place. Maybe she should give up and move on. Though she’d danced with many, there hadn’t been a single man who’d generated even the faintest flicker of interest, and she knew all too well the rules governing the task ahead of her.

One last look around the bar, and she’d knock back her drink and go home. Failure, again. Though, as a consolation prize, she felt quite sure she could find something interesting to watch on television.

And then, as her gaze swept through the packed room, she saw him. Everything else—the music, the noise, the crowd, faded away.

Gorgeous, ruggedly handsome, devilishly sexy—a hundred superlatives couldn’t even begin to do him justice.

Tall and athletic, with muscles rippling under his T-shirt, the sight of him quickened her pulse. He walked with a nonchalant kind of self-confidence that drew her like a magnet. She let her gaze roam hungrily over him. Hair so dark it almost seemed black. Shaggy, a bit longer than currently fashionable. His hawk-like features, for whatever reason, seemed vaguely familiar, though she knew she hadn’t met him. A man like him would not easily be forgotten.

Just like in a romance novel or a sappy movie, their eyes met. Locked. And held. She sucked in her breath, her entire body tingling.

Then she noticed the bevy of women hanging on to his side. And more, lined up three deep behind him.

Popular, wasn’t he? She couldn’t say she blamed them.

Lips curling, she glanced to her left and her right, and at the unwanted drinks the bartender kept depositing in front of her. If she were to drink them all she wouldn’t be able to walk.

They were an equal match. Fate. It had to be fate. A shiver snaked up her spine. Finally. The one she’d been searching for had finally appeared.

The mysterious stranger noted the drinks and her smile, and dipped his chin in agreement. Then he shook off his entourage and strode across the crowded room toward her.

Heart pounding faster than the bass beat, she stood, cutting through the men who vied for a chance to talk to her or dance with her, and smiled her welcome at him as he approached.

“Have we met?” he asked, the thick Texas drawl in his sexy voice curling her toes in her four-inch heels.

“No.” Leaning away from him, she took a small sip of the drink she’d purchased. “I don’t think so.”

One of the men who’d tried to corner her earlier sauntered up, brazenly attempting to push himself between her and her new friend.

“She’s with me,” he growled, giving the newcomer a back-off glare. “Don’t interrupt us again.”

Muttering a curse, the intruder went away.

“Well done, sir,” she said. “Maria Miranda.”

Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome smiled at her, sending a swirl of guppies swimming in her stomach. He held out his hand.

She took it, noting the long, elegant fingers. Even the shape of his hand turned her on, though the noise made it difficult to hear.

“I can’t believe it,” he murmured, leaning in close, his breath tickling her ear. “Until I saw you, I was bored. I’d just decided to leave when I took one last look around. Packed dance floor, check. Bodies gyrating to music played at a decibel rivaling that of a jet taking off, check. And then...you.”

She laughed, a bit shaky, hoping he didn’t realize that even the husky timbre of his voice turned her on. She also noticed he hadn’t mentioned the bevy of beautiful women who even now intently watched his every move.

A slow song began to play. At least, without the loud thumping of the bass, hearing became slightly easier.

“This is my third time here,” she said, resisting the urge to lean even closer. “And I have to say, probably my last. This place is all too familiar and rapidly growing old.”

He nodded. “I wasn’t exactly sure what drew me to this bar, especially since I could easily find a hundred just like it in any number of cities.” He shrugged. “In fact, I’m not clear how what had started as an evening stroll on the beach led to this.”

His gaze slid over her, as intimate as a caress. “But I’m glad it did. You’re quite possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Tall and graceful, curved in all the right places, and enticingly spicy.”

Though her mouth had gone dry, she managed to smile back at him. “You’re awfully good at flirting.”

He laughed. “Only when I see something I want.” Every time his gaze met hers, her heart did a flip-flop. “And I want you.”

Her entire body burned. If he kept looking at her like that, she’d go up in smoke. Hello, Destiny.

“My head’s beginning to hurt,” she told him, lightly touching his arm. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Another slow song came on. “Let’s dance instead,” he said, leading her out onto the dance floor. The instant he took her in his arms, she knew. This man. Him. Relief warred with arousal. Finally, after years of searching. She’d found him. Or he’d found her. Fate had finally tossed her a bone.

Of course she said none of those things. Men, she’d learned, sometimes took longer to reach conclusions based on instinct or intuition. Right now, with her head spinning, relishing the way his muscular body fit against hers, she didn’t really care. Life had a way of sorting things out, and being held in his arms, her curves tucked up against his hard contours, her body melting against his, pushed everything else from her mind.

He looked down at her and smiled once more. The intensity of his gaze and the beauty of his smile sent a shudder through her. Her knees went weak and she stumbled. Only his strong arms kept her on her feet. And then she felt the force of his arousal jutting against her belly as they swayed to the music. A hot ache grew inside her, nearly unbearable in its intensity.

“We need to get out of here,” she managed, weak with need.

To her relief, he jerked his head toward the door. “Sure. Lead the way.”

The instant the cooler air hit her overheated body, she shivered. With anyone else, the scent of salt in the breeze would have brought her back to reality. Always, the sea grounded her.

Yet with him, her body still throbbed. This was right. This was what had been foretold for her, meant to be.

She nearly pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

“Are you all right?” He made no attempt to hide the fact that he wanted her. Desire echoed in his stance, the darkness of his eyes, in every shadow of his perfectly chiseled face.

“Yes.”

In unspoken accord, they crossed the parking lot, finding the stone steps down the seawall, to walk along the beach. The instant they reached the sand, Maria slipped off her high heels and carried them, so she could walk barefoot in the sand.

“Are you sure that’s safe?” he asked.

Tilting her head up at him, she smiled. “I love the way sand feels between my toes. You should try it.”

To her amazement, he did exactly that, removing his boat shoes. “Nice.”

When he took her hand, she couldn’t suppress a tiny cry at the contact. A hot ache grew in the back of her throat, making her realize what they’d all said would happen was true. Desire, want and need had the potential to morph into so much more.

Away from the bar and the tourist areas, the beach was peaceful and quiet. Silver moonlight highlighted gentle waves, and even the ever-present screech of seagulls had disappeared for the night.

“Maria?” He turned to her, and swept her into his arms. She felt her body soften as her curves molded to his hard, muscular body. Her skin tingled from the touch of his hands, his long elegant fingers caressed her arms.

And then he kissed her. His mouth covered hers with a hunger rivaling her own. Spirals of ecstasy made her quiver, even as his mouth left hers to kiss the pulsing hollow at the base of her throat.

Again she prayed this wasn’t yet another dream, that she wouldn’t wake alone and unfulfilled in her empty bed. His lips recaptured hers, more demanding this time, and every cell of her being answered him, yes.

If he laid her down in the sand right now, she would welcome him inside her.

“Not here,” he told her, making her wonder if he’d read her mind. He grinned at her expression, planting a swift kiss on the tip of her nose. “You deserve better.”

She let him lead her down the beach, away from the restaurants and bars, toward the residential area. When they reached the first group of beach houses sitting high up on their stilts, he grinned at her again. She marveled at the beauty of that smile, wishing for a swift instant that he, too, was Drakkor and could change and fly up into the sky with a sweep of powerful wings.

Foolishness. She pushed the thought away as quickly as it had come. Another Drakkor would be of no use to her, and above all, she had her duty to her people to hold high.

She wanted him. And tonight she was going to give herself over to passion and quit worrying about a future over which she had little control.

“Here we are,” he said, pointing toward a yellow beach house with white trim. Like all the others, the house sat up on what she’d always called stilts. High enough off the ground to protect it from a water surge. After Hurricane Ike, most of these houses had been damaged or destroyed and rebuilt to more exacting standards. She ought to know. She’d spent many hours volunteering, assisting in the rebuilding efforts.

This house appeared both well-built and huge.

“Lovely,” she murmured. “I live on the other side of the island, closer to the ferry.”

At the base of the steps, he turned to her and gave her a slow series of kisses. She shocked herself at her own eager response.

“Come with me,” he said, and there was never a question. They hurried up the steps. He unlocked the door and they tumbled inside, laughing. Hands all over each other, they tore at each other’s clothes, until they stood naked in the silver moonlight pouring through the windows.

She thought she’d never seen a more magnificent man.

“Let me look at you,” he said, the reverence in his husky voice as sensual as any caress.

So she stood, unashamed and unembarrassed by her nudity, her entire body tingling and ready. Though she didn’t even know his name, she didn’t want to destroy the magic of the moment. There’d be time enough for that later.

He kissed her, pulling her even closer. There was nothing gentle about the way they came together. Like waves crashing upon the seawall in a storm, he possessed her and she felt herself drowning. They came together again and again, fierce and true and honest. She’d never known lovemaking could be like this, even as she shuddered, trying to hold back her second or third release and failing just as she had on all the others before.

Her inner dragon echoed her cry. At the sound, she saw a wolf rise up, a strong, shadowy image superimposed over him as he flung back his head and gave himself over to his own release. So he was Pack then. She’d known he was some kind of Shifter from his aura.

And then, and then, he pulled her close and held her, rocking her against him as if he found her infinitely precious.

Satisfied, sated, her body nevertheless stirred at his display of tenderness.

Lying there, knowing a satisfaction of a kind she’d never known, she finally slept.

Bright sunlight streaming through the windows woke her. For a second, discomfited, she realized she was still in bed with him, the wonderful, mystery man whose name she didn’t even know.

Slowly, she turned her head, to find him sound asleep next to her.

Her heart felt full enough to burst. She’d never thought she could feel this way, despite being aware that she must, if she wanted to accomplish her life’s purpose.

Determined to fulfill her destiny, she’d been actively searching for the right man for some time now. Until meeting this one, there hadn’t been any to whom she felt attracted. Not one single solitary one.

She’d actually begun to wonder if she was too picky, if her proclivity to know what she wanted was hindering her achievement of the fate that had been thrust upon her. She couldn’t count how many times she’d wanted out, wanted a different life, a different future. But then, all along, she’d known she really didn’t have a choice.

The choice had been made for her long before her own birth.

Destiny. And fate.

Yet such things were more difficult to find than they should have been.

Earlier tonight, she’d been fed up and tired of searching, half convinced her apparently overly selective nature would ensure she’d die alone and childless, a disappointment to her father for bringing shame upon her people.

And then this man had come along. Right now, lying so still in bed next to him, with every nerve ending in her body ablaze, she felt alive. More alive than she had in weeks, months. And hopeful, too. As if her destiny might not be unobtainable after all.

As she studied him, he opened his eyes and looked at her, his bright blue gaze compelling and magnetic.

“Mornin’ Maria,” he said, favoring her with that smile that made every nerve in her body thrum.

Entranced, she smiled back. “Good morning yourself.”

She thought about asking him if he wanted breakfast, but it was too soon to go all domestic. Her stomach growled in response to the thought, making his smile widen.

“Come here,” he told her. “I want to make sure what we shared last night wasn’t a dream.”

All thoughts of food were forgotten as she complied.

Later, after they’d both showered and dressed—she in the same clothes she’d worn the night before—he took her hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

Now, she thought, now would be the time to learn his name.

“Let’s go to breakfast,” he said, holding out his hand. “There’s a great little café within walking distance.”

She nodded, slipping her fingers into his. “What shall I call you?” she teased, since he hadn’t seemed inclined to give her his name.

Surprise flickered across his handsome features. “Ryan,” he told her. “Of course. You can call me Ryan.”

“Okay, Ryan.” She squeezed his hand. “Let’s go have breakfast.”

He locked up as they stepped out onto the porch.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, a small crowd of people surrounded them. There were cameras and microphones, and despite Ryan’s attempts to shield her, bright lights were shone in her face, at her, blinding her as the people called out questions in rapid-fire sequence, each one trying to be heard over the other.

Paparazzi? “What the...?” Maria whirled, holding back an instinctive snarl. Her dragon tried to surge to the front, to take over, but she’d spent her entire life training and knew how to hold back her inner beast.

“Ryan?” She clutched his hand, hoping he’d have an explanation.

“Who’s the new woman, Ryan?” One man shouted. “Can you give us a name?”

New woman? Maria blinked.

“TMZ here,” yelled another. “Care to make a statement or answer a couple of questions?”

Ignoring them, Ryan shepherded her back up the stairs and into the house. Once inside, he methodically began closing all the blinds, one by one. He didn’t seem fazed or even bothered, almost as if he was used to this sort of thing.

Maria, however, could barely catch her breath. She stood frozen, shocked and stunned, watching him.

When he’d finally finished, he turned to face her. “I’m sorry about that,” he said, flashing that boyish grin. “I’d hoped that wouldn’t happen. Now that the paparazzi know where I’m staying, they’ll be staking out the place.”

Pulse still pounding, she held her hand to her throat, trying her best to contain her agitation. “Paparazzi? Why on earth were they here? What did they want?” She inhaled deeply. “Or maybe the better question would be, who are you, really? If you have paparazzi, then you must be someone famous. What did I miss?”

For the space of a heartbeat, he held her gaze. Once again she felt that tug of attraction. This time, she ignored it.

Finally, he dropped his gaze and dragged his hand through his hair. “You really don’t know who I am, do you?”

“No.” Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried not to despair. For once, just once, she wanted something to work out. “Who are you?” Hoping her expression didn’t reveal her nervousness, she waited for him to answer.

Instead of immediately answering, he got up and went into the kitchen. “Would you like a water or a glass of orange juice? Sorry, I don’t have any coffee. I haven’t had time to stock the house.”

“What I’d like,” she said, staying put between the couch and the door, wondering if the crowd of reporters still milled about outside, “is an explanation.”

“Just a sec.” When he returned, he brought with him two bottles of water. “Here,” he handed one to her. Though the feeling of dread intensified with every second he delayed answering, she accepted and took a small sip.

“Well?” she prompted. “I’m beginning to think I might have made a terrible mistake.”

Beginning to think might have been an understatement. In fact, the longer she sat there, the more every instinct screamed at her to leave. As one of the last remaining female Drakkor, two things had been drilled into her since childhood. The first had been her destiny. The second had been the need for anonymity. Whoever he was, Ryan appeared to embody the opposite.

“A mistake?” The small lines at the corners of his bright blue eyes crinkled when he smiled. Where before she’d found his assured self-confidence attractive, now it worried her.

Every movement casual, he perched on the edge of the couch, looking even more handsome.

“Here.” He handed her a magazine from under a stack of several on the coffee table. “This will do a much better job of explaining than I can.”

Stunned, she stared. “Your face is on the cover,” she said faintly, feeling sick. Now she understood why he’d seemed vaguely familiar. Even though she generally avoided pop culture, she’d have to have been living under a rock not to recognize this face, this man. Especially with the words Ryan Howard—America’s Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelor emblazoned across the front.

“Thank you.” She put the magazine down without reading it and swallowed hard, avoiding his gaze. “I’m sorry. I’ve made an awful blunder. Don’t worry about escorting me back. I can find the way. In fact, I’ll just let myself out.”

And she did just that, feeling both relieved and perversely peeved when he made no move to stop her.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, more flashbulbs exploded and the paparazzi materialized, shouting questions, asking her name. Instead of answering, she kicked off her high heels and, barefoot in the sand, began to run.

Heart pounding, Maria ran, easily settling into the familiar rhythm. Before long, the paparazzi fell behind, abandoning the chase. Though she missed her running shoes, and the heels she carried kept bumping her leg, she kept on until the reporters were completely out of sight before she slowed to a walk. She’d lucked out; she hadn’t hit anything sharp or dangerous, like shards of glass or the jagged edge of a broken seashell.

Stopping long enough to slip her shoes on, she strode back toward the now closed bar. Instead of going inside, she located her car, a vintage turquoise Corvette, and got inside. The engine fired up with a satisfying throaty roar, and she heaved a big sigh as she headed home.

Disaster averted. While she had to admit that Ryan Howard appealed to her more than any other man she’d ever met, he was also a public figure—and a known playboy. She didn’t have time to waste on a man like him. Not with the clock ticking. In fact, the kind of man she needed to find would be his polar opposite.

Chapter 2

As usual, the throaty purr of the Corvette’s engine soothed her. One finger at a time, Maria loosened her death grip on the steering wheel. That done, she squared her shoulders and inhaled deeply. She wished...

No. If wishes were fishes, this dragon would eat. She’d made an error, plain and simple. Her foolish, rose-colored glasses had made her see something that hadn’t been there. One hot man and she’d nearly melted. There’d be someone else. There had to be. She had a destiny to fulfill. And soon. She couldn’t permit herself to make this type of mistake ever again.

Not only had she allowed herself to believe a notorious playboy might be The One, but she’d risked becoming a public spectacle, and there was a certain person who could not know where to find her. Even though Doug Polacek had been imprisoned, no one knew if he had people working for him on the outside.

For right now, she’d consider herself safe unless she learned differently. She thought of the life she’d built here in Galveston, the business she’d started and loved. She’d worked hard to make her wedding chapel successful, and she knew if she had to leave the area, leaving her business would feel like ripping out a big piece of her heart. Not to mention her need to live near the ocean.

But just as she always did, she’d continue to do what she had to do. This thing with Ryan Howard would blow over quickly so she could go back to her simple and quiet life.

Pulling into her driveway, she sighed. Her tidy frame house on a quiet residential street seemed the opposite of everything she’d just endured. After clicking the opener, she pulled into her garage, killed the engine and closed the door.

One more deep breath. As she removed the keys from the ignition, she realized her hands were shaking. Of course they were. She never, ever gave in to impulse like that. Until last night, she’d had her lists and her reason and had lived her life accordingly. Responsibility had always been her hallmark. How awful to think the one single time she’d veered from this course and acted spontaneously, she’d made such a horrible mistake.

Mentally berating herself, she got out of her car. High heels clicking on the concrete, she headed inside.

She dropped her keys onto a dish on the kitchen counter, headed into the bathroom and eyed herself in the mirror. With her color high, her normally smooth olive skin looked flushed. Her eyes were suspiciously bright, making her appear as if she might be on the verge of tears, even though she wasn’t. Maria never cried if she could help it. Crying was for wimps.

Shaking her head, she washed her face, pulling her wild mop of dark hair back into a semitidy ponytail. From now on, she’d go back to ticking things off her list.

Despite her resolve, her thoughts kept returning to the night before. The lovemaking had been...sublime. And Ryan had been just as gorgeous and sexy as he appeared on TV or in the tabloids. A Shifter too, part of the Pack, which put him a notch above a simple human, at least in her book.

Ah, well. Best to put him from her mind and continue her search. If she wasn’t successful in finding a man to father her child on the island, she might have to broaden her parameters.

Never again would she allow lust to overrule reason. Too much was riding on this for her to make another mistake.

* * *

Up until the moment the sultry temptress bolted, Ryan Howard hadn’t been entirely sure what to think of Maria’s declaration of ignorance. In his experience, ever since his face had been plastered over numerous magazines and television interviews, women had been dreaming up increasingly inventive ways to get into his bed. There were, according to his research, only 513 billionaires in the United States. He figured he was part of a tiny percentage of them who were single. Women, usually attracted by his money, flocked to him. He’d grown so weary of the tall tales they told to get close, he’d begun to use the quality of the story as a criterion to send the woman away.

Maria’s beauty combined with her lack of guile had ignited a slow burning fire inside him. He’d actually allowed himself to think that once, just once, he could enjoy a casual relationship with a woman without artifice or deviousness.

When she’d recoiled at the sight of his face on the cover of Persons Magazine, he’d realized she’d been telling the truth. She really hadn’t known who he was. She’d based her decision to leave the bar with him on something else, and the idea so astounded him that he understood how truly jaded he’d become.

He’d known immediately from her aura her true nature as Shape-shifter, though he hadn’t been able to tell what kind. All he knew was that whatever she might be, she wasn’t Pack. When the flashbulbs had gone off, for a split second she’d fought her inner beast to keep from shifting. Watching her instead of the paparazzi, he’d been curious to see what manner of creature she’d reveal.

At the last minute she’d gotten herself under control, of course. This mechanism was one of the first things all Shape-shifters learned as soon as they were able to change. Living among humans, secrecy had become paramount. The last thing any of them needed was to be caught on television morphing into something else. In fact, to do so was a sentence punishable by a swift and violent death.

Shaking his head, he drained the last of his water and picked up her still-full bottle. Why had she run away? What exactly had scared her the most—who he was or the attention he garnered?

Briefly, he considered going after her, but the knowledge that the reporter-wannabes would have a field day stopped him.

Hopefully, once she’d gotten over the shock and calmed down, everything would be okay. He definitely planned to give her a call. Because, despite the mind-blowing sex they’d shared the night before, he still wanted her. Craved her, in fact. The knowledge that she’d wanted him, too, until the paparazzi had ruined it, made his blood boil with frustrated desire. They could have gone to breakfast and then returned here. Right now, they should have been wrapped in each other’s arms, making love again.

Instead, he found himself alone in his new vacation house, a virtual prisoner of the paparazzi.

Which meant he’d either need to get used to it or find another place, which would be stupid since he’d just paid cash for this one. So he’d adjust, like he always did. Still, being located so quickly was pretty damn disappointing.

When he’d bought this house, he’d been careful. Everything had been done under the name of an LLC he’d formed for real estate investments. Only he or his personal assistant Timothy had dealt with the Realtor and title company. Accordingly, he’d been pretty confident he could live here for a few weeks completely under the radar. He still had no idea how they’d found him.

Walking into that nightclub with the cool name—the Sea Dragon—might have been a mistake. Since he’d been recognized there, someone must have alerted the media. He and Maria had one peaceful night. Those damn flashbulbs and video cameras had been waiting here in the morning. Pacing the length of the living room, he considered how they’d found him. His office only knew he’d gone to vacation at the coast—he hadn’t even told them what city. The only person who knew the details, his personal assistant, was someone Ryan trusted with his life. Timothy had worked for him since the beginning. These days, Ryan made sure Timothy was well compensated for keeping his life running smoothly.

He cursed. That meant there were now two mysteries to be solved. He called Timothy, even though the clock showed it wasn’t yet eight, and filled him in on what had happened. A sleepy sounding Timothy promised to take care of everything that morning once he got to the office. Ryan knew he would.

Satisfied, after ending the call, Ryan focused on deciding what he wanted to do about Maria. Ever since his meteoric rise to fame, there had always been women wanting something from him. Maria Miranda was the first one who’d taken off as soon as she learned who he was. This was unusual enough to give him pause.

Why? Why had she run away? One thing he knew for sure. He would find out. He knew her name and she’d told him she owned a wedding chapel here in Galveston. It wouldn’t be that difficult to find her.

After getting another water and aching for coffee, he clicked on the TV and tried to relax. But he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Puzzles had always intrigued him. Figuring out where the pieces fit had enabled him to develop the software company that had made him rich. The apps and games his talented designers developed had made his business into a billion-dollar enterprise, especially when his company had gone global. Recently he’d turned down offers from both Microsoft and Apple. Even Google had approached him, especially once he’d branched out to Europe and Australia. But he’d refused to even consider selling. He loved his company, had a great staff, and wouldn’t know what to do without it if he sold. Plus, he had enough money. What would he do with even more?

Though he’d planned this extended vacation with the thought that he’d do as little as possible besides relax and unwind, the prospect of untangling the mysterious Maria’s secrets filled him with exhilaration and a fresh sense of purpose. He hadn’t felt this excited about anything in a long, long time.

First up, though, he needed to hit the grocery store. What good was a beach house without the basic amenities like coffee and food? Once he’d gotten the necessities taken care of, he’d turn his attention to the delectable beauty.

“We’ll figure this out,” he vowed, out loud, even though no one else could hear him. He wasn’t giving up on her, not yet.

* * *

Wedding Chapel Near the Sea. Just the name made Maria smile. Even if she hadn’t been able to manage an ocean view, the salty scent of the waves permeated the air. She loved her business and had spent long hours restoring the old Victorian house until she had it exactly the way she’d envisioned. Romantic, nostalgic and tranquil.

And it worked. Even catching sight of the pale peach paint with beige trim made her happy. Every morning she drove to work and went inside with a smile on her face. Today would be no different. She refused to let what had just happened ruin her day.

“You’re way too chipper for this early,” her receptionist, Kathleen, groused, her usual response to Maria’s cheerful “Good morning.”

Maria merely smiled, just as she always did, and continued on into her tiny office. She’d painted the walls bright yellow, just because the color reminded her of sunshine, and decorated with pictures and statues of pigs, because they made her laugh.

“What do we have on the schedule today?” she asked.

“The Thompson wedding is coming by to talk dates.” Kathleen appeared in the doorway, reading from a ledger. “They’ll be here at ten. And the Woodards are bringing the balance of their deposit at two and will want to go over the final details.”

“Anything else?”

Kathleen started to shake her head, but turned when the front door opened. “Can I help you?” she asked, heading toward the reception area. “Are you here to discuss planning a wedding?”

At that point, Maria turned on her computer, waiting for it to boot up. Kathleen was good at her job and wouldn’t let a potential customer get away without being made aware of all they had to offer.

“I’m here to see Maria.”

The sound of the familiar deep voice sent fire through Maria’s body. She froze, hands on her keyboard, wondering how on earth he had found her and what he wanted.

“Do you have an appointment?” Kathleen asked, sounding slightly breathless.

“No, but I don’t need one. She’ll see me.”

Exhaling, Maria stood. “That’s okay, Kathleen,” she said, pitching her voice loud enough so she could be heard. “I have a little time to talk to Mr. Howard.”

At the name, Kathleen let out an audible gasp. “I’m so sorry,” she gushed. “Forgive me. I wasn’t entirely sure it was you. Of course, let me show you Ms. Miranda’s office.”

Before she could, Ryan appeared in Maria’s doorway. He looked so rugged and masculine, so out of place in the pointedly delicate decor, Maria had to suppress a smile.

Instead, she put on her best professional face, praying he couldn’t tell how her heart practically pounded in her chest. “What can I do for you?” she asked.

Stepping into her office, he closed the door. His sheer size made the space feel three times smaller. “Why’d you run away?” he asked. The quiet question felt much more dangerous than it would have if he’d showed anger.

Again, she couldn’t help but marvel at the clean-cut lines of his face and the self-confidence he radiated. Her heart jolted, her pulse hammered, and her mouth went dry.

Nope. Not going there.

Carefully, she shrugged. “I changed my mind. And I have to say, the fact that you’ve shown up here, at my place of business, confirms I did the right thing.”

He glowered, his dark eyes still far too beautiful and seeing way too much. “I’m not stalking you, for Chrissake. You told me you owned a wedding chapel. There are only two on the island proper—yours and The Wedding Chapel on Broadway. I figured this one would be yours, and I wanted to talk to you, so here I am.”

Crossing her arms, she carefully titled her head. “And, again, what can I help you with?”

Her impersonal tone had him coming closer, dragging a hand through his hair, which only made him appear sexier. “I like you,” he said, his expression serious. “And I thought the feeling was mutual. How about this? Go to dinner with me tonight. No strings. Just a nice meal and some conversation.”

She didn’t have to feign her horror. “No, thank you. Wherever you go, there are cameras and paparazzi. That’s not my thing. At all.” She flashed him her most detached smile. “I’m sure you won’t have trouble finding someone else to accept your invitation. At least, judging from the admirers following you around the club last night.”

His mocking smile sent a shudder down her spine. “I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”

Instant heat. Right there, in between her legs. Her entire body, in fact. Still, she held her ground. “I’m sorry, Mr. Howard. The answer is no.”

She thought he might argue with her at the very least, or maybe say something charming, in the hope of coaxing a smile. After all, if one believed his press, he was a player of the highest degree, used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.

Instead, he crossed the distance between them, cupped her face with his large hand and kissed her.

Stunned and shocked, she froze. Truth be told, she didn’t resist. In fact, as he slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her as if she were a precious treasure, she went with it and opened her mouth so she could properly kiss him back.

Desire spooled low in her belly, and dimly she registered there was a reason Ryan Howard was good at getting women.

That thought had the effect of ice water dashed on her. She gasped and jerked away. “Out,” she ordered, her voice shaking. “Get off my property right this instant.”

Hands up, he backed away, nearly to the still-closed door. “About dinner...”

“No.” Sucking in air, she let a trace of her anger show in her eyes, which should have been a warning. Even though Ryan was a Shape-shifter, when he saw the red glow in her eyes, he should realize he’d better stay away. To most other Shifters, the Drakkor were only legends. Few knew they still existed. Her people had formed an alliance with his, the Pack Protectors, in order to help keep the Drakkor safe. She didn’t know how many of the Pack had been informed. At this moment, she didn’t actually care.

“You have a fiery temper,” he said softly, the intensity in his gaze telling her he knew his comment would be like throwing kindling on the embers. When she didn’t respond, he dared to prod. “Dinner?”

“Out.”

Nodding, he turned to go. As he grasped the door handle, he glanced back over his shoulder and tossed a business card on her desk. “Here’s my number in case you change your mind. I would never have pegged you for a coward, Maria Miranda.”

And with that, he left.

More shaken than she’d like to admit, even to herself, Maria dropped back into her desk chair. Coward? Had he known he’d just issued the worst insult one could to her kind? Had his choice of word been intentional, just to draw her into his sensual web?

If so, well played. She nearly ran after him. Only Kathleen’s breathless appearance in her doorway stopped her.

“Oh, my goodness, how do you know Ryan Howard?” Kathleen gushed. “I couldn’t help overhearing—you know how thin these walls are, and it sounded like you and he had already met. Are you going to be in the tabloids? What do you think about him? He’s every bit as sexy in person as he is on TV.”

“Stop, please.” Maria wearily interrupted her employee and friend. “I just met him in a bar last night and we went for a walk on the beach.” She carefully omitted everything else, including the fact that they’d spent the night together. “I took off when the paparazzi showed up and started taking pictures.”

“Paparazzi! Oh my goodness, you are going to be in the tabloids!” Kathleen squealed. “I don’t believe it. I can tell all my friends I’ve met Ryan Howard, Persons Magazine’s Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelor.”

Maria groaned, sinking lower in her chair. “I can’t believe I...” Luckily, she caught herself in time.

Unfortunately, Kathleen had a sharp mind and good ears. “Oh, my! Did you really?”

“No.” Well aware her color was high, Maria gritted her teeth and held her ground. “No, I didn’t. Let’s talk about something else, please.”

“But—”

“It’s nearly ten. The first wedding party of the day should be here soon. We need to make sure everything is ready for them.”

Taking the hint, Kathleen nodded and returned to her desk.

Alone again, Maria opened her email and tried to concentrate. Her rapid heartbeat finally slowed and she gathered her scattered thoughts and made herself focus.

Who knew Ryan Howard would have such an effect on her? She’d never been one for the pretty men. However, Ryan was more than easy on the eyes. He radiated masculinity, something her dragon side required. Masculinity, sex appeal and confidence. Everything she wanted in a man.

Except Ryan was entirely too famous and popular. And a playboy as well, she reminded herself, just in case she weakened. As if she could. Anyone who dated Ryan Howard would be immediately thrust into the spotlight. She couldn’t afford that. Not only would it endanger her, but her future unborn child, as well.

She laughed at herself. As if. She couldn’t get pregnant with him. The other thing she needed was a man who would love her. As in, forever and always. Judging from his reputation, Ryan Howard was not capable of such a thing.

The day went quickly, as they always did. Doing work she loved ensured no days ever dragged. She booked two new weddings, finalized the details on another and had a couple of other interested parties.

All in all, a good day.

At six o’clock, when Kathleen got ready to go home, Maria decided to leave, too. Her receptionist waited while she locked up, a hundred more questions in her eyes. Maria gave her a quelling look, letting her know she had no intention of answering them.

“We’re done talking about Ryan Howard,” Maria said when Kathleen opened her mouth. “Seriously. I have no intention of seeing him again.”

Appearing reluctant, Kathleen nodded. “I can’t say I understand, but I’ll try. I have to say, though, most women would give their right boob for a chance to go out with him.”

Unlocking her car, Maria smiled. “But then, I’m not most women, am I?” She got inside and closed the door without waiting for an answer. Lifting her hand in a quick wave, she started the engine, loving the throaty roar, and headed for home.

That white van...

Giving another quick glance in her rearview mirror, she made an impulsive turn down a side street without signaling.

The van did the same.

Concerned, she tried to remember everything she’d heard about what to do when being followed. She knew she couldn’t go home. She had to go somewhere public. The police station on 54th? Or just a crowded gas station or maybe a grocery store. A&M Grocery was only a few streets away. Decision made, she swung around and headed toward 39th.

Of course, the van kept up.

A million thoughts ran through her mind. She, along with the few other remaining Drakkor females, had one enemy. Doug Polacek, a male Drakkor rapist and serial killer who’d bragged he was to be the savior of their race. He’d been arrested and locked away. Had he somehow escaped prison? If so, how had he found her? Should she call her father? Though why worry him, when there was nothing he could do from so far away.

Heart pounding, she calculated what she’d do when she reached the store. Park, jump out, and run inside? Or stay in her car, with the doors locked and the engine running, just in case she needed to take off?

Based on what she’d heard about Polacek, he was all about capturing and holding a prisoner. So he wouldn’t try to kill her, though she wouldn’t put it past him to shoot a tranquilizer dart or something to immobilize her so he could throw her in the van.

On second thought, maybe the police station would be the better option, despite having it drilled into her not to involve humans in Shifter business.

There. Muttering a quick prayer, she swung into the grocery store parking lot and pulled up in front of the store, in a no-parking zone. This would be high visibility and easy escape.

And here came the van. One foot on the brake, she kept the car in drive, ready for anything.

Instead of pulling up behind her or alongside her, the van pulled in to one of the empty spots reserved for the disabled. Strange. Still, she didn’t relax, watching to see who’d emerge.

The driver’s-side door opened. A second later, so did the passenger side, and then the rear sliding door swung open, disgorging a man with a video camera, another with a microphone. They rushed over to her car, the man with the mic clearly a reporter of some sort.

Relieved and irritated, Maria took her foot off the brake and stomped the accelerator. Screeching out of the parking lot, she traveled the back roads, taking a convoluted route toward home.

Only once she was sure they hadn’t followed her did she turn down her street.

Safe inside her garage with the door closed, she sat in her car, teeth clenched, shaking. She’d only been with Ryan Howard once, and because of that, reporters were hounding her?

Slowly, she climbed out of her car and headed into the house. Should she cut her hair, change the color, make some attempt at disguising her appearance until this blew over?

Even having to consider such nonsense made her even madder. Why should she have to deal with this? Ryan Howard needed to make it stop. She suspected he had the power to fix it.

Digging his business card from her pocket, she decided to give him a call. She wanted this harassment to end, right now. The sooner she could go back to her normal life, the sooner she could get on with her quest to fulfill her destiny.

Chapter 3

Maria Miranda had looked even lovelier than the last time Ryan had seen her. The instant she’d looked up from her desk and her caramel-colored gaze connected with his, he’d felt it like a punch to his stomach.

The way she’d acted had taken him by surprise. Damned if she hadn’t made him feel like some sort of creepy stalker. Embarrassed, ashamed and, yes, fuming, he paced the length of his beach house, glad that today, at least, the paparazzi had stayed away.

If it weren’t for them, Maria would never have learned who he actually was. It had been refreshing to find a woman who liked him for himself, rather than what he’d become.

The kind of sizzling chemistry between him and Maria could have been the start of something amazing. Corny as it sounded, even to him, he mourned its loss. Especially since they hadn’t gotten a chance to actually explore it.

He didn’t understand women—what man did?—but he usually got along with them well. He’d never lied to himself, well aware looks and money got him a lot further than he’d get if he wasn’t a multibillionaire. And though he didn’t usually mind, since he wasn’t looking for anything meaningful, the fact that the very things other women seemed to want had been what had driven Maria Miranda away felt like the bitterest form of irony.

He could practically hear his father’s voice, even though he’d been dead three long years. “Be good for you, boy. You needed taking down a peg.” And then the old man would have laughed, that crusty, congested sound from too many cigarettes and not enough exercise. Lung cancer had taken him, and not a day went by that Ryan didn’t miss him. His dad had been one of the few people he could count on to be honest.

These days he had no one but himself.

And if he were honest now, he completely deserved what Maria Miranda had dished out. She hadn’t asked to be around his baggage. While Ryan might have gotten used to the constant attention and disruption of privacy that came with his life, she clearly wasn’t, nor did she want to be.

Easily understood. Normally, under any other circumstances, he would have given her a silent salute and moved on.

Except he couldn’t get her out of his mind. No matter how he rationalized it, he still wanted her. Hopefully, he’d get over that in time. There were plenty of other beautiful women.

His cell phone rang. He grinned when her name popped up on his caller ID. He jotted the number down, intending to save it as a contact once they’d finished talking.

“Hello?” he answered, as if he had no idea who might be phoning him.

“Ryan, this is Maria Miranda.” She sounded out of breath. “I need you to call off the reporters.”

Stunned, he frowned. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“They followed me after I got off work today,” she continued, ripping out the words. “When I pulled into the grocery store, they tried to ambush me with a camera and everything. I have to ask you to please make it stop.”

“I wish I could. But I have no control over them.” Thinking fast, he seized opportunity where he saw it. “But since they already think we’re together, would you reconsider and have dinner with me?”

“No,” she snapped. “Maybe once they realize it’s over, they’ll lose interest and leave me alone.” She ended the call before he could respond.

Over. Stuffing his cell phone back into his pocket, he grimaced. Over before it had even started. Might as well forget her and get on with his summer vacation.

Except, as the days went on, he still couldn’t make himself stop thinking about her. And the fact that she’d wanted him, too, made it even worse. The kind of attraction that had sizzled between them kept him in a state of constant arousal.

The first week after her rejection, he went for lonely walks on the beach, telling himself he enjoyed the solitude. To keep from being recognized, he made various attempts at wearing a disguise. Mostly he wore a baseball cap, and once he even wore a long wig that made his head itch ten minutes in. With sunglasses, he figured this would be enough of a disguise to keep him from being recognized.

And it was. Strangely enough, the paparazzi seemed to have disappeared. Maybe they’d found other, more interesting people to follow, Ryan didn’t know. At least Maria had gotten her wish.

On the weekend of the second week, he found himself back at the Sea Dragon nightclub. Taking a deep breath, he went inside, unable to keep from hoping Maria might be there. If he could get her to talk to him, maybe she’d give him a second chance. He’d come up with a plan so simple he couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of it earlier.

But though he searched the crowd, she wasn’t anywhere to be found. He drank his beer slowly, keeping an eye on the entrance in case she came in, but eventually he admitted defeat. The repetitive noise had given him a headache, so he hurried back outside, down the concrete seawall and back to the sand. There, he breathed a sigh of relief, briefly considering kicking off his flip-flops but keeping them on, instead, when he realized even this made him think of Maria Miranda.

What the heck had happened to him? He hadn’t come to Galveston looking for a hookup, but then he hadn’t expected to see a woman as gorgeous as Maria. Not only that. There was something else about her, an elusive quality that fueled his need to explore all her secrets. Though he hated to admit it, the attraction seemed to be more than simply because he found her beautiful. Which so wasn’t like him. He preferred his life uncomplicated, without attachments or ties. Work and play, nothing serious. Ever.

Because he enjoyed his own company, he never got lonely; in fact, part of the appeal in coming to Galveston had been the idea of complete privacy. But since meeting her, he felt her absence keenly, as if they’d been together for years rather than hours. Which made no sense whatsoever. Especially since he had no faith in intangibles like destiny or fate.

The ocean soothed him, however temporarily. Since buying the beach house, he’d learned how much he loved the gulf. He’d expected to find the solitude relaxing, the salt-scented air healing. What he hadn’t expected was missing a woman he barely knew. Yet he did. Every morning he carried his coffee out to his second-floor porch and watched the sun rise above the water. He ached to have Maria there, to turn to her and draw her close to him, to talk to her about trivial, everyday things. As if they’d been together forever.

While he didn’t claim to understand how this could be so, he knew enough to recognize something wonderful when it came his way.

The longer he walked, while the surf roared ashore in the background, the more focused he became. Once he’d cleared his head, he did what he always did when he wanted something. Figured out the best way to go after it.

Ryan Howard hadn’t become a successful businessman by giving up. He had to convince Maria to give them a chance, at least, and see what this thing between them could become.

He’d call her instead of showing up in person. Hopefully she’d find that less threatening.

The next morning, he took his morning jog and swam in the ocean, then returned to his beach house to shower. Once he’d dressed, he made a cup of coffee and carried it out onto his patio. There, he relaxed and let the sun and the sounds of the crashing waves and screeching seagulls fill him. When he judged the time had come for a wedding chapel to be open, he searched for the number online and called.

As soon as he told the woman who answered the phone his name, she became flustered. “Let me see if M-Mizz Miranda is available,” she stuttered. When she placed him on hold, the overly sweet and sappy romantic music made him smile. Perfect for a wedding chapel.

Unfortunately, instead of Maria, the receptionist returned to the line. “I’m sorry, Ms. Miranda is not available right now,” she said, sounding regretful and slightly puzzled. “May I take a message?”

Since he knew if he simply left his number, he’d never hear from Maria, he decided to leave a detailed message instead. “Do you have a pen and paper?” he asked. When she replied in the affirmative, he took a deep breath. “Then write this down. The other night when we met, we had an instant connection. I felt it and I know you did, too. I’m sorry the paparazzi ruined what might have been something beautiful. I’m asking for one more chance. Just one. No cameras, no reporters, just us. One night, the water, the stars, and us. Don’t take the risk of losing what could turn out to be something special. Call me, please.” And he left his number.

Sounding awestruck, the receptionist promised to pass the message on.

Satisfied that he’d done all he could, Ryan ended the call. He’d told her the truth, from his heart, and come as close to begging as he ever had.

His phone rang a half hour later. Maria. Unbelievably, his heart skipped a beat from pure joy.

“What are you doing, Ryan?” Exasperation colored Maria’s voice. “You know as well as I do that we didn’t have any kind of magical connection....”

“What would you call it then?” He found himself grinning.

“Sexual attraction,” she drawled, the erotic rasp in her voice making his blood heat. “I wanted you, you wanted me, and if I hadn’t found out who you were, we’d have spent a couple of days in bed and gotten that out of our system once and for all. Then I’d never have heard from you again. I’m well aware of how that works.”

“You wound me,” he teased, even though he knew she was probably right. Such had been his previous method of operating. “But I honestly still think that spark is worth exploring. Give me one more chance.”

The silence stretched on for so long he wondered if she’d set the phone down.

“Maria?” he prompted.

“I’m thinking.” She sighed. “Giving this the serious consideration it deserves.”

His heart actually skipped another damn beat. At least she hadn’t immediately brushed him off.

“Ryan, I’m sorry,” she began. “While I agree the sparks flying between us were combustible, I’m not the type of person who can live her life in the spotlight. Nor am I content with being one of many. So my answer is—regretfully—no.”

“Wait, don’t go.” Talking rapidly, as he sensed she was about to hang up, he outlined his plan. “Just us and the water. No one will be able to interrupt us.”

Again she went silent while she considered. When she spoke, the hint of interest in her voice told him she would agree. “For how long?” she asked. “Are you talking a few hours or an entire day?”

Though he originally had planned for one night, he realized he wanted more than hours. “This weekend,” he said. “Saturday and Sunday. Just the two of us.”

“I can’t. The weekends are the busiest time for me at work. I could do Monday, if we come back Tuesday.”

He’d take what he could get. “Sounds perfect. Meet me at the marina at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning. And, Maria? Pack light.”

* * *

Hanging up the phone, Maria wondered what she’d just impulsively agreed to do. Ryan had been right about one thing. The chemistry between them had been fantastic.

She hadn’t actually ever met a man who made her melt like that. Try as she might, she hadn’t managed to get him out of her head, even though the better part of two weeks had passed.

She felt a twinge of guilt. She had been given an important task and her clock was ticking. Ryan met none of the bullet points on her list. She knew she needed to be focused on her objective, but she also knew she’d never forgive herself if she let Ryan Howard disappear from her life without even giving him a chance. Even though he represented everything she didn’t want and couldn’t have.

As if on cue, her cell phone rang. Her father.

“How’s my princess?” he asked, his cheerful voice, as usual, making her smile. “Any luck finding Mr. Right?”

She sighed. “I’m trying, I promise. I’ve actually met someone I like, but I don’t think he’ll be a candidate.”

While most women might feel a little weird discussing such things with their father, she only felt tired. Her search for a mate was all they talked about these days. And she couldn’t blame him. After all, his hopefulness echoed that of all of their kind. The Drakkor depended on her, and the other remaining three females, to carry the future of their dwindling race. Especially since Doug Polacek had gone crazy and tried to attack the remaining females.

Maria had never met any of the others. The remaining small group of Drakkor had been purposely dispersed to opposite ends of the earth. When Maria had wanted to move from Green Bay to Galveston once she graduated high school, it had practically required an act of congress.

“Do you want to go over your list again?” her father asked kindly. “We can see if there are any bullet points we can discard.”

“No.” If she had to review that list again, she thought she might scream. “I know it by heart now anyway.”

“Okay. Just thought I’d ask. You know, sweetheart...” He paused. “I know you’re organized, but have you ever considered you might be going about this the wrong way? Love doesn’t happen because of a list.”

Pushing back a twinge of defensiveness, she inhaled. “I don’t know what else to do. This is too important to simply leave to chance.”

“That’s what love is,” he said. “But you’ll need to find that out for yourself.”

“I know.” Immediately she thought of Ryan. If only.

“Tell me about this someone promising you met.”

Suddenly, the idea of even discussing Ryan Howard with her father made her break out in a cold sweat. “Let me give it a bit more time,” she said. “I haven’t even gone out on a date with him.”

Holding her breath, she waited for him to question her. In the past, the two of them had discussed each and every man she’d dated.

But, then again, Ryan wasn’t a date. He was just someone she was going to have a short, sweet fling with.

The instant the realization occurred to her, she felt relief. Until that very second, she hadn’t actually decided how she would approach this. But yes, she was going to actually take a break from her exhaustive search for a mate and allow herself to have fun with a man who rang every chime she possessed.

For once.

And furthermore, her father didn’t need to know about it.

“Are you sure?” Her dad sounded hurt. “I might be able to help you decide if you even want to date him.”

“No, I’m fine. So what’s been going on with you?” As changes in subject went, it wasn’t graceful, but she didn’t have a choice.

To her relief, he followed her lead. They chatted a few more minutes about the weather in Green Bay, and then ended the call. But not before he reminded her to keep him posted if anything changed.

As always, she agreed, well aware her father had to make reports to the Drakkor Council on a monthly basis.

Before he hung up, he told her good luck on meeting someone who met the criteria on her list. As usual, she wasn’t sure if he was teasing.

Thinking of her list gave her a headache. Thinking of Ryan made her entire body ache.

Her cell rang. Rhonda Thepault, Maria’s best friend. They used to go out once a week together, but since Rhonda had gotten married, Maria only saw her about once every couple of months.

“I saw you TMZ,” Rhonda gushed. “Why didn’t you tell me you went out with Ryan Howard?”

Crud. Maria sighed. “We didn’t actually go out. We met in a bar and went for a walk on the beach.” Amended, but factually true.

“That’s all?” Rhonda practically shrieked. “The Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelor and you didn’t even think to call me?”

“Nothing happened. The paparazzi showed up, and I ran away. End of story.”

“You what?” Rhonda sounded dumbfounded. “Ran away, like jogged? In high heels?”

“No I took them off. I ran barefoot. We were on the beach, after all.”

Silence while her friend digested this. “Let me get this straight. Ryan Howard wanted you to walk with him on the beach and you bailed because of paparazzi?”

“Yep. That about sums it up.”

“Maria, I need to come over there and talk some sense into you.” The exasperation in Rhonda’s voice made Maria smile. “You’re single, you’ve tried several online dating sites, and you’ve been visiting nightclubs. All of this for the purpose of meeting a man, right?”

So far, her friend was absolutely correct. Except she didn’t know the whole story. She had no idea of the reasons Maria needed to find the right man so quickly.

And since Rhonda was human, she never would.

Instead, Maria figured she’d make Rhonda happy when she told her the rest. “Yes, that’s true. So I guess you’ll be happy to know he’s been calling me. He even stopped by at work.”

“What?” Rhonda went really quiet. “Tell me you are going to go out with him. Please?”

“I am.”

“Oh, thank goodness! When?”

Since Ryan wanted privacy and Rhonda really liked to talk and post to Facebook, Maria decided not to tell her specifics. “Monday, I think.”

“Where is he taking you?” Rhonda’s hushed tone meant she was in awe. “Off the island, or are you staying here?”

“I’m not sure,” Maria lied. “But whatever we do, I’m sure we’ll have a good time.”

“Of course you will. How could you not?”

Maria had to laugh at that. “I promise I’ll fill you in on all the details after, okay?”

Mollified, Rhonda agreed. They chatted for a few more minutes about Rhonda’s job and how business had been going at the wedding chapel, and finally Maria let her friend go.

Her phone rang the second she ended the call.

“Maria, I saw you on TMZ tonight.” Lourdes Rivera had been Maria’s friend since kindergarten, up in Green Bay. Once they’d been close. These days, not so much, at least not since Maria had moved to Texas and Lourdes had gone out to conquer the world as an investigative reporter. Their lives had gone in different directions and they’d drifted apart. It seemed dating a famous person brought everyone out of the woodwork.

The instant she had the thought, Maria winced. Swallowing hard, she tried for a lighthearted tone. “You haven’t called me in months and that’s all you have to say?”

“Hey, I’ve been busy.” Lourdes traveled all over the world for her job. “And now I learn you’re famous and you didn’t even tell me.”

Maria opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Lourdes continued.

“I can’t believe you gave them the scoop,” Lourdes complained. “I could have done so much more with it.”

“First off, there is no scoop.” Maria couldn’t contain her flash of anger. “Secondly, you should know better than anyone that the gossip shows and magazines are rarely even accurate.”

“TMZ is pretty darn accurate.” Lourdes sighed. “And if you’re dating a billionaire, then you could have at least called me.”

“Where are you?” Maria asked. “Most times, you’re not even in my part of the world.”

“As it so happens, I’m in Mexico. Which is not all that far from Texas. Now tell me what’s going on with you and Mr. Sexy, Ryan Howard. He doesn’t seem at all your type.”

“He’s not,” Maria reassured her friend. “He’s something I wanted to get out of my system.”

“Ah, I get it.” Lourdes laughed, the sound confident. “I’ve had a few of those myself. How’d you meet?”

“Are you asking as my friend or are you interviewing me?”

“Hey, that’s harsh.” Lourdes sounded wounded. “Come on, Maria. Dish.”

They spent the next several minutes catching up. When Maria had told her friend everything she could think of about not only Ryan, but work and her family. Everything, that is, but the way the pressure kept increasing to have a child and complete her destiny. Maria had never discussed that with her friend since Lourdes wasn’t Drakkor. There were some things she didn’t need to know.

Finally, Lourdes wound down with a request that Maria promise to let her do the interview if anything were to come of the relationship with Ryan. This was easy enough to do, since Maria knew nothing would.

By the time she’d finished all the telephone chatting, Maria’s headache had worsened. Glancing at the bright blue sky, she realized she needed to get away from everything human, and let her dragon out to play. Soaring over the ocean never failed to lift her spirits.

Out of habit, she checked the planner she kept on her desk.

Yes. Her instinct had been right. According to the careful calendar she kept, the time had come for her to release her dragon. As usual, she’d drive to the most secluded place around Galveston, Corps Woods.

Morphing into a huge, scaly beast wasn’t something she could just do anywhere. She could imagine the panic if any humans were to see. Especially since she’d been told her scales glistened all the colors of the rainbow.

She drove west on Seawall, turning right at the light onto Ferry Road, then right again at the sign that read US Coast Guard. Corps Woods was about a half mile on the right, along a narrow waterway outside a levee.

The tourists rarely came here, except for the occasional bird watchers during the spring migration.

After parking, she got out of her car, satisfied no one else was around. She walked out into the woods, taking care to move quietly so not to frighten the creatures who lived there.

The sun had reached the edge of the horizon. She always had to wait until full dark to avoid being spotted. That was okay, especially during a full moon when she flew out over the ocean.

Dragons’ eyes saw the world differently than people’s. Everything was lusher somehow. More vibrant and colorful, almost as if the world glowed. Though history had made them into fearsome monsters, in her dragon form Maria felt nothing but pure love and full of joy at being alive.

And the tingling of the ever-present magic, fueling her flights, lifting her wings as she climbed higher and higher into the sky.

Legend held it that this magic was the reason the other Shifters feared the Drakkor and the motive for the near extermination of their kind back in humanity’s dark ages.

Magic. She loved this almost as much as she loved flying. Even though her magic was untrained, she could create things—and make them vanish with a flick of her fingers. Colors, sparkles, lights, fire and ice, none of that was beyond her capabilities. She could amuse her dragon self for hours with her undeveloped magic, especially since she’d taken care to keep her abilities alive.

These days, they were expressly forbidden to use magic on humans. Maria had frequently amused herself with dazzling displays of color and light, but only when she’d flown far out to sea, avoiding the shipping channels. As soon as she spotted a freighter or a cruise ship, no matter how far in the distance, she flew as far away in the opposite direction as she could.

Giddy at the thought of becoming her dragon self, Maria walked into the thickest part of the woods and took a seat on an old log. There, she’d meditate while waiting for the sun to sink below the horizon. Once the light had gone, she’d begin the process of allowing her Drakkor to break free. And then she’d truly fly.

* * *

Feeling restless, agitated and uncomfortable could only mean one thing. Ryan needed to change. Inside, his wolf paced, wanting to hunt, needing out right this instant.

The sexually charged atmosphere created by Ryan craving Maria, and his frustration therewith, had his wolf howling inside him. Since the beach wasn’t safe and he’d done his research, he got in his Jeep and drove to Corps Woods.

At this time of the night, with only one other car in the parking lot—a sweet, turquoise-colored Corvette—the place appeared deserted. All the tourists packed the restaurants and bars on the other side of the island and all the locals were home watching television.

Here, he could let his wolf run free safely.

He got out of the car and stretched, carefully scanning the area to make certain he hadn’t been followed. His fame could be annoying, but if some erstwhile paparazzi captured him changing from man to wolf, his life would be over. The Pack Protectors would clean up the mess and Ryan Howard would disappear from his former life.

He’d often thought about this, aware it would be a blessing that they wouldn’t kill him. In the old days, revealing the truth to a human had been a crime punishable by death. These days, the Protectors gave a second chance and a new life.

Ryan had no intention of starting over. He’d worked too damn hard to get where he was to give it all up over something stupid.

He could hear nothing but the sound of the seagulls screeching, but he eyed the Corvette, aware he needed to find the other person. Only once he knew their location would he be able to make a sensible decision on where to shape-shift.

Moving with exaggerated casualness, he left the parking lot and headed out onto the walking trails. He wondered if the tourists even came out this far. From what he’d read, serious bird watchers mainly frequented this area, and only during the spring migration. Even if the odd curious visitor ventured here, he imagined that would be in the middle of the day. Now, with the sun blazing a farewell trail on the edge of the horizon, everyone had finished outdoor activities. Soon only the silver ghost of moonlight would shine on the trees and the canal.

Ryan grinned, feeling savage. A perfect place, and not too far from home. Once he got settled, he planned to seek out other Pack members so he could learn where they went to hunt. In his wolf shape, he ceased being Person Magazine’s Most Eligible Billionaire. Then he was only another lupine hunter, one more member of the Pack.

His wolf pushed, fighting to break free. Shaking his head, Ryan kept him confined. Until he made certain he wouldn’t be seen, he couldn’t take the chance.

Movement ahead of him had him ducking behind a tree, crouching low. Something big, too large to be human. He kept still while he tried to figure out what the heck it could be. From this distance, it had the shape of an elephant, which wasn’t even possible. Or was it?

As he watched from his hiding place, the beast rose, spreading huge, rainbow-colored wings. And then, while Ryan gaped in disbelief, the thing leaped up and took to the sky.

He watched until it became only a speck in the dark sky. What the...? Had he really seen a dragon? He’d thought he knew every species of Shape-shifter. If there were dragons, he’d certainly never heard anyone mention them.

His wolf whined, reminding him of the reason he’d come to this isolated location.

Shaking his head yet again to try and clear it, Ryan stepped into a thicket of trees and shed his clothing. Then he got down on all fours and let his beast out.

As wolf, he’d found time ceased to exist. Or, at least, it existed differently than when he was man. As he prowled the area, led by his nose, he no longer counted time in minutes or in hours. Instead, the measured footsteps he took on the soft earth, the scent of a hare and the chase, these were his clock.

He hunted and he played, dancing with tree shadows, so in tune with the earth and his wolf he found joy in every breath.

And then, as he lazily contemplated returning to the tree stump where he’d left his human clothing, he heard the distant thump of wings and knew the dragon had returned.

Caution warred with fear. As wolf, he’d just devoured a rabbit. Would the dragon view a wolf as prey? Though his teeth were sharp and his claws swift, he knew if he were to go up against a beast of that size, he’d surely lose. So, once again, he crouched low to the ground, under a bush, and tried to make himself as small as possible.

The dragon flew low, scales glistening in the moonlight. Even as he held his breath, he couldn’t help but be filled with awe at the deadly beauty of this mystical creature.

He heard it land somewhere in the trees behind him. Curious, he crept in that direction, wanting to see what kind of person the dragon would change back into.

But either he moved too slowly or the beast changed with the speed of light. Long before he reached the center of the woods, he heard the throaty rumble of the Corvette’s engine.

Running full out, he headed toward the parking lot. His lope covered the ground effortlessly, but all he got for his effort was the sight of the taillights as the sports car drove away.

Chapter 4

Back home, after her shape-shifting flight, Maria felt reborn. As she caught sight of herself in a mirror in the entryway, she beamed. Her skin glowed, her eyes gleamed and she appeared transported, as if she’d experienced some sort of holiness or miracle.

Becoming her dragon had a way of doing that to her. She’d flown far and low, skirting the waves at times, taking care to avoid shipping channels and any private boats. She’d visited a pod of about twelve whales, seen dolphins and sharks and watched shooting stars reflect across the endless stretch of water.

Her journey had felt sacred, reminding her that her very existence as a dragon could be considered miraculous. Which was why she could not afford to fail at her task.

This sobering thought made her shake her head. She would succeed. She’d be fine. And now, fortified by the hours she’d spent as a dragon, she could prepare for her time with Ryan without worry or fear.

After all, taking a day or two off to have a little fun could do no harm. Once all this was over, she’d go back to her focused search. She had to admit, she had some preconceived notions of how her life, once she found The One, would go. A handsome and fickle playboy who refused to settle down wasn’t one of them.

She sighed. Yet her attraction to him wouldn’t be denied. She probably just needed to get him out of her system. Then she could resume her oh-so-serious search for the father of her children and the rest of her life.

Monday came quickly. To her surprise, Ryan had made no further attempts to contact her after she’d accepted his invitation. Instead of leaving her car at the marina, she had Kathleen take her, swearing her receptionist to secrecy.

“I can’t believe you’re going to be with Ryan Howard,” the older woman said for maybe the third time. “In private, just the two of you, on a yacht.”

Yeah, about that. Maria hadn’t been sure what exactly to expect when Ryan invited her to spend a few days on his yacht. Yachts were different things to different people. For all she knew, he could pilot a perfectly restored 1960s sailboat. She’d been on one of those once and found it spectacularly beautiful. If she could, she’d live on the sea. She loved it more than land.

After they parked, Kathleen wanted to hang around to get a second look at Ryan. Firmly, Maria asked her to go home. “This is a fling,” she said. “Just fun. Don’t be making more of it than it is.”

Kathleen rolled her eyes. “A fling with Ryan Howard is something major, no matter what you think. And I really want to get a look at his boat.”

“No.” And Maria wouldn’t relent. The last thing she needed was Kathleen gushing and building this entire thing up to be something it wasn’t. “Ryan asked for privacy, and that’s what he’s going to get. Now thank you for giving me a ride, but please, go ahead and head back home.”

Though Kathleen grumbled, she did exactly that, though she backed out of her spot with excruciating slowness, no doubt hoping for a glimpse of Maria’s date before she left.

Maria waited until Kathleen’s minivan had disappeared before glancing again at the piece of paper where she’d written the slip number. As she walked out along the dock, she marveled at all the beautiful boats, looking for Ryan’s yacht. Even though any boat could technically be called a yacht, she figured something owned by a multibillionaire would be over the top, ostentatious and possibly gaudy.

Instead, when she reached his slip, she found herself pleasantly surprised. The sleek boat looked brand-new and was probably sixty-five feet long. Just small enough that he could captain it himself without a crew if he wanted, but not so small it couldn’t handle the ocean waves out in open water.

Though she seriously doubted that they’d be leaving the gulf.

“Lazzara LXS 64,” she read. A shiny thing of fiberglass beauty, with huge windows, she figured such a yacht would cost over two million dollars. With her inexplicable need to get closer to the water, boats were her weakness, her hobby, and she never missed a boat show if she could help it. She’d shopped them all, even the yachts like this that she couldn’t afford in a hundred years. That didn’t matter to her. She could always dream.

She’d always loved the sea and anything that got her closer to the waves made her happy. The salt spray, the seagulls, pelicans and, most of all, the whales and dolphins. She loved soaring over the vast expanse of water in her dragon form. Though smaller birds feared her, the huge whales flipped their massive tails at her in reproach or hello as she flew overhead.

As she approached, Ryan appeared from down inside the yacht. “Welcome.” The warmth of his smile started a slow burn inside her.

“This is nice,” she said, meaning it. “I’m assuming you don’t have to employ a crew.”

“No, that’s why I chose this one for this trip,” he told her. “I have a couple of boats, but on those I have to hire a captain and crew. I use those because when I entertain large groups of people I can’t be distracted by piloting the boat. But this time, it’s just going to be the two of us.”

“Even though you might be...distracted?” She couldn’t resist teasing him, loving the way heat instantly darkened his eyes.

“Even so.”

“As long as you’re sure we’ll be safe.” She let her smile widen, even as she raked her gaze boldly over him. “While I have no doubt you are a capable captain, since we’re getting this out of our systems, I plan to be more than a little distracting.”

Something intense flared between them. “No worries.” He sounded confident as he held out a hand. “Come aboard. Would you like a tour?”

She nodded, smiling back. “I’d love one.” Placing her hand in his, she felt a jolt as their bodies connected. She allowed him to pull her up onto his boat, marveling at how, even now, with his hair windblown and wearing an old faded T-shirt and khaki shorts, he managed to appear like a Norse god rather than a rich businessman. Her mouth dry, she fought to keep from saying or doing something stupid.

When she looked up, he stood so close she could feel his body heat. Her heart caught in her throat as all of her senses leaped to life.

“Come on,” he said, his sensual grin telling her he’d guessed her thoughts. “Let me show you the rest.”

Polished teak trim highlighted the handrails, along with the floor in the small den and the cabinetry in the galley and bathroom. Everything was luxuriously appointed, including pewter fixtures and stained-glass light coverings.

The salon had a dark satin wood finished interior with wooden floors and a buttery leather sectional. Along with the 42-inch flat screen TV, she loved the wet bar with Sub-Zero refrigerated drawers. There were pleated fabric shades and a retractable sunroof.

“This looks brand-new,” she mused. “Did you have it built for you?”

“No.” He grinned. “But I did buy it new, even though it’s last year’s model. I’m the first and only owner. The sole owner.”

His infectious pride made her grin back. “I like it,” she announced.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet,” he said. “Come with me.”

The helm, which shared deck space with the salon, had a plush seat and a glass instrument panel. The side window opened to allow a view down the side deck. Everything had been trimmed in a rich, dark wood.

“It’s got three staterooms and three heads,” he announced. “Or bathrooms, in case you don’t like the word. The galley has all stainless-steel appliances, a huge refrigerator, a four-burner stove, and even a dishwasher. It’s made for some serious vacationing. Cookware, bakeware, utensils and even knives came standard.”

His pride was infectious.

“You sound like a boat salesman,” she teased.

“This was my first yacht,” he replied, somewhat sheepishly. “While I own a couple, one never forgets the first.”

Touched, she gave in to impulse and leaned in and kissed his jaw. His scent rocked her—sea breezes and spice—all masculine and unlike any man she’d been with before.

Lazily, he turned his head so their lips brushed. He teased her with this slow kiss, promising so much more. When he moved away, she found herself breathless.

He didn’t seem to notice. “I’ll show you the rest of the boat later. You can either wait here or go up on deck. There are some loungers and a table with chairs. I’m going to get this baby started and take us out.”

“I’d like to watch,” she told him. “So I’ll go up. Unless...” Feeling bold, she nudged him with her hip. “I can come stand by you while you steer.”

“Not this time.” His smile took the sting from his words. “You were right. You’re too damn distracting.”

Taking care not to show how thrilling she found his words, she sighed. “All right then. I’ll head out.”

“Great. I’ll let you know when you can join me.”

* * *

Ryan couldn’t tear his eyes from Maria as she strolled away. She wore some sort of shapeless cover-up over what he could tell was a red swimsuit. He could only imagine what the sight of her in a bikini would do to him. Even now, from just a little verbal sparring and a quick kiss, she’d aroused him to the point of pain.

Only once she’d disappeared from his view did he release the breath he’d been holding. Around her, he could hardly function, and he needed all his concentration to get his boat out of the slip and then the harbor.

Going through the motions, he soon had his twin Volvo Penta D-13 engines running. He made short work of unhooking his tie-downs, and soon he had backed out and turned to head in the right direction.

Pleased, he almost wished Maria was beside him, for a celebratory high five or, even better, another kiss.

Just thinking of recapturing her soft lush mouth with his heated his blood. He shook his head, aware he needed to get in control of this insane attraction so he could explore it at his leisure. Until then, it’d be prudent to wait until they’d reached open water before even looking at his beautiful guest.

They motored past the last sandbars, the cranes standing on one leg, the pelicans arching their long necks as they decorated the weathered piers. Taking care to stay out of the way of the larger ships, he pointed his boat toward the open water, feeling free, as he always did when out on the sea.

“Permission to enter?” Maria popped her head in the doorway, her husky voice teasing.

“Sure, come on in.” He made a concentrated effort to not watch her, keeping his gaze fixed on the water outside. “The difficult part is over, now I just play Avoid the Tankers until we’re past all the shipping lanes.”

Several huge freighters dotted the horizon, waiting for their turn to enter the shipping channel. He navigated them past these, intent and fierce, his pulse thrumming in his neck as he kept his desire under control.

Behind him, Maria prowled the salon restlessly. Überconscious of her, he refused to glance back, letting the anticipation build in him.

“I had my chef prepare several meals in advance for us,” he said, more to make conversation than anything else.

“Your chef?” She laughed. “Forget I said that. Of course you have a chef.”

“Not full-time. But once you agreed to come out to sea with me I had him prepare a few things. We have to eat, and I don’t cook.”

“Me, either,” she said, surprising him. “Though I confess I’m surprised you didn’t ask.”

“What kind of host would I be, to ask my guest to cook for me?” He shook his head, finally glancing at her. “I would never do anything so rude.”

“Good.” Her wry smile had his heart thumping. “Because heaven help the man who had to eat my cooking.”

Unable to tell if she was joking or not, he turned his attention back to their course, picking up the pace until they were cruising along at thirty knots, which was pretty damn fast for a boat this big.

Finally, they were clear of everything. Nothing but water, as far as the eye could see. He slowed their speed, setting the automatic pilot and fighting the urge to turn and pull Maria up against him, bury himself deep inside her right here and right now.

Inside, his inner wolf began to pace, the edge of constant desire making him savage and restless.

Damn. Ryan had never had a woman affect him this way. He wanted her something fierce, but she merited more than a quick release of driving need. She deserved candles and moonlight and romance and wine. A plush bed in a luxurious stateroom, a silky negligee and tenderness. He had it all planned, the seduction. He would not act like a rutting bull. Even though his body wanted to.

“This thing will drive itself for a while,” he said, managing a casual and hopefully friendly smile. “Let’s go up on deck and take a look around.”

* * *

With desire on a slow simmer, and feeling unaccountably nervous, Maria watched Ryan control the boat, glad he focused on the water rather than her. Every time the man directed that intense gaze on her, she melted inside.

Now that they were completely alone and heading for the open water, she briefly wondered if her decision to indulge her craving for him had been wise. No doubt her father wouldn’t approve. But then, what father would?

Truth be told, she’d grown exceedingly weary of doing the right thing. Sure, she understood her destiny, but the weight of the task she’d been charged with often felt too heavy to bear.

Some time off to recharge her batteries might be just what she needed. A fling, she reminded herself for the twentieth time since she’d decided to do this. Nothing more than a fling. Fast and fun, no strings. Back to her life, to the real world, the next day.

This kind of thinking had nearly gotten her into trouble before. She suspected this time would be no exception. Still, she realized she didn’t care. Something told her it would be worth it.

“Hey.” Ryan’s voice made her blink and come out of her reverie. “Are you all right? You’re not feeling queasy or anything, are you?”

“I’m good.” She managed what she hoped was an easy smile. “And I’ve never been seasick. As far as I know, I’m fine with the waves and ocean and boats.”

“Good to know.” His slow and steady gaze felt like a caress. She shivered, realizing the anticipation was a kind of foreplay. Even the rocking motion of the yacht as it cut through the waves felt sensual.

“I asked you if you wanted to go topside and take a look around. With this kind of weather, the view ought to be breathtaking.”

She wished she had the courage to tell him what she really wanted to do—go down to that elegant master bedroom, disrobe and make wild, passionate love on that huge bed.

But then it would be over. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that, at least, not yet. They’d just set off, after all.

Part of her thought she should go for it. Casual sex should be just that—casual. Simple as that.

But she knew there would be nothing casual about the way Ryan made love to her. Nothing casual at all.

Better to wait, to prolong the anticipation.

She’d been buzzing with desire ever since climbing aboard the boat. Every look, every accidental touch, merely added fuel to the fire.

Upstairs, the sea breeze kept the sun from feeling too hot.

“I’ve dropped anchor. Do you fish?” Grinning, Ryan produced a couple of really long fishing poles.

She thought of how she usually fished, using her razor-sharp dragon claws and swooping down to snatch them right out of the water. Human fishing would never be able to compete with that. “I might have caught fish a time or two,” she said. “But if you don’t mind, I’ll just relax and watch you.”

She’d been planning to lie out and catch some sun once they were clear of the other boats. Underneath an oversize T-shirt cover-up, she wore her favorite bikini in red. She felt both nerves and anticipation as to how he’d react at the sight of her in it. The swimsuit barely covered her, and yet somehow managed to look elegant and sexy. It had been expensive and, as far as she was concerned, worth every penny.

Of necessity, Maria had learned to become expert at showcasing her...assets. This went against everything inside her quiet, would-be modest self, but it had been drilled into her that she had no choice. If she wanted to attract a mate, she had to gain his notice. So she tried.

Even so, she knew she wasn’t actually good at it. Luckily, men didn’t seem to care.

This was actually the first time she’d truly wanted a man to notice her. Which, in the long run, didn’t bode well for her ultimate mission.

Right now she refused to think about anything but the here and now. She wanted Ryan Howard, a man she knew she had nothing in common with, no real future. From the single night they’d spent making love, she knew they were good together. Clearly, since one night hadn’t been enough. Maybe once she did this, spent enough time with him to get him out of her system, she could go on with her life and her search for The One.

Heart pounding in her throat, she removed her cover-up, feeling naked in the tiny bikini. She heard his swift intake of breath and found she couldn’t even look at him, even though she was so aroused the triangles of fabric hurt her nipples.

They came together as if they’d never been apart. Touching him, she felt herself expand, as though when their bodies joined, the universe became magnified.

Amazed, astounded, so full of joy her eyes stung, she gave herself over to him. Again and again and again, they moved together, a mating dance of passion and purpose, something she knew she never wanted to end.

She flew and soared, a dragon lifting in the air, even though she never left her body. He gave her fireworks and stars and as she clenched her body around his hardness, the thought came to her lovemaking like this might have ruined her for anyone else. A second later, her practical nature asserted itself, chiding her for considering such foolishness.

And then Ryan moved inside her and she forgot to think at all.

* * *

While Maria slept in his bed, a soft smile on her lovely face, Ryan slipped out from under the sheets and headed up to the main deck. There, he watched the water, enjoying the way the moonlight caressed the waves. He felt safe here, isolated from land and people. Though he always looked for whales, he’d never seen one, though there’d been plenty of dolphins.

He thought of the other night, when he’d seen the dragon, and found himself watching the cloudless sky. Nothing but stars and black velvet. Chiding himself for his foolishness, he found himself wishing Maria would wake and join him.

She’d been everything he’d imagined she’d be and more. Fierce and fiery, she gave as well as took, and their bodies had fit together as if they’d been made for each other.

After their explosive lovemaking, he’d actually let himself fall asleep holding her, something he never did anymore and hadn’t done since college.

Somehow, he’d thought this time with her would slake his ever-present hunger for her. Instead, he felt like an addict, craving more.

Shaking his head at his middle-of-the-night flight of fancy, a movement close to the water caught his eye. His heart began pounding as he got to his feet, gripped the rail and peered intently at the dark water.

Would he finally see the whale he’d longed to see?

And then, the surface of the water exploded. A huge form burst from beneath the surface, arcing toward the sky.

But this was no whale. Not even close. While Ryan stared in disbelief, the dragon launched up, a huge fish caught in one giant claw.

Ryan shrank back against the side of his boat, praying the beast hadn’t seen him. This one looked larger than the one he’d seen before, and its scales didn’t glimmer with as many colors. Instead, the muddy green-and-brown color made it blend better with the ocean. The expression it wore also seemed ominous, somehow. Still, he figured he would be safe as long as the dragon didn’t spot a human.

Damn. This was the second time he’d seen such an unbelievable sight. After the first incident, he’d almost managed to convince himself he’d imagined it. Now, he could no longer do that. Who knew such creatures even existed?

He made a quick mental note to do some research once he got back to land and kept his eye on the dragon, just in case it decided to come for his boat.

Luckily, the beast took off, flying toward open water with its prey still flopping in one claw. Ryan stared in the direction it had gone, long after it disappeared.

“Ryan?” Maria’s voice was husky with sleep. “Where are you?”

“Out here.”

A moment later she appeared, wearing only his T-shirt, her dusky skin illuminated by moonlight. In reaction, his body stirred. “Couldn’t sleep?”

He shook his head, debating whether or not to tell her what he’d seen. Ultimately, he decided against it. Though her aura told him she was some kind of Shape-shifter, neither would be inclined to reveal their true nature, not without a committed relationship.

And he didn’t do committed relationships.

According to Maria, neither did she. Which meant this would work out perfectly, right?

“I find the sea peaceful,” he said, rather than answering her question. “Also, I’m always trying to see a whale. So far, I haven’t had any luck.”

She tilted her head, considering. “I know there were actually two orca sightings in the gulf. But to see the large whales, you’d need to go south, closer to Mexico.”

Knowing he couldn’t ask her about dragons, he nodded. “I take it you’ve researched this.”

“Actually, I have. I love the ocean and all of its inhabitants. At one point I was going to A&M in Galveston to become a marine biologist.”

Fascinating. “I didn’t see that coming. How’d you go from that to a wedding chapel owner?”

“Simple. I wanted to own my own business. And there are way more limitations on marine biology than I realized. So I quit school, one year short of getting my degree, and here I am.” She eyed him. “What about you, Mr. Billionaire Playboy? How’d you get to do whatever it is you do?”

“You really don’t know?”

Her chuckle was answer enough. “I take it I should.”

“Didn’t you even read the magazine after you found out who I was?” Strangely he felt equal measures of hurt and amusement.

“No. I didn’t think I needed to. I’d much rather get to know someone in person.”

He couldn’t help but pull her in for a kiss then. “I like you,” he told her, meaning it.

“I like you, too.”

At her sweet words, he felt a small premonition of warning. Things were going too well. She was his ideal woman, everything he could want, including claiming not to want a relationship. Why then did he feel as if the hammer was about to come down?

* * *

The idyllic time on the boat went way too fast, as good times often do. All too soon they pulled back into the harbor and toward the marina.

Maria knew enough about herself to understand that once she got home, she would have regrets. Tons of regrets. Almost the way a junkie repents the first time trying a drug, she should never have explored Ryan Howard. One taste of him had potentially ruined her for everyone else.

Not good, especially for a woman who felt as though she always had a ticking clock hanging over her and needed to find her mate soon.

But she refused to feel regret that their time together was over.

After Ryan had parked the boat back in his slip, she went below and grabbed her bag. Rejoining him topside, she accepted his hand as he helped her onto the dock. This time, she ignored the immediate tingle the contact brought and summoned up her friendliest smile.

“Thanks for an amazing time,” she told him, her tone a bit too bright. If he noticed, he gave no sign.

“Do you have a ride home?” he asked.

Holding up her cell phone, she shook her head. “I’m about to call now.”

“Don’t. I’ll drop you off.”

Briefly, she considered declining, for the foolish reason that she wasn’t sure she wanted him to know where she lived. But, she realized, he’d agreed to the parameters they’d set and wouldn’t be dropping by unannounced or anything. “Thank you,” she said. “I’d appreciate that.”

When they pulled up in front of her modest home, she realized belatedly she wasn’t sure how to say goodbye. Should she kiss his cheek or his mouth, or only shake hands? Since this had been a one-time, casual encounter and she’d never done anything like it before, she had no idea what would be acceptable.

So, instead, she did nothing. As soon as he put the car in park, she opened her door and hopped out. “Thank you so much,” she began, but Ryan wasn’t looking at her. He stared past her, his expression suddenly thunderous.

Turning to look, she saw a man climbing out of her bedroom window.

“Do you know him?” Ryan asked, his voice low and urgent.

“No. I think I’m being robbed.” She dug in her purse for her phone so she could call 911.

But Ryan didn’t wait. Pulling out a pistol, he took off running after the intruder.

As she watched, her heart pounding, the man shape-shifted into a dragon. Ryan squeezed off a few shots, but they were too late and did nothing to stop the dragon from launching himself into the sky.

Chapter 5

Stunned, Maria watched as the Drakkor flew away. All she could think of was how what he’d done was in direct violation of every law set forth by the Drakkor Council. He’d changed in front of Ryan, and while she knew Ryan was Pack, this Drakkor intruder had no way of knowing.

Plus, it was broad daylight. Anyone could have seen. Did this mean Polacek had somehow escaped from prison?

Stunned, she looked back at Ryan. He, too, stared after the dragon until the huge beast disappeared into the clouds.

“Did you...” He cleared his throat. “Did you see that?”

“I did.” Unable to keep the anger and fear from her voice, she folded her arms across her chest.

“What was it?”

She took a deep breath. “You’d better come inside. Those gunshots are sure to attract attention.”

He stared at her. “After all that, the one thing you’re worried about is my gun?”

“I didn’t say that. I’m wondering how many others saw him and, worse, what will happen if someone got a picture.”

Ryan followed her into the house without saying another word. She placed her purse on the little table near the front door and tried to collect her scattered thoughts so she could figure out what to say. She knew she had to choose her words carefully.

After holstering his pistol, Ryan paced the length of her small living room. “I should call someone, don’t you think? I mean, that thing is flying loose over Galveston.”

“That thing is a Drakkor,” she interrupted. “And who would you call, the Pack Protectors?”

That stopped him in his tracks. “You know what I am?”

“Of course. You wear your aura just like we all do. I saw your wolf the first time we made love.”

He narrowed his eyes and studied her. “Okay. Touché. Since we’re exchanging personal information, tell me what manner of Shifter you are.”

“That’s not necessary.” Her tone let him know she refused to budge on this. “We’re not in a committed relationship, so there’s no need. Plus, I thought you wanted to discuss the Drakkor we just witnessed.”

“How do you know what it’s called?”

Now came the tricky part. “Because I’ve studied.” Not entirely a lie. She went to her bookshelf and pulled out a well-worn book. “Here. Take a look at this.”

Accepting the heavy hardback, he carried it over to the kitchen table. “History of Shape-shifters,” he read. “This looks like something we would have learned in school when we were young.”

“It probably was.” She glanced out the window. “The Drakkor are a very old and venerated people. However, that still doesn’t explain what that one was doing breaking into my house.”

“Or the fact that he broke every law of our kind by changing into a dragon like that.”

Grimly, she nodded. “Broad daylight. It will have to be reported. By the way, why do you carry a gun?”

“It’s Texas. I have my concealed handgun license. Maybe me shooting at it will make that Drakkor think twice before coming back.”

“Maybe.”

Ryan began paging through the book. “Here we go. The Drakkor.”

While he read what was admittedly a brief and incomplete article, she hurried to her bedroom to see if she could figure out what this intruder might have taken.

Everything appeared to be exactly the way she’d left it, her bed still perfectly made, her clothes hanging in her closet. She checked her dresser drawers, but her neatly folded underwear looked untouched. The same for her T-shirts and pajamas. Even her jewelry box didn’t seem to have been rifled through.

“What did he steal?” Ryan asked from the doorway.

“That’s just it. I don’t know.” Delayed reaction had set in and she realized tears pricked the back of her eyes. Horrified, especially since she didn’t cry, she took several deep breaths and wrestled her emotions under control.

Good. Now she had to call her father and report what had just happened.

“You need to leave,” she said, aware her brusque tone and dismissal would seem abrupt, but beyond caring. “I’d like to make some phone calls.”

He studied her for a few seconds before slowly nodding. “All right. But first, I want to check and make sure everything is locked up tight. Do you have a burglar alarm?”

“No.”

“I’ll have one installed first thing tomorrow,” he said.

Under any other circumstances, she might have argued. But right this instant, all she could do was nod. “Fine. Now please go.”

He didn’t move. “You can’t honestly expect me to leave you alone after someone broke into your house? I think you at least need to call the police.”

“And tell them what? That a Drakkor broke in but didn’t steal anything?”

Again Ryan went silent. “Do you know what that person wanted? You do, don’t you? That’s why you don’t find the entire thing absurd.”

“It’s frightening,” she protested. “But something that needs to be handled internally.”

“By who?” He took a step closer, his gaze intense. “The Drakkor Council? Is that what you are, Maria Miranda? A Drakkor?”

Frustration eclipsed her terror. “Ryan, please. Leave.” She pointed at the door. “We had a good time together, but it’s time to go back to our regular lives. Mine doesn’t involve you, and yours doesn’t include me, so please go.”

Apparently this finally got through to him. Stone-faced, he shook his head and stalked to the doorway. “Have a good life, Maria. Stay safe.”

As he stepped through the doorway, she braced herself, certain he’d slam the door. But he only closed it behind him. A moment later, she heard the sound of his car starting and listened as he drove off.

Then she hurried to lock the door and check every single window. Once she was certain her home was secured tightly, she called her father.

“Who could it have been?” he exclaimed, once she relayed what had occurred. “Doug Polacek’s the only one crazy enough to do something like that, and he’s in prison.”

“Maybe you’d better check and make sure. He might have broken out.”

“That would be horrible.”

She took a deep breath. “What would be worse is if there’s another insane Drakkor running around. We’d have to explore the possibility that insanity is spreading in our males, sort of like the disease that killed most of our females.”

Silence while her father digested this. When he spoke again, his somber tone told her he understood the ramifications of either scenario. “The council will have to be notified.”

“I would think so.” Oddly enough, this time she used a calm, rational tone to try and soothe him rather than the other way around. “Whoever this is, he’s violating ancient law. If he keeps this up, he’ll destroy our entire way of living.”

“The Council will be made aware. Plus, I think they need to increase the guard on Polacek, especially if this Drakkor is his accomplice. I’m sure they’ll notify the Pack Protectors, as well.”

Thinking of Ryan, she found herself gripping the phone way too tightly. “The Pack Protectors? I know they’re helping keep us safe. Are there any here in Galveston or in the Houston area?”

“I’m sure there are. Houston is a big city. And you know they’ve been working closely with us ever since Polacek captured a few of their women. Only the fact that there are so few Drakkor left has kept them from exterminating him. I think that might be about to change if this sort of nonsense continues.”

Maria shuddered. “I’m going to need some sort of guard.”

“And you’ll have it,” her father promised. “I’ll have the Protectors send some people immediately.”

Though she had her doubts about how werewolves would fare against a magical Drakkor, she kept those to herself. She didn’t want to worry her father any more than she had to.

That night, she tossed and turned, haunted by dream images of a magical battle raging in the sky while in her Drakkor form. Even though she usually didn’t get up until six, after deciding she’d been staring at the ceiling long enough, she went ahead and rose at five.

Antsy and restless, she showered, dressed, ate a healthy breakfast of hardboiled eggs and an avocado, and went in to the office early.

Going through her follow-up folder, she checked out all the messages from the day before. After bringing up her calendar on her computer, she compared it with the day planner she kept on paper. Everything matched. Today promised to be a relatively quiet day, which would enable her to get caught up.

Shortly before nine, Kathleen came in and, after getting her desk ready, appeared in Maria’s doorway.

“Anything interesting happen while I was gone?” Maria asked, bracing herself for a barrage of questions about how her trip with Ryan had gone.

Instead, Kathleen appeared really uneasy. Worried, even.

“Well, yes.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “While you were out, you had a visitor.” Kathleen’s voice contained a hint of nervousness, unusual for her. “A man. Nice looking, in a professional sort of way. He wasn’t here to talk about planning a wedding or anything, and when I asked him if I could tell you what his visit was in regard to, he gave me the most chilling smile.”

Strange. “Did he ever answer?”

“Yes.” If anything, Kathleen sounded even more disturbed. “He wrote down one word, which makes no sense. He flat-out refused to elaborate, either. When I did a Google search on it, I learned it meant a mythical beast, like a dragon.”

Maria froze, her blood turning to ice. Though she already knew, she had to ask anyway. “What was the word?”

“Drakkor,” Kathleen answered. “I’m not entirely sure what this guy was getting at, but I didn’t get a good feeling at all.”

Heart sinking, Maria had a sneaking suspicion. “Did he leave his name?”

“No. He said you’d know.”

Maria didn’t, but she had an awful, horrible feeling. Doug Polacek must have somehow escaped captivity. “Thanks, Kathleen. Would you mind closing my door? I need to make a few private phone calls.”

“Okay.” The receptionist hesitated. “Maria, is everything all right?”

“Of course it is.” Maria managed a laugh, though it didn’t sound even slightly amused. “Don’t let that weirdo bother you. If you see him again, call the police.”

“I will. But I have to say I’m worried about you. First you disappear with a famous playboy for a fling, which is not like you at all. Now some strange man shows up with a cryptic message. Do you think the two might be related?”

“You watch too much Dateline and 48 Hours,” Maria teased. “Everything is just fine.”

“Okay. But tell me, do you understand why that man left that message with just that word? You didn’t seem all that surprised.”

“I was. And no, I don’t understand. Not at all,” Maria lied. She had a pretty good idea that her visitor had left her some sort of threat, relating to the Drakkor who’d broken in to her house. What she had to figure out was why.

As soon as Kathleen closed the office door, Maria again dialed her father. Once she relayed what had happened, he cursed.

“What?” she asked. “What do you know about this?”

“You know—” he sounded furious “—I’ve been meaning to tease you since I saw you on television with that rich guy. But now I think that must be how you were located.”

“Located? By who?”

She could actually hear him swallow.

“Polacek,” he said. “I’ve just received a phone call telling me that Polacek escaped.”

A chill went through her. “When?”

“Two days ago. Why on earth no one thought to warn us sooner, I have no idea. Our soldiers are attempting to locate him. The Pack Protectors are amassing a special unit to help us. We’re trying to capture him and bring him in. He’s gone rogue again.”

“Rogue?” While she knew the term, she wasn’t certain how it applied in this instance. “What do you mean?”

Her father sighed. “He no longer cares about our laws or traditions. In fact, we believe he doesn’t give a damn if he lives or dies. That had to have been him who broke into your house.”

Polacek. For the last several years, even hearing the name had sent dread coiling through her. She knew what she’d been told, how he refused to believe he—like all Drakkor men, apparently—was sterile. He’d been on a feverish search to impregnate a woman, any woman, ever since.

“I know what he’s about, but why? What happened to him to make him do this?”

“His story doesn’t matter. He’s an insane serial killer. He captured, raped and murdered several women. Beyond that, I don’t know the details. I get tired of all the attention criminals get.”

She knew this much. Before the Drakkor figured out that the disease that took most of the women had also rendered the men sterile, Doug Polacek had convinced himself he would be the savior. Met with repeated failure, he’d begun abducting and imprisoning Shifter women. He’d repeatedly raped and abused them and if they didn’t conceive, he’d killed them.

Maria closed her eyes briefly. “I agree with you. This kind of evil happens too much among humans. I would have hoped the Drakkor wouldn’t be capable of such things.”

“Unfortunately, wickedness exists among all species.”

“How did he escape?”

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