“Worked, didn’t it?” From the moment she’d rescued him on the beach, he’d wanted just that.

He lifted her hot little body and carried her into the Jacuzzi, the steam enveloping them in a warm, wet caress.

“Hmm, after having been so cold, this feels just right.” She sank into the tub, the bubbles bumping against the swell of her breasts.

“Better than right.” He crouched at her knees and spread her legs, opening her up to him.

A smile percolated on her lips.

If anyone had told him he would’ve taken a human as a mate, that she would have been a siren in disguise, or he would be sitting with her in a gray cop’s Jacuzzi for his mating night, he would never have believed it.

He licked the water off her neck, and she trailed her fingers across his muscles making his erection dance.

“You’re all healed. No scratches, bruises, cuts— nothing but blemish-free, golden skin stretched over rock hard muscles.”

“And you,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

“Yoloff didn’t bite me hard enough. Nor did you. Nothing remains of the bite marks.”

He ran his hand down her leg to her ankle, his chest touching the water, his eyes focused on hers. “And your ankle is all right now?”

Tessa took a deep breath. “Miraculously, yes.” She kissed Hunter’s neck, her tongue licking a trail down his skin, her warm breath caressing as he gave in to the erotic sensation. His fingers played in her hair while she licked his nipple, then her lips pulled on it gently.

“Tessa,” he moaned, trying to hold onto his last thread of restraint, wanting their lovemaking to last.

She looked up with the most innocent expression, and he cast her a devilish grin back. She was no innocent, the vixen, knowing damn well what she did to him with that sweet mouth of hers.

He bent his head and ran his mouth across her bare shoulder, and then the other, loving the feel of her water-speckled skin against his lips. She arched her head back, her lips parted, and moaned, offering herself to him, baring her throat, her body. He took advantage of her need, loving her eagerness that only matched his own, pulled her off the seat and switched places, settling her on his lap, her knees spread, readied for his penetration. And he was damned ready to oblige.

She leaned down and kissed his upturned lips, her hair falling around his face, his shoulders, the strands floating on the surface of the water like a mermaid’s silky tresses.

He smiled inwardly—the Navy SEAL had ensnared his mermaid, or maybe just the opposite.

Their tongues mated in a ritual dance as he lifted her onto his rigid erection. Sweet torture as he penetrated her deeply.

With a seductive moan, she closed her eyes and rocked on top of him, her hands kneading his shoulders, her mouth and teeth nibbling his ear. Blazing desire raced through him, making him lose control of his measured moves.

Unable to last much longer, he kept his hands on her hips, directing her, every thrust he made, bringing him closer to climax. She was everything he’d ever wanted in a mate: clever, strong, determined, loyal. And sexy as hell—even in her pajamas and especially bared to him, skin to skin.

She arched her back and he sensed she was near completion, her lithe body attempting to rock harder, her breasts bouncing with a mesmerizing rhythm. He gave into her, drew her to the top.

“Oh, Hunter,” she called out, no longer worried that anyone might hear her cry of jubilation.

He quickly followed, filling her with his seed. “Tessa,” he groaned, unable to say anything further. Sweet ecstasy, she was perfect for him—and his forever, this, only the beginning.

She sank down on top of him, her head resting against his neck, and he kissed her flushed cheek. “Time to get some rest, sweet Tessa.” He hit the button on the Jacuzzi, turning off the jets, then lifted her off his lap, her body limp with satisfaction, soft, wet, and sensuous.

The sly smile she gave him assured him they wouldn’t get much sleep tonight.

Early the next morning, Tessa turned her head toward the front of Allan’s house as she and Hunter grabbed a hasty breakfast. “A car door just shut.” She seized her bagel and headed for the front window as Hunter poured himself another cup of coffee.

She couldn’t believe how she could hear the slightest sounds, everywhere and anywhere. The heater turning on, a school bus picking up kids, although the bus never came down Allan’s street, the whisper of a breeze stirring an oak’s branches out front. She hoped she would soon get used to it because for now it was wreaking havoc with her sleep. Not that Hunter’s wanting to make love with her throughout the night hadn’t something to do with it also. Ahem, well, some of it was her fault also.

“A patrol car just arrived. It’s Caruthers.”

Hunter joined her at the window and rested his hand on her shoulder in a comforting way. “Time to see your brother.”

Trying to squash her nervousness at seeing her brother in prison, she finished her bagel and looked up at Hunter. “Do you always get that much exercise at night?”

His sexy smile hinted he was ready for more. “Not usually.”

She gave a ladylike snort. “Then you were just lonely and wanted to cuddle really bad, but things got out of hand?”

He laughed and ran his hands through her hair. “Not usually, as in with other women. But with you, I couldn’t keep my hands to myself. Besides, your pheromones are a total aphrodisiac.”

“Hmm, well, yours drive me crazy, too, but jeesh, Hunter, I’ll be walking bowlegged today, and I’ll be yawning the whole time.”

“We’ll take a nap later.”

She shook her head. “Yeah, but will we sleep?”

His grin said that she would have a fat chance at that.

Caruthers knocked at the front door, and when Hunter opened it, the policeman offered them a big smile. “Greta and I are agreeable about leaving here and working on the coast. You might need some backup with three new lupus garous in your pack. Allan and the little lady who’s widowed in your pack really hit it off last night. From the sounds of it, job or no job, he’s joining you, too. I’ll drive you to the prison.” He relocked Allan’s place and then escorted them to his car.

Hunter wrapped his arm around Tessa in a loving gesture.

She glanced up at him, her body warming with his touch, gladdened also that Caruthers and the others would join her mate. “You don’t have to worry about your wayward pack. Looks like you’ve got a whole new one.”

“The others will come back.”

She couldn’t see how he could be so complacent about it. To her way of thinking, they were too disloyal to trust any further. But then again, she hadn’t been a lupus garou long enough to understand their way of thinking.

“I run a fairly democratic pack,” Hunter said. “I’m not an autocratic leader like some are.”

“Except when it comes to your sister.”

Hunter grinned. “She’s my blood relative. And you are my mate. Our offspring will have to mind also.”

“Ah, so those you love best you keep under your rule.”

He kissed her cheek and sighed heavily. “In a pack, it’s called being protective.”

Tessa glanced at Caruthers. “Is that what your pack would call it?”

“Absolutely. Whatever the boss says.” Caruthers winked at her. “Man, does this bring back memories of when I turned Greta.”

Tessa folded her arms and Hunter chuckled.

When they arrived at the prison, Caruthers parked in front and gave Tessa a compassionate look. “Just tell them Allan Smith and Jim Caruthers sent you. I’ll wait out here for you.”

Tessa shuddered. To think her brother was incarcerated in the massive place without any chance of escape unless she could bring the real killer to trial and make him pay for the crime. She hoped to god her brother could shed some light on the case.

Chapter 16

WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE PRISON’S VISITING ROOM, Tessa introduced Hunter to her brother. She tried to keep the tears at bay, but Michael’s eyes were as misty as hers, which didn’t help. And he looked thinner than before, the orange jailhouse jumpsuit clashing with his red hair.

He scowled at Hunter. “Why the hell is he wearing my jacket?”

“He was in an accident, but needed a change of clothes. I’ll explain later.” Tessa pulled out Rourke’s phone.

“What news do you have?” Michael took a seat at the table, opposite them, his voice threaded with hope and despair, although he glowered at Hunter again.

“Hunter is looking into the killing. We’ve got some pictures to show you.” She handed Michael Rourke’s phone. “Do you recognize any of these guys?”

Michael considered the photos of the three grays. He pointed to Butch, who had been at his trial, and at the one called Redmond. “They came to our house to check out the circuit breakers.” He looked up at Tessa. “They knew what they were doing. They replaced the bad switch and charged us a hefty bill like electricians always do, and left.” He rubbed his chin and stared at the table. “Although, they were interested in your photographs.” He looked up at Tessa, his expression annoyed. “Not my paintings though. The one asked if you had ever taken a picture of a wolf in the wild.”

Her heart hitched. “What did you say?”

“At the wildlife refuge, but never in the wild. You would have told me if you had.”

Like she didn’t. But as usual he had been too busy painting to pay any attention to her artistic endeavors.

“Did these guys have anything to do with Bethany’s murder?” Michael asked.

“This one was at your trial when the verdict was read,” Tessa said. “This guy called him Butch. The other you named was Redmond. And the one you don’t recognize was Jessup. Butch came to the house with the two other men, and I asked him why he was at your trial. He denied having been there. His hair was long, but I know it was him. Why deny it? Why be there in the first place?”