Free Léopold's Wicked Embrace (Immortals of New Orleans) by Kym Grosso

she was madder at Léopold or herself for actually looking forward to seeing him again. Like a schoolgirl, she’d hurriedly closed up her shop, nervously fixing her hair right before she locked the door. The wolf seemed pleasant enough, but he was incredibly muscular, almost scaring her with the sheer size of him. She crossed her arms and pulled at her sleeves, willing her nerves to abate. Stealing a glance at the attractive beta, she jumped when he caught her.
    “I won’t bite, cher.” Dimitri chuckled as she gave him a tight smile and looked out the window. He was beginning to think Léopold’s nickname for Laryssa was right on target. Rabbit? She certainly was skittish when he’d arrived. Sensing her irritation, he reasoned maybe she’d kicked it up a notch, acting more like a feral cat at this point.
    He still wasn’t sure why Léopold hadn’t brought her himself. Why send him to pick her up when it was clear Léopold had showed interest in her last night? He had a suspicion that the vampire was avoiding her, which was disconcerting considering he wasn’t exactly the kind of guy to avoid anything, unpleasant or otherwise. Dimitri would never forget the way he’d deliberately challenged the Caldera Wolves Alpha, effortlessly pinning him against the wall in his own home in front of pack members. Surreal as it was, Léopold had let him go, only caring about the baby. It was a paradox he couldn’t wrap his head around, but it served to remind him that no matter what kind of friendship they’d forged, he really didn’t know Léopold that well.
    Dimitri’s mind drifted to his Alpha and how the baby had taken over their household. After only twenty-four hours of caring for Ava, both Wynter and Logan had become exceedingly watchful of her. It was as if the baby had set off both their biological clocks. Wynter was demonstrating the fierce protectiveness of a new mama wolf around her cubs. Dimitri laughed to himself, thinking how insane it was that not only had he watched his Alpha change a diaper but now they were hosting a party for the very supernaturals they’d pretty much avoided over the past hundred years. Fangs and fur didn’t usually mesh well. Just as he was leaving Logan’s home, an entire crew of Léopold’s vampires had arrived.
    Dimitri could sense Laryssa’s fear, and it made him uneasy. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have reason to be seriously concerned about her safety. She could be in danger of being attacked if she didn’t cooperate. Laryssa’s unwillingness to disclose her abilities, what she was, didn’t bode well. Léopold told him that she could move objects. He’d seen the tape, but he also knew there was a lot of witchcraft in New Orleans, and they weren’t all like Glenda from the Wizard of Oz. No, these folks weren’t into ruby slippers, butterflies and fluffy bunnies, magick ending in a happily ever after. The witches and mages he’d known were more about skinning the rabbit and eating it with a fine wine. Dimitri prayed Laryssa didn’t pose a danger, that she wasn’t part of whoever was behind Ava’s murder attempt.
    Glancing at Laryssa, he had to admit that she hardly looked the part of a bad witch. Her shiny brunette curls complemented her light pink sweater, making her look more like a librarian…a curvy, sexy librarian. She kept crossing and uncrossing her legs, revealing just a hint of her thigh, as if she couldn’t get comfortable. Shit, no wonder Léopold liked her.
    As Dimitri’s eyes roamed over Laryssa’s body, and when his eyes met hers, he noticed she was staring back at him. He smiled, well aware he’d been caught. Well, how the hell was he supposed to react to having a beautiful woman sitting next to him? He was a red blooded wolf, after all . Léopold was the one who’d asked him to pick her up and bring her to Logan’s. All was fair in love and lust, he thought to himself; however, his smile faded when he realized she was frowning at his ogling.