Free For Life by Lorie O'Clare Page A

out and throw her away again? This time making sure he did it right?
    There was no way Maura would live through that humiliation twice.
    Where exactly did that leave her?
    The back door opened and a gust of wind blew down the hallway, tickling her bare feet before Josie shut the back door.
    He stomped his boots on the kitchen floor. Freshly cut wood, a mixture of dirt and pine and Josie’s own strong male scent wrapped around her. Maura tugged at the long shirt she wore, attempting to cover her legs, and waited. He appeared in the doorway in the next minute.
    “Nicolo and his mate will be here soon.” He didn’t propose it as a question. Either he’d spoken with Nicolo or those powers he had aided him in gaining the knowledge that they’d soon have company.
    “Heidi said they were on their way.” She didn’t worry about trying to learn how he knew.
    Every inch of her still pulsed with feverish energy from being fucked so well in the shower. Josie walked across the living room wearing comfortable-looking jeans and a tucked in white shirt. Thick wool socks covered his large feet. He bent over and opened the wood box, then dumped the freshly cut logs into it. She almost drooled over the view of his perfect, hard ass.
    “What will you tell her when she gets here?” When he turned around, the satisfied expression on his face let her know that he had focused on her thoughts and approved of her adoring his body.
    His caramel-shaded skin contrasted nicely with his white shirt. Black, straight hair bordered his face and fell in thick, damp strands almost to his shoulders. Dark eyes glowed as he watched her, adding to the mystery surrounding the man who stood before her.
    “The truth, of course. She’ll believe me.”
    “That’s not what I meant. I’m not concerned about your past. It’s your future that matters now.”
    “Oh.” Already her pussy throbbed, aching to feel him inside her again. She doubted that was the future he referred to and when his expression turned brooding, she knew she was right. “I honestly don’t know what the best thing is to do.” Maybe she could talk this out with him. Although he was a stranger, they had a moment of intimacy and discussing options might help her see what her best move might be.
    42
    For Life
    “Your options,” he began, obviously following her line of thought as if it had been part of the conversation. “You can stay here, with me, or you can leave.”
    She wondered how long it would take to get used to her mind being open
    discussion material. There were no secrets with this werewolf—other than what was on his mind.
    “Okay. If I leave…” The only way to know his mind was to get him talking. “More than likely I would have to run until I found a pack willing to take me in. I’d like to think most packs would welcome me.”
    “Any pack leader would research your past the moment you announced your
    presence in their territory. Your pack leader would be contacted.” He turned his back to her again and squatted in front of the fireplace, reaching for the long metal poker. He adjusted the burning logs then carefully placed another log onto the fire. Sparks danced in the air around him. They didn’t sway him, which somehow added to the invincible persona he presented.
    “If I stay here, my pack leader will also be contacted.” She doubted Josie would keep her here without letting anyone know.
    He glanced over his shoulder, then put down the poker and turned slightly, still on his haunches when a slow, breath-stealing smile darkened his features. “That thought certainly has its appeal,” he said with a low growl.
    Maura shifted on the couch, refusing to allow the sensation that she was being hunted grab hold of her. Nonetheless, her breath caught in her throat when Josie rose slowly, his scent turning richer as he moved in on her. The couch shifted noticeably underneath her with his weight. He sat, stretching his legs, then rested his long, dark arm along