Free Primal Heat by Kimber White Page A

Cal’s face, and his eyes widened. As I stood there,
my shoulders square and my feet planted hard, ready to deck him again, a blur
of motion blew past me with the speed of a freight train. Later, Cal might
think that’s exactly what hit him.
    Strong arms lifted Cal of his feet, fisting his cotton t-shirt. A
furious pulse thundered in my ears, but it didn’t feel like mine. This one was
heavier, filled with menace and fury.
    Bas.
    He shoved Cal hard against the brick wall and held him there, suspended
a foot off the ground. Cal’s eyes went in and out of focus and a slow trickle
of drool ran from the corner of his mouth.
    “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” His words ran together in a
high-pitched stream.
    Sweat beaded at Bas’s temple. My mind raced to catch up with what my
eyes saw. Bas, standing with his legs slightly apart, holding up Cal’s entire
weight with one hand. The muscles of his back and shoulders bunched and rolled
in a rippling wave beneath the stark white cotton of his dress shirt.
    He turned his head and looked at me, still holding Cal in place. Bas’s
eyes were gone. His ice blue wolf eyes glinted under the street lamp. Through
gritted teeth that seemed to lengthen as he spoke he said, “Did he hurt you?”
It came out deep as a growl.
    “I’m okay.” In that split second, I realized something else. If I
didn’t do something, he was going to rip Cal’s throat out right in front of me.
I can’t deny a small part of me wanted to see it. It was as though my adrenaline
fed off whatever was happening inside of Bas. His fury was mine. His struggle
to control whatever simmered inside of him churned within me too. If one of us
didn’t get a hold of it fast, things were about to take a murderous turn.
    “I’m okay!” I went to him. Some part of my brain that still held reason
told me how dangerous that was. If he lost control, he could turn on me just as
easily as Cal. Except, he wouldn’t. Reason was one thing, but I was dealing
with pure instinct. I reached out and put a hand on Bas’s forearm. His skin
twitched and flared hot beneath my fingertips, sending warmth straight through
me like a quickening.
    “Bas. Let him go. He can’t hurt me.”
    Then Cal started to cry. Full on, blubbering, weeping. “Please. I’m
sorry. I’m sorry. Oh, God. I’m sorry. I wouldn’t hurt her.”
    Bas turned his head and looked at Cal. Though his shoulders stiffened,
he didn’t advance. He regarded Cal as if he’d sprouted a third eye. Bas gave
him a quick shove, then let him go with the same ferocious quickness as he’d
used to grab him in the first place. Cal crumpled to the ground and curled into
an honest to God fetal position.
    “He’s not worth it,” I said.
    Bas turned back to me. Coiled fury flashed behind his eyes; his pupils widened
but looked more human than wolf now. But, Bas’s hand on the small of my back
was at once forceful and gentle as he led me away from Cal and the alley. My
skin sizzled where he touched me; my nerve endings crackled with energy. His
nostrils flared and I knew he felt it too.
    Bas towered over me like a mountain as we walked toward the open
passenger door of his truck. He must have brought the vehicle to a violent
stop. I’d never even heard him drive up. The engine ran and it was parked at a
severe angle, its front wheels up on the curb at the end of the alley.
    “I’m taking you home, Abby.” It was a command, not a question. Then,
whatever self-control Bas had seemed to melt away as he slid his hands under my
knees and swung me off my feet caveman-style. My body sang to life at his touch
and the primal strength of the action. Yes. Oh, yes. I’d let him take me
anywhere.

 
    Chapter Nine
    Bas didn’t speak as he tore away from the curb outside the Stacks. His
nostrils flared as his breath came hard. I resisted the urge to reach across
the cab and touch a hand to the side of his face. I wanted to. I couldn’t
explain it, but in that moment, I