Free Wolf Six's Salvation: A Shifter Love Story by Krista Lakes

straight into the core of her stomach and making her ache for release. She never wanted to let go. Her mouth went dry and then wet, desire flooding through her like their touch had broken the dam.
    Jackson looked up at her, his eyes searching her face and she knew he felt it, too. Like they were meant for one another. Like they were supposed to always be touching. She bitter her lower lip, trying to decide what to do next. If she let go of him she was afraid it would break the spell, but they couldn't just sit on the floor in the rubble of the chair either.
    "Chloe..." Her name was like music when he said it. The gruffness in his voice, the barely contained hunger made her insides tighten in the most delicious way. His eyes flashed golden with desire as his hand went behind her neck and he pulled her to him, pausing for the briefest moment before putting his lips to hers.
    Fireworks exploded in her mind. Color and light as she kissed him with reckless abandon. Never had she wanted a kiss so badly, and never had one tasted so good. The world stopped spinning. She gave herself over to the kiss, letting her body overrule her mind and losing herself to him.
    With a groan he pulled away, staggering to upright and away from her. "I'm sorry, I have to go," he whispered. His eyes still flashed golden and he was breathing heavy as he reached for his coat. She wondered for a moment if she had done something wrong; if she didn't make his blood sing for more like he did for hers.
    Chloe shook her head, still lost in the golden wonder of his kiss. "Why?"
    Jackson looked down at her as if is heart was breaking, his jaw hardening as he angrily slid his arms into his light jacket. "I need to go to the base."
    Chloe blinked back tears she didn't understand, rising slowly to her feet. "You're going to leave me here alone? What if those men come back?"
    Jackson reached to his side and pulled out a small, black handgun from a concealed holster. He carefully handed her the handle of the gun.
    "You know how to use one of these?" His eyes were dark again and his brows pulled tight. She nodded, unwilling to trust her voice. "Good. Don't unlock that door for anyone but me. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
    He moved his hand as though he were going to touch her cheek, stopping as though he thought better of the motion. With a click of the door he hurried out into the night, leaving Chloe staring after him with the gun limp in her hand.

Chapter 16
    J ackson hurried back to Fort Baskerville, flashing his ID at the gate guard and then again at the newly placed guard on his building. He barely felt the cold January night settling around him like a heavy winter blanket. Little snow flurries danced in fits across the sky, but there wasn't enough snow to do more than frost the trees and make them sparkle. The poor private had flinched when Jackson growled at him, but held firm to needing to see ID.
    He slammed the door to his small office and flung himself into the desk chair, half hoping it would dump him on the ground and give him something to break. The chair creaked, but it held. Jackson ran his fingers through his hair, wishing he had something stashed in the desk to take the edge of his emotions.
    He couldn't believe what he had just done. He whined softly into his hands at the mess he had just created. Not only was the beautiful Chloe in danger, he had gone and kissed her. Throwing his uncontrollable emotions into her life was the absolute last thing she needed. If he lost his temper with her, even just once... he was afraid he would kill her. She needed him in her life like she needed a rabid dog.
    Yet, he couldn't stop thinking about that kiss. The taste of her lips. The surge of his heart and the joy and hope that filled him. The tingle her skin sent into the very core of his being, lighting a fire that made him hot under the collar. She was smart and kind and had even made him smile and even laugh; something he was sure was never going to