Free Wolf on the Hunt by N. J. Walters Page B

her eyes over his body from head to toe. His cock stirred even though he’d just taken care of the damn thing. Louis stepped to the other side of the counter to hide his instant response to her. He didn’t want her more afraid of him than she already was. She was a woman alone with a man she didn’t really know.
    “Eggs, sliced ham and toast. It’s not much, but it’s quick and filling.” She pulled two slices of golden-brown bread from the toaster and began to butter it. “Have a seat.”
    He ignored the table and sat on one of the barstools. Better for him not to move more than necessary. He didn’t want to flash his growing erection at her.
    Gray bent over and pulled a bowl of cooked eggs that had been kept warming in the oven. Louis almost bit his tongue off to keep from growling when the action pushed her heart-shaped ass into the air. He wanted to fall to his knees behind her, yank her pants down and bury his face in her pussy.
    What the hell was wrong with him? He hadn’t been this hot for a woman since he’d hit puberty. It wasn’t that he couldn’t get a woman if he wanted to. A quick trip to the nearest city would take care of that for him. Heck, he could hit the local roadhouse bar on Saturday night if all he wanted was to get laid.
    No, it was Gray having this effect on him. Louis wasn’t sure he liked it. He prided himself on his control. The last time he’d felt anything like this at all was when he’d met Gwen, and what he’d felt then paled in comparison to what he was experiencing around Gray.
    Was this what Jacque had gone through when he’d met Gwen? If it was, it was a wonder his brother hadn’t snapped Louis’s head from his neck for sniffing around her. He appreciated his brother’s restraint and made a note to apologize to him later.
    Because Louis knew he’d kill any male who dared to so much as look at Gray in a sexual manner.
    She was his.
    His wolf howled in agreement. Outwardly, Louis showed none of his inner turmoil. His entire life had just been turned upside down. Only yesterday he’d resigned himself to the fact he’d probably be alone his entire life. He could never have imagined finding someone like Gray—a beautiful, courageous half-breed werewolf. The odds were astronomical. Yet here they were.
    Gray plunked the bowl of eggs in front of him. “Help yourself.” She set a plate piled high with toast beside it before getting the ham.” “Coffee?” she asked.
    “Please.” He had to get a grip on himself before he did something totally stupid, like blurt out the truth to her. She was his mate. Yeah, he didn’t think that would go over so well.
    He almost didn’t believe it himself, but he was a creature of instinct and his wolf knew what he wanted. Hell, Louis knew what he wanted. Still, he needed to back up a bit and take this slowly for both their sakes. He’d been attracted to Gwen and that hadn’t worked out so well. Granted, this felt much more powerful. He knew what he’d felt before had been a combination of lust and loneliness. This was real.
    He frowned. At least it felt real. Were his feelings for Gray just lust and loneliness?
    To distract himself from his thoughts, Louis grabbed the bowl of eggs and piled over half of them on his plate, grabbed his fork and dug in. He needed the protein to help rebuild his blood and muscles. Steak would have been better, but beggars weren’t choosers. He was grateful to be alive.
    Yes, a werewolf could survive being shot, but too many bullets in strategic places and his body could bleed out before it could heal itself. He’d gotten lucky.
    Gray placed coffee in front of him. He nodded his thanks but kept eating, pausing only long enough to load some of the ham onto his plate.
    “I wasn’t sure how much to cook. I thought I’d made too much.” Gray leaned on the counter and studied him. “I’m thinking I underestimated.”
    Louis slowed down and forced himself to stop even though his body was screaming at