Free Howling Passion (Paranormal Alpha Werewolf Shifter Romance) by Joanna Wilson Page B

far away.  I couldn’t with anyone else.  Nonetheless, I loved it.
     
    I slapped off the light switches and snatched up my keys from the hall table as I tore out of my apartment.  I bounced down the four flights of stairs and almost hit the glass door to the street at a run.  The cold night air blasted my face.  It was fresh, and filled with the scents of the city.  There was something so much more comforting in it than the warm, still air inside.
     
    Standing on the sidewalk outside my building, I listened to my surroundings.  A variety of chattering televisions, sadly much fewer conversations, a distant siren, complete with its wake of barking dogs, and the beautiful sound of Connor’s motorcycle.  It was only a few blocks away.  I couldn’t wait.
     
    The monstrous roar of his Harley-Davidson announced his arrival into my street.  He came into view two blocks over, leaning heavily into the corner.  Connor’s honey blond hair strobed under the street lamps on his approach, and I caught sight of that gorgeous, arrogant grin.
     
    Our eyes met, and I heard his voice in my head.  Lupe.   He dragged out each syllable of my name in that smug tone of his. 
     
    I imagined his tongue against the roof of his mouth, and then his lips pressing together, before bursting apart into that delicious smirk.  And then I imagined what they would feel like on my skin.  Stop it , I thought, looking away. 
     
    He rumbled to a standstill in front of me.  Leaving his bike running, he kicked down the stand and dismounted.  “Stop what?” 
     
    I glared at him, emptying my mind of any thought or emotion.
     
    Connor’s eyes narrowed, and he strode the three paces toward me, stopping mere inches away.  He was an imposing presence, towering  above me, his shoulders broad and powerful.  He was a wall of brown leather and faded denim.  But his usual confidence faltered.
     
    As I stared up at him, I could see his nostrils flaring slightly, trying to take in my scent.  He wasn’t getting anything, I knew.  The versipelli had seen to that.  Only the aroma of Mrs. Barona’s pot roast from across the street, the exhaust of his motorcycle, and that sandalwood musk of his that made my pussy throb.  He sniffed at my hair, and his nose wrinkled.  He wasn’t sure. 
     
    I was loving it. 
     
    Connor slowly stalked around me, looking me up and down as he went.  I met his gaze each time he looked up, and blocked every thought.  I turned my head, following him over my right shoulder, then met him again over my left.  His curiosity though had given way to arousal, and I noticed his eyes lingering on my ass.
     
    I couldn’t hide my discomfort, and was immediately overcome with self-consciousness.  I felt his satisfaction grow at the discovery. 
     
    “Mmm,” he almost growled, far too pleased with himself.
     
    I glared into his shining, sky blue eyes.  My mind raged.  What the fuck are you looking at?
     
    He grinned that cocky grin of his.  “Easy, Big Girl.” 
     
    I dipped my gaze, my cheeks flushing.  I was mortified.  I just wanted to run back inside and hide in my apartment.  But I couldn’t.  Tonight was way too important.
     
    I sensed Connor’s arousal elevating.  I looked up and noticed him leering at my breasts.  Pulling the lapels of my jacket over them, I zipped myself up.  Are we going to go, or what?
     
    He strode back to his motorcycle and kicked his leg over the seat.  I climbed on behind him and found new depths of shame as the bike sank under my weight with a strained squeak.  Connor chuckled to himself, and my embarrassment quickly turned to anger, my growl falling into perfect harmony with the idling Harley.
     
    “Hold on tight,” he called over his shoulder as he kicked the stand back into place.
     
    As much as I didn’t want to, I wrapped my arms around his waist and braced myself for the deafening burst of acceleration.  The power of his Harley nearly threw me off