Free Unmasking the Wolf by Christy Gissendaner Page A

shifter ever felt like this with a human? She’d heard of wolf and human pairings, but never knew they could be so . . . combustive, she supposed was the word.
    “Do you want to talk?”
    Her gaze flew to his. She colored under his intense perusal. Talk? What she really wanted to do was pin him to the bed and smother him with kisses. But that was out of the question. Wasn’t it? “What do you want to talk about?”
    Luke adjusted the pillow beneath his head and propped his cheek on an upraised fist. “Tell me about your family. To hear Dominic tell it, the Moretti clan is quite colorful.”
    She laughed. “He would be right.” The blanket was tangled about her legs. She kicked her limbs free and tossed the cover aside. “How much do you already know?”
    Luke shrugged. “That your entire family is made up of wolves. He’s told me a bit of your family’s history, that you’re descended from Marius.”
    “Wow. He told you all of that?” It was highly unusual for Dominic to be so loose-lipped. “My father is the alpha. Did he tell you that?”
    “He mentioned it, yes.” No flicker of nervousness in his gaze. “I bet you had an interesting childhood.”
    She plucked at a piece of lint on the light blue blanket between them. “My father means well, but he’s never resolved himself to the idea that I don’t utilize my wolf side very much.”
    Luke seemed surprised. “You did the other night.”
    “That was just to protect you.” She waved her hand blithely. “My father wants me to marry. I’m not inclined to be in such a rush.”
    Luke looked as if he’d tasted something gone bad. “Have you met your mate?”
    “Not yet. I left Clinton before my father could seriously pursue it. I wouldn’t put it past him to put out an ad in the newspaper.”
    “Would it be so horrible to find your mate?” Luke pressed.
    It was difficult to find the words to explain her true feelings. “No. I’m just not ready yet. All my life, I’ve been the overprotected daughter of Tony Moretti. All my decisions have been made for me since I was in the cradle. Just once, I wanted a chance to live life the way I wanted. Is that selfish of me?”
    He reached across and touched her hand. “No, not at all.”
    It was amazing how easily she responded to his touch. She threaded her fingers through his and held on tightly. He was practically a stranger, but her instincts told her Luke could be trusted. He’d done nothing to hurt her. In fact, he’d protected her. Taking a deep breath, she spoke the words inside her heart. “I like being with you. I don’t know why, but I feel different when I’m with you.”
    He slid closer, his light green eyes darkening, cautious yet full of yearning. “How different?”
    “Like I should know you.” His crisp male scent enveloped her. “Which is crazy. I don’t know you from Adam.”
    He lay mere inches away, not quite touching, but close enough for her to feel the heat from his body. He lifted their linked hands and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. “Ask me anything and I’ll tell you.”
    She wanted to ask him about the mysterious research he and Dominic were working on, but didn’t want to lose the tender moment. “Tell me about your life in Mississippi.”
    Cloudy, troubled eyes met hers. “My childhood isn’t as pretty as yours.”
    She sort of figured that. Tension radiated from him, his shoulders stiff and unyielding, but softness remained around his lips. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
    He glanced away for a moment. “My sister and I grew up in Jackson.”
    “Wait, you have a sister?”
    His eyes grew darker still. “I had a sister.”
    “Oh.” Sympathy made her want to hug him. “What happened?”
    His grip on her fingers tightened. “She was murdered.”
    “I’m sorry.” Words couldn’t express her sorrow.
    He shook his head. “It’s fine. Anyway, Laura and I grew up dirt poor. Our parents died when I was seventeen. She was