NocC 024 - Katie Reus - A Jaguar's Kiss - Harlequin 2012-10 Read Free Page B

just couldn’t fathom Wesley Wright allowing that to happen on his land.
    “Dad died four years ago,” Owen said abruptly, his voice devoid of emotion even while she could see the agony on his face.
    It was as if someone sucker punched her in the stomach. No one in her family had told her. Of course no one talked much about the wolves to her, especially not about Owen. They didn’t know exactly what had happened to end their friendship, but her family was smart enough to figure out that Owen was off-limits in the conversation department. She’d been traveling so much the past few years she’d been pretty awful at keeping in contact, anyway. She let her arms relax, not bothering to struggle anymore. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” Another sudden thought slammed into her. “So that means you became Alpha at…twenty-three?”
    Swallowing hard, he nodded again and let his hands drop, freeing her wrists. She didn’t move away but she did cross her arms over her bare breasts. Looking away he stripped off his T-shirt and handed it to her. Though he still didn’t step back and give her even the illusion of personal space.
    Taking the shirt, she quickly tugged it on. His scent wrapped around her like a warm embrace and she hated that her inner jaguar was practically preening, wanting to strut around for him. It was a stupid biological reaction she’d had to him ever since she was sixteen. Her body just flared to life in his presence. “What happened?” she asked, her throat tight. She and Owen might not be friends anymore but she knew how close he and his father had been.
    “Rogue vampire. The pack hunted them down but it didn’t bring him back.” Owen’s eyes locked on hers and when he let her see such raw pain there, it ripped at her insides.
    For a moment he looked like that seventeen-year-old boy she’d been friends with. Heck, he looked even younger than that. He reminded her of the kid she’d first gone hunting with as a cub. The kid she’d gotten into a lot of trouble with over the years. She wasn’t supposed to feel sorry for him or care about him, but she did. Seeing him all vulnerable made something inside her break.
    Without thinking she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight against her. “I’m so sorry.” To her surprise he didn’t pull away. He hugged her with a startling fierceness, pulling her close as he buried his head against her neck.
    And didn’t let go. “I…haven’t been able to mourn much.”
    The statement seemed to rip from his throat. Even more surprising than his hug was the honesty in the admission. They hadn’t seen each other in a very long time. Once they’d been closer than anything, even family, but…she shut that thought down and just held him.
    It felt strangely right to be in Owen’s embrace. Even if she was wearing only his shirt and his crazy brother had tried to kidnap her a few hours ago. Being with him now reminded Gabriela of when she’d been sixteen. She’d entered her first mating cycle and her body had become aware of Owen almost overnight. It didn’t matter that they’d been friends since they were young cubs. She’d been so stunned by the realization that Owen was attractive and strong and exactly what her inner jaguar wanted in a mate. Then to discover he wanted her, too had been another surprise. Of course their relationship had been short-lived after that.
    When she started to pull away he held her tight. “Don’t,” he murmured against her hair. The uncharacteristic note of need in his voice made her heart turn over.
    That’s when she felt his erection against her lower abdomen. She’d be lying to herself if she said it didn’t turn her on. Gabriela was glad she had the power to get him hot, but she knew it wasn’t because of his attraction to her. It was just biology and the mating heat she was putting off. It wasn’t real. “Owen, I’ve literally just started my mating cycle. What you’re feeling