Wolf Moon Read Free Page B

of the woods.
    The rain pelted her white coat, and, in seconds, she was soaked. But the need to run off the nervous energy propelled her forward. She followed the paths so familiar to her, birds and small animals scattering in her wake. The clean scent of the woods exhilarated her, a perfume that stimulated all her senses.
    Faster and faster she ran, until at last, exhausted, she dropped to the ground, panting.
    With her head resting on her paws, she struggled to slow her breathing. She needed to get a grip on herself. Running like this in daylight was risky. She should have been doing this last night instead of having make-believe sex. Now, she was out in the open, exposed to any spying, inquisitive eyes.
    Not good at all, Alexa.
    Her body’s need to change wasn’t the real impetus that had sent her racing like a mad thing. The truth was, she was running away from herself.
    Damn Jesse for living next door to her, anyway. And damn her body for the human hormones constantly escaping her control. And most of all, damn her traitorous heart.
    Finally, she rose on all fours and headed back toward the house. She had broken from the edge of the woods seconds before and was loping across her lawn when she saw Jesse’s car pull up in his driveway.
    Shit! Of all the damn dumb luck.
    Well, nothing for it now. Head down, she ignored the fact he was staring into her yard. She kept on her path until she reached the far side of her house. Wriggling into the space behind the hedge, she crouched and waited.
    Please, Jesse, don’t go exploring in the rain .
    When another streak of lightning lit up the sky, she worked her way around to the porch. Then she raced in through the open door, slamming it shut with her snout.
    She shook vigorously in the laundry room, spraying everything as the water flew from her coat. She could feel the change beginning already. Lying down on the rag rug, she let her body resume human form then dried herself quickly with a towel from the counter. Retrieving her sleep shirt, she slid it over her head. She was wrapping the towel around her wet hair when the doorbell rang.
    Frowning, she looked through the peephole. Jesse stood on the porch, shaking off the rain he’d accumulated on his sprint to her house.
    Great. Just great.
    Pasting on a smile, she opened the door. “Hi. Don’t you think it’s a little wet for house-hopping?”
    He grinned at her. “Maybe. I have a question, but I thought if I asked in person, I could beg a cup of coffee.”
    A smile broke out at the sight of him despite her intentions, and she opened the door wider. “Sure. Come on in.”
    “Nice outfit,” he teased.
    Alexa looked down and realized what she was wearing. “Oh, God. You can tell I wasn’t expecting company.” She headed for the hallway, calling over her shoulder. “Coffee’s ready. Help yourself. I’ll only be a second.”
    In her room, she pulled a pair of shorts and a T-shirt from one drawer, underwear from another. She gave her hair one last swipe with the towel, combed the wet strands with her fingers, and tucked them behind her ears. No time for the dryer now.
    Jesse was leaning against the kitchen counter, a steaming mug in each hand. He held one out to her.
    “Here. I poured yours, too.”
    “Thanks.”
    When she took it from him, their fingers collided. Heat streaked along her arm and through her body. Her cunt, which last night had to make do with her fingers, began to throb.
    God, Alexa, get a grip .
    But the sight of him in worn jeans that fit his body like a glove and the dark T-shirt outlining the muscles in his chest and arms, did major damage to her self-control. She sipped at the hot liquid, struggling for outward calm.
    “So. You said you had a question.”
    “Yeah.” He scratched his head with his free hand. “I know this is stupid, but did you happen to get a dog in the last couple of days?”
    Alexa’s stomach knotted. So, he had seen her although he obviously didn’t know what he was