Page 21 of Triumph of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic #6)

Snuggled on top of the mossy blanket by the pond, with frogs croaking on the far side, Duncan and I might have spent the rest of the day and into the night cuddled on our sides, my back pressed into his chest and his arms around me.

The medallions, which lay on the ground a few feet away, weren’t glowing and hadn’t tried to foist any visions or compulsions on us, and the case also lay quiescent in my purse.

Nobody had returned to the area for the destroyed cars, though I’d half expected a tow truck or two to roll up the road while Duncan and I were thrashing naked by the pond.

Somehow, we’d never made the trek to his van and the bed in back.

My phone ringing from… somewhere made me lift my head.

I’d lost all track of time, and impending rain made it hard to tell if it was twilight or simply getting cloudier.

I might have been cold if I hadn’t had warm arms wrapped around me.

We’d also generated a lot of body heat during our activities. I smiled at the memory.

“You’re not thinking of answering that, are you?” Duncan asked.

“Well… it might be Lorenzo. We were supposed to be on the way to visit.” The cave, technically, but I’d planned to stop by to see Mom too.

I was surprised the phone was ringing. Whenever I’d tried to call from my mother’s cabin, the signal hadn’t been strong enough.

“A gentleman would retrieve the phone for me,” I added.

“A gentleman has been busy satisfying your every physical need and ensuring you remain warm.”

“Is that what your hand is doing on my boob?”

“Most certainly. You’ve tender and sensitive flesh there. You wouldn’t want it to catch a chill.”

“It’s funny how often your hand finds its way to that spot.”

“It would be pleased to explore other spots if you wish.” Duncan kissed the back of my neck while his hand trailed lower, his fingers creating tingles of pleasure.

“I knew being with you would be amazing— hot —but if I’d known how hot, I would have been more persistent and dedicated with my flirting. ”

“Your glowing forehead was more the problem than your flirting. And then you were dying. That was a bit of a buzzkill.”

“So the flirting was good?”

“You’re good.”

“Yes.” He smiled lazily, hands expertly stroking me.

I knew I should be responsible and get up and find my phone, but a tremble went through me, and I rolled over and flung a leg across Duncan.

His lips were right there, waiting for mine, and we met in a kiss as his fingers did what he’d promised, exploring other spots and making me forget all about responsibilities.

Our passionate eagerness overflowed, as if we’d both waited far too long and now, finally having this time together, couldn’t stop hungrily touching and rubbing, insatiable despite the intense satisfaction we’d found with our earlier joining.

Full darkness had fallen by the time we parted, hunger playing more of a role in the decision than a desire to check voicemail.

Duncan climbed over the log, my night vision good enough to see his bare butt, and hunted around for my phone.

I sat up, intending to help, though I did enjoy watching him.

Even on his hands and knees, he managed to look agile and powerful—and appealing.

He retrieved my belongings, including the medallions, and stacked everything on the log in front of me.

“Thank you, Duncan. I think I said it before, but you’re wonderful.”

“Whether for ravaging enemy vehicles or retrieving a phone, a man can’t hear that often enough.”

“I should have invited you to my bedroom weeks ago.”

“I’ve been telling you that since we met.”

“Since we met? You were just trying to swipe the case then.”

“That doesn’t mean I didn’t want an invitation to your bedroom. You might not have noticed, since I’m such a subtle fellow, but I’ve been rather into you since I saw you carrying that loo across the parking lot.”

“I had no idea that was so arousing.”

“A man likes a strong lady.”

“Hence why women carrying toilets feature so often in pornos.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t know anything about what’s featured in those.”

“Naturally not. You being so wholesome.”

“Indeed.” He leaned across the log and kissed me.

A car drove past, someone with the aura of a werewolf driving, and we drew apart. Was that Emilio’s brother I sensed?

Whoever it was looked toward the pond, probably also sensing us. I grabbed my stuff and knelt back behind a shrub.

Fortunately, the driver didn’t slow down. If anything, he sped up, in a hurry about something. I had a feeling Mom was about to learn that we were in the area.

The phone rang again, reminding me that I’d wanted to check it, not spend the whole day and night by the frog pond with Duncan.

It was a local number but not a contact I had programmed in, and I might have ignored it, but it was the same person who’d called before, and three new voicemail messages suggested that some of those calls hadn’t gotten through.

“Hello?” I answered.

The hint of a man speaking came through, but the call ended. There was indeed only one bar of reception, so it wasn’t surprising. I tried playing the voicemails.

“Luna Valens? It’s Ivan MacGregor. Are you there?”

I frowned at the phone and glanced at Duncan, hoping Ivan hadn’t called to ask for a date. I hadn’t mentioned to Duncan that he’d been interested.

“I’m looking for my sister, Izzy,” Ivan continued, and guilt swept over me.

Of course that was what he’d called about, not dates.

How had I forgotten that? “I showed her that you were kind enough to send back my bracelet—you’ll have to let me know what reward I can arrange for that—but she wasn’t…

Well, I understand you two have some history.

She’s still holding a grudge over that, and even though I, as the stern and authoritative older brother, forbade her from pestering you, her daughter said she’d mentioned going to your apartment complex.

That was yesterday, and she’s not back yet.

Normally, her comings and goings wouldn’t be any of my business, but it’s strange that she would leave Olivia here without making arrangements if she was going to spend the night somewhere.

And she hasn’t answered her phone today.

I called the Sylvans to see if they knew anything about her disappearance, but they said they haven’t been over there lately.

Anyway, you might not have seen Izzy, but if you could let me know, I’d appreciate it. ”

The second voicemail message had come in hours later and was a shorter update saying he was still looking for Izzy and checking with everyone again.

“Hell.” I rubbed my face. “I should have called him as soon as she was kidnapped.” I’d forgotten about the daughter. Even if Izzy hated me, making me disinclined to worry that much about her, I didn’t have anything against the girl or Ivan.

“You were almost passed out from those vapors yourself at the time,” Duncan said.

“Tell me about it.” I grabbed my jacket and shoes.

“I think the cave visit is going to have to wait, but I want to ask Mom and whoever is at the cabin tonight if they’ve heard about anyone kidnapping werewolves.

I’m sure that had to do with Abrams and you and me, but…

I don’t know. Maybe my kin have heard something.

” I looked at Duncan. “You haven’t gotten any updates, right?

Nobody has told you where Abrams is and if he might have Izzy? ”

“Sorry, no.” Duncan spread his arms, then pointed to his van. “Let me drive you to the cabin and offer you some clothes.”

“You think I should show up in more than a jacket, my purse, and shoes?” With those items in my arms, I headed for the road.

“Werewolves ought to understand if you’re missing a few garments, but I do have plenty to share. You were even kind enough to bring me extras recently. Clearly, you foresaw this day coming.”

“Lately, this day comes almost every day.” I gestured to encompass our nudity.

Duncan grinned. “This day was particularly unique in a historical sense, but I do hope that many of the events repeat themselves in the future. Regularly .”

“I did enjoy some of the events.”

We reached his van and climbed inside.

“I should think that most of the events appealed. You took a sizable bite out of your ex-husband’s hip.”

“I was just trying to keep him from shooting me. I didn’t enjoy that.”

Duncan slipped into the back and opened a cabinet to pull out clothes. “ I might have enjoyed it. He was deserving of a few bites.” When he handed the stack of clothes to me, his face grew more serious. “Had he succeeded in shooting you, I would have killed him.”

“Had he succeeded in shooting me, I wouldn’t have minded.” I smiled, even if that wasn’t quite true.

Face still sober, Duncan said, “I almost lost it. It was right as I was arriving, and I was on the verge of springing down there, but you were charging him by then. Ducking his bullets and taking him to the ground.” His expression lightened.

“At that point, I knew I could sit back, take some popcorn out, and watch the show.”

I snorted as I unfolded a shirt to put on. “You didn’t have any popcorn. I know that for a fact. There wasn’t any grease on your tail.”

“True. I wanted to keep my tail in pristine condition for our inevitable and exhilarating sexual encounter.” He tugged on his own clothes as he headed to the driver’s seat. “Our many exhilarating sexual encounters.”

“Don’t tell my mom about them, or she’ll be smug.”

“You don’t think she might get the gist of what happened when you walk into her cabin in my clothes?”

“Maybe I’ll tell her that I fell in the frog pond after we scared away the developers.”

“I might also struggle to keep the contented satisfaction off my face.”

I considered his features as he turned the key in the ignition. “I’ll bet that’s a similar expression to the one you wore after tearing up those vehicles.”

“That was also quite satisfying.”