7 7. Jade

Standing, I turned to ascend the stairs with my mind in turmoil when I felt his heat lick across my skin. Pausing, I couldn't help but turn and look down at him. Meeting his green eyes, I saw the barely hidden anger there.

"You're thinking of running," he said it as a statement, like he could already see my decision on my face.

Looking away, I turned and started back up the stairs. "It would be better if I did. You have a responsibility to your Pack and I'm a nameless mutt who just so happened to wander into your house. You know nothing about me and I know very little of my own origins. I would rather not involve you in my problems. There's too much at stake if something happens to you."

Reaching to top of the steps, I felt his large hand wrap around my wrist. Warmth spread up my arm and for a second that peaceful safe feeling fluttered over me. Pushing the rather frequent feeling away, I paused.

"There's too much at stake if you do go. Tell me you don't feel this," he murmured, his other hand whispering up my arm with feather light touches, that warmth pooling in my stomach.

Heart hammering, I turned to look into his steady green eyes, ready to deny him. "We run hotter then most," I murmured in a stiff voice, trying to conceal the shiver that wanted to run down my spine.

A soft growl rumbled through his chest. Taking a step up, he pulled me towards him. Stumbling, I barely caught my footing, my toes hanging off the edge of the top step. Faces inches away, I felt my heart gallup against my ribs. Reaching towards me he tangled his hand in my wet hair in a tight fist, his full lips parting as he lowered his mouth towards mine. Anticipation and eagerness flooded my senses as he hovered a breath away from touching my lips. Mouth parting as I quickly submitted to his rough yet gentle hold, I couldn't deny that he was my weakness. The rough demanding sweetly protective presence just did it for me.

"And now?" he rumbled in a deep husky voice that had my knees quaking at the sound. "Pulse racing, body ready for what comes next. Wanting it to the point of almost needing it. Don't tell me you don't feel that?"

Swallowing softly, I closed my eyes against his intense green gaze, hoping that not seeing him would lessen the effect he had on me. "It's only natural to respond to someone you're sexually attracted to. It proves nothing."

Snorting softly, I felt his teeth gently nip the flesh of my bottom lip. Breath catching as my stomach clenched so violently that it made my knees give out, I found myself clinging to him as he kept me upright with his hold of my hair and a strong arm snaking around my waist. Jesus Christ. What the hell was wrong with my body?

"It's more then that and you know it, but I'll take it," he said softly, his hand gently releasing my wet strands to tenderly stroke the curve of my jaw.

Opening my eyes to look into his heated gaze, I swallowed heavily at the emotions swirling there. Licking my suddenly dry lips, I watched his eyes drop to follow to movement hungrily and saw the flick of his own oink tongue touch his lips. Green flicked up to meet mine and the thought of claiming that smart ass mouth taunted me.

"Everything about you intrigues me, Red..."

"Faye," I murmured, interrupting him.

He blinked those long lashed green eyes at me, his head tilting slightly. "Faye?" he asked softly as his brows scrunched in question.

I nodded with a small smile at the boyish antic. "My name. Faye. It's short for Fayelynn."

A corner of his mouth lifted. "Faye," he said in a husky voice. "I'm Jade. Alpha of the Hellhounds."