Part 6 (1/2)

And the guy did-no questions asked. Marcos just tossed the rope to Julian as if it were a normal thing to basically kidnap a person.

Rose bit her lip as she stood on the wooden dock.

”Marcos.” Julian was tying up Francis, not looking at her as he spoke. ”The lady hesitating over there and looking all judgmental is Rose. She's coming back to the island with us.”

Marcos gave her a quick, searching glance.

”And Rose, this is Marcos.” He tied a quick knot, then nodded, as if satisfied. ”Marcos is ex-Navy, and he's the all-around best captain in the Keys.” Julian ran his hand through his hair, sending droplets of water flying. ”Now, the introductions are done, so let's get the h.e.l.l out of here.”

Rose exhaled and jumped onto the boat. As soon as her feet touched the deck, Julian was there. His hands wrapped around her body to steady her. Not that she needed steadying.

”Good choice,” he whispered, and she felt his breath stir against her ear. She would not s.h.i.+ver.

She s.h.i.+vered. Dammit. ”I didn't realize I had a choice. You said I had to stay with you. Twenty-four, seven, right? Weren't those your words?”

He was wet. But warm. Always warm.

”Yeah, those were my words.” He smiled. ”But you could have run again. Made me chase you.” He...nuzzled her.

Seriously, that was what he'd just done. Nuzzled her neck as if he were giving her some kind of panther caress.

Then he let her go.

”But if I'd chased you, that would have just brought out the beast in me.” He stared at her with his glowing eyes. ”It's better if he comes out when we're alone. Not here.”

Rose swallowed. ”Julian...”

The boat was already moving.

Julian turned his back to her. ”Don't forget...”

Her hands twisted nervously in front of her.

”I've already kept up my part of the deal. Your turn will come soon.”

She knew he'd just given her a warning.

Chapter Five.

He wasn't surprised to find Rayce Lovel waiting on the island's dock. The wolf s.h.i.+fter would have heard the boat's approach, and Rayce-being Rayce-would have come down to see just what was happening.

After all, Rayce and Julian had both been left to guard the island in Luke's absence. If anything happened to the place while their buddy was gone, there would truly be h.e.l.l to pay.

”Didn't expect to see you back so soon,” Rayce called out. His blond hair glinted beneath the light on the dock. ”Poor hunting night?” Then his gaze darted to Rose-a very quiet Rose. ”Or perhaps, a very, very good hunting night?”

Julian growled. He didn't like the way Rayce eyed Rose. The wolf needed to tone that s.h.i.+t down.

”Why do wet women keep being brought to this island? Not that I'm complaining,” Rayce added as he caught the line that Marcos threw to him. ”Quite the contrary. I just-”

”Get the human off the boat. He needs to be taken into containment until morning.” Francis had woken up on the ride out to the island. His terror had turned into screams-screams that had stopped when Julian gagged the fellow. ”I am not in the mood to deal with him now.”

No, what he needed right then...it was a run. A wild, fast and furious run across the island. He had to let his beast out. Too much had happened that night- Two times. Two f.u.c.king times death tried to take Rose.

His control was razor thin. The beast demanded his freedom, and the man wasn't going to be able to hold him back much longer.

”A bound and gagged human?” Rayce bounded onto the boat and eyed the kid. ”Definitely an interesting hunting night.”

Julian grunted. ”I think he was under a compulsion. He doesn't seem to remember jack s.h.i.+t right now, but I am hoping with the right...tools...” Tools the human would not like. ”With the right tools, I'm hoping that will change.”

Rayce easily slung Francis over his shoulder. ”I know just the cell for him.”

Because, yes, Luke's island paradise came complete with its own prison. Luke truly believed in being prepared.

But before Rayce could leave the boat, Rose stepped into his path. ”He's a kid, okay? Not some prisoner. He doesn't belong in a cell. He's confused and scared and he has no idea what's happening.” Her words tumbled out, fast and husky. And...shaking. ”You can't just lock him up. You can't hurt him.”

They could. ”The cell is for his protection, Rose. Rayce and I aren't the only monsters on the island right now.”

At that one word-monsters-she flinched. Then she turned the full force of her big, green eyes on him. ”Locking him up...how does that make us better than the ONS? How does that make us any better than-than this Collector guy that you keep worrying me about?”

”It doesn't make us better.” He'd never said he was better and, h.e.l.l, he was almost out of time. He could feel his muscles jerking and stretching. In just a few moments, he'd be doing a full-on s.h.i.+ft right in front of her. He didn't want her to see that.

s.h.i.+fts weren't pretty. They were brutal and they were vicious and, sometimes, if he wasn't very, very careful...his panther could take over completely.

There was a reason he had no pack to call his own. A reason he'd gone rogue long ago.

He was a killer. Someone who could never be trusted. Especially not around humans. Especially not around...

Someone like her.

I knew that from the beginning, but I couldn't stay away from her.

”Take Rose to the main house,” he ordered Rayce.

Rayce just lifted his brows. ”What? Do I look like some errand boy to you? Drag the human...” he muttered as he turned away, heading up the winding path that led to the house. ”Get the girl. Do all my s.h.i.+t for me because I'm Julian and I can't handle-”

”Rayce.”

His friend-friend, general jack-a.s.s, trouble-maker, whatever-turned back toward him. And whatever he saw on Julian's face had Rayce tensing.

”Rose,” Rayce said her name flatly. ”Bring that sweet a.s.s of yours up here with me, now.”

”I don't like him,” Rose muttered.

Julian clenched his hands into fists. He jumped off the boat. He had to get away from Rose. He had to get away from them all.