Untamed (7 page)

Would he ever get anything right where Layla was concerned?

Left to his own devices, William took the opportunity to wander through the downstairs of the house and couldn’t help but notice the various photographs that lined the walls of every room. There were several of Layla, Raife, and another young woman he could only assume was Tatiana, but some were landscapes that had most definitely been taken by Layla. Almost all of the framed photos in the house had been taken by Layla. Her energy signature emanated from each one. It was nothing more than a ghost, a whisper of her left behind, but it was more than enough for William to know they were hers.

The first floor was made up of the kitchen, a formal parlor that looked as if no one actually went into it, the front hall, and an enormous family room that cried out for a gathering. A well-worn leather sofa and chair reminded him of a bomber jacket he’d had in his youth. He felt immediately at home in this room and imagined that most people did. It was an open, welcoming space with several windows lining the far wall. The early evening sunlight streamed in and bathed the room in a warm, amber glow.

At the center was a massive stone fireplace with a pitted wooden beam that served as a mantle, and a large black-and-white photo hung above it. He paused, captured by the starkness of it in such a cozy room. It was of a broken down cottage, or possibly an old farmhouse, sitting amid barren trees that held the distinct mark of winter. Slowly, he moved in to get a closer look and was amazed at the crisp, black-and-white details throughout. It was a haunting photograph.

He recognized Layla’s energy signature immediately and could tell that it was likely taken somewhere on the property, but there was something else about it that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. He imagined that the cottage in the photo had some significance for it to have such a prominent place in the room.

In the midst of his art appreciation, and without any warning, wicked images of a naked, soapy Layla filled his mind. His eyes snapped to their clan form when a soft moan filled his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut and leaned one hand on the wood mantle as one wicked image after another flashed through his head in a pornographic slide show
.

A moment passed before her curt voice cut abruptly into his mind.
Stay
out
of
my
head.

His heart sank at the sound of her request, and the heat left his body as quickly as it had come.

Emptiness crept in as he severed the connection to his mate. Before he found her, loneliness had become a way of life, and he’d grown accustomed to feeling detached from the world. He’d lived with it for so many years that it shouldn’t bother him, but it did, because now he knew exactly what he was missing.

He let out a growl of frustration and shoved himself away from the fireplace. How on earth was he going to be able to win her over and convince her that he wasn’t here to drag her off and dominate her? He had to find something to do with all this pent up frustration. Sexual frustration he could handle. It didn’t thrill him, but he could handle it. It was the emotional cost that he was finding more uncomfortable than anything else.

William wandered back into the kitchen. With neither Rosie nor Raife in sight, he decided to make himself useful and put the groceries away. It took a bit of investigating and several wrong cabinets being opened, but by the end, he felt satisfied that he’d put things in their proper place. William gave one last look around to be sure he didn’t miss anything, gathered his packages from their shopping excursion, and headed upstairs.

Rosie’s now familiar bark stopped him just as he reached the top of the stairs. “Looks like you had a successful shopping trip today?”

William leaned over the railing and held up one of the bags. “Yes. She’s a very efficient shopper.”

Grabbing the ever-present dish towel from her shoulder, she looked around quickly. “Where’s Layla?”

“She’s taking a bath, I think,” he said, trying not to think about the erotic images she sent him. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. “I put the purchases from the market away. I hope everything is in the right place.”

Rosie raised her eyebrows and made a sound of approval. “Nice gesture, putting the groceries away. You’re a good houseguest, and it’s not a bad move when trying to woo a woman either.”

“Happy to help,” he said with a nod. “Would you like me to get Layla for you?” He hoped he didn’t sound as transparent as he felt, because he was looking for any excuse to go to her room.

“Hmmm,” she murmured and shook her head. “No. If I know her, she’s about to crawl into bed.” She made a tsking sound. “That girl needs to eat something. She’s skin and bones.” She sighed. “Well—” She patted her ample backside. “As you can see, no one has to twist my arm to eat. It’s dinnertime. Are you gonna come have somethin’? I don’t know where Raife has gotten off to, and I hate eating alone,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

“I would like that. I’m almost as hungry as I am tired.” William’s face heated with embarrassment, and he looked away quickly. He suspected that she knew he wanted to connect with Layla in the dream realm. “It’s been a big day for all of us. I think a good night’s sleep is exactly what we need to move things along.”

“Sounds good,” she said with a wave. “Put your things away, and I’ll make you a plate. It’s leftover night, so I hope you aren’t too picky.”

William put both bags into one hand and grasped the mahogany newel post with the other. “Thank you, Rosie. I’m quite hungry and could eat a horse.”

“You may be from a bird clan, but it sounds like you don’t eat like one. Good. I like a man with a healthy appetite.”

“Yes. My mother always said that there must be some trace of her wolf clan in me, and it is revealed every time I eat. Leftovers sound perfect, and I’ll be down shortly. Perhaps you could give me a tour of the farm tomorrow morning? Show me the ropes, so to speak?” he said, hoping she’d get the hint.

He really wanted to learn more about Layla, and he knew Rosie was the one who could give him a clue as to how to figure her out. Raife wasn’t likely to be much help at all, at least no help getting to know Layla. The only thing he would probably do is kick his ass out the door.

“You betcha.” She nodded and winked. “Tonight you c’mon down for something, and then tomorrow morning after breakfast you’re gonna get schooled.” Laughing heartily, she made her way back toward the kitchen. “I’m too damn old and tired to drag your ass around the farm tonight. Now put that crap away and get down here and eat something.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said.

His hand had barely touched the doorknob when Layla’s vibrant energy signature latched onto his, re-opening their connection. William stilled. His body hummed with the power of their combined energies, barreling through him like a freight train. Past the buzzing, dynamic charge whistling through his body, he heard her soft voice tenderly utter his name. “William.” It sounded like a prayer… a promise. Any reservations he had about trying to connect with her in the dream realm disappeared.

Steeling himself and struggling to maintain control, delicately he touched his mind to hers.
See
you
soon, Firefly.

The pewter mists rolled around William lazily as he walked
through
the
as-yet-undefined dream realm. Reconnecting with Layla’s energy signature before he fell asleep had allowed him to find the path to her dream with surprising ease and was another encouraging step in the right direction.

Making
his
way
through
the
fog, he hoped she would call to him, whisper his name and light the way, but so far she remained shrouded from his sight. At least she wasn’t running away from him as she had been. She was there. He could sense her watching him, tracking his every move, and since it was her dream that he tuned in, she held all the control.

His
impatience
rising, he decided it was time to rattle the cage a little bit and draw her out of the shadows.
I’m relieved that you’ve stopped running away from me,
he
shouted
into
the
swirling
haze
with
his
hands
held
securely
behind
his
back
. But you’re still hiding from me and hiding from a challenge doesn’t strike me as your style
. He tried to keep a smile out of his voice, but to no avail. He didn’t know why, but he found it amusing to tease her. He’d seen Malcolm and Dante banter this way with their mates and never understood it—until he found Layla.
I thought you had more guts than that.
A
low
growl
rumbled
around
him
in
response, and the mists dissipated to reveal the moonlit woods of the farm.

Bingo.

As
he
suspected, she didn’t shrink from any challenge, and that was a major turn-on. He always admired women with guts, like his sisters and mother. His father had always said that it was his mother’s unwillingness to retreat and her unwavering tenacity that he found most attractive. His mother and two sisters were descended from the Arctic Wolf Clan; most women of the wolf clans were known for their fierce determination and loyalty.

William
searched
the
woods
for
the
red-headed minx, and as he wandered along the path, he had to admit that Layla’s stubborn streak was one of the most appealing things about her. He scanned the surrounding area with painstaking slowness, but still didn’t see her.
Come out, come out, wherever you are,
he
sang.

What’s the matter, counselor?
Her
teasing
voice
tumbled
into
his
mind.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
Her
words
were
immediately
followed
by
another
growl
that
reverberated
through
him.

William
froze—she was in her clan animal.

His
heart
quickened
with
excitement
at
the
mere
thought
of
seeing
Layla
in
her
cheetah
form. Standing on the carpet of fallen leaves mixed with pine needles, he called up the sharp eyesight of his falcon and scanned his surroundings in search of her. A high-pitched chirping sound just above him caught his attention; he stilled and zeroed in on the vaguely familiar sound. He’d heard members of the Cheetah Clan utilize various growls, chirps, and hisses to communicate with each other in their clan form, much like cheetahs in the wild. The chirping sound stopped and was immediately followed by a soft rumbling in his ear.

She
was
in
the
tree
behind
him.

He
turned
to
his
right
and
found
himself
staring
into
the
glowing
gold
and
green
eyes
of
his
mate. She must’ve been lying in wait with her eyes closed, because there was no way he would’ve missed those glowing orbs
—
the
sight
of
them
were
imprinted
on
his
brain. It was no wonder he had difficulty finding her. Layla’s spotted coat blended perfectly with the moonlit golden-bronze leaves that clung to the sprawling branches of the enormous beech tree.

Layla’s lithe spotted body was stretched out on a low branch; her head rested on her front paws, which were crossed casually under her chin. Those exotic eyes were rimmed with black and inked a trail along the sides of her nose and around her muzzle. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on in either form.

What’s the matter?
Her
voice
purred
into
his
head, and those eyes of hers twinkled back mischievously.
Cat got your tongue?

Not yet, but then again, I just got here.
He
inched
closer, and she raised her head, forcing him to look up at her. Her fur-tufted ears pricked up, and she kept her laser-sharp gaze locked firmly with his. His fingers twitched at his sides, itching to stroke that spotted coat.

You have an answer for everything, don’t you?
She
stood
on
the
branch, her claws digging firmly into the flesh of the tree.
What are you doing here anyway?
She
said
with
mild
annoyance
as
she
leapt
past
him
and
landed
soundlessly
on
the
ground.

William
watched
her
sleek
body
move
gracefully
as
she
loped
over
to
the
moonlit
path
that
ran
along
a
gurgling
stream.
Well, this is your dream realm
, he said, moving in next to her.
You tell me. I wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want me to be.
She
sat
on
her
haunches
and
looked
up
at
him
with
curiosity—or annoyance—he wasn’t sure which.
I think it’s very interesting that you’re here with me in your clan form, Layla.

She
huffed, and a soft growl rumbled in the back of her throat as she started walking down the path again.
Yeah, well, I can kick your ass pretty easily in this form—dream or no dream—so I figured it would be safer this way. Easier to negotiate.
Layla
stopped
when
they
reached
a
break
in
the
trees, which opened up to an enormous field with tall grasses that fluttered in the wind. The moon shone down on the flickering grass, giving the illusion of a sea of liquid silver stretching endlessly before them.
Wait a minute. You said that you couldn’t be here if I didn’t want you to be?

Yes.
William
knew
where
she
was
going
with
this.
If you’ll recall,
he
began
slowly.
When I came to you in the other dreams, you couldn’t see me—or wouldn’t see me—I’m not really sure which it was.
He
squatted
down
so
that
they
were
eye
to
eye
and
lowered
his
voice
to
just
above
a
whisper.
However, it would seem that we’ve surpassed that particular hurdle
. Elbows resting on his jean-clad knees, his fingers laced together in front of him, he fought the urge to touch her.
So now that you have me here, what do you plan on doing with me?
he
asked
suggestively.
I hope you’re up for more than just negotiating.
His
brow
furrowed
at
the
idea
of
negotiating.
What exactly do you want to negotiate?

First things first,
she
cut
him
off
with
a
snarl.
As for the dreams, I didn’t want to deal with you or the idea of giving my life, my future, or my choices to you.
She
sat
completely
still
and
kept
those
glowing, golden eyes locked with his; only her black-tipped tail flicked slowly, almost hypnotically, behind her. The purring grew to a low growl as William’s heated gaze wandered over her body from head to tail, until he finally locked eyes with her once again.
My life is mine, William. I decide my future. Not you or some stupid legend.
Her
voice
softened
and
breezed
through
him
with
a
hint
of
sadness
. I was not merely put on this earth to be yours.
Her
energy
pulsed
with
determination, and the growl continued to rumble and permeate the dream realm
.

His
eyes
snapped
to
their
clan
form
as
he
fought
the
flash
of
anger. This is what she thought of him? That he was here to dominate and control her? To take possession of her? William had never been so insulted in his life.
I never said you were,
he
said
quietly. He stood slowly, giving her the space he instinctively knew that they both needed.
My intention is not to take over your life, Layla, but I would like to be a part of it. We are mates,
he
said
definitively
. I am not interested in controlling you because I suspect that would be as successful as trying to control the cycle of the moon.
He
turned
his
back
on
her, shoved his hands through his shoulder-length hair, and let out a frustrated sigh as he looked out over the silvery grasses
.

Well, you’re right about that.
She
laughed, and he couldn’t help but notice she was purring again.
Just ask Rosie.

The
silence
hung
between
them
as
they
both
stared
out
over
the
moonlit
field. He’d never felt so completely out of sorts in his life, because he was as confused and thrown off by their mating as Layla was. The strength of his feelings for her and the pulsing need to claim her were startling, foreign, and all-consuming. He knew there were certain animals that imprinted on mates, and he imagined that’s what had happened to them, although he’d never heard any of his people refer to it that way.

He
couldn’t help but wonder if it was this confusing for all Amoveo when they found their mates. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. Probably not, he mused. It was probably just him. He never was good with emotions. They were too intangible and confusing, and they did nothing but cloud people’s judgments or decisions. William had always prided himself on his ability to remain cool and detached, but Layla evoked the exact opposite in him.

She
was
fire
to
his
ice.

He
glanced
down
at
her, and any anger or irritation he felt floated away with the breeze. If he was this confused, what must she be feeling? She had heard nothing but horror stories about the Amoveo, so how could he possibly expect her to welcome him with open arms? If his friends were here, they would tell him he was acting like a dick… and they’d be right.