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frustration. But what was he supposed to do? He couldn’t leave her alone. She’d obviously needed help. Yes, shewas lupine and she’d heal, but they all healed at different speeds. And she  was damn well battered. He’d had no choice  but to stay and help her.
    Not that it was a hardship. His  thoughts  hadn’t once  strayed toward the  sexual
    arena.
    Okay, maybe once. Or twice. Oh hell, his dick had been hard the entire time he’d bathed her. Despite the blood and bruise marks on her body, she  was beautiful. Tough, yet vulnerable.
    Quit thinking. It’ll only  get you in trouble.
    He grasped the snifters of brandy along  with the bottle and carried them  into theliving room. Katya sat snuggled in the corner of the sofa with a blanket wrapped around her legs. They’d compromised on the sofa  after she refused to go to bed, saying she needed to sit up for a while, that she couldn’t possibly sleep right now. Even thoughshe’d told him she felt fine and he could leave, something prevented him from doing so.
    Peter wouldn’t be back to bother her  tonight. Conner knew Noah would keep a watchful eye over him. But still, he felt compelled to stay.
    She looked up as he approached, managing a tremulous smile. She was already starting to heal, the lupine recuperative  powers working quickly. The massive gash along her cheek was no more than a faint red line now.  By morning it would be gone. The bruises along her arms, neck and face were fading.

    26

    Mountain Moonlight

    Katya was one strong woman. Most would have crumbled under an assault like that, even a lupine. But she had a steel backbone, showing more anger than fear. He admired her for that.
    “How do you feel?” he  asked, handing her the snifter.
    She took a sip and licked her bottom lip. His  cock twitched.
    “Better. Thank you. You really don’t have to stay.”
    “I know I don’t. I want to.” He took a long swallow, hoping the fiery liquid would  numb his libido. Lusting after a woman who’d just suffered a near-rape wasn’t a good  idea. The last thing he wanted to  do was frighten her  or have  her doubt his  reason for
    staying.
    She didn’t look scared, though. Instead, she  studied him  with clear, thoughtful eyes
    that heated him from the inside out. “Tell me about Peter.”
    She shrugged and finished off the brandy  in two gulps. Her eyes watered and she shook it off.  “He’s a pain in the ass.”
    Conner laughed and refilled her glass. “Obviously. Has he tried anything like thisbefore?”
    “No. I’ve known him my entire life. He’s  a year older than me and we used to play  together as  children. Then when I returned  home after college, he made it known he wanted to mate.”
    “You obviously didn’t want that.”
    “No, I didn’t. He didn’t seem to care what I wanted. He was  convinced I’d change  my mind. But I never expected him to go this far.”
    “I wonder what triggered it tonight?”
    She blushed and looked down at her lap before meeting his gaze again. “He told me he saw you and me together.”
    Ah, that explained the  reason for Peter’s  rage. Jealousy. “So he decided since you were willing to give it up to me, he’d just show you who was boss.”
    She arched a brow. “I don’t know  about my willingness to ‘give it up to you’, but  yes, I think he was jealous enough  to stop asking and start taking.”
    “What do  you mean you don’t know?” She  sure as hell seemed willing earlier. Then  again, she had stopped him.
    After draining her second glass of brandy, she said, “What happened earlier tonight  between us was a mistake.”
    Was that her honest opinion,  or embarrassment? “I didn’t  think it was a mistake at
    all.”
    She grabbed the bottle of brandy and splashed more into her glass. “Come on,  Conner. You and I have a business relationship right now. Sex would only complicatethat.”
    “True. But it doesn’t stop me from  wanting