Read Wolf Line for Free Online Page B

in your room when you’re not on duty. The Arctic Wolf Cruise Lines is pretty good about allowing crew time to enjoy the view as well. We’re all shifters, we understand the need to have some fun.”
    “Thank you for that.” He tested the taps, turning them off and on a few times as he pretended to ensure the drip was gone. Actually, it took a lot of strength to not blurt out he’d be okay with chains in his room if she were the one putting them on him.
    Concentrate . Job. Then dire necessities like buying some clothes to get him through this farce. Only now he’d have to avoid meeting any of the passengers while shopping just in case. What a mess.
    He picked up his tools and pivoted, stopping in confusion when he discovered Keri was staring again, her face twisted into a frightened expression. She seemed so uncomfortable around him.
    A horrible, terrible thought struck. “Keri? Your boyfriend, Chad?”
    “My boyfriend?” She blinked. “Um, yeah, Chad. What about him?”
    Jared moved slowly. He’d seen someone act this way before, kind of like a terrified rabbit. He took her hand in his and curled his fingers around her cold digits. “He’s not the jealous type, is he? I mean, you’re not going to be in trouble because you’re here alone with me? Because you…”
    She looked ready to fall over. “I, what?”
    What did he say? Offer her safe keeping? Suggest she consider her options? You don’t have to be with him, I’ll take care of you flashed into his brain, and he snapped his mouth shut before the words could escape.
    She was a grown wolf, with a mind of her own, but there were times even a wolf could get into a situation they didn’t know how to get out of. “Just wanted you to remember you don’t have to be with anyone who doesn’t treat you right. If you’re having any issues, you can always go to the closest Alpha. Back in Haines, my Alpha Keil is—”
    “No, no wait, you don’t understand.” Her instant denial made another thread of suspicion flare. She pulled herself back to calm in an incredibly quick amount of time. “That’s very sweet of you, but no. I’m not in any trouble. And Chad isn’t giving me any grief, really. I mean.” She wrinkled her nose. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
    Jared nodded slowly. “Okay.”
    Keri stepped back and smiled brightly. “Well, next fix? The closet door. This way.”
    Her forced perky tone grated on his nerves. Whatever else was going on, that deception alone was a clear sign she wasn’t telling him the whole truth.
    Still, not much he could do at this moment. He stepped quickly after her into the bedroom. Her sudden stop came far sooner than he expected, and he slammed directly into her backside.
    She fell forward, and Jared tried to save them both. He snagged his fingers on her belt and together they teetered off-balance for a split second. It was no use, gravity won. They twisted and landed with a soft grunt on the bed. Keri was trapped under him, and he felt every inch of her smooth muscles, her ass soft under his groin. He rolled off her as if she were on fire.
    Damn it. Last thing she needed if she had a jerk for a boyfriend was to have a strange wolf’s scent all over her.
    He rolled too far and bumped into the headboard. The intricate built-in bookcase rocked forward, and jewelry and books fell on top of him.
    “Shit. I’m sorry.”
    She scrambled over and levered the unit back to vertical before helping pick items off him. “My fault. I didn’t…I wasn’t thinking.”
    “Here. Let me help.”
    He moved to replace the books, but she shook her head. “Not going to work. Just leave it in a pile and I’ll explain what happened.”
    Was she going to be in trouble because of him? “I’ll explain. It was my fault. Don’t let them fire you over this, okay?”
    She sat on the edge of the bed and smiled weakly. “You don’t have to worry about me being fired. But if you could fix the door, please? I should get going on a few other