Wolf's Desire by Ambrielle Kirk

corner, and he hadn’t known it. And she was a human at that. She may have been an outsider, but she certainly had ties to his pack by way of her late ex-husband, and coward, Jonathan.
    “She likes you,” Keira said, twirling her spoon around in the soup.
    “Who?”
    “The waitress. Ever since we sat down she’s been staring at you.”
    “That doesn’t mean she likes me.”
    Keira looked at him disbelievingly. “Are you kidding me? She literally had her breasts in your face.”
    He grinned. If he wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of jealousy, and he thought it was cute. “I didn’t notice.”
    “Well, don’t let me be a nuisance.”
    “Why have you come to that conclusion?”
    She avoided looking him in the face. “You’re a man. I hired you to prote ct me, but at the same time you have needs as well.”
    “Does this mean that you’ve rehired me?”
    Her nose wrinkled. “Rehired?”
    “Yeah. Earlier in the van you said you wanted to end the contract.”
    “I’ve been thinking that I still need your help,” she said, shyly.
    “Oh?”
    “You have information about what those items really are, but you haven’t said word about it.”
    “And what do you propose?”
    “I want to know what you know. I need as much information as possible to get Jamison’s case opened up again.”
    If Keira hadn’t been his mate, it would have been easier to collect the relics, assign her another bodyguard, and haul ass. Of course, life was never easy.
    Aiden followed Keira’s line of sight to the waitress who’d come on to him. “She doesn’t have what I want or need,” he said.
    Keira whipped her gaze away, and finally focused on him. “Excuse me?”
    “Each day you press forward for more answers, you put yourself in even more danger.”
    “I’m not afraid of the answers. What frightens me is not knowing.”
    “I’m afraid your husband’s murder is far more complicated than you want to delve.” Aiden leaned forward in his chair. “You have one more chance. I can make one call that will generate you a new identity. You can walk away from it all.”
    “If I wanted to walk away, I would have done so a year ago.”
    “Keep seeking answers, Keira, and you might not like what you find out.”
    She met his stare. “What’s a mate?”
    Her sudden change in topic caught him off guard, and also stood as confirmation that she wasn’t going to simply get up and walk away.
    “I’ve only just met her.”
    “What are you?”
    “I’m not like others.”
    She tilted her head slightly. “I know that much, but there has to be a name for what you are. Isn’t there a reason why you healed so quickly?”
    Damn if those lips of hers weren’t tempting. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to do more than kiss. His ey es trailed down to her neck to the high definition of her collar bones and the ripe curves of her generous breasts. She wore a bulky shirt that nearly hid all of her beautiful skin.
    “I have special powers.” He touched her soft face, lingering along her chin and jawline. She was so young and delicate. How could she be his? Did he deserve her?
    “Explain.”
    He didn’t even know where to begin. Sooner or later, he’d have to tell her what he was. He’d have to reveal to her who her husband really was. Why the relics might have been in his possession. How Jonathan came to know him. His head wa s ready to explode just anticipating what her reaction might be. Maybe she’d change her mind then and walk away.
    “Not here , Keira. The explanation you demand will take more than a couple hours.” Aiden parted from her, took out his wallet, and put money and a tip on the table. “Let’s rest. Tomorrow, I will take you somewhere safer.”
     
    ***
     
    There were warm breakfast biscuits piled in a basket and an assortment of juices on the nightstand when Keira woke up, but the second double bed beside her where Aiden had slept was empty. She’d thought certain he’d left her until she got up and