NocC 024 - Katie Reus - A Jaguar's Kiss - Harlequin 2012-10 Read Online Free PDF

turned around he found Gabriela tugging his sister’s black T-shirt down, trying to cover the flat planes of her belly. He’d picked lounge pants and a simple shirt. Thanks to her height, the pants hung low on her hips showing off a lot of tanned skin.
    His mouth watered as he stared, remembering how good she’d tasted barely an hour before. He wanted to bury more than just his face between her legs.
    “Don’t look at me like that,” she said quietly, her cheeks flushing crimson.
    “I can’t help it.” Why bother denying it? She knew how much he wanted her.
    For a long, sexually charged moment they just stared at each other. He wanted to gather her in his arms, tell her how sorry he was and make it up to her. But words were so empty. He could say he was sorry until his throat was raw, but it would still just be words. He needed to show her. His stupidity had cost them both and now he felt like they’d been given a second chance. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking.
    She licked her bottom lip, something she’d always done when she was nervous. It drew his attention from her eyes to her mouth. Her bottom lip was fuller than the top, giving her a pouty look that was at complete odds with her personality.
    Owen took a step closer, as if he was being pulled by an invisible magnet. He wasn’t sure what he planned to do. Kiss her? He wanted to, but his inner wolf just ached to be closer. It was a driving force inside that had the power to completely distract him.
    When he was barely a few inches in front of her, his body aligned with hers, she drew her eyebrows together and slightly tilted her head to the side. He started to ask what was wrong when he heard it, too. Would have heard it sooner if he hadn’t been so wrapped up in her sweet honeydew scent.
    The angry voices of his pack mates were headed their way. Stepping back, he had to take a deep breath before yanking open the front door. His brother and two of his pack mates who regularly patrolled their hunting grounds were in human form and they all looked grim. Daniel, a young shifter of about eighteen, was the only one in wolf form, but he shifted as Owen stepped outside. Blood oozed out from the claw marks on his chest and Owen could scent the jaguar on the wolf.
    “What happened? Did you discover who’s been attacking the humans?” Despite Daniel’s bloody wounds, Owen knew he’d heal quickly. He didn’t feel guilty at the sharp burst of hope he experienced that they might finally have a lead.
    The young wolf shook his head, breathing hard. He flicked a glance over Owen’s shoulder at Gabriela but quickly focused on Owen. “Was in town. Saw one of the jaguars—Israel, the oldest brother—lifting Skyler into his truck. She looked like she was in pain and I smelled her blood. I tried…” His voice broke for a fraction of a second. “I tried to stop him but the other one, Axel, stopped me. He let his claws out in the middle of town. I didn’t want to shift and draw attention but as soon as I was on the edge of town I shifted and ran home. I didn’t have my phone or I would have called.”
    Owen’s heart pounded faster at the thought of his younger sister hurt, but if she was with Israel Segura, Owen couldn’t imagine the quiet jaguar hurting her. Hell, he couldn’t imagine any of Gabriela’s family hurting Skyler. Another reason these attacks had been driving him mad. It didn’t make sense. They’d been living in peace together for so long.
    Ethan stepped up angrily, his face mottled red. “We should hunt them down—”
    “Shut up,” Owen snapped, keeping his focus on Daniel. “Did you see where they were headed?” he asked the young wolf.
    “East, out of town.”
    Owen glanced over his shoulder to find Gabriela hovering, looking as if she might bolt. “Your truck keys are on the foyer table. Grab them.”
    She hesitated for a fraction of a moment then subtly nodded before hurrying inside.
    While she retrieved them, he turned back to