“No. We don’t. Trade secret. Not for humans.”
“But think of all…” He met her eyes and she stilled. Her rant about all the studies she could conduct on its chemical composition halted before it began.
“Humans do well with their own cures, don’t they, Dr. Becker?”
“Yes. We do.” Not that she agreed with letting it go, but compelled to do so. She figured the revelation would break lycan rules.
“Our human comrades get the benefit of our bite when they are injured.”
She touched her neck. “Not the first time you bit me, I bet.”
“You are right. The first time, you were gone. Frozen. Beyond hope. I had no choice.”
“Really? My heart had stopped. I died?”
“About to.”
Not only should she have frozen to death, but her limbs should have frozen beyond repair. Frostbitten. Amputation, the only option. Alive, but no longer able to practice medicine and maimed. Yet, here she was. Whole and alive. Heat radiated through her chest. “I owe you my life at least four times over.”
“Lyutik Zolotistyy, I plan to keep you alive, no matter what it takes.”
“Bite me anytime.” She smiled. “Is that Russian for ‘marked human’?”
“Lyutik Zolotistyy is Russian for Goldilocks.”
Rachel fingered loose curls that sprung out of her wool cap like yellow tendrils. How did he know that was her nickname in elementary school? She blew a curl off her brow. “Not very tame hair.”
“Tame is for circus animals.” He stood and walked over. “Let me check your marks.”
Rachel extended her arm. “Just a mild tingle. No pain.”
Lev took her arm and grazed the indents with his lips and sniffed, sending a chill throughout her body. He released her arm. “Healing well. In a few days, the tingle will go away.”
“Amazing.” Eve
rything that had happened the last few days was weird, but amazing beyond words. A new species. A growing fondness for such a different creature. Still, what would happen next? She stared at the fire and shivered.
“Trust me.”
She met his eyes. “I do.” How could she not? Yet, she knew next to nothing about Lev, except he was a shifter devoted to keeping her alive. Rachel had never trusted anyone more. The fact he was hotter than any man she’d ever dated helped. Could she trust him with her heart? Not that she felt love, but rather lust. Moisture had gathered between her legs the moment his lips touched her skin. Love happened over time. Instant love, like with her parents, was short-lived. A disaster. Her mother and father had been opposites, with different interests and goals. Never friends. As different from Lev as she could possibly be. They were different species, and she had no interest in participating in some hybrid experiment.
“What’s wrong?”
“Everything. My life will never be normal again will it?”
“No, it will not.”
Her nipples tingled at the sound of his deep masculine voice. Her moisture increased. Were werewolf men aphrodisiacs to human women? Was she under his mind control again? No I’m in control. “How late is it?”
“It’s the middle of the night. Best you sleep.”
Her lust no longer contained, she blurted, “Not unless, you join me.”
“If I join you, I will do more than sleep.”
“I wouldn’t complain,” she said.
“I know, but I should return you to your father without having to explain too much.”