Wolf’s Fox by Juniper Hart

6

There were so many emotions running through Nicholas that he barely knew where to start. He had never heard of a curse that restricted a shifter from shifting at will, but he didn’t dispute what Ruthie had told him. It made sense now that he hadn’t been able to locate her, despite his best efforts.

Whatever happened to her, we’ll fix it, he thought with determination.

The moon had already started to fall lower in the sky, reminding Nicholas that there was limited time between them. He reasoned that Ruthie wouldn’t have to leave when she transformed back into the fox, but he also knew he would have to hide her. The neighbors were sure to talk if he was seen around with such a creature and if this Luthor was seeking her, the rumors might find their way to their ears.

“You’re very quiet,” Ruthie commented, eying him warily from her spot in the passenger side. Her hands were curled tersely around the leather seat in which she sat, her eyes darting around the car as if she’d never been in one before.

“I’m sorry,” Nicholas said, flashing her a quick smile. “I was just thinking about what we’re going to do.”

Ruthie stared at him pensively for a moment, the question vivid in her expression.

“Why are you helping me?” she finally asked, her words barely audible under the dull hum of the car’s engine. He almost laughed but contained himself. The last thing Ruthie needed was to be mocked when she was clearly so vulnerable.

“Is this your first time in a car?” he replied, avoiding her question. He was sure she could feel the magnetism between them, too. She was the one who had approached him first, after all. She nodded in response, biting on her lower lip. Nicholas was sure he had never seen anything so sexy in his life. It made him slightly disconcerted. He had to keep his wits about him. There wasn’t much time, according to Ruthie, and he was not going to wait another month to see her again in this form.

“I didn’t leave Luthor’s lair much,” she admitted. “Actually, I didn’t leave it at all.”

Another spark of anger shot through Nicholas at the mention of this ruthless dragon who had held her hostage for so long.

“What can you tell me about him? Where is his place? Is it far from here?”

Miserably, Ruthie shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

“I don’t know,” she answered, sounding humiliated. “I don’t even really know where I am or how far I wandered.”

“It’s all right,” Nicholas said quickly, steering the Jeep onto his street. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

He fixed his attention out the windshield, but he could still feel Ruthie watching him for another few seconds before her eyes trailed back out the window.

“Oh…” she murmured. “These houses look so different.”

Nicholas cast her a sidelong look. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“I suppose I’ve only seen farmhouses, not those in the city,” she mumbled. The embarrassment was almost palpable. “These look so…futuristic.”

Nicholas’ house on Lake Minnetonka had been built in the nineties. It was by no means new. Then again, Ruthie hadn’t seen anything like it before.

“They aren’t farmhouses,” he agreed, pulling into his driveway. At that time of night, the neighborhood was sleeping. It was a weeknight, and everyone worked regular jobs. Nicholas was grateful that he wouldn’t be caught up chatting with anyone on the street.

He stopped the Jeep and hopped out to open the door for Ruthie. Cautiously, she stepped out of the vehicle, eyes darting about like the fox that she was.

“Come on,” he told her, extending his hand. “This way.”

She tentatively took his hand and allowed him to lead her up the cobblestone walkway, toward the front door. The security floodlight illuminated as they stepped toward the exterior door, and she gasped. Nicholas tightened his hand around hers.

“It’s okay. It’s just a light.”

“How does it go on like that?”

“A lot of things are automatic now. It probably takes some getting used to.”

He realized how much he took for granted. He was older than Ruthie by over forty years, but he’d had the opportunity to gradually be introduced to all the technology. It seemed like Luthor lived archaically.

He must be ancient. But why haven’t I heard of him before?

Nicholas never claimed to be up to date with the politics among the shifters, but if this Luthor really was someone of interest, he would have heard about it, he was sure. He had enough money and influence to purchase a white fox bride. There must be some record of him somewhere.

What if he is living under a pseudonym?

“Wow,” Ruthie breathed as he unlocked the door and allowed her into the foyer, her surprise by the light replaced by what she saw before her. “Is this where you live?”

Again, Nicholas found himself staring at his house as if he had never seen it before. It had never seemed all that special to him, but knowing the life that Ruthie had led, he understood how good he had it.

“Welcome to my house,” he said, closing the door behind him. She inhaled and stood in place as if she were frozen.

“Come and sit down,” he urged, drawing her into the living room. “Are you hungry? You must be.”

Ruthie stared at him blankly.

“I’ll make something for you to snack on, and then you can have a bath. What do you say?”

She was obviously at a loss for words, but she managed to bob her head slowly. He turned away, and she rose immediately from the couch.

“May I come with you?” she asked quickly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course.” Once more, Nicholas took her hand and saw that she was trembling slightly.

She’s overwhelmed. I need to go slow with her, but there’s no time, not if we want to get to the bottom of this tonight.

He contained himself, the million questions dying on his lips. He didn’t want to bombard her, lest he scare her off, though he was distinctly aware of how time was escaping them.

“I imagine you don’t have much experience with home cooking,” Nicholas said dryly. “But I’ll whip up some sandwiches. I don’t have much in the way of leftovers.”

She offered him another blank look, and he chuckled.

“Here, sit down.” He pulled a stool back from the kitchen island and guided her onto the seat. Ruthie seemed more comfortable in his hands now than she had been. She leaned over the marble countertops to watch as Nicholas got to work, pulling items out of the fridge and skillfully making food for them both. He was still sated from his hunt, but he didn’t want Ruthie to feel like she was being watched.

“Do…do you have a mate?”

The question took him aback.

“What? No,” he laughed. Relief crossed over her face, but she still looked perplexed.

“What about servants?”

Nicholas shook his head.

“We don’t really do that anymore. I mean, the wealthy sometimes employ domestic help, but for the most part, we take care of ourselves.”

Ruthie’s eyes widened dubiously.

“Even the men?”

Nicholas swallowed a smile, realizing just how much the world had changed in a relatively short time.

“Yes. Even males are good for domestic chores,” he replied dryly. The awe in her face was clear. Nicholas knew she had a lot to catch up on. He took it as an opening to learn more about Luthor.

“Were there lots of servants at Luthor’s?” he asked innocently. “I know about Reyna and Miss Whitaker, but can you think of more names?”

Ruthie sighed. “I’m sure there were, but they didn’t come in contact with me. I think Luthor planned it that way, keeping me isolated.”

That doesn’t help.

He didn’t let his disappointment show. There should have been enough to go off with what she’d told him already. He wasn’t sure, though.

“Is your family here?” Ruthie asked after a moment of silence. He slid a plate over the counter toward her, and she eyed it in amazement.

“Go ahead and eat it,” he told her gently. “I’ll make you another one if you’re still hungry after that.”

She tentatively reached for the sandwich and put it to her lips. Her eyes brightened as her teeth sunk in.

“Is it good?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes,” she breathed, taking another bite. “Thank you.”

Nicholas felt a wave of pleasure wash through him as he watched her eat. She was so unlike anyone else he had ever met, her inhibitions endearing. She wasn’t worried about diets or makeup, about her external appearance. She was brand new to this world, and Nicholas was thrilled to be her guide through it.

“Your family?” she asked. Nicholas stifled a sigh. He didn’t want to discuss his sordid past with her, but it was only fair if she was baring her soul.

“My mother is here,” he replied hesitantly, not wanting to disclose too much. He wasn’t even sure that Ruthie would understand his past if he were to explain if fully. “I have half-brothers and a half-sister in various parts of North America.”

“Oh…” Her eyes shadowed slightly, but she didn’t say anything else.

“It’s a long story,” he added quickly. “But it can wait for another time.”

Ruthie took another bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly, her eyes fixed on him. Her gaze was making him slightly uncomfortable.

“Do you want another sandwich?” he asked to fill the silence. She shook her head. “Then maybe I’ll run you that bath, maybe open a bottle of wine?”

She paled at the suggestion, and Nicholas swallowed a groan.

“A bath and a glass of wine is probably the most relaxing thing in the world,” he offered. “But if you don’t want a glass…”

“I’ve never drank alcohol,” she explained. “Luthor forbade it. He claimed that it was determinantal to fertility.”

Nicholas scowled. “He sounds like a disgusting pig.”

“I’d like to have a glass of wine,” Ruthie told him softly.

Nicholas grinned. “I’m going to get that prepared for you,” he said quietly, starting toward the dining room where the liquor cabinet sat. When he popped open a bottle of merlot, he poured a glass for Ruthie and waved for her to follow him to the second floor.

“The master bathroom has a jacuzzi,” he explained. His words were met with another blank look. “You’ll see.”

He didn’t bother to turn on the lights in the bedroom, but he lit the candles next to the bathtub, and soon, a soft glow illuminated the interior. Steam rose from the taps as Nicholas busied himself preparing the room for her bath.

When he turned around again, Ruthie had stripped fully out of her heavy clothes and stood naked before him. Nicholas’ breath caught in his throat, but he turned away.

“I’ll leave you to it,” he told her, his voice gruff. “There’s a towel there.”

He pointed, trying not to take in her perfect frame through his peripheral vision.

“You won’t stay with me?”

Her own tone was just as husky, and the temptation was insurmountable, but Nicholas knew he couldn’t succumb to it, not yet.

“This is for you,” he told her gently. “I’m going to turn on the jets now, okay?”

She lowered herself into the hot water, a look of pleasant surprise overcoming her face. Slowly, she slid against the double seater tub, water lapping over her full, luscious breasts.

Ruthie giggled when the jets started, and Nicholas placed the glass of wine in her hand.

“I’m just going to be down the hall in my office,” he told her. “Call out for me if you need me.”

“Are you sure you won’t stay?”

The invitation in her voice gave him goosebumps. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, and he eyed her with too much desire.

No! Not now. First, I have to figure out how to keep her safe, and then we can indulge in whatever attraction we have between us.

Her eyes were shining pools of liquid desire, and Nicholas himself felt as if he were drunk, despite not having touched a drop.

“Later,” he promised, physically wrenching himself out of the room before the temptation became too much. He closed the door and almost sprinted down the hall to his office. He had work to do and barely any time to do it.