The news of Lindsay’s slaying and betrayal angered Kalli. But she held the emotion in tightly, refusing to shed a tear or waste her thoughts on the foolish girl who’d helped kill Toby. The incident only served as a further incentive to help Tristan track down the other wolf. Seeing Tristan’s display of power earlier left no doubt he’d be caught.
When they finally reached Livingston One, they were greeted by both Julie and Mira, who both offered assistance. Logan quietly confided what happened at the summit with both women, while Tristan and Kalli retreated to his condo. Normally jovial and confident, Tristan seemed distant and uncharacteristically reserved. Like Tristan, Kalli knew that things were far from over, especially since they suspected that the CLI was in Gerald’s hands.
“I’ve gotta take a shower,” he muttered, walking toward the master bedroom. “You wanna join me?”
“Sure, um, I’ve just got to stop by my room a sec, okay?”
“Okay, meet you in there.”
She nodded, wishing she could take his hurt away. He needed comfort tonight, and she swore she’d do everything in her power to help him. The killing appeared to come at a great cost to him, or perhaps he was mourning Toby. Observing Tristan in the element of battle had been both exhilarating and exhausting. She couldn’t even imagine what it had done to him, but she’d go to him, care for him, and make him whole again. But Kalli knew there was a critical singular task she had to complete before she could give herself to him fully; one which would allow her to start her life anew.
Going into her bathroom, she stared at herself in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, she peeled off the black clothing she’d donned for the summit. But even once her clothes were gone, the morose film of violence still clung to her skin. She needed to shake off this evening’s events as much as anyone, but she couldn’t stop thinking about Tristan, the man and the wolf. Reveling in his animalistic display of dominance, she could no longer deny her true self.
Stark naked, she wrapped her fingers around the tan bottle on the countertop, which contained the CLI. Remorse for Toby’s death still remained, but pride for surviving all those years without detection surged through her veins. There was no use in regretting what her childhood could or should have been. There was only now. And without a doubt, Tristan and Lyceum Wolves commanded her future. In her mind’s eye her alter ego awakened, enthusiastically prancing in anticipation. Unscrewing the white top, she took one last look at the pills before flushing all of them down the toilet.
Instead of going to his room, Tristan had decided to turn around and head toward the kitchen. He’d torn off his clothes, removed his shoes, and threw them into a black plastic bag. Texting housekeeping, they arrived within seconds to take it to the incinerator for disposal. The scent of the dead wasn’t something one could wash out of clothing. Snatching a bottle of cognac and a couple of glasses, he retired to his private sanctuary.
Tristan let the hot spray sting his skin as his consciousness drifted to Kalli. Mulling it over all day, he’d struggled to comprehend the urge to claim her. Yet deep down, he knew exactly why. Although Logan’s earlier cryptic comments had irritated the hell out of him, he realized at some point later in the afternoon that his beta knew for certain what he’d been renouncing. But his stubborn attitude could no longer deny fate. Never truly understanding what it was like for other mated wolves, the calling of his mate was a song he craved like no other.
Accepting and acting on this newfound realization were two entirely different things. Kalli hadn’t even accepted her own wolf, so he wasn’t about to slam her with this new information any time soon. Reflecting on the summit, he prayed he hadn’t frightened the hell out of her. But like he’d told her, there was no hiding one’s true nature. And his was lethal.
He placed his forehead against the cool tile as the calming scent of Kalli wafted into the room. Out of his peripheral vision, he could see her white robe drop to the floor, giving way to her silky olive skin. Through the beveled glass blocks, he watched the black curls spill down her back as she removed the band and pins, which had bound her hair.
In the reflection of the mirror, Kalli’s breath caught as she noticed his sexy silhouette; like a powerful animal, he stretched his arms upward, leaning against the shower wall. Slipping around the enclosure in search of Tristan, she admired the sight of his bronzed dripping wet skin. The muscled planes of his back gave way to the solid curve of his buttocks and long powerful legs. Jets of water sprayed from each wall, and by the time she reached him, warm drops poured down her lithe but curvy body.
Within inches of his body, she placed her hands on his shoulders tracing her fingers upward until she reached hold of his rock-hard biceps. Giving them a gentle caress, her hands trailed down the hard muscles of his back. She heard him hiss; his head lolled backward in contentment. Her hands explored his trim waist until her arms were wrapped all the way around him. Pressing forward to embrace him, her swollen bosom crushed against the expanse of his back and her legs straddled his. Spreading her fingers, she touched his wonderfully broad chest down to the rippled abs beneath his warm bare skin.
“You okay?” she asked lovingly, closing her eyes while the cheek of her face pressed softly against his back.
“Chérie, there is no place I’d rather be right now,” he mumbled. “Goddess, you feel so good. So perfect.” He moved to turn around to face her, but she stilled his movement.
“Shhhh…My Alpha, let me take care of you tonight,” she whispered, reaching for the soap. “Relax, baby.”
Lathering the bubbly cleanser into her small hands, she sluiced slippery liquid over his clavicles, massaging his neck until he released a small moan. Her hands continued their assault, rubbing the globes of his bottom and down his crease. Brushing his thighs, she gently turned him until he faced her.
He stood silently watching her, enjoying the feel of her smooth palms on his skin. She rinsed her hands to fill them with cleanly scented shampoo. Reaching up into his hair, her pebbled pink tips grazed his chest. He sighed in aching need at the feel of them, but allowed her to thoroughly wash his blood-matted hair. Squeezing out the excess lather, she gently tilted his head back into the spray.
Again, she resumed washing him with suds. Moving from under his arms to his biceps, she carefully attended to him all the way down to his fingers. Kalli’s breath caught at the sight of his tanned, sculptured chest. He opened his eyes to catch her gaze as she cleaned him all the way down to his belly. Keeping eye contact, she let her fingers deliberately trace the muscularly cut v that led to his groin. Whisking her palms downward, she spread his legs, stroking the juncture of his thighs. A ragged gasp escaped his lips as she cupped his velvety sac; his head fell backwards to rest on the tile, delighting in the sensation. Wrapping her other hand around his straining erection, she pumped him up and down, smoothing her thumb over the plump head.
Tristan had never in his life been so open and vulnerable to a woman, letting her roam free on his body. From the first touch of her fingers to his shoulders to the graze of her nails on his chest, he tensed in excitement, letting her work her magic. She’d asked him to relax, but the agonizing arousal coursed through his body like he’d touched a live wire. It took every bit of self-restraint to not rush to make love to her. Rather, he willingly submitted to the sweet pain of her titillating stimulation, anticipating her next touch. As if she was performing a purification ritual, he felt the dark cloud in his soul lift.