Yes, she was aroused, and no doubt the Breed driving knew it.
She gave a mental shrug. Just as she didn't doubt in the least that they should be used to it. Women around the world, in blogs, Breed-sighting websites and a variety of other online communities, both reviled and lusted after the creations man had made and lost control of.
They were fascinated by the Breeds. They were frightened of them and aroused by them. In little more than a decade they had become the bogeyman in the night as well as the dark lovers that invaded women's dreams. Sometimes it was amusing. Most of the time it managed to remind her how fickle humans could be.
Because it would take very little to turn the tide against the Breeds, and if the rumors Dane had heard were correct, then that tide could be coming through much sooner than anyone expected. And it could be more cataclysmic than anyone guessed.
* * *
The animal opened tired eyes, not certain what had drawn it awake. The man. The man's emotions were slipping. The animal could feel the break in the man's defenses, the chance to stretch, to reach out. To sense freedom. Sweet freedom.
It stretched with all its senses, slowly, cautiously; it reveled in the chance.
Then it paused. Blinked. It stared through the man's eyes. It inhaled through the man's nostrils. It tasted the air against the man's tongue and it had to restrain its roar.
It crouched, staring, scenting, tasting. It had waited. It had been weak. Worn. So close to death. But it had fought. And it had waited.
For this.
Dark eyes peeked up at the man from beneath lowered lashes. It wasn't a coy look, it was a cautious look. Dark lashes, shades lighter than her eyes. Dark hair was restrained when it should be free.
And her scent.
This was what had awakened it. Her scent.
The animal felt something akin to joy race through it. Her scent was like mercy. It was like warmth in the middle of the cold. Her scent was like a place to belong.
It was careful. The man was still diligent. The animal let the smell of that sweet scent linger in its head, for only a moment. Just a taste, a tease of what true pleasure was, before pulling back.
The animal crouched now, awake, unblinking. The presence of the woman filled it with hope, renewed that last ounce of strength it needed just to survive.
The man's emotions, the animal could feel them straining, the chains that bound it growing weaker, because the man was distracted. The man was dealing with his emotions; he didn't have to be on guard for the animal that had nearly died long ago.
He was just a man. The animal could feel the thought as the man let himself ease his guard. He was just a man, no need to worry. He could watch this woman. He could want this woman.
And the animal watched. And it wanted. It crouched, waiting, growing hungry now where before there was no strength to even hunger.
The animal watched. It waited. Knowing freedom would soon arrive.
CHAPTER 2
"Hello, Mr. Wyatt. What a pleasure to finally meet you." Ria accepted Jonas Wyatt's handshake as she stepped into his office at Sanctuary and looked around the well-appointed office.
It wasn't fancy by any means, but it was large, open and airy. The walnut desk he used had been used by the Council scientists who had inhabited the estate before the Breeds took possession of it.
Dark, heavy file cabinets had been placed along the walls. He kept his files close to him. Hard copy was a bit antiquated, but at least he kept them secured. She knew his office in D.C. was completely electronic and unattached to any lines outside his office other than the PDA and laptop that often traveled with him.
"I've had coffee brought up from the kitchens." Jonas extended his hand to the small sitting area off to the side of the room.
A couch, sofa and two chairs sat around a gleaming, heavy walnut coffee table. The coffee sat on a silver tray in the center of the table, tempting her senses with its smell.
"My weakness." She smiled in all-apparent appreciation as he led her to the couch. "I must admit, my body doesn't adjust as well to different time zones as it used to. I could use the caffeine."
Jonas made a noncommittal little sound in his throat, sort of a cross between an irritated grunt and a hum of suspicion.
He sat down across from her as Mercury silently took the chair to the side of the couch.
"Should I pour?" She indicated the coffee service sitting before them.
Jonas's brow arched. "If you like."
He sat back as she poured the coffee and handed him then Mercury a cup before she took her own, balanced it on the delicate china saucer and sat back.
Lifting the cup by its handle, she inhaled first, her brain sparking in anticipation before she sipped cautiously. It was really hard to find good coffee.
She was pleased to discover this brew was some of the best. Her lashes almost fluttered in ecstasy.
Jonas chuckled. "You like your coffee," he commented as he drank his own, staring back at her with those odd silver eyes of his.
"I adore my coffee." She took another sip, then relaxed further against the couch and glanced between him and Mercury.
She had arrived the day before and been taken to the cabin Dane had rented for her. It sat on the edge of Sanctuary, but not within the boundary of the compound itself.
Nearly a half mile from the cabin, a secured perimeter had been set up. She knew most of the equipment was designed to be fenceless. Both Vanderale Industries as well as Seth Lawrence's various companies had contributed to the security of Sanctuary.
Lions roamed the Sanctuary side of the border, and Breeds patrolled it tirelessly. She had heard the lions roar the night before, obviously patrolling the perimeter despite the cold temperatures that had descended over the mountain.
It was only the first of October and already temperatures were dipping into the freezing zone. She could feel that cold clear to her bones.
"I understand Vanderale's concerns, Miss Rodriquez . . ."
"Oh please, call me Ria." She smiled back at him blandly. "There's no need to stand on ceremony. After all, I do know your family quite well."
His expression went blank, but his silver eyes flared with sudden animosity.
"I very much doubt that," he growled.
She blinked back at him. "But I do. Your father and your brother looked after me after the death of my mother. They've been quite kind."
His eyes narrowed as she literally rubbed his nose in the fact that he couldn't exactly treat her like an employee. And he certainly didn't seem to accept the fact of his parentage very well. Unlike Callan, Jonas's mother hadn't been Leo's mate. Only Leo's sperm and another scientist's egg were used in his creation.