Brought to His Knees-Tough Guys Laid Low By Love Read online

  “Come out here and I’ll kill you! Do you see what happened to your buddies?” Her hands shook as she aimed the gun.

  She was going to die. There was a man–wolf killer outside and a pilot–kidnapper in here.

  Another glance outside and Kristof stood, as a man, watching her. A naked man. A wonderfully naked man.

  She shook her head.

  Wolf–beast.

  “Trudy. Open the hatch. I’m coming back up,” He yelled out to her.”

  Was she supposed to let him back in? He hadn’t said that.

  She chewed on her lower lip, waiting for an answer she couldn’t think of. If she opened the door would he attack her? Was he a rabid beast who couldn’t control himself?

  She shook her head. “No. You said not to open the hatch.”

  “I meant don’t open the hatch for them.”

  “Since I know your secret are you going to kill me now?”

  “Don’t be silly. It’s cold out here. Open the hatch.”

  Should she let him back in?

  “Are the pilots still alive?” he asked.

  Her gaze shot back to the cockpit. “Yes. But not for long,” she yelled, loud enough for the pilots to hear.

  “I’m naked and it’s about thirty degrees out here. Can you please let me in?”

  “Wh–what about your super–human heating abilities? Aren’t you supposed to be so hot that’d you’d melt snow?”

  He cocked his head to the side. “This is not a young adult story. I’m freezing my ass off.”

  “If he kills me I’m going to be so pissed,” she mumbled to herself.

  With the gun trained on the cockpit, she slowly walked to the hatch. There she unlocked it and opened the door for him.

  Kristof jumped and grasped the edge of the plane. With a grunt he hauled himself up and through the opening. Streaks of blood were on his body. He looked…deadly. She startled and fell back.

  She aimed the gun at him. “Don’t hurt me.”

  “Trudy, darling.”

  She stared at him.

  “Y–yes.”

  “If you’re going to shoot me, I’d rather you aim for my head and get it over with quickly.”

  Her gaze followed the path of her aim. It was on his wonderful hanging cock. Aw shit.

  “My other head,” he said softly.

  Stunned, Trudy’s jaw dropped open and she stared at him–all of him. He was big, thick and swinging gloriously in front of her.

  He leaned over and placed a finger on her jaw, lifting it closed. “We don’t have much time. You’ve trusted me so far, don’t let it wane now.”

  She hung her head. “I’m going crazy. That’s the only excuse. I’m still sleeping and the high altitude is making me experience crazy dreams.”

  He walked by her. “Keep your eyes and the gun on the door.”

  If it’s just a dream what would be the harm in her watching him?

  She turned to catch his pale ass sauntering away from her. His broad shoulders tapered to a well–defined back, down to a small waist and a butt that was round and looked firm. His long legs were muscular and lean.

  Perfect.

  “Eyes on the door,” he snapped.

  “Why? I’m dreaming.”

  He rummaged through the closet and tossed out a few items onto the seat.

  “This isn’t a dream, Trudy. While I smell humans in the cockpit, they’re just as dangerous as the ones outside. They could have a number of weapons in there with them and we’d never know.” He went to his bag and pulled out a fresh pair of clothes.

  This isn’t a dream?

  Despite her thoughts to the contrary, she turned back to face the cockpit and listened as he rustled behind her.

  “If this isn’t a dream, I really should be freaking out right now.”

  “Why?”

  She snorted. “You turned into a wolf, killed two other wolves and turned back into a human. That doesn’t happen every day.”

  “You’re right.” He walked to stand at her back and removed the gun from her hand. “I don’t kill every day.”

  She hitched a breath. “What are you, some kind of mutant?”

  “I’m a shifter. Now be a good girl and put on my coat. I have a bag for us. We have to leave here before reinforcements come.”

  She got up and pulled his coat on, finding the arms were too long. Although she was tall, his hemline still brushed against the floor. “Shifter?” she asked. “Can you shift into other animals besides a wolf and how exactly do you shift?”

  “No, just a wolf and I can’t explain it. My physical being alters and I change shape.”

  “So there’s a wolf living inside of you? Doesn’t he have to wait until the full moon comes out? How do you communicate with it? Is it like having a split personality?”

  “Tru, please, we don’t have time for twenty questions.” He adjusted his coat on her.

  “You just turned into an animal right before my very eyes and you don’t think I’d have questions?”

  He took a deep breath. “He doesn’t live inside of me–we’re the same entity, but with two distinct parts. I can shift whenever I want. I talk while he communicates with pictures. He gives me snippets of information that he wants me to know. Since I don’t know what it’s like to have a split personality, I’m going to have to say no.”

  His answers only led to more questions for her.

  “How many others are like you? Where did you come from? Does the government know what you can do? Are you a man that can shift into a wolf or are you a wolf that can shift into a man? Were you born a puppy or a human baby? Where are your parents? Are they shifters too? If they aren’t, do they know about you? How old are you? How long does your kind live?” She fired off questions, one after the other.

  “There are millions of various shifters. I was born in Hungary and moved to the US when I was younger. No, the government doesn’t know–and I’d like to keep it that way. I’m both man and wolf. I was born a human baby. My parents are vacationing in Brazil right now. Yes, they’re shifters too. I’m one hundred and thirty five years old. Shifters typically live between four hundred to five hundred years old.” He spoke in hurried tones while he buttoned her oversized buttons.

  She stared at him in utter shock.

  “You’ll stay by my side at all times,” he said. “I don’t know where we are or where we have to go. I’ll need for you to trust me with this.” She stared at him blankly, as he turned up her collar and framed it around her face. “Do you understand?”

  She nodded, even though she didn’t.

  He’d told her that because there was only one coat–his–and he would have to turn back into a wolf to keep warm. Okay, she could work past him shifting again, but what she couldn’t wrap her head around was how Kristof the wolf would know not to shred her into itty–bitty pieces and eat her. “He knows,” was all he’d told her when she asked.

  He loaded a duffle bag onto her back. It was stuffed with first–aid supplies, small blankets and an extra pair of clothes for him, for when he shifted back to human.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  No. “Yes.”

  He nodded once and stood back. “I’m going to shift now. Remember, I won’t hurt you.”

  “Right.”

  She anticipated his change, keeping her eyes on trained on his face.

  Take a quick peek before he turns again.

  No. Don’t stare at his junk.

  Her eyes dropped just as he began his change.

  Chapter Nine

  She took it better than I thought.

  He padded to the door. If they were going to survive this they had to leave as soon as possible. Waiting for the cowardly pilots to come out was not an option. Even if the pilots did come out of hiding there was no way Kristof trusted them to fly them to Michigan. Once there, the pilots could expect a slow death while he and his brothers tortured the information they needed out of them.

  At the door he t
urned around, expecting Trudy to be right behind him. He held back a growl when he found out she wasn’t. She remained rooted in her spot toward the back of the plane. There was only a handful of humans who knew of shifters and he hadn’t been the first shifter to come out to any of them.

  If it were up to Kristof, he wouldn’t have come out to her at all. Also, if it were up to him, they would not be running for their lives. He’d hunt down the last wolf who’d attacked him and find out who was paying him off.

  He waited by the door. She still hadn’t moved. If there was more time he would be more patient with her, to allow her to get used to him.

  He went back to her. She took two steps away as he approached. He didn’t have time for this. She yelped as he bit into her coat and pulled her down the aisle. At the door he released her. If she refused to open the door, he would have to expend more energy to shift back to his human form, open the door and shift back to a wolf.

  She put her hand on the door knob. “I’m trusting you.”

  He nudged her and she finally opened the door. The rush of cool air met him. Although cold, he would be fine. His fur was heavy and thick. He worried about her more. Without knowing where they were or where they were going, in the dead of night, she would have a hard time surviving. But still, the odds of surviving out there were better than staying in the plane and waiting for another attack.

  He leaned over the ledge, peering into the blackness, and sniffed the air. He didn’t catch the scent of any humans or wolves. He looked down. While he could easily make the jump he knew she couldn’t.

  As planned, she grabbed the cushions off all the seats and threw them out the door. She threw the duffle bag out last.

  He jumped down and nudged the pillows closer together and underneath the door. They couldn’t afford for her to break a leg or ankle. With no way of getting her back into the plane, they would be as good as dead on the ground.

  Looking up, he watched as she sat down and turned onto her stomach. Lying down, she pushed to dangle her legs out the door of the plane. She turned to look at him. He howled for her to take her time and he’d wait for her.

  She didn’t understand him, but it didn’t matter. She pushed away slowly until she hung on the side of the plane by her fingers. He heard her pray softly before she finally let go and dropped to the ground, ungracefully.

  He rushed to her side, sniffing for any injuries. No blood.

  She pushed him away. “Don’t get too familiar, buddy.”

  She rolled to stand on her feet and looked back up to the hatch door. “I can’t believe I just did that.”

  He grabbed the bag in his mouth and took it to her.

  “Right we have to go.” She shrugged the bag over her shoulder.

  He sniffed into the air. While there were no cities close by, he did smell something to the south. They were still too far away to tell exactly what it was. But it was their only hope of survival.

  As he started south, he heard her follow behind. He slowed his pace to accommodate hers. Her gym shoes were not suitable for snow and soon would become wet and cold.

  An hour into the trek and she began to breathe heavier. By the second hour, her breathing became labored. By the third hour, her heavy breathing became a high–pitched wheeze. She didn’t ask him to stop or slow up, although he was sure she wanted him to.

  He looked around for anywhere suitable to hide and rest for the night. Not long after, he found a log that had toppled at an angle to the ground. She’d be able to crawl under it and sleep. He stopped there and began to push leaves and sticks to one side. Realizing what he was doing, she helped. She moved slower than she had before. White puffs of air came from her mouth as she pushed the debris to completely cover one side of the tree.

  Once done, she crawled inside and huddled. She pulled her knees to her chin and shivered. He nudged the bag to her. When she didn’t reach for it he growled and shoved it to her again.

  “Don’t be so pushy.” She opened the bag and pulled out the blankets and wrapped them around her body. He positioned himself in front of her and lay down. If he wanted her to survive the night he had to keep her warm and keep predators at bay. He moved back until his butt pressed against her.

  As he watched the night and listened for predators, he also heard her breathing become slow and rhythmic. This was his mate. He had to do whatever it took to keep her safe and alive.

  Trudy woke up covered in fur. Instead of pulling away, she snuggled in closer. Not only was it warm, but it was…nice. She ran a hand through it and let her fingertips graze across the skin underneath the thick coat. As she stroked through the fur, a low grumbling sound emitted from the animal.

  Wolf.

  She stopped mid–stroke and pulled away. He shifted from her and crept from under the tree. As he left, so did the heat his body provided. He stood at the entrance and tilted his head in the air. She stayed where she was and pulled the coat tighter around her body, waiting for him to let her know which way they would go.

  Her limbs ached in some places and were numb in others. As she wiggled her toes, they burst to life in a million shards of painful prickles.

  He bounded into the brush, but returned a short time later to sit outside the make–shift shelter for her. She crawled out to him, fighting against her tight and cold muscles. What she needed was a toilet. She looked around. Her bladder strained. Right now she just hoped for privacy.

  “Stay,” she commanded.

  He growled.

  “Don’t get testy. I have to pee and I don’t want you to watch.”

  He sat back on his hunches and snorted.

  “Whatever. I don’t know how perverted your tastes run.”

  She looked around for another tree and went to it. When she returned he was in the same spot. He had his head turned away, as if he were letting her know that he hadn’t watched and didn’t have a desire to.

  She shook the blankets out and folded them. Once she had them stuffed into the bag, she threw it over her shoulder. He led the way once again. He only stopped to nudge her toward some berries and let her rest briefly. Once she began to shiver, he made her get up and continue their trek.

  She tried not to think of anything but getting to safety. She stumbled more and more as the day wore on. Her teeth chattered. Her lungs burned with every breath she took. Her feet had long since been numbed. Her legs were heavy and became heavier with each step.

  He nudged her toward some leaves.

  “N…n…no. Not hungry.”

  He nudged her again, making her stumble forward. Unable to catch her footing she fell to the ground, face first into the snow.

  He nudged her to roll her to her back. When she didn’t move he nuzzled her check.

  “You pushed me down,” she complained.

  The snow wasn’t as cold as she thought it should be. It even felt good. The more she settled into it, the sleepier she became.

  Kristof nudged her.

  “Leave me alone. I’m so sleepy,” she murmured.

  If he let her sleep for a little while she would be ready to go, good as new, ready to trek across the tundra. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a nice restaurant somewhere up ahead?

  She thought she heard Kristof whine.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get you a doggy bag,” she murmured.

  Chapter Ten

  No, no, no.

  He looked around his surroundings. This wasn’t an ideal place to make camp for the night. Shrubbery and small trees dotted the landscape. Earlier he’d smelled humans, not close though. Maybe ten more miles down the way. He’d intended to make her eat something to help build up her strength before trying to make it to where the other humans were by the nightfall.

  He’d guessed she was getting too cold and too tired. He didn’t want to expose her to another night without shelter.

  It wouldn’t take him long to run the ten miles to find out if shelter was available and run back. But there were multiple problems with that plan. He cou
ldn’t leave her alone and if there was shelter how would he get her to it?

  He would have to take a chance. Her life depended on it.

  He shifted. Immediately, the cold air bit into his naked ass. Working fast he turned her over and pulled the duffle bag from her back. He sifted through it for his jeans, sweater, socks and shoes.

  He pulled his coat off of her and wrapped her limp body in the blankets. He pulled on his coat and threw the bag over his shoulder. He gathered her in his arms and held her close to his body.

  There was no other choice. He had to carry her.

  He was cold, but it didn’t affect him as it did her. He wouldn’t suffer from hypothermia or frostbite. His metabolism wouldn’t allow it. While he could get tired, he wouldn’t do so walking the few miles to their destination.

  He prayed for some kind of shelter. A town would do nicely. A hotel would be even better.

  Five stars.

  Out of the three brothers, he preferred the finer things in life. No, he expected it. You wouldn’t know Andras was a millionaire even if he gave you the balance of his bank account. He preferred the low–key, easy lifestyle of raising horses. Imagine how the other shifters talked about him–a wolf raising horses–behind his back of course. Lajos couldn’t keep clothes on his back. He lived on an expansive estate that boasted acres of protected land filled with thick and abundant woods and ran in wolf form whenever he could. That’s why he preferred to travel by motorcycle. He liked the way the wind felt against his face.

  Kristof’s estate was also large and wooded, but what differed was his house. While the other two had modest homes, Kristof preferred his small mansion equipped with all of the human fixings.

  He didn’t see anything wrong with comfort or luxury. Both of which he hoped would meet them wherever they were going.

  She stirred in his arms and he pulled her closer. If he didn’t have to carry her, he would be much further than he was. The heat coming from her body was minimal.

  His wolf sent him images.

  She’s ours to protect.

  He began to trot. In the air was the smell of food, gas and trucks.

  Civilization.