“And your mother?”

“Mom and Stepdad were killed in a car crash a year ago.” Why am I telling this complete stranger my story? It’s not like I’m under the influence of truth serum. To think she tried contacting Richard before the funeral. It was as though he’d disappeared from the face of the world. He only found out recently and begged for forgiveness. On what she thought her deathbed, she forgave him for missing her mother’s funeral.

“Sorry.”

“My last home was with a boyfriend I broke up with five months ago, so I didn’t really have any other place to go.” She bit her lip. Why can’t I shut my mouth?

Nicolai frowned and pressed his thick thumb over her lower lip, then as quickly released it. “Will you make a full recovery?”

“My liver has improved, but now it’s just the fatigue. I lost twenty pounds. I’ve gained five back. I hope to return to normal soon.”

His voice grew stern. “I forbid you to go back.”

Lisa frowned. “Excuse me?” Maybe due to his limited understanding of the English language he confused the word “forbid” with “should not.” He didn’t mean to be bossy or did he?

“The risk is too great.”

“Not that it’s any of your concern, but I’m not allowed anyway. I have a price on my head.”

He narrowed his eyes and stared into nothing as if angered that someone wanted her dead. He turned to her. “Good, we agree. There are plenty of hospitals here that will hire you.”

“No, we don’t agree. To be honest, I’m not sure what my plans are, but I’m not working for some bureaucracy.” Who the hell did this macho dominant man think he was telling her what to do? And why did part of her feel compelled to obey him? Just because he was the hottest all-man hunk she’d ever met didn’t mean she should be so freakin’ submissive. And yet if he asked her to get on her knees and pleasure him, she’d obey.

Nicolai took her hand and gazed into her eyes with those feral gray-blue eyes. “You are a brave woman.” His warm lips gently kissed her cold hand, warming her heart and feminine parts dormant for much too long. Her panties shamelessly soaked from being in his presence. Heck, even her nipples pressed against her layered clothing, tingling in anticipation of his lips licking, biting, sucking. Geez, Ebola must have damaged my brain.

Why did she want this enigmatic, much too dominant, strange man? Not her type. Sure, she fantasized about brawny guys with Greek god bodies, but for long term she favored older brainy guys. Equal outside and inside the bedroom. A man like him went after hot supermodels. No, most likely strippers. Yet, he moved to kiss her. Apparently, he didn’t care one least bit she had been an Ebola patient, or that she wore pajamas and looked gaunt. Not to mention her lack of makeup and displaying the mother of all bad hair days. Her thick blonde curls probably made her look like Goldilocks and Medusa’s love child.

Richard’s car pulled up just at the moment Nicolai’s mouth almost made contact with hers. Nicolai stood and backed away as if worried she might still be contagious, or that she was the farmer’s daughter and dad brandished a shotgun. He straightened his black leather coat. “Your father is here.”

Boy was he off about what Richard was like. “Umm. Good. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.” Richard had not been around to catch her making out on the couch as a teenager. Her stepfather had been there for that teen scene. He’d taken her first boyfriend, Steve, to another room and had the treat-my-daughter-with-respect-or-else talk.

The door opened, and Richard glared at Nicolai. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Lisa had only seen her father look worried during her bout with Ebola. But never this pissed off. What was Richard thinking?

Her heart raced. Oh, shit. Had Nicolai been paid to bring her back to Africa? The militant who thought she died vowed to behead her on hearing she and the girls had survived. No. Nicolai made her feel safe. She was being paranoid. And so was Richard. “Chill, he brought you a gift.”

Richard lowered his gaze as if Nicolai had some leverage over him. As if he was some freakin’ king who required obedience and respect. Yeah, I felt that, too. “You should have called first.”

“You are right, Dr. Reinhardt. Apologies.”

Richard turned to her as she lay on the sofa with her head propped up by pillows. “You should not have come down.”

“I’m feeling much better.” She wanted to add, even turned on, but thought better of it.

Her father ignored her and checked her pulse. “Wait here. I’ll give you a thorough examination after I have a private conversation with my friend.”

Not former patient? Interesting. “Did you see what Nicolai brought you?” She pointed her chin toward the samovar.

Richard smiled. “Beautiful.”

“I thought you might like it,” Nicolai grinned.

“Come, we’ll talk in my office.”

No matter how wrong it was, Nicolai missed being away from Lisa. Even if she lay in the living room, steps away from the closed office door. “I’m sorry, again, my friend. My intention was to show my gratitude, not cause you distress.”

Reinhardt gestured for him to sit and then poured them both a glass of brandy. “I take it you didn’t tell Commander Reid you were making a surprise visit?”

He took the glass. “No. If she knew, she’d have more than a few words with me.”

“Only Reid and Deire know about Lisa.”

“You have a brave daughter. It is not every day I meet a human who survived both Ta’addancin Dare terrorists and Ebola.”

Reinhardt sighed. “And the scars of a father who abandoned her and her mother to join werewolf society.”

The ordeal of almost losing his only child had aged Reinhardt. His hair and beard were now more white than gray. His face bore additional wrinkles than the last time Nicolai saw him. As though he too had suffered from Ebola.

“I, for one, am grateful you saved my life. I owe you a life debt.” He lifted the glass. “To our health and to Lisa’s.”

Reinhardt drained his. “Good news is her boss no longer wants her stationed in West Africa. The militant, a man only known as Yaffar, wishes to behead her. We tried to keep all her contact information from the media.

“You should have sent a werewolf team.”

“Our Navy Seal team did fine without werewolf involvement.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I didn’t know what was going on until after her rescue.”

“So this terrorist, Yaffar, where is he?”

“In hiding. He’s not the big fish, but he’s the one who means to murder Lisa.”

“How is her recovery coming?”

“Slow. I told Reid I’d be back in another month, but it depends.”

“My bite can help speed her recovery.”

“Damn it. She’s got Stalion’s blood. I can’t let you, or any werewolf become addicted to her blood.”

“I have control.”

He snorted. “Like Adam had with Eva?”

The werewolf enforcer had chosen Eva, a human as a mate, but in the end because she was Stalion’s descendant the pack allowed their union. “They are married and accepted.”

“Power to them, but not for my daughter. She must never know of your kind.”

His heart clenched. “I understand.”

Reinhardt relaxed. “Deire says you are completely back to normal.” He laughed. “That is, your normal. Super strength and speed.”

“Thanks to you, Dr. Reinhardt.”

“Please, it’s Richard.”

“Very well, Richard.”

“Are you returning to Russia?”

“No. I will temporarily move to LIA headquarters until I find my own place.”

“So you decided to join Team Darkwolf?”

“Yes, but I still enjoy being a lone wolf. Reid understands my need for privacy.” Away from their tactless jokes about his Chernobyl origins. One more crack about his glow in the dark cock and he would break necks.

Dr. Reinhardt stood and bowed. “Once I return to HQ, we’ll share some vodka.”

He obviously couldn’t hide his veiled impatience to get him to leave. Nicolai smiled. “Let me know, if you need anything.”

“I only need you to stay away from Lisa.”

Nicolai’s heart hardened with wolfish rage. As grateful as he was to the doctor for saving his life, that was a request he couldn’t promise. In fact, his gratitude to the good doctor was all that stood in front of his enraged wolf, who he’d unknowingly challenged. Nicolai and his wolf fought for supremacy. “Don’t worry, my friend.”

“Good. Will you return to Montana then?”

“Perhaps soon. I think I’m in the mood for a vacation. Somewhere warm. A little heat will be good for me.”

Nicolai walked past where Lisa had fallen asleep. The temptation to steal her away and bite her soft throat to deliver healing saliva nearly overwhelmed him. Yet, once he tasted her blood there would be no going back. She’d be his forever. He quietly closed the door.

As he got in the car, his keen ears heard her ask her father where he’d gone. He waited for his answer.

“Nicolai went home. He won’t be back.”

Nicolai’s heart tugged as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. Not until Lisa is safe. And then I will not betray you, my friend. I will stay away.