Got Wolf? Taming of the Wolf - "Raven's Shelter" excerpt

Here's the excerpt...

Karen rubbed her patient’s head and removed her surgical gloves. Surgery had gone well and the freshly neutered dog was doing fine. Fia approached her as soon as she stepped into the hallway.
“Boss, there’s this gorgeous guy here to see you. He says he’s a vet, too. He was asking Auriel if he could look around the clinic.”
“Look around? Damn it, Ron must have sent him.” She stepped into another room, removed her scrubs, and washed her hands. “Where is he? Waiting room?”
“Yep. I must say all the female clients are enjoying the view.”
Karen frowned, genuinely puzzled. “What are you talking about?”
“The view! You know--good looking man--enjoying the view? Even the pets stopped whatever they were doing and looked at this guy when he walked in.”
Karen shook her head. “Well, view or no view, he’d better not be one of Ron’s minions coming in here to piss me off or he’s gonna get cussed out today.”
“And that would make today different how?”
Karen gave Fia a no you didn’t look. “I don’t cuss every day.”
Fia laughed. “Ahem. Okay. You’re the boss, but I’ve never met another woman who can cry real tears over a dog or cat getting hurt or lost and turn around a minute later and cuss every human around her like a sailor. I’m just sayin’.”
Karen rolled her eyes and started walking back to the waiting area. “Where’s my guest?”
“Dr. Adler?” Fia called Raven to the front counter to meet Karen.
Karen stared as a tall man with wide shoulders and wavy black hair approached the counter. She knew her lips were parted, but couldn’t seem to force her jaw closed as she watched him in awe. He moved with the grace of a predator--slow, sensual movements as if his muscles rolled when he walked.
“Hi doctor.”
A few moments passed before Karen realized Dr. Adler still held his hand out for her to shake. All suspicions about him working for Ron flew from her mind as her lower abdomen lit up like a furnace and her lower limbs melted from the heat.
“Oh, hi doctor. You are from?” She tried to cover, something she seldom had to do. She was not a woman who spent much time thinking about men, let alone falling all over one. She was not accustomed to having to control her reactions.
“I’m from Washington State. I do apologize for keeping you from your patients, but I only…”
Karen found herself staring again, his words dropping to a low hum. His eyes were like water--liquid pools of baby blue in an olive-colored complexion framed by the blackest hair she had ever seen on a white man. He had high cheekbones, full lips, a straight nose, and as he spoke, she could see just a hint of pearl-white pointed incisors. The imperfection made his features perfect.
“Doctor Marshall? Are you all right?”
Karen noticed as the baby blue pools narrowed, his entire expression becoming one of concern. She blinked slowly, realizing he was awaiting a reply from her. She covered again. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night. You were saying?”
“If I could bother you for just a few minutes longer in private.” He smiled.
Bother? His smile gave her an even better view of his imperfect yet perfect white teeth, and she felt as if a light switch had been turned on causing the fire inside her to flare. “Oh, no bother.” She looked around the waiting room. “Five minutes?”
That smile again. “Five minutes.”

Comments

Karilyn Bentley said…
Hi! I'm a fellow Got Wolf? author so I got my book early and wanted to let you know that I loved your story! Do you have any more that are coming out? Great job!

Karilyn
Dariel Raye said…
Hi, Karilyn. Thanks for your comment. I'm working on a couple of stories - both paranormal. One's a novella and the other is full length. Guess I'd better order my books early, too :)
Anonymous said…
Just that little snippet of your story hooked me. I have got to read it.
Unknown said…
Tantalizing! You know this one's going somewhere interesting.