Footsteps pounded down the hall—the smack of Gideon’s bare feet on the house’s old wood floors. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one awake and aware of their late-night visitor.

The door to her room flung open. Gideon stood there bare-chested. She devoured the sight of him, the stranger outside forgotten. His eyes settled on her with an intensity that sent heat rushing to her face. His jeans hung loose and unbuttoned on his waist. The enticing line of hair disappearing below his navel made her throat constrict. Tousled hair, dark in the room’s shadows, brushed his naked shoulders. She felt herself take a step forward, fingers twitching at her side, itching to touch that hair, recalling its softness in her hands.

She froze, rooting her feet to the floor, telling herself to get a grip.

He pointed an imperious finger at her. “Stay here.”

The back door opened and slammed shut below.

“Gideon,” a voice boomed out.

Gideon gave the smallest flinch.

Goose bumps sprang to life over her skin. “Who is it?” she whispered.

“My boss. Don’t make a sound,” he cautioned, his eyes glowing bottle green in the shadows. “Not unless you want it all to end right here, tonight.”

His meaning left no doubt. Shivering, she nodded.

He turned and walked back out of her room, closing the door behind him.

For a long moment, she held her breath, almost afraid the sound would carry downstairs and give her presence away.

His boss? The low rumble of their voices barely carried from the bottom floor. The drumming pulse at her neck gradually slowed. They couldn’t hear her from up here.

Easing the door open, she stuck her head out into the hall. The voices were no clearer, still a faint murmur on the air. She crept down the hallway on silent feet and lowered herself to the top step, well out of sight but in perfect hearing range.

“Two dead lycans and no one’s claiming them. Know anything about it?”

“Why would I?” Gideon’s voice rang out.

“The whole thing smacks of a rogue hunter. You know I won’t tolerate that. Not in my town.”

“Yes. I’m well aware of our policy regarding non-sanctioned hunters.”

She bit her lip. What would happen if his boss realized he lied? Worse yet, what would happen if it were discovered that Gideon sheltered her? She could guess at her fate, but what about him? Until that moment, Claire hadn’t realized just how much he was putting on the line for her.

A long pause followed Gideon’s flip response. She strained forward on the step, waiting.

“Seen your sister lately?”

Biting her bottom lip between her teeth, Claire hugged her knees to her chest.

“Not much. She’s busy with school and work.”

“Right.”

Even from her position high on the stairs, she detected the man’s skepticism.

“You know what I think?” he continued.