Darrell gave his shoulder a stretch, feeling the odd pull of his skin against the stitches. “Who?” “Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum,” Elliot walked to the window. “Hi, Raine.” He opened the curtains to let in the waning sunlight, acting as though it was no surprise to see the human female back, sitting here in Danny’s living room. But then he froze, said, “Whoa. Wait a minute,” spun around, and sniffed the air. Darrell tried to signal him to stop saying anything, but Nate’s nostrils had caught the scent, too, and he called it out. “Why do I smell sex?” Elliott chuckled at Danny in his robe. “So, D, you changed your tune, didn’t you?” “I didn’t join in, you sick fuck,” chuckled Danny. Two shades from the color of a full-bodied Cabernet, Raine covered her face with the blanket and curled up under it. “Oh, my God.” Darrell grinned as his packmates started cracking up, which for Danny meant one burst of laughter followed by a contained smile. “Okay, o
Danny’s voice came from what seemed like miles away. “Grey, calm down. You’re still healing.” Raine’s eyes softened and she scooted closer to him, slipping her hand around the back of his head. She weaved her fingers in his hair and brought their foreheads together, whispering just for him, “I’m here.” A knot formed in his gut, tightening painfully. “I might scare you away.” “I don’t frighten easily.” She touched the place over his pounding heart, carefully, so as not to rub against where he’d been shot. She had no idea the pain was deeper. “You should see some of the things I’ve seen working at that hospital.” “I’m not like anything you’ve seen.” He exhaled and pulled away so he could sit up straight. Her fingers slipped down to her lap, the blanket bunched around her, her lavender blouse smooth, one button missing. “I’m not just a man.” He paused. “I’m also…a wolf.” She stared at him, then slowly asked, “What do you mean?” “I mean I’m both.” Her eyelashes fluttered, searchin
Raine watched Darrell walk back from the window in sweats and no shirt, chest muscles rippling, spattered with burnt honey-colored hair. He’d just proudly ‘claimed’ her and announced such a bizarre thing, after knowing her less than a week to his friends—friends who were apparently either werewolves or highly delusional studs—and all she could think was, Do not pinch me if I am dreaming. Darrell walked to stand with his friends. The order from left to right was Danny, Elliott, Nate and Darrel, the bar behind the middle two, they who looked the calmest. Darrell was a little fidgety but it was Danny who appeared fucking terrified. He glugged down his drink and reached to set it on the bar counter. “Who’s first?” Nate asked. No one said anything. “Okay, I was the first to have shown my wolf to a human—at least one we didn’t scare the shit out of—so maybe I should do it?” Elliot gave a pretty exaggerated shrug. “Works for me.” “Like hell.” Darrell muttered, “I’ll be the first wolf she
Darrell loosened his embrace but kept her close. She looked up at him as he gazed down at her. “You said you love me.” She flushed. “I was having a moment.” “A moment?” “Yeah.” A small frown pierced his brow and he lifted her off the ground, kissing her deeply. Every cell in her responded to him, and then he moaned against her lips, “I love you, too.” Soundless tears trailed her cheeks before she even realized how much emotion had been waiting under the surface. All her life she’d wanted to meet the guy and here he was. Finally. He kissed some away, picked her up, and carried her to the couch. “We have to talk business now.” She nodded and picked up the blanket to wrap around her waist so she could hike up her skirt and sit crossed-legged, modestly. “You’re naked,” she smiled. Darrell gave her a sexy wink and straightened his spine, absently touching the bullet wounds. “Are you complaining?” Danny walked in and threw him a burgundy robe as Darrell said, “What the fuck is this
Darrell couldn’t hear him. He strode inside and was momentarily thrown back by the disgusting smell. To a human it would have been bad, but to a werewolf, intolerable. There were bed bug-infested mattresses on a garbage-covered floor. The original color of the tile was indiscernible through the grime. Propped against the walls sat and slept drugged-out humans, some awake though not really. It wasn’t just meth they were taking. They were on heroin, too. The explosion of wood and metal stirred them, but they weren’t quick to react. There was a woman and five guys. He only cared about two of them. He headed for the two whose faces he’d never forget. They jumped up from the floor, instantly recognizing him. “What the fuck! How’d you find us?” the white guy shouted, eyes darting around, more shocked than afraid. He looked like he wanted to run, but didn’t know how he’d get past the four of them. “What the fuck do you want, man?” The Latin one was more like a caged animal, his chin low
Nate picked up from there. “The police will give you mercy for this and your confession. They might even offer you a deal for your full cooperation.” Danny added, “You will be followed and we have friends in the department.” Darrell brought it home. “If you don’t do as we’re telling you and turn yourself in, we’ll be back. If you’re not here, it won’t matter. We’ll find you again, and we won’t be as merciful.” Elliott ran over, bent down, and snarled in Tony’s face for effect. Tony cowered and screamed, “Okay! Okay!!!” The addicts were on their way to the Precinct at 606 M. 67th Street within fifteen minutes. Covertly making their exit, fully clothed, the pack left to have a preplanned drink at The Pony bar in Bell’s Kitchen. They did this to explain their being in the neighborhood if spotted on camera, and there were many at The Pony. Perfect alibi if anything went wrong. The truth was, they didn’t have friends at the precinct, but neither did drug addicts. If Tony or Volero cri
Sounding charmingly embarrassed, Darell explained, “Elliott wrote it down when he dropped you off that night.” “He did?” She smiled, feeling Elliott was on her side and had been without her even knowing. “Okay then. Come on over.” He hung up without saying goodbye and she almost threw the phone in the air with happiness. But then she looked around. Oh shit. The place was a mess. All the discarded outfits from earlier were on her bed. There were dishes in the sink. The place looked like a shoebox compared to Danny’s, and she freaked out, running to put things away and make it at least somewhat presentable. One minute later there was a knock on the door. With her arms full of clothes ready to shove in the closet, she turned toward the sound. “Hello?” Darrell’s muffled voice came back, “It’s me.” Her jaw dropped. She threw the clothes into the closet, slammed the door and ran to let him in, swearing under her breath for being such a slob. “Hi!” “Hey.” He leaned against the doorfr
The moment Darrell nodded, Raine thought she might cum right then as his eyes began to glow. He stiffened as she tightened around him. He groaned, “You feel so good.” Through parted waiting lips she whispered, “I want to invite my best friend.” He gave two hard thrusts, then asked, “What’s her name?” Two more thrusts. Raine gasped and dug her nails in deeper until he winced. “Jonathan.” Darrell paused and buried himself to the hilt. “I’m sorry. What? Your best friend is a man?” She opened her mouth, begging for a kiss. He waited for an answer. “Uh uh, no. Who is this guy?” She let go of his arms and grabbed his ass, pulling her hips up to bring him in deeper. “He’s gay,” she grinned. “Don’t look so jealous.” Darrell chuckled and pounded her hard a few times, groaning and working her body with his. He stopped and panted, “Anyone else?” She stared at the beads of sweat sliding down his beautiful neck. “My mother can’t be here by Tuesday. She’s going to kill me.” “She’ll get over
But then he heard someone behind him in the doorway and he spun around to see Linda standing there with her suitcase in one hand, her light blue coat in the other, keys jingling as she nervously fiddled. She asked, quietly “Are you okay?” the rain pattering loudly behind her. With all the self-discipline he could barely muster, he struggled against his wolf and cracked his neck as he gave a very curt nod and grated through gritted teeth, “My…friend…seems to have left.” “You need a ride somewhere?” Danny blinked to the ground and then back to her. He grimaced and commanded his wolf to calm the fuck down. Gasping for air, he said, “Excuse me a moment. Please, don’t leave.” He walked to the bathroom and shut the door, splashing water on his face. The cold baptism he coupled with direct and soothing, silent mantras. I’ve got this. I can do this. Control. Control yourself. Let her go. She had to leave. Let her go. You are stronger than this. Afraid he’d lose his ride out of here, he q
He listened at the door to make sure what he heard wasn’t some kinky, consensual sex play. It wasn’t. He stepped back, looked left and right for anyone watching. No one was around. He closed his eyes and listened for heartbeats in nearby cars. The lot was empty of human beings. He focused on the door and took a single step back. Cracking his neck, his eyes began to glow and with all his supernatural strength he shot out a powerful kick. The door split in two, splintering at the hinges. A disgusting sight waited for him inside. The dead-eyed employee of the motel had a woman of at least sixty against the wall. At the explosion, they both looked toward the door. Her eyes were wide with terror and shock, his narrowed in irritation at the interruption. Her suitcase lay on its side on the ground like she’d tried to throw it at him, the contents splayed on shag carpet. The attacker had a bite mark in his arm, but now was pinning hers. Her polyester pants were down around only one ankle and
Danny collapsed on top of her trembling body, panting as Kat held him close. She kissed his neck, lacing her fingers into his damp hair. But without a word he got up and pulled out, leaping off the bed like she was contagious. He strode swiftly to the bathroom, slammed the door and then had the audacity on top of everything, to fucking lock it. On shaking elbows, she rose up and stared at the door. The shower came on, muffled through the walls. She blinked at the sound, unable to believe what she was hearing. “Oh my God,” she whispered, stunned and terribly hurt. Getting up, she slowly paced the room. Her shirt was broken, as were her bra and panties. Only her jeans were intact so she put them on, went to his suitcase and pulled out one of his t-shirts, a black one she would no doubt swim in. Slipping it over her bedhead, she grabbed a pair of his dress socks and put them on, too. As she tugged on her sneakers, the shower turned off. She froze then ran for the door, swooping down to
He released her, glanced to the guy behind the gun-proof glass watching the scene with interest. “Come on,” Danny grumbled, reaching for his suitcase. The fact that he held the door again was a miracle but that’s just what he did. She hesitated. He cocked his chin as if to say, Well, what are you waiting for? “You never cease to amaze me,” she snarled at him, walking cautiously past like he might slam it on her if she wasn’t careful. As soon as they were outside, he led the way with the self-confidence of someone who knew she would follow. “Why am I staying here with you? Am I a glutton for punishment or what?” Under the minimal shelter of an insufficient awning they made their way to Room 7, millions of drops hitting them from the left. Without finesse he jammed the key in the lock and again held open the door for her. “Since when are you a gentleman?” “I’ve always been a gentleman. Have you really forgotten that?” She shrugged and walked inside, looking around the original décor
“Wish I had a towel,” she smiled. He stared at her until it faded away. “What are you doing up here? Is this your car?” “It’s my parent’s car, which you would know if you’d ever come over to their home. And I’m going to MarhVelly.” She paused at his expression. “What? Why the face?” Danny stared at her. There’s no fucking way. He pushed wet hair away from his forehead and asked in a very low voice, “Why are you going to MarhVelly, Kat?” Flustered she blinked back to the road. “Lobster. I’ve never had it there, and I’ve always wanted to.” Pointing ahead, she glanced over to him, “Oh no, looks like an accident.” He turned and saw ominous lights of both fire engines and police cars spinning through the storm. He and Kat were quiet as they waited to see how bad the damage was. A car was turned over, the driver nowhere to be seen. Probably already taken away by a speeding ambulance. Two more driverless cars lay on one another in the fast lane. A tow truck was busy pulling the upturned
“Okay, I can handle this,” he said, under his breath, not believing it. As though on dramatic cue, lightning illuminated the heavens followed instantly by powerful claps of thunder. In heavy undulating sheets, the rain exploded from the darkness, assaulting his Audi A4 Sedan. With every curse word he could think of he searched for the windshield wipers. He hit the turn signal, accidentally turned off the lights and put them back on, and hit the cruise control. “For what I paid for this piece of shit, the wipers should be zipping on their own at the first drop of rain.” Finally, the wipers moved and he cranked them up full gear. Exhaling, he sat back, gripping the wheel. “If Eli could see me now. He’d never let me live this ineptitude down.” For two miles he drove fairly quickly despite the storm until suddenly red taillights illuminated the darkness. Stopped traffic. “SHIT!” He slammed the brakes and hydroplaned to a diagonal stop, narrowly missing the rear end of a Subaru. Panting,
“It’s called conversation. Someday you’ll learn how to participate in one. The car is there. Gas it up before you bring it back. And remember to let Jonathan put the gas in. A man wants to be the man,” Marcy replied. “You think so, eh?" Kat paused near their coat rack filled with scarves and coats. Quite a few hats were hung on the rungs as well, each assigned to at least one memory, not all of them good. “I’m going over to get the car now. Is Dad there?” “Your father is sitting across from me. So no.” “Since when do you and Dad have lunch together?” She frowned at all of it. It seemed like every inch was seeped in memories. Breaking up sucks so badly. “What’s going on?” “Your mother and I are getting to know one another again!” Henry Zane called out, loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to make an undignified scene. Kat stared into her parent’s past, at the infidelities on both their parts, the fights, the estrangements. “Is this true, Mom?” “Oh, it’s Mom now, is it?” h
As soon as he hit send, Danny jumped up and headed for the bathroom easily the size of a small Crossia studio. He hadn’t held back when he’d renovated this unit. After the Co-op approved him, he’d gutted the place to match his taste. Everything elegant. Shining. Black or charcoal grey, with the ceilings white for an added feeling of space. His bathroom had two showerheads with room for four people, not two. There was a separate, Jacuzzi bathtub. If he and his wolf friends were going to live like humans, they should live like the best of them, since by default werewolves were superior already. Not that human beings would see it that way. He ran the water extra hot and stripped off his clothes, kicking the annoyingly tight shoes aside with extra gusto. As soon as the scalding water hit his sore back, he sighed long and loud. Then he turned and got a surprise. It felt a little better than he thought it would. He glanced down. “What the fuck?” He was hard as a rock. Now that he was payi
This was her chance to make a run for it…or to commit to him for good. He was a good man. Such a good man. Her family loved him, probably more than she did. He’d make an okay father except for the probability that he’d not teach them anything new. He’d probably just make carbon copies of him, a man designed by the term “normal.” For God’s sake, Don’t Rock the Boat was one of his favorite things to say whenever Kat had a contrary opinion she meant to voice among their judgmental social circles. “Well, Kat. What is it?” Her body was as tense as though she were about to cage-dive with Great Whites. She closed her eyes begging for the answer from her angels, or anyone who could tell her that she should follow her heart. The room was so quiet. She held her breath, waiting. A small voice inside of her whispered, You know what you have to do, and suddenly she inhaled. “Kat, you’re scaring me.” Meeting his frightened brown eyes, she shook her head with sadness. “I’m sorry, Joe. I can’t ma