In Her Bears' Arms

by Rebecca Airies

  “They didn’t need to be scared or mauled just because they came off as a little creepy. They moved on when I told them no. If they hadn’t, I would have mentioned it, but since they did, not necessary.” Chloe lifted a shoulder

  “And since it was before you met her, it doesn’t matter.” Penny smiled and waved her hand.

  “And what did you do before we met you?” Ethan asked.

  “You really don’t want to know.” Penny shook her head.

  “Yes, I do.” Ethan framed her face.

  “No, you don’t. I went to college with your sister at that time. Anything I was involved in, she was, too. I’m sure she doesn’t want you all up in that, and I’m sure you don’t want to picture your sister that way either.” Penny folded her arms across her chest and stared up at Ethan.

  Dixie bit her lip to hold back a laugh. That girl was not intimidated by the big alpha cat.

  “Like what?” Griffin frowned.

  “Let’s just say that I was a twenty-two-year-old, and I wanted some beads.” Penny smiled and lifted her eyebrows a few times.

  Dixie laughed. The quiet one surprised her again. “New Orleans?”

  “Yes, we had a great time.” Penny grinned.

  “My sister never went to Mardi Gras.” Ethan frowned.

  “If that’s what you want to believe.” Penny nodded.

  “That’s what I know.” Ethan shook his head.

  “I’ll be sure to keep the photos from that trip out of your sight.” Penny patted his cheek. “Oh, and Florida, too.”

  Ethan growled. “There had better not be any photos of you or her topless anywhere.”

  Penny laughed. “I’m not a guy. Why in hell would I want a picture of your sister or myself without a top?”

  “That is more of a guy thing.” Chloe nodded.

  “I don’t think he means you have the pictures.” Shonna laughed.

  “You seriously think I’d let some guy take pictures of my breasts or that your sister wouldn’t rip his hand off and take the camera or phone from the twitching paw if he tried.” Penny rolled her eyes. “Do you even know your sister?”

  Ethan held up his hands. “Sorry, I obviously wasn’t thinking.”

  “Honeybear, I don’t care what you did before. I certainly wasn’t pure and inexperienced before we met you.” Gable shook his head.

  “And I personally don’t want the high blood pressure from it or the ensuing arguments.” Micah rubbed her shoulders.

  “Good call.” Shonna nodded.

  “But I do understand Ethan’s attitude about his sister. Although I know they’re not innocents, I don’t want to hear about it.” Maddox took a deep breath.

  “Hey, I warned him so that’s not my fault.” Penny raised a hand.

  “All right, big man, did you want to go dance?” Dixie turned and put her hand on Maddox’s chest.

  “More than, honeybear, I can’t wait to get out on the floor.” Maddox took her hand and tugged her to the dance floor.

  She turned to him and pressed her hands on his chest. Heat radiated through his shirt, tempting her. She stepped closer. Although the beat pounded, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her as close as possible.

  His body brushed against hers. She wriggled, rubbing the tips of her breasts back and forth across his chest. Tingles darted over the hardened nipples. She drew in a hissing breath. He tightened his arm. He nuzzled her neck and nipped. A shard of hunger drove through her, and moisture gathered between her thighs.

  “I love that scent.” Maddox brought her tight against him. He pressed a thigh between her legs.

  A pang shot through her, and her clit throbbed in time with the pounding of her heart. His thigh rubbed against her mound. She bit her lip to hold back a moan. He’d drive her crazy if he kept that up.

  “Damn, Maddox, you’re such a tease. You make me want to push you into the nearest dark room and have you up against the wall.” She dug her nails into his arms.

  “I wonder if there’s unlocked storage room or closet that I could take you into.” Maddox nibbled her neck. His hips rolled forward, and the hardened ridge of his cock brushed against her stomach.

  “No, there’s not,” a male voice said from right behind them.

  Dixie turned her head. Tony danced with Chloe. Chloe laughed.

  “That’s not nice, Tony.” Chloe poked at him.

  “Hey, I’m whyr, too. I know just how a male thinks. It’s why the doors are locked.” Tony grinned.

  “You are so not fun.” Dixie sighed.

  “I live to make other whyr males wait until they’re out of my establishment to fuck.” Tony tugged Chloe against him.

  Dixie laughed and pressed her cheek against Maddox’s chest. Heat burned her cheeks. Frustrating as hell, but she could understand it.

  “Well, since I can’t spirit you off to somewhere and have my way with you, how about we go back to the table?” Maddox ran his hand down her back.

  “Sounds like a plan.” Dixie reluctantly pulled away from him.

  They arrived back at the table. Penny leaned against Ethan. Shonna smiled, seeming to have relaxed.

  “Hey, Dix, guess who I just saw at the bar.” Shonna tilted her head.

  That evil grin did not bode well. What was the wolf up to or what did she know? “Who did you see at the bar?”

  Shonna leaned forward. “Zane. I talked to him a little, and he said that Brent is here along with Marshall.”

  “What? Did one of you heifers call them?” She looked from Shonna to Leslie. An unplanned meeting with her brother was not on the agenda.

  “No, I’d want more people I know around if I did. You know, more video. With your brother, there’s always the possibility of a beat down.” Leslie shook her head.

  “Nice to know that you think I have absolutely no control over myself, brat.” Brent stepped up behind Leslie.

  Leslie tensed. “Well, I do know you, and I have seen you in action.”

  “I was younger then. I’m not as hotheaded now. Aside from that, those men are part of my sister. I hurt them and she’s not happy.” Brent looked up and smiled.

  “You didn’t tell us your brother was a mountain.” Gable leaned down and brushed a kiss over her cheek.

  She laughed. “He’s not that much bigger than you are. And he’s not angry with you. Believe me, you’d know it.”

  “I’m not happy with them.” Brent stepped up to the table and folded his arms across his chest. His blond hair brushed the edge of his collar.

  “Mom tell you to cut that hair yet, Brent?” She tilted her head. No way would she allow him to pick on her men.

  “Bite me, Dixie. They will not get off easily after putting you in danger.” Brent scowled. Zane and Marshall moved in behind him, two big, dark-haired hulks backing him.

  “And you won’t do anything to make me call Mom and have her come to your house. Because I hear you’re being stupid.” Dixie leaned forward and smiled at her brother. He had too much he needed to keep quiet to push her on this. Apparently, that stupid virus had spread since Penny’s mates finally kicked it. “They tried to keep me out of it, but it didn’t work.”

  “We haven’t been stupid. We hired a decorator.” Marshall shook his head.

  “I didn’t think that it was you, Marshall. It was while you were out of town.” Dixie nodded to her brother’s bond partner. Yeah, Marshall clearly had no idea. He was sweet, but apparently out of the loop of what happened in his house.

  “And what makes you think that I’m being stupid?” Her brother lifted his head and glared at her.

  “No decorator I know comes over at two in the morning and leaves at six.” Dixie raised a brow. He could at least be honest. “I know you know better. I was there when the Dads were telling Scott and David the way to act. They would have told you the same thing. You don’t bring booty calls into your home. A home is for your mate.”

  “Oh, man, you’ll have to redo your house.” John shook his head. “I understa
nd in a way, but if you knew and brought a woman there, I’d have to agree with your sister.”

  “Did you?” Marshall turned to Brent.

  Brent winced.

  “Seriously, man, we hired the decorator so that it wasn’t so bachelor pad if we found a mate. Now, we have to start over without a damn decorator.” Zane shook his head.

  “It’s not like we’ll bring a mate home in the next few weeks. It might be years before we find her.” Brent rolled his eyes. “A few women in our home won’t matter by that time.”

  “A few women?” Zane put a hand on Brent’s shoulder. “There’s been more than one in the house?”

  Brent closed his eyes. “Yes, there’s more than one. You are evil. Do you see the trouble you’ve caused? You do know I watched over you as if you were my own when you were young. I didn’t let anyone take you.”

  “Except for trying to trade me for a bike.” Dixie rolled her eyes. As if she believed he was the completely selfless big brother he tried to portray.

  “What?” Brent frowned, but then laughed. “Oh, yeah, I knew both Dads were close and it would never happen, but after that, they’d realize I wanted a moped.”

  “So who’s evil?” Dixie raised a brow.

  “Not evil, just smart enough to get my point across without saying directly I want this or that.” Brent swept his hand out. “I found things worked out faster that way.”

  “Micah, is deviousness or cunning genetic? Because if it is, we might be in for a hell of a time with any kids.” Gable rubbed her shoulder.

  “Not that I know of. I’m sure we should be able to handle them as long as we keep contact with Uncle Brent to a minimum.” Micah lifted her hand and kissed it.

  Brent growled. “As if that would happen. I’ll be very involved with any children you have. And if my sister gets hurt again, I’m coming after you. She can call Mom all she wants. It won’t change anything.”

  “We’ll do our best to keep her safe. The problem is we don’t know who is doing this or why. It’s not like any of us have known enemies or even received hate mail. That would be at least a place to start.” Maddox pulled Dixie back against him.

  Dixie put her drink down on the table. Brent would not threaten her mates, the obnoxious, overbearing ass. “You’ve got your own problems, big brother, and a house to gut.”

  “Gut. Why would we need to gut the house?” Zane turned to Brent.

  “Damn it, Dixie.” Brent threw up his hands. “What did you do? Have spies following me and watching so you’d have some dirt on me?”

  Dixie exhaled. So dramatic and aggrieved. “Brent, if I looked for dirt, your sex life would be the last thing I wanted to hear about. Let’s say a couple of your conquests talk and talk a lot. What you’ve done, who you’ve done, and the gory details are all over the place. I’m just surprised that Mom doesn’t already know.”

  “Oh, damn, we’re getting a visit regardless of whether your sister tells or not.” Marshall sighed. “Seriously, the walls, too.”

  “Obviously, women can’t keep their mouths shut.” Brent ran a hand through his hair.

  “Obviously, you're missing the point.” Dixie grinned. This was much better. He’d be too busy to bother her men for a while. And she could keep her other ammunition for a day when she really needed it.

  Brent, Zane, and Marshall wandered away still talking.

  “You know they will remember they came over here to threaten and scare them, but that never really happened?” John glanced from the retreating men to Dixie.

  “Yeah, I know. When they come back, I’ll think of something else.” Dixie lifted her head. “It won’t be tonight though. He has bigger problems than me.”

  Penny slipped out of Ethan's arms. He touched her hand and she patted his. “I’ll be right back. I have to go to the ladies’ room.”

  “Hey, I’ll go with you.” Dixie eased free of Maddox’s hold.

  They walked to the bathroom and used the facilities. As Dixie came out of the stall, a phone rang. Not hers, luckily. She rounded the corner. Penny stood at the sinks, washing her hands. Her phone sat on the rim of the sink. Dixie pumped a dollop of soap into her hands.

  “Answer call.” Penny kept washing.

  “Hi, Penny.” Maggie’s voice came over the phone, but it was off, maybe a little hoarse. “You just texted?”

  “Yeah, I haven’t talked to you in a little while, and I wanted to make sure that you were okay. You haven’t responded to texts either.” Penny shook the water from her hands and dried them.

  “Well, I’ve been a little busy, but…I met someone. Well, not met precisely. I already knew him. It’s Granger. You remember him, one of my boyfriends from college. We’re dating again.” Maggie’s voice brightened but still sounded wrong somehow.

  Penny paled and swayed. The acrid bite of fear filled the room, followed swiftly by sharp tinge of anger. Dixie opened her mouth. Penny lifted her hand and shook her head sharply.

  “Really? Where’d you meet up with him?” Penny braced a hand on the sink.

  “I couldn’t believe it. It was just a normal Thursday, and I met him outside of a coffee shop. Penny, I just got beeped. I have to go.” Maggie said. “I’ll talk to you more later, but I’m so busy lately. Is it all right if I call you when I get time?”

  “Sure, that’s good.” Penny swallowed. She clenched her fist. “Bye, Mags. I’ll talk to you when you call and tell everyone you say hey. And tell Granger that I’m looking forward to seeing him, again.”

  “Bye, Penny.” Maggie’s voice tightened.

  Penny swiped her finger across the phone and ran for the door. Dixie followed hot on the woman’s trail. What the hell was that about? Why hadn’t she wanted Dixie to say anything, and why did she smell of fear, rage, and stress? Penny slammed open the bathroom door and ran across the club, weaving around startled people. She rushed up to the table. Everyone whirled around to face her.

  “Tony, we need to use your office now. John, you might be some help, too.” Penny stared at Ethan and turned to Tony. “Ethan, it’s about Maggie.”

  “What?” Ethan straightened. “What’s happened?”

  “Not here. This isn’t for public ears.” Penny shook her head. “Dixie should come, too. She heard the call.”

  “Let’s go.” Tony nodded and slid off his chair. “My office is definitely open for this.”

  Penny followed Tony. Ethan was right on her heels with Griffin and Dawson close behind. Dixie followed, and John trailed after her. Whatever Penny had heard in that call, it wasn’t good.

  Tony let them into the office and walked inside. As soon as John closed the door behind him, Ethan turned to Penny and clasped her arms.

  “What’s wrong? What does my sister have to do with it?” Ethan leaned in close.

  “Maggie called me back. I’ve tried to reach her for days. Not even a reply in text.” Penny shook her head. “Something bad has happened to her.”

  “What do you mean something bad has happened to her? Did she say what?” Griffin straightened.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong. She didn’t say.” Penny shook her head.

  “Then how do you know something’s wrong?” Dawson frowned.

  “Look. There was a point when we were in college that Maggie was spooked. She thought someone was following her. She came up with a code that she’d say or text if she was in trouble. For the first time since the night she came up with it, I heard those words.” Penny ran a hand through her hair.

  John stepped forward. “What exactly did she say?”

  Penny leaned against Tony’s desk. “She said she met someone. Well, not someone new. She met Granger, one of her boyfriends from college. They’re dating again.”

  “Where’s the code in that?” John tilted his head.

  “It’s Granger and her dating him again. She would never date that man again. First off, he thought he was God’s gift to the female half of the species, and second, he raised his hand to her. Didn’t hit her
, but she wouldn’t touch him again unless it was to bat him across the room.” Penny tapped her foot.

  “He what?” Ethan stiffened.

  “Ethan, not now. Maggie’s more important than your anger over what he tried to do. She’s in trouble.” Penny patted his chest. “We have to find out what’s wrong.”

  “Did she say anything about when it might have happened or give you a clue about it?” John stiffened.

  “I think so.” Penny nodded. “I think she tried to tell us how to find whoever’s behind this.

  “The Thursday thing?” Dixie clenched her hands.

  “What Thursday thing?” John looked from Penny to Dixie.

  “She said that it was just a normal Thursday, and she ran into him outside of a coffee shop.” Penny lowered her head. “I think she was saying that whoever is behind it is someone who she meets on a normal Thursday.”

  “Yes, but who does she meet on Thursdays?” John ran a hand through his hair.

  “Let me call a friend to do a drive-by of Maggie’s home up in Deville.” Ethan released Penny and paced away.

  “Tell them not to draw attention to themselves. If someone has her, they might watch to see if someone comes looking for her.” John narrowed his eyes on Ethan.

  “I won’t put my sister in more danger, but we need to know what we’re dealing with here.” Ethan exhaled heavily. “I’m calling a friend who will simply drive by the house and then someone who lives next to her. They should have seen her sometime in the last few days if she’s been there.”

  “I can get you into Maggie’s calendar app, but I’d have to go home to do it. I have her email passwords there in case she loses them. Her calendar is connected to her email.” Penny crossed her arms and shifted from foot to foot.

  “How did Maggie sound?” John asked.

  “Stressed and out of sorts.” Penny licked her lips. “At the end of the conversation, I think she tried to warn me not to keep calling. She said that she’s so busy, and she’d call me when she got time.”

  “She sounded hoarse, too. I didn’t think much of it until Penny started explaining everything here.” Dixie rubbed her hands down her pants.

  “What do you mean you haven’t seen her in three days? And you didn’t call me?” Ethan’s voice rose. “No, don’t do anything. Not yet.”