by E A Price
Susie coughed as she ran out of food to expel. Shaking, she straightened and allowed hot tears to trickle down her cheeks, making her already hot skin sear. She wasn’t sure if she was crying over what she heard, or just at being sick.
She wrapped her arms around her, pointedly ignoring all the people who were staring at her. They probably thought she was drunk, and she didn’t care to correct them.
She heard the squeal of tires and an angry yell, but it wasn’t until two strong arms pulled her back against a hard chest, that she really registered the fact that she was in danger.
“Susie, what the fuck?” roared Barlow.
Chapter Twenty
The car swerved and hurtled out of sight. Barlow struggled to contain his agitated beast. His wolf was beating at his hold to be free, snarling and clawing at Barlow’s control.
“Susie!” he howled.
He had been happily enjoying Candace’s cheesecake – which he was sure she would not miss – when a stab of pain hit his heart. For a second he thought he had heartburn, but no, that would never happen – he could eat enough to feed a small village for a week and still have room for seconds.
No, it was something else.
Susie. His wolf whined, and he set off to find her. He followed her scent outside the restaurant. At first, his mind leaped to the possibility that she was ditching him, but her scent was tinged with something – not fear, but definitely distress.
It was lucky he found her when he did. Some bozo was driving on the sidewalk and coming right for her, and she wasn’t paying any attention. He had tried to get a look at the driver, but the windows were blacked out, and the plates had been removed. Hmmm.
His wolf would have sorely liked to teach the driver a lesson about road safety – with his claws of course, but Susie was his main concern.
He turned her around and was about to yell at her to be more careful, but he stalled. Tears were streaming down her face, and her body was shaking – and not from her near miss with the car. His nostrils flared, as he smelled the vomit.
“What happened?” he asked gruffly.
Susie shook her head. Her pretty face was a picture of misery.
“Please,” she whispered hoarsely, “I just want to go back to the hotel.”
Her eyes met his, and she looked like she was in agony. He was going to slaughter whoever had done this to her.
Barlow nodded and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. She was hot and clammy, but he didn’t care. She looked like her heart was breaking, and a part of him felt broken too.
“What’s going on?”
His wolf let out a blood-curdling snarl, and he clutched Susie to him. His fangs lengthened, and he glanced over his shoulder to find Allen looking startled.
“Fuck off.”
Allen’s eyes bulged, but he quickly turned to anger. “What have you done to Susie?”
“Nothing.”
“Let me see her,” demanded Allen.
Susie whimpered and buried herself further into Barlow’s chest. Allen took a step towards them, intending to pry them apart so he could see Susie - so that he could have and comfort Susie. Never! He will never have her snarled his beast.
Barlow’s hand shot out to Allen’s neck. The male made the most satisfying little whines of pain.
Other people started filtering out of the restaurant. Jules, followed by Roxanne and Helen came out. Helen bared her fangs while Jules gaped at him.
“Barlow, what’s…”
“Jules, get Susie’s coat and purse. We’re leaving,” said Barlow, surprising himself at his calm tone.
She nodded and ran back into the restaurant.
His eyes slid back to the wolf choking at his hand. “Stay away from Susie,” he growled, and his wolf howled in agreement.
His wolf also didn’t want to relinquish his hold on Allen’s neck, but when Jules returned, he dropped the male and grasped Susie’s coat and purse.
He was a little surprised that Susie didn’t even want to talk to Jules; she wouldn’t remove her face from his chest to look at her best friend.
Without a word to anyone, he scooped up Susie and left. If she didn’t want to talk to anyone, that was fine with him. He wasn’t in the mood either.
Susie wasn’t the only one trembling. She had nearly been seriously hurt – again. He almost failed to protect her. She was almost gone, completely extinguished from his life.
As he raced back to the hotel, he tried to drown out his beast and ignored the swelling feeling that if something did happen to Susie, a part of him would go with her.
*
“I feel so embarrassed by what happened,” said Susie sheepishly.
She tucked a towel around her head and pulled her robe around her a little tighter. When they got back to the hotel, she spent an hour in the bath, scrubbing every part of her and washing her hair. Not to mention she had now washed her teeth three times and gargled mouthwash five times.
Barlow turned the TV off and watched her carefully. He was probably worried she was going to turn into a sobbing mess again.
She should have spoken to Jules, but she had been too upset and too much of a coward. So she hid and acted like a child. Everyone must have thought she was acting like an idiot. The thought bothered her for a second before another one hit her – who cares? Why would she care what Allen or Helen thought of her? What did either of them matter to her? And as for Roxanne, she could care less if Roxanne thought she was a total nut case. As for Jules… well, if Jules were her friend, she would understand. Though, she was a little shaky about that.
She would have to face Jules again – and soon. She was supposed to be her maid of freaking honor in the morning!
Barlow scooted to the edge of the bed and held out his hand to her. She shuffled over to him, and placed her tiny hand in his, allowing it to swallow hers. She smiled as warmth spread through her. Just his touch was comforting and reassuring.
Gently, he pulled her onto his lap, and he pressed his head into her neck. Gratefully, she curled up in his arms.
“What happened?”
“It’s nothing,” she murmured.
Barlow growled, vibrating against her neck. “Clearly, it wasn’t nothing.”
“I just overheard something I shouldn’t have, and I…” Susie winced. “I didn’t take it very well.”
“What was it?”
He rubbed his hand up and down her thigh.
“I just heard two of Helen’s friends talking. They said that before Allen cheated on me with Helen, he was cheating with my friend, Lila.” Barlow stiffened, and Susie took a deep breath before finishing – she had to force the words out. “And that Jules knew about it and she broke them up.”
Barlow grunted.
“Maybe I overreacted…” But thinking about it again hurt so very much.
“No, little darling, you’re entitled to your reaction.”
Susie was relieved to hear it. Everyone thought she was overreacting after what happened with Allen. They thought moving to a new town was ridiculous, but she just couldn’t stand by and be slapped in the face day after day. She didn’t have much pride, but she wanted to cling to it.
“You don’t still…” Barlow hesitated, and his chest heaved beneath her. “You don’t still care about him?”
“No – absolutely not. No motherfudging way!” she exclaimed vehemently. “I don’t think it’s that part that bothered me – I’ve come to terms with the fact that he’s a complete cheating asshat, but knowing that Lila did that and Jules…”
Fresh tears prickled.
“Hey, now, come on – they’re not worth your tears.”
Barlow’s hand cupped her cheek, his thumb rubbing away the tears that fell.
“Little darling, you’re worth a thousand of them.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes,” he growled, his face turning grim. “You deserve so much more. You deserve people who are loyal and kind like you.”
Susie gav
e him a watery smile. “You obviously think more of me than anyone else does.”
“Everyone else is stupid.”
“Right now, I agree.”
Susie inhaled a shuddering breath. She wondered what she had done to deserve being treated so crappily by Allen, but now she was wondering what she had done to deserve this treatment from a guy like Barlow. He was scarily close to perfect. Yes, he could be a little coarse and smug – but dang it if she didn’t love those things about him. He was so far removed from prim and proper, and she adored him for it. Adored him from his determination to wear torn, ragged jeans in the freezing cold to his tenacity in stealing everyone’s dessert.
Impulsively, she pressed her lips to his. He stilled slightly before drawing back, and Susie looked away. She must look a real sight – her skin still red from the sauna and now her face was puffy from crying.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“Oh no, little darling, I don’t have a problem taking advantage of you when you’re upset if that’s what you were thinking. I just need to do this.”
He put her on the bed and ran to the hotel door, opened it and slipped a ‘do not disturb’ sign on the door.
He shut the door and started pulling his clothes off. “I ordered a few sandwiches from room service, but I think there’s something else I’d rather eat.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Oh!” she gasped excitedly.
Susie crawled up the bed and only just had time to untie her robe before the wolf shifter was climbing up her body, kissing, suckling and devouring every inch of her.
Right or wrong, at that moment, this is just what she wanted.
Chapter Twenty-One
Susie lay back, exhausted as Barlow lazily stroked her stomach. She considered talking, but really she wanted to save her energy. Barlow would surely be recharged again soon, and she didn’t want to pass up the opportunity. He was such a sweetie. A sexy, love god, but still a sweetie.
There was a knock at the door, and Barlow grabbed the covers, hauling them over her.
“Maybe that’s my sandwiches,” he said, eagerly leaping out of bed and pulling his pants on.
Susie pulled the covers up to her neck. Everyone in the hotel had probably already heard her having sex – but that was as ‘naked’ as she wanted to be in front of anyone.
“Thought you said you didn’t want them.”
Barlow smirked. “I need to keep my energy up – the night’s still young.”
“Surprised they would ignore the sign,” she muttered.
He pulled the door open a crack, careful not to show too much of Susie, but instead of the expected perfunctory exchange with a member of the hotel staff, Barlow snarled.
Susie sat up in bed in surprise. “Barlow?” she called.
“Fuck off!” snarled Barlow to whoever was outside.
“I want to see her,” said Jules in an outraged voice.
“So do I” snapped Allen.
“He’s not with me,” added Jules.
Susie found her robe and pulled it around her. She rushed to the door, her confidence stilling as she found Jules and Allen outside.
“Barlow,” she murmured.
His face was thunderous as he glowered at the two wolves in front of him. They both squirmed under his look, and she didn’t blame him. Usually, he looked so handsome, so chill even. Right now, he looked terrifying.
“Susie, what happened?” asked Jules, her face creased in concern.
“Yes, Susie, tell me what happened,” demanded Allen, more than a little pompously.
Barlow growled.
Susie sighed. “Allen, go back to your mate,” she said pointedly. “Jules, umm, why don’t you come in for a minute?”
It was hard work, but eventually, she got Barlow to move and allow Jules in. But even though he tried to make it in too, Barlow made sure Allen stayed on the other side of the door, and then took great relish in slamming it in his face.
Jules took one of Susie’s limp hands. “Honey, what happened?”
Barlow snorted and leaned against the door, folding his huge arms.
“When did you find out Allen was sleeping with Lila?”
Jules’ eyes flared in fear. Yep, it was true, and the fact that Jules knew about it was accurate as well.
Susie pulled her hand free. “Maybe you should go.”
“Honey, I’m sorry – this was a year ago. I didn’t know until I saw them together one full moon. I confronted Lila about it, and she admitted they’d been getting together on every full moon for months. You know how wolves are on full moons – horny as hell and desperate to screw anyone.”
Yes, apparently so desperate they would sleep with one of their girlfriend’s best friends, or one of their best friend’s boyfriends.
“I didn’t want this to hurt you, so I told Lila to end it, and she did.”
“And that’s when he found Helen,” finished Susie dully.
“Yes well, Helen was keen to mate with someone high in the pack,” said Jules in a waspish voice, “so she pretended she was on birth control and got pregnant.”
And did me a huge favor added Susie to herself.
“You should have told me,” she said out loud.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Yes, much better to have the pack gossiping about it and have me overhear it in a restaurant bathroom.”
Jules looked like she was about to cry. She batted those huge eyelashes and pulled out the pout. She was expecting Susie to say it was okay, to forgive her and hug her. Given that Jules was about to get married, maybe Susie should just forget this and let Jules have this happy day. But no, she couldn’t quite manage that yet.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” said Susie.
“But… but, Susie,” stammered Jules.
Susie held up her hand. “I’m not going to ruin your wedding. I’ll be there, I’ll smile and be nice to everyone, and everything will be fine. I’ll do all the wedding activities you have planned. You don’t need to worry about that. I wouldn’t be so cruel as to ruin this for you.”
“But, we’re still friends, right?”
“Yes,” replied Susie coolly.
They were friends, but she wasn’t ready to return to their close relationship.
“But…”
“You should go,” interrupted Barlow.
Jules looked like she wanted to argue, but between Susie’s passive expression and Barlow’s fury, she decided that was a lost cause.
She nodded and walked out. Barlow locked the door behind her and watched Susie uncertainly.
“You know,” she said, “sandwiches sound good right about now.”
“They sure do,” he agreed with feeling. “You going to be okay?”
“Yeah, but just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t you sleep with Allen, will you?”
“I’ll try my best not to,” he said in deadpan voice before his lips curled into a smile.
He squeezed her ass before grabbing the phone and – honest to god – ordering a party platter of sandwiches. The platters were designed for a party of twenty people.
She smiled as he argued down the phone with hotel staff as to what he wanted on his sandwiches – salad was a big no-no, and according to Barlow, unless a sandwich had meat on it, it wasn’t a real sandwich.
Yeah, she was going to be okay.
*
The wedding ceremony was uneventful.
Jules was a little nervous around Susie, but Susie just acted normally – she didn’t actually feel all that upset anymore. Yes, what happened wasn’t nice but… she’d be fine. Whenever she felt upset, she would think of Barlow. She would imagine him trying to eat twenty sandwiches in under a minute – she accidentally challenged him to do that, and it was hilarious watching him try. His face was a patchwork of mustard and mayonnaise when he finished. He didn’t manage it so that called for another platter of sandwiches so he could have another try.
<
br /> Jules must have said something to Lila, too, because she couldn’t look Susie in the eye and wanted to ‘talk’ before the ceremony. Susie said no to that – she didn’t want them to get into a fight and ruin Jules’ day
Candace frowned at Barlow before the ceremony. “Doesn’t he have a dress shirt or a suit jacket or something?”
“No,” replied Susie. He was wearing a sweater and a pair of slacks. Considering they weren’t jeans, and they weren’t ripped, Susie considered that a big effort from him and she was grateful. Plus, he looked gorgeous – the sweater hugged his big shoulders to perfection.
“He’ll be fine,” said Jules while doing some last minute primping on her hair.
“He looks better than fine,” murmured Lila, trying to make a joke.
Susie gave her a dark look and Lila blushed. Jules bit her lip and Candace frowned at them all.
“Am I missing something?”
“No, but if we don’t hurry, Jules will miss her wedding,” said Susie brightly.
Jules hugged her and Susie returned the hug, because, she still very much loved her best friend.
Jules was radiant. The flowers were perfect. Even Jules’ family dog who had been trained to walk down the aisle carrying the rings did nothing worse than try to eat a couple of flowers.
Susie sneaked a couple of looks at Barlow during the ceremony. Once, he was scratching his ear and staring into space. The second time he was glaring at Allen.
Boy was she glad he hadn’t listened to her when she tried to make him stay home. She didn’t know how she would manage without him there for support. But it was more than that - she just liked having him around.
After the ceremony, Susie ducked up to their room to change her shoes. She had worn heels for the ceremony at Jules’ request, and also so she wouldn’t look quite so diminutive next to the tall she-wolves, but she wasn’t planning on wearing them all day.
Her phone rang, and she answered it on seeing Terri’s name.
“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt the wedding.”
“No, it’s fine – the ceremony’s over, we’re just waiting to sit down for lunch.” Barlow, it had to be said, wasn’t being very patient about that.