Brink Of Passion (Alpine Woods Shifters)

by Sondrae Bennett

  “They don’t matter.”

  Laurie turned toward Max. His gaze still faced out the windshield at the road ahead of them, but she could tell his focus now centered on her.

  “Who?” Although she knew very well who he referred to, she wanted to hear it from him.

  “The women. I don’t even see them anymore. They’re just little gnats buzzing around. Kind of like you with men.”

  “What are you talking about?” Her with men?

  “You really don’t see it, do you? The way men stare at you.”

  Confusion filled her. Was he joking with her, or was he delusional? It had to be one of the two, because what he said was utter nonsense. Laurie had no hang-ups about her looks, but she knew beautiful or gorgeous weren’t words others used to describe her. Striking or unique maybe, but not beautiful.

  “You’re making this up.”

  He laughed. “I’m not.” Her disbelief must have shown in her face, because he laughed once again. “Look around next time you go out. Believe me, they’re all staring.”

  The blue car passing them snared Laurie’s focus, and she watched it as she pondered his certainty. It must be the mating bonds playing havoc with their emotions. Laurie wasn’t used to being jealous, and Max seemed completely convinced of hogwash.

  Who would have thought the mating bond would have this effect? Then again, she’d seen similar situations with her siblings and their mates. The irrational jealousy. The over-protectiveness. It all seemed to go hand in hand with mating. Could that be all this was?

  No denying Max was gorgeous. He could make a killing as a model, underwear or face. Or a stripper. But he’d done nothing to provoke the jealousy burning in her gut. There had to be something setting her off. And what else besides the mate bond.

  This wasn’t Laurie. She wasn’t a jealous person by nature. Alright, so she’d had her moments. Everyone got jealous every once in a while. But not irrationally. It had to be her emotions in turmoil due to mating, and she’d be damned if she’d let it control her. She would not let this mating change her. Max was correct about one thing. The other women, and men, she mentally added with a snort, didn’t matter. He was Laurie’s now, and in the end, that counted. No other woman could hope to take him away from her.

  “We good?” he asked.

  “We’re good.”

  “Good.” Max reached out and turned the volume up on what had to be the most annoying noise—she refused to call it music—known to man.

  “Not that good.”

  Laurie hit the radio button and surfed the channels until she found one she liked. Loretta Lynn told some hussy she wasn’t woman enough to take her man while a banjo played in the background. She hummed out a few lines, tapping her foot to the rhythm.

  “Oh, hell no.” The music abruptly cut off into static as Max hit the channel button, settling on some scratchy-voiced man screaming…something…at them. She couldn’t even understand the words, and frankly didn’t care to.

  “So not happening.” They were still pretty far south and west, so there were plenty of country stations on the radio. If he didn’t like Loretta Lynn, she could find something a bit more modern. She hit the tuner until Darius Rucker’s dulcet voice poured out begging his lost lover to come back to him. Perfect! Who could object to Hootie?

  Without a word, he reached out and hit the scan button, choosing something that was better suited to a late night discotheque than a car ride across the country. Did he actually listen to that kind of stuff, or was he messing with her? How could anyone listen to this crap and consider it music?

  They fought over the radio, her going for country and oldies, him favoring channels that made her head feel like it was about to explode, until he chose a station playing soft pop. Laurie contemplated her options as Bruno Mars sang about his latest heartbreak. Not her first choice, but considering the alternative, she could live with it.

  “I’m hungry,” she said after a moment.

  “You just ate.”

  “And?” She wasn’t sure why he was so incredulous. As if one little breakfast sandwich would tide her over for more than a few minutes.

  His sigh was full of exasperation, but just as quickly turned into a laugh.

  “You’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”

  “What would be the fun otherwise?”

  “What indeed,” he mumbled under his breath as he merged into the right lane.

  *****

  She was anxious. Trying valiantly to hide her nerves, but in the short time they’d been mated, he’d learned there was little she could hide from him. As much as the woman fretted about it being too soon, her wolf had accepted him without reservations, opening the bond between them and giving him a perfect view of her thoughts and emotions.

  And maybe she wasn’t quite as nervous as she pretended to be. He suspected she couldn’t feel the bond as strongly as him—every emotion she felt pulsed through their bond, but she never seemed to read him well.

  Taking a quick glance at the passenger seat, he saw that she’d managed to fall asleep. Besides the first morning on the road when she’d still been half drunk, she hadn’t had as easy a time sleeping in the car as he had. That afternoon, he’d slept for hours without any problems while she took a turn at the wheel. The only downside had been waking up to the country station on the radio. How did that twangy warble not drive her up a wall?

  A sigh left her lips as she cuddled deeper into his sweater balled up against the window like a pillow. Unexpected tenderness filled his chest, even as heat flooded him.

  Already she’d become so important to him. He forced his gaze away, wanting nothing more than to watch her a bit longer. But arriving safely was more important. The clock glowed eleven o’clock. Even this late, traffic was heavier as they neared the City. It would be late, but they’d make it home soon. Stopping at a hotel for the night when they were so close didn’t sit well with him.

  The thought of his apartment sent a surge of energy through him. The leap would most likely be asleep. Introductions would have to wait until tomorrow. But he wanted her in his space. In his bed. A want bordering on desperation.

  No point denying it. He was completely smitten. Not only did she look hotter than burning charcoals, but she had a snarky wit that never failed to make him smile, and she wasn’t afraid to use it on him. Her tongue had cut him down once or twice already.

  She was strong, too. Not as dominant as him, but close enough. Not something many people could claim, and a definite asset when ruling the leap. Moreover, he’d heard enough stories from her family to know her loyalty for those she loved ran deep. He hoped he’d be lucky enough to count himself among those numbers soon.

  The love between her and her family was as clear as day. Her brothers had pulled him aside after packing up the truck, and warned him about hurting her. The advice they’d offered afterward had been worth the hassle of the threats. Laurie will never be an easy mate to handle, they’d said, but she’s well worth the trouble. Just remember that when she’s driving you nuts.

  Taking her away from them made him feel like the worst sort of cad. But what could he do? The leap needed him. Looked to him for leadership. Even if he hadn’t been Premier, he was still among the ruling family. He had obligations he couldn’t escape from.

  So he’d do the only thing he could by making her feel at home in New York. He had no doubt she’d quickly win over many members of the leap. In Tucson, he’d observed the easy way she communicated with all types of people. Her personality drew others to her.

  But he’d take the time to make sure she was on her feet before resuming full duties as Premier. His cousins, Colin and Tyler, could help him out a few more days. Both were perfectly capable of dealing with any issues that came up.

  His brother Ryan would help as well, but unfortunately, his words didn’t carry the same weight in the leap. Max frowned. That issue would need to be addressed before too long. Ryan was an important member of his counsel,
and all the naysayers needed to realize that the full extent of Max’s authority lay behind Ryan’s words as well. Just because his brother wasn’t as dominant as the rest of them didn’t make him any less of a man, a shifter, or a leader. It was past time the leap recognized that fact.

  Beside him, Laurie stirred, her head tilting to the side and exposing the long line of her throat. Blood pooled in his crotch, even as he ached to replace the sweater she cuddled with.

  Of all the things he’d expected out of that conference, finding a mate had not been one of them. And yet, even though Laurie had been a complete surprise, and even though they’d only known each other a few days, he couldn’t imagine not having her beside him. She already seemed a part of him.

  “Where are we?” Her sleep-dredged voice had him hardening in his jeans. He squirmed in his seat, searching for a more comfortable position.

  “Just outside of the City. We should be there in an hour. Maybe a little less.” Luckily, the building that housed the leap was close to FDR Drive. Once they got into the City, it shouldn’t take long at all to reach home.

  Laurie sat up and cracked her neck. Max cringed at the loud popping sounds. The habit made him flinch every time she did it. She claimed it didn’t hurt, but how could it not?

  Maybe a massage would help. He owed her something after turning her life upside down.

  “Are you hungry?” They’d stopped at a grocery store before hitting the road that morning, and picked up a myriad of snacks and drinks.

  She shook her head. “Just tired.”

  “We’ll be there soon.”

  She nodded, but didn’t say anything more. They traveled in silence for a while, until the lights of the City became visible.

  “Is that it?”

  The anticipation in her voice made him smile. No doubt her nerves were real, but she also had a fair dose of excitement for her new life. The truth of that shone inside him, giving him hope. Everything was going to be just fine.

  “Yes, it is.” He pointed out some of the features on the skyline.

  “Where’s the Statue of Liberty?”

  “In that direction. You won’t be able to see it tonight. If you’d like, we can take a harbor cruise sometime and go visit it.” He hadn’t gone to the Statue of Liberty since first moving to New York when he was twelve.

  “I want to go to the Empire State Building, too.”

  Max nodded, his thoughts drifting into his past. Had he ever been to the Empire State Building? If he had, it had happened before he could remember. Living in New York, it was too easy to forget all the amazing things the City had to offer. Seeing it through a newcomer’s eyes gave him a fresh reminder not to take for granted the things around him.

  “We can do that, too.” Tomorrow, he’d make a list of all the places he wanted to show her in the City. Tonight, he had other plans. Sleep beckoned, but first, he wanted to take Laurie in his bed and make her scream in pleasure until they were both hoarse.

  He breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled up to the leap’s building, and into the parking garage below it. The location on the Upper East Side had cost almost as much as the building itself, especially with built-in parking, but moments like this made it all worthwhile.

  “We’re here?” she asked, glancing around the garage.

  “We’re here.”

  Max turned off the car, stepped out, and stretched up toward the ceiling. It felt good to get out of that seat. Reaching into the back, he pulled out their overnight bags. Everything else could wait until tomorrow.

  Laurie already stood, her arms behind her as she bent backward in a stretch. Her breasts pressed against the fabric of her t-shirt, capturing his attention. From experience, he knew they were firm and full. Not huge, but enough for his hands and mouth.

  His blood stirred. Desire sped through his veins as his mind filled with images of Laurie and him together. The world around him altered as his leopard fought for dominance. Being cooped up in a car for so long, surrounded by Laurie’s scent, played havoc on his control. His knuckles ached, a sure sign his claws were trying to extend.

  Laurie lifted her head into the stretch, exposing the long lines of her neck. A low growl rumbled from the pit of his stomach. Startled eyes met his as she quickly righted herself. She had no idea how she affected him.

  Her smile crept onto her face, full of mischief. And so sexy it was liable to melt to his knees.

  “Shower first. I smell like travel.”

  He thought she smelled divine. The honeysuckle scent he’d come to realize wasn’t part of any perfume, but simply the way she smelled, had been driving him nuts all day. If possible, it seemed to grow stronger while she slept, pervading the car. Even before that, it had affected him. The nap he’d taken earlier had been filled with dreams of her.

  “Fine.”

  He had no intention of waiting until after her shower. He needed one too, and with the water shortage—there had to be a water shortage somewhere in the world—it seemed only logical to take one together. Luckily, he had the best apartment in the building, with a huge Jacuzzi bath and a dual-head shower big enough for three or four people. Living in New York wasn’t cheap, but the leap had earned a fortune buying and selling real estate and had saved enough money over the years to accommodate their hedonistic tendencies. Money would never be a problem.

  He’d always thought they went a bit overboard when it came to the Premier quarters. The Jacuzzi tub hadn’t even been powered on since he took office. Then again, the idea of Laurie in it gave it new appeal. He couldn’t wait to get her soaking and see just what those water jets could do.

  “Stop it,” Laurie hissed as he took her hand and led her toward the stairs.

  “Stop what?”

  “Whatever you’re picturing.”

  For a moment, all he did was blink. Then the meaning behind her words hit him. She must be reading some of his emotions through the mate bond. The joy of the revelation had a shit-eating grin curling his lips. A good sign that things were already progressing between them.

  “Sorry,” he managed without an ounce of remorse. Somehow, he succeeded in holding back the chuckle.

  When they exited the stairwell, Max immediately noticed the small group gathered in the lobby of the building. He bit back a sigh. His cousins had probably been notified the minute their car pulled into the garage. At least only family waited for them, but ideally he’d have been able to sweep her up to his apartment without interference.

  “Max!” His cousin Leah ran over and gave him a hug he was only able to return by letting go of Laurie’s hand. Ridiculous to feel so resentful over the fact when his cousin had meant no harm, but he couldn’t help the feeling from creeping up. “Did you have a good trip?”

  “Long, but uneventful.”

  “Uneventful?” Laurie asked, sarcastic amusement in her voice.

  Max could have slapped himself. He had left for the convention last week single and come back mated. That would qualify as pretty eventful.

  Had that really only been last week? Already Laurie seemed to be a permanent fixture in his life.

  “I meant the trip from Colorado, of course. Meeting you was very eventful, pookie.”

  “Pookie?” Colin and Laurie asked at the same time.

  “Not pookie?” Max asked. The woman had already nixed ‘sweetheart’ and ‘baby’. He thought something a bit less conventional would suit her.

  “I’m not a stuffed teddy bear.”

  Colin laughed. Leah smiled. Even Tyler’s lips twitched a bit before firming into their usual straight line. Proof that he had a sense of humor, even if he didn’t like showing it.

  “Everyone, this is my lady love—”

  “Definitely not lady love.”

  “—Laurie,” he continued, choosing to overlook her denial. Eventually, he’d find something she didn’t object to. He just had to try harder. “These are my cousins Leah, Colin, and Tyler.” He was a little surprised Ryan, his brother, was nowhere to be f
ound. Then again, it was late, and they had already met back in Tucson during the convention. After which, Ryan had come back as originally scheduled, while Max had accompanied Laurie to Alpine Woods. “We’d love to stay and chat, but we’ve been on the road all day and are tired.” Max emphasized his point with an exaggerated yawn. They didn’t need to know he was more anxious for Laurie than for bed.

  Tyler scowled. “We need to talk for a moment.”

  “Can’t it wait?”

  “No.”

  “You can’t handle it yourself?”

  Tyler hesitated, glanced at Colin, before shaking his head. Max glanced between his cousins and saw the regret lurking in their gazes. Regret for more than just waylaying him immediately upon his return.

  Max sighed. So much for taking a break. He glanced at his watch. That resolve had lasted all of an hour. But duty called, a harsh mistress to be sure, but one he was sworn never to ignore. He wouldn’t be a good leader if he did.

  “Leah, can you show Laurie our apartment, and help her with anything she needs?”

  Laurie leaned up and pecked his cheek before taking their overnight bags from him and following Leah. He wasn’t sure what he expected from her, after all but ditching her as soon as they walked through the door, but it hadn’t been the easy acceptance she’d shown. Here she was, in a new place, with people she’d never met before, and being abandoned to boot. But there was no glare of resentment. No frown of disproval.

  “Max…” His cousin’s voice penetrated his contemplations. He turned towards his advisors as the elevator doors closed behind his mate. Perhaps her easy acceptance had to do with her brother being a Premier. Or maybe it was her personality. From the very beginning, he’d thought she could take care of herself.

  “Max,” Tyler tried again. Max pushed thoughts of Laurie to the back of his mind.

  “Okay, what’s this important issue that can’t wait?” He tried not to be gruff, but the sharpness crept into his tone anyway. He wanted to be with Laurie. Surely, whatever issue had arisen could have waited until morning.