“It’s Ryan. It’s not good.”
With those five words, they had Max’s full attention.
*****
“Your apartment is on the top floor,” Leah explained as they left the group and strolled toward the elevator.
“Don’t we need keys or something?”
“There’s a code to access the floor. See.” She demonstrated on the panel. “The top floor is not accessible without an authorized number. The other floors all have multiple apartments, so there are keys for those, but yours takes up the whole floor.”
“What’s the code?”
“Everyone has their own. We’ll have to get you one. Each code grants access to authorized floors and areas. Of course, all members of The Family have full access to the building, including your apartment, but we don’t intrude on your privacy.” The way she said it made Laurie’s neck itch, as if the woman needed her importance understood.
“Are you one of his advisors?” Laurie asked. During their car ride, Max had mentioned his family and discussed some of the politics in the pack, like how the leadership operated more as a monarchy than a democracy. The details were still unclear to her, like how Max had taken over despite having an older brother, and how their children wouldn’t necessarily lead if there was a more dominant child among his cousins and brother’s children. But she figured she’d get the hang of the details eventually. She couldn’t remember him mentioning a female cousin among his officers, though. Wait, not officers. She shook her head. That was how Alpine Woods referred to the Premier’s advisors. What had Max called his? Oh yes, his Counsel.
“Oh no, I leave that to the others. I’m more of a mothering figure in the leap. My mate and I keep our ears to the ground for Max, so to speak. The leap trusts us with things they don’t want to bother the others with.”
Something about the woman bothered Laurie, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. Leah appeared friendly and caring, but almost as if she acted purely for recognition and accolades.
Rubbing her tired eyes, Laurie gave herself a mental slap. She was tired. And grouchy for having been ditched, even though she knew that wasn’t what happened. Taking it out on Max’s cousin was neither fair nor kind. After all, Leah was essentially her family now, too. Resolutely, Laurie stared straight ahead at the metal doors and determined to converse with her chatty companion without biting her head off.
“So you’re mated?”
“Yep, high school sweethearts. Everyone wanted to date him, but since the beginning he’s only had eyes for me. You’ll meet him tomorrow, I’m sure. Probably at breakfast, which is served in the restaurant downstairs for leap members from six to ten. It doesn’t open to the public until lunch. Every apartment has its own kitchen, of course, but Max feels it’s important for the leap to…” Her words trailed off, causing Laurie to glance in her direction.
A smile still curved her face, but it held a brittleness that hadn’t been there before. It faltered a bit before Leah plastered it back in place.
“Are you a wolf?” She tried to hide the tartness in her tone with an overabundance of sweet, but Laurie heard it anyway.
“Is that a problem?” Might as well address any issues now. She’d known being a canine in a feline den might cause problems, but she’d assumed, perhaps foolishly, that any issues wouldn’t come from Max’s family.
“No, no. Of course not.” The lie was plain as day. “We heard Max had mated, but I don’t think any of us expected…”
“Someone like me?” Laurie finished for the woman.
“Don’t be silly.”
Laurie almost asked the woman if she’d been to the dentist lately to check for cavities. If she put any more sugar in her tone, she’d rot her teeth. Instead, she bit her tongue—hard—before the words could escape. Making enemies on her first day would not be a great way to show Max she would be an asset to him. Especially not within his family.
Laurie rubbed a hand across her eyes. She was tired. And grouchy. Her lack of sleep and aching muscles were no doubt imposing slights where there were none. So what if Leah wasn’t comfortable with Laurie’s wolf nature? She hadn’t said anything wrong or offensive. Had been nothing but sweet, even if it had been faked.
“I’m sorry, Leah. I’m just tired.”
“Of course.” Silence filled the small car. Laurie searched for something to vanquish the awkwardness between them.
“So Leah, what do you do?” Safe enough topic.
“I run a flower store on third and fifty-ninth. Once you get settled, you should come by and pick up some for your apartment. Max prefers sunflowers. Oh, but I’m sure whatever you picked out would be just fine.”
If she was so sure, why bring it up in the first place? Laurie closed her eyes and berated herself for her negative attitude. Leah was only being helpful. What was it about this woman that rubbed her the wrong way?
The elevator dinged as the doors swung open, making her breathe a sigh of relief. Never had she been more relieved to get out of an elevator in her life. If the ride had gone on much longer, she was afraid of what she might have said or done.
“Is there anything you need tonight?” Leah asked.
“All I want is a shower and a bed,” she said honestly. Well, she wanted Max, too, but she wouldn’t admit to that. She understood and respected his dedication to his leap. Whatever had happened must have been grave if his cousins had ambushed him so quickly.
“If you think of anything, feel free to give me a call.” Leah waved with a smile as the doors closed around her.
How was Laurie supposed to call? Leah hadn’t left her number. Not that Laurie would use it if she had. She’d had about as much false cheer as she could stand for the night. And judging by her lack of patience, she wasn’t fit for company anyway.
Only then did Laurie glance around the room. Her bag hit the floor in shock as she took in her opulent surroundings. The place was larger than she expected for an apartment in New York City. Gorgeous wood flooring, seeming recently waxed, decorated the front entrance. A couch with two side tables and a coffee table sat in front of a short wall that separated the room from the one behind it.
To the left, Laurie saw double glass doors that opened into what was no doubt Max’s office. A large wooden desk sat in the middle of the room facing two brown leather chairs. In the other direction was the kitchen, decorated with gray mottled granite, cherry wood cabinets, and chrome finishing. Unsure where to go first, she moved toward the openness of the kitchen and around the wall.
The sight of the main living space froze her in place. Here she’d thought the entry impressive, but this was off the front page of a magazine. Her mouth hung open as she stepped farther into the room, turning in a circle to take it all in. An open curvy stairway made of metal and wood climbed upward on the far left across from a living room set of white leather. Up the stairs, she could see a landing with a cast iron railing that opened over the two-story space. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out at the night sky of the City, lighting up the room with the glow of City lights. A massive table sat opposite an informal bar area. An archway hinted at more rooms on the other side of the table.
Too interested to resist, Laurie moved past the arch and into a hallway. There were only two doors. Curiosity might have killed the cat, but they’d never said anything about wolves. Opening the first door, she saw a bedroom with a double bed, desk, and dresser. The door on the side wall stood open, and she could see straight through the jack-and-jill bathroom to a second similar bedroom.
The temptation to use the shower and set up camp in one of the bedrooms was strong. But Max’s scent was absent from this part of the apartment. Backtracking, she walked to the opulent living space, if one could call it a living space. The whole room felt cold and impersonal. Maybe if the middle wall was a warmer color, anything other than white, or if it was used as a bar or for a stereo system as opposed to the big painting of flowers, it would feel more welcoming. The white leather couch, two white leather chairs an
d square glass coffee table made a lavish picture, but Laurie missed the scuffed up wood and warm tones of her home.
She crossed to the two doors under the stairwell. The first led to a half bath. The second a coat closet. Gripping her bag a little tighter, Laurie moved to the stairwell. Who ever heard of a duplex in New York City?
The higher she got, the more she saw of the balcony on the second floor. A sigh of relief escaped her. As cold and aloof as the area downstairs was, this area made it up in warmth. A small kitchenette stood in the far corner next to a door opening up into what she assumed was the master bedroom. Bookshelves surrounded the walls, except for one area dedicated to a large-screen television. A small breakfast table sat where the kitchen would be downstairs, and a couch, coffee table, and one of the most comfortable looking armchairs decorated the space between. It was larger than most apartments in New York, no doubt, the balcony looking out over the entire living and dining space. Here was a place she could relax.
Glancing at the wooden chess table as she made her way toward the master suite, Laurie could see the pieces were scattered as if in the middle of a game. She wondered who Max played with.
The bedroom threw her for another loop. Her gaze darted between the four-poster bed and the sitting area in front of the fireplace with two chairs and a large ottoman. More double glass doors displayed the bathroom.
Feeling like a cartoon coyote, Laurie did a double take. Could that even be classified as a bathroom? No doubt it was referred to as a spa or an oasis.
Ignoring the two closed doors on either side, Laurie stepped into the bathroom and into another world. The bedroom had been decorated in a mint green, but everything here was dark. Black marble covered the floor and surrounded the colossal bathtub. A glass shower decorated with the same black marble on the walls stood kitty-corner to the tub.
Wait. Were there two showerheads? She looked again at the massive shower at the dual showerheads.
Two sinks were inlaid into opposite ends of a large counter that spanned the corner of two walls. Wait. Where was the toilet? Opening the door to the right, Laurie saw a toilet and bidet in a smaller closet-like room. A separate room for the toilet. And a bidet? Really? Shelves lined the walls inside with clean towels and washcloths.
Anxiety welled inside her. She didn’t belong here. A rip in the knee of her jeans snagged her attention. Three weeks ago she’d snagged it moving furniture around the bookstore and hadn’t thought twice about it since. Her ratty t-shirt which read you say potato, I say wine complemented the look. But not the apartment.
Was she supposed to mold herself into the woman who belonged here? One who wore expensive jewelry and ate caviar with a glass of champagne? Could she, even if she tried? A useless effort to be sure. That wasn’t her. She was a beer and nachos kind of girl. So what was she doing here?
Laurie took a breath to steady herself. Max must understand that. After all, he’d seen where she lived. He’d met her family, and ate greasy diner food with her. He fit in with her family, who had been loud and boisterous during the meals they’d shared. He’d seen enough of her to know she was brash and sarcastic, right? Surely he didn’t expect her to change?
But would his attitude change, seeing her in this environment?
Well, he’d just have to get used to it. She was who she was and had never wanted to be anyone different. She’d do her best to make this place her home, and worry about what Max might or might not think when the time came.
Besides, that dual-head shower proved enticing. Later, after a shower, she’d have time to worry about everything else.
Chapter 6
Tension beat a perpetual rhythm against his temples as Max stepped off the elevator into his suite. How had the world turned to shit in so short a time? It had only been a week since he left with Ryan for the convention in Tucson. One week and everything had changed.
Faint traces of Laurie’s scent flittered around the apartment. There was no trace of Leah, so he surmised she’d taken a solo tour around the place. He followed the trail up the stairs, the scent soothing away some of his stress. He needed to see her. Needed to pull her into his arms.
He just needed her. Holding Laurie would go a long way toward calming his anxious heart. Not all of the changes the past week had brought were bad.
He staggered on the stairs as Tyler and Colin’s words slammed into him.
Ryan.
His brother.
He’d have to visit tomorrow. According to Colin, Ryan was still unconscious, but both cousins had assured Max the doctors were hopeful for a full recovery.
Hopeful. What did that even mean? Hope was supposed to be bright and happy. But this hope filled him with dread, the difference between life and death. Hope wasn’t a guarantee. The thought of never talking to his brother again staggered him.
An assault, they’d said. They hadn’t seen who. Someone had hit his brother over the head hard enough to put him in a coma. And it had happened in the leap’s compound, a fact that chilled him to the bone. Almost as much as the thought of his brother never waking. Almost.
Whoever had done this to his brother, his family, had been a member of the leap. Not only a member, but one trusted enough to know the blind spots in the security cameras.
Try as he might, he couldn’t picture it. Sure, some people were less than thrilled about his brother ordering them around due to his less dominant nature. Some took advantage of the fact that those orders came out more as suggestions than actual commands. As a beta, Ryan literally could not order the more dominant members around. But beta or not, Ryan was part of the ruling Family. For the past six generations, the Premiers of the leap had come from his bloodlines. Everyone in the leap respected that.
At least he’d thought they did. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
Laurie’s voice drifted toward him, easing the anxiety tightening his muscles. His smile turned to a wince as she tried to hit a particularly high note. What was she singing? At least he assumed that was what she tried to do. She certainly wouldn’t be winning any Grammys.
He saw her reflection in the mirror through the double glass doors as soon as he stepped into the bedroom. She stood in the midst of a cloud of steam, her back arched to keep the showerheads from washing the suds out of her hair.
He paused for a moment, drinking in the view of her like a parched man drank water. How could the mere sight of her affect him? Yet, there was no denying it. His worries felt lighter in her presence. Already she held a piece of him.
A smile curled his lips as he watched the suds slide down her shoulder and over her breasts. Bet he knew something that would make him feel even better.
Quietly stripping off his clothes, Max joined her in the shower.
*****
Laurie jumped as Max slid his hands around her waist and his lips brushed against the back of her neck. How had she not sensed him? The scent of the shampoo might have masked his scent, but shouldn’t she have heard the shower door open?
Her thoughts scattered as his lips brushed the mating scar on her shoulder. Pleasure zinged through her, spiraling downward from the mark.
A knot of need tightened low in her belly. How did he have such power over her? Wanting to touch him, she tried to turn, but his hands stroked down until they gripped her hips, preventing her from moving. Both thumbs slid along the top of her butt.
The alpha in her wanted to push back, to take charge. Laurie had always been the dominant person in relationships. No one had the power to match her before. And maybe that had been the problem, she thought as Max’s aura of strength surrounded her, trampling her own desire to fight until she finally gave herself over to a world of pure sensation.
Shivers wracked her as his hands skimmed upward. He placed her hands on the wall of the shower, pausing until the unspoken command to leave them filtered through. Inserting his foot between hers, he pressed on the inside of her calf until she stepped out, opening herself to him.
Water pounded on their heads f
rom above, but did nothing to quench the fire building inside her. In her wildest dreams she’d never imagined feeling so exposed and vulnerable could feel so right. Max’s hands stroked her arms, triggering little darts of pleasure wherever he touched. His lips had moved to her ear, nibbling at the lobe until she felt weak in the knees.
Anticipation pulsed in her chest as his hands slid over her back, then skimmed the sides of her breasts. Her nipples puckered, eager for his touch. But he didn’t so much as pause, continuing his descent to once again grip her hips. His tongue swirled over her jaw and downward until his mouth hovered over the mating mark. She’d known the mark would stay with her forever, but had never imagined it would become such an erogenous zone.
Impatient, Laurie arched her back, bringing her shoulder closer to his lips. Max chuckled. The low deep sound, barely heard over the pounding shower, shot straight to her gut.
“Patience is a virtue,” he murmured.
“Everyone has their flaws.”
If he didn’t get on with it, Laurie would kill him. Or push him down and ride him to her heart’s content. She opened her mouth to tell him just that, when he scraped his teeth over the mark. Not hard enough to break the skin, but enough for Laurie to see stars. She gasped as sparks of light floated in the corner of her vision. Holy freaking hell. It felt as if he’d done that to her clit.
“Do that again,” she demanded.
“Bossy.” But even as he said it, she could feel his teeth grazing her shoulder.
Laurie’s hands clenched on the wall, her lungs gasping for air as pleasure shot through her. She needed something to grip, something to ground her in the here and now, but found nothing against the cold marble. If he kept this up, she would break apart.
He sucked on the mark left by his teeth and every muscle inside her tightened. She felt herself rushing toward a peak and knew any moment she would fly over it. Not yet. She tightened against the pleasure, wanting more time before losing herself.
Water cascaded over them, adding to the feeling of drowning in sensation. Despite her efforts, her muscles clenched in preparation for release. His lips glided downward, blazing a trail of pleasure down her back.
Brink Of Passion (Alpine Woods Shifters) Page 9