“I hope you know how gorgeous you look in the morning when the light is hitting you in just the right way. You are my muse in business and in pleasure. You make me strive to be a better man in both aspects of my life.” I traced my index finger down the curvature of her spine. I followed it with my tongue and she glanced at me over her shoulder watching my progress.
The silk sheets had nothing on her smooth skin. I lifted the sheet and marveled at her rounded globes. They were my guilty pleasure. I squeezed their firmness and took a peek at the painted lips of her sex. I had been with her a few times, and still I was ready for more.
I tossed the sheet away from her body. The pleasure of seeing her unencumbered by clothing was evident by the tent on my side of the bed. I felt like we were pioneers breaking the glass ceiling of what was considered acceptable in the shifter community. I wanted to change their opinion, but the work necessary to undo their antiquated thinking was going to take an amazing bit of patience.
“I have to say this is the kind of wake-up call any girl would be foolish to refuse.”
I kissed her lower back, extending my tongue to make her spread her legs without even realizing she was doing it. “I couldn’t help myself. I’m like a dog with a bone. I cherish every moment we spend together like it will be our last. I woke up with this newfound happiness.” I lay back with a sense of contentment.
“I haven’t even wiped the sleep from my eyes and already you are making me your breakfast in bed. I’m going to need a shower if we plan to continue this marathon of sex. I have this just-fucked hair and I’m going to have to run a comb through it to get rid of the knots.” In hindsight, I should’ve known she was playing an angle.
I put my feet on the floor and then she was wrapping her hands around me with her heated palms touching my nipples. Her cheek was against my back. She was extending the intimacy.
“I can’t get the shower started unless you let me go.”
The master bedroom was immense with a huge window overlooking the city. There was a lavishly decorated bathroom with an old-fashioned claw tub and a separate surround shower with two massaging heads on either side. The floors were heated for comfort. The marble was custom-made to change colors with how the light was streaming through the curtains.
“I would like some proof of you being ‘up’ for the challenge.” She had emphasized a particular word and I jumped when she wrapped her warm hands around my appendage.
“I can assure you wild horses won’t be able to drag me away from your embrace.” I shouldn’t have said anything, and the sound of knocking made me feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
“Were you expecting somebody at this early hour? I know nothing was set in stone last night. A billionaire’s work is never done. I could easily make myself scarce.”
I was always one to follow my instincts and my danger meter was going crazy. I started to get up when I heard the jingling of the keys in the lock. I could count on my hand how many people had access to the penthouse. Logan would only use his key in an emergency. It had to mean somebody with loose lips had decided to play god with my life.
“I would tell you to hide, but it’s already too late.” The sound of the door opening downstairs was followed by light footsteps turning into something heavier on his ascent up the stairs.
“Why do I get the feeling that this has nothing to do with someone bringing us breakfast in bed? I don’t like how your muscles tensed. Should I be worried?” Her death would be on my conscience.
He would have to go through me to get to her. The Alpha would have no problem eliminating me from the equation before turning his attention to Roseanne.
“The Alpha is stalking me. He’s waiting on purpose. He wants me to be terrified, but he’s in for a rude awakening. I told you I would protect you, and I meant that from the bottom of my heart. I hope nothing changes when you witness this exchange.” I was drawing strength and fueling my veins with anger to bring on the transformation. It was going to take a few moments. I wasn’t even sure we had a few moments to spare.
“You can’t tell me this has nothing to do with me. I’ve hidden in the shadows for too long when I was with Jason. I’m not going to do that again for anyone. If we have to face this, then we will do it together.” She was ill equipped to deal with the Alpha when he was ready to get his hands dirty. He wouldn’t be able to see straight and would act without thinking.
“Whatever happens, I don’t want you to interfere. I will give you an opening and I expect you to use it to run as far away from me as you can.”
He was right at the door, marking his territory with his hot breath. The sound of him scratching the wood was his calling sign. This was his way to instill fear psychologically before attacking with the full resources at his disposal. This was his style to deal with threats when it came to the shifter community and its continued survival.
“I’m not going to run. I would rather die with you than without you.” I could hear the conviction in her words, but I couldn’t bring myself to put her in harm’s way.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I’d rather have you safely away from me. I won’t be able to concentrate if I have to worry about you at the same time.” I was going to have to have eyes in the back of my head, and her proximity would make me lose focus.
I stared at the door, and the bear inside me could sense a confrontation. The door flew off its hinges, and stepping in to greet me with a growling disposition was the Alpha. He was a true grizzly with the stance of a leader. He was not in a talkative mood.
“Why doesn’t he make a move?” It was a good question, but I already knew the answer.
“He’s gauging his enemy and trying to figure out if there’re any surprises in store for him from coming after me on my own turf. I’m always one to stay two steps ahead. The possibility of him coming after one of us is something all of us think about. I have taken a few precautions.” I could feel the bear inside me trying to wrestle free of its human prison.
“You know the reason why I came. Did you really think you could hide this from me? I have spies looking out for the best interest of the shifter community. I was expecting more common sense from you. You’ve always been one to stay under the radar, not making any waves and trying your best to please me.” I could hear his voice, but it was in my head where we could communicate telepathically.
“I don’t know how he found out about us, but it doesn’t really matter. He has come here personally to make us an example to others. He has always been the kind of Alpha to manipulate decisions in his favor.” I was doing him the discourtesy of not speaking to him when he was speaking to me. It was a slap in the face.
“I know you can hear me and it angers me that you ignore me. This has to be the influence of the human female in your life.” He wasn’t moving, but it was the calm before the storm.
“Wait a minute. Is he conversing with you without moving his lips?” She was smarter than anybody gave her credit for. She saw things differently and that was the reason why she was able to pry Jason’s fingers away from her metaphorical neck.
“I’ve never had any love lost with the humans. I know how you feel about me. If you were trying to get my attention then you have succeeded. Be a man and take your medicine without raising a hand to defend yourself. I will make it quick, but if you fight me, the pain will linger for days before I finally let your suffering end.” He was anxious to end my existence, but he was showing a modicum of restraint.
“We can communicate with one another, but I really have nothing to say to him. He has been ruling from the sidelines for too long to be allowed to make anybody else a victim of his dictatorship.” I was fueling the fire of his hatred and hopefully, poking the bear into an unpredictable rage.
“Ignoring me is only going to make things worse for you. I can see the way you look at her. I would get more pleasure from killing her slowly in front of your eyes.” He was trying to get a rise out of me. It wouldn’t have worked, had he not m
entioned his plans for Roseanne.
“You won’t get a chance to harm a hair on her head. I’m sure you’ve noticed how your strength has diminished. It only happens during the full transformation. I found this very unique and rare tree bark in the Colombian Forest to neutralize an Alpha. I ground it into a powder and lined the threshold of every doorway in my home with it.”
He was shaking his head and trying to ward off the effects of the bark. His nostrils were flaring and he was breathing in more of the toxic dust in the air.
“This is a minor problem and it won’t stop me from parading your severed head in front of the others.”
I thought I had the upper hand, but he was showing some amazing resiliency against something he didn’t have a clue how to fight. “I know all about the power of the Alpha. It imbues you with a high metabolism, unlike the other shifters. I was hoping this would give me a chance to fight back. Unfortunately, I can’t do that in my human form, even in your slightly weakened condition.”
I was going to have to change and face him like two warriors on the battlefield looking for supremacy.
Chapter Seventeen - Roseanne
I couldn’t believe they were having a conversation, and I was only able to hear half of it. The bear was menacing, and I recoiled in fear behind my protector. Tom was going to fight for the right to be with me.
He was facing an insurmountable task with me as the prize when he was finished. He would be licking his wounds, and I would be there to nurse him back to health.
“We don’t have to do this. My opinion of you wouldn’t change if we ran and never looked back. I know you are a proud man, but don’t let it stand in your way. Think sensibly with a clear head.” I was trying to get through to him, but he wasn’t listening.
He changed into what I had seen when he faced Jason. They were remarkably similar except for one telltale difference. The Alpha was bigger in size.
They were circling each other trying to find an opening to capitalize on. I wasn’t sure if he was strong enough to face his nemesis. I had to give Tom an encouraging word and the proper incentive to give him an edge over the competition.
“You are strong and capable of some amazing things. I know you can do this, even if you have your doubts. Don’t let him get in your head. Treat him like any other enemy.” I could only use my words as a sharpened weapon to fight on his behalf.
The Alpha was waiting for Tom to make the first move. He wasn’t taking the bait. I had to believe he was listening to me, even if the bear was the one in control. Deep down he heard me and knew I was the voice of reason against his animalistic tendencies.
“You know what to do. Do I really have to remind you of what happens when he finishes with you? He won’t go easy on me. There is no remorse in his eyes.”
The beastly form of Tom turned and showed me the fierceness of his determination by growling. His teeth were honed into razor sharpness and it didn’t take much imagination to see how his enemies would be left cowering in his wake. I could vividly recall what he had done to Jason, leaving him to run away like a scolded dog.
The Alpha was getting overanxious and I could see he could barely sit still. He wasn’t going to be happy to allow his enemy to come to him. He finally had enough. He leaped into action.
It was easy to see Tom was ready for him. He lifted himself up on two legs and swatted with one beefy looking paw. It was enough to send the Alpha crashing into a cabinet in the corner of the room and rendering it into splinters.
“Don’t back off. It might sound strange coming from me, but mercy is for the weak.” I was the voice in any boxing movie where the manager would scream for his fighter to come out swinging.
The Alpha roared and attacked with a speed that didn’t seem possible for somebody of his weight. They went through what was left of the bedroom door and crashed into the railing. Their immense bodies went sailing and plummeted quickly to the floor below.
I was terrified and cautiously took a few steps until I was standing where they had gone through the railing. My right hand was shaking against my mouth. I wanted to scream but nothing emerged.
The Alpha was the first one to shake off the impact. Tom was having a problem finding his balance. There was a gash over his eye. A piece of the glass coffee table had attempted to blind him. It wasn’t the injury but more the flow of blood constantly being wiped away that made it hard for him to see.
The Alpha jumped on top of Tom, and they were swiping their claws hoping to find something to adhere to. They rolled around and there were moments I wasn’t sure which one was which.
“Use your feet.” I knew he heard me when he propelled the Alpha by bringing his knees up underneath him.
The Alpha landed awkwardly but was back on his feet like nothing happened. If this was him in a weakened state then I didn’t want to see him at full power. Tom wouldn’t have a chance, but I had to doff my hat to him for being two steps ahead. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make it a fair fight.
“Spin with your claws outstretched.” Tom had his back to the Alpha.
He spun in time to slash across the Alpha’s face. The sickening howl of pain was followed by a bellow of contempt. The Alpha was losing his patience and making mistakes was inevitable. I was another set of eyes in the back of Tom’s head.
“Don’t let up when you have him on the ropes.” In a mad panic, the Alpha barreled into Tom and they went careening through the island in the kitchen. Their whole bodies slammed into the stainless steel stove.
I could hear something hissing and realized they had somehow broken the pipe to the propane tank. Tom’s beastly form started to hobble away, but then he stopped. The Alpha was stuck and struggling to remove himself from the twisted wreckage of the stove.
Tom’s bear body morphed and I could hear his bones breaking, realigning with his human half.
“Roseanne, I’m grateful for the assistance, but it’s time for you to leave. I’m going to end this and I don’t want you to be here. I don’t know if I’m going to survive, but you will and that is all that matters to me.” I ran downstairs and was about to put my arms around him in a comforting gesture, but he waved me away dismissively.
There was a pack of matches lying in the shards of glass from the coffee table. He reached down and plucked them from the carnage. The penthouse was going to be turned into a fireball that nobody could survive.
There was a flicker of recognition in the Alpha’s eyes. He stopped fighting against the inevitable and I thought I saw a smile. The fire would burn at a temperature that would singe the very flesh off of their bones.
The explosion would blow out the windows alerting first responders to come to the scene as quickly as possible. I could only hope the fire alarm would douse the flames before it had the chance to spread to the rest of the building.
“I know this is something you have to do. It’s a shame what we had together isn’t going to survive. Be sure this is what you really want to do.” I put my hand on his bare shoulder. I had to choke back the tears threatening to flow freely down my cheeks.
“This is the only way. I have to do this not only for me but for the other shifters who have suffered at his hand. He can’t be allowed to live to do this to somebody else.” He had extracted one lone match and was prepared to light it with the tip of his finger.
The Alpha changed back to a human form. “You shouldn’t have involved a pure human female in our world.” With the bear back in its cage, the Alpha was able to pull free of his metal prison.
“I won’t say anything. I have a lot invested in keeping my mouth shut. You’re obviously going to watch me and know if I have a slip of the tongue. As long as nobody knows then nobody should care if Tom and I are together.” There were no guarantees and the possibility of him coming for us when we least expected it was very much something to think about.
“I could tell you what you want to hear, but I’m not going to do that. A quick death is too good for the both of you. Go ahead a
nd condemn us to hell, but I don’t think you have it in you to die for any cause. I have no problem dying, knowing you won’t corrupt the shifter line with your bastard children.” The Alpha was goading Tom into making a mistake.
“I would gladly sacrifice my life to give her a chance to start over without me. I hope you have made peace with your maker. I’m going to give you this one opportunity to say some final words.” He was giving the Alpha a chance to confess his sins before the final bell tolled for him.
“Unlike you, I don’t have any regrets. Whatever I have done, I would do it again in a heartbeat. People have tried in the past to kill me. It’s not as easy as you might think it is. I will say it was rather ingenious of you to use something I’ve never heard of to weaken me. I didn’t see you as a threat. I didn’t see any reason to end your pitiful life. It’s about time I rectify that.” The Alpha advanced, but Tom was waving the match in his face.
“I wouldn’t take one more step unless you want to be hauled away in pieces. Nothing is capable of surviving an explosion courtesy of a propane leak.” He was mocking the Alpha and keeping him at bay.
“How dare you think you can fight me and win? I can easily take that match out of your hand. I’ve been playing with you like a cat does with a mouse before he consumes his dinner.” They were playing a dangerous game with their lives at stake.
“I believe I see a chink in your armor of composure. You’re starting to unravel and I do believe you have met your match. Pardon the pun.”
With one final desperate act of defiance, the Alpha moved with the speed of light to stand within a few inches of where Tom was currently holding him hostage in a stalemate.
They were soon in a life and death struggle. The Alpha was fighting for the control of the match to make sure Tom wasn’t going to be able to use it. He looked at me and I knew without him saying one thing, it was time to leave.
Daddy In Charge_A Billionaire Romance Page 10