Whisper

by Lockwood, Tressie

  The ache for Whisper didn’t release him as he’d thought it would. She wasn’t in the forefront of his mind, but he felt her there, always present, almost as if she was a part of him. That was ridiculous. She was human, and his kind didn’t connect in such a way with those who weren’t like him. Sarah had been a shifter, a cougar. She wasn’t rare, but she was special. If Alec even thought of finding a mate, he’d choose his own kind.

  Stop! he shouted in his mind. Enough of thinking along these lines. Just run.

  He let everything go—his irritation at Max, his fear of not being good enough with his writing, and Whisper. The sounds of nature, its scent, only that consumed him, and he pressed on for hours. By the time he decided he’d outrun his demons, the sky had opened up. Alec was soaked when he walked back to his clothes in the form of a man. He dressed and headed home.

  Before he reached the parking lot, he smelled her in spite of the dampness in the air. All that he had accomplished in reaching a state of peace washed away with one glimpse of her. She stood at her car leaning in. When she straightened with something in her hand, the night-lights bathed her beautiful face, and he went still staring at her.

  He wasn’t too far away to see water hanging from her long lashes or the lock of hair plastered to her cheek. Why had she come out in the rain at night? He watched her protect what looked like a book or a journal under her top, but that only led his gaze to her full breasts, highlighted by her damp T-shirt. Damn it, Whisper, can’t you have mercy on a man?

  She looked up as if he’d spoken out loud, and their gazes met. Alec had no intention of turning away. He couldn’t have if he tried. Some force drew him in her direction. He thought at first that she would run again as she’d done before, and he didn’t think he could stand it if she did. Whisper stayed put until he was a few steps away, and then she turned her back to him. His heart seemed to stop, but she peered over her shoulder at him. An invitation to follow.

  He didn’t question it but fell into step behind her. They headed into the building and up the stairs. At her door, she paused. He hesitated nearer to his, but again she met his gaze, with hers so full of doubt. She disappeared inside. He waited a moment longer, and when the door didn’t shut, he slipped into her place.

  Her hands fluttered at her sides where she stood a few steps away from him. “I’ll get you a towel.”

  Alec would have told her he was fine, but she was already gone. He moved into the living room and found a spot on the carpet rather than mess up her furniture. Whisper reappeared carrying a thick red towel and handed it to him. With another, she dried her hair. To his disappointment, she’d changed into a dry T-shirt. That didn’t stop him from admiring her figure though. She was still beautiful.

  “Thanks.” He dried his face and rubbed the towel over his hair. “Why were you out there in the rain? What was that book?”

  She grinned, and he realized there had been strain in her face. He hated that he might have been the cause of it. “That wasn’t a book. Well not exactly. It’s my new Kindle. I’m trying an e-reader for the first time, and I’m excited. Have you heard of it?”

  He nodded. “Yes, I own a few, one of which is a Kindle.”

  “Aw.” She pouted. “So I’m Johnny Come Lately.”

  Damn, her lips were kissable. He forced his gaze away from them and focused on the device she’d picked up from the table. “You’ll like it. I devour probably a dozen books a month with mine and have an extensive library.”

  Her eyebrows went up. “Really? I’m impressed.”

  He chuckled. “Meaning you thought I was an illiterate Neanderthal?”

  She giggled. “You said it. Not me.”

  They chatted about their likes and dislikes in the world of books. Alec threw out a few author names that were his favorites and found that she’d heard of each one, but read two. Her interests weren’t the same as his as far as genre. Whisper enjoyed paranormal and shifter stories, some fantasy. He loved mysteries and thrillers. Of course, he couldn’t help the swell of pride knowing she was into books with his kind being the central characters. He had avoided reading them, figuring they would be absurd and more offensive to their true nature than anything else.

  “I write.” He threw the words out while feigning an interest in the pictures on the wall. They were generic at best. Now that he’d said it, his stomach cramped. He was ashamed of his weakness and the small hope that she would be impressed with this as well. While she remained silent—and how long did it take for the woman to respond for cripes sake?—he argued with his decision to say anything. If there was anyone he should have confessed to, it should have been Max. However, Max wasn’t the reading type. He liked to get out and live life, not get it from a book. Not that Alec didn’t. Damn it, man, get a grip on yourself. She doesn’t care, and it doesn’t matter.

  “Wait, did you say you write? Like in an author?” The awe was plain in her tone. “Oh wow, I’ve never known a real author personally.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, a couple people I work with have written books on trading, but yawn! What’s your genre? Can I read one of your books?”

  As she scooted closer to him, excitement on her face, he held up his hands and laughed. He couldn’t have hoped for a better reaction. Pride swelled inside him, but he resisted running home to get his laptop to show her a sample. “I’m not that far down the line yet. I’m in the process of writing a thriller. I’m halfway through.”

  “That’s so awesome.” He saw sincerity in her eyes. “Can I read it when you’re done? What’s it about?”

  Alec hesitated for just a few seconds. This was what he wanted, someone to share his love of reading and his passion for writing. He couldn’t be a wimp about it. That was definitely not in his nature.

  His comfort level rose as he shared the details of his story with her. Alec lost himself in the way she sat at rapt attention, eyes wide, lips parted as if she couldn’t wait to hear what came next. The killer’s motives, his methods, Alec intended to keep to himself, but she dug out every detail, asking questions that let him know she was not ignorant.

  “He leads her to the seaside, to the old house where he grew up,” Alec explained.

  “Why when he could just as well have done it at her father’s shop?” Whisper countered. “I mean, that place held significance in his humiliation and pain, too.”

  Alec laughed, and before he knew what he was going to do, he laid a hand alongside her face. Her skin was baby soft, so smooth, and this close he picked up her scent. She smelled of roses and raindrops. “Your mind is like lightning.”

  She went still, and he snatched his hand away. When had she come so near? He fought the temptation to pull her onto his lap and stood up.

  “I should probably go.”

  He moved toward the door, and she stood and followed. He expected her to say something, but she remained silent. Alec’s entire being wanted to turn and take her into his arms, and his muscles ached as if they contracted to keep him from doing it.

  At the door, she stopped him with a hand over his. The contact sent electric currents up his arm and down into his groin.

  “I meant what I said,” she said in a low tone. “Your ideas are incredible. I bet your book will be a success, and I would love to read it.”

  “Even though I told you the entire plot start to finish?”

  “Definitely.”

  She smiled up at him. He curled his fingers into his palm.

  “Okay, then I’ll bring it by tomorrow.” He said it with as little emotion as possible, but he didn’t look away from her or move.

  Alec made no conscious decision to do it, but the next instant he had her on the door, legs spread and wrapped around his waist while he devoured her mouth. The protest he expected sounded more like a moan of delight, and Whisper’s hands crawled up his arms to lock behind his head. She opened to him, welcoming his tongue. Alec hoisted her higher, squeezing her ass as he kissed her.

  “Damn it, you taste good, baby,” he mutte
red against her mouth. “More, give me all of you.”

  “Yes,” she moaned.

  He didn’t need any more invitation than that. Alec allowed her feet to touch the floor long enough for him to rip her clothing from her body. He yanked her T-shirt over her head and paused when her luscious breasts came into view. He thumped a hand on the door and pressed in closer.

  “I need to be in you.”

  She trembled, and even that turned him on. When she went to unbutton his pants, he let her do it, watching with interest. She took his hard cock into her hands, but he wasn’t about to let her go down on him. Not now. He’d spoken the truth when he said he had to get inside her. His sense of smell, already very strong, was overwhelmed with the scent of her cream. She was wet. He didn’t need to feel it to know it ran thick down to the tops of her thighs.

  Alec shoved his pants over his hips along with his boxers, and then picked her up. Her weight didn’t strain his muscles in the least. In fact, he got off on all her curves, the color of her brown skin, the smoothness. And oh the feel... He sighed when his cock slid into her channel. Moist yet tight, it stretched around his girth, making him have to work to get himself all the way in.

  “Damn it, baby, how can you still be so snug? You’re going to make me come.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  He stroked her cheek. “No, don’t be sorry. You feel incredible. Your body is perfect.”

  “You’re bigger.”

  He stopped mid-thrust. “What do you mean?”

  She’d shut her eyes and clung to his shoulders as if the sensations were a bit too much. Her heartbeat pounded in his ears, and her breaths had picked up speed. She moaned and nuzzled her face into his neck. When she spoke, her lips were on his pulse. The vibrations almost moved him to an orgasm even though he had stilled.

  “You’re bigger than last time, like you’re more turned on. I thought you were giant then.”

  He drew back a little. “Am I hurting you?”

  “Hell, no. If you take it out now, I’m going to kill you.”

  Alec chuckled. “Then by all means, let me please you, my sexy goddess.”

  Her lips tightened at his pet name, and something told him she didn’t like it. That made him laugh all the more until she began to wiggle her hips. He was gone. Alec got his cock seated all the way inside her and then began moving at a steady, if slow pace. He picked up speed and thrust faster. Before long, he pounded into her, his desire driven higher with each grind and the noise of their coming together. Whisper was right. He was harder because he was turned on more than he’d ever been before. She filled his senses, drove him insane. He couldn’t get enough—not in this lifetime. Maybe when he’d come, he’d feel more in control. He only hoped so.

  Whisper cried out his name. Her head dropped back, and she whimpered. Alec feasted his eyes on her sweet face, her swanlike neck. He bent to run the tip of his tongue along the graceful column and thrilled in the tremor that passed over Whisper.

  “I’m going to…” she said on a rasp. “I need to…”

  She couldn’t seem to finish the words. He didn’t care if she did or didn’t. Knowing what she meant and that he’d brought her to the brink took him higher. Alec’s balls tightened and rose. He clenched his jaw and dropped his forehead toward her throat. The muscles in his core convulsed and contracted. One word eeked past his lips—her name. He let go on a last plunge into her wet pussy, and held himself there. Whisper mewled so sweetly, he crushed her to his chest. They came together in a way he couldn’t have choreographed if he tried.

  When they were done, Alec backed up a step. He raised Whisper off of his shaft and set her on her feet. She swayed, and he held on until she got her bearings. Now that his lust had been satisfied, reason returned. He left her standing at the door and took two big strides back to put space between them.

  Whisper, too, seemed to come to her senses. She flitted on tiptoe to her discarded clothes and put them on. “I—” she said but didn’t continue.

  Why had he come here? He was only encouraging her. He knew women, and they drew conclusions at this kind of thing. If she thought he couldn’t resist her, she would begin to believe there was more to his feelings. He refused to use her for her body and allow her to read something warmer from it.

  “I should go,” he said.

  Although he could sense fear, being a leopard shifter, he couldn’t read other emotions unless he saw the signs in expressions or body language. He didn’t need to look at Whisper to know his words hurt her. Like a knife turned in his gut, he hated himself for doing that to her. He should have been stronger and not come here tonight. This was his fault. Damn it, I know better than this, and I don’t make these kinds of mistakes anymore.

  He took a step in her direction. “Whisper—”

  She flinched at his use of her name but waved her hand without looking at him. “You’re right. You should go.”

  He opened his mouth to speak again.

  “Go!”

  He nodded although she wasn’t looking at him. He left the apartment, and closed the door behind him.

  Chapter Nine

  Alec stood at the counter and received the beer the bartender handed him. He took a sip and then turned to survey the crowd. On a late Friday night, the place was packed wall to wall, and there were plenty of women who peaked his interest. Well, they would have peaked his interest a month ago, or even a couple of weeks. Before his mind was consumed with thoughts of Whisper, and his body craved to touch hers. He’d come here tonight to find someone—anyone—who could take away the insanity that Whisper brought.

  A couple days ago, he’d given her his manuscript. For a good hour, he had argued with himself to forget it, and he’d told himself her opinion didn’t matter. Besides, after their parting in her apartment, she wouldn’t be interested anyway. He’d lost the battle, and after spending hours getting more of the story on paper and out of his head, he’d packaged it up and left it at her door. Later, when he returned from a few errands, he found the envelope gone, so he could only conclude that she got it. For all he knew, she might have tossed it into the trash when she realized what it was. So here he was looking to remove the obsession he had for the woman.

  A blond at the other end of the counter smiled when she caught his eye. He nodded but kept his gaze moving. She was beautiful, but his crotch didn’t stir at her dress’s plunging neckline. For an instant, he paused on a black woman. As far as he could see she was one of only two in the bar that night. The rest of the women were white. He considered approaching her. Maybe another black woman could erase Whisper. A feeling of revulsion washed over him. No. The only mocha beauty he wanted from here on was Whisper. He didn’t want to admit it, but it was true nonetheless. He would deny himself the pleasure of her, but he wouldn’t seek it in another woman like her. No, the farthest was best.

  With this in mind, he scanned the place again and focused on a petite brunette near the entrance. He made his way through the crowd and drew up to her. When he leaned in close, it felt like he bent from miles away to her short stature. “Buy you a drink?”

  What he wanted to say was “let’s go back to your place” and dispense with pleasantries, but that would be insensitive, and while he didn’t want to get into a relationship, he didn’t want to hurt anyone either. Least of all Whisper. Realizing he was thinking about her again, he clenched his jaw, tightened the hold he had on his beer, and forced himself to focus on the woman in front of him.

  She offered a half smile and flipped her hair over her shoulder. He read the flurry of emotions over her face like a book. She considered whether to play hard to get or to let him know she was open to what he really meant. This particular bar didn’t have a lot of dancing going on, and the place was too loud for any meaningful conversation. Therefore, pretty much everyone here was looking for a hookup.

  “Sure, baby.” She laid a hand over his. “I’ll have what you’re having.”

  Her bold move of taking his d
rink from his hand and raising it to her lips to take a swallow had turned him on in other women before. Tonight his emotions fell flat. In fact, he was beginning to worry that his cock wouldn’t get hard at all. That had never happened.

  He moved behind her and brought his mouth close to her ear. “I’m Alec. What’s your name?”

  She murmured something he didn’t hear. He couldn’t stir enough curiosity to ask what she said, but her physical reaction told him all he needed to know. She practically purred and brushed her ass to his thigh. Alec held still where he was. In the past, he would have placed a light palm at her waist and assessed things further. Some wanted a little more petting before they gave in to what they both wanted. He wasn’t in the mood to play the game but kept the expression of interest firmly in place.