Your Treat or Mine

by Your Treat Or Mine

  For God’s sake it was a burial site for shifters and a home for hibernating vampires. Who the hell would have thought they needed guards?

  The founding families, she thought as she ran around a grotesque sculpture. Or at least the closest she could come to a running in her stupid heels.

  Abort. Abort, the more intelligent portion of her mind screamed, but she ignored it. If she took off and left the graveyard she would be leaving behind all chances of a promotion. Instead of running, Amelia dashed behind a large sculpture of a winged angel and held her breath.

  Her thundering heartbeat counted the seconds until the sounds of the guard’s footsteps receded. When she could hear him no longer she crawled forward, headed across a small open field in the opposite direction of his receding steps. Amelia hadn’t taken two steps when she came face to knees with the guard.

  She lurched back, but it was too late. He moved quickly, grasped her arms and gingerly lifted until she was staring right into his dark eyes.

  “Oh my God,” she gasped.

  He grinned at her obvious fright. “I’ve been called worse before,” he said and threw her over his shoulder.

  * * * *

  Riley Christensen stood in the shadows at the far end of the mausoleum that housed his great grandfather’s body, all his senses—paranormal and normal – were open to the damp autumn air. The wind shifted. It was just the slightest change in the atmosphere, but it brought Riley’s inner beast clawing to get to the surface. The hair on his nape stirred then. His beast was wild, determined to be set free. Riley glanced at the full moon and wondered for the millionth time what was the connection between the wolf that lived inside of him and full moons. Contrary to the occult legends humans told about his kind, werewolves could control themselves when the full moon was out. He’d yet to involuntary morph into his bestial form during the full moon phase, but that didn’t mean he didn’t feel connected to it, didn’t feel its pull.

  Moments earlier Vittorio had left the quiet sanctuary of the room they spent eight hours a night in five days a week. Something had stirred in the graveyard and Vittorio had gone to check things out. It had been the first indication that something was wrong.

  Probably another teenager. They’d been climbing over the ground’s large fence all night. It was, after all, Halloween, and nothing attracted teenagers quite like a burial ground on Halloween when there was a full moon out.

  The perfect setting for a scary movie, he thought with a grimace.

  Today was not a good day. He couldn’t explain the feeling. Riley had woken with the feeling that today was going to change his life. He immediately hated the feeling. Unlike many of his kind, Riley didn’t believe in fate. He was too calculating to hold stock in something so fickle.

  Definitely not a good night.

  The cool air wasn’t doing enough to calm Riley’s irritation. He moved from the banister he’d been leaning on and rolled his shoulders. A growl of distaste rumbled through the air. It wasn’t until he heard the sound that Riley realised it had come from him.

  He ran a rough palm down his chest and felt the coarseness of the cotton shirt. At that hour and with the full moon in the sky Riley felt the undeniable desire to strip and let his beast run free.

  It was either that or get naked with some gorgeous woman.

  He eyed the graveyard and wondered how angry Vittorio would get if he shifted.

  He would probably blow a gasket. Unlike him, Vittorio tended to follow the rules. Riley preferred to make up his own as he went along. Yet over the years, he and straight laced Vittorio had come to be best friends.

  Unlike most of the Christensens and Bonacellis that made up the JAK, Inc. corporation, Riley and Vittorio actually got along.

  Riley turned, intending to go back to the quiet, boring security room when he felt the change in the atmosphere. He took a deep breath and drank in Vittorio’s scent. The were-tiger was returning.

  With a human.

  A female human.

  Riley whipped around and glanced at the deserted landscape before him. Even with his preternatural sight, he couldn’t see Vittorio, but he could scent him and the female.

  A low growl was torn from Riley’s throat. His wolf liked the woman’s scent and was irritated that he had to wait to drink more of it.

  “Relax,” Riley breathed out.

  After what felt like an eternity Vittorio and the woman appeared. Riley couldn’t help the smile that flashed across his face when he saw the female was thrown across Vittorio’s shoulder. And by the looks of it she was angry.

  With purposeful strides, Vittorio reached the large mausoleum, fuming woman over his brawny shoulder.

  “What have we got here?” Riley asked as Vittorio placed the human on the steps. She staggered for a moment. Riley and Vittorio automatically held out their hands to help her out. She flinched as though she’d been struck.

  “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?” Vittorio growled out.

  Blue eyes lifted to stare at Vittorio before turning to him. “I have an idea,” she murmured as her gaze landed back on Vittorio.

  Reluctantly, Riley felt a little admiration for the human woman. He could scent her fear. It clung to every inch of her voluptuous frame, but it wasn’t apparent she was frightened from the calm look on her face.

  “What exactly are you doing here?” Riley asked the woman. The way she was dressed was definitely something new. She looked like the world’s smuttiest, sexiest Little Red Riding Hood. Her hair was pulled from her face by her simple red headband. Her lips were painted the same colour. Her eyes were blue, lined with thick darkened lashes.

  Somehow she managed to look both innocent and wicked. Riley’s gaze lowered. She was probably able to accomplish such a feat thanks to her outfit and simple makeup.

  She wore a corset that pushed up her bountiful breasts and cinched her waist, a tiny scrap of fabric that at best could be called a skirt, with black fishnets and red platforms. The outfit was complete with a small cape and picnic basket.

  She opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. The second time words came out although Riley was sure he misheard her.

  “I’m looking for the Wolf’s Cock and the Tiger’s Phallus.”

  Riley stared at the buxom beauty before him, wondering if she’d lost her mind. Because the words she was uttering didn't make any sense. Not unless he took them to mean...

  Riley shook aside the carnal images that had risen at that train of thought. Feeling thoroughly lost, he darted a glance at the man across from him. Vittorio looked as stunned as he felt.

  Apparently he had not misheard the woman.

  Still he needed to make sure he and his partner's ears were not playing a trick on him. Riley asked the woman to repeat herself. She peered at both men, hunched her shoulders in defence, and clear as day she said, “I’m here to obtain the Tiger’s Phallus and the Wolf’s Cock.”

  Nope. They’d heard her right the first time.

  Though both men had heard her say what she was looking for the first time, hearing it spoken so loudly with so much conviction went through them like lightning. Riley saw Vittorio stiffen.

  For several heart pounding moments neither man moved. Riley knew he didn’t move because he didn’t know how to react or respond to the woman’s statement. He was pretty sure his friend was in the same boat.

  Damn! Something occurred to him.

  He whipped the woman around and glared down at her in irritation. He was ticked off by her presence, because it meant a night filled with more than the simple work required to keep teenagers looking for an exciting Halloween out at the burial ground.

  Now because of her he was going to have to contact headquarters, and let his older brother know all was not well. He hated doing the simple act because it made him feel look like a screw up and he was trying very hard to prove he was ready to take on more responsibility at JAK, Inc.

  Double damn!

  He grabbed her arm
and tugged her behind him as he strode into the portion of the mausoleum that housed the security room. He heard Vittorio following in their wake. Once Vittorio closed and locked the door, Riley released the female.

  “What is your name?” he barked out.

  She glared at him, no doubt imagining all the things she would do to him if she had something sharp in her hands. “Amelia,” she muttered after several tense movements of holding his stare.

  He took a step forward. She instinctively took two back. Riley glanced at her feet automatically as a smile spread across his face. He lifted one eyebrow in silent inquiry at the bright red platform heels she wore. His allowed his gaze to move higher, taking in every inch of the woman in front of him. One thing was sure. She was dressed enticingly enough to capture his cock’s attention.

  Riley’s eyes finally reached her face to find dark blue eyes, bright with surprise, staring up at him.

  Riley couldn't help himself. He took another step forward. As expected, the diminutive woman moved backwards. Her plump backside bumped right into the desk he’d occupied earlier, preventing her from going anywhere.

  Riley felt his smile get wider as he took another step. This one brought him right to her. He was so close he could feel the change in her body heat as her flight or fight instincts kicked in. He heard her take in a deep breath before tamping down the need to take flight.

  Riley leaned forward menacingly and was gratified by the parting of her full lips and the widening of her eyes. He didn’t stop until his lips were right beside her left ear. Body quivering, she stood her ground, not attempting to back away or run.

  Oddly, Riley was irritated by the fact. Almost too late he realised his wolf wanted the woman to attempt an escape so he could run her down and “capture” her.

  His beast wanted to conquer her and force her to submit to him.

  With that realisation, Riley knew he should back away from the woman, but he didn’t.

  Couldn’t.

  His lips brushed her ear once, eliciting a shudder that was not born of fear. In her ear he whispered, “Little Red, let me introduce myself. I’m big, bad and all wolf.”

  Chapter Two

  Beautiful Struggle

  Amelia jerked her hand, testing the handcuffs that bound her to one of the desks that occupied the small room that housed the burial plot’s security and considered her current predicament.

  She kept trying to think positively, but her mind was screaming one thing loud and clear. You are so screwed!

  Damn!

  She’d been sure she wouldn’t have any real trouble acquiring the Tiger’s Phallus and Wolf’s Cock, thinking the Council was sending her on a twisted adult version of a scavenger hunt.

  Too bad she hadn’t counted on actual security.

  Amelia pursed her lips and considered the room around her. Security or no security, she was going to accomplish her mission. She hadn’t gone to Wharton, graduated at the top of her class, gotten a job at one of the nation’s fastest growing companies to give up now.

  She glared at the handcuffs. All she needed was something she could use to pick the locks.

  Amelia thought of the endless parade of action movies her mother loved. One scene stuck out of her memory. Smiling to herself Amelia bent forward, over the desk and shook her head vigorously. After what felt like an eternity, she heard the soft ping as one of the many pins in her hair fell to the table.

  “Gotcha,” she grabbed the closest pin and attempted to pick the lock.

  According to her friends and family, she was feisty, opinionated, assertive and bossy. Those individuals who weren’t her friends would call her a “bitch” or “ball buster”. Then there were the men who discovered she wasn’t as easy to get into bed as they’d assumed. They called her frigid.

  But the way both of the security guards looked at her made Amelia’s body heat with need. And neither of them looked like the kind who would run away the first time her bark turned into a bite.

  Big. Hot. And wicked.

  She smiled to herself as she battled the lock on the handcuffs. Okay, to be honest, only the blonde was wicked.

  “Little Red, let me introduce myself. I’m big, bad and all wolf.”

  The most disconcerting fact was that the man who said those words was gorgeous. Breathtaking, actually. With slashing eyebrows, sharp cheekbones, full lips, and smouldering hazel eyes, he had to be the most attractive man Amelia had ever met. His friend came in a close second with black, wavy hair, thick, masculine eyebrows, dark espresso eyes, a firm mouth, and the strongest jaw she’d ever seen.

  Amelia had barely been able to keep it together enough to prevent herself from jumping the blond security guard. The light in his hazel eyes, the smirk on his full lips, and the sexy growl in his dark voice had all combined to make his words the most erotic thing she’d ever heard.

  They’d been more potent than anything any vampire had ever said to her.

  And they said vampires could turn you on with a word…

  “Finally,” she said softly when she heard the distinctive click that told her the lock on the handcuffs hand opened. As much as the blond security guard and his equally handsome brunet friend turned her on, Amelia had a mission she planned on accomplishing.

  Although she would never admit it, even under threat of death, there was something about both men that kicked up her libido. Figures! Of course she was forced to run away from the only two men to ever truly catch her attention. Another ironic fact in the sad life of Amelia Brockman, she thought as she made her way to the very door the blond had dragged her through. Amelia breathed a sigh of relief when she found it was unlocked.

  She didn’t breathe again until she found herself standing outside the mausoleum. She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her as she made her way down the stairs. Sometime during the few minutes she’d been inside, the autumn night had dampened, taking on a wet quality that made the night feel a hundred degrees colder.

  “Stupid outfit,” she muttered as she made her way back to the area she’d been searching before the security guard found her. As far as Amelia knew, it was the shortest route to the exit. Even though she wanted the chance to show JAK, Inc. what she was really made of, something told her getting arrested would not make the Council look upon her favourably.

  * * * *

  “Everything okay?”

  Vittorio nodded his head as he strode into the backroom. “Yeah,” he murmured as he flung a stray leaf off his shoulder. “It was just a bunch of teenage boys trying to impress some girl.” As much as he’d hated leaving the human alone and handcuffed, he’d had to check out the disturbance while Riley made the call to the higher ups.

  “Remember when we were that young?”

  Vittorio did, all too well, but he knew what Riley was doing. He was trying to distract him from the issue at hand. “What did headquarters say?”

  “I haven’t called,” he responded. “I was thinking it might be smarter to call Rikard instead.”

  Christ! Vittorio glanced at his partner, shook his head and wondered why he had to be the reasonable one. “For the record, I still think we should call headquarters and inform them of the break in.”

  “Trust me, V. This is a much better idea.” Riley murmured as he dialled his brother’s number.

  “Every time you ask me to trust you, I end up regretting it.”

  Riley pressed the last button and turned his head slowly to look Vittorio in the eye. “You make it sound like I’m always getting you in trouble.”

  “Aren’t you?” Vittorio retorted. Riley and Vittorio were best friends. And best friends didn’t lie to one another. The truth was Riley had the ability to get him, simple, steadfast Vittorio into the worst kinds of trouble.

  Secretly, Vittorio was thankful for that.

  Riley shrugged one mountainous shoulder in answer before returning his attention to the task at hand. He pressed another button and the familiar sound of the phone dialling rang through the air. Ril
ey had placed the call on speakerphone. “Hi, Rikard,” he said. “I’ve got something important to ask you,” he continued before Rikard could respond to the greeting.

  “What is it now, Riley?” Rikard growled in exasperation.

  Vittorio understood what the wolf was feeling. Rikard was Riley’s older brother and had been forced time and time again to get him and Riley out of the situations they usually found themselves in.

  Tonight wasn’t going to be any different, Vittorio thought.

  Quickly Riley informed his brother of all that happened, paying particular attention to each and every detail about the woman who claimed to be looking for the Wolf’s Cock and Tiger’s Phallus.

  “Did you search her?” Rikard asked, cutting Riley off in the middle of his sentence.

  Vittorio sat up a little straighter. There was an urgency to Rikard’s words that the older wolf rarely used.

  “No,” Riley admitted slowly.

  “Damn it,” Rikard cursed. “Did it not occur to you that it would have been impossible for a woman wearing that outfit with those shoes to hop over the gate?”

  Riley glanced at Vittorio with wide eyes. They’d missed the obvious. Probably because they’d both been staring too hard at Amelia, wondering what she would look like naked, to think.

  “Search her. Search every inch of her. And her basket too. Don’t call back until you find out what’s she’s really there for.”

  “I’ve got to go,” Riley absently muttered into the phone before lowering the receiver. Just before the phone call ended the low sound of Rikard’s growl cut through the air.

  “Shit,” Vittorio cursed savagely as he ran a hand through his hair.

  Rikard was the coolest wolf he knew. If the older shifter was getting anxious there was a real problem at hand.

  “You want to bet there is something they’re not telling us?” Riley threw over his shoulder as he headed towards the exit.

  Vittorio had been thinking along the same lines. The higher-ups in all three families tended to keep secrets on a need- to- know basis, regardless of whether the information was personal or business related. Because of that, those at the bottom of the chain tended to find themselves dealing with shit because they had only half of the needed information. “Yeah, I suggest we get back to that woman and find out why she’s really here.”