2HotCurvesAhead
Page 9
They stayed like that for a moment with the former alpha trying to push Cade off, stabbing him in the thigh with his claws, but only for a moment. With a grunt and a small shake, Cade literally shook the fight out of him. Travis passed out and the alpha position in the pack was passed to Cade. Marybeth actually felt it, a zing of power that ran through her. She made to run toward Cade, wanting to help him as his thigh was still bleeding, but a pair of strong arms caught her around the middle before she got two steps.
“Not yet. He’s not done.” Riley spoke softly in her ear and she wondered if he had felt what she had and thought maybe, yeah. He was looking at his friend differently than he had when they had first met by the river. He was looking at him with a sort of awe and love, as were the rest of the wolves.
One by one the wolves in the clearing, except for Riley, approached Cade, who had shifted back to human. They lowered their heads and then moved on. Cade stayed where he was, breathing hard, nodding slightly to each one. His leg continued to bleed, but less and less with each passing moment and Marybeth wondered if that was going to be another piece of the new and improved Marybeth. Damn, she hoped so. That would come in handy when freak leg shaving accidents happened in the shower. However, exploring that would have to wait. Right now she just needed to get to her man.
Chapter Six
Cade stood over Travis, waiting for him to get up again. His breathing was that of the well and truly passed out, but Cade still took one step back before he turned his back on the fallen alpha. Well, alpha no more. He looked around to find Marybeth, a need inside of him to make sure she was well. He figured he knew what that meant. Riley’s family had explained to him about mates a time or two as he and Riley had gotten older and Cade had the example of Riley’s parents. They were a happily mated pair and thankfully weren’t here tonight, saying they were getting too old for midnight runs. He spotted her, his mate, Marybeth, being restrained by Riley. It didn’t matter who was holding her. His wolf was out again, alpha now and completely willing and able to put anyone in their place that needed it, be it friend or foe.
He must have growled because Riley immediately stepped back from Marybeth, his head down in a gesture of submission. “Just keeping her out of trouble for you, my man.” That may be, but Riley was still naked, and his wolf liked that not at all. Cade growled once more in warning, which sent the rest of the wolves scattering but made Marybeth roll her eyes. Heh. His wolf liked that she wasn’t intimidated and he was immediately all about her and not Riley. Cade stepped up to her and stared down into her eyes, not caring if he was getting hard again, or who was watching. It was all about Marybeth.
“You done? Can we go?” Her voice was challenging, and stirred him even more. God, he wanted to fuck her again. She must have seen it in his face. “Oh, no. You are going to take a shower and get all the sweaty-wolf-funk off you. I’m going to call into work because I’m pretty sure that’s the sun trying to come up over the horizon and not some comet to put me out of my misery, and I think lycanthropy is actually an acceptable reason to call in.” She waved her hand at him. “So, go put that club of yours back in your pants and let’s get back to your truck.” When he didn’t immediately move, she crossed her arms which pushed her breasts up, stretching her T-shirt over her hard nipples. Heh. Adorable.
“One thing, little miss bossy.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the hell out of her. It was only a second before she was kissing him back and wrapping her arms and then her legs around him. Yep, she was the perfect handful. “Now we can go.” He strode over to his pants, briefly set her down while he dressed in record time, and then scooped her up again to take her to his truck.
He yelled over his shoulder to Riley and a couple of the other wolves. “Take Travis back to his house and get him cleaned up. He can stay in the pack if he’s willing to leave this alone and accept me as alpha, but if I have to put his ass down again I’m going to kill him and feed him to the coyotes.” As far as he was concerned, that was all he was going to say on the matter. There would be no more chances.
Marybeth put her nose into his neck and just breathed. Despite the “werewolf funk” comment, he smelled fantastic.
“Keep that up and we won’t make it to my house.”
“Your house? We are going to my apartment, Lassie.”
Cade barked out a laugh. “Why? Your door isn’t in the best shape. Hell, all your stuff might be gone by now.” Probably not in Lawrence, but she could see his point.
“Even more reason to get your furry butt over to my place! I have to check on my shit.” She tried to pry herself out of his arms to no effect. Her precious books. Her precious makeup. Her precious vibrator…oh, wait, I don’t think I’ll be needing that so much anymore.
Cade barked out a laugh again. “I can get you new shit. Besides,” he said, letting his chin briefly rest on her now hopelessly tangled curls, “we should think about getting a new place. Mine is kind of small for pups.”
“Pups? What, you think I’m just your baby machine?” Okay, that kind of pissed her off, but also made her melt a little. He didn’t need to know about the melting though.
“Nah. But it’s always a possibility with all the sex we’re going to be having. Oh, and…” Cade slid her down his body until she was standing in front of him. He then went to his knees before resting his face on her soft belly right below her breasts, not letting her go for a moment. He stayed like that for a couple of beats while Marybeth waited.
Marybeth had thought there was something to follow that and. “Okay, and…?” Not that she minded him where he was, not at all.
“Sorry. A little distracted. You’re distracting.” He cleared his throat and leaned back to look at her face. “Marybeth…oh, crap, I don’t know your last name.” Cade frowned for a moment before shaking his head. “Well, we’ll get to that. Marybeth, would you do me the honor of being my bride and helping me keep this pack in line? Give me little pups? When you’re ready of course.”
He looked at her expectantly. And looked. And looked. Then he squirmed a little, his eyebrows coming together in what could only be worry. Poor lamb. “Ummm…so, is your silence you thinking it over? Or a no? Not that you have to answer right away,” he hastened to add. “I know you’ve had a big night. Oh, fuck, I am fucking this up…”
Marybeth sighed and decided to take pity on him. “Marybeth Aileen Watkins. I don’t want any ‘pups’ or kids for another couple of years, and then maybe two, but that’s negotiable. I would like to live in a house. Let’s check out yours, then we will check out our finances and cautiously make a decision based on facts, not full moons and hot sex. Yes, I will marry you, but not for another six months because, goddammit, I’m going to have some bling and an outrageously fancy, expensive white dress. We cool?”
Cade was grinning at her now, from his knees. Her alpha. They would have to explore this position more when they got to where they were going after a good long nap. Well, maybe before.
“We are so cool, little wolf.” He then hopped up and proceeded to carry her to his truck and the rest of their lives.
Make Him Purr
Bella Brooke
Dedication
To the man who will always make me purr and who loves all my curves.
Chapter One
“OMG it’s her. Shaznay! Over here!”
Shaz glanced across the street and smiled at the two teenagers who were literally jumping up and down with excitement. As a successful plus-size model who’d moved to LA, she was used to attention but was thrilled to see they were wearing T-shirts with her blog motto, Beauty is NOT a Number.
“Sorry, Derek,” she murmured apologetically to the studio manager, “I’ll just be a moment. I understand you’re big and tough and ex-military with a need to protect hardwired to your core but you don’t have to stay with me, you know?” she teased, already sure of his answer. “I am perfectly safe to walk to my car.” As she’d guessed Derek was already shaking his head before she finishe
d speaking.
Laughing, Shaz hurried across to meet her fans who stuttered out their names, looking a bit shell-shocked to actually be talking to her.
“We think you look gorgeous and we love your sexy English voice,” one of them admitted shyly. “Don’t you miss living in London? I’d love to travel.”
“There’s no reason why you can’t when you’re a bit older,” Shaz replied. “Remember that you can achieve amazing things if you believe in yourself and work hard.” She loved being able to reach out to girls and help them understand everybody was special and had potential. So she was delighted to take the time to pose for selfies. “Remember what I say, girls,” she said, snapping pictures while they chanted together, “Be fine, fierce and have fun!”
“Yeah, good luck, fatties.” A guy in his early twenties sniggered as he passed by and Shaz saw the girls’ smiles fade.
“Just one minute,” she whispered and sauntered over to the young man who wasn’t looking so confident. “What’s your name?” she asked.
“Sh-Sean,” he stammered.
Shaz put her hands on her hips and took a deep breath, deliberately pushing her breasts against the low-cut top. She was amused to see Sean swallow as he tried not to stare. Rocking her weight back on to her spike heels, Shaz twitched her fabulous ass—thank you, Pilates—making her short skirt kick up and emphasize every inch of her sexy body. Sean’s gaze followed the movement and his cheeks reddened. “Do you know how much all these fabulous, voluptuous curves are insured for, Sean?” she asked softly and he shook his head. “An absolutely enormous amount and I think they’re worth every penny.” Shaz pouted and posed teasingly, making the guy catch his breath. “Do you think they’re worth it?”
Sean nodded like a frantic bobblehead doll.
Shaz smiled. “That’s good,” she cooed. “And now you’re going to apologize to Lauren and Cindy.”
He stammered a hasty sorry before scurrying from the scene. The girls giggled as Shaz waved goodbye.
“And that, girls,” she winked, “is how it’s done. Remember Beauty is NOT a Number. It’s an attitude and we are freaking awesome!”
She returned with a huge grin on her face to a patiently waiting Derek who took her arm and was escorting her to her car when she saw the flash of the camera. She barely heard him yell, “Look out!” before he launched himself against her, slamming them both to the ground in a tangle of legs. The force snapped the strap of Shaz’s top and her tits spilled out.
What the hell! Shaz tried to sit up but Derek shoved her back with one large hand.
“Stay down,” he hissed. His body pressed into her cheek so hard the grit on the sidewalk dug uncomfortably into her flesh. Her thin clothes were no protection either. Her skirt had ridden up, showing the swell of her rounded arse, which jiggled from the impact. She could feel the roughness of Derek’s jeans as he pressed against the vulnerable bare flesh in a parody of an embrace.
After what seemed like hours Derek stopped scanning the surroundings and stood. “I think it’s safe,” he muttered.
Shaz sat up, completely confused. “That was a bit extreme for a paparazzo shot.” She tried joking, unnerved by Derek’s behavior and chalk-white face. He didn’t reply but gawped at her tits, which was weird. Derek was normally the complete professional. Although in this case she couldn’t blame him. The girls were kind of out there, front and center, on display. “Hey, eyes up here,” she joked, but he just kept staring. Shaz followed his gaze and realized he was looking at her upper arm and not her cleavage. Had she hurt it in the fall? That had been some tackle of Derek’s and she’d hit the ground with force.
It was then Shaz saw the blood. Lots of it. Far too much for a simple graze. She swallowed sickly, eyes widening as realization hit. Just like the bullet had. “It wasn’t a camera flash, was it?” she whispered, and Derek shook his head. At that a door in her imagination opened, allowing the message to flow through her body. You’ve been shot. Pain raced through her system like a flash flood. Shaz closed her eyes, suddenly weak and dizzy. “Bollocks,” she whispered. “Fuck you, Karl, and fuck your freaky obsession.”
* * * * *
The ride to the hospital was a blur. The ache in her shoulder grew into a searing fire. Arriving at the busy ER with its noise, bright lights and staring crowds, Shaz had never been so glad her agent was a prizewinner at being in people’s faces. The paperwork was already sorted and she was wheeled immediately to a private room and examined. The medic looked too young to be a qualified doctor but seemed as if he knew his job.
“You were lucky,” he commented, removing his sterile gloves as he finally finished dressing the area. “There’s no muscle damage. The bullet only caused a flesh wound. Painful but not serious.”
Shaz bit her lip so hard she could feel it sting, trying to hold back the whimper of pain. “Yeah, real lucky,” she grimaced, her voice wobbling as the shock began to hit.
The doctor flushed, suddenly looking less the seasoned professional and more like a young, tongue-tied guy. “I just meant, with you being a model and all…” he began awkwardly.
Shaz nodded tiredly. “Wouldn’t want to be less than perfect,” she whispered, forcing a smile.
“No chance of that,” he replied, a flirtatious tone appearing. His eyes slid from the bandage to the generous cleavage her torn top exposed. Shaz pulled the material up, torn between irritation and disbelief. The guy was checking her out as if they were in the club instead of a hospital! Any second now he’d be asking for her number. She’d seen that expression of lust and admiration plenty of times before.
In Shaz’s experience, men fell into three camps. They looked at her generous curves and dismissed her as fat, they wanted to date her just because she was a model, or they wanted to possess every luscious inch and fuck her hard and fast. She swallowed back a harsh retort. It wasn’t the doctor’s fault and normally she might have been interested. He was a good-looking guy but then so was Karl and her experience with him had left Shaz paranoid and feeling a bit raw about men. Maybe I should just stop dating, she thought.
The door to her room flew open as the force of nature known as her agent raced in. As usual Magda looked immaculate in her form-fitting cerise suit and skyscraper heels but her rushed pace had knocked her color-matched wig askew. Way past retirement—You’re only as old as the man you feel and I love toy-boys, darling—Magda was vain about her thinning hair and dealt with it in her usual flamboyant style.
Shaz felt a rush of tenderness at the sight of the diminutive agent as she teetered into the center of the room, sorted out the wig and glared at the poor medic.
“Holy crap!” Magda exclaimed. “What did you do, dig the bullet out with a spoon? Have you any idea who this is? I can’t afford to have her damaged. She’s worth a fortune.”
Ignored the spluttering doctor, Magda placed a gentle kiss on Shaz’s cheek. “You okay, doll?” she asked.
“Not really,” Shaz admitted. Magda was one of the few people Shaz allowed to see past her fine and fierce persona.
“Was it…him?”
Any other time Shaz would have laughed at Magda’s hesitant tone. She wasn’t known for her tact. Shaz nodded, trying not to wince as even that tiny movement caused fiery heat to rage in her shoulder. “I don’t know. I didn’t see anything useful before Derek knocked me to the ground but I think so,” she admitted softly.
Magda let off a string of what Shaz assumed were Hungarian swear words. “First the notes, then the stalking and now this. If the police don’t do something, then I will. My nephew works for a security agency.” She paused. “A special agency.”
“Special? Like the FBI,Special Agent?” Shaz frowned. “I don’t think they handle this kind of case.”
“Not the FBI, although the firm has employees from all the security and military branches. No, this agency has very…particular skills. I’ll get my nephew to speak to the owner and organize him as your bodyguard. He’ll protect you and find Karl,” she gave a sm
all snigger, “and when he does…”
* * * * *
Tyler Harris wiped the sweat off his forehead and returned to attacking the punching bag in the gym as if it were his worst enemy. It bucked and swayed under the pounding force of his ferocious blows, any one of which would knock a normal man to the ground. He had a shitload of work waiting for him in his office. Alpha Security had tripled in size since he’d started it four years earlier and there was always too much damn paperwork for his taste. Things he couldn’t delegate, but he was feeling too restless to force himself to be responsible just yet.
He growled deep in his throat and noticed the staff who were enjoying the advantage of a free-to-employees gym looking across nervously at him. What he really needed was a dirty, no-holds-barred brawl but they’d learned not to take him on when he got into what his office manager described as his pissy mood.
Normally when he felt the four walls were closing in like some sort of cage, the problem was easily fixed. Tyler knew without vanity he was a good-looking man. At six foot five with dark blond hair and green eyes, he was already noticeable. Add a body honed to muscled perfection—first by his Special Forces training and now with hours of punishment in the gym—and women were more than interested. It didn’t take much effort to hook up. Plus, of course, there were always women who wanted a shifter. Some just wanted the legendary sexual expertise and stamina. Others because they saw it as a challenge, maybe they’d be The One. What they didn’t understand was when a male shifter found his mate, he didn’t wait for her to approach him. He hunted.
Until then shifters enjoyed easy, quick hook-ups with no expectations or strings. Tyler had been no different. He’d search for someone good-looking and confident and catch their gaze. Often just a slow smile would do it. He picked women who knew what they liked and weren’t expecting him to call or date. Tyler knew he was a dominant lover who needed to make a woman lose control and writhe and whimper beneath him, begging to be fucked. He had no problem with making her pretty little panties soaking wet with need. He knew just how much to torture her pussy until it clenched around his cock as she gasped out her pleasure. Yeah, he gave a woman a good time. He never offered more than one night but he made sure she came plenty. It was enough.