Tooth and Claw (The Harry Russo Diaries Book 2)

by Lisa Emme

  I looked down at my clothes. I was dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a pink, baby-doll style t-shirt with cap sleeves. “What’s wrong with what I have on? I told you I’m not going dancing.” What would be the point? After the last time I was there, no male with an ounce of self-preservation would come near me. It was all Nash’s fault. He had given me a bowl of stew which in some sort of barbaric, male werewolf code meant I was off limits to anyone with a Y chromosome.

  “You look fine, just…” Tess trailed off with a shrug. “You look fine.”

  Hmmph. Fine. I rolled my eyes and followed her upstairs. Okay, so maybe I could dress up a little.

  ***

  Two hours later - we had been distracted by an episode of Big Bang Theory - we were walking up to the Lodge. I was dressed in black jeggings and knee high boots. On top I had my favourite copper-coloured cable knit sweater. It had one of those deep cowl-necks that showed off a bit of collar bone. Tess had taken a note from the casual page as well and was dressed in black jeans and a tight little top that highlighted all her curves.

  The Lodge hadn’t changed a bit since the last time I was there. That is to say, it still looked like a total country dive bar. I knew now that it was all a façade to keep the tourists away; the real party was in the Ice House behind the pub where there were multiple bars, a dance floor and even a pool hall set up. Isaac wasn’t in on the secret yet though, so I was enjoying the look on his face as he tried to school his features. He was about to become the first vampire to ever set foot in the werewolf community’s party central. Hopefully we would all survive the occasion.

  I needn’t have worried. True to her word, Christina paved the way. The bar had gone completely silent when Isaac walked in and then a number of men had stood, pushing back their chairs. There was a tense moment before Christina bustled over from behind the bar.

  “Isaac, so wonderful to finally meet you.” She grabbed him by the arm and escorted him to the bar, chatting the whole way. After a few minutes, even the most stubborn male had decided to sit back down. Crisis averted.

  For his part, Isaac looked a little dazed by the whole thing, or at least by Christina’s attention. She spoke to him a mile-a-minute and if I didn’t know better I’d say flirted with him too. I watched as she tried to coax his macaroon recipe out of him, while plying him with a bowl of her famous stew.

  “Can you believe that?” Tess smiled and pointed to where Isaac and Christina were huddled together discussing the benefits of unbleached flour.

  I just shook my head. They looked cute together. Who knew, maybe they were the first inroads into better vampire-werewolf relations. We were like UN ambassadors or something. I casually looked around the bar.

  “He’s not here,” said Tess with a grin.

  “Who says I’m looking for anyone?” I turned my back on the room suddenly finding my empty stew bowl very interesting.

  “Uh huh,” Tess rolled her eyes. “Sure you weren’t.”

  “Oh, stick a sock in it. Do you want to go shoot some pool or what?”

  We left Isaac deep in conversation with Christina and headed for the back room that led to the Ice House.

  “Hey,” I said to the bouncer at the door, “where’s Tank?” Tank was the bouncer the previous time I had been there. True to his name, he was the biggest man I had ever seen. He wasn’t just tall, he was wide to go with it.

  “Don’t know. He never showed up for his shift,” the current bouncer replied. He ushered us into the small store room that acted as the entry to the Ice House beyond.

  “That’s odd,” mused Tess.

  “What?” I asked as we pushed our way to the bar through the crowd standing near the dance floor. We ordered a couple of draft beers then moved along towards some tables near the pool hall section of the venue.

  “That’s the second time that someone hasn’t shown up for work today. What is it with everyone ditching work?”

  “Must just be a coincidence,” I replied, not thinking much about it. “Look, there’s a pool table opening up over there.”

  We shot a couple of games before Isaac finally joined us and my game went downhill. Up until that point, I had been totally playing the pool shark by using a little telekinetic nudge here and there to up my game. Tess was oblivious, but Isaac had caught on pretty quickly

  “No fair, Harry,” Tess complained.

  “Hey, I was just finding a practical application for my new skill. I wonder if I can do it with darts too?”

  “Let’s find out.” Tess was always game for a new challenge.

  We moved over closer to the bar area to an empty table by the dart board. It wasn’t in use so Tess grabbed some darts.

  “Don’t look now Harry, but someone is watching you,” she said looking over my shoulder towards the bar.

  I rolled my eyes. “How am I not supposed to look now?” I don’t understand why people say that. If they didn’t want you to look, they should have just kept their mouth shut. I tried to look over my shoulder as casually as possible. Nash was sitting at the bar nursing a beer. “What’s he doing there?”

  “He’s been here watching you for the last half hour,” Isaac volunteered with a smirk.

  “Just ignore him Harry.” Tess grabbed my arm, pulling me to the dart board. She shoved a dart in my hand. “Here. I bet you can’t hit the bullseye left handed.”

  “With or without a little telekinetic finesse?” I asked, happy for the distraction.

  “Either,” she challenged back.

  Turns out throwing darts with your non-dominant hand is a challenge even with the use of telekinesis. Soon we were both giggling at our crazy shots while Isaac sat back and shook his head.

  Although I tried to ignore him, I found Nash completely distracting. Or, I should say, I found all the women that kept throwing themselves at him distracting. It was unbelievable. They were on him like flies on…well, you know. Every few minutes, a new blonde or brunette or red-head, all attired in clothes much too tight for them, would stop by to hang on his arm or rub up against him. For the most part, Nash didn’t look overly interested, but he was friendly enough, flirting right back with a few of them. I don’t know what made my blood boil more, that Nash was flaunting all the women that wanted him right in front of me, I mean in this whole big place he had to sit right there where I could see him? Or, that I was letting it get to me. Why did I care what Nash did?

  Who was I kidding? Nash was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. The more I told myself he was bad news and I shouldn’t be attracted to him, the more attracted I was. I was like a kid who was told they couldn’t have something. It just made me want it more.

  “Harry, come on. Your turn.” Tess waved at me from the dart board.

  “I think I’ll sit this one out.” I turned and gave Isaac a poke in the arm. “You go play with her.”

  “Yeah, come on Isaac. Show me whatcha got,” Tess called to him.

  Isaac sighed but stood up, his lean frame towering over the table. “Certainly, but none of this left-handed nonsense. Let’s put it to a real test. Loser does the dishes for a week.”

  “You’re on, Baker Boy,” Tess replied, her eyes gleaming at the challenge.

  I sat back in my seat and watched the game. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to also making sure my chair was angled just right, so I could keep an eye on Nash. He was head to head with a pretty, little brunette. Her hand was on his arm and she was talking animatedly at him. I grumbled and looked at his plastic beer cup sitting near the edge of the table.

 

 

  I smiled as I watched it take a little jump and then another, moving closer to the edge of the bar. Wow, I was getting better at this telekinesis stuff. I gave the cup another little push and it teetered on the edge of the counter.

  ““Harry!” Isaac’s voice startled me as I gave the cu
p another little push, just as Nash’s hand grabbed for it.

  “What?” I turned back to Isaac trying not to look guilty.

  Isaac looked at me like a parent scolding a child. “Really Harry?”

  “You told me I should practice, so I’m practicing.”

  I looked back to see that Nash was watching me. He raised his cup in salute. Damn werewolf super hearing. He probably figured out what I’d been doing and heard Isaac scolding me. He smiled and took a drink.

  He turned back to the little brunette, putting a hand on her waist as he leaned in closer to hear what she was saying. Although really, why would he need to lean closer if he had super werewolf hearing? Fine, if he was going to play it that way, it was game on. I sat back and waited for my next opportunity.

  It came quickly enough, when the brunette set her cup on the bar. I barely needed to think about it this time, before the cup all but flew towards the edge of the counter top. Nash’s hand left the brunette’s waist and grabbed it just in time. He set it back on the bar, giving me a pointed stare. I shrugged. Point to him. The little brunette chattered away oblivious.

  I turned my attention to the dart game hoping to lull Nash into a false sense of security. Tess and Isaac were playing a game called Soccer. It was a straight-forward game, but scoring wasn’t always easy. In order to score you had to have ‘possession of the ball’. The only way to be in possession was to hit a bullseye. Once you had possession you kept it until your opponent hit a bullseye and stole the ball from you. While in possession of the ball, you scored goals by hitting any double on the board. The first player to get ten goals was the winner. Tess and Isaac were pretty evenly matched and they had several rounds where no points were scored because they had each immediately stolen possession from the other. To make it more of a challenge they began to take a step further away from the board with each pointless round. They were already a good four or five feet further away from the board than standard.

  I stole a peek at Nash. He had risen from the bar stool he had been perched on to greet yet another woman. This one was tall and blonde. Her legs looked like they went on forever, especially in the skimpy little bit of cloth she was calling a skirt. The little brunette appeared to be a bit put out with the intrusion and was staring daggers at the blonde. Nash signalled to the bartender to refresh his drink then went to sit back down. I glared at the stool and muttered “agitare” giving a little wave like I was pushing something away with the back of my hand. The stool scooted away just as Nash’s ass touched the seat. He stumbled but quickly recovered, grabbing the stool and pulling it back. He glared over at me and I shrugged, trying to keep the smile off my face. Definitely my point.

  My next opportunity came when a man walked by with an empty cup and set it on the bar a little ways down from Nash. He must have been drinking a soda, because there was ice left in the cup. A few minutes had passed and Nash was distracted by both the blonde and the brunette who were vying for his attention. It took a few tries, but I was finally able to get a piece of ice out of the cup. It hovered over the bar just a few inches from the counter top.

  “Harry!” Tess flopped down beside me. “What are you doing?”

  “Practicing,” I replied, my gaze never leaving the ice cube. “Now shush. I have to concentrate.”

  The ice cube wavered a little then slowly started to float towards Nash. Not wanting it to be too obvious, I dipped it down below the level of the bar. It was floating along nicely until an unsuspecting man stepped up to the bar in front of it and the ice cube crashed into him, falling to the floor.

  “Oh, so close,” Tess teased.

  I stuck my tongue out at her and looked around, noticing Isaac was gone. “Hey, where’s Isaac?”

  “He went to talk to Christina again. Something about trying mille feuille?” She snagged the last of my beer. “I told Isaac we’d be ready to go soon. I’ve got an eight o’clock class to teach in the morning.”

  “Sure, I’m ready whenever you are, just let me try one more time.” I looked at her and grinned.

  “I bet you can’t do it,” she dared.

  “You’re on.”

  I managed to get the next ice cube out of the cup much quicker. It’s harder than you think when you can’t really see what you are trying to move. This time I took the ice cube up high, above the crowd. I doubted if anyone would even notice it floating several feet above their heads. If all went as planned, it would drop out of nowhere and down the back of Nash’s shirt.

  The cube sailed along with only a few wobbles, but when I had it hovering over Nash’s head, I started to have second thoughts.

  “Come on Harry, don’t chicken out now,” Tess egged me on.

  The cube wobbled again while I chewed my lip thinking about it. Oh well, why not? I gave the cube a little nudge and it fell straight down, sliding along the back of Nash’s neck and down into his shirt.

  “Woo hoo!” Tess did a fist pump then held her hand up for a high five as Nash danced around trying to get the ice cube out of his shirt.

  I slapped her hand all smiles until I looked over and saw Nash point his finger at me, a look of determination on his face.

  “Oh shit,” I said, leaping up from my chair. “Tess, I think it’s time to go.”

  Before I could even take a few steps towards the exit, Nash was on me. He grabbed my arm with a growl and yanked me towards a door behind the bar.

  “Hey!” I yelped, trying to pull my arm from his grip.

  He threw open the door and pushed me inside. I stumbled a couple of steps and then turned to try and escape, running straight into him, my hands against his chest. He pulled the door shut and grabbed my wrists, walking me back until I was up against the wall.

  “Listen Nash….” I started to say, the words dying in my throat at the look of pure hunger in his eyes. I hadn’t expected that; anger, sure, but not desire. I licked my lips nervously.

  He leaned in close, resting his hands on the wall on either side of my head. His cheek was so close to mine I could feel the warmth of his body heat, but no part of our bodies actually touched. He dipped his head down to my exposed collar bone and inhaled deeply. He groaned and then pushed himself away, his hand slapping against the wall in frustration.

  “Listen, it was just a little fun…” I tried again.

  Nash raised an eyebrow at me. “Don’t play games with me Harry,” he growled, pacing across the room.

  “Me? What about you?” I spluttered, crossing my arms in front of me. “I’m not the one who was playing games. You and your harem of – “

  “My what?” Nash frowned at me, running a hand through his hair. “What are you talking about?”

  “You heard me, your little harem of women, parading them past me. You could have sat anywhere else in the whole, huge place, but you sat right there where I could see you, flaunting them.”

  “What’s the matter little minx? Jealous?” He stepped closer, invading my personal space again.

  “Oh, get over yourself why don’t you,” I replied, pushing him away.

  He reached for me, grabbing my arm, capturing my wrist and pinning it against the wall above my head. I tried to push him away with my free hand, but he snagged it too, pinning it with the other. I frowned at him, my heart pounding in my chest. He leaned in close again, this time his five o’clock shadow scraped across my cheek. He tucked his head in against my neck, his breath tickling my skin as he inhaled and exhaled. It seemed to calm him, but my heart fluttered in my chest like a bird trying to escape.

  Suddenly, he growled and pushed himself away again, dropping my arms. “Those women mean nothing to me,” he said. “The wolf can’t stand to be near them. He only wants you.” He turned and stalked to the door, leaving me standing there in shock.

  In a moment of pique, I threw my telekinesis at it, holding it shut. He pulled in frustration at the do
or, but it wouldn’t budge. I brushed past him, opening it easily myself. “Maybe you should listen to him,” I said, then stomped out the door.

  Chapter Five

  I was dragging my ass the next day. We hadn’t stayed all that late at the Lodge, but my sleep had been plagued with dreams. I’d tossed and turned all night long.

  In my dream I was a wolf. I was long and sleek and nimble and quick, and I revelled in the joy of being free, running through the underbrush. Abruptly, the mood of the dream shifted. It felt darker and instead of joy, I felt fear. My run through the forest became an erratic dash to escape. I ran for my life, switching back and forth, changing directions, trying to stay ahead of my pursuers. The images all jumbled together and I couldn’t make much sense of them; a white room, masked figures in dark coats, a black wolf with his fangs bared, his mouth foaming with spittle. The searing pain of silver burning my skin as a net exploded over me, falling on me, weighing me down, jarred me from my sleep and I woke with my heart pounding in my chest.

  Bleary-eyed, I headed down to the shop. As I turned the corner of the building, I caught a glimpse of grey fur and a tail. Was that a…? No, it couldn’t be a wolf, not here in the city. There were no wild wolves in the area and a werewolf would know better. It must have been a big dog. Or maybe it was a remnant from my dreams. Whatever the case, it was cold standing outside in my shirtsleeves so I hustled into the shop. Mrs. Potts was bustling around, her usual cheery self.

  “Good morning dear, rough night?” she asked, taking in my less than chipper appearance.