Wild Thunder

by Kacey Hammell

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  Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Wild Thunder

  Copyright © 2012 by Kacey Hammell

  ISBN: 978-1-61333-394-5

  Cover art by Fiona Jayde

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

  Look for us online at:

  www.decadentpublishing.com

  Other Stories in the Edge Series

  Unwanted Mate by Rebecca Royce

  Smut Therapy by Stephanie Beck

  Zombie Lovin’ by Olivia Starke

  Lipstick & Jazz by Leanore Elliott

  Carnal Attraction by D.L. Jackson

  Night of the Doms by Erykah Wyck

  Alana’s Surrender by KT Grant

  The Vampire’s Plaything by Ashlynn Monroe

  Beautiful Ink by L.C. Dean

  No Strings Attached by Jennifer Labelle

  The Power of Three by Jessica E. Subject

  The Landscaper by Stephanie Williams

  Night Music by Margie Church

  Traveler Through Darkness by Fierce Dolan

  Hypnotist by Virginia Nelson

  Also By Kacey Hammell

  Illusions

  Awakenings

  Tied Down

  Wild Thunder

  In the Arms of the Law

  The Edge Erotica Series

  By

  Kacey Hammell

  Wild Thunder

  “Come on, dammit. Don’t you die on me, you piece of shit!”

  With a growl and a slam to the steering wheel with the palm of her hands, Shanay Gold cursed the gods above and her ’89 VW.

  She didn’t understand what possessed her to drive almost seven hours to these mountains, and cursed that, too. With the rain making it impossible to see out the window of her little bug, she’d driven off the road, into the muddiest ditch ever created. The thunder clapping around her did nothing to soothe her shaky nerves.

  She wanted to find somewhere dry and warm and sleep through the rest of the storm.

  For the last few months, she’d listened to Sophia and Glen James discuss and worry over their son, Ethan. She and Ethan had grown up together. Their parents continued to be close, but she hadn’t seen him in a couple of years. Why she thought she might be able to help was beyond her. They’d had a rocky connection since they finished college, and she’d be hard-pressed to call them friends.

  More like fuck-buddies when the need rose, just admit it. Especially when you’ve both had too much to drink.

  She shoved the nagging inner voice aside.

  The things Ethan could do with his hands, push her to do….

  True, he was the one man who’d ever made her explore or dig deeper into herself, as a woman and lover.

  No, she couldn’t go there. She hadn’t made this drive to enjoy herself.

  As much as it would thrill her to do so—she hadn’t had sex in almost a year—she’d come here, as someone who cared about him.

  She exited the car, the gale tossing her long hair around her face. Drawing the hoodie over her head, she tried to block out as much of the rain and wind from her face and eyes as possible. Apprehensive, she contemplated the back tires. They were sunk over the rims in mud.

  “Un-fucking-shit-believable.” Had she revved the engine that hard? Climbing back into the shelter of the bug, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket.

  “Son-of-a-bitch.” No bars. Just when she thought the night couldn’t get any worse. Dammit. No way to call for help. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, she screamed, frustrated and ready to tear something apart.

  She lifted her head and stared through the windshield. Surprise and hope filled her when a light blinked on in the distance. If she could make it to where the light came from, she might get out of the lousy weather, at least.

  So much for the new Puma running shoes she’d bought the day before. She doubted they’d survive the slick muck and rain until she reached her destination. It wasn’t the time to be more concerned about footwear than herself, but damn, she loved them.

  Shanay hesitated. Lord knew how long she’d be walking. Eyeing the edge of the road the car rested on, partway through a turn that couldn’t be seen in the dismal weather, she realized there was little safety sitting in her vehicle either.

  She scooped up her wallet from the seat beside her and shoved it, along with her phone and keys, into her pocket. Shoring up her courage, she thrust the car door open and climbed out, sliding in the mud. At the front of the vehicle, she grabbed onto the hood and prayed for patience.

  Ethan James was so dead when she found him. If he wasn’t such a stubborn pain-in-the-ass, she wouldn’t be in such a mess. But she adored his folks and would do whatever possible to ease their worries.

  As she trudged up the hill, the glow ahead a beacon, she stumbled in the muck, arms flailing as she caught her balance again to stay upright. Ethan owed her a new pair of shoes, a tow, and whatever else she could think. The man had a lot of explaining to do.

  She wouldn’t give up until satisfied…one way or another.

  Ethan dropped his ax beside the stump. Foliage from the ground blew up in his face and the spruce trees rustled overhead. He gathered the foot-and-a-half long logs he’d been chopping before the weather brewed into hell. Tossing his head to get his hair out of his eyes, he cursed himself for letting it grow out while on leave from the police department. He preferred it almost a crew cut, short on the sides and bit longer on top—standard cop style.

  Since taking refuge in his parents’ rustic cabin in the Shenandoah Mountains of Stonewall, Virginia, he’d been focusing on silence, relaxation, and fighting the chaotic emotions that stirred within him. For close to four months, he’d tried to move beyond the anger and disgust that weighed heavy in his chest. Isabella Knowles, a fellow detective in the Fifteenth Precinct, had once been the object of his infatuation, but now he couldn’t think about her without wanting to break something.

  Arms full of firewood, he lifted the door latch with his knee. The wind slammed the heavy wood panel against the wall. Rain, leaves, and twigs blew in before he could close it again.

  The night would shape up to be a helluva sleepless one if the heavy rain continued to pour. Adding the logs to the pile in the corner by the fireplace, he moved to the front window, tugged it all the way down, and locked it.

  When the cell phone on his right hip vibrated, he unclipped it from his belt and glanced at the screen. Cursing, he lifted it to his ear. “Ali, I’m fine,”

  “Ethan, oh thank goodness. Listen, there’s a massive rainstorm brewing up there. You need to come home.”

  Alicia Knowles—his friend and old partner—called him daily to check on him. He wished he could tell her to back off but didn’t have the heart. She’s been through a lot lately.

  Sighing, he unbuttoned his fleece jacket with on hand and toed off his work boots. Convincing Alicia
he was fine and staying put would be difficult. He sat on the edge of the couch. Might as get comfortable while he gave it his best shot. “I told you to stop watching those weather channels.”

  “Shut up and listen. They’re calling for high winds in excess of twenty-seven miles per hour and treacherous downpours.” He heard her draw in a deep breath over the phone. “Just come home. It’s time.”

  He rubbed his forehead, done with the topic. She needed to focus on her own life. “Isn’t your boyfriend going to get jealous of you callin’ me every day, worryin’ about me?”

  “Cole trusts me. He understands. Isn’t it time to come down off that mountain?”

  Resting his head against the back of the sofa, he stared at the ceiling. Her love for Chief of Police Cole Douglass hit him square in the chest, reminding him of what he didn’t have…and that he’d once thought of settling down with one woman in particular.

  His hand tightened into a fist. He’d believed Isabella might be that woman until he learned of her involvement with Brady Jacobs, someone he’d considered a friend. Down deep, he understood that neither had set out to betray him, but Ethan had taken his time dating Isabella. She’d always been adamant and skittish about there being no room in her life for romance.

  They’d had a few dates—dinner, movies, and dancing. He’d wanted to take things slow, get her used to the idea of the two of them together. When he learned about her relationship with Brady, shock and anger followed. He hadn’t been able to work through it, hadn’t found the release for it, no matter how hard he tried.

  Spending time in the mountains, increasing his workouts, running an extra three miles a day, chopping endless amounts of wood that he couldn’t burn in six months—nothing eased the rage inside him.

  “I’ll be home when I’m ready.”

  “Cole won’t tell me how much time you’ve taken off.”

  He appreciated the chief’s discretion. Even though involved with Alicia, the other man kept his two worlds separate.

  Having been frugal with his paychecks and moderately successful with investments, Ethan had arranged an open-ended leave and left New Jersey with no idea how soon he’d return. Time had slowed in the mountains. He found solace in the quiet of the woods around him, the animals hunting for food outside his windows in the night. He had no eagerness to return to face the one person who’d caused his dark mood.

  Or the thought of a new partner now that Alicia had left the force.

  His head jerked up as the windows rattled.

  Rain pummeled the ground, splattered the small porch, and caused the tree limbs to droop. Years ago, when he’d come up with his folks, there’d been a night similar to this. He’d buried his head under the covers, too scared of the claps of thunder and rain pounding on the roof to get any sleep. It seemed as if another sleepless night was upon him, thanks to the chaos going on outside.

  “Ethan? Hey, are you still there?” Alicia’s voice pulled him from the weather and his thoughts.

  “Look, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Wait, don’t hang up,” He pressed a finger to his opposite ear to drown out the howling wind. “Brady…talk to you…Dylan and me…too late.”

  The weather front must be causing issues with the signal. The screen flashed call lost.

  “Shit.”

  He threw the cell on the sofa and made his way through the cabin to finish checking the windows.

  As the glass rattled, and hail banged on the roof, he hoped no one would be crazy enough to venture out during a devastating night like this. He sure as hell wouldn’t want to be exposed to the cold and wet atmosphere.

  Grabbing the latest book in his favorite series, he eased back on the sofa, turned on the small oil lamp on the table beside him, and became engrossed in the main character, an attorney, on his next case. His head came up, as he heard a loud knock on the door.

  Who could be foolish enough to be out in this weather?

  The woman on his doorstep drooped, head down, pink sweater and jeans dripping rivulets of water on the welcome mat. Her hood hid her face.

  “Oh, thank goodness someone’s here. Can I come in?”

  Who left a woman to fend for herself on such a night?

  Ethan grabbed her arm and pulled her inside. “You must be freezing.”

  Grabbing for the thick red fleece blanket on the back of the sofa, he froze, shocked as she threw the hood back to reveal her long brown hair, perfect to wrap around his wrist as he fucked her.

  No, it couldn’t be…. My eyes are playing tricks on me.

  But when she gathered her dark hair back in both hands, he swallowed hard.

  “Shanay? What the hell.”

  She gasped. “Oh my— Ethan! Of all the doors to knock on, I’m glad I found you. In the dark, I wasn’t sure if I had the right place.”

  He watched, dazed, as she pulled off her shoes and kicked them across the floor toward the fire.

  Shanay Gold…the very last person he expected to see. He’d tried to avoid her during the last couple of times he’d been home to see his parents. A coward’s way of things, but after their last time together, he’d resolved not to repeat the mistake again.

  She wanted things in life that he did not. Kids, home, and garden, savings plans and forever-after. She didn’t deserve a man who bedded her and left before morning. Though he’d wanted a relationship with Isabella, he hadn’t been hurrying into anything long-term. Of course, that was before everyone he knew paired up…and seemed so happy.

  Besides, Shanay was a family friend. If things didn’t work out with her, he’d never hear the end of it from his mother. He’d never be able to look her father in the eye again. It had already proven difficult, and no one knew about them. It would be hell if their parents found out.

  “Hang on a sec, would you? I want to get out of these clothes before I wrap the blanket around me.”

  Shanay’s words registered. His body jerked as she pulled off the sweatshirt, revealing a lime green bra underneath. His heart raced, seeing her luscious tits encased by the lace. He coughed to clear his dry throat. “There is a bathroom just down the hall.”

  Her laughter surprised him. He didn’t see anything humorous.

  “As if you haven’t seen it all before. Don’t be such a prude. Besides, I don’t want to track water all over, and it’s warmer here.”

  He watched—helpless and eager—as she yanked open the buttons on her jeans, and dragged the denim down her hips.

  He appreciated her slim and sexy body as she straightened. The bright green bra and matching panties highlighted all her best assets. Gorgeous.

  “If you’re shy, you better turn around now,” she stated, laughter in her voice, hands at her waist, ready to shed the bits of lace left covering her.

  Ethan held her stare. Yes, he had seen it all before, but if she wanted to play with fire, she might very well get burned.

  Her eyes flashed hot.

  Damn he loved her sassiness. She pushed the lace down her long limbs, shed it and her socks then reached behind her to unclasp her bra.

  He swallowed deep. His dick twitched behind his sweats as he gazed at her bare, clean-shaven flesh. When she dropped the bra onto the pile of clothing beside her, he looked his fill.

  Delectable.

  Fuckable.

  He wanted nothing more than to pull her close and forget everything for a while.

  But that would be unfair to her. She had different plans for her future.

  “Do you think I can use that blanket, or will you let me freeze all night while you stare at me?”

  Her sarcasm pulled him from his thoughts and spurred him into action. “Right, sorry.” He moved closer and held out the fleece, awkward and unsure what lightning bolt hit him in the ass.

  “What the hell are you doing up here?” he questioned, as he tossed the blanket at her.

  After wrapping it around herself, she bent and picked up her clothing. She laid out the garments at the stone edge of the
fireplace then faced him again. “Got any tea or coffee?”

  “Sure, help yourself.” He struggled for control while she wandered into his kitchen and bustled around making herself at home.

  Fuck. He hoped he could keep his hands to himself. The knowledge of her being buck-assed naked under the fleece blanket did little to cool his corrupt thoughts. And it wasn’t as if he could send her out into the storm to protect her from his baser instincts.

  He shrugged and followed her—the least he could do was help her make a hot drink.

  When Ethan’s rock hard body trapped her against the counter as he reached around her to grab the sugar, her nipples beaded and her mouth went dry.

  His muscular physique, black curly hair left longer than he usually wore it, sexy eyes, all made her desperate to touch him.

  She remembered the first time they had sex in college. Sure, they’d gone to different schools but during a visit home that first Christmas, she’d noticed how filled out he’d become. A sexy and authoritative man…she’d wanted him instantly. Their fuck-buddy relationship happened on and off through the years. And having him had been better than any of her fantasies.

  She added milk to her tea and moved to the sofa.

  The old, rustic cabin, warm thanks to the fire, had a cozy feel she appreciated. She’d loved to spend a few relaxing days up here, away from her job as a veterinarian. Sometimes dealing with shots, animals’ ailments, and seeing their sweet faces in pain, took its toll on her. She had three cats, two dogs and four budgies of her own to show for her love of animals. Her babies. Until the day she had the human variety to take care of, too. She dismissed those thoughts as Ethan sat down on the other end of the sofa.

  He studied her, took a sip of his coffee then set it on the side table. “So, what are you doing here? How did you get here?”

  Of course, he’d been surprised to see her. She tapped on the side of the mug, a tad nervous to be alone with him. “My car is stuck in the mud about a mile down the road.” When he attempted to speak, she held up a hand to stop him. “We’ll deal with it when the downpour passes. Your parents are worried. I thought I’d try to convince you to pay them a visit. Ease their fears.”