by Toni Goode
“So, um, I’m Briana and you are?” She finally said as he grinned.
“John.” He looked at her and she felt such an intense feeling as he stared.
“Ok, John. I should get back to the bar before all hell breaks loose.” She said with a nervous smile.
“And I will just be sitting here.” He took a sip of his beer. “I may need another one soon.” He said as he held the beer in his hand and she quickly turned around. She got back to the bar with a ridiculous smile on her face. He was flirting with her and she didn’t know why but she wasn’t about to complain.
By the third time she brought a beer to him, she couldn’t help but have a goofy smile on her face. He was really gorgeous. He wore jeans and a black t-shirt with black boots. His muscles had muscles and his hair was so long and touch-ably soft.
“You know I am pretty sure that you have better things to do than to sit here and drink shitty beer.” She smirked as she handed him another beer.
“Oh, trust me, being here is exactly where I want to be.” He sipped his beer and grinned at her as she blushed. “When is your shift over?”
“I stay from open to close.” She swallowed hard. “You’ll be long gone by then.”
“Better keep those beers coming, looks like it’s going to be a long night.” He smirked at her.
Briana spun from him and she couldn’t help the smile on her face. As she walked back up to the bar, she saw Chris standing up there as he looked around for her. “Hey you.” She waved over at him as Chris smiled.
“Hey. I thought maybe you had run out on me.” He laughed a bit nervously.
“Well I can’t go too far when I live upstairs.” She laughed.
“Oh yeah? Cool.” He smiled as she walked around the bar.
“Let me get you a beer.” She said as she grabbed one from behind the bar.
John watched as she smiled and talked to that other guy. He hated that jealousy ran through him. Who the hell was that dude? It was the same guy from the previous night. He began to have bad thoughts as he watched her interact with the overzealous guy. He immediately knew that guy wanted to get in her pants, and he wasn’t going to let that happen.
“So, you didn’t have classes today?” Chris asked as he sipped his beer.
“Why? Were you looking for me?” She smiled a bit playfully. Her eyes glanced over at John. He had a very intense look on his face. She had to look away.
“Possibly.” He smiled. “I ate the meatloaf today and I survived.” He smirked, and she laughed some.
“Oh, I see you have an adventurous side.” She laughed.
“I’m full of mystery.” He laughed, and she did too.
The sound of Eve’s loud voice rang through the bar as Briana looked at her. Chris looked too as Eve came over. “Chris! Hey, I remember you from high school.” Eve said as she came over and then she winked at Briana who rolled her eyes playfully.
“Eve, yep I do believe I remember you too. You had a long Emo era, right?” He smirked.
“Like who didn’t!” Eve laughed as she patted his back. Briana handed her a beer.
“So, you’re a nurse?” Chris asked as he looked at her.
“A nurse in training.” Eve grinned.
“She already has a job at the hospital lined up.” Briana smiled.
“And you’re an Art Professor.” Eve said towards Chris. “Briana has told me all about it and you.” Eve smirked, and Briana’s eyes got wide.
“Oh, really now? I hope all good things.” Chris smiled as Briana turned red.
“Very good things.” Eve smirked. “But I do owe you a drink for saving my girl, it’s not every day that someone runs into a burning building.”
“Well it was the right thing to do.” He said nonchalantly.
“Do you like to do things, Chris?” Eve said with a raised eyebrow and Briana nearly choked on her own spit.
“He paints Eve. He likes to paint.” Briana said quickly as Eve rolled her eyes.
Briana looked back out to the crowd of people, but John wasn’t there anymore. She looked from left to right. Where had he gone.
“Everything ok?” Chris asked as she brought her attention back to him.
“Yeah I um. Excuse me for a second.” She said as Eve began to question Chris more. Briana walked past Charles and excused herself to the bathroom. In all honesty, she just wanted to see where John went.
Part of her knew that he was too good to be true. He had hauled ass, she knew that. She hated that she even cared. She walked past the bathrooms and then she saw the back-door swing closed. She went towards it and then she opened the door and stepped out. It was dark out there as she peeked her head around. The sound of a can falling made her jump and then she saw a big fat cat go running by as she stepped outside more. Damn cats! She walked over to the can that was laying on the ground and she scooped it up. As she spun to throw it, she saw John standing there. She dropped the can to the ground.
“Jesus, what are you doing out here?” She asked as he walked closer to her. She felt her body temperature rising.
“I could ask you the same thing. It looked like you were looking for something.” He said as he got in front of her.
“Someone, actually.” She swallowed hard.
He raised an eyebrow as he licked his lips. “Someone, huh?”
“Yep and there you are.” She said with a nervous smile.
“Yep here I am.” He slowly looked her body up and down. Her jeans and t-shirt accentuated her curves and his body got impossibly harder as he stood inches from her.
“Yep.” Her breathing quickened as he reached up and twirled the long white hair in his fingers.
“I like this, it’s a nice touch. Unique, like you.” He smiled seductively, and she literally felt her entire body turning to mush.
“Do I know you?’ Her voice came out just above a whisper as she looked at him.
“I’ve been asking myself that same question.” He let go of her hair. “But I’m tired of guessing.”
“You are?” Her words squeaked out and he nodded his head yes as his hand came to cheek and then his thumb ran across her lips.
“Yeah I think I’m just going to stop guessing and just go for it.” His mouth moved closer to hers.
“I think you should.” She held her breath as his lips hovered in front of her.
“You do?” He moved his lips past hers and next to her ear. He whispered seductively. “What do you want me to do Briana?”
She couldn’t speak as she stood there and then the back door swung open. One of the customers, a heavy-set girl promptly puked onto the ground. Briana and John stepped apart as they looked at her.
“Sorry dudes that last shot did me in.” The girl said as she continued to lean over.
“I should go back inside.” Briana said nervously. Her body was absolutely tingling. “Can we pick this up later when I get off.”
“Oh, I plan on it.” He grinned as they walked past the sick girl and headed inside.
John was beyond sexually frustrated as he walked back to his seat and he watched her go back behind the bar. He wanted nothing more than to tear off every inch of her clothes and have his way with her. He ached to hear her cry out his name while he brought her to climax again and again but there was a very real problem at the moment. She was not a wolf. She was definitely all human and it was incredibly hard for a wolf to have sex with a human. The act itself was aggressive and if he was too rough, he could literally kill her. There was definitely a different kind of pressure on him.
Briana stood back up by the bar. Her face bright red as Eve looked at her with concern. Chris no longer sitting there. “He headed to the bathroom but what the hell Bree, your bright red. Are you ok?” Eve said with worry.
“Yeah, it’s just been a long day.” Briana said nervously.
“Bullshit, what’s going on?” Eve questioned her.
Briana sighed heavily as she leaned over the counter whispering, “The green-eyed guy is her
e. His name is John and he is right over there.”
Eve turned her head quick as Briana sighed and complained about her being too obvious. “You mean the hottie with the long hair in the back?”
“Yeah, don’t stare ok.” Briana flushed.
Eve looked back at her. “You know who that is, right?”
“Yeah, the green-eyed man?” Briana shrugged her shoulders.
“No, I don’t think you get it. Look at this.” Eve pulled out her phone and then she pulled up a link as she looked at Briana. She shoved her the phone; it had a picture of John on it. It was an entire article about his entrepreneurship regarding his numerous clubs and his activity regarding the Wolf movement. He was a big deal, like a really big deal. It would be comparable to the president sitting at the bar. He was that big.
“What?” Briana said in shock as she looked at the pictures and then the article.
“Seriously Bree, this guy is like the wolf of all wolves.” Eve turned and looked at him again.
“Oh god please stop looking at him.” Briana was bright red.
“I’m going to go talk to him.” Eve was getting up already.
“What, why?” Briana’s eyes got wide.
“Because I am going to find out what his deal is, this is exciting.” Eve grinned.
“Eve, wait!” Briana called out, but it was too late. She was already heading over to him. Chris walked back over, and he looked at Briana then he looked across the bar as Eve walked over.
“Did I miss something?” Chris said with confusion.
“Not really just Eve being nosey as always.” Briana sighed with embarrassment.
Eve walked right up to the table and sat down in front of John. “Hey.” She stared at him.
“Hey.” John said back to her as he glanced over at Briana who looked mortified. This had to be her best friend. He could get much needed information out of her. “I’m John.”
“I know who you are.” Eve said with a smirk. “So, what brings you to these parts?” She said seriously.
“Your name is?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Eve. Is there a reason you don’t want to answer my questions?” She said quickly.
“Well Eve, it is nice to meet you and how come you have so many questions?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You see my friend at the bar, Briana. Yeah her, no one hurts her without dealing with me.” Eve said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“You think I am going to hurt your friend?” John said with a shake of his head.
“I don’t know, what exactly are your plans?” She asked sternly as she looked at him.
“Do you mean my intentions?” He smirked, and she rolled her eyes.
“Do you have intentions?” She asked.
“Doesn’t everyone?” He smirked again. “You’re a good friend to look after Briana. I assure you that I have only good intentions.”
“Why should I believe you? I know what you do?” She said seriously.
“What exactly do you think I do?” He leaned back in his chair,
“I know you’re one of the most powerful of your species. Plus, you’re a womanizer.” She said as she tilted her head.
“Oh wow, so you have me figured out already.” He raised an eyebrow.
Briana quickly excused herself from Chris and grabbed another beer as she rushed over to John. She could tell that Eve was busting his chops. He glanced past Eve and saw Briana coming over.
Eve turned and looked. “Oh man I almost had him giving away his dirtiest secrets!” Eve laughed as Briana’s eyes got wide. “You’re so not fun Bree.” Eve got up and then looked back at John. “I got my eye on you.” She said playfully to John as she walked off.
“Dirty secrets huh?” Briana smirked.
“Maybe later I will tell you one.”
“Here this one is on the house for the torture.” Briana handed him a beer. “Getting tired of sitting here? It’s still early, you can bail if you want.” She smirked.
“You think you can get rid of me that easily?” He sipped his beer.
“You’re going to be let down. I’m not exciting at all. I’m boring actually.” She put her hands on her hips.
“You’re trying to scare me off?” He seemed amused as he sat up more and she rolled her eyes as he stood up. She glanced up at him as he inched closer to her. God, he smelled good. “I think I will take my chances.” He closed in the distance between them. He moved his hand under her chin as he tilted her head up and she was completely at his mercy as she stood there. He moved his face closer to hers and she felt her breath quicken at the anticipation. She felt his lips brush hers and then his mouth went to her ear as he whispered. “Trust me you’re all the excitement I need.”
He moved back from her. She stood there trembling a bit as she looked at him. He smiled, and she promptly turned back and headed over to the bar. Both Chris and Eve were looking at her with wide eyes. She didn’t say anything as she grinned and continued to work.
Chapter Fifteen
Chris looked at Briana as she walked back. “Hey, isn’t that the guy who was on the news about all of those raids at his clubs.” He said as he looked at Briana. “This town is going downhill if we’re letting people like him walk around. Next thing he will be doing is asking you to strip for him.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Briana said in shock.
“You do know who he is right?” Chris began, and Eve cut him off.
“We don’t need to discuss that right now.” Eve said quickly as Chris looked at her and sighed heavily.
“Well I had my limit, maybe see you around the campus.” He said as he stood and shot John a nasty look. He looked back at Briana. “Be safe ok, you never know with guys like him lurking around.” He said and then he left. Briana looked at Eve with wide eyes.
“Um, am I missing something here?” She said in shock. She couldn’t believe that Chris was just acting like that. It really irritated her.
“He isn’t exactly a stranger to the news Bree.” Eve said as she pulled him up on her cell phone and showed it to Briana. The headline was about a recent raid at one of his strip clubs. There was even a headline picture of him as he gave the reporters the finger. Briana was pissed when she saw it. “You ok?” Eve asked as Briana rolled her eyes.
“Whatever, apparently he was too good to be true.” She shoved the phone back to Eve.
“You just don’t need a guy like that screwing up your head Bree. Sure, he may be hot but still.” Eve said quickly.
“He’s a loser, that’s what he is.” Briana looked at him and shot him a nasty look and he was taken back by her sudden reaction. “Watch this.” She said as Eve’s eyes got wide.
“Oh, Bree don’t do anything you will regret.” Eve said as she watched Briana walk over to him.
He stood almost immediately; this was definitely not good. She looked pissed. “What’s wrong? What did he say?” He was getting pissed now.
“I’m sorry but your beer limit is up, and you should probably just go.” She snapped at him.
He blinked a bit in shock at her. He would find that little shit and beat him to a pulp. “Listen I don’t know what kind of lies he was saying.” He began, and she rolled her eyes.
“Arrested in a raid over your strip club, one of them. Is that how you think of women? Really? Well I am not one of your girls.” She snapped at him and spun around as she began to walk away.
He ran up to her and tugged on her arm as she spun around. She yanked her arm back. “Seriously? Just get out of here.”
“Listen if you would let me explain.” He began, and she rolled her eyes as she kept walking. “You’re making a mistake Briana.” He said as he walked after her and Eve came between them.
“I think you should go.” Eve said sternly as she looked at him. He went to say something, and she shook her head. “Just save it ok.” He was fuming pissed as he stood there for another minute and then stormed out of there as Briana got back to the ba
r. She was hoping that was going to make her feel better, but it only made her feel worse.
“Everything ok darling?” Charles walked up to her as he came out from the back where he was cooking.
“Yeah, its fine.” She said quickly as everyone looked at her and then went back to minding their own business.
“Trust me it will be worth it. He is nothing but trouble Bree.” Eve said reassuringly.
John was livid as he got outside and walked a few feet away from the bar. He was half tempted to go full wolf and chase down that kid that said something to her and also to that friend of hers! It took everything in him not to completely lose it. After all of this time he was going to lose her anyways. He refused to have that be an option. She would see that he was more than business choices. He would fix this. He would make her understand.
Briana tried to act unaffected by John’s choices, but it was really surprising. The more she investigated it on her own phone, the less she liked about him. How could he be such a shallow hateful person. There were videos of him drunk and fighting other guys and in one video he had yelled at a female reporter and made sexually explicit comments to her. Eve had left hours ago, and it only left Briana with the internet and it was not good regarding him. She literally felt sick as she stood there and to think she was attracted to that!
By the time she closed the shop she couldn’t wait to just get out of her clothes and shower. She felt dirty and she was angry with herself for being so naïve. She got the place cleaned and shut down in record time but this time she did lock all doors before she started so that she wouldn’t have any more incidents. He had come to her rescue that day, she had told herself and then she scolded herself for even thinking about him.
She was embarrassed that Chris had known about him before she did and that he would look at her differently. She laid in the bed and tossed around. She had classes in the morning and now she couldn’t sleep.
She heard a howl outside, and she shot up out of bed and she ran to the window and looked out. She was expecting to see nothing once more but this time she saw a big black wolf staring up at her. It howled again, and she backed up. Was that him? Was that John? Deep down inside she knew it was. She closed her blinds and sat on her bed. The wolf continued to howl until she finally fell into a horrible sleep full of nightmares.