Foxy Lady: A Cougar Falls Story

by Marie Harte

  He seemed so young and innocent that Julia felt like an ogre for stepping in the way of true love—if that’s indeed what it was.

  Meghan rushed out of the bedroom and into his arms. “Oh, Jason. It’s been awful.”

  Gabby rolled her eyes behind her. Ty joined them, a disgruntled frown on his face.

  Jason soothed her sister with a skill Julia expected he’d honed after many such instances of exaggerated worry. “Honey, I’m sorry about today. But tomorrow night will be better. You can meet the rest of the family at dinner. They’re not all as bad as Ned and my brothers.”

  Meghan added, “Jason’s mother is sweet.”

  Julia knew why Meghan didn’t mention Jason’s father, Ned Senior. A bigger chauvinist Julia had yet to meet.

  Ty answered for them all. “We’ll come to dinner tomorrow night. Thanks, Jason. I’m Ty, Julia’s boyfriend, by the way.”

  “Oh boy,” Jason breathed. “I’m pleased to meet you, and I apologize in advance for whatever Ned’s going to do to make your life miserable. My brother really, really likes Julia.”

  “So I gathered.” Ty glanced from Jason to Meghan and to the sparkling ring on her finger. “I see you two are engaged.”

  Jason nodded. Meghan beamed before shooting Julia the famous Easton death glare. Julia grudgingly agreed with Ty—her sister should have majored in theater.

  “When did that happen?”

  “Just last week. Imagine our surprise when Julia and Gabby showed up to congratulate us.” Meghan said in an overly sweet voice.

  Julia didn’t appreciate the brat’s tone.

  “Julia, easy,” Gabby whispered. In a louder voice, she said to Meghan and Jason, “We were happy but surprised. You haven’t introduced Jason to the rest of the family yet.”

  Meghan ignored the gentle reprimand. “It’s great to have you guys here to celebrate. And Ty too. Wow.” She batted her eyes.

  Ty said something under his breath Julia probably didn’t want to hear.

  The silver foxes were going to pitch a fit when they heard Meghan had involved herself with an outsider.

  First she’d need permission from the clan to date him. For anything more serious than that, the town council would become involved. Anything that compromised Cougar Falls as a whole fell under town jurisdiction. It made sense, though the idea of asking permission to date someone felt like a restraint even Julia didn’t necessarily like.

  As rebellious as Meghan was, Julia knew the girl would marry Jason if for no other reason than to prove a point. Perhaps if the clan gave her permission to at least date, without a defiant need to spite her family, Meghan might gradually end her association with Jason. A nice enough young man, but he’d never be family.

  “Ah, would you excuse us for a minute? Jason, Meghan, don’t go anywhere.” She pulled Ty with her into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

  “Now, Julia?” Ty glanced at the bed, a spark of humor in his eyes. “I’m ready, but I have a feeling you’re a screamer. If you don’t mind being loud in front of your family, I don’t care.” His fingers moved to his belt buckle, and she hurried to stop him.

  “Cut it out, smartass,” she hissed. Realizing her hand covered his and that the backs of her fingers lay against his belly, she quickly retreated. “I have an idea.”

  “I have several of my own.” His heavy-lidded gaze did weird things to her libido.

  “Ty, shut up and listen. I think Meghan’s in lust with this kid.”

  “Kid? He’s what, four or five years younger than you?”

  “He’s a kid,” she said again. “Meghan’s always bucking authority. Maybe if the clan council gives its permission for her to date an outsider, she’ll decide he’s not worth the hassle and come home.”

  “But she’s already dating him. She’s engaged to him.”

  “The council doesn’t know that.”

  “Ah. I see. You want me to pretend I don’t know about that ring on her finger, that it?”

  “Yes. I was thinking that if you, as the sheriff, added your weight, the council might actually approve of Jason. Not that I want her to be with an outsider. I just want her to see him as a real person and not an excuse to irritate the council, the town and me.” Julia didn’t like playing the role of mother to her younger sisters, but someone had needed to take charge. If only Meghan would see how much Julia cared, that she didn’t try to run her sister’s life for the hell of it, but to protect her from the harsh realities life had to offer.

  She held her breath, waiting for Ty’s answer.

  He responded with hesitation. “I don’t know, Julia. Seems to me Jason’s family really is a threat. What if she actually wants to marry him?”

  “She doesn’t.” I love him, Julia. Meghan’s words bothered her, but Julia ignored them. Meghan was too young to know what she wanted. What the hell did Meghan know about love? Love had torn their parents apart before Meghan was born.

  “Well…”

  “Jason’s okay, Ty. And it’s not like they’ll really be getting married. This is another one of Meghan’s phases.” To Jason’s credit, after a year of dating, he still treated Meghan with respect. He didn’t seem to fit in with his oddball family, luckily for him. Because if he stepped so much as one foot out of line, Julia would kick his ass from Nowhere back to Seattle and away from her sister.

  Ty’s doubt unnerved her. Hell, he wasn’t going to help. She needed his support to influence the clan council, and even the town council if it came to that. The silver fox held a lot of respect in town, respect he’d more than earned.

  “Ty, please.”

  He studied her with those quicksilver eyes. “I’ll support Jason with the council…if you agree to certain conditions.”

  “Conditions?” Trust Ty to screw things up even more than they were. “God, why did you have to show up today?” She pulled at her hair, wondering if Aunt Lynn would arrive and make things worse.

  “Now, now, honey. Yes or no?”

  “First, tell me what conditions means.”

  “Yes or no?” he asked again, his soft voice menacing enough to make the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Threatening bastard.

  “Yes, yes,” she grumbled. “Fine.”

  “Seal it with a kiss.” He grinned and stood with his thumbs in his belt loops, waiting.

  She’d give him a kiss… Julia yanked his head down to hers and plastered his mouth with a doozy. Tongue and teeth and lips, until Ty tried to pull her closer. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d all too easily fall under his spell again.

  She tore her mouth free. “Signed, sealed and delivered,” she said in a breathy voice. “Now let’s get out there and tell Meghan we’ll support her to the council.”

  “You’re a cruel woman,” Ty moaned, rubbing his arousal through his jeans. “I just willed this away, Julia. Damn.”

  “I’ll meet you out there.” Try to outsmart me, will you?

  After taking a moment to bury her own lust, she found Gabby, Meghan and Jason involved in a lively discussion about computers. Watching the trio, Julia noticed how happy Meghan looked sitting with Jason, hand in hand. A twinge of uncertainty hit her. Was Meghan really in love with him?

  “There you are.” Gabby smirked. Her sister knew all about Julia’s fixation on Ty, thanks to Julia’s intolerance for anything alcoholic. That one night she’d let slip her secret crush not only to Ty, but to her sister as well. What a disaster.

  “Ty and I were talking.”

  “Just talking?” Gabby murmured.

  Ignoring her, Julia continued. “Ty thinks he can talk the family into meeting Jason and you in Seattle in the near future.”

  Meghan blinked. “Really?”

  “If Jason really loves you, and you really love him, I’m sure we can work something out. After all, what’s a future without family?”

  Jason smiled. Gabby looked stunned.

  Meghan let go of Jason and leapt to her feet. She hugged Julia tight. “Thank you,
sis. This means so much to me.”

  “Jason still has to pass muster,” she whispered as she hugged Meghan back.

  “He will. He’s the best.” Meghan stepped back and wiped her eyes. “Jason and I are going out for a while. Gabby wants to come with us.”

  “No, that’s not—”

  Ty interrupted. “Great idea. That way your sister and I can talk about our own plans for the future.” He walked behind Julia and put his arms around her, squeezing her back to his front. He rested his chin on her head.

  “That is so cute,” Gabby gushed as she studied them. “You two look perfect together.”

  Julia was so going to get her sister for this. “Gee, thanks, Gabby.”

  “I can see I’m not wanted,” Gabby teased and gestured to Meghan and Jason. “Let’s go, you two. We’ll pick up lunch out in town and bring back something for dinner.”

  “My treat,” Jason promised.

  The three of them waved goodbye and left.

  Julia tried to pull away but Ty held her tight. She couldn’t miss his erection prodding her back.

  Jason’s vehicle sounded loud in the silence before the rumble of its motor died as he drove away.

  “Now, foxy lady, it’s just you and me.”

  Chapter Three

  Ty had been waiting forever to have Julia all to himself. But he knew better than to rush things. The woman wanted him. Hell, he could smell her musk right now and it was killing him. The fact she made no move to act on her lust gave him pause. He wanted Julia—now, to date, as a girlfriend. He refused to entertain thoughts of forever. Despite what his family and friends constantly urged him to do, he had no intention of finding a mate just yet.

  He liked dating. Yes, he’d grown tired of it lately. That didn’t mean the urge wouldn’t hit him after this dry spell. He didn’t want Julia just for sex, though he wouldn’t say no to it. He liked female companionship. Unlike what the rumors in town hinted, Ty didn’t fuck every woman he dated. He’d been out with foxes, bears, a few raptors. But nothing serious. Only a select few made it to his bedroom, and those few hadn’t lasted beyond physical entertainments. When Ty eventually mated, he’d take a fox as wife. But not now. Now he wanted to play and have fun.

  Except he had to keep reminding himself of that fact, because lately, he wanted something else.

  Not a soul-deep connection. That was Gerald’s thing. The idiot lawyer wanted a woman to marry. Ty just wanted a girlfriend he wouldn’t tire of after three dates. They’d have dinner, spend time together, and yeah, indulge in red-hot sex.

  Julia could give him all that and more. But she wouldn’t give it up easily. The chase fired his blood, and he grinned when she squirmed in his hold. He grew harder just thinking about outfoxing her.

  “Let me go.” She huffed when he did and turned around, glaring at him.

  Ty smiled and began unbuttoning his shirt. Most Shifters treated nudity with a casual regard. Ty didn’t much care if anyone saw him without clothes, and he admitted to liking the look of a female without encumbrance. But he normally didn’t get a hard-on around anyone but Julia.

  Her gaze was glued to his fingers, he noted with satisfaction.

  “Wh-what are you doing?” she asked.

  “What does it look like?” He stripped off his shirt and moved to his belt buckle. With slow movements, he undid his belt and unbuttoned his jeans. The pull of his zipper sounded overly loud in the sudden silence.

  Julia cleared her throat. His little fox looked wild around the eyes.

  He toed off his boots, then bent down and took off his socks before straightening again. Hell of a thing with a hard-on the size of Montana.

  With a grimace, he forced himself to behave and continued to watch Julia as he undressed. Her full lips opened on a gasp as he pushed his jeans and underwear to the floor.

  “Why are you, ah…? That is, what do you…?”

  Gratified by her rapid breathing, Ty stood there letting her look her fill. This is what you’ve been missing, honey. All this is yours. All you have to do is ask. He could feel how hard he pulsed, knew there had to be some precome there at his tip. The woman had a powerful hold on his sex drive, no doubt.

  “Julia? You okay?” he teased, liking this side of her. At work she always seemed so put together. Her clothes just right, never a hair out of place. Classy, pristine. Right now she seemed anything but. Her jeans and large denim shirt were rumpled. Her hair was wild, framing her face with the untamed look it deserved. And her breathing definitely told him she was anything but calm.

  “I’m fine.” She exhaled on a whoosh. “Just worried about my sister.” Her gaze continued to stray to his cock.

  When she licked her lips again, it was all he could do not to start stroking himself, willing her to go down on him.

  Instead, he waited for her to meet his gaze again. When she did, she turned scarlet.

  He gave her a wicked grin. “I’m going to turn and check out the surrounding woods. Wait for me here, would you?”

  “Ah, yeah. Sure.” She tried to shutter her gaze, but Ty knew she wanted him. He could smell her desire. He needed some space before he took advantage of her. God forbid he actually give her what she really wanted. She might not speak to him for a year.

  “Oh and, Julia?”

  “Yeah?”

  “When I get back, we’ll take care of this.” He gripped himself, stroking a few times to entrance her. “And that sultry scent of yours, begging for some attention.”

  Satisfied when she gaped in shock, he flowed into the body of his animal spirit, a silver fox, and trotted to the door.

  “You’re a real pain in the ass, Ty. You give me a headache.” Julia swore under her breath and opened the back door a crack. He slipped through and laughed when she slammed it behind him. Outside, the world beckoned. But his heart raced more for the stubborn vixen inside than all the wonders nature had to offer.

  Julia fanned herself, wondering if she had time to take care of her desire before Ty returned. She’d never been so aroused in her life. Ty had a body made for sex. So thick, so sexy. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the door. Just her luck she’d be in the middle of masturbating and he’d return, or worse yet, he’d be waiting, watching from some unknown place outside.

  Women didn’t get super horny. Women didn’t need sex to complete them. She could almost hear her Aunt Lynn lecturing her on the woes of that three letter word: S-E-X. After all, her mother’s monstrous libido had paired her with a man not of the Silver Fox Clan. At least he’d been Ac-taw though.

  Meghan had the right of it, in part. Silver foxes were snotty. The clan had a tendency to think in terms of bloodlines and genetic standards rather than love and affection, or so she’d been taught.

  Her mother’s secret, disastrous marriage to her father reinforced the point that mating within the clan prevented many an unhappy relationship.

  Julia forced herself to ignore remembrances of Ty’s washboard stomach, golden skin and gleaming silver gaze. The knowing bastard had all but pranced around her, holding that long shaft like an offering.

  As tiny as Julia was, they’d probably have trouble fitting.

  Her womb clenched.

  “No way. No thoughts of sex. Bad things happen around Ty Roderick. Remember that.”

  Despite drinking herself into a stupor a month ago—an odd occurrence at that—Julia clearly remembered how difficult it had been to overcome her fears of rejection and ask Ty to make love to her, only to have her fears realized.

  “Liquid courage, my ass,” she mumbled. “More like liquid stupidity.”

  Still, wanting Ty made a strange kind of sense, from a mating perspective. The sheriff of Cougar Falls, he had the respect, power and strength one looked for in a husband, if one was so inclined to marry. Meghan’s intended, Jason Williams, came from pure human stock. He had no ties to the Ac-taw, none to Cougar Falls, and a family that scared the crap out of Julia. She could all too easily imagine Ned mounting
her sister’s head to the wall. Or better yet, stuffing her like the family dog and displaying her like a beloved pet.

  She sank down on the couch and closed her eyes, wondering how to handle the mess her life had become.

  The first time Julia had arrived in Nowhere, she’d found herself crushed in Ned’s smelly arms. He’d wanted to screw her from the get-go. Somehow, over the last three visits she’d made to Jason’s hometown, Ned’s desire had morphed into some crazy kind of matrimonial need. As if she’d consent to lay down with that man and have his babies.

  Eww. He had hair all over him. In an effort to entice her, he’d stripped off his shirt to wrestle Itchy and Snitchy during one visit. The scent of an unwashed Ned, along with sex from one of the locals he’d bedded before coming home, had made her want to gag. Yeah, Julia had no doubt Ned knew less about fidelity than he did about courtship.

  “No way Meghan actually thought Ned and I were a couple.” She snorted. Then again, Meghan was in an all-about-me phase. Like a damned teenager all over again.

  The girl had smarts. She’d graduated summa cum laude, along with Jason, with a B.S. in Computer Science. Meghan had plans to start her own engineering software business, again like Jason. At least their chosen careers made the prospect of living in Nowhere undesirable. In Seattle, a technology haven, they’d do much better—better even than in Cougar Falls, honesty compelled her to admit.

  Yet, in Cougar Falls, Meghan would be safe. The magical totem they celebrated protected the town from unwanted visitors. Those not of Ac-taw blood could literally not see the town. It wasn’t on any map, and only Shifters could find it, be they town citizens or not. If Jason accompanied Meghan home, he’d be aware of the place. But the minute he left the town’s confines, he’d never find it again without help.

  Julia wasn’t sure exactly how it worked, but she’d heard the horror stories, had seen those who tried to live on the outside. Hunters, the pressure to pretend, and the inability to shift when needed without fear of exposure could truly harm her kind. Her new friend Sophie could attest to that. Living among normal people for most of her life, Sophie had nearly scared herself to death the first time she’d turned. Thankfully an Ac-taw had found her and taken her under his wing, eventually bringing her to Cougar Falls.