CHAPTER 7
Jasper Simone sat at the bar watching his bartender keep the customers happy with watered down whiskey and old beer. His club was always busy. It was the only dance club within miles so no one complained about the light whiskey taste of the drinks, and if they did, his security would just kick them out. His son, Evan, walked through the crowd pushing someone off the stool next to Jasper.
“That was a customer.” Jasper watched his son drink from the customer’s shot glass.
“Since when did you care about customers other than their money?” Evan Simone slammed the glass on the bar, indicating to the bartender to get her ass in gear and pour him another, which she did. With a smile, she leaned down low enough for Evan and Jasper to get a good view of her breasts spilling from her tight top.
Jasper raised his eyebrows at his son’s words, but never took his eyes off the young woman’s full tits, which was a requirement of all the women working at the Liquid Kitty Dance Club. “What are you doing here?” Jasper took a drink of his own shot before the girl could walk away. “I gave you a job to do.”
“And I did it.” Evan frowned at his father. “Just like I do every job you give me.”
“You found her?” Jasper’s full attention turned to his Evan. “Where? And is she with Jonah McCall?” He knew that bitch Virginia knew where Jonah was, but even as she held her own fate in her hands, she wouldn’t give him up. His only hope was that she would send her daughter to him, thinking he would keep her safe.
“She’s in Beattyville, Kentucky.” Evan grinned, but there was nothing happy about his grin. It ran more along the lines of evil anticipation.
“Where the fuck is that?” Jasper downed his last shot, pushing the glass away and shaking his head when the bartender went to fill it again.
“Eastern Kentucky and I’m not sure about Jonah.” Evan held up his hand before his dad could bitch him out. “Nate couldn’t get too close. She’s found a pack down there run by an alpha named Garrett Foster, but I’m sure Jonah’s there.”
“He better fucking be,” Jasper growled, his eyes glowing bright. “I want that son of a bitch to suffer.”
“Don’t you think killing his mate did that job?” Evan asked, but knew the answer by the look on his father’s face.
“I want that bastard to suffer for the rest of his life,” Jasper sneered loudly, drawing attention to some who dared to look his way. “No one makes a fool of me.”
“The girl is mine for the Reaping. She has my brand.” Evan warned his dad, but then shrunk back when Jasper grabbed him around the throat before he could even move.
“I run this show, you little piece of shit.” Jasper’s face was inches from his son’s. “Don’t fucking push me. Do you understand?” When Evan nodded, Jasper pushed him away by the throat.
“There may be a problem.” Evan changed the subject of the Reaping. “This Garrett Foster and his brothers are known bad asses in that part of Kentucky. No one has ever challenged him for the pack.”
“Then I guess you better pray you’re a bigger badass.” Jasper stood, looking down at his son. “It’s time you branch off and get your own pack, instead of running with mine. With bigger numbers, we will dominate not only Ohio, but Kentucky as well. And keep it quiet what pack we are going up against. I don’t want the others knowing.”
“I’m ready.” Evan’s chest puffed out, his eyes bright with excitement. “Garrett Foster don’t have a clue what’s coming. He’s probably just some hick alpha.”
Jasper grinned as he turned to leave the bar. “You better hope so, son. ‘Cause if you lose the challenge, you can find another pack to run with.”
Evan watched his father go, a flash of fear and determination crossing his face. Turning, he yelled for another shot of whiskey.
******
Thunder rattled the house startling Janna out of a sound deep sleep. She sat straight up in bed soaked. She looked up at the ceiling thinking there was a leak, but then her sleep-fogged mind cleared as she remembered not only what she was, but where she was. She was tangled in the covers, indicating she hadn’t really been sleeping soundly, but had been tossing and turning. Her beast was most active at night and she sometimes took something to put and keep her asleep. Another loud crack of lightning and thunder filled the room, making Janna scream in surprise. Slapping her hand over her mouth, she cringed. She screamed again when the door to her room burst open.
“I’m sorry.” Janna held up her hands to Garrett who was standing half-naked in her room, looking around ready to attack whatever made her scream. “I’m fine. The thunder scared me.”
“Damn.” Garrett’s stance relaxed slightly. He took in her damp hair and tumbled covers. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I usually love thunderstorms, but that was loud.” She laughed, embarrassed.
“No, not that.” Garrett stepped further into the room. “Your face is really flushed and you’re hair is wet.”
Janna raised her hand to smooth down her hair, feeling self-conscious. She could lie, but he would know she was lying. Finally, she was with someone who could answer questions and she really needed to take advantage of that. “Nights are really bad for me,” she finally said. “I don’t sleep very well because my…beast is restless.”
“Your beast?” Garrett frowned, crossing his arms as if he wasn’t standing in her room wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers.
“Yeah, that’s what I call it.” Janna frowned, using her hand to feather her hair back out of her eyes.
“No wonder your wolf is restless. Not only will you not shift, but you call it a beast.” Garrett sighed, sitting on the edge of her bed. “Has no one talked to you about anything?”
“No.” Janna scooted back, giving him some space, not even upset he sat on the bed. It actually calmed her more.
“Dammit,” he cursed under his breath, but Janna heard him.
“Listen, I don’t want to be a bigger pain,” Janna assured him. “I’ll figure it out.”
“This is something you can’t just figure out, Janna.” Garrett frowned at her. “And just figuring it out is dangerous.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she agreed with a nod.
“It’s more dangerous to you than anyone else.” He shook his head. “Why haven’t you shifted?”
“I’m scared,” she replied honestly. “I didn’t want to hurt my mom or anyone else.”
“When you shift, you are in total control of your wolf,” Garrett explained, his eyes growing bright in the darkened room. “And honestly, it’s been pretty selfish of you not to shift. Your wolf needs to be free.”
“I didn’t ask for this,” Janna snapped. She wasn’t selfish. She was scared and it really bothered her that he would think that of her. “I didn’t ask to be a…dog.”
Garrett leaned back his head and laughed. “You are not a dog.” He grinned down at her with understanding. “You are a strong she-wolf.”
“Same difference.” She huffed before practically jumping in his lap when another crack of thunder shook the house. His strong arms grasped her waist, keeping her steady, their faces inches apart. “Sorry.”
His hand reached up, touching the side of her face. “I would bet every cent I have, you will be a beautiful she-wolf.”
Janna’s body leaned into him with a will of its own. “With fleas,” she murmured, watching him lean closer to her. “I don’t know you.”
“But your wolf does,” he said against her mouth before running his tongue across her lips.
Doing something so out of character of herself, Janna jumped on Garrett, crawling onto his lap, taking his tongue into her mouth. Both hands flew to the back of his head, pulling him closer to her. She couldn’t get enough; she was out of control. She welcomed the feel of his hands on her body. Her mind fought against itself, telling her this was wrong, yet it felt so right. His lips left hers, running down her chin to her neck. Janna’s head fell back, savoring the sensation of his mouth on her, b
ut it gave her mind time to slow down and sudden horror of her actions hit her hard. Using her hands that were only moments earlier pulling him toward her, she was now desperately pushing him away.
“Stop.” Janna’s voice cracked. “Garrett, stop. Please.”
Garrett did stop. Both their breathing was harsh in the quiet room. “You can’t fight this, Janna.”
“But I hardly know you and I’m acting like a…”
“I knew the moment you walked into my town you were mine, and you are acting normal. It’s different with shifters.” Garrett gently grabbed the back of her hair, forcing her eyes to his. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, beautiful.”
“Said the wolf to the lamb,” Janna whispered, feeling embarrassed by her actions.
Garrett chuckled. “You are no lamb, but a beautiful, confused she-wolf, who doesn’t understand our ways.” He leaned down, kissing the corner of her mouth. “But I am patient and will give you time.” He picked her up easily and laid her gently on the bed.
Janna had to fight herself from grabbing him and begging him to stay with her. “Give me time for what?”
“For your human side to catch up with what your wolf already knows.” Garrett’s voice was deep and strong in the quiet room.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Since my beas…” He frowned at her so she stopped the word. “…wolf only growls at me, can you please explain?”
“It’s different between shifters, Janna.” Garrett stared down at her. “We do not pick our mates, but our wolves do, and my wolf has picked you.”
Okay, if there was ever a ‘holy shit’ moment this was it. She watched Garrett turn and walk toward the door, her mouth wouldn’t even form words as her brain remained in shock at his words. His wolf picked her for his mate, but what exactly did that mean? What really shocked her was what she really wanted to know. Was this handsome man happy that his wolf picked her? She silently watched as he stopped just at the door and turned toward her.
“Get some rest, Janna.” His eyes said more, but he turned and left the room.
Janna opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Both hands went to her hot cheeks and she could have sworn her beast…wolf just called her a fool.
CHAPTER 8
The next morning Janna stood staring at her closed door. She was a chicken, not a wolf. It would not surprise her if she ever did change, she’d have feathers instead of fur. With no sleep, Janna’s mood was loopy as hell. Looking down at the doorknob, she urged her hand to reach for it.
“Just open the damn door, idiot.” Watching as if her hand belonged to someone else, she rolled her eyes and threw the door open only to face head on what she had been dreading.
“Having problems with the door?” Garrett leaned against the wall across from her door, a sexy grin on his face.
Janna felt her face flame with embarrassment, and then rolled her eyes. “Actually, problems with my pride, but I’ll get over it.”
Straightening from the wall, Garrett towered over her. “As I said last night, you have nothing to be ashamed of.” He placed his large hand on her lower back, leading her down the hall. “It was a normal reaction and I’m hoping it happens again tonight.”
Stumbling at his words, Janna’s head jerked up to look at him. “What?”
“Oh, you heard me.” Garrett chuckled, grabbing her arm to keep her from falling. “How did you sleep?”
She felt like lying, but figured he’d know. “I didn’t.”
“Me either.” He winked at her before they descended the stairs. “After some breakfast, we need to talk to Jonah. He’s called me fifty times already this morning wanting to talk to you.”
Janna nodded, not really wanting to talk about Jonah McCall. Her mind was still on this mate thing, which she totally didn’t understand. She also didn’t understand why she felt so at ease with a man she didn’t even know. Walking to the island she sat at last night, Janna took a seat staring at nothing. Her mind went a million miles an hour. Garrett placed a large plate of food in front of her before going back to get his. Once he returned, he sat and started to eat.
“I’m not a bad cook.” Garrett pointed at her plate with his fork. “You need to eat, Janna.”
Raising her eyes from the plate, Janna looked at Garrett. “Why me?” she asked, but saw the question in his eyes. “I don’t understand any of this. Just because your…wolf picks me, what if you as a man are not attracted to me?”
Putting his fork down, Garrett leaned back in his chair, his gaze intense as he studied her. “I am one with my wolf, Janna, as you will be once you accept your fate. It’s something that can’t really be explained. I’ve been attracted to many women, but once your wolf picks his mate, that’s it and it’s for a lifetime.”
“But what about what you want?” Janna tried to dig deeper to fully understand. “You don’t even know anything about me, only my looks and what you’ve seen in…what…a day? That’s not enough time to decide to be with someone for life.”
“Are you attracted to me, Janna?” Garrett kept his relaxed pose, but his eyes were far from relaxed. They were so intense that she felt it, which was both strange and oddly exhilarating.
She wanted to respond with, duh. Hell, he was gorgeous, but instead, she nodded. “Yes, but…”
“That’s a start, but until you phase you will not understand. You have not mentally become one with your wolf.” He finally looked away from her, picking up his fork to finish eating. “Now eat.”
“But I’ve been attracted to other men…” She stopped suddenly at the growl erupting from his mouth.
“There will be no other men, Janna.” His eyes narrowed on her. “You are mine.”
Biting her lip to keep from saying something really stupid at his caveman response, Janna picked up a piece of bacon and bit into it, her eyes watching cautiously as he finished his breakfast with angry gusto. The bacon tasted like cardboard and seemed to grow in her mouth the more she chewed. Tossing the rest of it on her plate, she frowned.
“Don’t I get a say in that?” She found the courage to ask. “I mean, usually in past relationships, I knew the guy for a week or so before things developed and we…”
Garrett slammed his hands on the island as he stood. In two strides, he was in front of her, grabbing her up from her stool. One hand underneath her ass, he lifted her up to him, his mouth smashing against hers as his tongue found its way inside her mouth, kissing her breathless.
Pulling his mouth from hers, he held her tighter. “If you don’t want me finding these assholes you are determined to tell me about and killing them then, you need to stop.”
“But…”
Placing a finger against her lips, he shut her up. “You are in a different world now, Janna Lawson. You are a shifter, so your human ways will take a backseat. Did you have sex with any of these pitiful males?”
“I don’t see how that is any of your business,” Janna gasped, trying to break his hold.
“Oh, it is my business,” he whispered into her hair. “And you will answer my question.”
Janna felt like being stubborn because seriously, who asked that. Garrett Forster, that was who and he carried the authority of expecting an answer. “One.” Janna felt her face flame. “But only once.”
Garrett growled at her answer and tightened his grip. “You will soon forget about him.”
“I don’t think so.” Janna cringed when his growling became louder and more intense. “I bit him. It was mortifying.”
For Garrett’s mood to go from one extreme to the next, surprised Janna. One minute he was growling as if he wanted to tear someone’s throat out, and the next he was laughing hysterically. “I would bet anything that it wasn’t a bite of passion.” How a hot sexy man could seem even more handsome when snorting with laughter was a mystery to her. “I cannot wait to meet your wolf,” he said between laughing.
“It’s not funny.” Janna frowned, wanting to smack him. “I really liked this guy.”
/>
“But your wolf didn’t because she was waiting for me.” Garrett’s tone was smug and confident. “And as I said, you will forget about him very soon.”
Janna actually shivered at his words, but not in a bad way. None of this made sense to her and she felt like her mind and body were on two separate planets. A loud pounding coming from the front of the house made her jump. Garrett cursed, pushing her away, but not before placing a hard kiss on her mouth.
“Stay here,” he ordered as he left the room.
Not used to taking orders, it grated on Janna’s nerves to do so this easily, but instead of bitching about it, she grabbed her plate and dumped her uneaten food in the garbage.
“Why’d you throw all that food away?” Hunter said behind her when he looked over her shoulder into the trash. “I’m starving.”
Her eyes shot to Garrett who was frowning at her. Without a word, he walked over grabbing another plate. “You need to eat.”
With a sigh, she sat back down then looked at Jonah who was simply staring at her. Garrett set another plate in front of her and she wanted to gag. “I’m not really hungry.”
“You need to eat.” Every male in the room said at the same time.
“And what you don’t, I’ll finish for you,” Hunter added, grabbing a piece of sausage and pointing it at her.
“Heard Roxy was here last night,” Marcus remarked as he too grabbed a piece of sausage.
“And I sent her packing,” Garrett grunted as he finished his breakfast.
“Well, she must have thought you…” Marcus started with a frown.
“I have never invited Roxy to my house, Marcus.” Garrett dropped his fork on his plate. The loud clang filled the now silent room.
“She seems to be here an awful lot for not being invited.” Marcus’s body tensed visibly.
“I have no interest in Roxy Patel, Marcus,” Garrett repeated with a growl, his eyes narrowing.
Janna watched with interest as she put the cardboard tasting bacon in her mouth, chewing slowly. So Marcus was the one who liked Roxy. Interesting. She was a matchmaker at heart and was always trying to fix up her friends in high school.
Romancing the Paranormal Page 66