Truro licked her lips. “I believe there are things that happen to people that we will never understand.” Her words sounded careful and deliberate.
Yes. Good. He had always sensed, despite the false front she put up to deflect hurt, Truro was open-minded. “I need to tell you something.”
“Is this about you being a werewolf?”
“Do you believe that?”
Truro arched her eyebrow. “To be honest, I have no idea what to believe anymore.”
Murphy was not surprised. Truro had been thrown into a situation that was completely out of what was normal for most people. “Do you believe werewolves exist?”
“As much as I believe vampires and zombies do.”
How surprised Truro would be if she knew those creatures were as real as she was. Murphy adjusted his hips slightly. He loved being tight inside his woman yet it played havoc with his self-control. “About the wolves—”
“Yes, what about them? Suddenly sleepy old Ludlum is being inundated by people interested in them. You, Lara Croft and even Bess has come down from the hills to talk about them. Not to mention two people out of the blue being attacked. You know we were pretty damn happy as we were in Ludlum before you lot showed up.”
“Lara Croft?” Murphy was confused by this.
“The sheila all dressed in black wearing a scabbard—correction—‘make-up bag’ at her hip.” Truro rolled her eyes. “I think she’s hunting them. Are you?”
“God no.” The thought appalled Murphy. No wild animal should be hunted. “I’m not sure about Lara Croft though.” He was amused by the name Truro used.
“I have to tell you she’s weird.” Her hands played over his ass, kneading the flesh and pushing him farther inside her.
Murphy knew if Truro continued to do that he would not last long. As it was now his control was almost shot. “I believe there is a reason ‘Lara’ is here. One that she’s not even aware of.” But the other woman wasn’t his prime concern. Truro was.
“Huh? What does that mean?” Truro lifted her legs so they wrapped around his waist.
Oh man. Concentrate. It was hard to do when his ensconced cock wanted to explode through latex. That’s her story—this is ours.”
“Ours?”
“There is a connection between us.”
Truro smiled. “That’s a no brainer. You’re inside me.”
Murphy had to move. It was killing him not to. He groaned softly as his cock began pushing in and out of her body. “What do you feel about us?”
“Well, I’m naked with you, wolf man so—”
“I mean more than sex, petal.”
“I like you.” Her words came out a little choked as his pace increased.
Murphy well remembered when Truro said she loved him. It was the most unforgettable moment of his life. “What do you feel in your heart?” He could feel it beating madly against his. Her eyes were huge with a mixture of fear and wonder.
“I don’t know there’s—oh God.” Truro bit her lip and panted softly. She clutched at Murphy’s shoulders. “I—er, feel something about you but I’m not sure what it is—o-o-ohhh.”
Murphy’s mouth found hers and his kissed her hard as they rode out the wild tremors that racked their bodies. There was something so raw and sensual about holding onto his lover as their bodies found peace. After several minutes he pulled out from her and rolled over to discard the condom. Murphy was pleased and touched the way Truro instantly moved to his body and snuggled against him. I have found peace. “I need you to trust me, petal.”
Truro blew out a sigh. “I’m not good at that.”
If only she realized how far she had come with him. “You will be with me.”
“Who are you?”
“Do you really want to know?” Murphy held his breath. He needed her to know. How game was Truro? What he was about to show her would test the beliefs of the strongest person.
“Yes.”
The strength of that one word gave Murphy hope. “Come with me outside.” He sat up and pulled Truro with him out of bed.
Truro dug in her heels at the door of her van. “Let me get some clothes on first.”
“You don’t need them. It’s dark.”
“We’re in the middle of the caravan park and the barbeque boys are perverts.” Truro shivered at her words.
“They won’t see you.” Few human beings could see as well as a wolf and as Truro was his mate, Murphy would protect her against any threat.
Truro nodded. “Yeah,” she conceded. “They’re probably too drunk and passed out to see their own feet.”
Murphy opened the door and helped her down the steps. The moonlight illuminated her body and his cock jerked in reaction. Now is not the time, man. He took Truro’s hand. “We’re going beyond the caravan park.”
Truro hesitated. “You know I’m not into the whole nature thing.”
“I’ll look after you.” With my life. I swear on it.
“And I don’t like spiders.”
Murphy chuckled and wound his around her waist pulling her close. “We’re not going to play with spiders. I need to show you something. It will make you understand who I am.”
———
“So we’re naked wandering around the bush in the dark.” Truro had lived in Ludlum two years yet she had no idea where she was. One tree looked pretty much like another to her. “Where are we going?” Murphy’s step never faulted. He knew the path to take. That was both comforting and odd. How did he know so much when she knew so little? Truro was, after all, the local.
“Yeah, fun huh?” Murphy winked at her.
Lordy, he was gorgeous. The subtle moonlight made every muscle and sinew of his body stand out in glorious male detail. “I guess that depends on how you define fun,” Truro glanced at his cock. It was semi erect. Now that would be fun to play with. She pushed away a branch that scratched at her skin. “Is there a point to this wandering aimlessly?” The sudden sound of wolves howling made Truro grab hold of Murphy’s waist. “Crap, they sound close.” Damn he smelled nice. Sex under the stars would be doable.
Murphy leaned down and kissed her lips. “They will not harm you, petal.”
“How do you know?” Please kiss me again.
He came to a halt near a small clearing. “I understand them. I am one of them.” Both Murphy’s hands caught hers. “I’m going to ask you to take a leap of faith.”
“Oh God, first I have to wander around the bush naked and now I have to jump? I would rather have pants on to do that.”
Murphy was amused by her words. “Faith, petal. Trusting in something even though it tests every belief you have.”
“Oh right. I knew that. Faith in what? And is it something we both have to do naked in the moonlight. Couldn’t faith be done just as easily in a bedroom?”
“As much as I would love to go back to the bedroom with you, petal, I need to tell you the truth. You deserve that. I also need you to have faith in me.”
“Well, I do.” Truro stopped and looked surprised. Who’d have thunk it? For the first time in my life, I trust someone. “I do have faith in you, wolf man.” She watched as Murphy closed his eyes as if letting those words sink in. “What are you going to do?”
“Whatever happens, don’t be scared.” Reluctantly, Murphy pulled away from Truro.
“I have to tell you you’re making me more scared with the ‘whatever happens’ bit.” Truro stood and watched as he walked a short distance away from her. She had to admit her eyes were on his ass. She was a woman after all and that was her ass. Truro felt a familiar surge of wetness between her legs. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so horny. “Why do you have to be all the way over there?” Truro started to move toward her lover. She stopped suddenly, fascinated how the moonlight seemed to concentrate on Murphy.
He turned and smiled at her. “Are you looking at my ass?”
“Maybe.” She stepped forward once more, eager to touch the ass and the man before he
r.
“Stay away, petal.”
“Why?” It was odd of Murphy to reject any advance she made.
“Just watch and don’t be frightened.”
A few minutes later when she was fully conscious, Truro opened her eyes and realized two things. One, she had fainted and she never fainted, and two, she had a spiky twig sticking into her butt. “What the—” Truro scrambled to her knees. “Why am I naked? In the bush?” She brushed the twigs and grass from her body as she tried to remember what had happened. And then it hit her. Truro slapped her forehead. “I must have been sleepwalking.” That would account for the fact she wore no shoes. Although she enjoyed going barefoot, Truro was hardly likely to do so in the bush for fear of spiders.
A vision of Murphy shot into her mind. She remembered now. Murphy had walked into the bright shaft of moonlight and a wolf had loped out. “Right. A wolf…” Truro clambered to her feet, knees shaking and body shivering as the night air seeped through her skin to chill her bones. “That was one hell of a dream.” Even as she said the words, Truro knew although it felt like a dream, there was a strange edge of reality to it. “And I never sleepwalk.” The wandering around naked in the bush part Truro didn’t want to think about. That one she could not reconcile. It was weird enough the image of Murphy and a wolf kept meshing together in her mind. I am a werewolf.
“Sure you are,” Truro muttered to herself. She looked over to where she thought she had last seen Murphy. There was nothing but disturbed grass and an eerie silence. “And yet I feel like someone is watching me. Bizarro world.” She swallowed hard. Okay, maybe this is not a dream. Even as she said the words, Truro stumbled over to where Murphy had last stood. Although she could not see him, Truro could swear she felt him.
Bess’s words about werewolves came back to her. “No, that can’t be possible.” Truro looked up at the sky. “Okay, so we have moonlight…but what the fuck does that tell me?” The moon seemed unusually intense in its brightness considering it was only a crescent moon. Truro remembered how the light had encased Murphy and he had begun twisting and turning and dropping to his knees. “And a wolf appeared. Uh-huh. Well, I’m officially out of my mind. I hear great sex can do that to you.” The sound of her own voice made her realize how totally alone she was out among the trees.
Truro looked around. “Murphy?” she called. Maybe this was a joke. “Funny, I don’t feel like laughing though.” Truro called his name once more. She stood and shivered and thought. It was then that what she’d read on the internet came back to her. At the time it sounded like the typical Hollywood plot. “Man turns into wolf at midnight.” And Murphy had. I am a werewolf. “At least I think he has.” If the internet was right she wouldn’t see him until sunrise. Truro shook her head. “You are seriously losing the plot here, woman. A werewolf? Murphy?” But then what other explanation was there? A man had become a beast.
Truro started to think back to what Bess had said about werewolves. “Typical. I was too stupid to listen. Story of my frigging life.” Truro blew out a sigh. Both Bess and Murphy had wanted her to remain open-minded and have faith. “Maybe jumping naked would have been easier.”
It was then Truro heard twigs snap. She looked around her. “Perfect. I’m naked and mumbling to myself. I hope to God it’s not the barbeque boys.” Visions of Deliverance came to her mind. Truro bent down and picked up a nearby stick. She was flabby and uncoordinated but she was not one to go down without a fight. She could hear the crunch of footsteps coming toward her. It was too late to run and hide. Besides, where could a naked woman run to without getting into trouble? She regripped the stick as the trees parted.
Joan Scott looked at her as if she were mad. “What are you doing out here? And why naked? And why no shoes? There are snakes out here.”
Great. Snakes. Just when I’m reassuring myself I won’t step on a spider. “What’s it to you?” Despite the snake thing, Truro had never been so happy to see anyone in her life. That it was a woman and not a drunken barbeque chef was a huge bonus.
“Do you so this often?” Joan stood casually, hands on hips.
Truro crossed her arms over her breasts. “Things are slow in Ludlum.”
“Would you like my shirt?”
“Yes please.” Truro watched as Joan pulled it off over her head and tossed it to her. She stood only in her bra. Truro noted she was chunky yet in an old-fashioned 1950s movie starlet way. Like Truro she was all hips, ass and boobs.
“Sleepwalking?”
“Okay—sure.” That was just as good as any other explanation at the moment. Besides, Truro wasn’t certain about this woman. Why was she wandering around in the dark? Truro dropped the black shirt over her body. It almost covered her ass and pussy.
“Or were you playing with wolves?” The sudden silence between them was obvious and prolonged. Joan broke it. “Oh come on. I know you’re with one of them.”
“I don’t do animals—that’s not counting Rodney of course.” Poor dead Rodney.
“What?”
“Exactly. What are you doing here?” Truro was not about to discuss anything about Murphy until she knew what was going on. “That’s a dagger at your hip isn’t it?” She could see the gleam of silver on the end of the hilt.
“Maybe.” Joan’s hand went down to cover the weapon. “Your boyfriend is a werewolf.”
It was Truro’s turn to put her hands on her hips. “So?” Whoa I’m taking that calmer than I thought.
“I hunt werewolves.”
Truro snorted. “Oh, you do not.” Though the dagger was hard to explain away. Not many women in Ludlum sauntered around with one—unless it was old Ma Kipner who had a penchant for whittling. And spitting. Crazy gal that one. So what was Ms Croft’s story? Crazy or dangerous?
“I pursue paranormal beings for a price.”
“What sort of a job is that?” Truro couldn’t see that as a marketable skill on a résumé. “Have you ever caught any?” And there is no way you are catching up with Murphy before I do.
“Yes.”
“Who?” Here she was having a chat in the dark, half-naked, with a woman with a dagger. All very rational. Not.
Joan glared at her in defiance. “Some things you don’t need to know.”
“Which means you’ve caught no one.”
“I caught a witch.”
“Oh yeah? Did you behead her with your knife?”
“No. She ended up in a retirement village.”
Truro laughed. “Are you serious?” She looked like she was but what she was saying was crazy. But then what do I know? I appear to have fallen in love with a werewolf. “So you came to Ludlum expecting to find werewolves? Was it a psychic moment or a whim?”
“I was hired.” Joan’s voice was tired and snappy.
“By whom?”
“None of your business.” Joan turned from the other woman. “Let’s go back to town.”
Truro stopped the woman by grabbing hold of her arm. “If you hurt Murphy, I will hurt you.” She wasn’t one hundred percent sure what was going on but Truro knew she would not allow Murphy to be hunted. That is if he’s a wolf. Which he appears to be. Why can’t I just find a nice, normal man?
“He’s a werewolf.” Joan was adamant on that.
“He’s also mine and I will kick your ass until your nose bleeds if you harm him in any way.”
Chapter Seven
Joan admired Truro Simpson. She came across a little flaky yet she was loyal to her man and that was not something Joan saw everyday. Normally she dealt with the dregs of society who “thought” they saw vampires and demons. They called her to rid them of the spirits. More often than not it was usually a whiskey and gin she poured down the sink. That they would buy more, Joan didn’t doubt.
Joan surveyed her surroundings. Other than Truro they were alone. There was no sign of the pack. They had to be close by. From what she read on wolves, Joan knew they never let one of their clan shift form unless they were there to protect them. The Iris
hman had shifted no more than ten minutes ago. Joan had heard the howling. She had seen the bright beam of moonlight. They were all classic signs of a man becoming a beast.
“No sign of the wolves.” They had to be watching. One of their member’s mates was alone and vulnerable. Joan was not stupid. She kept her moves casual with Truro. Risking the wrath of wolf was not something she wanted to do. She thought about the two men who had been attacked. The townsfolk said it was the wolves. Joan doubted it. There was too much of a coincidence with her arrival in town and that of her employer. It amazed her that Absolon thought he could slip into town without her noticing. That he thought she was somewhat of a joke didn’t bother her. Joan was going to use him—as he was her—to find out the truth about who she was.
“Why are you after the wolves?” The two women headed back to the caravan park.
Joan assessed the woman. In some ways, they were very much alike. Same build and attitude. Unlike Truro, Joan was never vulnerable to anyone or anything. She would not allow it. That was her mantra. Let no one in. “I’m not here to explain myself to you.”
“You’re a pissy piece of work.”
“So speaks the pot calling the kettle black.”
Joan had to admit it amused her that Truro called her Lara Croft. She was anything but. However, she had to give it to the other woman. She was acting very calm considering her life had just turned upside down. Joan remembered the woman’s words. He’s also mine. She loved him. Joan shook her head. Once more she wondered what the hell she was doing there. She had already decided her half-assed agency wasn’t worth keeping open. Just because she believed in the supernatural didn’t mean anyone else did. The clients she usually got were people on crack, those who wanted a laugh at her expense or lonely people who just wanted someone to listen to them. And that’s what I do. I listen too much. I listened to grandma Elspeth and her crazy stories about how the family was descended from great evil on one side and white witches on the other. I wanted to believe her stories about fighting the dark side and helping people. I am such an idiot.
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