“Do you think the other werewolf was on drugs?”
“Must have been. But, whatever he took filtered out of my system before the hospital managed to draw my blood. According to Janet my toxicology screen was negative.” Max covered a yawn.
“You heal faster than humans. Maybe the drug filtered through faster than normal.”
Max nodded. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d bitten someone as a werewolf and took on the high of his prey. “Probably. It doesn’t matter at this point. I need you to stick around tonight and help me with Janet.”
“Are you going out in search of Gorman?”
“Not without a plan. But I need some sleep in case he comes around.”
Richard took the hint and started to leave the room. “Get some sleep. I’ll wake you in a few hours.”
“Two, don’t let me sleep more than two.”
****
Gentle strokes across her forehead woke her from restless dreams. Max stared down at her. His face was freshly shaven and his clothes changed. He smelled of wild musk and soap. Clean.
Janet smiled and rolled on her back. “Hey.”
“You were out.”
“What time is it?” She stretched her arms to the side. The blankets fell to her waist exposing a simple sleeveless nightgown that revealed more than it covered. She caught him staring at her chest.
“Six, like you asked.” He forced his eyes to hers.
“Did you sleep?” To her disappointment, he stood from the bed to put distance between them.
“A little. I have to work in a couple hours.”
The thought of him leaving her alone in his home unsettled her.
As if sensing her concern he added, “I’ve asked my brother to stay with you. And James is always here. You have nothing to fear.”
“What do you do?”
He turned away. “I own a security management firm, tonight I have to run surveillance for a client.”
Knowing nothing about what he spoke of, Janet didn’t question him. “When are you leaving?”
He checked his watch. “In about an hour.”
Janet tossed the blankets back, when she stood her nightgown went to her knees. “I’ll get dressed and make us some dinner.”
“You cook?”
His question caught her off guard. “Don’t you?”
“If you call microwave dinners cooking, then yes.”
Janet chuckled. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”
****
Richard was pleasant, even if he kept a watchful eye on her during their brief meal. He resembled his brother, except younger, more innocent around the eyes. He didn’t question why he was asked to stay and watch over her while Max went to work. He seemed to take it as if he did so every day, which struck Janet as a little odd.
She wished it were Max staying, instead of his brother. But she didn’t have a choice.
The sun had begun to sink in vibrant hues or orange and red when she walked Max out the front door.
“I’m sorry I have to leave,” he told her.
“You have to pay the bills, right?”
“Yeah.” His eyes narrowed and his lips turned into a frown.
“I’ll be okay,” she told him.
“I know. I hate to leave you.” Max gathered her in his arms.
The thought to pull away never entered Janet’s mind. His eyes were swirling again, in turn her stomach fluttered in anticipation of his touch. “I’ll be here when you come home,” she promised.
She reached up and stroked his face. He smiled before he dropped his lips to hers. Like the first time he kissed her, everything disappeared around her other than the feeling of being in his arms. A strong sense of belonging settled deep inside. Max deepened their kiss. His tongue explored every corner of her mouth, her body molded to his trying to soak in every detail before he left.
Her knees went weak. Desire shot through her and had her panting for more. His hands caressed her waist, inched up slowly and settled on the side of her breast.
“I want to finish this,” he whispered above her lips.
So did she, which surprised her. She didn’t fall into bed with men easily. Max wasn’t like most men. In fact, she’d never met anyone quite like him before. Against her normal behavior, Janet leaned in and said, “Hurry home.”
He captured her lips for one last searing kiss before leaving.
He drove out the driveway and disappeared from sight.
Hurry home.
Richard wore a knowing smile when she walked back inside. “So, Janet, what movie should we watch?”
Janet followed him into the den, completely at home with her personal bodyguard. She turned her attention to the movie selections. They were entirely male. Not one ‘chick flick’ to be found. Picking something at random, she handed it to Richard.
He checked the title and starting laughing.
“What is it?”
“Oh, man. You have no idea.” He kept up the chuckles and fired up the DVD. “I’ll get the popcorn.”
Richard left the room, laughing hysterically.
Janet tucked her feet under her and removed the throw from the back of the couch. The opening credits of “An American Werewolf in London” hit the screen.
Richard returned five minutes later, though the telltale smell of popcorn hit her senses first. “I hope you added extra butter.”
“A woman after my own heart,” he said before plopping down the bowl of popcorn.
A yelp behind the couch had Janet tense into a rigid sit. From behind Richard, the cause of the noise walked up and pressed its wet nose against her arm.
Janet sprang away and backed up against the wall in alarm. “What is that?”
Richard smirked and grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Didn’t Max tell you he had a dog?”
“No! He didn’t. That...” She motioned toward the four legged, pointed-eared animal. “Doesn’t look like a dog.”
“Well, he thinks he’s more human than dog. But you’re right, he’s a wolf.”
Janet started backing out of the room, never taking her eyes off the animal.
“He’s harmless, really. You have nothing to be afraid of.”
As if in understanding, the wolf walked up to her and tried to lick her hand to prove Richard’s point.
“I’m deathly allergic to dogs.” She snatched her hand away.
Richard’s laughter returned. This time the cola he sipped sputtered out and onto the floor.
“I don’t see what is so funny.”
Annoyed with his amusement, Janet continued to back out of the room. “I start sneezing, swelling and tearing up within two feet of a dog.”
“You hear that, ah... Rex? Janet is allergic to you.”
The wolf sent out a yip in response.
“Can you take it outside?”
“Ah, no. Rex is an indoor dog, a very protective indoor dog. Max wanted him to stay by your side while he’s away.”
How could that be? Janet asked herself. Outside of the tears over the intrusion on her life, she hadn’t as much as sniffled since she came into Max’s home. “Huh...” She relaxed slightly, but waited for the sniffling to start.
“You don’t seem to be sneezing now.”
Rex moved toward her, his head lowered. Once directly in front of her, he sat on his haunches and sniffed the air.
She reached out and touched his fur. His coat was silver with tips of black and soft like mink. Accepting her touch as an invitation, Rex stood up and rubbed against her leg.
“You big flirt,” Richard called from the couch.
Janet held her breath, but the sneezes never came. “He’s a wolf?”
“Yeah, Max doesn’t like anything conventional.”
Having never been this close to an, otherwise, wild breed of dog, Janet assumed her lack of an allergy attack was due to his heritage. “What was his name again?”
“Rex. Isn’t that right, Rex?” Richard called in a sing-song voice.
“If I start swelling up, I’m going to retreat to my room.”
“Fine by me.”
Janet sat back down. To her distress, Rex hopped on the couch and made himself comfortable. He dropped his head in her lap as if he had done so a thousand times. Not willing to shoo the dog off, Janet mumbled, “I’m asking for trouble.”
Richard started to laugh again. He smacked Rex’s leg and pointed to the TV. “Look there, Rex. One of your family members.”
Rex growled at Richard in response.
****
Max rested in her lap, her scent filled him more in wolf form than it did in his human state. He felt her body relax as she grew more accustomed to his presence.
Richard continued to prod him during the ridiculous movie, a gag gift his baby brother gave him years before.
Once it was over, he followed Janet up the stairs, never leaving her side.
Inside her room, she stopped him at the door. “Stay.” She pointed to the space in the hall.
She started to close the door, but Max moved to follow her in.
“I said, stay.” She pushed him back.
He let out a yip and bolted between her legs and into the room.
“You can’t be in here.”
She bent down and tried to move him, but instead of budging, he smeared her face with his tongue.
Janet laughed and wiped her face clean. “Aren’t you supposed to be loyal to your master? That would be Max, not me.”
Max lay down, put his head on his paws, and settled in for the night.
“Oh, whatever.” Janet tugged her shirt from her pants and started undoing the buttons. She walked into the bathroom and ran the water in the sink.
Unable to stop himself, Max moved in closer to get a better view.
She tugged the shirt off her shoulders, under was a black lacy bra, her creamy breasts heaved over the top of the thin material.
He watched her brush her teeth and hair, completely oblivious to his presence. She peeled off her jeans and kicked them clear of her feet.
Dear God, her panties matched. He felt the growl in the pit of his stomach and couldn’t control his reaction. She cocked her head to one side. “Okay, out with you,” she waved him away before shutting the bathroom door in his face.
Just as well, I can’t do anything until I’m human again anyway.
****
Max slept off and on during the night, confident that any alarm raised would bring him around. He heard nothing of Gorman, or any of his pack in the distance. Most full moons Max spent his time watching out for Gorman, or others like him. Werewolves who prowled every month, turning innocent people into monsters like them.
Gorman and his like were what gave werewolves their Hollywood name. Vicious, blood-thirsty animals that either ate their prey or turned them for the purpose of mating or controlling.
Like any species of animal, or humans for that matter, there were good and bad amongst them. Max’s family had werewolf blood in their veins for centuries. They considered themselves defenders, vigilantes of the full moon. They never turned another without their express permission. Even Max had been given the choice. He exercised it when his father had become ill, and a pack had invaded his childhood neighborhood. Max watched as one of his best friends was turned. The power of the change did more than shift his form each month; it changed his personality. He killed others instead of protecting. It was as if the werewolf who turned him injected evil with his bite.
Unfortunately, without the power of the change, Max was unable to hunt down and find the werewolves who killed. But with heightened senses, the task proved easy. He hunted during the full moon to find his prey. With their identity confirmed, Max followed in his human form, often finding them in illegal acts. A simple phone call to the police led them to the renegade were’s location.
A few times, he attacked the enemy in wolf form, sometimes causing their death. But that was risky, and not something Max would do unless he was left with no other choice.
Gorman was slick. Max had been following him for three months. Unfortunately, Max couldn’t find anything on him, and the time to fight him soon approached. Now that he had his sights on Janet, Max was left with little choice.
Janet was his. He placed his head on her thigh and closed his eyes. She didn’t know it yet, but she was his.
Chapter Five
The sun’s glaring rays through the window woke her. A few minutes passed before Janet remembered where she was. When she did, she glanced around the room for Rex. But he was gone.
She noticed the door to her room slightly open and assumed someone heard him and let him out. His presence in the room had kept her calm after she realized she wasn’t going into anaphylactic shock.
Janet made her way to the shower and wondered if Max had made it home.
Thirty minutes later, she padded down to Max’s kitchen in search of food.
Like the house, the kitchen was enormous. But it lacked in supplies. Janet found what she needed for coffee and started a pot. She rummaged through the maple cupboards and Subzero refrigerator, found a loaf of bread and some eggs. Her mouth watered with the thought of French toast.
On her second cup of coffee, Max sauntered in the room.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
He smirked and leaned over the stove where the bread was sizzling in the pan. “I could think of worse ways to wake up. Smells good.”
“I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“Not as long as there’s enough for two.”
Janet removed another plate from the cupboard. “Isn’t your brother going to eat?”
“I sent Richard home when I came home.”
“Oh, what time was that? I didn’t hear you.”
He poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned on the counter. “A few hours ago.”
Janet watched him stir cream into his coffee. He appeared rested. He was probably used to working late, like her. It was amazing how little sleep you needed, as long as it was at night.
Janet returned to the task of cooking breakfast. “Where’s Rex?”
“Who?”
“Your dog, Rex? Why didn’t you tell me you had a dog?”
“You didn’t ask.”
“True.” She dished him up a plate and turned off the stove. “Where is he?”
“Rex? Oh, ah, I had Richard take him for the day. I didn’t know you were allergic to dogs.”
“Not yours, apparently.” She poured a glass of milk, held it out to Max who indicated he would take some, too. “I don’t understand why Rex doesn’t bother me. I’ve always been so sensitive to dogs.”
Max’s smile crept into his face much like a boy with a secret, the glee in his eyes made her wonder what he was thinking. “Maybe it’s because he’s a wolf.”
“I guess. Crazy though, I can’t even walk by the Dingos at the zoo. I’ll have to ask one of the doctors at work why when I go in again.”
Max pulled a chair out when she sat down. “When do you go back to work?”
“Tuesday. What about you?”
He watched her eat, his expression unreadable. “I might have to go back tonight, it depends.”
She wanted to question what he did, but didn’t know if it was her place. She had known the man a little over twenty-four hours and yet she slept in his home, made herself comfortable in his kitchen and met his family. She didn’t think prying into his life more was wise. Funny, yesterday she quizzed him relentlessly on his naked and unconscious state. Today she could care less.
“What is going on in that pretty little mind of yours?” Max had stopped eating and studied her.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, I doubt that.”
“All right, I was thinking about how long we’ve known each other.”
His lip turned up, “And...”
“And... how much I feel I know you.”
Max put his fork down and laced his fingers with hers. “I thought the very same thing about you all ni
ght long.”
“Really?” His eyes did the swirly thing again, like a hidden signal of desire only she could see.
“Really!” Little beads of sweat formed on her brow. She fanned her shirt away from her body searching for a breeze. But she knew it was the way he looked at her that made the temperature rise. She remembered his naked body lying on the gurney and suddenly the temperature soared in the room.
“What’s the matter, Janet? You look a little flush.”
“I do?” she gasped.
“Like maybe you need to lie down.” He placed a playful smile on his face and put the back of his hand to her forehead as if checking her temperature.
“But I just woke up. I’m not tired.” And where did the breathy voice come from?
His body was inches from hers, his eyes searching. “You don’t have to be tired to go to bed.”
“No, I suppose you’re right.” She licked her bottom lip. “There are plenty of things to do in bed when you’re not tired.”
“Plenty,” he agreed. He moved in more, but damn it, he wasn’t kissing her.
“Max?”
“Yes.”
“Can you stop talking and kiss me already?”
Like two single flames, they came together as one bright fire. Every part of her body tingled in response to his lips on hers. His hands caught her head as he plunged into her mouth, desire, red-hot and willing, soared through her.
Sitting on a kitchen chair proved awkward, Janet tried moving closer and almost fell in her effort.
Max urged her to her feet where at least she could feel his frame against hers. She tugged at his shirt, reaching to feel his skin beneath. He, too, pulled at her clothes. He leaned back briefly and surveyed the room.
“Not here, not the kitchen.”
Janet remembered his butler and shook her head. The last thing she wanted was an interruption.
He dragged her from the room and up the stairs. Hand in hand, they tumbled into his bedroom, slamming the door behind them. He gathered her back into his arms the second the door clicked.
Janet scrambled with his clothes.
Max pushed her toward his bed. She fell back with part of his shirt clasped in her hands.
“Take this off,” she pleaded.
He chuckled and did as she asked. In turn, Janet removed hers.
Before the Moon Rises (Ritter Werewolves) Page 4
