by Brenda Trim
Ryan took Cassie in his arms, and they swayed to the soft melody. She never imagined she’d be so happy. Ever since she was a little girl, she’d wanted a sense of security and family. Bouncing between foster homes made her cynical and leery of everyone. Now, she had Ryan. He made her laugh, wiped her tears, hugged her tight, and washed away her fears. He was the promise that she’d have a friend forever. He was her life mate.
The song ended, and she gazed into brown eyes that were warmer than a blazing fire and filled with desire. “Thank you for choosing me,” Cassie professed.
“It was never a choice. You had me from the very beginning. Just took me a while to see it. Thank you for giving me the chance to prove it to you,” Ryan admitted and pressed his lips to hers.
His kiss sent ripples of arousal through her system, and Cassie’s core clenched with need. “Let’s blow this popsicle stand and go to the loft,” she murmured against his mouth.
“We will, but there’s something I need to do first,” he muttered then turned toward the room. “Hollow Rock pack members,” Ryan shouted, and each shifter turned his way.
“Time for our run beneath the full moon,” he announced, and howls filled the room.
Cassie kissed her sexy shifter and told him to hurry back. Liv walked over and hip-bumped her side. “I guess us two-legged critters can go into the other room and sit by the fire,” her friend suggested.
“I like the way you think,” Cassie replied and walked to the bar and grabbed a bottle of champagne. “C’mon, girl,” she said to Ashley and tilted her head toward the adjacent room.
Ashley grabbed the tray of food, and the three of them made their way into the large family room. Cassie walked to the large picture window and watched the band of wolves by the bonfire outside.
A tan wolf turned, and their eyes met. She smiled and blew him a kiss. The wolf lifted its snout and howled, its deep sound resonating with her soul.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
EXCERPT FROM Impeached BOOK #5
Bart placed his hand at the small of Erika’s back and escorted her to a nearby table that was away from the crowded ceremony, and loud music. He noted that in high heels, she was slightly taller than his six-foot height, and he was surprised it didn’t take away from her appeal.
Typically, Bart wasn’t attracted to shifters. They stood out among humans. Taller, more muscular, bold features. Erika, however, was shorter and leaner than any shifter in the room, and he wondered again if wolf litters had runts.
Her black hair was fastened in a high ponytail, and her pale-pink strapless dress hugged her curves perfectly. Erika was the type of woman all men fantasized about.
He pulled out a chair and she took a seat. It garnered him an eyeful of cleavage and Bart imagined his head buried between the lush globes. “I still can’t believe that was you I carried from the lab,” he commented and shook off the erotic fantasy. Now was not the time to be caught up in sexual imaginings.
When he accompanied Lawson and a few of his pack members to Nashville, he assumed their search was a waste of time. As governor of Tennessee, he felt obligated to investigate the accusations of shifter kidnappings, but he honestly didn’t believe there was any truth to the stories.
When they discovered four wolves strapped to a table while their blood was drained, Bart couldn’t act fast enough to help rescue them. He carried a light-gray wolf to the van and held the animal close on the ride home from Nashville. He had no idea the wolf in his arms was Erika and was floored when Lawson introduced the stunning woman.
“Yep, that was me,” Erika answered with a smile and took a sip of champagne.
Again, his thoughts turned sexual and an image of her mouth around his cock sprang to mind. What the fuck was wrong with him tonight? It hadn’t been that long since he had sex. He needed to stop before his growing erection embarrassed the hell out of him. He needed her to work for him. Thoughts of intercourse would only complicate matters.
“I should’ve been more attentive when I had the chance,” he said with a wide grin and his gaze was drawn to bewitching blue eyes.
“Is that so?” she replied curtly, and her eyes narrowed. She obviously didn’t care for his comment.
“Don’t take it the wrong way,” Bart recanted and threw his hands up in surrender. “I’m just giving you a compliment. You’re very attractive,” he confessed and grabbed his crystal flute and took a deep swig. This conversation was going nowhere fast.
“Is that what attracts you to a woman? Her looks?” she asked with a raised brow.
Bart leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt. I think physical attraction is very important. Probably the most important aspect, if I’m truthful,” he relayed with a slight shrug.
“Well, that explains why you can’t stop looking at my breasts?” she countered with a glare.
“That’s not what I meant. I-I-I,” he stammered, searching for the right words.
Erika leaned forward, placing her hands on the table. “Look, Mr. Governor. If you think that your fat bank account, expensive car, or sexy smile impress me, think again. None of those qualities mean shit.”
“You think I have a sexy smile?” Bart asked with a smirk.
“Ugh! You’re infuriating. Can we please discuss the job? I’d like to get back to the festivities,” she snapped with a huff.
Bart couldn’t deny he was captivated by the feisty woman. And dumbfounded. Most women jumped at the chance to be with him.
“As you wish,” he replied and grabbed two flutes of champagne as Ashley walked by carrying a tray full of bubbly. He placed one in front of Erika and took a deep drink from the other. He needed alcohol to calm his frayed nerves. This woman had him all sideways.
“So, like I mentioned before, I need someone to come to my office once or twice a week, and handle the calls coming from the shifter community. I want them to trust me and know that I’m serious about charging those responsible for abuse, as well as, finding any loved ones that are missing. I also want to learn more about shifters, so I have a better understanding. I need to fight for what they actually need, not what I think they need. I realize it’s a long commute and I’m happy to arrange for you to have an apartment in Chattanooga for the days you work,” Bart explained.
Erika slowly nodded her head. “Well, Lawson wouldn’t have asked me to do this if he didn’t think it was important. I’m happy to help my pack in any way I can,” she admitted and took a sip of her drink.
“Excellent. Thank you, Erika.”
“How soon would you like me to start?” she asked and glanced to the dance floor.
Bart followed her gaze and found a smile spreading over his mouth. “As soon as possible.”
She nodded and watched as Cassie and Ryan swayed while Jason Aldean crooned the lyrics to You Make It Easy through the speaker, and Erika’s eyes closed for a second, lost in the music.
“He’s the best in his genre,” Bart observed, making her eyes open.
“He’s my favorite country singer,” she admitted.
“I know him. He’s a close friend, actually,” Bart divulged.
“Get out,” Erika exclaimed as her eyes popped wide.
“Scout’s honor,” he pledged and held up three fingers. “I’ll see when he’s coming through Tennessee and arrange a meeting. Backstage passes to a concert, if you’d like,” he offered. He’d finally found a common interest with the black-haired beauty.
“I would cut off my right arm to see him in concert,” Erika confessed, and her disposition relaxed. She immediately went from cold and caustic to happy and smiling. He liked the latter much better.
“I don’t think such drastic measures are in order, but I’ll take that as a yes. Now, back to the job. When can you start?” he inquired. He wanted something definitive on the books before he stuck his foot in his mouth again.
“How about Monday?”
“Perfect,” Bart said with a nod. �
��Give me your cell number and I’ll text you the address,” he requested and pulled out his cell phone. He punched in the numbers as she called them out, then added her contact name. “I just sent you a text, so you’ll have my number, too.”
“Sounds good,” Erika replied and drank the last of her champagne.
“Another?” he asked, hoping for more time with her. Their conversation was coming to a close, but he didn’t want it to end.
“Sure,” she answered.
Suddenly, the music stopped, and Ryan turned to the crowd. “Hollow Rock pack members. Time for our run beneath the full moon,” he shouted.
Cheers erupted, along with howls, as the pack quickly shuffled from the room. Erika glanced to Bart and shrugged. “Sorry, that’s my cue.”
“That it is,” he sighed. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Erika––” he trailed off as he extended his hand, realizing he didn’t know her last name.
“Erika Pittman,” she finished and reached for his hand. “It was nice to meet you, too, Bart. See you Monday.” Again, he held her hand a little too long, enjoying her silky skin.
Let go of the woman, you perv, before she rejects the job offer! he scolded himself then quickly released her palm.
Erika bolted out the front door, along with, the other pack members as Bart made his way toward Cassie and Liv who were standing beside the champagne bar.
“Hey, BS,” Liv called out when he approached. It was the nickname she’d given him when they were teenagers. It was his initials but also stood for bullshit, because Liv insisted he was full of it. “Come join us in the family room. Us two-legged creatures have to stick together, too,” she said with a laugh.
“Thanks, but I really need to go. Long drive back to Chattanooga,” he answered as he glanced to the large picture window that overlooked the front of the hotel. He couldn’t deny his curiosity about the wolves. He’d never seen them band together for a run.
“We have plenty of empty rooms. Stay the night,” Liv suggested.
It was tempting. It would give him more time with Erika, but duty called. He had to prepare a rebuttal on the shifter issue. “I can’t. Early meeting tomorrow. Next time?”
“Thank you for coming,” Cassie said and Bart leaned down to hug the short woman. Cassie was five-four at most and looked like a dwarf among the tall shifters.
“Happy for you, Cass. You deserve it,” he whispered in her ear.
“So do you. Be patient. The right one will come along,” she whispered back.
“I’m not holding my breath,” he chuckled then hugged Liv before he excused himself. He quickly made his way through the hallway to the large kitchen then out the back door.
He walked to his Mercedes and opened the door. He was about to climb inside his car when he heard shouts and screams coming from the front of the hotel. What were the shifters doing? He was dying to know. Deciding to sneak a peek, Bart closed his door and quietly walked around the side of the large building. Snow crunched underfoot and Bart glanced to his feet as cold seeped through his dress shoes and thin socks. Not the best attire for trekking through the snow, he thought. When he reached the edge of the building, he remained behind the brick wall and peered around the corner.
The large bonfire was blazing, casting shadows across the snow-covered ground. The pack was hooting and hollering, like a football team gearing up for the big game. The energy was tangible, and Bart glimpsed what it meant to be a part of this formidable group.
He spotted Lawson and Ryan as they shifted to wolf form. He was amazed at the fluidity. It happened so quickly he almost missed it. Ryan, a tan-colored wolf, lifted his snout and howled. Lawson, a larger dark-gray wolf, added his deep howl to the mix. It was the most incredible scene Bart had ever witnessed. Each pack member shed their clothes and joined the celebration.
Bart scanned the group until he spotted Erika’s pale pink dress. She was off to the side, removing her shoes. She tugged the band around her ponytail and her long, silky hair cascaded to her waist. So fucking sexy. She reached around to the back of her dress and before Bart knew what she was doing, the material puddled at her feet.
Bart’s mouth went dry and his body hardened as he perused her lean but curvy figure. In hindsight, the pink dress didn’t do her justice. She was perfect. In fact, she should walk around naked all the time, Bart surmised. He knew it was wrong to lurk in the shadows and spy on the naked woman, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It wasn’t solely based on his attraction to her. He wanted to see what the wolves did next.
In the blink of an eye, Erika shifted, and her light-gray wolf joined the pack. When her animal howled, something stirred deep inside Bart. It resonated with his soul in a way he’d never felt before. Maybe they shared a special bond because he rescued her from the lab. He’d never forget the moment inside the van when he stared into the wolf’s eyes. It was as if he’d been assigned to protect her. Always. That would certainly explain his undeniable attraction to her.
Bart watched as the pack huddled together, their howls growing more intense. It was the call of the wild, and it was both magical and haunting. Ryan’s wolf shot across the lawn first then disappeared into the thick forest. The others followed suit and Bart watched as Erika sped past his hiding spot then leapt over a large stack of firewood. What her animal lacked in size and strength, she made up in speed and agility. It was impressive as hell.
The light-gray wolf charged toward the trees and was gone in the next breath. Bart stood there a moment and listened to the echo of their howls then turned and walked toward his car, awed by the scene he witnessed.
He suddenly felt his phone vibrate, and reached inside his coat pocket. It was a text from Kelly, asking that he call her asap. Bart climbed in his car and cranked it then hit the call button on his phone.
She answered before the first ring. “Bart, thank you so much for getting right back to me,” she muttered. Her voice was shaky and he heard a sniffle at the end of her sentence.
“Are you crying?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry to bother you with my problems,” Kelly confessed. “I just didn’t know who else to call.”
“What happened?” His mind was all over the place. He’d been so caught up in his thoughts about Erika, it was hard to focus on something else.
“It’s Fortified. They let me go today,” she blurted and he heard her breath hitch.
“What? Why?” Bart was more confused than ever.
“Apparently, there’s not enough money in the budget to keep four of us on the payroll. Guess I’m the weaker link,” Kelly sobbed.
Bart thought a moment. He was a businessman and continuously made similar decisions. If he were honest, he’d probably have picked Kelly to go, as well. She seemed less serious about her position compared to the others.
“I’m sure it was a difficult decision for them to make,” Bart replied, avoiding his personal opinion about the situation. “Don’t worry, you’ll find another job.”
“Yeah, but that could take months. I can’t afford to be unemployed. Um, do you think there’s a place for me at your office?”
Bart froze. The last thing he needed to do was hire someone he was fucking. “I don’t think that’s a wise decision, Kelly. Surely, you can see that,” he insisted.
“I know exactly what you’re saying, but I promise it won’t be for long. Just until I find something else. I really need this favor,” she murmured and more sobs followed.
Bart sighed. Women and their tears got him every damn time. He did feel bad about her losing a job. He’d told Patricia several times she needed an assistant but she always declined. Maybe Kelly could be a test run.
“Let me think on it and see what I can come up with,” he said on an exhale. “Come by my office Monday.”
“Oh, thank you. You’re the best,” Kelly exclaimed and Bart heard the relief in her tone.
“Don’t thank me yet. You might be washing dishes,” he countered with a chuckle.
“I’ll w
ash anything you want,” she purred. “Want to come over?”
His wound-tight body immediately responded to her sexy voice. Images of Erika filled his mind. He could only imagine what it would feel like to have the alluring shifter in his bed. And fuck if his body didn’t need a release, he thought as his cock jerked painfully.
“I’m in Hollow Rock. It would take me a few hours to get there,” he stated as he pulled onto the dirt road leading away from Safe Haven.
“I’ll wait up. The front door will be unlocked,” Kelly murmured.
“Keep the bed warm,” Bart replied and ended the call.
As he drove toward Chattanooga, his mind drifted back to the hotel, and the shifters that lived there. He thought about how he judged their kind for so many years. He admitted viewing them as savage and wild. He couldn’t have been more wrong. They were a caring, loving group. Bart admired their loyalty and honor. He understood now why Liv fell in love with Lawson, and he was happy she found a man that was so devoted to her.
He also thought about Erika. Her mesmerizing blue eyes, her soft full lips, and a body he craved to explore. But it was more than that. She called him out on his bullshit and didn’t throw herself at him. And that made him want her even more.
He threw his head back against the headrest. “What the hell are you doing?” he muttered.
He couldn’t pursue her at this point. He offered her a job and, unlike Kelly, he needed Erika permanently. Bart wanted the shifters to trust him and felt the best way to achieve that was hiring one to his staff.
Part of him wanted to throw ethics aside and woo the hell out of Erika. His gut told him he was insane to even consider it. His body told him Erika was worth it, and his mind told him to focus on his career.
Bart didn’t know anything for certain, except that he was about to get laid, and it wasn’t with the woman he truly wanted.
Authors’ Note
Begin here, but the stuff below looked like something you include in every book, so I left it. :D
