by Jane Jamison
“Aren’t you afraid someone might steal something?”
“Why would anyone want to steal? If they need something, we’d give it to them.” Uncle Bob pointed at her jeans. “You don’t need to take your ID or any money, either. Just tell either Curtis, the owner, or Purdy, the bartender, to put it on my tab.”
“Are you sure? I kind of have expensive taste in drinks.”
“Don’t matter what your tastes are.” Half the time Uncle Gunther spoke, the words came out mangled, almost as though he had too many teeth to speak distinctly.
“Why’s that?”
“Because, Jane, they only serve beer at Roar.”
So much for getting a glass of champagne. “Just beer? Not even wine or mixed drinks? Doesn’t anyone ever want anything stronger?”
“We’re simple people.” Her aunt stood and put her hand on the small of Jane’s back. “Now get moving. We wouldn’t want you to hold up the young men.”
Jane started to lie again, and then decided it was better to just leave it be. “I won’t be too late.” Not giving them another chance to question her, she bolted out the front door and into the night.
* * * *
Eric straightened up, slowing down as the transformation from white tiger to human ended. Residual pain remained a moment longer, but he was used to it. Like most weretigers, he’d gone through his first shift right after hitting puberty. Years of changing from human to tiger and back again had taught him how to handle the inevitable pain. How could it not hurt when limbs broke and reformed? By the time he’d made it to the front porch of their home on Lazy Days Ranch, Garron was by his side.
“You’re getting slow, old man.” He expected a hard shove from Garron and got it.
“Fuck off. I just wasn’t into racing, is all.”
Eric pushed the front door open then bounded up the stairs. His friend’s footsteps echoed behind him. Right before he reached his bedroom, he turned and let out a low purr. “Do you think she’ll be there?”
Jane Smith. Her name didn’t do her justice. With her short, curly black hair, sparkling emerald eyes, and smokin’ body, she’d set him on fire. A fire only she could put out. And yet, he didn’t think she’d ever douse the flame. As far as he was concerned, the burn would last forever.
“Yeah. She felt the connection. I know she did.” Garron ran a hand through his hair. “You got a good whiff of her. There’s no mistaking that scent.”
The smell of arousal was unique, but they’d always heard the fragrance was even more pungent when the woman was an intended mate. “They were right. It’s a lot stronger between mates.”
Garron laughed a sound filled with relief. “I can’t believe we actually found her.”
“We got lucky, man.”
“Or fate brought us together.”
Eric slapped him on the shoulder. “I don’t care which it is. Luck or fate. She finally showed up and she felt the connection. All we have to do is keep her here long enough to make her ours.”
“Yeah. That’s all. No big deal.” Garron pushed against his bedroom door. “Get ready. We’ve got a beautiful woman waiting for us.”
* * * *
Jane’s hand was on the heavy door handle of Roar. Was she doing the right thing? She’d never been the girl guys picked up. Not in a bar and definitely not in front of a home. Yet there she was, ready to meet two strange men who’d invited her on a date.
She could still feel the rush of electricity coursing through her body. Until the moment when Eric and Garron had strolled up to her, she would’ve never believed anything so sexually charged could be real. The current that had rippled between them had been more than simply attraction. She’d been attracted to her fair share of men and knew what it felt like. A tug in her abdomen. A stab of lust in her pussy. But what she’d experienced standing on her aunt’s front lawn while wearing a stupid floppy hat was so far beyond those simple emotions. After they’d driven off, her body had physically ached for them.
She had no choice but to see them again.
Jane jumped back as the door opened and a large man with two women walked out. They nodded a greeting as the man held the door for her. “Welcome to Roar, sweet thang.”
“Thanks.” She stepped into the dimly lit room. After a minute or so, her eyesight adjusted and she took a good look around.
Roar was a typical local hangout. No bikers. No menacing men about to jump her. Just a bunch of farmers and ranchers taking it easy after a long day of working the land and wrangling livestock. The tables were filled with people laughing and talking. Most of the tables had more men than women seated at them, but wasn’t that to be expected? Men liked going to bars more than women did.
Or was it because there were other people in Twisted who lived like her aunt and uncles did? Hadn’t Lena said as much?
The men at the counter swiveled around and fixed her with lingering once overs. She gave them a smile that was just friendly enough to be civil, but not too friendly to invite any of them to talk to her.
Certain everyone was watching, she stiffly walked over to the counter. The bartender’s dark gaze fell on her chest, and then jerked to her face. His pot belly stretched the limits of his stained T-shirt, distorting the image of the white tiger on the front.
“What can I do you for?” He rubbed the counter in front of her.
“Are you Purdy or Curtis?”
“I’m Purdy.”
“My Uncle Bob said I could put my drinks on his tab. Is that all right? If it’s not, then I’ll—” Her hand went to her back pocket before she remembered. “Shoot. I took my wallet out and left it behind. Still, if it’s not okay, I’ll run back and get some cash.”
“You’re a relative of Ruth McClarin’s, right? I heard one of her kin was in town.” Interest lit his face.
Had Lena or her aunt spread the word? “I am.”
“Then you’re good to go. Any family of the McClarin’s is right by me. Now that we’ve got that settled, I’ll ask you again. What can I do you for?”
Although her aunt had already warned her about the beer-only situation at Roar, she couldn’t resist trying. “I don’t suppose you’d have a glass of champagne? Maybe even a split?”
Laughter rang out around her and she felt her cheeks color. “Never mind. Forget I asked.”
Purdy cleared his throat, crossed his arms, and gave the other patrons a hard glare. “Don’t pay all these hillbillies any attention. It never hurts to ask. But, nah, we don’t have any fancy kinds of drinks.” He placed his hand on a spigot. “I can give you draft beer or beer in a bottle. Make your choice.”
She let out a slow breath. “I’m not much of a beer drinker, so…” She was about to ask if he had any soft drinks when one of his bushy eyebrows shot toward the ceiling.
“So what’s it gonna be? I don’t have all day, you know.”
“Purdy, give Garron three glasses. And make them clean ones, too.”
Jane whirled around to find Eric and Garron behind her. Eric held up a bottle of champagne as a grumbling Purdy handed Garron three beer glasses. “I’m glad you showed up. Especially since we brought you a little present.”
Purdy mumbled something about how “bringing booze into the bar just ain’t right”, but she was too swamped with the electric tingle that zipped outward from between her legs, and then made a wild rollercoaster up and down her spine to care. Her mouth watered as she scanned them in their crisply ironed denim shirts, dark blue jeans, and shiny belt buckles.
“You brought me champagne? Seriously?” She took the bottle Eric handed her. The champagne wasn’t one of the better kinds, but she was touched that they’d gone to so much trouble. “Where did you get this? Twisted doesn’t have a liquor store, does it?”
“The Git and Go Truck Stop down on the highway carries some wine and whiskey, but not any champagne.” Eric moved closer. So close she could smell his wonderful scent again. “We made a quick trip into Crosston.”
Garron eased next
to her. “Even the liquor store didn’t have much of a selection, but we figured any champagne was better than beer. At least as far as you’re concerned. Were we right?”
“You’re right.” They had her trapped between them, but she was more than willing to stay trapped. Even if they hadn’t assumed correctly, she would’ve said yes. How could she not when they’d been so sweet to hunt down her favorite drink?
“Sorry about running off on you earlier.” Eric hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “We had an emergency back on the ranch.”
“I hope everything’s okay.”
Eric’s appraisal made her feel like a million bucks. “Baby, with you around, everything’s perfect.”
“Come on, sugar, let’s take this somewhere more private.” Garron took her arm to lead her away from the counter.
A simple, easy touch was all it was, and yet, she reacted as though he’d struck a cattle prod to her. She let out a small yelp and reflexively jerked her arm away. Which was the last thing she wanted to do.
“What’s wrong, Jane?”
Why did she get the impression that Eric knew there was nothing wrong? That he was sure something definitely right had occurred?
“Nothing. Garron shocked me.” She glanced down at the hardwood floor knowing her excuse was lame.
They drew her to an empty table on the far side of the place. Yet instead of sitting down, Eric grabbed the darts from the board on the wall next to them and handed them to her.
“Let’s see how good you are.” He motioned for her to put the champagne bottle on the table.
“I’m not any good at all.” She put the bottle next to the glasses. “In fact, I might end up hurting someone.”
“Nah, you’ll be fine.” Eric slapped the older man at a nearby table on the shoulder. “Besides, it won’t be the first time these folks have gotten stabbed.”
The man turned around long enough to sneer at Eric. His amber-flecked eyes fell on Jane then slipped away.
“Can I ask you something?” The thought to wait until less people were around came and went, but she was too curious not to ask.
“Sure.” Eric took a few paces back, aimed, and threw the dart. It landed in the middle of the bull’s-eye. “What are you itching to know?”
“I don’t want to offend anyone, but I was just curious…”
“Being curious is a good thing.” Garron popped open the champagne and filled the glasses. “Folks around these parts are the most curious people you’ll ever meet.”
O-kay. “Anyway, every once in a while, I see these little bits of amber color in someone’s eyes. I mean, it’s weird, right? I saw them in my aunt’s and my uncles’ eyes.” She met Eric’s gaze straight on. “And both of yours, too. So what gives?”
Eric leaned against her, fueling the fire of lust already burning inside her. He whispered in her ear. “You’ve noticed, too, huh?”
Was it a secret? “Do you know how it happens?”
Garron took her arms from behind and held her back against his chest. “It’s because we’re not ordinary people, sugar.”
At first, she wasn’t sure what to think. Except that she loved the feel of his crotch against her lower back. “What do you mean?”
Eric’s eyes glistened, bringing out the amber spots. “Are you sure you want to know?”
Was she? “Yes. Tell me.”
His smile was sly. “It’s because we’re not human.”
She blinked, studied him for a moment, and then shoved him away, breaking Garron’s hold on her. “Okay. Fine. Make fun of me.”
Eric was lucky his chuckle was so damn sexy. “I’m sorry, baby, but it’s no big secret. It’s just a thing around Twisted. Probably has more to do with the water. You know. Too much arsenic or whatever in the wells.”
She gave him a “that’s bullshit” look. “Fine. Don’t tell me.”
Garron turned her around to face him. “Don’t get mad, sugar. At least, not before I do this.”
Jane was up and in the air before she knew it. As soon as his mouth pressed hard against hers, she wrapped her legs around him and slammed her crotch against his. His tongue invaded her mouth, tasting her. She moaned and clutched his hair, hanging on for all she was worth. Her breasts pressed against the hard expanse of his chest.
Pushing her tongue into his mouth, she picked up the flavors she’d longed to experience. His scent was in her mouth just as it permeated her entire body. She tugged at his lower lip, and then swiped her tongue along his upper lip. A low rumble came from deep inside him, flowing through his mouth into hers.
Hands fondled her ass as Eric came up behind her. The hardness of his erect cock fought against the denim of her tight jeans. “You’re going to be ours, baby.”
She couldn’t speak and didn’t think she had to. As it turned out, she was right.
Garron moved his lips lower, tilting her head to the side to give him a better angle at her neck. Teeth, sharper than she would’ve thought, skimmed along her skin and over the pulsing vein. She whimpered as need spread throughout her. If she didn’t get them inside her soon, she’d go insane.
Garron put his tongue between the V of the shirt and licked his way from one breast to the other. His hands fumbled at the buttons as Eric’s worked to get her jeans undone.
“We have to have you,” murmured Garron against her skin.
She was possessed as surely as if they’d cast a spell on her. And yet, a small part of her, the only part retaining any reason, screamed at her to remember where she was.
She cast that part of her away. I have to have them. Now.
Her mind was clear, devoid of anything except soaking in their scents and their touches. Although she had no understanding of why, she sensed the moment was monumental, a major turning point in her life.
Garron shifted position, moving Eric away from her. He bent over and she felt herself falling. If he took her to the floor, she wouldn’t have minded.
Her back struck the hard surface, knocking the air out of her. The sound of glass breaking startled her as he swept the bottle and glasses off the table, bringing her back to the here and now.
Garron had her lying on top of a table in Roar. A strange sound, a familiar sound, worked its way into her consciousness.
Purring.
Where’s the cat?
No, not just one.
There were many cats purring.
Garron tugged her blouse out of the way and put his mouth to her nipple. Turning her head to the side, she was about to close her eyes and lose herself in the sinful sensations wracking her body when she saw them.
Amber eyes, several sets of them, watched her.
“Shit!” She shoved against Garron and pulled her blouse together.
“What’s wrong, sugar?” Garron’s stare was filled with amber.
“Are you kidding me?” She half fell, half scooted off the table. When the men tried to help her, she slapped their hands away. “No! Don’t touch me. I don’t know what you did to me, but I don’t do this kind of thing.”
Had they drugged her? But how? She hadn’t even taken a drink yet.
“We didn’t do anything.” Eric’s scowl deepened. “Jane, calm down. We did nothing wrong. You did nothing wrong.”
“Seems to me you three were doing all the right things.”
Jane couldn’t tell which woman had spoken, but the truth of her words hit home. Embarrassment flushed through her, heating her cheeks.
“I’ve got to go.” Again, she pushed them away. Keeping her head down, she hurried to the door.
Calls for her to stay came from many of the others, but not from Eric or Garron.
“Hey, girlie, don’t stop the show now!”
“Yeah, y’all were just getting to the good part!”
“Be sure to tell Ruth we all said hello!”
She was mortified. Bursting through the door, she stumbled out into the night.
What did I do?
More than what she should’ve done,
but a whole lot less than what she’d wanted to do.
She began running. As soon as she got back to her aunt’s, she’d make plans to go home the next morning. The idea of leaving Eric and Garron behind, never to see them again, hurt her, sending a sharp pang of regret slicing into her, but there was nothing else she could do. After humiliating herself at the local hangout, she couldn’t stay. Not for anything or anyone.
Fortunately, the street was deserted as she ran toward her aunt’s house. Her mind whirled, confusion mixing questions with stunned disbelief that she’d let them have their way with her in public. Although she couldn’t put all the blame on them. She’d been a willing participant.
As soon as they’d touched her, she’d lost her mind. Her libido had taken over, wiping her of all her common sense. Instead, she’d let the rush of wild emotions wash over her, dragging her into unknown sexual territory. If the glasses hadn’t broken, she would’ve gladly shucked her jeans and fucked them. The rest of the customers would’ve been forgotten in her haste to satisfy the primal urges driving her to act so wildly.
I have to tell Aunt Ruth.
Not that she wanted to. Hell, telling her aunt what she’d done was the last thing she wanted. But if she didn’t, she was sure someone else would. Who knew? She might have already gotten a call from a well-intentioned, gossipy neighbor.
Her pace slowed. How would she tell her? Could she explain the feelings she had whenever Eric and Garron were around? Or would it be better to blurt out what she’d done and claim temporary insanity?
I never should’ve gone to Roar.
Hadn’t she known better? She’d tried multiple times to talk herself out of going, but the buildup of excitement that had grown steadily stronger throughout the day wouldn’t be denied. She wasn’t the type of woman to have a fling, a harmless fuck-them-then-forget-them kind of thing. Why had she thought she could pull it off in a small town where everyone knew her aunt and uncles?
She had her head down, staring at the ground passing under her feet when the sound came to her. Jerking her head up, she searched around her, squinting to see into the darkness between the buildings.
She waited, unsure if she’d heard an actual growl. Maybe it was a piece of machinery grounding to a stop. Or maybe it was just an odd noise carried over the slight breeze. And yet, the sound had seemed so familiar.
