Shades of Pink

by 33 authors

  Seamus crept around her tables and snuck up on her. He was surprised that he could do it but he didn’t question his luck. As Mac turned to open another box he lunged and grabbed her by the throat and one wrist. He moved fast. He twisted her around and yanked her front against him and wrenching her arm up her back as he cut off her air.

  Mac’s scream of fury was cut off with a gurgle. She fought with her other hand and her feet. She drew deep gouges down his face with her fingernails and yanked her knee upwards, trying to get him in the balls. She missed as he twisted his hips in anticipation of the blow. It wasn’t long before she started to see stars. Her gag reflex kicked in as he mashed his slimy lips against hers and tried to stick his tongue in her mouth. When she opened up she could feel his energy surge in triumph. That lasted only until she bit his tongue hard enough to draw blood.

  “Bitch!” He threw her away from him and she landed on the ground, hitting her head on the table leg.

  As she lay there, dazed, he kicked her in the ribs. Mac whimpered and tried to scramble back as he lifted his foot again. Suddenly he just wasn’t there anymore. There was a furious shout, a loud grunt, the smack of flesh on flesh and some applause. Mac tried to get up to see what was going on. The pain in her ribs kept her down so she just listened to the ruckus. And then a pair of Nike shod feet appeared in her line of sight and she cringed.

  Doug scowled when he saw her. He crouched down and spoke softly without reaching for her. “Mac. It’s Doug. Come here baby, let me help you. Let me show you what’s going on.”

  Mac looked up. Doug’s face was a welcome sight and she sighed softly as warmth filled her. Her gaze locked on to his mouth and she scrubbed her own with the back of her hand before she put her hand in the one he held out. She let him pull her close, noting how gentle he was, and when his face was in reach she put both hands on it and drew him down for a kiss.

  Doug’s breath stuck in his throat as she pressed a featherlight kiss to his lips and curled against him. When she rested her head on his shoulder he wrapped his arms around her and pushed them both to their feet. “Come, my love. You need to see what’s going on.”

  Mac leaned against Doug without even knowing that she was drawing from his strength and promise of safety. It was only after they stepped out of her booth that she heard all the noise again. She lifted her head and looked at the crowd. In the center of the horseshoe shaped group was a bloody, bruised and groggy Seamus being held aloft with his upper arms in the grips of two large policemen. Around the three of them were a number of people all talking at once. She caught snatches of their sentences.

  “…been pestering her for months…”

  “…an asshole! He should be locked up!”

  “…always trying to touch her…”

  “I saw him grab her!”

  “Fucker deserved what he got.”

  On the edge two men grinned at each other. “It’s about time that bloody amadan got what was coming to him.”

  “Oh aye, and he’ll have reminders for the rest of his life to keep his hands to himself.” The second speaker turned as he caught Doug and Mac out of the corner of his eye. “Mac! Are you alright?” Both men came towards her. The first speaker put his hand to his throat at the sight of hers and made a tsking noise.

  Mac tried to speak and winced as her throat let her know just how tightly he had been gripping it. She nodded instead.

  “Right,” Doug raised his voice, “you all let Mac speak to the bobbies!”

  The pair of men who had come to her went over to help shoo the crowd away. Soon it was just Doug, Mac, the two cops and a furious Seamus. The taller of the two officers smiled grimly. “This gentleman,” he said gentleman but it sounded like asshole, “been bothering you, McKenna?” When she nodded he asked, “Did he do that to your throat? Witnesses say he entered your booth and attacked you, is that correct?”

  Mac nodded again and patted Doug on the chest as she heard him start to growl. She rasped out, “Press… charges…”

  “Yes Ma’am,” the shorter cop said, almost gleefully. “It’ll be a pleasure locking this one up. We’ll be needing you to be seen by the emergency room and then come make a statement.”

  “I’ll be sure she does it.” Doug’s voice brooked no argument. When Mac pointed at the booth and indicated she would do it after the market’s closing Doug shook his head. “I’ll man the booth. I will call someone to take you to the—” he yelped as her fingernails dug into his arm. “Okay, I can take you to the doctor and someone else can watch the booth.” He looked up at the policemen. “I’ll have her there in a couple of hours.” His gaze shifted to Seamus. “You are lucky I have self-control.”

  Mac mustered enough of herself to spit in Seamus’s face. She turned and wrapped herself around Doug, ignoring the invectives screamed at her over the sound of laughter. She looked up only when her friend Alicia came over.

  Alicia’s eyes were full of a combination of sympathy and pride. She was immensely proud of Mac for fighting back. She had no idea about Mac’s history but she knew a fighter when she saw one. “I’ll watch your booth for you. Sam’s fine watching ours by himself.”

  “Thank you.” Mac croaked the words and touched Alicia on the shoulder. She was unwilling to leave Doug’s embrace for even a moment as she allowed him to lead her away. Seconds later, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She thumbed the screensaver off and looked at the text that had just come in from Alicia.

  OMG! Dress is grgus! I want. How much?

  Mac laughed then whimpered. She was smiling as she wrote back. £150. All of that is going to BCR.

  U r making 0 on that. Is ther another?

  No. 1 of a kind.

  Sigh. <3 it. Will sell it for 200. :D

  LOL Ur 1 of a kind. Mac tucked her phone into her pocket and watched the city go by as Doug drove them to an emergency room. Alicia was her only true friend and she loved the woman as much as she was able. Mac turned her head to study Doug’s profile. It shocked her to realize that she loved Doug. She loved him with everything she had. When she was with him her past melted away. She felt like she was home. She was warm, comfortable, safe and, if she were to be perfectly honest, always horny when she was with him. She smiled and knew that when she could speak again, she would tell him.

  Several hours later, after Mac had been seen by the emergency room staff, Doug’s female Alpha, and Mac had written out her statement, she and Doug were back at the market and he was helping her pack up her wares. She still had the surface bruises on her neck and where Seamus had kicked her so that the inspector could take pictures of them, but the Alpha—Anna—had healed the internal injuries. Mac had been in awe. And true to her word, Alicia had sold the dress for £200.

  Mac watched Doug put the last of the reusable crates into her truck and admired his body as the lean muscles flexed and moved beneath his shirt. “Come home with me.” The words were out of her mouth before she was aware she’d even thought them.

  Doug looked sharply at her. “I don’t want you thinking you have to do anything with me. Or for me.”

  “I don’t.” Mac came over to him. “I am grateful for your help but I know that you didn’t do it so I’d have sex with you. I just want…” she paused. She didn’t know quite how to put it into words. So she simply settled for saying, “I just want to be with you.”

  Not for a second did Doug think she meant she wanted to have sex and that pleased him more than if she had come out and said she wanted to make love to him. “I will stop and grab a movie and a pizza. Do you like garlic bread?”

  “The cheesier the better.” Mac smiled as Doug handed her into her driver’s seat. “I’ll see you soon.” She just barely managed not to make that sound like a plaintive, hopeful question. After everything Mac had survived until now she was not going down because some slime ball tried to kiss her.

  Doug rushed home and showered. He was stopped on his way back out by a summons from the Alphas. He went into the study to find them si
tting together as was their way—Liam in the big leather chair with Anna perched on one knee. “You called, my Alphas?”

  “Aye. Sit.” Liam pointed to the chair in front of his desk.

  “I’m in a little bit of a hu—”

  “Sit.” Liam’s voice brooked no argument.

  Doug sat. And waited.

  Anna looked down at Liam, her white hair sliding into her face. He pushed it back behind her ear and nodded. With a smile, Anna faced Doug. “So you have a female.”

  “I… Well I don’t know. She—”

  “Loves you. I could see your energy blending with hers and she is all over you. What are your plans?”

  “Alphas,” Doug spread his hands helplessly, “don’t you think it’s a little early for plans?”

  “We have discussed it,” Liam said, “and we will induct her into the pack if that is what you both wish.”

  “When we come back from the Congo,” Anna added. “You and she will be coming on that trip with us. It will be her initiation.”

  Doug gaped at them both at a total loss for words. “I… we…ah…yes my Alphas. I will speak to her.”

  The pair smiled at him before Anna spoke. “You did good today. Go see to your Mate, Doug. Come back the day after tomorrow.” The pack was at peace for now. Anna was doing research to try and put the McDonalds to rest and, so far, no one seemed to be angry at her.

  Doug bolted from the chair and the house. He called the pizza place as he ran out the door. Sixty minutes later, after picking up the pizza and one side trip for something else, he was exchanging man-talk with the doorman, who was a Rangers football fan. Doug tried not to run to the elevator after Mac gave her permission to the doorman. His energy was light and bright. He was brimming with cautious happiness. He hoped Mac would be just as pleased.

  Mac opened her door to the fragrance of a meat lovers pizza and came face to face with a wolf. Her hackles went up before she realized it was stuffed then she laughed. “Doug! You scared the life out of me.”

  He looked chagrined as he stepped into view. “Sorry, Mac.” Doug handed the wolf to her and accepted her invitation to enter the condo. He smiled when he realized she had dressed for him in a soft lilac coloured silk tank that flowed from her shoulders and stopped at her waist. She was wearing loose white pants that flowed as easily as her top and came to rest atop bare feet.

  “It’s okay.” Mac hugged the soft, squeezable wolf to her and gave the soft, dark grey fur a stroke as she nudged the heavy door closed with her foot. “He’s adorable.”

  Doug set the pizza and garlic bread down on her dining room table, pleased to see it was set with plates and candles, and handed Mac the DVD case. He couldn’t decide whether eating at the table where he could watch her or eating on the couch where he could touch her was better. Mac made the decision for him.

  “You got Salt! I’ve been dying to see this movie.” Mac cradled the stuffed animal against her ribs and cracked open the movie case. She slid the DVD into the player and let it start playing. Then she turned around to face Doug and blushed at the look on his face. “I’m sorry, maybe we should eat first.”

  Doug was amused, and pleased; he liked the spontaneity in her. “We can eat while we watch, it’s okay.” He stacked the plates and napkins before picking them and the food up. He went over and deposited them on the coffee table then went into the kitchen to look for drinks. He found a light-bodied red wine, uncorked it to let it breathe while he hunted for glasses. He took it all out to Mac, who was giggling at a preview.

  “You look happy, my love.” Doug sat down beside her, leaving space between them. He wanted it to be her decision to be next to him.

  “I am. That beautiful dress I made sold for two hundred quid and that means the charity will be getting a great donation this week. Seamus is finally off my back, thanks to you. And I…” She shut her mouth and turned her attention to the TV.

  Doug put pizza on plates for both of them and poured the wine before handing Mac hers. “And you what, my Wolf?”

  Mac took a bite of her pizza and avoided his gaze. He let her finish her mouthful and take a sip of wine before he paused the movie and asked again. This time she lifted her eyes to his. In them was a plea. “Please, can we enjoy the movie and talk about it later?”

  He studied her for a long moment then nodded. “As you wish.” He picked up the remote again and moved them out of the previews into the top menu. Soon a blonde Angelina Jolie was being beaten on and tortured. They ate their pizza and drank their wine, making comments on the movie, laughing as they got into the violence and their own running commentary.

  About twenty minutes before the movie ended Mac was stretched out on the couch with her head on Doug’s thigh, sleeping as he stroked her hair. He watched the end so he could tell her about it then turned off the TV. Silence fell and he closed his eyes. Soon he too was dozing.

  Mac woke up feeling safe, comfortable and aroused. She stretched and slid her hand up Doug’s thigh. She stopped short of his groin and stroked towards his knee and down his shin. She brought her hand back up and shifted so she could look at him. She mouthed, “And I found home.”

  Doug’s fingers found their way to her hair again, though he didn’t open his eyes. “You feel nice like this.”

  “So do you.” Then she sat up and straddled him, smiling into his face. She sat on the middle of his thighs, her knees on the couch. She reached up to touch his face and lowered her hand when he lifted his. “I touch. You let me.”

  After the day she’d had with Seamus he was more than willing to agree. “As you wish,” he said again. Then he rested his hands on her thighs, by her knees, and waited.

  Mac lifted her hand to his face again. She traced his lower lip with her thumb then used her fingertips to stroke his face, following all the lines and angles. She stroked his throat and the breadth of his shoulders. She trailed her fingertips down his chest and over his belly before tugging at the hem of his shirt.

  Doug obligingly sat forward and lifted his arms so she could pull the shirt off. His breath was coming quicker but he did his best to control it; every breath he took brought him the scent of her arousal. Blood was leaving his brain and heading straight for his cock. He thought about American baseball. He thought about Australian rugby. He thought about football. Hell, he thought about American football. It worked enough to let her continue.

  Mac sucked in a gasp at the sight of him. He had a long, lean torso with well defined but not huge muscles; he looked like a martial artist, not a body builder. There was strength in his arms and shoulders. One of the small, flat nipples was bisected by an angled four inch scar. Another scar swept around his ribs on the left side from his armpit to his diaphragm. There were other, smaller scars but that was the one that caught her attention. She stroked it with her fingers and looked from his chest to his eyes, pleased to see that they were dark with arousal.

  “Who did this to you?” She looked concerned and angry.

  Her fingertip, a little rough with callous from her work, felt like satin to him. “It was during a fight with a Vampire in the control of the old bats we helped Anna dispatch.”

  “I heard about that fight,” she murmured. Suddenly she was overwhelmed with the urge to kiss him. Mac cupped his face in her hands and leaned forward. She brushed her lips back and forth over his and was pleased when his hands came up to touch her then dropped back down. He tasted like pizza and wine and…she sighed happily as she licked his lips and he opened for her. She swept her tongue into his mouth. He tasted like the wild and something indefinable. Dark and smoky. She couldn’t resist it and scooted her body closer as she deepened the kiss.

  Doug groaned. Every time she stroked his tongue with hers he lost a little more control. He tried not to touch her but in the end he couldn’t help it. He stroked her calves up and down, up and down with his palms.

  Mac broke the kiss as the petting on her calves made her body light up. She nibbled along his jaw line, pleased whe
n he tipped his head back; she nipped at his earlobe then scraped her teeth down the column of his neck. She shifted to her knees at his feet and pushed his knees apart before she leaned forward. First she licked the scar that bisected his nipple and swirled the tip of her tongue over the little nub of sensitive flesh there, gratified when he swallowed hard. She moved her mouth to the long scar. She placed soft kisses up the length of it.

  The nerves along the scar had been sensitive ever since his body had healed itself with Anna’s boost and when Mac pressed her mouth to it, fire raced over his flesh. Doug gasped and lifted one hand to her head. He dropped it again the second she stopped.

  Mac lifted her eyes to his and grinned. “Good puppy.”

  He growled at her in mock anger then chuckled briefly before he sobered. “I want to touch you, Mac. Please.” His cock had jerked to attention the moment she’d pressed her chest to him to move her mouth over his neck and his entire body was raging to stake its claim on her.

  “Soon.” She lowered her mouth to his abs. “Maybe.” She nibbled on the lightly defined ridges and worked her way down to the low slung jeans he wore. Mac chewed on her lip for a moment as she stared at the bulge that was straining against the jeans. Mentally she slapped herself. She was perfectly safe, she wasn’t in heat and she trusted him. She loved him. She knew that as well as she knew her mother had loved her.

  Doug watched her, forcing his body to stay relaxed. He didn’t so much as twitch as he waited for her decision. As her long, delicate looking fingers began to undo his belt he gripped the couch cushions in an iron grip and let his head fall back.

  Mac grinned again, suddenly confident in everything she was about to do. He wanted her; there was no doubt about that. She pulled the strip of leather from the buckle then popped the button and began to pull the zipper down. And she stopped.