Shaken, he quietly turned off the light switch and backed out of the bedroom. He closed the door without making a sound and headed for his bedroom. Reaching it quickly, he strode across the room and into his private bathroom, turned on the shower and stripped naked. Ducking under the full force of the blasting shower head, he let the spray wash over his head and down his body as he forced his gripping fist up and down his rock-hard dick.
His rough handling triggered his release. Hot fluid spurted and flowed over his hand as he held his pumping cock. His body convulsed and he growled long and low in his throat, the image of Cheryl in the throes of climax, her thighs spread wide, her long legs wrapped around his hips, gripping him tight as he emptied himself inside her slick, hot passage.
At last his body quieted as he dropped from the heights of his orgasm, and the vivid image of her faded. He released his cock and showered quickly. He knew the reality of having sex with her would be incredible.
He toweled off and fell into bed, exhausted. Morning would come soon. Being around Cheryl at the dance hall was going to be pure torture.
* * * *
Austin told himself to wake up, but the dream held him in its terrifying grip. A huge beast bullied and taunted him, threatening to drag Cheryl away from him. “No!” He yelled at the monster that he couldn’t do that. Austin wouldn’t let him. The bully grinned evilly at him and gripped her by the arm. She stared in fright at Austin as the beast began to make off with her, dragging her at his side as he held tight to her. “Cheryl!” Austin yelled.
“Austin! Help me!”
He raced after them but he couldn’t catch up. “Let her go!”
“Austin!” Cheryl cried his name again. She screamed as the bully dragged her farther away.
“No,” Austin shouted, and woke up, his voice an echo in his ears. Breathing hard and fast he caught his breath slowly and realized it was just a dream, a bad dream, similar to the nightmares he had once in a while. But this time Cheryl had been the one in trouble, and he hadn’t been able to help her. Why?
Why was he dreaming that Cheryl was the one in trouble this time? God, no. He had to be able to keep her safe. He flopped back onto the bed and remembered her being surrounded earlier that night by that damn pack of shifters. He’d saved her tonight. She’d be all right. He’d be able to keep her safe.
He needed to check on her and make sure she slept okay. He rolled out of bed and went out into the hallway. Rex came out his bedroom door. “I have to check on Cheryl.”
“Another bad dream?” Rex asked.
“Yeah. I just need to check on her.” Austin rubbed one hand over his face and through his hair.
“I’ll go with you.” Rex joined him.
Austin carefully opened her bedroom door so he wouldn’t disturb her. Moonlight shone through the thin curtains covering the glass door to the patio. There was enough pale light for him to see that she was stretched out on her back in bed sound asleep. She didn’t move, but he could see that her face was turned toward the door to the patio, one hand on the pillow beside her head, and her other hand resting on her thigh. He couldn’t keep from staring at how lovely she was, her body all graceful curves, her hair touching her face and fanning out over the pillow. Her legs were spread and the leg her hand rested on was bent at the knee and open to reveal her sweet thighs and the soft flesh between them that wasn’t covered by that little strip of a bikini panty. His cock rose and swelled. He almost groaned with hunger for her.
He turned away and noticed from the light reflecting in Rex’s gaze that he saw everything Austin saw. Rex turned away and walked back into the hall while Austin followed and closed the door without a sound. “She looks like she’s sleeping soundly,” Austin said quietly, his voice rasping.
Rex nodded in agreement. “It’ll be time to get up soon. Best get some more sleep while we can.”
Austin wondered just exactly what Rex meant by that remark. He had a feeling he knew. “It’s proving hard to sleep tonight, and I doubt that will change anytime soon.”
“No kiddin’,” Rex whispered and headed toward his bedroom.
Austin slipped quietly into his bedroom just as Rex did, and flopped on his bed thinking of Cheryl and her luscious body. He had a feeling he’d be suffering never-ending erections with Cheryl nearby.
When sleep didn’t come, he left his bed and headed for the bathroom and a cold shower. He gripped his hardened cock in his fist. He’d make up lost sleep another night. He turned the water on full force and let it run down his overheated body as his closed fist moved up and down his cock. The cleft of his ass contracted with his impending climax. He imagined Cheryl gripping his cock, squeezing him and moving her soft fist up and down his length. Ejaculate erupted, spurting in streams as he climaxed. His body bucked with the hard contractions.
He leaned against the cool tile wall as he came down from his orgasm. He wanted to make love to her.
* * * *
Cheryl headed for the kitchen and some breakfast. She heard the voices of Austin and Rex already there. She must look a wreck. She hadn’t taken time to dry or curl her hair because all her things were in her car. The best she’d been able to do was shower and run a comb she found in a drawer in the bathroom through her hair, and then dress in the clothes she’d worn yesterday. She definitely needed her clean clothing before she started work today.
“Morning,” she said and smiled at the two handsome guys as they turned toward her.
“Morning,” they said together.
She grinned at them, thinking that there was probably a lot of answering together from those two. Something smelled yummy. “What’s cookin’?”
“We usually eat a hearty breakfast to keep us going long hours at the dance hall. It’s crowded for lunch and people trickle in all day long for a meal.” Rex grinned at her. “There’s bacon, scrambled eggs, and pancakes for breakfast today. What’s your pleasure?”
“Wow, it all sounds great. I’ll have a little of everything.” She was hungry as usual in the mornings.
“Come have a seat with us,” Austin said and pulled out the stool next to him at the bar.
She joined him and he held the stool steady while she made herself comfortable.
He pointed at her school ring. “I couldn’t help noticing the ring. So, you’re a graduate of South Texas State?”
“Yes. I lived and worked there while I continued my education for a master’s degree in business. I’d stopped classes, and I worked full time for a semester in order to pay my bills. My parents had offered to pay for my college classes, but I wanted to do it on my own. I guess my pride got in the way. When the bar owner fired me the other night for not performing for his customers, I decided it was time to get out of town for a while.”
“Any particular reason you picked business for your major?” Austin asked.
She inhaled the aroma of the plate of steaming food Rex placed in front of her. “My parents thought business was the best college plan for me, and sort of insisted I follow that course of study so that I’d be able to live the same kind of life they’ve enjoyed.”
“What kind of life is that?” Rex asked.
“It’s the good life, with enough money to enable them to travel when they want to and live where they want in big comfortable homes,” she explained.
“They’re not living in Texas where you were going to school?” Austin passed her some syrup for her pancakes.
“No. They’re presently out of the country and living in the south of France where they recently bought a home. All their time is taken up with re-doing the old place. It’s a beautiful old home, and my mom loves to re-do the homes they buy. Dad hires people to handle whatever rebuilding is needed, and sees to the landscaping while Mom plans the interior decorating.”
“What did they think about you leaving college?” Rex asked.
“They don’t know. I’m sort of embarrassed to tell them that I don’t have the ability yet to make the money I need to continue my s
tudies. I wanted to major in a course of study that would teach me how to help less fortunate people to improve their lives. I hate to admit to my parents that my plans are not working out right now. I think there are better ways to use money than to travel the world buying and redoing houses. There are too many people out there who could use some help. But my parents believe what they did was the right and best thing, and that I should plan my life to live in the same way. I want to live my life the way I want to, not the way they want me to. I’m determined to achieve my dreams of helping others. But the way things look now, I may have to ask my parents for money. I hate to do that.”
“Your parents probably give money to lots of charities, and don’t talk about it,” Austin said.
“Maybe,” she said. “But if they do, they’re so quiet and private about it that they haven’t told me. I wanted to work and make money to put toward my plans, but after the other night I’m not sure I have what it takes anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Rex asked. “What do you need that you don’t have?”
“The courage to get up in front of crowds of people. The bar owner wanted me to entertain the crowd the other night, and when I got up to sing in front of the packed house, I froze. I couldn’t sing one note. The crowd jeered. The bar owner was furious with me and fired me. Now, after feeling that fear in front of that crowd, I don’t know if I have what it takes to really make a difference in other lives. How will I be able to talk to groups of people when I need to ask for monetary support for programs that will help people in need?”
“You can work for us as long as you like, and we promise we won’t fire you,” Austin said. “We can help you achieve those goals.” He smiled at her.
She looked up at Rex to see if they were kidding, and the look on Rex’s face was as serious as the look of assurance on Austin’s.
“How?” she asked. “I don’t know how much money will be needed, and I may need monetary help from lots of people.”
Chapter Four
Austin smiled at her. “Don’t worry. We already help people with dreams like yours, and we’d like to help you.”
“Darn right,” Rex agreed.
“My goodness. Thank you. I don’t even have plans set up yet, though.”
“When you do,” Rex said, “let us know, and if you need any money at all, we’ll help you out.”
Their generosity amazed her. “Thank you so much. I’ll work hard at your place of business to help you.”
They both grinned at her.
“We’re happy to have you help us,” Rex said. “Can I refill your plate?”
She’d eaten every bit of food on her plate. “Oh, no. I’m fine, thanks. It was delicious.” She heard the sound of a couple of cars drive up out in front of their house.
“That’s probably Ren and Chuck.” Austin headed for the front door. “I’ll take care of it. You all finish your breakfast.”
She started to go with him, but Rex waved her off. “Austin will handle it. You just relax and sit a while. We’ll head down to the dance hall in a little while after we’re all ready.”
“Okay.” She took her seat on the stool again and sipped her orange juice. She was amazed by their generosity and help.
“Can I get you some coffee?” Rex asked.
“Yes, thanks.”
The remainder of the morning was spent at the dance hall. Rex explained how things worked behind the bar where he cooked up the meals with the help of a few people hired for that talent. Rex showed her where to find things for setting the tables.
Cheryl walked around the building outside to check out the surrounding landscape. In the middle of the back fence at the edge of their property a cat came out from some brush and started meowing at her. The cat looked healthy, as if someone took good care of it. It didn’t act like a feral cat. “Where did you come from?” Cheryl petted the calico for a little while and decided she’d better get back to the dance hall before they noticed she wasn’t there.
The cat followed her, meowing for attention, and soon Cheryl had a whole group of cats following her. She decided to go in the back door instead of the front door. She hadn’t noticed before, but there along the back of the building were at least ten bowls of food and water for the cats, and maybe whatever other animals needed food or water. She smiled to think that Austin and Rex took care of all these cats.
She headed back inside. Everyone was really busy preparing for lunch. She’d have to ask Rex and Austin about the cats later.
People began to come in around eleven-thirty. Business was brisk through the lunch hour and after one-thirty began to slow down. Most of the patrons had left by two p.m.
After the long hours Cheryl had spent at her previous job, the work at Rex and Austin’s place was easy in comparison.
A young woman about Cheryl’s age who had long, straight blonde hair, came into the dining area and sat down with a couple of cowboys at a table. Cheryl hadn’t missed the championship rodeo buckles both of those tall, good-looking guys wore. She headed to their table to take their order for drinks and a meal.
The two guys said they’d pick up their drinks at the bar. Since neither Rex nor Austin had told her to serve liquor, or beer, she stayed at their table and asked the girl what she’d like.
After she gave Cheryl her order, she said, “I’m Lacy, Austin’s sister.”
Cheryl was surprised to hear that since Austin hadn’t come over to their table to say hello. “Hi, I’m Cheryl. I’m new in town and I just started working here today.”
“Welcome to Heat Springs.” Lacy smiled at her. “Are you working here between semesters?”
“Sort of,” Cheryl hedged. “I drove here last night when the bad-tempered owner of the bar, which I worked in near my college, fired me.”
“Fired you! Why in hell would he do that?” Lacy looked as surprised and shocked as she sounded.
Cheryl didn’t think it would hurt to tell her. She was Austin’s sister, she’d said. “He wanted me to sing and entertain the crowd the other night. The truth is that I’m not a trained singer.” Cheryl smiled at Lacy, who nodded her understanding. “I’m a business major. When I stood in front of that rowdy crowd, my throat closed up and I couldn’t sing one note. When I left his little stage and told him I was sorry but I couldn’t sing, he fired me on the spot. The crowd jeered me, so that didn’t help.”
“How awful. Some people can be so mean and disgusting. So how did you happen to stop here?”
“My car ran out of gas just outside of town. It was dark, but I started walking toward town. Some wild animals started fighting around me, and I fainted.” She shrugged. “I’ve never done that before. When I came to, I was sitting on the couch in the office and Austin was there with me. One question led to another and Austin and Rex offered me this job and a place to stay.”
“That’s just like Austin and Rex. They’re both good guys, although my brother can be a pain at times.”
Cheryl grinned at the sisterly opinion of Austin. “They’ve both been great, so far.”
“What’s your major?” Lacy asked.
“I majored in both Business and Sociology. I’ve been working on my master’s in Sociology. I want to do something to help others. But since the other night when I got stage fright, I’m beginning to wonder if I can actually help the needy like I want to. What are you studying?”
“Nothing in particular. I’m going for a master’s in English Lit. I may change my mind. I haven’t decided what I want to do, really. Sounds like you have a good goal. How do you plan to help people?”
“I’d hoped to raise enough money to establish a home for street kids. But after having stage fright, I don’t know if I have what it takes to talk people into helping me bank roll a project as big as that would be.”
Lacy shook her head emphatically. “Have you seen the muscle cars people, including my brother, drive in this town? I don’t think it will be as hard as you think. Have you mentioned this to Austin and Rex?”
>
Cheryl nodded. “I told them a little about what I hope to do.”
“Did they mention that they donate lots of money to help people?”
“Yes,” Cheryl said. “They did mention helping with donations.”
Lacy smiled at her. “Austin and Rex love to donate to worthy causes.”
Cheryl shook her head. “I don’t feel right about asking them. They’ve already done so much to help me by giving me a job here and letting me stay at their place.”
Lacy pursed her lips. “I’ll have a talk with them. I’ll let you know what they say so you won’t feel embarrassed discussing it with them.”
Cheryl waved her hand in protest. “I hate to put you to so much trouble.” Cheryl worried she’d overstep her welcome with Austin and Rex.
“No trouble at all. I’m pretty sure they’ll be real happy to help you. Don’t worry.”
“Well, all right.” Cheryl noticed the two good-looking guys Lacy had come in with were on their way back with one tray full of beer bottles and glasses and another with a huge plate mounded with nachos.
“Cheryl, I’d like you to meet my good friends, Trey Farley and Derek Adams.”
They both tipped their hats to her.
“This is Cheryl…I’m sorry, I didn’t get your last name,” Lacy said.
“Cheryl McQueen. Good to meet you,” she said, and shook hands with them. Both had callused hands indicating that they were hard workers. She saw a hint of sandy-colored hair under Trey’s hat rim, and it looked like Derek had dark hair. She wondered if Lacy was serious about one of them. They all three acted completely at ease with each other as they munched on the nachos. Maybe they attended the same college. “Did you meet at college?”
Lacy smiled. “No, were long-time hometown friends. We’ve known each other all the way through school here in Heat Springs. We decided to attend the same college for fun. Derek and Trey have graduated but I have another year at least.”
“We’re taking extra courses in landscape design and horticulture,” Trey said.
Alpha Night [Alpha Protectors 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 3
