by E A Price
Jackson snored lightly and she couldn’t help herself. She placed her hands on the taut muscles of his impressive chest. Damn he was fine. She trailed her fingers down his body and noticed that his manhood was already standing to attention. And he was a machine too.
Carly could get used to waking up in the arms of the handsome wolf. Her fox yapped in agreement and yet... a small niggle of doubt assailed her. What did the future hold for them? Sure they’d had sex, fantastic sex, but that had just been to sate their desires. But actually having a relationship, living together, getting married, having cubs (or pups)... the future was pretty daunting.
Would Jackson want something long term? She was the type of person who couldn’t separate sex from love; they went hand in hand for her. But she doubted it was the same for her lovely wolf. When this whole mess is finally sorted out would he stick around? He said he wanted to be more than friends. The thought of not being with him was like a giant stab to her heart, her fox mewled pitifully.
On the other hand she might yet be killed by one of those private security goons. She might be worrying about her future for no good reason. She may not even have one! Yep, there was always a bright side...
Sighing she found one of Ling’s spare robes and silently made her way to Ling’s bedroom. Tapping on the door insistently she waited until she heard a muffled ‘yeah’ and let herself in, quietly shutting the door behind her.
“Ling!” She hissed.
The panda was sprawled in the middle of her king size bed with a pillow held down over her head. Carly hadn’t heard her friend come back so she assumed it had been pretty late last night, or more likely pretty early that morning.
“What?” The little panda groaned.
Carly sat on the edge of the bed. “I had sex with Jackson last night and we didn’t use protection.”
Ling immediately sat up. Bleary eyed she tried to focus on Carly. Knew that would get her attention.
Ling smiled knowingly. “Oh yes? Too caught up in the moment to even reach for a condom hmmmm?”
Carly was usually the responsible one giving Ling lectures on practicing safe sex. It was pleasing for Ling that the tables had now turned.
Carly raked her fingers through her messy crop of hair. “Please no lectures and no ‘I told you sos’. I already feel stupid enough as it is.”
Ling huffed. She really wanted to rub her friend’s nose in this but she wasn’t cruel, she could see the fox was already beating herself up over it. “Fine!” She said grudgingly. “But I get to bring this up and throw it back in your face whenever we next argue. Deal?”
“Sure.”
Ling clambered out of bed and went to her dressing table. She pulled out a small pink box and handed it to Carly. “Morning after pills. You can have them. I don’t need them right now.”
Carly raised her eyebrows as she eagerly swallowed one down. Ling folded her arms. “I’m on the pill anyway but my current guy’s had the snip. But enough about me how was it?” Ling jumped on the bed, eyes flashing with interest. “I’ve heard that wolves make ferocious lovers.” And she already knew that Jackson was a very fine specimen.
Yes, Carly could attest to the truth in that. She giggled girlishly as her cheeks reddened.
Ling smirked. “That good huh?”
“And then some.” Admitted the fox.
“Damn I got to get me a wolf.” Muttered Ling.
“What about the guy you’re seeing? Aren’t things going well?”
Ling had thought so until last night when he told her he was going away to Europe for three months. He was adamant that he didn’t want Ling to come with him or visit. Fucking gorilla. “In a word no. But I’m more interested in you, it’s about time you found a hot, sexy guy to worship you.”
Ling had dated prolifically but Carly had always been a little reticent about men and sex. Instead of putting herself forward Carly had instead settled for safe, boring men. She deserved an exciting guy like Jackson.
Carly faltered. She wanted nothing more than to be with Jackson, but she still suspected he was only interested in a short term tryst. Her fox yapped in disapproval. Would he really be investing so much time in keeping her alive if he didn’t care? Maybe he was a Good Samaritan, although as much as she loved him she doubted that. Crap, she loved him!
Ling snickered before yawning. “Come on, I’m awake now let’s get some breakfast.”
The two friends were happily munching on some toast when in strode Jackson, hair ruffled from sleep and a towel precariously wrapped round his lower body. Ling’s face lit up like a Christmas tree at seeing his delectable body on display. Carly issued a throaty warning growl and went to stand next to Jackson, placing a hand on his arm. Mine.
Jackson grinned before giving her a toe curling kiss and squeezing her ass. Carly reddened as she felt his manhood straining against his towel.
He looked at Carly curiously. Last night right before she fell asleep she told him she loved him. It delighted both him and his wolf no end. He wondered if she remembered saying it, she had been pretty tired and in her post coital bliss she might have said anything. Judging by her lack of embarrassment he guessed she didn’t remember. Perhaps if he gave her a few more orgasms she’d say it again.
Jackson sat down heavily at the kitchen table settling Carly onto his lap. He grunted at Ling who pursed her lips at him.
“Sleep well?” Asked Ling sweetly.
“Fantastic.” Said Jackson smugly.
Carly curled her fingers into his chest hair and leaned her head against his. She frowned. As much as she would love to stay at Ling’s house all day, lazing in the luxurious guest bed and making love with Jackson they did actually have more pressing matters. “What are we going to do now? Any other evidence that might have been in Carlton’s house is long gone.”
Jackson stroked her cheek. Ling sighed in jealousy.
“We’re just going to have to go straight to the source.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jackson considered going to Detective Leeman with the e-mails but he doubted it would do any good. The top brass at Ryntech would argue that the drug had a clean bill of health and that Carlton was trying to stir up trouble over nothing.
Although the e-mails would be helpful they weren’t solid evidence that Ryntech had murdered Carlton or framed Carly. They needed real proof.
After retrieving Logan’s SUV they spent all day planning their next step. Thankfully Ling was about the same size as Carly and her boyfriend had left some clothes at her house so at least they were clothed.
They needed to get into Ryntech. It wasn’t Fort Knox but they weren’t exactly cat burglars either, and Carly doubted that throwing a rock through the window would work a second time. The more she thought about breaking into Ryntech the more nervous she became.
Carly suggested that they try and talk to one of her former colleagues instead, who could perhaps shed some light on the problem with Erectoplus. But given that they had actually made false statements incriminating her Jackson refused to trust any of them.
Carly then suggested that they just make an anonymous tip off to the FDA that there’s a problem with the drug. Again he kyboshed that idea. He said it would take too long and she was in danger now.
Ultimately if there really was a serious problem with the drug the only place they would find proof was at Ryntech. Carly voted again for running away to Mexico but was quashed by a stern growl from the wolf.
Now stood outside Ryntech her nerves were stretched to the limit and her fox was whining miserably. She clenched and unclenched her fists. She had worried all day about what they were planning on doing but now she was here she felt a steely resolve to see this through. She was nervous as hell but it wasn’t actually her who was having second thoughts.
Jackson folded his herculean arms and huffed. Again. “This is a bad idea.”
Carly rolled her eyes in response. Again. “You’re the one who insisted we come to Ryntech. You said it was the on
ly way.”
“I still think that, I just don’t like this plan.” He grouched, eyes narrowing to slits.
“Well we can’t exactly sneak in, neither one of us is the pink panther...”
“What?!” Confusion suffused his handsome face.
Carly rolled her hand in the air. “We’re not the pink panther, you know, the jewel thief.”
Jackson shook his head. “No the pink panther was the jewel.”
She paused. “Then what was the thief called?”
“The phantom.”
Carly pouted. Know it all, she should have just said Spiderman. “Huh. You know I always thought it was the pink panther. But then I only ever saw the movie once and I fell asleep somewhere in the middle.”
“Well it was the phantom, the pink panther was just the name of the diamond because...”
She clicked her fingers impatiently wanting the inane conversation to end. “It’s not important! We’re getting off track. My point was that we’re not exactly master thieves. We’re not going to get into the building unless we go in through the front door, and the only way we get in is past the security guards. Ergo my plan is the only one we have.”
Jackson snorted crossly. They agonized for hours about how to get in. Jackson had suggested just driving Logan’s SUV straight through the front doors, and then in the commotion they could slip into the building.
Carly told him to put a pin in that plan. Shyly she admitted that one of the night guards had an iddy biddy crush on her. Noah was a 19 year old white fox who became tongue tied at just the sight of her. She suggested that she flirt with him and then get him to allow her access on the ruse that she wanted to get her belongings. She felt certain that Noah would let her in.
Jackson hated that plan and his wolf vociferously agreed. The thought of his fox looking at another man was insufferable, but flirting with another man... no, that was absolutely forbidden.
They argued for a couple more hours until eventually Jackson uncharacteristically gave in. He had a hard time saying no to her. But it was on the proviso that Jackson came with her. They would wait until Noah went on duty and then they would go to Ryntech and Carly would charm him, within reason Jackson grumbled, and they would both go to her desk to ostensibly collect her stuff.
Carly argued that it would go better with Noah if she were on her own; she doubted the white fox would take too kindly to the imposing wolf glowering at him, but Jackson absolutely dug in his heels. She was not going in alone. She tried batting her eyes, stroking his bicep and stroking another part of his anatomy but he just gritted his teeth and refused to budge.
Ling was thoroughly annoyed at not having an active role in the plan. Whilst Carly was reticent Ling was gung ho! Both Jackson and Ling would have been happy for the little panda to go in Carly’s place. He would have preferred to chain Carly to the bed to make sure she was completely safe, plus he could think of a few other fun things that might lead to. But Carly had pointed out that only she could get past the guards. His wolf hated the idea of leading their luscious fox into trouble but she already was in trouble, and this was the best plan they had.
Instead Ling had been left at home with the flashdrive and strict instructions to call Detective Leeman if they weren’t home by midnight. The panda had hugged Carly fiercely before they left and told the wolf that he damned well better take care of her. Carly was like the sister she always wanted, instead of the sister she actually had...
Carly breathed in and out slowly, pointedly ignoring the scowling wolf. It was now or never.
“Come on, Noah should be at the front desk by now.”
Without waiting for an answer Carly skittered across the road. Jackson effortlessly caught up. She had to trot to keep up with his confident strides.
Carly reached for the front door but Jackson swiftly yanked it open ushering her inside. He really was a gentleman... on occasion. She noticed Noah jumping to his feet and waved her hand at Jackson to hang back as she walked towards the white fox.
Noah was an adorable looking young man. At first glance he seemed about 13 but if you looked more closely you would notice the tight sinewy muscles hidden under the polyester uniform, but whenever Carly saw him she just thought of him as a little boy playing dress up with his daddy’s wardrobe.
“Carly!” Noah beamed before frowning in concern. “It’s so good to see you. Are you okay?”
She smiled at him, he was such a sweet boy it wasn’t hard to be happy to see him. Jackson’s wolf snarled at seeing their fox making eyes at another man. Jealousy surged through him.
Noah’s eyes widened when he noticed Jackson looming behind her. Carly quickly pressed him into a warm hug; the white fox practically cooed whilst the wolf seethed, trembling with the effort of containing his beast.
Noah tried to hide his disappointment as she released him. “It’s so good to see a friendly face.” She told him demurely, fluttering her eyelashes.
Jackson was particularly alarmed at how proficient Carly was at flirting. Yes she had tried to manipulate him with playful gestures, but they both knew what she was doing and she hadn’t even tried to be subtle. But her behavior with this other male... it was distressing. He wondered how many other men she had flirted with... would it be reasonable to hunt them all down?
Carly bit her plump bottom lip and sighed exaggeratedly. “I guess you heard about me and Carlton...”
Noah sucked in a breath before nodding uncomfortably.
She held his hand and rubbed her thumb over his knuckles. “I didn’t do it. I swear.”
Noah visibly relaxed. “I never thought you did. I keep telling people that you’re not like that but they won’t believe me, they said you and Carlton...erm...” Red dusted his cheeks.
Carly shook her head. “It doesn’t matter what other people think. I’m just glad you believe me. I knew I could count on you.”
Carly gave him a charming yet sexy little smile. Noah gulped as he started sweating. He had a thing for curvy older women, stemming from his obsession with his Italian teacher when he was 15. Signora Allegri wore tight skirts, low cut tops and bent over... a lot.
His arousal always grew whenever the pretty red fox was around but feeling her body crushed against his sent him soaring. If it weren’t for the murderous looks currently being leveled at him by the hostile wolf he might actually have worked up the courage to ask her out.
“Who... who’s this?” Stammered Noah nodding to the irate looking wolf.
Carly hesitated for a second. “Oh him he’s... my cousin... twice removed. He’s practically a brother to me.”
Jackson grunted at the white fox who gave him a watery smile in return.
“Listen Noah I don’t want to put you in an awkward position...” She paused to let his mind leap to a few x-rated scenarios. “But I’d really like to get my stuff from my desk. I didn’t dare come during the day but I knew I could trust you.”
Carly’s eyes flickered to the orange of her fox and he almost moaned. When it came to women he didn’t care about species but in his heart he knew he preferred vixens.
“I’m really not supposed to...”
She squeezed his hand as she heard a faint growl emanate from Jackson. Her own beast was none too happy about her flirting either, she had been yapping away crossly through the whole exchange. The fox wanted Carly to wrap herself around Jackson and show the white fox she belonged to the wolf. Mine.
“Please. I just want to get my stuff; you won’t know I’m here.” She gave him her most appealing puppy dog eyes and he was gone.
Noah visibly sagged. “Alright, you’ve got ten minutes.”
“We’ll be in and out before you know it...”
The white fox shook his head fiercely. “Just you Carly. I can’t allow anyone who doesn’t work here in. I could lose my job.”
Jackson stepped forward menacingly. The muscles in his jaw ticked as he forced himself to keep control. His wolf was dying to be let out. “I need to go in there w
ith her.”
Carly put a soothing hand on Jackson’s arm. “I’ll be fine. Thanks Noah.”
She gave the white fox a kiss on the cheek and flitted off before Jackson could object. Vaguely she heard their heated voices arguing as she got in the elevator. She prayed Jackson wasn’t giving Noah a hard time, he was such a sweetie.
Getting off on her floor Carly quietly made her way to her old desk. Her new phone vibrated in her pocket and she fumbled getting it out and answering it. She knew who it was. The only person who had the number.
She pressed answer and was met with the irritated voice of the wolf. “Where are you? What took you so long to answer? Are you okay? Should I come in? I’ll come in, just give me a few minutes to knock out the guard.”
“No!” She cried as loudly as she dared. “I’m fine, I’m at my desk. I’m just turning on my computer.”
“Well stay on the line, I want to hear everything.” Jackson grumbled unhappily.
Carly was fortunate that she had memorized her boss Joanne’s login. Joanne was a tad forgetful; or rather she hit the bottle too hard, and rarely remembered her username and password. So Carly had taken to memorizing it for her. By now she figured her own username/password had been disabled, but she could get on the network by ‘borrowing’ Joanne’s.
Jackson huffed into the phone. “What’s happening now?”
Carly harrumphed in return. “The computer’s still loading... still loading... still loading, right now I’m entering the username and password... now it’s loading again... alright we’re finally in.”
“Now what? Talk to me foxy!” Every second they were apart Jackson became more and more antsy.
“Cool your jets wolfy. I’m looking for the files on the drug.” She tapped her fingers on the desk. “Now I’m frowning.”
“I’m rolling my eyes. Why are you frowning?”
Carly snorted. “Because everything looks normal, at least as far as I can tell.”
