Her patience in regard to his lack of speech was amazing to her. “Good. Maybe you’ll brave the dance floor with me this time?”
Thane wrinkled his nose and gave a single shake of his head before returning to his spicing task. No way.
“How about letting me try and talk you into it? That could be fun.” She slid her hand under his shirt, and tickled the small of his back. His skin flinched, but a grin appeared on his face. “I predict there could be a lot of kissing involved.”
Okay, his nod said, before he turned and bent his head to deposit a kiss on her lips.
“Those two are an odd couple,” Lucas muttered, watching Morgan and Thane step into the elevator. Once the door closed, he added, “Morgan the Mouth and her sidekick, the Silent Giant.”
Brian chuckled. “How do you know he’s the sidekick?”
“Because it’s Thane. He’s been Cal’s sidekick since he was well enough to be around people.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s switched to being her sidekick. She looks to him, not the other way around.”
Lucas shook his head. “Are we talking about the same woman? Because she’s clearly leading Thane around by his pecker. Haven’t you seen the way he looks at her? And he’s always looking at her.”
“Why are you in charge again? Because you’re dense as hell.” Brian ducked the casual swat the other aimed at him. “Just because Thane seldom talks, that doesn’t mean he’s an idiot. He’s the leader, because he’s smart enough to give Morgan exactly what she needs, when she needs it. Approval, comfort, space, whatever’s called for.”
“Sometimes I wonder about you. Thane’s not devious. Morgan is. He’s pussy whipped, probably thinks he’s in love, and that she loves him.” Lucas frowned as they reached the elevator, and paused before pushing the call button. “But she’s playing him. Which means sooner or later, we’re going to have a mess to clean up.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re a pessimistic douchebag? Because you are. Why would Morgan be playing Thane?”
Lucas shrugged. “Haven’t figured that out yet. All I know is, she’s a hard case and Jana still flinches every time she hears Morgan’s name. And you didn’t see her go after the boss.”
“She was newly Awakened, and Cal screwed things up with her. He said so himself. It’s been a few weeks. Morgan’s adjusted well in that amount of time. Thane’s a big reason she has.” Brian smiled. “Maybe you can’t see it, but Thane’s more confident. Having someone depend on him has been really good for him.”
“She no more depends on him than I do on my dead Aunt Betty.”
“You’re wrong.”
“You wish.” The two entered the elevator.
“I’ll put my money where my mouth is. Two hundred says they’re solid.”
Lucas looked at him and laughed. “You’re on, but I’m curious how you’re going to prove it.”
“I’ll think of something,” Brian said. “Give me a little time.”
Cal finished dressing and left his suite, only to discover Morgan and Thane ensconced at the end of the bar. Worse, they both saw him at the same time, preventing escape. Well, shit. At least she looked happy right before she saw me.
Plastering a smile on his face, he walked behind the bar to greet them. “Hello, Thane. Morgan, you’re looking well.”
She smiled, and it looked friendly enough for Cal to begin to relax. Then she spoke in a sugary tone. “Cal. Eat a bag of dicks, you son of a bitch.”
Okay, she’s still pissed at me. The woman can hold a grudge. “Fascinating suggestion, darlin’, but I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. Not a fan of the D.”
Morgan leaned toward him and crooked her finger. Against his better judgment, Cal leaned close enough for her to bite him. “If you call me darlin’ one more time, you’re going to become a fan of your own cock, because I’ll rip it off and shove it up your ass.”
He carefully backed away. “Got it.”
“Good.” She shot a quick glance at Thane’s face, and Cal did the same. The were-liger scowled at her. Morgan straightened. “He’s a dick.”
Thane’s lips flattened, and some serious eye contact passed between them. Cal watched, his eyebrows rising, as he realized he was no longer the reigning master of Thane Interpretation. She’s learned to communicate with him that well in three goddamned weeks? It took me months.
“No, I am not going to apologize to him.” She was scowling back. Thane lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes at her. “I don’t give a fuck who he is. Not doing it.”
Moving with deliberate slowness, the were-liger turned around on his bar stool until his back was to them. Cal fought laughter. Thane’s version of the Silent Treatment had never failed to amuse him. Morgan was not amused, her eyes flashing bright green and gold as she caught him smiling. “You’re like a bad luck charm, Calhoun. Every single fucking time I’m anywhere near you, my life goes to shit. Thanks.”
His smile faded as her voice cracked on the last word, and sheen of moisture appeared in her eyes. I guess my plan worked. They’re attached. “Morgan, we should talk. Privately. Let’s go upstairs and do that.”
She was shaking her head before he finished. “I’m not going anywhere alone with you.”
Thane had turned back around and touched her shoulder. She refused to look at him. Cal suppressed a sigh. Here I go, screwing things up with her again. “Thane’s welcome to join us. I’ll grab a bottle and some glasses, meet you two up there. Okay?”
She didn’t answer, her eyes lowered to the bar top, but Thane nodded. Cal left, walking down to find a bottle of Turf Mór. After he’d found one, and collected three glasses, he turned back to see their bar stools were empty. Either they’d left, or Thane had gotten Morgan upstairs.
He headed for the stairs. I have no idea what to say to her. It’s not my fault? But that’s bullshit, because it is my fault. I’m the Wolf Fount. She wouldn’t be a Were if not for me.
The door of his suite was open and Cal walked in. Morgan was standing at the windows, her arms crossed and body stiff. Thane stood a few feet away, his expression unreadable as he watched her. Shutting the door, Cal crossed to the coffee table and put everything down before opening the bottle. He began to pour. “I’m sorry you’re unhappy. It’s always a shock to discover you’re not who and what you’ve always thought you were.”
“You’re an asshole and an idiot. I’m not unhappy. In fact, I think I’m really going to love being a Were.”
Okay, wasn’t expecting that. Regroup, Calhoun. He finished pouring the whiskey. “Drinks are ready.”
Thane moved, taking two of the glasses, and carried one to her. Morgan accepted it without looking at him. Cal sat down on the couch. “All right. I guess the next thing I should apologize for is being a screw up when it came to your first change.”
“I jumped your nephew.”
“Yeah, and that was instinct. I know our instincts.”
Morgan changed the subject before he could say anything else. “How many women down there have you fucked, Cal? What about the women at headquarters? Fucked all of them?”
Thane slowly backed away from her, retreating to the corner of the room. He gave Cal a flat, unfriendly look, the first ever. The were-liger’s reaction to her questions told Cal that he was in deep shit with both of them at the moment, and the hell of it was, Cal couldn’t figure out why.
“I thought this was a subject we’d agreed not to bring up again.”
“At least I was honest. I told you I’d turned tricks for years.”
“You did,” Cal cautiously replied. “I’m not sure why...”
“You know all about me. Got my criminal history, probably my credit report too. You run a massive operation, so you can’t be as stupid as you’re acting right now.” Morgan finally turned around. Her eyes had returned to their normal gray-green. “You just can’t be.”
Sure I can. “Apparently I am, because I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
“Then let
me spell it out for you, dumb ass. I’ve never counted on anyone but myself since I was old enough to realize my mother had a tendency to forget I was around. I got myself into some trouble, was on the run, and ended up here, because of something I didn’t understand.” Morgan’s eyes briefly sparked gold. “And there you were, a knight in shining armor with all the answers. Offering me safety, a good job that didn’t involve fucking a dozen guys a week, and yourself. Dangled a whole new life right in front of me.”
She cocked her hip and planted a fist on it. “And I fucking fell for it. Next thing I know, you’re kicking me to the curb like I’m last week’s trash.”
Chapter Seventeen
The look on Calhoun’s face was almost worth the turmoil she was feeling. Morgan paused for a drink, trying to plan her next words. “I trusted you. Trusted that it wasn’t all an act.”
He winced. “I am sorry. There’s something I didn’t think to tell you because I just assumed we were both feeling an attraction and having fun. I don’t get involved, Morgan. I can’t for any length of time, because I’m waiting for my Chimaera.”
“Your what?”
“When the Guardians changed us, made us the Founts of our species, they promised us mates. The Guardians called them ‘Chimaeras’ because those women aren’t confined to one secondary shape. They have five: human, wolf, lion, tiger, and leopard. With a Chimaera’s influence, each Fount would be able to control each other’s species.”
Sounded like a load of bullshit to her, but Morgan could tell Calhoun was perfectly serious. “Think yours is going to be happy when she learns how big of a slut you’ve been while waiting for her?”
From the way he jerked, she’d scored a direct hit, but he rallied quickly. “I doubt anyone would expect another to remain celibate for thousands of years.”
Considering the huge leap in her own sex drive since the last few days of her Awakening, Morgan privately conceded he had a point. “That doesn’t give you the right to manipulate people.”
“I had no intention of manipulating you.” He paused, and quickly raised his hand when she opened her mouth. “Okay, I did, but not in order to hurt you. I take care of my people. You became one of them the second your Awakening began. I couldn’t let you take off once I was aware of you.”
She took another drink, staring at him. “I can understand that. But I don’t understand why you felt the need to act like you wanted me.”
He shot a glance at the corner, where Thane stood. Morgan didn’t. She’d figure out what to do to make things right between the were-liger and her later.
“I wasn’t acting.”
“Bullshit.”
“I wasn’t,” Cal insisted. “You’re an attractive woman. I enjoyed that part of our time together. Actually, I enjoyed all of it, except how long you were under during the final stage. That worried me.”
Morgan waved that away, not remembering much of it except feeling way too hot for far too long, plus some rather major pain. “Yeah, you were so worried. I totally got that when you okayed Jake forcing me to change. Really drove it home when you grabbed me by the face and neck.”
She wasn’t expecting him to growl, or to growl back. They glared at each other, Cal’s eyes turning orange, gold spinning fast enough to appear a flat circle instead of a sunburst. “I will only apologize for so much. I’m not going to apologize for keeping you from biting me. You have an anger problem, Morgan. Pretty sure that’s caused more than a few of your troubles.”
“Asshole.”
Calhoun snarled right back at her. “Bitch.”
Thane began purring. Morgan realized her teeth were bared and forced herself to calm down. “Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten pissed if you hadn’t forced me to change and manhandled me. Ever think of that?”
Calhoun laughed. “Do you ever listen to yourself? You punched me and threatened to gut me the first night we met. Threatened to cut my head off with your pretty little switchblade the second time. I don’t take chances with someone who’s already proven to have violent tendencies when they’re obviously pissed and wearing fangs.”
Morgan pointed her finger at him. “You did something to me that first night.”
“Yeah, I offered you acceptance, and you relaxed for a few minutes. The rest,” he shrugged. She felt like throwing her glass at him. “We’re both wolves and we were attracted to each other. That was just nature taking its course.”
“You open your mouth, and all I hear is ‘I do what I want, fuck everyone else because I’m an opportunistic bastard’.”
“I did not use you. That’s what you’ve been driving at since this conversation began. All you had to do was say no, Morgan. Fun and games aside, you’re one of mine, and I take care of my own.” Calhoun abruptly stood. “We’re done here. I’ve apologized for as much as I’m going to.”
“Well, all hail the motherfucking king.” Two long strides, and she put her glass on the coffee table before straightening to look him in the eyes. “I don’t need your idea of care, and I certainly don’t want it.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
Morgan smiled. “Fuck you, Calhoun.”
Then she walked out the door, slamming it shut behind her, and took off at a run for the back door.
“Go after her, take her back to headquarters, and put her in an isolation room.”
Thane shook his head. Cal scowled. “That was an order.”
“She’s right, you’re an idiot.”
Of course, the were-liger would choose to open his mouth now. Cal growled in frustration. “I’m really not in the mood...”
“She’s not going far. Just needs to cool off.” Thane took a drink and leaned back, shoving his free hand into his jeans pocket. “Glad I know why she hates you so much now.”
He sat back down, studying Thane’s relaxed posture. “She doesn’t hate you.”
“I don’t lie to her, and I didn’t lead her on.”
“This is a nightmare. I saved your ass, and you’re taking her side.” Thane’s soft laugh drew another growl from Cal’s chest. “It’s not funny.”
“You don’t make many mistakes, but this one,” the were-liger shook his head, losing his faint smile. “She’s not that hard to figure out. Morgan wants a safe place to belong, and a few people in her corner who she can completely trust. She’s never had either of those things.”
“I told her she would have them.”
“Then you fucked her a few times and literally threw her to the wolves because she wasn’t appropriately grateful you’d claimed her as one of your own.”
Cal glared at him, but it didn’t ruffle Thane. “That’s not...”
“It is what happened. I know how you operate when it comes to women. Keep ‘em at a distance other than for fucking. A little extra time and attention if they’re Sleepers, but then pass them onto others once they’ve Awakened and changed the first time. It’s what you always do.” Thane cocked his head. “Did I miss anything?”
“You’re becoming quite the asshole yourself.”
“I’ll never attain the high level you’ve mastered.”
“Morgan’s a terrible influence on you.” Cal gritted his teeth and downed the rest of his whiskey. “All right, go ahead. Finish your bashing job.”
“Well, if you insist.” Thane grinned, taking another sip. His grin disappeared as if it had never existed as he lowered his glass. “She was scared, Cal. How could you not have picked up on that?”
“Did you miss the part where I mentioned she wanted to cut off my head?”
“No, but I can imagine why she wanted to. You were teasing her, playing your kiss for information game, hoping it would result in getting into her pants. And it worked.”
Unexpected shame warmed Cal’s face and he had to look away. “All she had to do was...”
“Say no. Yeah, like that was going to happen. She was a prostitute. That’s a career that’s all about trading favors.”
“I didn’t know that then.”
<
br /> Thane pushed away from the wall and downed the rest of his whiskey. “Then you’re losing your touch, because I clearly remember sitting in more than a few bars and listening to you pick out the hookers in the crowd. Don’t recall you ever being wrong, either.”
“All right. Damn. You’re both right, I fucked up big time.” Cal still couldn’t stomach the idea of Morgan hating him. “Any ideas on how to make nice?”
“Yeah. Leave her the hell alone. She’ll come around in her own time, or she won’t. If she doesn’t, maybe she’ll serve as a future reminder to be more careful. Which reminds me, she doesn’t want to be your personal assistant.”
Cal scowled, but took the rebuke and Morgan’s expected resignation instead of arguing. “And what are you going to do?”
“Have I thanked you for dumping her on me? If I haven’t, thank you. She’s a hell of a woman, and me, I’m a lucky, lucky guy.” Thane smiled, then quietly left, leaving Cal blinking.
His shock didn’t last long though. A smile grew on his face. “Then it didn’t go completely sideways, my friend.”
Morgan was sitting under the trees, watching the back door. She’d fully intended to leave—really leave, maybe make her way to New York—but at the edge of the back lot, she’d realized she didn’t want to leave Thane. She’d picked a spot, and was waiting to see if he’d come after her.
Three weeks. That is not enough time to get this tangled about a guy. Especially one who never fucking talks. She picked a few blades of grass and shredded them. Confronting Calhoun had not been part of her plan, and Morgan was afraid that having done so, making it clear they’d screwed each other, had changed Thane’s mind about her.
The back door opened and she looked up. It was Thane. He spotted her immediately. Morgan stayed put, unable to tell anything from his face or movements as he walked across the lot. The closer he drew, the stronger her feeling became that she’d ruined things with him.
He sat down a few feet away, and cocked his head. “You all right?”
Morgan felt her mouth fall open and couldn’t immediately close it. He fucking talked. Actually opened his mouth, and let words come out.
The Wolf Fount Page 13
