by Lia Davis, Milly Taiden, Kerry Adrienne, Vella Day, Andie Devaux
Evers could’ve broken the beer bottle with the squeeze he gave it. “I know of him,” he said. “I’ve not really met him…yet. Not really.”
Amy took another sip of her drink. What the heck does that mean? Awkward, much?
She peeked at Evers. He scanned the room with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. Who was he looking for? She dared not follow his gaze. Something about him felt wrong. Wild. And not good, free-range wild, but sinister and wild animal. Like his pretty shell was hiding a rancid psyche. She was used to creeps in bars, but they weren’t usually so handsome. Still, she could handle him.
The music changed to a techno-pop ballad, and Evers stood. “Let’s dance,” he said.
“I don’t—”
“One song.” He tugged her to standing. “I’m sure Griff won’t mind.”
Even in the dim bar light, she could tell that the look in his eyes said he wasn’t going to be happy if she refused. One dance. She could do that. There were plenty of people at the bar, and she could make her regrets after the dance. She’d be safe.
“One dance.” She turned her drink up and finished it, then set the empty glass on the bar.
He took her hand. Leading her to the dance floor, he caressed her palm, his fingers bony and coarse. She shivered. When they reached the floor, other dancers moved to make room for them. Amy saw the look on some of the girls’ faces. They’d all rather be dancing with Evers. For once, Amy had the beau of the ball holding her in his arms, and he danced like a prince.
But why? And what was going on between him and Griff? She couldn’t control the shiver that passed through her. Something isn’t right.
He pulled her close, his hands low around her waist, dangerously close to her ass. Glad for her decision to wear jeans instead of a miniskirt, Amy wiggled to move away from his hands but instead ended up pressing into him as he slid one hand into her back pocket.
“That feels nice,” he hissed in her ear. “That’s more like it. No more cold fish—I knew you were a hot-blooded girl.” He tugged at her hair and pulled her even more tightly to him.
Her heart raced. Either the man had two pairs of tube socks rolled up in his jeans or… The alcohol’s warmth snaked through her veins, and she closed her eyes as he swayed and moved against her.
Yes, I think you know what I want. It’s what you want, too. Don’t deny it.
She heard the words in his voice, but he hadn’t said anything.
Yes, I can project my thoughts into your mind at will. But only what I want you to hear.
Was her mind playing tricks on her? She tried to push away from him.
“Oh, no you don’t.” No, you don’t, bitch.
“Let me go,” she whispered. “Please.” He held her so close, she had no doubt he heard her over the music.
“That’s not what you want.” He put his hand behind her neck and forced her face toward his, then kissed her hard. His lips, bitter-tasting and hard, were unyielding.
She fought, pressing her lips together and trying to shove him away, but he held her in place. Didn’t anyone around them notice what was going on?
Suddenly, Evers flew free of her, landing on the dance floor. Griff loomed over him, his hands curled into fists and his face in a ferocious scowl.
***
Rage. Griff shook. Can’t shift. People. He wanted to beat the shit out of Evers, but he had to keep his cool, no matter how angry he was. One, two, three… He breathed out tension. If he’d needed any proof that the Sen Pal was infiltrating the area, and even the town, he had it now. The punk was all mountain lion—he’d known as soon as he touched him. He was the one he’d run into in the woods. The one threatening Amy.
And now the lion had to die. Griff’s pulse raced. Things had gotten personal.
“What the fuck?” The man jumped to his feet. You know who I am.
“I don’t give a shit who you are.” He clasped and unclasped his hands, his fingers begging to be around the punk’s neck.
“Evers.” You will remember my name until you die. He growled. Sen Pal, but you know that. You knew in the woods. Guess I didn’t hit you hard enough to knock sense into you.
“Leave Amy alone.” I will kill you if you don’t. I might kill you anyway. Griff clenched his teeth and used every bit of willpower he had not to snap Evers’s neck in front of everyone. Mine.
Amy stood, wide-eyed and hand over her mouth. She backed away as the dance floor cleared. The music continued to play, but no one danced. Instead, they formed a lopsided circle so they could watch the men fight.
“She’s not yours.” Evers put his fists up. “She wanted to dance with me. And have a drink. We weren’t doing anything she didn’t want to do.”
“You will leave her alone!” Griff roared and lunged toward Evers, tackling him to the ground. Fuck. So much for self-control.
His bear reared up and fought for control with his human. He wanted to slash Evers into symmetrical ribbons of flesh and leave him flayed open on the floor as a warning to anyone who would touch his mate. But he couldn’t do that. Not in front of the humans. He had a duty to keep his secrets.
He wrestled the man, trying to pin him to the floor, but he was stronger than his trim body appeared. Griff opened his mouth and let out a snarl of frustration. If only they were in the woods…
Evers squirmed out from under Griff and pulled free. The men stood, facing each other, both panting. Griff breathed his bear into retreat. Not yet. The chance will come.
Patience.
“Things are going to change.” Patient or not. Evers wiped his arm across his busted lip and then spit on the floor. We’re coming. And not just for your girl.
“Bring it, punk…” Griff motioned the crowd back. “I’m ready.”
Not now. But soon. Evers dashed out the door with Griff trailing right behind him. He followed until Evers shed his clothing, slipped into his mountain lion form, and bounded down the street and out of sight. If he hadn’t been worried about Amy, Griff would’ve followed the punk and really beat his ass.
He pulled out his phone to call his Alpha. The Sen Pal was in town. At least, their Scout was. His den would be ready when the rest of them showed up. Evers was his to deal with.
“Come on. I’ll take you home.” Griff held out his hand to Amy.
Her hair lay around her shoulders in a tangle and her eyes widened.
People in the bar had gone back to dancing, drinking, and playing pool as if nothing had happened. The music sounded louder, the lights brighter, but he knew that was his bear checking things out. The townspeople expected Griff to take care of them, and he always did. Good thing a whole group of Sen Pal hadn’t shown up—Griff might’ve had a problem then.
“I’m okay.” Amy took a step back. “I can drive. The night hasn’t gone the way I expected.”
“Sorry you had to deal with that…man.”
Amy smiled, but her bottom lip quivered. “I was dealing with him. Sort of. I had the situation under control.”
“Did you now?” Griff moved closer. Protect her. Ease her mind. Her scent, sweet as honey, rolled over him stronger than all the bar smells. How could he explain that it was his duty to protect her, without scaring her off? A duty he very much enjoyed. Things had changed. The Sen Pal was here, and they knew about Amy. Griff had to change his plan. She was no longer safe in her anonymity, and he needed to tell her everything.
“Yes, I did.”
“He’s not from around here,” Griff said. “And he was kissing you. I’m sorry if I overreacted.” Punk ass man. I should’ve knocked his head off.
“Oh, he was definitely sporting a bad vibe. But nothing I haven’t seen a million times in Atlanta.” She laughed. “And I’ve always handled it on my own. Even the creepy kissers.”
Griff’s heart clenched. He didn’t want to think about other men with Amy. She was his.
“I’ll follow you home. I’ve got to go right by your place on
my way, anyway.”
Amy’s eyes sparkled from the reflections of the dance floor lights. “Fine. But only if you’ll come in for a cup of coffee. I barely got to see you tonight, and you promised me an evening.”
Griff swallowed hard. He sensed she asked because she was afraid, not because she really wanted him, but it was a start. “I can do that.”
Chapter Five
Amy flipped on the coffeepot and the familiar gurgling and hissing filled the cabin, followed by the aroma of fresh drip coffee. She glanced at Griff. He bent over the fireplace in the living room, building a small fire. Thank goodness. Spring in the mountains had proven cooler than she’d expected. And building a fire was new territory for her. Her apartment in Atlanta had a gas fireplace. Flick a switch and boom, insta-fire. Though the spring days in the mountains hinted at warmth, the nights were chilly.
“How do you take your coffee?” She took advantage of Griff’s back being to her and raked her gaze over his ass. Twice. His fine, fine ass. Nicely rounded but not too big. Perfect in blue jeans. Her face flushed. Nothing wrong with viewing, was there? She’d have to be dead to not see what a good-looking and sexy guy Griff was. His obliviousness to his own attractiveness multiplied his appeal. Add in her mediocre sex life with Darren, and she didn’t stand a chance of visual celibacy.
Why even pretend?
“Black with a touch of honey.” He turned and smiled. “If you don’t have honey, I’ll take a half teaspoon of sugar.”
“No honey, but I’ve got some sugar.” She pulled the canister from the cabinet. “Say, your cheek healed fast. I can barely tell you were hurt.”
“Good genes.”
She smirked and peeked at Griff while he continued to stoke the now roaring fire. The heat fanned across the small space in waves. Soon, the cabin would be toasty.
“That should burn for a while,” Griff said. “I’m going to go wash my hands. Be right back for that coffee.”
She nodded and he headed for the bathroom. Her hands shook as she stirred his coffee and she took a deep breath. The bar incident had shaken her more than she’d let on to Griff, so him wanting to follow her home had been a welcome gesture. Inviting him in for coffee felt like the natural next step, and he’d offered to make a fire—how could she resist? I wanted him to come in.
The realization sat like a boulder in her stomach.
Why did she feel so comfortable with him? She’d only known him about a week. Sometimes it took that long for her to find out a guy’s name, much less invite him to her home for a late night coffee and chat. She was playing with fire.
“Pink towels?” Griff snorted and joined her at the kitchen counter. “I’d have pegged you for a yellow towel girl.”
“I left those at home. I’m in my pink phase now.” She handed him his coffee mug and took her own. “Pink is so, spring…don’t you think?”
“Uh, huh.”
“No, seriously. I change colors with the season. Summer is when I break out the yellow towels.”
He tried to stifle a smile, but the crinkles at the corners of his eyes showed his amusement.
The warmth of the coffee soaked through the mug and into her hands. She watched him sip—his firm jawline moving fluidly as he swallowed. Griff was so rough and tumble on the outside, but such a sweetie underneath.
She gulped at the hot coffee then winced.
Too hot.
He set the mug down. A faint shadow of scruff climbed up his neck and onto his cheeks, a far cry from the stringy beard he’d had when they first met. An improvement, for sure. It must’ve taken him all winter to grow that beard. No matter, she was glad he’d shaved it.
“I’m happy you rented the cabin.” He turned toward her. “Really happy.”
Their eyes met, and she forced herself not to look away. She sensed, somewhere, somehow, that her coffee cup was taken from her and set down. Green eyes never left her own gaze, but came closer. Large, warm hands cupped her face, and her eyes closed on their own as her breath caught in her throat.
Yes.
Her lips barely parted as his mouth touched hers. Tingles raced through her, and she pressed her mouth against his again. Warm.
“I’m so glad it was you,” he whispered against her cheek. “So glad you’re mine…my tenant.” He ran his tongue across the seam of her lips. Once, then again.
Tingles raced up her body and she shuddered. So good.
She leaned forward, and he settled her tight against him. His tongue slid into her mouth, warm and wet and insistent. Her thoughts swirled. Bliss. Peace. Happiness.
Oh fuck, I’m kissing the landlord.
She pulled away. “I’m sorry…” she stammered. “I don’t know why… I didn’t mean…”
He held her at arms’ length, his green eyes almost glowing in the firelight as he stared down at her. “You feel it, too, don’t you?” His voice had lowered a full register, and the words vibrated through the air. He brushed her hair behind her shoulder. “You do. I can tell.”
“What?” Her heart pounded.
“The attraction between us. The need to be close to each other. Not merely a desire, but a need.” He pushed her against the counter and kissed her before she could respond. This time, the insistence in his kiss was fierce, demanding. He devoured her mouth and pressed his body against hers.
She leaned in, savoring the electricity of the moment. She did feel an attraction to Griff. She wanted him. Not once, but over and over until she couldn’t stand his touch, if that could ever happen. But she couldn’t. He wasn’t looking for more than a night, and she couldn’t expect any different. Can’t.
“Enough,” she panted. She slid away from him. “Let’s take our coffee to the living room and talk.”
Griff laughed. “We can talk all you want, darlin’. I’m in no rush to go home. And when you’re ready, there’s more where that kiss came from.”
***
Griff tried to focus on what Amy was saying, but his mind and body wandered. The kiss had wiped away any doubt. She was his. He needed to possess her—all of her. Mine.
But what about the Sen Pal? He tossed another log onto the fire and poked at it, watching the flames lick the wood. Maybe he could take Amy to the den to wait the upcoming war out. He should suggest it.
He almost laughed. She’d never agree, even if she knew he was a bear, which she didn’t—and he had no idea how to tell her without scaring the shit out of her.
“And that’s why I wanted to move away for a while…” Amy picked at her jeans, her cowboy boots long discarded. “I need some me time.”
Griff nodded and slid onto the couch beside her. He understood. Having a mate was going to be a different experience for a confirmed bachelor, yet it was something that felt as natural a transition as shifting did. He sipped the last cold dregs of his coffee. “I understand me time,” he said.
Amy shifted on the couch. “Do you like being alone?”
“I used to, yes.” He set the coffee cup onto the side table. “But lately, I’ve been thinking about how lonely I’ve been. Maybe it’s time to get more involved. A man can’t live alone forever.”
“Oh?” She leaned back against the armrest and put her feet up.
“Yeah. The winters here are long and cold. I sleep a lot. Depressed, maybe.” He put her feet in his lap. “I think if I had someone—someone who wanted me as much as I wanted her—I think even winter would be a happier time.”
He rubbed the soles of her feet, working his way to her toes.
“Mmmm. That feels good.” Amy sighed. “Yeah, I suppose if I found the right person, it would be great. But I’ve not had any luck. My boyfriends have all been losers. Drawn to an artist, but with no fire in their bellies. No one I could ever commit to spending a lifetime with.”
So she’d had boyfriends, not just dates. Griff scowled and rubbed harder.
“Ouch, too much!” Amy pulled her feet away and tucked her legs under he
r.
“Sorry.” Boyfriends. Grrr. More than one.
“Tell me what you like in a woman, Griff. I mean, what do you look for?”
“Why do you ask?” He gave her his sternest look. “Interested in applying for the position?”
She responded with a pillow to his face.
“Oooof.” He grabbed at the pillow, intent on whacking her back, but she held on.
“Oh, no you don’t!” She laughed and hit him again, this time on the knees.
He swiped at the pillow, missing again. She jumped up, holding it front of her, taunting him. He reached for her, tackling her around the waist and pushing her down onto the couch. She giggled and he held her tighter.
“Let me go.” She laughed, trying to hit him in the head with the pillow.
He snatched the pillow then threw it across the room. “No more pillows.”
“But…”
“No more.” He stretched out beside her, one arm around her waist, his body pressed against hers from chest to knees. “Just me and you now.”
He listened to the crackling and popping of the fire. He laid his head on her chest and she ran her fingers through his hair. Her heart thumped and he smiled and closed his eyes.
“You didn’t answer me,” she whispered. Her fingers caressed his ear.
“What?” He snuggled closer, feeling the fire’s warmth across his back. About as close to heaven as he ever expected on earth.
“What do you look for in a woman?” Her fingers stilled and he was sure he heard her heart skip a beat.
“I look for someone like you.”
“No, seriously…”
“Seriously. Someone just like you.”
Chapter Six
What in the fucking hell? Griff sat up, his limbs stiff and sore. He was on his couch. Correction. The couch in his cabin. The cabin Amy rented. He rubbed his eyes. Damn! They’d been talking and he’d fallen asleep sometime after a second cup of coffee. She probably thought he was a rude jerk. Yeah, he was tired for weeks after hibernation, and yeah, he took a lot of naps during that time, but how could he fall asleep with his mate in his arms?
