Catching an Evil Tail

by Mary Abshire

  "I don't give a flying fuck about his power show." Jeremy stepped closer to the werewolf as if egging Ryan into a fight.

  Ryan inhaled and I could've sworn the man grew several inches. "Don't be an ass, Jeremy. Do you even realize what would happen if you tried something stupid?"

  "I trusted you when I told you about Jessie." Jaw tight, Jeremy pointed at Ryan's chest.

  I stood near the SUV with my heart rate accelerated from watching them. I wondered who was going to throw the first punch.

  "I trust my Alpha. If I didn't, I would have never said a word about her." Ryan inched his face closer to Jeremy.

  Jeremy shoved Ryan's shoulders. The werewolf stumbled back.

  "Boys!" I yelled, and rushed in between the two.

  I stretched my arms up sideways to keep them apart. Jeremy came forward, but met my hand on his chest. Ryan came closer on my other side. He stopped short of my other hand. Bystanders pumping gas stared at us.

  "This has gone too far." I looked back and forth between the two. "Jeremy, back off. You are overreacting."

  His heart thudded against my hand. Heat radiated from his body. Sweat dripped from his temple. I'd never seen him this angry before.

  "He's using you, and you don't even fucking care," Jeremy said in anger as he pressed forward.

  I faced him and braced both my hands against his chest. Ryan had his temper under control so I didn't have to worry so much about him. But Jeremy was being a dick times ten and he was causing my own temper to rise. I pushed him back a step.

  "You're the one who got me into this mess." I pushed him again. "You started this. You talked me into coming here." I shoved him and he backed up. "And if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here. I didn't want to come, remember?"

  He spun away from me and swiped the back of his hand across his forehead.

  I glanced back at Ryan. He stood with his hands on his hips. He was breathing heavy.

  "Don't let him fire you up. I know your Alpha won't hurt me," I said to Ryan.

  "Is he always like this around you?" Ryan asked.

  I chuckled. "If you mean protective, yeah, in his own warped way. Thank God I'm not a full-blooded demon. I'd hate to have a temper like his. PMS would turn me into a queen bitch."

  "You're not full-blooded?" he asked, with a hint of surprise in his tone.

  "No—"

  "Jessie, don't tell him any more. He doesn't need to know." Jeremy strode by, then stood in front of me.

  "Brother, you act as if we are strangers. I've known you a long time." Disappointment gripped Ryan's voice while he stared at Jeremy.

  "Tell me, brother, am I wrong to think your Alpha has more than a passing interest in her?" Jeremy asked.

  "You don't have to answer that, Ryan. He's just jealous," I said in haste.

  "I think she deserves to know," Jeremy said. "Don't you?"

  Ryan shook his head. "Maybe he does, but that's his business and hers. Am I right, Jessie?" His gaze shifted from Jeremy to me.

  Jeremy held a look of intense revulsion. I'd seen the look before when he was around Drake. If we were in Vegas, I'd bet my wages Jeremy despised Alan as much as he despised Drake.

  "Jer, I'm not your girlfriend or your property. If he's interested in me, I can handle him. I have a boyfriend named Drake. Remember?"

  "A boyfriend who hasn't called you. A boyfriend who's been gone far longer than he told you."

  I put my hands on my hips. "There've been complications." Not that it was any of his business.

  "Oh really?" He arched a brow. "In six weeks he couldn't resolve the issues? What are they anyway? Did he tell you?"

  We were getting away from the subject. "It doesn't matter. I'm committed to him. And if Alan does have a personal interest in me beyond business, I'll handle him."

  "Will you? Because you didn't mind him touching your hand," Jeremy said, and my anger cranked up. "Maybe I should just call your blood-sucking boyfriend and tell him what's going on here."

  I exploded like a firecracker. I swung my arm and slapped my palm across his face. Jeremy's head jerked to the side from the force of my blow. My hand stung and I hoped his cheek did too. I raised my hand to hit him again, but Ryan stopped me. He locked his arms around my ribs and lifted me off the ground.

  "You're a motherfucker, Jeremy, and I hate you!" I shouted as Ryan lugged me away from the demon.

  "You need to calm down." Ryan planted my feet on the ground.

  He stood in front of me, blocking me from Jeremy. I peered around him.

  Jeremy held his hand to his face where I'd slapped him. Meeting my eyes, he laughed. "God damn, honey! I think you gave me a hard-on."

  I lunged forward. Ryan grabbed my arms and restrained me.

  "Jessie, he's riling you up," Ryan said.

  "The asshole never stops," I said, glowering at Jeremy. "You're going to Hell one day, Jeremy, and I can't wait to send you."

  "Honey, I look forward to the day." Jeremy walked toward me with a wicked smile. Half his face was bright red, making me proud of my achievement. He stopped two feet in front of me, but Ryan separated us. I tried to wriggle from Ryan's grasp, but he held me firmly.

  Jeremy leaned forward and stared directly into my eyes. "And after I've made a deal with your dear old dad, the devil, I'm going to have you for all eternity. You can count on it."

  Chapter Thirteen

  I sat on the floor of my fancy suite with my back against the sofa, drinking my third bottle of expensive vodka. One minute, I hated the world and everyone, especially men. The next, I wanted to ball my eyes out over being alone. Remote in one hand and bottle in the other, I flipped through the channels, searching for something violent, something horrific, or something that would appease my inner demon. One thing I knew for sure was that I hated Jeremy.

  The time on the news channel showed it was past 1:00 a.m. Thanks to my pity party, I'd drowned into a world I hadn't seen in a long time—not since college when Christopher and I split. Men—couldn't live with them and couldn't live without them. And turning into a lesbian wouldn't work for me. I needed a man to hold me, kiss me, and love me in the most passionate way. Why couldn't I find such a man?

  I gulped down another fourth of the bottle. The fiery liquor raised my temperature. Sweat beaded on my face and neck. As I lowered the bottle to my side, everything in the room started spinning while all worries and cares drifted away. Hell yeah, I was feeling damn good!

  Hearing the click of the adjoining room door, I turned my head. The room spun, but I managed to see two figures. They headed toward me.

  "Wanna drink?" I held up the bottle as an offering. Two seconds later, I withdrew my offer. Screw sharing.

  Jeremy squatted at my side. His body moved sideways and I busted out in laughter.

  "Are we in an earthquake?" The words came out slurred.

  "Is she drunk?" the man behind Jeremy asked.

  I leaned sideways to get a look at the man, only my control didn't exist and I nearly crashed into the floor until Jeremy caught me. I laughed, then recognized the person behind Jeremy.

  "Hey, I know you," I said, pointing the bottle toward Ryan. "You're Jeremy's werewolf friend. Here, wolfie-wolfie."

  "How much has she had?" the werewolf asked.

  Jeremy jerked the bottle from my hand.

  "Hey, that's mine." I reached for it.

  The room tilted and everything moved so fast that I gave up trying to reclaim my bottle before I could fell face-first on the floor.

  "Here." I pushed two empty bottles toward him. "You can have these, too. I don't want them anymore."

  "Damn!" Ryan shouted. "I don't think we should have left her alone."

  I giggled. "I had a great time." I slapped my hand on my thigh. "With me, myself, and I."

  Jeremy's fingers grazed my cheek as he brushed aside the hair from my face. "Where did you get the liquor?"

  "Your fingers are so warm." The snake tattoo on his arm captured my gaze.

  H
e lifted my chin so my eyes met his. "Where did you get the bottles, Jessie?"

  I drew in a deep breath. "I visited the lounge, and the manager served me a bottle. I asked if he'd sell me a couple, but he turned me down." I jerked my chin away from him. Suddenly, the room started moving.

  Jeremy put his hands on the sides of my face and brought my gaze back to his. "How did you get the bottles?"

  Everything stopped spinning. "I showed him a little ass, and he sold them to me." I smiled.

  Ryan chuckled behind Jeremy, but the sound turned into a cough. "Sorry."

  I stared into Jeremy's soft brown eyes. "You're a fucker, Jeremy. A mean motherfucker."

  His lips pulled into a bright smile. "Now there's the woman I love."

  I shoved him and he fell backward on his ass.

  "I think she's sobering up," Jeremy said as he crawled back to me on his knees. "Time for bed, darling."

  Before I could comprehend what he was doing, he lifted me in his arms and swung me around the room. Feeling queasy from the swift flight, I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck. If I got sick on him, it was his fault.

  "You need to get some sleep." Jeremy lowered me onto a nice, soft bed.

  The cool cotton fabric touched my bare legs and I thought I was in heaven. My body burned from anger and liquor.

  He touched the side of my face. I opened my eyes and gasped at the snake on his arm. The pointed fangs were too close for my liking. Instinctively, I shoved his hand away from me.

  "Don't think you're sleeping with me. Hell will freeze before I invite you into my bed."

  Jeremy laughed. "The alcohol must be wearing off."

  "Laugh all you want. I called Drake, and he told me he'd take care of you for me," I lied, wanting to strike a little fear in his heart.

  A spiteful grin formed on Jeremy's face. "Your dead friend doesn't scare me. You should know that by now. You forget I can destroy him just as quick as he can kill me."

  "At least I'd be free from both of you," I mumbled.

  All emotion evaporated from his face and, for a second, fear illuminated his eyes. "You need to get some sleep," he said.

  "Mmm." I wiggled my body under the fluffy comforter as he covered me with it.

  Catching me by surprise, Jeremy pressed his mouth to mine. A warm zing tickled my lips. Beautiful caramel eyes gazed at me while he kissed me. The warmth, the touch, and the feel of his energy brought me to life. The demon in me wanted more.

  As if he knew what my demon wanted, he slipped his hot tongue into my mouth and flicked it as if to say, "I'm here, come and play." He tasted like licorice, not too sweet and very delicious. Each stroke on my tongue sparked electric tingles that shot through my body. My pulse quickened, and my body ached with need. He roused a hunger within me and my demon wanted to be fed. But a part of me resisted. Part of me knew this was wrong, but I couldn't fight the need burning within me. I was ever so grateful when a deep, throaty sound like a cough ended the kiss.

  Jeremy sat up. He licked his lips and smiled. "Get some sleep." He brushed my bangs away from my face, then kissed my forehead. The bed jiggled as he stood.

  Feeling warm and tingly, I rolled over on my side. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The room became silent as I drifted off into a deep sleep.

  ****

  The buzz of a cell phone awoke me from my slumber. I pried my sleepy eyes open and snatched the phone from the nearby nightstand. Holding it in front of me, I silenced the buzz and glanced at the time. It was after eight.

  I rolled onto my back with the phone in hand. The bright sun shined through a small opening in the curtains. Another day in paradise, or in my case, Hell.

  Remembering I had a breakfast date with Alan, I decided I needed to get moving. I scooted out of bed, then strolled into the bathroom. After I released my bladder, I stepped into the shower and bathed.

  The warm water felt good on my skin. For some reason, I felt really dirty. My head ached and I made a note to grab some aspirin once I was out of the shower. I tried to remember how I’d made it to bed, but my memories were fuzzy.

  Thirty minutes later, I stepped from the bathroom in a robe. I felt refreshed and in a better mood. The Tylenol had probably helped. I tugged the curtains open and the glaring rays blinded me. I held my hand over my eyes. Yep, it was a bright new day and I wanted to enjoy it.

  Staying cool in hundred-degree weather wasn't easy with my hot blood, so I donned a pair of shorts and lavender tank top. After I checked my phone for missed calls and found none, I tied my hair in a ponytail. As I strapped on my sandals, it struck me that Drake hadn't returned my message. That was not like him. But I didn't have time to worry about it at the moment.

  Ready to go, I strolled to the door connecting to Jeremy's suite. I knocked, but decided not to wait for a response. I twisted the brass knob and pushed the door open.

  "Hello." I entered into the room and looked around. His suite resembled mine. The color patterns were different, but the room design matched.

  Ryan sat on the couch, hunched over his legs and holding the television remote. He wore a T-shirt and Bermuda shorts. "Morning."

  "Morning, Ryan." I walked toward him.

  "Jeremy's in the shower. He should be out soon." He moved to the loveseat. "Did you sleep well last night?"

  I sat on the couch. "I slept like a baby. What about you?" I noticed the puffiness under his eyes.

  "Not too bad. I fell asleep on the sofa," he replied. "After we checked on you, Jeremy wanted to go back to the lounge for a few more drinks. We got back after three."

  I leaned my elbow on the couch and propped my head. “Last night is a bit of blur. When did you guys check on me?"

  "It was after one. Do you remember anything?"

  "Oh, gosh." I twirled the end of my ponytail around my fingers while I tried recalling the night's events. Ryan watched me in a way that made me think I'd done something naughty. I closed my eyes and pondered the thought. Slowly, the memory of Jeremy kissing me came to mind. I opened my eyes. "Oh, shit. Did Jeremy kiss me?"

  "Yeah."

  I covered my face in my hands. "This is not good."

  "It wasn't a long kiss."

  "But it was still a kiss." I wanted to beat myself to a bloody pulp. How could I have let Jeremy kiss me?

  "You did have a lot to drink," Ryan said, as if he sensed my guilt. "I don't think you were fully cognizant, which is why I broke it up. I didn't want you to do something you'd regret and I didn't want my good friend to take advantage of you. He's like a brother, but he is a demon. And when he's with you…" Ryan shook his head.

  "Thank you. I owe you one." I cringed at the thought of what might have happened between Jeremy and me. I would've regretted it and hated myself for the rest of my human life—probably beyond too.

  "Consider us even. You stepped in yesterday during our argument. I could have easily swung at him."

  I nodded, then walked to the patio window overlooking the mountains. Ryan came to my side and put his hand on my shoulder.

  "He really cares for you," he said in a near whisper. "I've never seen him act so possessive. He's always been a one-night-stand kind of guy. But with you, it's clear he would give anything to have you and keep you."

  "Yeah, since the day I met him he's tried to win me over. But it will never happen. I've told him that, repeatedly."

  Ryan slid his hand off my shoulder. "He's coming."

  The werewolf sank into the sofa as the door swung open. Jeremy stepped out wearing nothing but a white towel around his hips. He held another towel to the back of his spiky hair. Beads of water covered his ripped abdomen. The barely noticeable light brown hair on his chest also ran in a line from his navel to… I swallowed and lifted my gaze. Yes, I detested the man, but I still appreciated his body.

  He approached me with a devious smile. "Did you get my wakeup call?" He wiped the water off his chest.

  "Yes, thank you." I hated saying the last two words, especi
ally after our argument yesterday.

  "You were pretty drunk. I enjoyed carrying you to bed." He flashed a crooked smile.

  I turned away from him. "I'm sure you did," I muttered.

  "I'm not going to apologize for what happened."

  No, of course not. He enjoyed it too much. I didn't expect an apology from him, though it would've been nice.

  Ryan grabbed his shoes. "I'll be waiting at the restaurant in case Alan shows early." He rushed out the door, leaving Jeremy and me alone.

  Frowning, I returned to the window. "Did you have a good time after you tucked me in tight for the night?"

  "Not as good as I would have liked. Had I stayed with you, things might have been different."

  Yeah, and I was sure glad he hadn't. God, what was I thinking? Clearly, I hadn't been in my right state of mind.

  He placed his warm hand on my shoulder. I gently pushed his hand off me and backed away from him. "Jeremy, just stop it. Stop acting all macho in front of Ryan and Alan. And stop acting like you own me. Do I need to remind you that you are supposed to be gaining my trust and friendship, not screwing it up?"

  Holding the towel at his side, he took a step toward me. "You know how I feel about you. I'm not going to hide my feelings."

  His answer didn't surprise me.

  "Tell me one thing, Jessie," he said. "What did you think of our kiss last night?"

  I looked away from him. I refused to give him any answer. So what, the kiss had made me feel good and alive. It also made me horny since I hadn't had sex in six weeks. But none of that mattered because the kiss had been a huge mistake. Had I been sober, I never would've allowed him to kiss me.

  He touched my shoulder and a zing of heat crawled along my arm. "I think you need to be honest with yourself and stop hiding what you feel." He traced his warm fingers over my bare flesh.

  I bit my tongue as heat poured from him into me. His warm touch stirred energy within me, strengthening me, awakening me, and making me feel on top of the world. The energy held the potential for greatness and intense power. And when his energy flowed into me, it fed a part of me that I feared could be dangerous. I refused to let the demon in me come out.