Rae, Beverly - Chasing Cally [Night Runner Werewolves 2] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Special Edition) (3 page)

“Oh, my God. What have I gotten myself into?” Her nerves started tingling a second before she glanced into the mirror again and saw her image smiling back.

* * * *

Max watched as Cally’s car weaved in and out of traffic. “I don’t think she’s used to doing a group.”

William kept the truck behind her car, cussing now and then when another car cut between their vehicles. “Not many women are.”

“Yeah. But she seems up for it. She’s calling Roxy to make sure she knows.”

“We could’ve tried to get more of the girls to come along. To have a real party.”

Max shook his head. “I know. But too many people, especially too many women, clog the connection.” He closed his eyes, picturing Cally the way he’d first seen her.

Her long, wavy, blonde hair captured his attention as it moved along her back, teasing the rise of her hips as she danced. Her voice was a fine instrument all by itself and he could see the passion in her big brown eyes as she held the audience enthralled. Her body was perfect with big enough breasts to fill out his hands without wasting the rest, and a bottom that called for a love spanking. Her skin shimmered under the lights and he wondered if she’d sprinkled glitter on her body. But it was her face, oval and yet so womanly, that bewitched him.

He’d had no choice but to follow her when she’d headed down the hallway toward the ladies’ restroom. When he’d seen the brutish man attacking her, he’d almost lost his mind to rage.

William glanced sideways at him. “So you think she’s the one for you?”

“I do.” He couldn’t have explained how he knew, and William wouldn’t ask. As a Night Runner, a werewolf just knew whenever he came in contact with his future mate. “Do you think Sara will like her?”

“Not sure since she’s the first to be considered. I hope so for your sake.” Sara was the queen of the pack, the alpha-female who was mated to all the pack males. She’d entered their lives a little over a year earlier, and since then, the men rarely made major decisions without her input. As the alpha-female, she would have a say in accepting—or not accepting—any female into their pack.

“She might not like what Cally does for a living.”

William was right. Coming from a background as a teacher, Sara had adapted well to their lifestyle and their belief in every male mating with her, but she still had some pretty conservative ideas. “Maybe we should tell Sara that Cally’s a singer and leave it at that.”

William chuckled. “If you want to risk your neck, then go ahead. But not me. I’m not about to hide anything from her. Somehow, some way, she’ll find out and then there’ll be hell to pay.”

As usual, his pack brother’s advice was dead-on. “Well, we’re jumping the gun anyway. I’m not even sure she’s the one yet.”

William’s silence said it all. They both knew a werewolf’s ability to recognize their future mate never erred. Why should he be the first to get it wrong?

Cally’s car pulled into a gravel driveway of a one-story, modest home and stopped behind Roxy’s Beetle. Although the home was small and the surrounding neighborhood not the best, he could tell Roxy took pride in her home. The house looked as though it had a new coat of paint and the well-tended garden boasted a kaleidoscope of colorful flowers. William parked on the street, positioning the truck behind Ranlon’s pickup.

William turned off the motor then turned to Max, his expression serious. “I guess we’re about to find out.”

* * * *

“Do you think we’re a couple of sluts?” Roxy set several beer bottles on the kitchen counter then dove back into the refrigerator for more.

“No. I mean guys do this kind of thing all the time, right? Why are we sluts for wanting to have fun like they do?” Cally scooped up one of the beers and twisted the top off. “Okay, maybe it’s a little wild, but I don’t care. This is one of my fantasies and I’m not going to miss the chance to let it play out.”

Roxy helped herself to a beer, took a swig, then saluted her with her beer raised high. “Damn straight. Here’s to womankind. Hear us roar.”

The question bugging Cally since they’d met the men had to come out. “Where do I know the name Matheson from?”

Roxy took another drag, then sputtered her drink. “Oh, hell. Matheson. It just hit me.”

“What is it? Please don’t tell me he’s a drunk or an ex-con.”

Roxy shook her head, but it didn’t make Cally feel any better. “No. But maybe worse. You’ve heard the stories about the men who live on the Matheson ranch, haven’t you? About them being werewolves?”

Now it was Cally’s turn to sputter her drink. “They’re
those
guys?” She glanced through the screen door at the men gathering in the yard. “Oh, come on. You don’t really believe the stories, do you? That’s just a bunch of bull the locals use to scare kids.”

Roxy managed a weak smile. “Yeah, of course it is.” She snorted. “I don’t believe that crap.” Her gaze zeroed in on Cally. “Do you?”

“Of course not. We’re grown women. Not kids.”

“Besides, even if the stories are true, it’s kind of hot, don’t you think?” Roxy bit her bottom lip. “Kind of like the sexy werewolves in the movies.”

Cally laughed, the tension easing from her neck. “What’s next? A vampire?”

“Can we come in or are you two planning on having a party on your own?”

Cally whirled to face the group of men standing on the other side of Roxy’s screen door. “Now where would the fun be in that?”

“Talk about a woman after my own heart.” Max shoved open the door and led the way inside.

Cally slid her gaze over them, admiring how each was just as handsome as the next. She stopped her appraisal to give Max more of a look. Even among the sexy group, he was the one who made her heart skip a beat.

Damn, but he’s hot.
She licked her lips, admiring his body. He was solidly built, not in a too-much-muscle bodybuilder kind of way, but in an easy way that said he didn’t have to work out to keep his body ripped. She always liked men with dark hair and eyes, men who exuded a subtle dangerous vibe, but he took that dangerous edge to a whole different level. Every time he glanced at her, her pussy tightened in anticipation.

Could the danger she sensed be real? She tossed the thought away, the memory of Max coming to her rescue taking its place.

She took another swallow of her drink and made the decision to concentrate her attentions on him. “Help yourselves to the beer, guys.”

Roxy swayed over to offer Ranlon a drink. “Yeah, please do. Sorry I don’t have anything stronger.”

Ranlon smiled his thanks to Roxy, then slid his arm around her waist. The intense look he gave Roxy mimicked the way Max looked at her.

“This will do fine.” Max snagged a bottle then sauntered over to Cally. “Wanna sit?”

She followed him to the large two-part sectional couch that spanned two walls and sat beside him. Close beside him. Heat radiated from him in waves and she squirmed in her seat, once more feeling the tug between her legs. Beads of perspiration crawled down her spine. “Roxy, do you have the air conditioner on?”

Roxy laughed at whatever Ranlon had just told her. “It’s on full blast.” She wiggled her eyebrows at Cally. “It is hot in here, but not from the weather.”

“You can say that again.” Nick plunked down on the other side of Cally. “I really liked your singing.”

“She writes the songs she sings, too.”

Cally shot Roxy a glare, but she had to admit she liked it when her friend bragged about her work.

“Really? You’re very talented.” Max settled in closer to her.

“Thanks.” She blushed, not from the compliment, but from Max gliding his hand along her leg. Sizzling under his touch, she closed her eyes and imagined his hand moving farther up and to the right. She let her legs fall apart, just wide enough for his hand to fit in case he kept moving it closer.

Jimmy found Roxy’s iPod station and started fiddling with the settings as William took a beer, then leaned against the far wall.

“Hey, how about we get some tunes going?” In seconds, Jimmy had music blaring from the speakers.

Roxy took Ranlon by the hand and started gyrating next to him. He kept rhythm with the song and moved with her, his body close to hers as she shimmied her breasts. Jimmy joined in to dance behind her, his bulging crotch close to her bottom.

“Come on. Let’s join the fun.” Nick set his bottle on the side table then grabbed Cally by the arm and tugged her onto her feet. Resting his hands on her hips, he swayed with the music, enticing her to dance.

“I liked your dancing, too.”

She smiled at Nick, enjoying the way he moved. Reaching up, she ruffled his red hair. “I don’t usually like red hair, but I like yours.”

“Yeah? So does it matter that my red came from a bottle?”

She twirled, letting the beat of the music flow into her. “Nope. Not a bit.” Again, she twirled, this time ending up with her back to Nick. She grinned as Max jumped up and started dancing in front of her.

Everyone but William danced around the small room and managed on purpose to bump into the girls. Roxy and Cally laughed, enjoying the attention. Still, Cally remained close to Max, unable to stray from him. Just as she wanted him to, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. He rested his palms on her hips and moved with her to the beat of the music.

“Do you guys live at the Matheson ranch?”

Max blinked, giving her the impression that she’d caught him off guard. “So I guess you’ve heard of the place?”

“Sure.” She studied his emotionless face and felt her stomach tighten. Why beat around the bush? “Are the stories true?”

He stopped moving for a moment, but it was enough to signal an alarm in her head. “What do you think?”

Her breathing quickened. “I think I believe what I see with my own eyes and not what a bunch of old men gossip about at the barbershop.”

His laugh eased her worry and lightened the mood. “I think you’re a smart woman.” He met her gaze almost as though he wanted to dive into her soul. “And a very beautiful one.”

“I’m glad you think I’m both smart and beautiful.” She tipped her chin, her sight settling on the muscles of his hard chest no shirt could fully hide.

“Why’s that?”

“You how the saying goes. Beauty fades, but stupid stays.”

She smiled, loving the way his laugh made her feel. She could live a lifetime hearing his laugh.

They talked, their dance becoming more about wanting to be with each other than with keeping rhythm to the beat. They spoke in light tones, exchanging bits of information.

He loved pepperoni pizza while she craved the veggie kind. He cheered for the Texas Longhorns football team while she was a closet Oklahoma Sooners fan. He liked rock and roll more than country—with the exception of her songs—and she vowed to convert him, promising one day to take him to the Grand Ole Opry.

She loved his dark eyes, the lines around them, and the way he tilted his head whenever he didn’t understand her answer. Laying her head on his chest, she listened to his heartbeat and sighed as he caressed her back.

At last Cally had to stop, begging off to take a break and grab another drink. William had taken Nick’s spot on the couch and kept a silent vigil on the antics of the others, and she joined him, hoping Max would follow.

“Don’t you like to dance?” Cally chugged half her beer, the pleasant buzz spreading over her.

“Not much.” William’s gaze settled on her. “I like other things a lot more.”

She played the innocent, even batting her eyes. “Oh. What other things?”

The corners of his mouth tilted up. “Sex. I like sex, and I’m sure I’d love sex with you and your friend.”

“You don’t mince words, do you?”

“Do you want me to?”

Max eased to the other side of her. “Is this guy bothering you?”

She could’ve said a lot of things including thanking him again for rescuing her from Burke’s clutches. But the beer warmed her stomach and lightened her head enough for her to take the brave step. “Not as much as you bother me.”

Max jerked back, confusion etched in his brow. “Sorry? I’m bothering you?”

She handed William her bottle and shifted toward Max. “Yeah, you are. But in a good way.” She pressed a palm to his chest and almost cried out with joy at the hardness underneath her skin.

He crushed his mouth to hers, taking her breath away. Sliding his hands down her back, he tugged her T-shirt out of her skirt, unhooked her bra in one smooth motion, and tossed them to the floor.

“Holy shit.”

Cally started to cover her naked breasts, but Max stopped her.

“You can say that again, William. Holy shit is right.” His features softened. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Once again, she blushed.
Since when do I blush so much?
She opened her mouth to thank him, but was interrupted by Roxy’s squeal.

Ranlon picked up her friend then flung her onto the other section of the couch. He yanked off her shirt then followed it with her jeans. Latching onto her nipple, Ranlon worked his clothes off.

“They sure hit it off.”