Isaiah's Haven

Chapter Five

Isaiah walked into Haven at a little past eleven o’clock that night. He’d fought with himself for hours, forming one argument after another as to why he should stay away. None of them mattered. He needed to see Meredith.

And there she was. As though she sensed his presence, she turned her head away from the couple she was talking to and their eyes met. He’d thought that last night was an anomaly. That seeing her again wouldn’t feel like taking a punch to the heart and a roundhouse kick to the gut. He was wrong.

If anything, the impact was even more striking, her appeal even more pronounced. Like last night, she was wearing a slinky, form-fitting dress. This one was silver and was slit all the way to the top of her thigh on the right side, allowing him a glimpse of her long, shapely leg as she sauntered across the room. Her movements were unhurried. Graceful.

Her hair was up in some kind of twist and anchored at the back of her head. Isaiah’s fingers itched to tug away the clips holding it and watch her glorious locks cascade down around her.

Her eyes seemed darker and more mysterious. Probably a trick of the lighting, but effective nonetheless. Long, thick lashes framed them, brushing against her high cheekbones when she blinked. Her lips were stained a dark burgundy color that highlighted their sensual shape. But there was no welcoming smile to be found.

All the fatigue, all the aggravations of the day washed away as adrenaline coursed through his veins, pumping up his muscles and sending much needed energy racing through his body. He felt alive with anticipation.

Her gaze flicked over his shoulder and he knew he was about to get some unwanted company.

“You were told not to come back.”

Isaiah turned and faced Hank. Waves of aggression rolled off him. The younger male had been away from his post when he’d arrived. It was wishful thinking to imagine he’d go unnoticed for long, not with them watching for him.

“I didn’t listen.” He started to give Hank his back, to let the other werewolf know he didn’t view him as a threat. A low growl rose up from the younger man.

“Control yourself,” Meredith hissed, placing her hand on Hank’s arm. “The last thing we need is one of you out of control.” She included him in her scowl, but Isaiah knew she wasn’t worried about him losing it, but the younger male.

“And you,” she whirled on him. “What are you doing here?”

He raised his hand and stroked two fingers down the soft curve of her cheek. “I came to see you. I told you I’d be back.”

Waves of frustration, anger and, finally, acceptance rolled off her. “You’ve seen me. Now leave.”

He shook his head. “I haven’t eaten since this morning.” He hadn’t taken the time after he’d slipped away from his surveillance of Riley’s Garage. He’d hit his motel room long enough to shower and change before catching a cab to the club. The fact that he hadn’t walked, hadn’t taken the time to stretch his legs was telling. He hadn’t been able to get here fast enough to suit him.

He glanced around and saw a table for two over near the edge of the small dance floor and started toward it. Hank made to follow him, but Meredith stopped him. “You need to keep a watch on the door.”

He frowned as he caught an underlying tone of fear from Meredith. What was she afraid of? He heard the swish of material and the click of her heels on the hardwood floor and knew she was right behind him. A whiff of her perfume assailed his nostrils and his dick immediately stood at attention. No doubt about it. There was some powerful chemistry between them.

He stood by one of the chairs, his hands on the back of it as he waited for Meredith to sit. She gave a frustrated huff and slid onto the seat. The last thing she wanted to do was bring more attention to them so he knew he’d win this small battle. Isaiah took the chair nearest the wall. The vantage point gave him a good view of the entire club.

“You can’t stay,” she began.

He leaned across the table and caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “What’s wrong?” Her skin was so soft, so inviting. He wanted to kiss away the worry lines between her brows. He shook his head. This was so unlike him. He knew he should be concerned about what that meant, but he couldn’t work up the energy to care.

“What’s wrong?” she repeated, looking at him like he was out of his mind. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. A male I don’t know has come sniffing around and I don’t know what his game is.” She glanced around to make certain no one could hear them before she continued. “Why are you here?”

Isaiah sat back in his chair and studied her. He figured he had about two minutes before another male member of her small pack made his presence known. Her sons had already been alerted to his presence and were glaring at him from behind the bar. The other males he’d met last night were stationed on either side of the club, their eyes glued to him and Meredith. The young female werewolf was nowhere to be seen.

He shook his head and sighed, knowing she probably wouldn’t believe him. “I came here on business for my pack and I happened in here by accident. I never came looking for you, Meredith. Nobody sent me. I’m no danger to you or yours.

“I had to see you again,” he continued when she sat there watching him. “There’s something between us.” He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Damned if I can explain it.”

“I’m nearing heat,” came her wry reply.

Isaiah chuckled. “Yeah, I caught that. But it’s more than that. I was drawn in here by your voice, by you.”

“You ’bout ready to leave?” The challenge came from off to the left as one of Meredith’s sons stepped up beside her.

“Michael.” Isaiah could hear the warning note in her voice.

The younger male shook his head, a muscle in his jaw rippling as he clenched his teeth. “He needs to go.”

“All this focus on me is attracting attention,” Isaiah pointed out. “That’s exactly what you don’t want.”

“If you don’t leave, I can give you some help,” Michael threatened.

Isaiah bared his teeth. “You’re welcome to try.”

“Enough.” The words were softly spoken, but they were solid steel. Meredith stood and pushed in her chair. “Get something to eat. Stay and enjoy the music. But we’re done.”

She turned her back on him and headed toward the bar. Michael shot Isaiah a triumphant look over his shoulder as he rested his palm on his mother’s back to guide her.

Isaiah tensed. He knew Michael was her son, but he didn’t like seeing any male touch her. Jealousy was a new emotion for him. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like anything that made him feel as though he was out of control.

He thought about leaving, about getting up and walking out of here, out of Meredith’s life forever. Except he couldn’t make himself do it. For the first time, he had an inkling of what Joshua felt for Alex.

Not that he planned to mate with Meredith, even if she’d have him, which he suspected she wouldn’t. She was too used to running the show, to being alpha. He suspected there was a darn good reason why she, a beautiful werewolf in her prime, was running around without a male beside her.

All he wanted was one night in her bed. Maybe two. The sexual attraction sizzling between them was off the charts. She felt it as much as he did. The trick was to get her to acknowledge it.

The same waitress from last night hurried up to his table and placed a menu in front of him. “Meredith sent me to take your order.”

A slow smile turned up the corners of his mouth. She must not want him to go if she was encouraging him to have a meal. Either that or she was trying to rush his meal so he’d leave.

Isaiah opened the menu and began to order. He was starving. “I’ll start with a double burger with the works, fries and a basket of ribs and wings.” He rattled off the rest of his order. Tammy’s eyes grew wider the more he ordered. When he was done, she took the menu and headed toward the kitchen.

Two hours later, he was pleasantly full and enjoying the three-piece jazz combo as they wound down for the night. The food had been excellent and he’d had the added attraction of watching Meredith all evening.

Every muscle in his body was tense with arousal. He’d had an erection the entire time, a testament to the attraction he felt for her. It had been both arousing and torturous to watch Meredith laughing and chatting with patrons. She had an easy stride, more of a glide as she circled the room over and over again, checking on people. A word here, a pat on the shoulder there. Bringing a smile to everyone.

Everyone but him.

She’d made a point of avoiding him. He didn’t know whether to laugh at her audacity or drag her over his knee and spank her for torturing him all night long.

At least the rest of the pack had settled down. Oh, they were still all watching him, but they weren’t quite so obvious about it. Even the younger female werewolf returned to work, although she kept to the far side of the floor, serving customers well away from him.

The club was filled with people having a good time. Laughter and chatter surrounded him. The smell of perfume, sweat and arousal mixed with that of the liquor and uneaten food, creating a scent that was unique to such places.

He should have hated it. Shouldn’t have been able to last a half hour, let alone several. To say he disliked being closed in and surrounded by humans was an understatement. Yet, he felt none of the clawing pressure to escape that he usually did. Both he and his wolf were content to watch Meredith. Her mere presence seemed to calm the agitation that constantly plagued him.

Either that or he was desperate to get laid.

He wanted to believe that. There was no future for him here. Meredith had an established life and seemed quite happy without a male butting his nose into her business. There was no way he could permanently settle in the city. Impossible.

But that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy one another’s company, burn up the sheets and make some very pleasant memories. He pondered for a bit and wondered if he could convince her of that.

The band announced their last song of the night. He hated to see it end. Meredith chose that moment to walk across the dance floor. She was obviously heading for the stage, but he rose quickly and intercepted her. “Dance with me.”

Heat rolled off his body in waves as desire punched him in the gut. She was getting closer to going into heat. She smelled ripe and desirable. He wanted to rip off her clothes right here, right now, and mount her until they both yelled in pleasure.

Sweat popped out on his temple as he slowly ran a finger over her bare shoulder, down her biceps and back up again.

“I shouldn’t,” she began, and he knew she was going to say no.

He forestalled that by putting one hand on the small of her back and urging her closer. She put a hand on his chest in protest, and he captured it and began to sway with her in his arms. “Just one dance,” he murmured.

She bit her bottom lip. He could practically hear her mind working through the pros and cons of the situation. He held his breath and breathed a sigh of relief when she finally nodded.

She didn’t look at him, but stared at his chest as if she found it totally fascinating. The tension gripping him eased slightly as they began to move, their bodies swaying easily as though they’d danced together a hundred times. There was none of the awkwardness usually associated with a first dance. The floor wasn’t quite full, but there were other couples taking advantage of the final song. It was slow and mellow, with an undertone of sensuality that stoked the already burning embers between them.

He nuzzled her hair, loving the feel of the silky softness against his rough cheek, the fresh scent of her shampoo teasing his nose. It was something floral that made him think of a patch of wildflowers in a summer meadow. His palm made circles around the small of her back, urging her even closer.

There was no way she couldn’t notice his rather large erection pressing against her belly. She swayed and her breasts rubbed against his chest. He caught his breath and gave a low growl.

Her head came up and her lips twitched. The little she-wolf was laughing at him. She knew very well how damn aroused he was. In retaliation, he released his grip on her hand and ran his fingers down the thin silver strap at her shoulder, following it down the slope of her breast and into the deep vee of her cleavage.

Her lips parted on a low moan and a surge of arousal hit him. He could smell the sweet cream dampening her panties and knew it was because of him.

Isaiah danced her to the edge of the floor and beyond, tucking them into a dark corner behind a post. She tensed, but she didn’t protest. He leaned down and touched his lips to hers.

This was crazy. Meredith had no idea what madness had led her to agree to a dance with Isaiah. Not that she’d actually agreed. It was more that he’d pulled her into his arms and started moving. Not that she’d protested.

There was something about the tall, pushy male that drew her. She’d watched him sitting alone at his table, all the while doing her best not to let him or any of her pack know what she was doing. He, on the other hand, made no pretense that he was doing anything else but watching her.

For hours, she’d felt his eyes on her body as she moved through the club. It had been as potent as a physical caress.

Although she’d smiled and chatted with customers and friends, her breasts had swelled until her dress felt unbearably constricting and confining.

And her sex. Dear heaven, she ached so bad she wanted to scream. Her underwear was soaked and every step she took was torture as it rubbed the crotch of her panties against her swollen clit.

By the time Isaiah had put his hand on her, she’d been ready to jump him and climb on top of his rather impressive erection. It didn’t matter how many times she told herself it was simple biology. She wanted him.

Dancing with him simply continued the foreplay they’d been indulging in all night long. Because that’s what this was, and they were both mature enough to understand that.

She’d made sure he was able to watch her as she’d chatted and worked tonight. All but taunting him to come and get her. A male in less control of himself would have either left or made an overt play for her. He’d done neither. It was then she’d known she was dealing with a mature male, one who was a skilled tracker and hunter, able to wait patiently for his prey.

Knowing that, she’d have been much better off leaving the floor of battle and retiring to her room for the night. But she’d never been a coward, not since the day she’d taken her sons and run, and she had no intentions of starting now.

And, if she was being honest with herself, there was a part of her that enjoyed being chased by such a virile male. For the first time in her eighty-five years, she felt a longing for a particular male. It scared her even as it lured her.

By the time he drew her into the darkness, she’d expected him to ravage her. He’d surprised her yet again by barely touching his lips to hers. Bastard. He knew that would make her want even more.

Even knowing that it was a sensual trap set by a master, she went up on her toes and deepened the kiss. He made a low growl that went right to her core, making her inner muscles clench with need.

She touched her tongue to his and he slid his along hers and into her mouth. His large hand cupped the back of her head, tilting it slightly for a better fit. Oh, he tasted fine. Hot and masculine. Relentless.

She loved his eyes. They were the color of bittersweet dark chocolate—her favorite kind—and fringed with thick lashes that did nothing to detract from his masculinity.

His heart was pounding beneath the hand she had pressed against his chest. He was as aroused as she was. She could feel the heat coming off his big body, the tension in his thick muscles.

Raising her hands, she glided her palms over his heavy biceps and shoulders. His hair was down around his shoulders and she sifted her fingers through it.

He responded by yanking her lower body more firmly into the curve of his. Her mound rubbed enticingly against his erection. Oh, that feels so good. She hooked her right thigh over his hip, grateful for the slit in her dress that allowed the motion.

With his hand on her ass guiding her, she rubbed her mound over his hard shaft, imaging how good it would feel if they were both naked, her pussy gliding over his thick shaft.

She sucked in a breath and started to push away, knowing she had to stop this madness, but Isaiah worked his hips against hers. The movement sent his erection sliding over her sex in such a delicious way she gasped. She tilted her head back as she tried to get enough air into her lungs to keep from passing out.

It was too good. It wasn’t nearly enough.

The band stopped abruptly and some of the houselights came on. Meredith gasped again, this time with dismay instead of arousal. She pushed on his chest. “We have to stop.”

She pulled her leg down and her dress settled around her. Isaiah’s grip tightened briefly and she held her breath. Would he release her or would he try to hold her? After what seemed like an eternity but was probably only a few seconds, he dropped his hand by his side. Immediately, she felt cold without his touch, even though it was what she’d wanted.

Flustered, she brushed a hand over her hair and straightened her dress straps. Anything but look at Isaiah. His hair was slightly rumpled where she’d run her fingers through it and his eyes were slumberous and inviting. There was no mistaking the hard-on pressing against the front of his jeans.

“You have to go.” It seemed as though she was a broken record when it came to Isaiah. Not that he ever listened to her. But she had to get him out of here before she did something stupid like invite him up to her apartment. That would not go over well with the rest of the pack.

He frowned and raised his hand to touch her face. She took a step back.

“I was hoping we could continue this at your place.” His voice was thick with arousal and steeped with sensual promise.

She pressed her thighs together to ease the ache that never seemed to leave her these days. Being around him seemed to heighten it. But that was no surprise. Mother Nature did her best to make certain the male and female of the species wanted to mate.

But she had to be smart. She had a pack, mostly filled with half-breeds. Would he still want her if he knew? Worse, would he attack her and her children? She couldn’t risk it.

Dragging her tattered composure around her, she faced him. “You had your dance. The club is now closed.”

While she’d been standing there dealing with Isaiah and the aftermath of what had happened between them, her family had cleared out the last of the patrons and staff. She sensed concern emanating from all of them and knew Isaiah’s continued presence here was undermining her authority with the pack.

“It’s past time for you to go.” She put on her haughtiest voice and manner as she waved toward the door.

Instead of getting angry, Isaiah gave her a look filled with understanding and a touch of pity. That fired her anger. “And don’t come back. We’re done.”

He started past her, pausing long enough to whisper in her ear. Not that it mattered. With their preternatural hearing and the deathly quiet in the club, the others could hear him as easily as if they were standing next to them. “I’ve told you before. We’re far from done.”

She didn’t turn to watch him leave, but she knew the minute the door closed behind him. The atmosphere was different. The room felt…empty.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face her family. They were all watching her with varying degrees of concern. There was also a tinge of fear and anger.

She held up her hand. “I’m not talking about this tonight. We’ll take watches again like last night. Michael, you’re first. Work out a schedule amongst yourself and call me if you sense anything suspicious.”

No one spoke as she strode past, but she could feel their gazes on her as she left the room. Isaiah had created this tension in her pack. No, that wasn’t exactly true. She had. She’d allowed this male, this stranger, to disrupt their lives. And it had to stop.

Now if only she could make her body and her emotions listen.

She let herself into her apartment and shut the door firmly behind her.