The Mane Event

Prologue

“Mr. Shaw, you need to get up. Now.”

Brendon Shaw, resting on his knees and probably dying, cringed at that voice. Like ten miles of bad road. Still, it gave him something to focus on. Something to keep him from blacking out completely. He couldn’t allow himself to slow this woman down. He knew her…from somewhere. Remembered her scent from somewhere. Even knew that frightening voice.

More important, she was full-human. Even though the bastards who had done this to him were now getting torn apart by a Clan of hyenas, soon those hyenas would be coming back for them. For her. They were not a breed big on loyalty or kindness. They always took the weak ones. She was weak because she was human. He was weak because he was bleeding to death on their tunnel floors. So he had to get her out of here. Now.

Still, he wasn’t a miracle worker. He had at least three broken ribs, a broken collarbone, broken kneecap, and an interesting amount of internal bleeding. If he could get someplace safe to allow his body to heal, he would probably survive. In fact, he’d heal up completely in a few days—if he lived through the night. He didn’t think that would be happening, though. Either he’d bleed to death trying to get out of these tunnels or the hyenas would finish him off. Either way, he wouldn’t allow this woman to go down with him. So this woman—who the hell is she?—had to go.

Shaw shook his head. “I can’t.”

“I can’t carry you, Mr. Shaw.”

Persistent little thing, wasn’t she?

He tried again. “Forget me. Go.” He could hold off the hyenas for a little bit. Not much fight left in him, but they’d be so busy mauling him and ripping his limbs off, she’d have enough time to get out—if she’d only leave.

She gave a soft sigh of annoyance. “I can’t leave you here, Mr. Shaw.”

Ahhh. Now he remembered. The cop. The cop with the great tits and Mace Llewellyn’s scent all over her.

No wonder she wouldn’t leave him. She was doing her civic duty—or whatever. Still, if she didn’t move her pretty ass…

The scent of wolves hit him fast and hard. Great. Now he had to deal with wolves and hyenas, after getting the shit kicked out of him by low-class lions. Man, what a suck-ass Christmas Eve.

But the woman seemed to take the sight of a large She-wolf rather well, cocking her pretty head to one side and asking, “Sissy Mae?” The wolf yipped in response. “I’m lost and he’s running out of steam.”

Perhaps the biggest understatement of the night. He’d start coughing up blood any second, which was always such fun.

Screams, roars, and the lovely hyena laughing howl—like nails on a chalkboard—reminded him they were quickly running out of time. Mace’s female had played it smart and pointed out to the head of the hyena Clan exactly who had killed her lion lover. That had focused hyena attention on the three bastards who were seconds from shooting him in the back of the head like some goddamn human. He’d find the whole turnabout thing pretty funny if he weren’t dying.

The She-wolf put her head back and howled, calling to her Pack.

Either the dogs appeared quickly or he passed out for a while because suddenly he was standing on his own two feet, using the tunnel wall as leverage, and a good number of canines were standing around him. Two males shifted into human and grabbed hold of his arms. Normally, he’d never allow some canine to touch him, but under the circumstances beggars really couldn’t be choosers.

Besides, he was going downhill fast. Things started going dark as soon as they took him to the stairs. Then he smelled trash, coffee, wet New York streets, and…and something else. Something wonderful and powerful and delicious enough to make his mouth water and his dick get hard. Kind of a miracle with him, ya know, bleeding to death. But, man, talk about giving him a reason to live.

He somehow managed to open his eyes, and that’s when he looked into the prettiest face he’d ever seen. Beautiful hazel eyes more yellow than brown, a pug nose he had the feeling had been broken once or twice. Plus a spattering of freckles across the bridge and a little less on her cheeks. Her lips were full and promised all sorts of wonderful skills, and when she grinned at him he knew he might be falling in love.

Then she said, “Don’t you worry about nothin’, darlin’. We’ll take good care of you.” While the rest of her Pack completely ignored their conversation, her grin turned wicked and so blatantly sexual, he thought he might come right there. Those pretty eyes swept him from head to foot. “I can’t allow this body to go to waste, now can I? It would be unfair to female-kind.” Her hand reached out and swept across his brow. Such gentle, cool fingers. Soft and caressing. Nothing had ever felt so wonderful before. “Close your eyes, darlin’. Sleep. When you wake up, I promise you’ll be safe and breathing.”

Unable to fight it anymore, Brendon Shaw closed his eyes and let wonderful blackness come. He didn’t really know if he’d ever wake up again, like she said. But he did know one thing…he was definitely in love.

Chapter One

That scent hit him first. His nostril twitched and his lips drew back over his fangs. His body felt on fire.

The fever. Hurt bad enough, shifters would get a fever that nearly ripped them from the inside out. Once it finished moving through the system, though, the chances of surviving what would kill a normal human increased about eighty percent.

Brendon knew a really bad fever had him by the balls. His body shook and his hands kept clenching and unclenching into fists. It would be a long, strange trip back to normal, but his other options were much less pleasant.

And that goddamn scent only made things worse. It called to the lion buried inside him. Much more and he wouldn’t be able to hold it back.

Much more and he might come all over his sheets.

Biting back a snarl, he forced his eyes open. He knew by the way everything around him looked, his eyes were lion’s eyes. His hands damn near claws. He could feel the tips tearing into his palms when he clenched his hands.

He didn’t care, though. He didn’t care his entire body hurt. He didn’t care the fever raced through him like some kind of California wildfire. No. All he cared about? The owner of that scent.

Scanning the hospital room he now realized he was safely in, he found her by the window. She sat in a chair, turned so he could see her profile. She had her oh-so-long legs stretched out in front of her and her extremely large boot-covered feet in another chair opposite from her. A big hardback book rested on her lap, but apparently it didn’t hold her interest since she seemed quite entertained by throwing nuts up into the air and trying to catch them in her mouth. She wasn’t very good at it, and he found that kind of surprising. Dogs could usually catch anything in their mouth.

And that’s when it hit him. She was Pack.

“Shit.”

The muttered word startled her and she turned to look at him, the nut she’d only moments before thrown in the air slamming into her cheek. She blinked and stared at him.

He stared back.

“What are you doin’ up, darlin’?” she asked softly. “The doc said he gave you enough drugs to knock out an elephant for a week.”

Oh man. That accent. Painfully Southern. Still, that accent with those eyes…all he could think about was her whispering how she was going to come with that goddamn accent.

She dropped a big, fat yellow highlighter and a blue pen in the middle of her book and closed it. He realized she held a textbook. He looked at her face, praying she wasn’t some twenty-year-old. He liked his women a little older. A little more experienced.

No. This wasn’t some boring, naïve kid who expected him to make all the decisions. He really knew it when she swung those long legs out of the chair and stood up. Like most wolf females, she was tall and powerfully built. At least six feet with strong shoulders and arms. No model thinness for this female. She had a body that could definitely handle a rough and tumble time in bed and leave a man desperate for more.

She was what his grandfather would have called a “tall drink of water.” Those long legs encased in worn jeans and her T-shirt washed so many times it wouldn’t take but one little pull to rip it completely off her body.

She ambled over to him—and that’s what it was, an amble—until she reached the bed. Her body close to his, she touched the back of her hand to his forehead.

“Good Lord.” With a worried frown, she put one hand on the back of his neck and the other on his cheek. Such cool, soft hands. “Oh, you poor baby. You are on fire.”

She had no idea.

“I better get the doc.” She took a step away from him, but he grabbed hold of her arm.

“What’s the matter, darlin’? Worried I won’t come back?” She smiled and it almost ripped his guts out. He’d never seen anything prettier. “Well don’t you let it bother you one bit. I’ll be right outside talking to the doc.” Her hand stroked his cheek and he briefly closed his eyes, nuzzling her hand and purring.

“Hhhhmm. That fever must be bad if you’re making sounds I never heard before. The only sounds I usually hear from you cats are roaring and hissing. I better get the doc.” Again she tried to pull away, and Brendon wasn’t having it.

With one good yank, he dragged her onto his lap.

“Hey, hey, darlin’! Now wait a second.”

Brendon pulled her around so she straddled his waist, her generous tits right in his face. To keep her where she was, he gripped her ass and pulled her hard against his growing-by-the-second erection.

“Look, hoss, I don’t want to hurt you…”

He growled, kind of wanting her to hurt him. Within reason, of course.

“…but I will if you don’t get those big cat paws off my ass.”

Ignoring her, Brendon buried his face between her breasts and breathed deep. Wow, she smelled so damn good.

“You need to stop that. I know you’re sick and all but—”

He nuzzled one nipple then the other.

“Stop that!”

“Stay with me,” he groaned against her breast, his voice sounding more animal than human.

“I am with you, and if you’d just let me go—”

“Fuck me.”

“Okay. That’s it.”

Strong hands slapped against his shoulders and she pushed herself away from him as much as she could. He still had her around the waist, but her tits were suddenly out of his reach. He didn’t like that one bit.

“You need to get control of yourself, hoss. Right now.”

“Kiss me.”

“No.”

“Kiss me and I’ll let you go.” For the moment, anyway.

Even though her hands were strong against his shoulders, she didn’t give the immediate “no” he would expect.

“I promise,” he persisted. “Just kiss me.”

She pushed away from him again, testing his strength. He held on tighter, not willing to release her. If she thought the fever would make him weak, she was very much mistaken. Instead, it had only made him dangerously strong.

“Dammit.” She let out an exasperated rush of breath. “All right. Fine. But make it quick.”

Reluctantly releasing her ass, Brendon slid his hands up until they braced against her back. He pulled her forward and he leaned in, those pretty eyes watching him, wary and a little bit curious.

Brendon brushed his lips against hers. A small, completely nonthreatening move. She didn’t do anything back. Merely stared at him. Since she didn’t try and rip his throat out, he came in for another pass, this time lingering a bit.

Still, she didn’t make any moves one way or the other.

Pulling her close to his body, Brendon closed his mouth over hers. Her hands remained on his shoulders, tense like the rest of her, ready to push him away at any moment. He licked her bottom lip, the tip of his tongue tracing a line between. Her hands tightened on his shoulders but instead of pulling him off, she gripped him tight and kissed him back.

And holy hell…what a kiss!

Rhonda Lee Reed, you are a whore!

Yup. She could hear her momma’s voice clear as a bell in her head. Telling her the same thing she told her when she found Ronnie in the backseat of Johnny Patterson’s Pinto with Ronnie’s favorite pair of red cowboy boots plastered to his roof.

And here she was again. Involving herself with the wrong kind of guy. Actually, the wrong species. Plus sick. The man had a horrible bout of fever.

He should be resting. He should be sipping fluids to keep his temperature down and moaning in agony. He should not have some stranger’s tongue down his throat.

So she needed to stop this. Now.

But damn if the man wasn’t an amazing kisser.

Ronnie should have known as soon as she looked into that gorgeous face the night before she was in trouble. Even bloody and broken from the beating he took, absolutely nothing could take away from his raw beauty. Sharp cheekbones and an almost muzzlelike nose did nothing but enhance the man’s sinfully full lips. Lips Ronnie had no problem imagining all over her body.

It was when he opened his eyes and looked at her, though, that she felt every female hormone in her body suddenly zap to life. Those astounding dark gold eyes framed by coal-black lashes completely did her in. Add in that six-foot-six, nearly three-hundred-pound, muscle-bound body and Rhonda Lee Reed was in hog heaven.

So not surprisingly she’d lost utter control of this situation.

One second staring at the blindingly boring Engineering 101 textbook, wondering if her plan to go back to college continued to be one of the better ideas she’d recently had, and the next—in the lap of a damn cat with his tongue in her mouth.

At the end of the day, though, she blamed Sissy Mae Smith for this. Her best friend since she’d turned three, that evil female had gotten Ronnie into more trouble than seemed possible for two good ol’ She-wolves from Tennessee. There were rock stars with cleaner pasts than her and Sissy. Not that they ever did drugs or anything run of the mill like that. Hell, who needed drugs when Sissy had no qualms about getting her drunk on tequila, wrapping a bungie cord around her waist, and shoving her off the side of a building with Sissy’s famous “Would you just trust me” yelled after her? Then there was that slight run-in with the Mexican police, and that little town in Germany that ordered them never to return…

Oh, and those Vegas cops—yeah, they wouldn’t be going back to Nevada anytime soon either.

Honestly, Sissy Mae could start a knife fight in a convent.

Still, Sissy wasn’t the one tussling with an overgrown house cat. She and the rest of the Smith Pack were off enjoying Christmas day while Ronnie stayed behind to babysit. Which, in the big scheme of things, was definitely something his Pride should be doing. Where were those damn females anyway? One had shown up, seeming extremely “put out,” and once the doc told them Shaw would live, she’d skedaddled right out of there. Didn’t even go in to check on him. And that’s when Sissy Mae sucker punched Ronnie.

“We can’t leave him alone,” she’d said. “No one wants to wake up in a hospital alone,” she’d said.

“And?” Sissy’s big brother, Bobby Ray, had demanded. “What are we supposed to do about it?”

Ronnie knew how this would play out and had quickly ducked behind Mace Llewellyn to hide. Like Shaw, Mace was a big buck. So maybe if Sissy Mae couldn’t see her…

“Ronnie Lee will stay. Won’tcha, Ronnie?”

If Ronnie thought she could get away with it, she would have spit the water she’d just gulped down, right in Sissy’s face. Because now that Sissy had picked her specifically, no other She-wolf would stay. So either they all left and Shaw would wake up alone in a strange hospital or Ronnie would have to stay.

With an entire Pack to protect her, plus three big brothers, her pain-in-the-ass momma, and of course Daddy, Ronnie would never wake up in a hospital alone. The thought anyone would have to go through that, even a cat, made her feel like she had to do something.

Grudgingly, through gritted teeth, she’d agreed. “Fine. I’ll stay.”

Now here she was necking like a horny seventeen-year-old with a man she didn’t even know. Okay, and true, this wasn’t the first time she’d done this. She knew that. Hell, there were a number of .38 Special and Charlie Daniels Band concerts where she and Sissy Mae had left quite the indelible mark. But she’d promised herself three weeks ago, when she’d turned thirty, that those wild days were over. Instead she’d go and get her degree. Try staying in one place longer than five minutes, which meant no more backpacking across Europe, Asia, and Africa with a nutbag—aka Sissy Mae. And no more fooling around with shifters she barely knew.

What made this even worse? The poor bastard wasn’t even in his right frame of mind. She should be pushing him off her and tucking his big—exquisite—body back into the hospital bed so he could get over that fever in peace. She definitely shouldn’t be tightening her thighs around his waist and pulling him closer.

Only whores do that, Ronnie Lee.

There went her mother’s voice again. Lately she hadn’t been able to get that woman’s damn voice out of her head. It was starting to make her crazy!

Slapping her hands against his big shoulders, Ronnie pushed him back. “Stop. Stop. We need to stop.”

“Why?” he murmured, leaning in close to nibble her neck.

“Cause this is…um…” Ronnie had a hard time concentrating with him swirling his tongue against a spot right under her ear, but she had to try. “It’s…um…something.”

His teeth gripped the wet flesh of her neck and bit down. Not too hard but hard enough. Her fangs burst out of her gums as her body shook.

“We have to stop. Right now!” Never had she lost control like this before. Her fangs didn’t just “slip out.” Ronnie Lee always had control when it came to males. Always. That’s what made it so easy to walk away the next morning. And she always walked away the next morning.

“Don’t make me stop,” he begged, his enormous hands trying desperately to pull her back against him. “Please.”

Yup. Definitely caught in the fever, because lions didn’t ask for anything. They sure as hell didn’t say please or beg. It wasn’t in their nature.

He gripped her waist and yanked her tight into his lap. She could feel the powerful heat of his hard erection rubbing against the inside of her thigh. Much more of this and she’d be lost. Much more of this and it wouldn’t matter if her momma never let her back in the family home.

Ronnie shoved him back while forcing herself in the opposite direction. His grip loosened and she scrambled away from him and off the bed.

“Don’t,” he ordered. “Don’t leave me.”

Trying to get her breath back, Ronnie shook her head. “I’m not leaving you, hoss. I’m just not having sex with you either.”

He growled, baring huge fangs. “Why not?”

Ronnie walked back to her things and grabbed the painfully boring textbook she’d been hopelessly trying to read. “Because I have sense.”

“Your sense sucks.” Lion eyes stared at her from under a gorgeous mane of gold and brown hair that reached his shoulders. Shaw’s big body leaned forward, and Ronnie gave him about ten seconds before he leaped off that bed at her. “Come here,” he snarled.

She did, the book still in her hands. “What?” she asked once she stood near him.

Those gold eyes swept her from head to toe and back, leaving all sorts of interesting tingling in their wake. “Stay with me. In this bed. Now.”

She nodded. “Okay, hoss. Okay.” She stepped closer, brushing his cheek with her hand, and he closed his eyes on a sigh.

Her own fangs bared, Ronnie grabbed the eight-hundred-pound book in both hands and swung. It slammed into Shaw’s jaw, knocking the man on his side and completely unconscious.

Tossing the book back across the room, Ronnie shook her head and sighed. “Damn cat.”

“Is he supposed to be that horny?”

The doctor, a cutie-pie leopard, glanced back at the nurses who had to turn away so they wouldn’t laugh in his face.

“Miss uh…”

“Ronnie. Just call me Ronnie. And answer my question, doc. I mean, I could have been rolled in catnip the way that boy was acting.”

Clearing his throat, the doctor took her arm and steered her away from the nurse’s station. All of them shifters, Ronnie didn’t worry about what they might overhear. And with such a light onsite staff due to the holiday, Ronnie didn’t give a damn how loud she got.

“Ronnie, have you never taken care of anyone with fever before?”

“Of course I have. My daddy. My brothers. But they never…ya know.”

The doctor quickly shook his head. “No. No. Of course not. They’re family. But how did your father act around your mother when he was in the fever?”

Ronnie had to think about that. She’d been sixteen when her daddy had the fever after an ugly battle with a wild boar and she hadn’t spent much time thinking about it once he recovered. But then she remembered how her momma kept throwing her out of the room. A lot.

“Oh.”

Smiling, the doctor nodded. “Yeah. ‘Oh.’ He must be attracted to you, Ronnie. Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t bother. Especially lions.” He rolled light gold eyes that would freak even Ronnie out in the dark. “You know how they are.”

He patted her shoulder in an almost friendly gesture. “If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll get one of the male nurses to watch him. He’s a bear. Huge. Can easily handle him. That way you can go meet up with your Pack.”

She almost agreed immediately but then remembered how he’d ordered her to not leave him. There was a desperation to his demand that had her frowning when she realized none of the Llewellyn Pride would be around to take care of him.

“I can’t leave.” Although she really should. “I promised him I wouldn’t.” Ignoring the doctor’s raised eyebrow, Ronnie turned away and headed back to Shaw’s private room.

“Use the call button if he gets really out of hand, Ronnie.”

She waved in agreement and kept walking, turning a corner and heading down another hallway. Considering shifters didn’t need the hospital all that often, they sure did have a huge amount of space around this place.

After pushing the door to Shaw’s room open, Ronnie froze. Shaw was gone, which would definitely concern her. But the two bodies lying on the floor concerned her more.

Ronnie moved closer, her nose wrinkling when she smelled that they were human. Both looked to be in their thirties, one with dark brown hair and a big mustache. The other blond with a brutal scar on his throat, like someone had taken a knife to it. She also smelled the gun oil from their weapons and grimaced at their incredibly tacky suits.

And what, exactly, had they done with her lion?

Ronnie crouched beside the men and found their guns, Glock .45s, expertly dismantled. The pieces tossed under the bed. Seemed her rich lion had some hidden skills. Shaw had battered these guys pretty good, but they’d definitely live.

She sniffed the air and locked on to Shaw’s scent. Keeping her nose up, she followed Shaw down a long hallway and around a corner. As she reached the end of that hallway, she saw a door leading to a set of stairs that would take Shaw down and out of the building.

“Oh Lord.” She ran the last few feet, slamming into the door and shoving it open. Her momentum kept her moving forward. Right into the back of Brendon Shaw who, for some unknown reason, felt the need to sit on the railing. She should have sent him flying over, but he only grunted when she collided into him.

Glancing over his shoulder, Shaw smiled at her. “Well, hi, sexy.”

Ronnie pushed away from his back, taking a few seconds to tie his hospital gown back so she didn’t keep staring at the man’s perfect ass.

“Darlin’, what are you doing out here?”

“Just watching the sun rise.”

Brushing his hair out of his eyes, she said, “You’re in a stairwell, darlin’. And the sun rose several hours ago.”

“Really? And it looked so pretty, too.”

She grinned and Shaw groaned in response. “You have the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.” Ronnie felt her heart warm for the big goofus. Until he added, “Just like that sunrise.”

“Okay, hoss, let’s get you back—” That scent hit her hard, causing her to pull back.

“What?” he asked, his gold eyes suddenly clear. “What’s wrong?”

She briefly placed her hand over his mouth to keep him quiet and she sniffed the air again. The humans Shaw had dropped were on the move. She doubted they were still looking for Shaw after that beating, but no telling what they’d try if they stumbled across him. And Ronnie really didn’t want to kill anyone today—if she could help it.

“We’ve gotta get you out of here,” she whispered, knowing their voices would echo enough for humans to hear.

“Why are you whispering?” Shaw demanded, ten times louder than was necessary.

Again Ronnie slapped her hand over his mouth. “Keep it down!” She used her other hand to guide him back over the railing and onto the stairs.

“Come on, darlin’. We’ve gotta move.”

She hustled him down five flights of back stairs to the exit that would lead her out the rear of the hospital. She knew she could take Shaw back into the hospital, but she wasn’t real impressed with their Christmas day security if humans could sneak around the Shifter floor undetected. No, she’d be better off taking him someplace safe and away from the city.

“Stay here,” she told Shaw, leaving him by the stairs.

Ronnie took several quick steps to the back door. She examined it and saw it had an alarm on it to alert the hospital staff of anyone coming in or out. Still not wanting to alert the men after Shaw, she quickly located the necessary wires and yanked them out, disconnecting the system. The hospital would probably know someone had tampered with it and their security guards would be there soon to check on it. Just enough time for her to get Shaw out.

Pushing open the door, she carefully leaned out so she could see if it was safe to leave. Thankfully, she didn’t see or smell any humans lurking around and, even better, there was a taxi on the corner.

But before Ronnie could move, she felt big fingers brush against her lower back as they pulled the waistband of her jeans out. Eyes wide, she looked over her shoulder at the man staring intently down into the gap between her jeans and her skin.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“You have the cutest ass,” he sighed out. Gold eyes looked up at her. She had no idea if the fever gave him that hungry look or her butt. “I could spend hours playing with this ass.”

“Now isn’t that a lovely compliment.” She slapped his hand away. “Look, you need to get control of yourself.”

Placing his hands against the door frame, with his enormous arms over her head, he leaned into her. Great, the man was hitting on her like they were at a disco.

“Let’s get a hotel somewhere and work this out,” he murmured.

“We need to get you someplace safe, cat.”

“But I like you.”

“Once you get through this fever, you won’t even remember my name.”

“I’ll remember that ass, though.”

Lovely.

A door slammed several flights up, and Ronnie could hear yelling. She couldn’t wait anymore.

“Come on.” She pulled the door open and took a quick look out, relieved to find the street still empty. Grabbing Shaw’s hand, she pulled him out onto the street and toward the cab.

Once she got him bundled inside, she slammed the door shut and looked at the driver.

“Hey,” she greeted.

The driver stared at her and didn’t say anything. Lord, these Yankees were damn rude.

“I need to go to…” She pulled the slip of paper out of her back pocket and read the address off.

“That’s Long Island,” the driver stated. Like that would mean something to her.

Ronnie stared at the piece of paper. “This says Westbury.”

“That’s Long Island.”

Shrugging, “What’s your point?”

“He’s saying,” Shaw grumbled while trying to remove his hospital gown, “it’s too far to drive—unless you have cash.”

“I have cash.”

“Lots of cash.”

“I have lots of cash.” Ronnie looked at the driver through the partition separating them. “And I’ll give you a huge tip over the meter, but you have to drive now.”

The driver continued to stare at her and Ronnie stared back. When she didn’t turn away or back down, he paled a little bit and pulled out into traffic.

She didn’t mean to scare him, but to be quite blunt she didn’t have time for the little man’s bullshit.

“Where are we going?” Shaw asked.

“My aunt’s house.” Ronnie pulled the gown back into place. “She moved out here years ago, and my momma gave me her address in case I had a problem.” She looked at Shaw. “And you are definitely a problem.”

“Sweet talker.” He grinned even while his eyes closed.

Finally, the big horny bastard slept. Ronnie relaxed against the seat and prayed he didn’t start shifting to lion randomly in this poor man’s cab. There’d be no explaining that to the driver.

She hated going over to her aunt’s for this reason. Ronnie had planned to call first, find out if her aunt even wanted to see her after all this time. It had been nearly fifteen years since Ronnie’s momma and her aunt had that big knockdown-drag-out scuffle. Daddy and her oldest brother had to drag the women apart. Yet even though they hadn’t spoken to each other in all that time, her momma always said, “Family is family, Ronnie Lee. You need her, you go on over there or call her.”

Glancing over at the big man next to her, happily snoring away, Ronnie hoped her momma was right.

Chapter Two

Brendon sat up in the strange bed and looked around the room. He didn’t recognize this place, but he liked it. It smelled good.

He’d like it better, though, if that She-wolf were here. Where could she have gone? He knew she hadn’t left him. Not while the fever still raged through his body. Unlike the Pride, she wouldn’t desert him. He knew that about her already.

Leaning back against the pillows, Brendon tried to remember how he got here. It had something to do with his brother. Maybe. To be honest, he couldn’t remember at the moment, but his brother being involved wouldn’t exactly shock him. Mitchell had been a fuckup since birth. Brendon’s twin sister, Marissa, had written Mitch off a long time ago, but Brendon couldn’t do that.

Had the kid gone missing? Again? Mitch, now twenty-eight, went missing a lot, it seemed. The brothers were born to different mothers but the same father. A father who raised Brendon and Marissa when their mother died during childbirth and her Pride seemed less than interested in taking in the two of them. A father who had very little to do with Mitch over the years. Something Mitch couldn’t forget or forgive.

The life of the Pride. It definitely wasn’t for everyone.

Christ, why couldn’t he remember? Was Mitch in New York? For some reason Brendon thought he might be. Was that why I was looking for him?

Brendon shook his head. He didn’t know. Everything was so fuzzy. But he’d been in those tunnels for a reason, and probably when the fever finished with him, he’d remember why. Now, however, all he wanted was more time with that She-wolf. Fabulous kisser that one. Amazing. Lust inducing.

She wouldn’t leave him.

Even though his body burned with fever, he couldn’t see the harm in checking out the rest of the house. Maybe he could find She of the Wonderful Lips. Besides, he could explore a bit, couldn’t he? That wouldn’t be such a big deal, would it?

Ronnie smiled at the man sitting in the enormous SUV at the curb, waiting for her aunt.

“My hot date.” Annie Jo Lucas winked at Ronnie.

“Very cute.”

The older woman grinned. “Polar bear. I love bears.”

Ronnie laughed. She’d completely forgotten how entertaining her aunt could be. And her momma had been right. Family was family. Her aunt didn’t blink an eye when Ronnie knocked on her door holding on to a man only wearing a hospital gown. Annie Jo let them in, got Shaw settled, and even handed Ronnie a Christmas present she would have mailed to her after the holidays, like she’d done for fifteen years. True, Annie still had nothing good to say about Ronnie’s mother but that went both ways.

Her aunt even talked about canceling her date, but Ronnie had no intention of getting between a wolf and a “proper layin.” That would be plain wrong.

“What about you and that cat?” One dark brown eyebrow peaked up as her aunt smirked at her. “Hhhhmm?”

“I’m just doing my Alpha a favor.”

“Oh. Is that all?”

“What does that mean?”

“Well I just find it surprising you haven’t called in the Pack yet. Let them take care of Mr. I’m Gorgeous.”

“Why should I ruin their Christmas?” The way hers had been ruined.

“Because when you’re Pack, you’re never alone.”

“I’ll call them in the morning. I promise.”

Annie headed toward the SUV, Ronnie trailing behind. “You know, Ronnie, I really can stay. Help you with that boy. He is a big one.”

“We’ll be fine. Go! Have a great Christmas date.”

“You have my cell number if you need me.” Annie opened the door and blew a kiss at her date.

“I won’t need you. I can handle him.”

“Really?” Annie didn’t sound like she believed that for one second.

“Yes. He’s one man. I can handle one man.”

Annie’s date leaned down to look at Ronnie through the open passenger door. “Is that your lion?”

Ronnie spun around and watched Brendon Shaw—all seven feet and five hundred pounds of him now that he’d shifted to lion—trot down the nice quiet streets of Long Island, New York.

“Oh Lord!”

Laughing, her aunt waved at her. “Have fun, darlin’.”

Ronnie didn’t wait to see her aunt drive off with her date. Instead, she took off running after the big idiot.

Thankfully he wasn’t really trying to get away. Instead he seemed to be just wandering…and romping.

She caught up to him nearly three blocks away, rolling around on some poor person’s lawn.

“Shaw,” she called out softly. He ignored her.

“Brendon!” she tried this time, whispering as loud as she dare, hearing music and the people inside the house laughing and having a wonderful holiday. “Come here!”

Shaw, on his back with big paws in the air, stared at her, his tongue hanging out. Lord, what was he doing?

“You heard me, mister. Come here!”

Scrambling to his feet, Shaw gave a low growl. If he started roaring, she was so screwed. But instead of roaring, he…he…

It was the calypso Christmas music coming from inside the house that set him off. Eyes wide, Ronnie watched the King of the Jungle shimmy his lion ass around on some poor human’s lawn. They’d never understand those paw prints come morning.

Ronnie’s head tilted to the side. Is he…? Yup. He was doing the mambo. Paws crossing over paws. Head bopping to the beat. Thick, regal mane waving in the cold December air. He actually wasn’t too bad. For a big cat doing the mambo.

Rubbing her eyes, Ronnie realized she had to focus.

“Get over here!” she commanded again, still whispering.

Shaw looked up at her, then he lowered his head toward his front paws, his big lion butt in the air.

Oh my Lord in heaven, he’s in a play bow.

She hadn’t done one of those since her first couple of years of being able to shift fully when she’d still been a pup. And she’d never heard of cats doing them ever.

Ronnie walked toward him, and he literally jumped back away from her.

Keep away. The big idiot wanted to play keep away.

She didn’t have time for this. She had to get his crazy cat ass back in the house before someone saw him.

“Brendon, please come on.”

Another step toward him, and another step back. Dammit!

He watched her, his gold eyes examining her from head to toe. Then his gaze locked on her tits…and stayed there.

Ronnie Lee rolled her eyes. No matter what breed they may be, all males were pigs.

However, she’d learned over the years that males could be controlled. With the right bait.

Looking around to make sure they were still undetected, Ronnie did what she’d promised she would never do again since that Motörhead concert when she was eighteen. She lifted her shirt and bra, flashing him.

Shaw charged her head-on, and Ronnie barely had time to pull her clothes back into place before she gave a surprised squeal and tore off back to her aunt’s house. Lifting her legs, she cleared the eight-foot fence that cordoned off her aunt’s yard from her neighbor’s. Ronnie made it up the back porch stairs when she heard Shaw right on her ass. She got inside, throwing the door closed behind her, hoping to slow him down, but he rammed right into it, knocking it off its hinges. She winced, realizing she’d have to fix that before her aunt got home.

Ronnie squealed again as humongous paws slapped against her hips, forcing her to the living room floor. She scrambled onto her back, only to realize she had a naked man on top of her with his head under her T-shirt.

“God, your breasts are beautiful,” he rasped. “Can I play with them for a little while?” He planted a small kiss against the side of her lace-covered nipple.

“No, you cannot. Now get off me!” She slapped at his head, trying to get him to let her go. The snoring, however, suggested he wasn’t going anywhere until she moved him herself.

“Lord!” she snarled. “I am gonna kick Sissy’s ass when I see her.”

Panting, Ronnie scrambled out from under Shaw. She intended to think her breathing problem merely an outcome of the outrageous situation she currently found herself in and not because the cat had the softest lips known to man or God.

She stood up and cracked her neck to the side. Grabbing Shaw’s hand, she dragged him across the floor and up the stairs back to the bedroom.

And the entire time she cursed Sissy Mae Smith’s name.

Okay. She had to stop feeling sorry for herself. True, this wasn’t how she’d wanted to spend her Christmas—fixing doors and chasing after lions—but she was here and she just had to deal with it. Like her momma would so eloquently put it, “Oh, get the fuck over it, Rhonda Lee.”

Sitting at her aunt’s kitchen table with her head in her hands, Ronnie stared down at the rapidly chilling cup of hot chocolate she’d made herself. She hadn’t even bothered to put in the marshmallows.

How, exactly, did she get herself into these kinds of situations? First off, she knew better than to trust Sissy Mae. Second…oh hell. There was no second.

All of this, though, was a perfect example of how she needed to change her life. School seemed like a good start. She already had interviews set up with a few of the local universities after the New Year holiday. Hopefully they’d ignore that freshman year grade report from twelve years ago. It had not been a thing of beauty, and her momma’s reaction…well, She-wolf fights were never pretty. A day after the fight, Ronnie and Sissy Mae took off for Europe with their backpacks and five hundred bucks between them. Ronnie had seen a lot of the world because of Sissy’s constant drive to keep moving. England, France, Germany, Italy…When they got done with the romance language countries, they moved on to Asia, Africa. Wherever. Wherever two She-wolves could get into trouble, they were there.

Then six months ago Ronnie Lee woke up with a German wolf whose first name she knew—and not much else. “How many times,” she’d asked herself in the shower that morning, “how many times can you wake up like this?” That’s when she decided she wouldn’t anymore. She would no longer wake up with strangers. She’d no longer get into barroom brawls. She’d no longer randomly challenge other Packs for dominance. She’d no longer look for trouble.

Three weeks ago Ronnie Lee turned thirty and it looked like all was well on its way. For a while she’d even had a steady boyfriend. But that only lasted a month. She’d brought the poor Beta home and her daddy and brothers had kicked the living tar out of him. He hadn’t actually done anything wrong either, her daddy simply didn’t like him. Not surprisingly, that Beta wolf never returned her calls after that particular family dinner. So, she’d decided a few days later, she’d lay off men for a while. She had toys, and she was a woman not afraid to use her fingers. Really, what else did you need a male for except to fuck and breed with? And she was holding off on the breeding until she got her act together.

Unfortunately, kissing Shaw was like slipping back into her old patterns. Even worse, the cat had a Pride she had to worry about. Cheetahs, leopards, even tigers were mostly loners. Yet Pride females were real protective about their Breeding Males.

Of course, how protective could they be when they hadn’t even shown up at the hospital? Mace had told her Shaw must be on his way out if they didn’t bother to check on him. Apparently he’d bred two healthy cubs with a couple of the Llewellyn females and that’s pretty much all they wanted or needed from him.

“Nice,” she muttered out loud, feeling bad for Shaw.

She spent a few moments wallowing in his misery—apparently her own wasn’t enough—when she felt his extremely hot breath against her neck. Ronnie Lee sat up straight and slowly turned her head. He’d shifted back to lion. It amazed her how many times a body could shift while going through the fever. She’d lost count of how many Shaw had gone through. Shame there was no way to control it. Maybe then Ronnie wouldn’t have one of the biggest cats in the world staring at her like a slab of prime rib.

That’s what she got for sitting around her aunt’s kitchen feeling sorry for herself. She never even heard the big bastard come into the suddenly very tiny room.

“Why are you out of bed? Are you trying to irritate me?”

He stared at her for several long seconds, then his enormous tongue came out of his mouth and splashed her from chin to forehead.

“Oh! Dammit.” She wiped at her face, disgusted. “Don’t do that.”

Shaw took a step closer and nuzzled her under the chin, his massive gold and brown mane going right up her nose.

Trying to push him away but unable to see with all that damn cat fur in her face, “Bed! Go back to bed!”

“Come with me.”

Startled, Ronnie Lee opened her eyes and found Shaw had shifted yet again. Now he kneeled naked and so damn gorgeous in front of her.

Ronnie never thought she’d go for these gold guys. They were perfectly tanned without all that messy skin cancer concern. Not an ounce of fat on that body. His face…perfect. Even with all the bruises and still healing lacerations, the man was so damn beautiful.

“Come to bed with me, sexy,” he purred in her ear. “I promise…”

She waited for more. With none forthcoming, she had to ask, “You promise what?”

“Anything you want.” His head dipped a bit, and his beautiful gold eyes seared through her. “Absolutely anything.”

Lord, help her.

Taking his hand, Ronnie stood up. “Come on,” she coaxed. “Let’s get to bed.”

He purred and followed.

Brendon woke up back in the room he’d found himself in five minutes ago…or was it five hours? To be honest, he was no longer sure. It didn’t matter. He needed to get up and face the day…or was it night? Whatever.

Trying to sit up, Brendon quickly realized someone had bound his arms and legs to the four-poster bed.

“What the fuck?”

“Oh, look. The idiot of the jungle awakens.”

Brendon blinked, trying to focus on the woman talking to him. She stood at the end of the bed, arms crossed under her breasts, glaring at him as if he’d shot her dog.

“Where am I?”

“Westbury.”

Voice cracking, he yelped, “Long Island?” Why the hell would he be on Long Island?

“It was the only safe place I could think of.”

Brendon nodded, quickly deciding not to care where he was as long as this female was with him. “Fair enough.” He tugged at the ropes. “Think you can let me go now?”

Without a word, she walked around so she stood on his right side. Her hand slapped hard against his forehead.

“Ow.”

“You’re still feverish. Probably at the tail end, but I ain’t takin’ any more chances with you. I think I’ve chased enough lions around New York today. So you’ll stay put until that fever ends.”

Man, talk about pissed. He didn’t know what he did wrong, but he didn’t want her to be mad at him.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For whatever I did that pissed you off.”

Finally, she gave a grudging smile. “Well, at least you don’t try and bullshit your way out of things.”

Brendon glanced around the room. He didn’t know where he was or how he got here. All he had to anchor him during all this was this woman and her wonderful scent. “What day is it?” Something told him it was an important day.

“December twenty-fifth.”

Wincing, Brendon stared up at her. That explains the whole pissed thing. “It’s Christmas?” She gave a brief nod. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’re stuck here with me and not with your Pack.”

Her face softened a bit at that and, to his surprise, she sat on the bed next to him, her head resting against his outstretched arm. Damn, but the woman smelled so freakin’ good.

“Don’t let it bother you none.” She patted his knee, then her eyes narrowed and she glared at him. “And would you control that thing, please.”

Brendon glanced down at his lap. His cock pushed hard and demanding against the sole white sheet covering him from waist to toes.

“That is not my fault.” He grinned. “That’s your fault.”

“It is not my fault. You have no self-control.”

“You were the one who touched me intimately.”

“I patted your knee.”

“See? Intimate.”

She laughed and shook her head. Baby-soft brown hair brushed his arm. “You’re an idiot.”

“Sometimes.” Brendon relaxed back, letting his arms hang a bit so they didn’t get tired. “Look, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me tonight. I know it wasn’t easy.”

She shrugged like she’d taken care of hopped-up-on-fever lions every day of the week.

“I guess I owe you a Christmas present, huh?” he asked.

“A Christmas present? For little ol’ me? What would you get me?”

“What do you want?”

She snuggled in a bit closer to him, and he threatened his cock with bodily harm if it even thought about rearing up again. She-wolves didn’t snuggle up to just anybody, and he didn’t want to scare her off.

“Let’s see—rich guy asking me what I want for Christmas.” She squinted at him. “You are rich, right? You’re not living off those Pride females, are ya?”

Not in this lifetime. “No. I’m not living off them.”

“Oh, well then, that opens up so many possibilities. I’ve always wanted a Maserati.”

“A Maserati? Little tall for that, aren’t you?”

She turned glittering hazel eyes his way. “And what does that mean?”

“That you’re tall. Maybe too tall for the car.”

“That better be all you mean,” she muttered.

“No, I’m sure your feet can fit in there fine.”

“Now see! There it is. We are not to discuss my feet.” They both glanced down at the cowboy boots resting on the bed. Christ, those feet were big. But those boots she had on were sexy as hell. “They get me where I need to go.”

“How could they not?”

“You do understand I have no problem leaving your naked ass out on the road.”

“I understand.”

“So you be nice to me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Now you are gettin’ me that Maserati. And jewelry. From that blue box place.”

Brendon forced himself to frown so he wouldn’t laugh instead. “Do you mean Tiffany’s?”

“Yeah. That place. I want diamonds and platinum. Necklaces and bracelets should do me fine.”

“You don’t really seem like the jewelry-wearing type.” She didn’t even have on earrings.

“I’m not. But I can sell it and put the cash in the bank.” She looked at him. “It seems wrong just to take cold hard cash from you.”

“I’m glad you have a moral standing.”

“I do. I haven’t killed you yet. Although it’s crossed my mind several times this evening.”

“Thank you for not killing me.”

“You know, you could forget about the car and jewelry if you did me one little favor.”

“Which is?”

“The next time you see a Pack, you don’t think to yourself ‘Hey, look at them dogs.’ You think, ‘Ahh. Wolves. The mightiest of the mighty. The bravest of the brave.’”

“I’d really rather buy you the car…and an island.”

She poked her elbow into his side; a lesser man would have definitely grunted from pain. “Bigot.”

“Cat hater.”

She laughed and Brendon nuzzled her neck with his nose. “You smell good.”

Swatting at his face as if he were a wasp, “Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. You’re not helping me keep my semblance of cool control.”

“Why would I?”

“Typical.”

He shrugged as best he could in his bindings. “I like you. I don’t feel bad cause I like you.”

“You don’t like me. Your fever likes me. I know once you’re through this you’ll go back to being an asshole cat.” Leaning close to him, her lips near his, “And won’t that be the fun morning-after for me.”

“We can deal with the morning-after later. Let’s talk about the here and now.”

“Forget it, Garfield.” She moved to slip off the bed and his strength surged powerful and strong. He snapped the rope binding on his left arm and quickly grabbed her arm, holding her in place.

“Don’t go.”

“I knew I should have used the chains my aunt has in her basement. Why she has those chains I don’t wanna know.” She grabbed his hand and tried to pry his fingers off. “Now if you’ll get your dirty cat paws off me—”

With a short growl, Brendon snapped the rest of his bindings and had her under him in seconds.

To be quite honest, nothing had ever felt so right before in his entire life.

Once again she had to ask herself, How do you get yourself into these situations?

True, she never should have sat so close, but he’d seemed quite lucid and she liked talking to him. There were few outside her Pack or family she had any interest in actually having a conversation with.

It definitely didn’t help that she really liked this man being between her legs. She liked it way more than she should.

Big fingers dug into her scalp and then massaged. Without meaning to, she growled, her body immediately responding. In fact, if the bastard moved two inches lower, he’d find her happy spot and her leg would start shaking. How embarrassing would that be?

“You…you need to stop.” And I need to stop panting. And moaning.

“I don’t wanna stop.” Those incredibly soft lips skimmed across her cheek. “And I don’t think you want me to stop.”

“Of course I want you to stop,” she groaned, her hands gripping his shoulders and pulling him closer. “I want you to stop right now.”

“Would it help if I said I can’t control myself?” He kissed her neck and licked it, a purr rumbling up from his chest. “My animal instincts have taken over and there’s nothing you or I can do about it. I’ve gone completely wild.”

“No one is going to believe—”

Shaw kissed her, cutting off her words and making her writhe beneath him while his hips pumped against hers. With a sheet and her jeans and panties between them, this shouldn’t have done much for her, but she moaned and gasped every time he pushed against her.

Ronnie spread her thighs wider, wrapping her legs around his hips, begging him for more without saying one word.

Shaw threaded his fingers with hers and pushed her hands over her head, pinning them there. The whole time they kept grinding their hips together, moving as if Shaw were inside of her. Fucking her.

He sucked on her tongue, and the sensation slammed into her clit and danced over her entire body.

She didn’t try and stop him anymore. She couldn’t.

Ronnie met each of his thrusts with her own until she felt an orgasm miraculously tearing up her spine and pouring out through her fingers and toes. Her grip tightened on his hands, her body arching into his.

“God!” he gasped against her mouth. “God!”

Then they were both coming. Both screaming and grinding against each other until Ronnie thought for sure she’d pass out right then. Pass out and give this man the biggest ego boost of his life.

While small spasms rippled through them and they fought to control their breathing, they clung to each other until Ronnie fell into an exhausted sleep.

Chapter Three

Brendon stretched and sighed. He’d never felt better. He’d survived the fever, his wounds completely healed except for some residual scarring. Plus he had a warm, wet woman he had every intention of spending the entire day in bed with. He just had to find out her name.

He heard movement from the corner of the room and turned over expecting to see his long-limbed She-wolf waiting for him. Preferably naked.

“Morning, sunshine.”

Sitting up straight, Brendon barked, “What the hell are you doing here?”

Mace Llewellyn grinned at him from the safety of his corner. “I’m here to bring you back to the city so you don’t overstay your welcome.”

“Where is she?”

“Where’s who?”

Brendon tossed off the sheet covering his naked body and stood up. “You know damn well who I mean! Where is she?”

With a bored sigh, Mace stood up. “I’m going downstairs. You’ve got ten minutes to shower and get your ass in the car. After that I’m heading back into the city and to Dez whether you’re in the damn car or not.” Mace walked out without another word, and Brendon stood in the middle of the room two seconds from roaring his intense displeasure at this current situation.

Quickly showering and putting on the sweat clothes Mace brought for him, Brendon followed the irritating bastard’s scent outside and into the black SUV at the corner. Without waiting for him to ask, Brendon gave Llewellyn directions to Marissa’s place. The hotel could wait.

They drove in silence until they hit the Long Island Expressway, then he couldn’t stand it anymore.

“What’s her name?”

“Who?”

“Don’t fuck with me, Llewellyn. Who is she?”

“She’s Pack and way out of your league.”

He already knew that. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t go for her. That he wouldn’t get her. Lions were smart. A female like that came along once in a lifetime. He wasn’t dumb enough to let her get away from him.

“What’s her name?”

“None of your business. Oh. Sorry. I meant Miss None of Your Business.”

Brendon rolled his eyes and stared out the window. He’d never been happier about the ending of his Pride life until this moment. Damn Llewellyns.

“So why were you in the hyena tunnels anyway?”

Tempted to say “none of your business,” Brendon decided to hold his rapidly growing temper. “I’ve been looking for my brother.”

“You have a brother?”

“Yeah. Younger. And a twin sister, too.”

“Really?”

Brendon let out a deep sigh. “Yes. Really.”

“I’m so…” After several moments, Llewellyn shrugged. “…not interested.”

“I know. But I appreciate you asking.”

“You’re welcome.”

Brendon watched Long Island speed by as Llewellyn broke several state and county laws rushing back to the city and, most likely, to his big-breasted woman.

When they hit the Queens Midtown Tunnel, Brendon asked, “Do you have any clients yet?”

“Clients?”

“Yeah. Your sister said you were starting a security business or something.”

“Missy told you that?”

“Yeah. Right. We have deep, long conversations, me and Missy. Allie told me.”

“Oh. Yeah. We’re pulling it together now. Why?”

“Want a client?”

“You want me to find your brother?”

“No. I want you to find out about my brother. The little shit is hiding something from me, and I want to know what.”

“Have you tried asking him?”

“When I actually talk to him. But he won’t tell me shit.”

“When was the last time you heard from him?”

“Every couple of days he leaves me a voice mail. Sometimes he’ll catch me on the phone. But he won’t tell me where he is. Last time I actually spoke to him was about two weeks ago. Then Petrov told me the night before he died that he saw Mitch at the Chapel. I was hoping he’d come back. That’s why I was there.”

“Okay. We’ll see what we can find out.”

“Thanks.”

“And we’re going to charge you out the ass.”

Brendon looked back out the window, wondering where his long-legged beauty was at the moment—and if she was naked. “Yeah. I figured.”

Ronnie patted her pockets, quickly realizing she didn’t have her room key. But when it appeared in front of her face, she wasn’t exactly surprised. The entire Pack had keys to each others’ rooms.

Pack living—definitely not for everyone.

Grasping it, she turned and smiled up into the handsome face of Bobby Ray Smith. “Thanks, Bobby Ray. Where’d ya find it?”

“At the hospital with your sweater and your jacket and your big fancy textbook.” He stared at her for a moment, then said, “You should have called us, little girl. As soon as things turned bad, you should have called us.”

“I handled it, didn’t I?”

“That’s not the point. You know how some get during the fever. Things could have gone very bad for you, darlin’.”

“I handled it.”

She loved Bobby Ray, but she had enough big brothers in her life. She didn’t plan to add any more to the list. “I’m tired, Bobby Ray.”

“Fair enough. Sorry if I pushed.”

Only Bobby Ray would think of that as pushing. To the Reeds that was general conversation over family dinner before the mauling started. “Don’t worry. If you’d really annoyed me, I would have gone for your throat by now.”

“I always wondered where your brothers got those scars on their necks from.”

“Are they coming out here?” she asked, dreading the answer.

“Probably. At least to visit before they decide. Splitting from a Pack is never easy. And my daddy will make sure it ain’t easy for them.” He nudged her with his shoulder, almost sending her flying through her hotel room door. “Don’t you want ’em out here?”

“I love ’em, but you know my kin. They crowd me. With them around, I’ll never get laid again.”

“You say these things to me, knowing it’s going to make me insane.”

She frowned. “Why should it?”

“Because you and my baby sister have been joined at the hip since before y’all could walk. What one did, so did the other. And I prefer to think of Sissy Mae Smith as virginal and untouched.”

He let her laughter continue until she literally began to roll back and forth across the floor, then he hauled her up and stood her back in front of her door.

“I don’t want to know—ever—what y’all have been up to since I went into the Navy.”

“And we have no intention of telling you, darlin’.” Ronnie wiped the tears from her eyes and let out a happy sigh. That had been the best laugh she’d had in days.

“I still don’t know why the Pack let you go. Y’all were too young to be out on your own.”

“They didn’t have any choice. Besides, we snuck away in the middle of the night. By the time they realized we were gone, we were halfway across the Atlantic.”

Bobby Ray stared at her for a moment. “If your brothers join my Pack, will you leave?”

Ronnie sighed. “I can’t say it hadn’t crossed my mind. I love them boys. You know I do. But my big brothers can be overwhelming men. When they’re around, I no longer exist. I’m just ‘baby sister of the Reed Boys.’”

“You know it won’t be like that here. With or without your brothers, Rhonda Lee, I want you as part of this Pack. You’re a mighty fighter and you are the one person who has a modicum of control over my baby sister. Most important, you’re a good person, Ronnie Lee. And a mighty She-wolf. Stay and be part of this Pack because you belong. We both know you do.”

She belonged. Not as daughter of Clifton Reed or baby sister of the Reed Boys, but because Bobby Ray Smith understood her worth. That meant more to her than anything ever had before.

On impulse, Ronnie went up on her toes and kissed him on his cheek.

“What was that for?” Bobby Ray smirked. “You’re not falling in love with me, are ya, Ronnie Lee? I don’t wanna have to break yet another young She-wolf’s heart, darlin’.”

Ronnie crossed her eyes. “You’re gonna make a great Alpha, Bobby Ray. But you’re an idiot.”

“It’s all right, darlin’. I understand.” He patted her shoulder. “So many have loved and lost me. I couldn’t expect you to be any different.”

“You’re right, Bobby Ray. I’m madly in love with you. My heart may never recover.”

“That explains it then.”

“Explains what?”

Bobby Ray scratched her head affectionately and walked off, tossing over his shoulder, “That reek of cat you’ve got all over you. Cheatin’ on me with some cat to push me from your thoughts and heart. Cat ho.”

Startled into action, Ronnie darted into her hotel room and made a beeline to the shower, ignoring the pile of Christmas presents waiting for her and tearing off her clothes as she went.

One thing for Bobby Ray to notice such a thing, but if her fellow She-wolves smelled a big, arrogant, delicious lion all over her, they’d never let her live it down.

Brendon’s twin sister opened her front door, her eyes going wide at the sight of him.

“What in holy hell—”

“Don’t ask.” He pushed past her and walked into her apartment.

“Don’t ask? How can I not ask?”

Dropping facedown on his sister’s couch, Brendon said, “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I guess not.” He could hear her settle in her favorite king chair, her feet on the ottoman in front of it. “After getting your ass kicked like this.”

Brendon’s head snapped up and he glared. “I did not get my ass kicked. I got ambushed. And they had guns.”

She frowned. “Hyenas or wolves?”

Brendon grabbed a pillow, resting his head on it. He did love his sister’s furniture. They had the same taste when it came to their comfort. “Not in this lifetime. There’s no hyena or wolf alive that can do this to me. No, it was lions.”

“Lions? Lions had guns? Are you sure?”

“I was sure when they had the barrel pointed at the back of my head.” His sister fell deadly silent, and Brendon looked up again to see the rage on her face. Crap. He didn’t mean to get her this pissed off. Once pissed off, it was hard to rein his twin in. “Rissa, calm down.”

“Calm down?” She stood up. “I wanna know who did this to you. I wanna know right now.” Then Marissa Shaw let loose with a litany of curses that reminded Brendon that although his family swam in money now, it hadn’t been long ago when he and his sister ran the streets of Philly causing more problems then seemed right considering their age at the time. It took a lot of work to get to this point. A lot of work to change the Shaw name from lower level lions to prime breeders.

Brendon sat up, but before he could say anything, his sister slapped her hand against his forehead.

“Ow.”

“Do you still have the fever? Christ, when did this happen?”

“Christmas Eve, and I already went through the fever.”

“Christmas Eve?”

“Okay, you really need to stop repeating everything I say. It’s getting on my nerves.”

“It’s the twenty-sixth. Where the fuck have you been for—”

Brendon put his hand over his sister’s mouth. “If you’ll shut up for two seconds, I’ll tell you.” He hadn’t wanted to talk about it, but now he had no choice. It was either that or listen to the rants of a crazy lioness.

She sat on the coffee table in front of Brendon. “Start talking.”

A long hot shower turned out to be exactly what Ronnie Lee needed to calm her nerves and her worries. As she brushed her teeth and combed out her wet hair, she realized her time with Brendon Shaw had only been a fluke. A momentary loss of sanity. No matter where Sissy and she may have traveled over the years, they always made it home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This turned out to be the first year she’d ever spent a holiday away from her kin or her Pack.

Lonely. She felt lonely. That’s all. But in a few more days it would be New Year’s Eve. She’d hang out with her Pack at some swank party in the hotel, get ridiculously liquored up, and this shitty holiday would be long behind her.

So, as of this moment, she would stop feeling sorry for herself and forget this particular, cat-related incident ever happened.

Giving herself a brief nod in the mirror, she headed back out to the bedroom and her open suitcase. She dug through the pile of clothes until she found a worn pair of baggy cotton shorts and a loose T-shirt. She pulled them on, shook her wet hair out, and headed toward the door.

With keycard in hand, she walked across the hallway and knocked on the opposite door. In less than a minute it opened and Sissy Mae Smith grinned at her friend. “Well, hey, darlin’. How did last night—ow!”

Ronnie twisted Sissy’s nose until her friend bent to the side, then she slapped her hand off, hitting Sissy’s nose in the process.

Turning on her heel she stalked back to her hotel room. And as she slammed the door she could hear Sissy’s laughing response, “I knew you’d like him!”

“And that’s the whole story,” Brendon finished.

For several long moments his sister stared at him, and then she said, “You let a dog take you to Long Island?”

Brendon’s head dropped forward. “That’s all you have to say?”

“What else is there to say? Other than I thought you had better sense than that.”

“What about Mitch?”

“What about him? He’s a scumbag. I keep telling you that and you keep ignoring me.”

“Our baby brother may be in trouble. How can you not care?”

“Like this.” Marissa stood up and started to walk away. Brendon grabbed her arm.

“He’s our kid brother, Rissa. We protect him like we protect each other.”

“He’s a thief and a liar and hangs around degenerates. He’s not our problem. Now do you want a soda or not?”

“Not.”

“Fine.” She pulled her arm away and went to the kitchen, returning with a Sprite. “You want something to eat?”

“No.”

“If you’re saying no because you’re pouting, you might as well give it up because your hunger will win out. It always wins out.”

Dammit. She was right. Brendon felt starved for food, like he hadn’t eaten in months rather than a day or so.

“Fine. I’ll eat. But I still think you’re being cold about all this.”

Marissa made an impatient noise from the kitchen. “Why? Because I’m not crying and panicking over Mitch?”

Brendon followed her in. “Yes.”

“It’s called tough love. You should look into it.”

“No. It’s called cutting yourself off from your baby brother.”

“The kid’s a fuckup. He’s always been a fuckup. It’s not going to change.”

“He’s still our brother.”

“Tragically.”

Brendon shook his head. “Give it up, sis. I think you care but you don’t want me to know about it.”

“I care for few things in this world. You are lucky to be one of those few, but I can only stretch myself so far.”

Sitting down at her kitchen table, Brendon glanced out the big picture window that had an astounding view of the Manhattan skyline. Rissa’s apartment took up the entire top floor, but she owned the building. It still amazed Brendon when he thought about where they came from, their lives in Philly. The two of them getting into situations they probably should have done some jail time for. At least some community service. They didn’t talk about those days anymore. Some days it seemed Rissa liked to pretend those times never happened. That she and Brendon were somehow different from Mitch. They were different. They were lucky.

“I’m not giving up on him.”

“Whoop-de-fucking-do for you.” She slammed a plate full of her homemade lasagna in front of him. “Here. I made this last night. Should keep you until I finish making the ribs I have in the frig.”

“Thanks.” Picking up his fork, Brendon started inhaling—he wouldn’t say he actually ate in the dictionary sense of the word—the delicious food. So focused on his food, it took him a moment to realize he’d felt his sister’s lips kiss the top of his head.

Looking up from his meal, “What was that for?”

“For not getting your ass killed. Try and keep that theme going for me, will ya?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Brendon bent over his food again and didn’t let his sister see him smile. She cared. She cared more than she ever wanted to. About him and Mitch.

Chapter Four

Her plan had been a simple one. Spend the evening with her fellow She-wolves. Enjoy a beer or two and relax. But that fifth shot of tequila…that fifth shot of tequila did her in.

She should have known better. Wolves couldn’t handle their liquor. You could call it their kryptonite. If Ronnie had been lucky, she would have spent the whole night throwing up in some fancy club’s bathroom. Luck, however, didn’t seem to be on her side these days. Because if she had any luck she’d be unable to speak.

“I mean, that mane of hair. I could spend hours letting him rub that mane all over my body.”

The three remaining She-wolves and Sissy nodded their heads. They’d lost the other five earlier in the evening when they wandered off to another club or back to the hotel.

“The man is gorgeous, there’s no doubt about that.” Sissy Mae poured Ronnie another shot of tequila. “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t make that move, darlin’. You had that big house all to yourself and a naked man desperate to get into your pants.”

“A desperate man sick as a dog. I’m sorry but I don’t think I could have handled that coyote ugly morning when he realized he’d fucked a wolf.”

“What makes you think he’d give a shit? A male is a male, sweetie.” Marty, a mated She-wolf about twenty years their senior, sipped her Russian vodka. “Trust me when I say wolf, lion, cheetah, jackal, or any of the other breeds don’t give a shit when a pussy is wet and willing.”

The females looked at Marty and she casually shrugged her shoulders. “What?”

Supposedly, Marty came with Bobby Ray only to help out, but Ronnie had the feeling Marty would stay. Her mate would go wherever she went, and she’d never gotten along too well with the Smith She-wolves her own age. Not surprising once Marty’s past came out. She’d lived on the wild side for years, mowing through most of the Smith Pack males before settling down with her one true love and having a few pups. She never discussed her past in detail, but a few tidbits she’d dropped here and there over the last few months they’d all been hanging together convinced Ronnie and Sissy that the woman hadn’t merely lived on the wild side, but instead owned prime real estate there.

Still, it gave Ronnie hope she could put her own wild times behind her and settle down with a mate who didn’t irritate her too much and some pups.

“Marty’s right, darlin’,” Sissy insisted. “You’re real pretty. Got good strong thighs. And you’ve got oral skills most men would kill for.”

Now everyone turned and looked at Sissy Mae.

“That’s lovely, Sissy,” Marty sighed out.

“I was only complimenting her.”

“Compliments like that create hookers.”

Ronnie waved her hands, accidentally slapping herself in the face. “It doesn’t matter. I’m no longer looking for the occasional sleeping arrangement. I’m looking for…for…”

“For what?” Sissy asked, and she looked like she really didn’t want to know.

“Love?” Gemma, Sissy’s distant Smith cousin, asked with a sad amount of hope on her pretty face.

Ronnie and Sissy snorted. “Love?” Ronnie couldn’t keep the disbelief out of her voice. That word more foreign to her than Sanskrit. “No. I’d rather have rabies than be in love.”

“Why?”

“Because at least you can get over rabies with some shots.”

Marty laughed and shook her head. She seemed to be the only one who didn’t appear remotely drunk and she’d polished off an entire bottle of vodka by herself. “Trust me, pups, one day you’ll find that male who makes you love him, care for him, and want to stab him in the face all at the same time. And your lives will never be the same.”

Ronnie and Sissy both shuddered in horror.

“We’re so drunk,” Gemma observed for no apparent reason.

“We’re not drunk,” Sissy corrected. “We’re blasted off our asses.”

Taking her shot of tequila in one gulp before slamming the glass on the table, Ronnie offered, “I don’t want my life to pass me by.”

Filling Ronnie’s glass again, Sissy promised, “It won’t.”

“It’s already started. It’s whizzing by like a freight train.”

“So? We’ve had some great times, darlin’,” Sissy reminded her.

“We have. But I’m sorry if I don’t still wanna be running wild with you when I’m fifty. Life cannot be a series of great fucks followed by barroom brawls.”

Gemma scratched her head. “And why is that?”

“When you get past your twenty-fifth birthday, Perky Tits, you can ask me that again.”

Looking down at her chest, Gemma grinned. “Well I’ll be…they are perky!”

Sissy grabbed Ronnie’s arm before she could launch herself at the adorable little She-wolf.

“Okay.” Sissy kept a good grip on Ronnie while slamming back another shot of tequila. “Perhaps we should think about heading back to the hotel.”

“Why?” Gemma whined.

In answer, Daria, Ronnie’s second cousin twice removed, opened her mouth to say something, and then her head slammed right into the table when she passed out.

“Yup,” Marty agreed. “Time to go.”

They got two cabs back to the hotel and either underpaid the drivers by ten dollars or overpaid them by a thousand. Unfortunately, they weren’t really sure which, but the cabbies seemed happy and Marty kept snickering.

Arms around each other, they stumbled back into the Kingston Arms. A fancy, shifter-owned-and-operated establishment. Unlike some resort towns their kind owned, here the Pack couldn’t exactly go running around in their animal form since full-humans stayed at the hotel, too. They had no way to keep them out. But shifters received the best of everything at a very low rate.

“Oooh. Bar.” Sissy Mae stumbled into the fancy hotel bar, but Ronnie and Marty caught up to her.

“Oh no you don’t. Upstairs with you,” Marty chastised. “She is so going to regret this when she wakes up tomorrow.”

“I’m relatively certain we all will.” Together they stumbled to the elevators, and as they waited, Ronnie glanced back and realized Marty was studying a large glass case by one of the bars. Ronnie had barely noticed it the many times she’d passed by it. It looked like a typical trophy case with important hotel awards or whatever. “Whatcha lookin’ at?”

“I’m reading this article on the owners of this hotel.”

“Fascinating.” Ronnie looked at Sissy and they both rolled their eyes.

“Oh it is,” Marty enthused. “Here. Let me read you a bit…”

“Please don’t,” Sissy muttered in Ronnie’s ear.

Clearing her throat, Marty began reading, ‘“The Kingston Hotel in downtown New York was only a few days from the wrecking ball when entrepreneurs Alden, Brendon, and Marissa Shaw purchased the old hotel and turned it around. Since then the still family-owned Kingston Arms Hotels have become exclusive havens for the very wealthy, with establishments located around the world. The elder Shaw makes his home at all of the locations from time to time.’” Taking a deep breath and not even bothering to hide her smile or laughter, Marty finished with, “‘Only son Brendon still lives in Kingston Arms New York.’”

Ronnie stared at the older woman. “No. Way.”

“Sorry, darlin’. Looks like you’ll be seeing him again whether you want to or not.”

“You know, you could enjoy this a little less.”

“I could.” Marty stepped into the elevator, holding the door open for the rest of the She-wolves. “But I plan to enjoy this to the full extent of my capabilities.”

“I hate you,” Ronnie mumbled as she shoved her cousin inside.

“Oh, I know you’d like to, darlin’. I know you’d like to.”

Brendon glared down at the top of his sister’s head. “Are you crying?”

“No,” she muttered while discreetly trying to wipe her eyes.

“You are,” he accused, pushing her off his arm where she’d been resting. “You’re crying at Born Free!”

“Well, it’s just so sad.”

“You cry at a movie but not about your brother?”

“Why would I cry about him?”

Brendon returned his gaze to the television. He knew he should have gone back to the hotel but, to be honest, he wasn’t really in the mood to be on his own. So here he sat, watching Born Free and listening to his sister cry. Not exactly what he’d call a wild evening.

He could have gone out. Probably could have found some companionship, too. But he didn’t want that. Brendon didn’t want to wake up next to a no-name piece of ass he didn’t want to talk to in the morning. At twenty-three that was all he could think about. At thirty-three it was starting to get a little creepy.

“You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?”

Busted. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t bullshit me, Bren. You’re thinking about Benji.”

“Don’t call her that.”

Now that the movie ended, Marissa grabbed the remote and changed to Resident Evil. Not exactly Citizen Kane, but better than Born Free. At least she wouldn’t cry.

“What do you care what I call her? When did you get so protective of dogs?”

“Since they saved my ass.”

“Yeah, but that was more Llewellyn.”

“He may have got them down there, but they didn’t have to help me. You and I both know some Packs would have happily left my ass there for the hyenas.”

“Yeah.”

“And she didn’t have to stay with me in the hospital. She didn’t have to protect me from those two guys who snuck into my room. She sure as hell didn’t have to take me to her aunt’s house. So do you think we can elevate this Pack beyond dog status?”

“Christ! Okay. Okay. Geez. When did you get a soul, anyway?”

“Just do me a favor and lay off.”

“Fine. Whatever.”

“Fine. Whatever,” he imitated back to her. The snarl he received would have scared a lesser man.

Chapter Five

Brendon and Marissa reached for the last grapefruit at the same time. Eyes locked on each other, they tried to stare the other down. Then Brendon roared and Marissa jerked back with a vicious hiss. Feeling smug, he took the grapefruit and cut it in half. He tossed the other half to Marissa, laughing when it hit her in the face.

“Bastard.”

“As are we all,” he joked around a mouthful of grapefruit.

“So what are you doing today?” Marissa buttered her toast and turned the page on her copy of the Wall Street Journal.

“I gotta stop by the Pride and see the kids. You wanna go?”

She nodded, then stopped. “Is that bitch going to be there?”

“Do you mean Missy?”

“I hate her.”

“Yes. I know. In fact, I think the entire universe knows.”

“The only thing that gives me ease is that you never bred with her.”

“You kidding? I’m almost positive she has fangs in her crotch. Snap a man’s penis right off.”

Marissa burst out laughing.

“If you come with me, you can give the kids their gifts.”

She nodded but didn’t answer.

“You did get them gifts this year.”

“Of course I did.” She bit into her toast. “Cash is a gift.”

“Marisa.”

“Don’t give me that tone. Look, I don’t know what to give children. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a Baby Gap gift card.”

Brendon sighed. “You’re pathetic.”

“Yeah. But you love me anyway.”

“I have no choice.” Brendon looked around for toast already made, didn’t find any, so he reached over and took it out of Marissa’s hand. “Look, have you ever thought of having your own Pride? We have cousins you sort of…tolerate.”

“We’ve had this discussion and I don’t want to have it anymore.”

“All right. Then in twenty years you can be the kids’ old bitter aunt.”

“Well, I’m already their young bitter aunt, so it’s really not that big a stretch. What else are you doing today—and get your damn hands off my sausage.”

Brendon dropped the sausage he’d taken from his sister onto his plate. “Nothing. Kids then hotel. As it is, the kids will take a few hours and I’ve got to make sure everything’s okay at the hotel. Then I’ve got me a She-wolf to track down.”

Marissa slammed her fork down. “You must be joking,” she barked.

“Nope. I know she’s around somewhere. I just have to find the Smith Pack.”

Reaching over, Marissa slapped her brother in the head.

“What was that for?”

“Hello? Cat.” And she motioned between the two of them. “Dog.” She made a throwing-away motion; Brendon just didn’t know why. “Mortal enemies.”

“Actually that’s more hyena.”

She clenched her fists. “What I mean, you big-haired idiot, is that she is not the female for you.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean—wait a minute. Why do you have that look?”

“What look?”

“The same one you had when you went for the grapefruit. The ‘this is mine and I’m never giving it up’ look. You’ve never had it about a female before. At least pick a cheetah maybe. Or a leopard,” she cried desperately. “She’ll spend most of her time in the trees anyway. But a dog? A dog with a group of dogs behind her? Are you insane? They howl. They bay. They whine.”

“They saved my life.”

Marissa let out a big sigh. “You’re gonna keep throwing that in my face, aren’t you?”

Brendon grinned. “Yup.”

“Stop! Oh God! Please stop!”

Ronnie grabbed the ringing hotel phone beside her bed, ripped it out of the wall, and threw it across the room. Moaning in absolute agony, she carefully laid back on the mattress.

No sound. No light. No nothing. She would allow nothing into her “safe space.”

She remembered last night clearly. No lovely blackouts for her. No. Ronnie Lee must remember every humiliating second. Like telling her Pack she wanted Brendon Shaw to run his mane all over her body.

Even worse…she couldn’t stay here knowing Shaw may show up at any time.

Of course, her rational mind kept telling her it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if she found Brendon Shaw standing outside her room doing the mambo again. The reality remained he wouldn’t remember much after such a bad fever. He probably woke up in bed thinking it had all been a weird dream. Nothing more. Nothing less. So worrying about an impromptu meeting in the hotel lobby…kind of dumb. Even for her.

Very, very slowly, Ronnie Lee turned onto her side and forced her vicious bout of nausea down. She was a Reed, dammit. She wouldn’t let some cat get under her skin and have her running scared like a big girl.

Then, as she slipped into a deep sleep, she promised herself for the thousandth time—No more tequila.

Brendon ignored his daughter Serena climbing up his back and getting comfortable on top of his head while his son gripped his leg and tried to bite his knees with his less-than-deadly human baby teeth. The little guy wouldn’t come into his fangs until puberty hit, and his mother would probably drop him off at Brendon’s house and not come back for him until he turned twenty-one.

“There you are.” Allie Llewellyn closed the door to the solarium behind her, blocking out all that yelling. “I figured you’d have to escape as soon as the fighting started.”

“I should have never brought Marissa when Missy’s here.” He realized his mistake in the first ten minutes of their arrival. As soon as Missy, head of the Llewellyn Pride, walked into the enormous Llewellyn compound living room, Marissa was in her face demanding to know why none of the Llewellyn Pride had stayed with Brendon at the hospital and why none of them had bothered to call her. When Missy snarled that she was not an answering service it went straight downhill from there.

Three hours later and the two females were still going at it.

Allie stretched out in a lounger and stared at him. “You seem unusually cheerful, considering all the yelling and drama.”

“It must be the holidays.”

Laughing, she said, “Okay. What’s her name?”

“That’s on a need-to-know basis, and you don’t need to know.”

Brendon actually liked Allie. Not when she was around Missy but one on one. Allie and Erik’s mom, Serita, were relatively nice and they’d made breeding with them quite entertaining.

“You do understand that Missy’s not going to like you getting involved with someone from another Pride. At least not without a trade contract.”

“Our contract involves the kids and the kids only.”

“I’m not arguing. Just letting you know. And there’s some slight whining in there because I’ll have to hear about it. Constantly.”

Blocking his daughter’s tiny fist from making contact with his eye, he asked, “It sounds like she’s still raging over Mace and his Bronx m’lady.”

Allie laughed at his use of “m’lady” in a sentence. “Oh yeah. She’s still raging all right. Besides, we’re down to two males now. Petrov’s gone. You’re gone. And Mace won’t let her trade him out for more. Her life is in shambles.” Allie rolled her eyes. “Personally I could care less. Little Miss Evil Kitty over there”—she pointed at her daughter—“is more than enough trouble at the moment. I certainly don’t need to add to it with another cub until she’s a tad older.”

“Makes sense.” Brendon picked up his son and placed him on his knee, ignoring the teeth he sank into his forearm. “But Missy needs to understand, I won’t let her use my kids as leverage against me.”

Allie shook her head. “I won’t let that happen, Brendon. I’m not saying she won’t try, but I won’t let her get away with it.” She smiled at him. “I like you. You irritate me much less than most males. Besides, our darling little brat will rip my long silky locks out if I ever try to get between her and her daddy.”

“And Serita?”

“Missy will be lucky if Serita doesn’t start her own Pride. They’ve been fighting like two cats in a bag lately. Besides, we both know she can’t use the kids. We all read that contract we signed. It’s quite airtight.”

“Damn right it is.” Three high-priced lawyers who specialized in shifter law and his sister made sure of that.

“I don’t blame you at all,” she said with a sigh, leaning back into the lounger and staring up at the ceiling. “Nothing is sadder than an old Pride lion who hasn’t seen his cubs for decades.” Like his dad hadn’t seen Mitch.

Allie yawned, her eyes fluttering closed. “You coming out to dinner with us, Brendon? We have reservations at that new sushi place uptown. The chef is supposed to be a god.”

He’d rather remove body parts before sitting through some overpriced nouveau riche meal with Missy. But before Brendon could state that out loud, his cell phone went off. He checked caller ID and answered. “Yes?”

“Hello, sir. It’s Timothy.”

“I know. I checked caller ID.” After eight years as his personal assistant, one would think Timothy would already know that about his boss. “What’s going on?”

“I received a message from Louise.” Louise had been Brendon’s secretary longer than Timothy had been his assistant. “You wanted me to check the local hotels and find a Smith Pack?”

“Yeah. Did you get something?”

“Sir, they’re here.”

“Here? You mean in New York?”

“No. I mean at the Kingston Arms. They’ve been checked in for more than a week under the name…uh…Sissy Mae Smith.”

Brendon stared at the wall, completely oblivious to his daughter gripping his hair and hanging from his head like a monkey.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, sir. I even went and checked the other hotels in the Tri-state area that cater to your”—Timothy cleared his throat—“kind, because Smith is such a common name, but the only Smith Pack I could locate is at this hotel.”

Letting out a deep breath, Brendon grinned. “Good work.”

“Do you need me to do anything else, sir?”

“No. I should be back at the hotel in a few.”

“Yes, sir.”

Brendon ended the connection. “I’ve gotta go.”

Without opening her eyes, Allie smiled. “Figured.”

After unattaching his daughter from his hair, Brendon swung her around in his arms and kissed her neck, then kissed the top of his son’s head. “Both of you be good.”

“Don’t forget,” Allie reminded him, “we’re heading out tomorrow to Grandmother’s property in Sag Harbor for the New Year.”

“Okay. I’ll come over in the afternoon to send you off.”

He put his children beside Allie and opened the solarium door. The arguing hit him in the face. It would take time to get his sister to back off. Time he wasn’t in the mood to give.

“When she’s done, tell my sister I went back to the hotel.”

Allie opened one eye and stared at Brendon. “You’re leaving her here?”

“I don’t feel like dragging her out. I’ll even leave the car. I’ll catch a cab.”

Laughing, Allie closed her eyes again. “Okay. But neither your sister nor Missy will be happy. So I hope whoever she is, she’s worth it.”

Oh, she was.

A good long sleep and a little worshipping of the porcelain god, and Ronnie felt much better. Although she still didn’t feel like hanging out tonight and she didn’t know how the rest of the She-wolves were managing it.

Big dinner plans and some club hopping for the whole Pack, courtesy of Bobby Ray. He even tried to drag poor Mace and Dez into it, but from the end of the conversation Ronnie heard, Mace had no intention of getting out of his bed anytime soon as long as Dez was in it.

Ronnie smiled when she thought about the two of them. They were a cute, if unlikely, couple. And she loved the panic in Dez’s eyes every time she caught Mace staring at her like he could simply eat her alive. The man was in love. No two ways about it and nothing Dez did or didn’t do would change that so she might as well suck it up. So to speak.

The Pack stood in front of the hotel’s front desk. At some point they would find permanent dens, and that search would be up to the females. Until then, they would continue to enjoy the luxury of the Kingston Arms.

Bobby Ray retrieved another stack of business papers from the desk staff. He and Mace had already hired a lawyer and apparently Sissy Mae had started working with realtors for a big-enough space to house their office. Clearly Mace and Bobby Ray weren’t men to waste time on “what if”s and analyzing. They just went for it. Ronnie liked that.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go?”

Glancing down at the pile of legal papers Bobby Ray had shoved into her arms and the ripped, seen-better-days cutoff shorts, scuffed and decades-old cowboy boots, and the worn Lynyrd Skynyrd T-shirt that once belonged to her daddy, Ronnie shrugged. “I know this is the perfect outfit for the thirty-degree weather we have outside, but I think I’ll stay in.”

“You don’t have to be a smart-ass. I was just askin’, Ronnie Lee.”

Feeling bad for sniping at him, she pushed her shoulder against Bobby Ray’s. “Sorry. But I blame your sister for my cranky attitude.”

“Told you not to go drinking with her anymore.”

“I know. I know. But she’s so persuasive.” Ronnie Lee juggled the papers in her hands and reached out and yanked Sissy Mae’s hair.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“For leading me down the path of sin and drunkenness.”

“Looked to me like you were gettin’ there fine all on your own.”

Bobby Ray slammed another four thick envelopes filled with papers from his lawyer on top of the pile she already carried. “Just drop these off in my room when you go back up.”

“Sure.”

“If you need us, we all have our cells.” Bobby Ray frowned. “And why did management call me about your ripping the phone out of the wall?”

“It wouldn’t stop ringing.”

Shaking his head, Bobby Ray turned to one of the other males, and Ronnie focused on Sissy Mae. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Remain so perky and fun loving after a drinking bout like the one we had last night?”

“Easy. I take a couple of aspirin before I go to sleep.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“So my momma’s right. You are Satan.”

“Can’t prove it.”

Ronnie started to laugh until the scent hit her. That big delicious cat scent that three days ago she would have sworn she’d never like, much less lust over.

Swallowing her slight case of panic, Ronnie Lee reminded herself she was a Reed and she wouldn’t go running because of some cat. Besides, he’d forgotten all about her. Right? No use making a fool over herself for a male who wouldn’t even remember her.

Determined to stand her ground, Ronnie watched Shaw stride into the hotel lobby, looking amazing in a thick cable-knit forest-green sweater, faded blue jeans, and scuffed work boots. As soon as he appeared staffers came from everywhere, demanding his attention and asking him to sign things. He dismissed all but one with a wave of his hand. She had a feeling the much smaller man, a full-human, walking with him to the front desk was Shaw’s personal assistant. Lord in heaven, the man has a personal assistant.

She held her ground until he stood no more than forty feet from the Pack, then she panicked. Ducking her head, Ronnie took a step back. Sissy Mae glanced over and abruptly moved in front of Ronnie, blocking her from Shaw’s sight. That was the one thing Ronnie did love about Sissy. She’d give her shit later about being a wimp, but she’d protect Ronnie now, no questions asked.

Lord, but did she need that.

To her growing horror, Shaw stopped beside the Pack and glanced up from the paperwork his assistant had shoved into his hands. He looked at Bobby Ray and she started to step away, run really, but Sissy grabbed her shirt and held her in place. Smart woman. As a predator, Shaw would immediately notice a female sprinting out of the room.

Knowing something was going down, both Marty and Gemma stood beside Sissy Mae, further blocking Ronnie from Shaw’s sight.

“Your Mace’s friend, right?” Shaw asked. “From the tunnels the other night.”

“Yup,” Bobby Ray answered back…eventually. Bobby Ray didn’t believe in rushing much of anything. Especially words.

“Thanks for that.”

“Welcome.”

She silently sighed. Males.

Shaw turned to say something to his assistant, and Sissy gave Ronnie a shove to move her from the room. Perfect timing.

Ronnie sprinted to the elevator and repeatedly mashed the call button. “Come on,” she begged. “Come on.”

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the elevator doors slid open and Ronnie rushed inside. She juggled the big manila folders and papers in her hands so she could push the button for her floor. Once it lit up, she leaned back against the wall and let out a sigh of relief when the doors began to close.

But when that big hand reached in and slapped itself against one of the big metal doors to stop it from closing, she barely stopped herself from letting out a yelp of surprise. Ronnie pushed herself up against the wall and held her breath as Brendon Shaw walked onto the elevator with his assistant.

“Comp them for their rooms.”

“Sir?”

“Did I stutter?”

“Not usually, sir.”

“And make sure they have everything they need while they’re here.”

“Yes, sir. And your sister called.”

“What did she want?”

Ronnie glanced up at the numbers and willed the floors to go by faster.

“Um…” The assistant glanced at her. “It can wait, sir.”

“Timothy, spit it out.”

He shrugged. “She just said, ‘Tell him bite me.’”

Instead of being angry, Shaw let out a deep laugh. He had a nice laugh. Low and real. She liked it.

“She’s pissed at me. I left her alone with Missy Llewellyn.”

“I’d be mad at you, too, sir,” Timothy joked, laughing right along with his boss until the elevator stopped on the twenty-fourth floor. “I’ll be here late, sir, if you need me for anything.”

“No. Don’t be here late. Go home and see your…uh…”

Smirking, Timothy asked, “My boyfriend, sir?”

“Yeah. Whatever. Can’t we just call him Frank?”

Now grinning, Timothy stepped off the elevator. “If you say so, Mr. Shaw.”

“I do. Go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Night, sir.”

The elevator doors closed and Shaw let out a breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him glance at her. He stared at her bare legs for a bit, then looked away.

She knew then he didn’t remember her. Like she guessed, once the fever wore off, he’d gone back to being a big arrogant cat with no use for “dogs.”

What annoyed her was how irritated she felt by it. She’d nursed the man through his fever and then had one helluva orgasm with him. You’d think he’d remember something.

She should have known better and felt damn grateful she hadn’t fucked him. The humiliation if she had…

The elevator stopped on the thirty-eighth floor—a shifter-only floor—and she stepped out without looking at him. She went down the long hallway until she stood in front of Bobby Ray’s room, digging into her back pocket for his keycard while trying not to drop her pile of papers.

She’d just swiped the card, unlocking the door, when he bellowed “You were going to pretend you didn’t know me, weren’t you?” had Bobby Ray’s precious papers and envelopes flying everywhere.

Brendon couldn’t believe how angry she’d made him. Did she really think he wouldn’t notice her? That he hadn’t smelled her as soon as he walked into the lobby? He’d kept his mouth shut to see if she’d say or do anything to acknowledge who she was, but when he saw her duck down to hide from him, his heart sank.

He could have let her walk away. He almost did as he watched her scurry from the lobby like a frightened mouse. But he’d been simply too angry to let her get away with it. It didn’t help, either, how damn good she looked in those shorts and boots.

“Weren’t you?” he yelled again.

She turned and faced him, her hand over her heart. She slumped against the wall. “Lord in heaven, you scared the shit out of me!”

“Good!”

“Well you don’t need to keep yellin’. I hear you just fine.” She glanced down at the papers and folders all over the floor. “Dammit. Now I gotta get these back in order.”

Papers? She was worried about papers? Who gave a flying shit?

He watched her crouch down and pull everything together. “Is that all you have to say to me?”

“Your fever gone?”

“Yeah.”

With all the papers in one hand, she stood and slapped her free hand across his forehead.

“You still feel kind of warm to me. You should probably be laying down and getting some rest before you start working again. Anyway, that’s my opinion. You can do what you like.”

She turned and again swiped the keycard, unlocking the door. Before she could escape inside and shut him out, he grabbed the papers out of her hands, ignoring her plaintive “Hey!”, and tossed them into the room. He could smell this wasn’t her room. It belonged to a male and he didn’t want her in there. Brendon slammed the door shut.

“What the hell do you think you’re do—”

Brendon shut off her tirade by kissing her. He couldn’t help himself. He’d never seen a female look finer in a pair of cutoff shorts, cowboy boots, and a T-shirt that had been in the washer so many times and seen so many years, he could easily see the aqua blue lace bra she wore under it. One good tear would have it off her in seconds.

To stop himself from doing exactly that in the middle of the hallway, he dug his hands into her hair and plunged his tongue between her lips. Her hands slammed hard against his shoulders, and he thought for sure she’d push him away. Maybe even claw his chest open. She-wolves could be mean when provoked.

But her fingers gripped his flesh hard and she yanked him closer, rising on her toes to meet his mouth, her tongue sparring with his.

Brendon didn’t want to give her a chance to have any doubts, to worry what her Pack would say, so he slipped his hands under her perfect ass and lifted her. He maneuvered her legs around his waist and headed toward the back elevator down the hall. The elevator that would take him directly to his apartment on the top floor.

He made it about ten feet when one of her hands released his shoulder and slapped against the wall.

She pulled out of their kiss. “Wait. Just wait.”

He growled.

“And don’t growl at me.” At least she was panting. Panting was good. “Where the hell are we going?”

“My apartment.”

She shook her head, confusion and lust all over her beautiful face. “We can’t…we shouldn’t do—”

Again he kissed her to shut her up and because she tasted so goddamn wonderful.

He set off again, her claws scraping a line down the wall as he hustled her toward the secluded elevator.

She pulled her lips away again. “Wait!”

He stopped and stared at her.

“I’m relatively positive we’re not supposed to be doing this.”

“Who says?”

“The laws of nature and God.”

“Laws are made to be broken and God just wants us to be happy.” Fucking this woman would make him so damn happy. “Come on. Let’s go break some laws.”

“No, no, no! Let’s think about this a minute. Just give me a second.”

He didn’t release her. And since her breasts were right there…

She gasped, her hands grabbing his head and pulling him in tighter as he suckled her nipple through her T-shirt and bra.

“You are so not giving me a minute to think.”

“I know,” he said around her nipple. “I don’t want you to think. Thinking is what had you running out on me.”

“I didn’t…I couldn’t…” She panted harder. “Stop sucking it like that.”

“Okay. How about this?” He drew her in deeper and she cried out.

Her hand slammed hard against the wall, claws once again out. “Your room,” she demanded. “Your room now.”

Brendon didn’t argue, he just moved.

The ding of the private elevator nearly snapped Ronnie out of her idiocy—but not quite. Not with a man who could kiss like this. If the way he used his tongue remotely mimicked his skills with his cock, she was in for a time.

Thought you were an adult now and you weren’t going to do this sort of thing anymore? Remember? New year…new life.

There it went again. That damn voice in her head. The one that sounded suspiciously like her momma. The one she never listened to even when she should. She probably should listen to it now, but the man’s kisses were drugging. Ronnie couldn’t think past his lips touching hers. His tongue gliding along the inside of her mouth, caressing and tasting. She couldn’t think past what he’d do once he got inside her, the very thought making her shudder and her pussy clench tight.

The elevator didn’t directly open to his room, but to a hallway and a door right across. Shaw pushed her up against the wall while he fished keys out of his back pocket and unlocked the door. He carried her inside and shoved her up against another wall as he slammed the door shut and threw the four bolt locks.

Not until he had her right where he wanted her did he release her legs, his hips rocking into her body. She moaned, slipping her hands under his sweater and into the back of his jeans. She squeezed his ass and laughed when he groaned against her mouth.

Shaw’s lips trailed down her jaw to her neck, his teeth scraping along the throbbing pulse point in her throat. He continued on, bringing his mouth back to her breast and pushing her shirt up while pulling the lace bra cup down. His warm mouth enveloped her nipple, hungrily tugging on it.

She dug her hands into his hair to hold him in place, wondering if he could bring her over the edge by sucking on her breast. She’d heard some men had the skill, but she had yet to meet one.

Ronnie’s body tightened in anticipation, every muscle tensing, preparing for the release it knew was coming.

She opened her eyes to watch the man playing her body so effortlessly, and that’s when she saw him walk out of Shaw’s kitchen.

He froze at the sight of her, juice from the green apple he’d just bitten into dripping down his chin. He wasn’t like the ones at the hospital. He wasn’t human. Not fully anyway.

Growling, fangs bared, Ronnie slammed her fist into the side of Shaw’s head.

“Ow!” He pulled away, his hand rubbing the cheek she’d wounded. “What the fuck was that for?”

Pulling her bra up and her shirt down, she snarled, “If you think I’m that kind of wolf, you’ve got another thing coming!”

“What?” Shaw looked genuinely confused and a little hurt.

She pointed toward his kitchen.

Frowning, Shaw stood straight and turned. The two males stared at each other for several long seconds. Then Shaw was on him, grabbing the male around the throat and slamming him up against the wall.

“Where the hell have you been?”

Roaring, the male shoved Shaw back and turned so he could slam Shaw against the wall.

“None of your goddamn business!”

Ronnie rolled her eyes. Brothers.

They had to be. Only family could ever get a body this pissed off.

Shaw pushed his forearm against the other’s throat, turned, and slammed his brother against that poor abused wall.

“I almost got killed looking for you!”

“Who told you to look for me? I told you to mind your own goddamn business!”

They both roared at each other, literally, and Ronnie decided it was a good time to leave. She quietly unlocked and opened the door, but before she could sneak out into the hallway, Shaw’s gold eyes lasered over to her, nailing her to the spot with one look.

“Don’t even think about leaving.”

Ronnie would have argued with him. Told him it was best he and his brother talk alone. Or that he was being an ass and he could go find another fuck somewhere else. But before she could say a word, Shaw’s brother shoved the bigger man to the floor and the two went at it like…well…like two big cats.

It wasn’t pretty.

Although the canine part of her sure did enjoy the show.

Chapter Six

They hadn’t shifted yet, but it had crossed Brendon’s mind. Especially when the little shit sank his fangs into the side of Brendon’s neck. Without his protective mane that shit really hurt!

This wasn’t how he’d planned to talk to Mitch when he finally caught up to him. Brendon had it all worked out. In nice, easy tones, he was going to ask his brother what was going on and whether he was okay.

Unfortunately, he’d been so wound up from making out with the She-wolf and sexually frustrated because of all the things he wanted to do to her but hadn’t been able to yet, he’d unleashed his full fury right on his baby brother’s head. As usual, Mitch dived right into that fight.

Honestly, the boy had no sense at all sometimes. Although he did have a mean right cross, and sometimes it felt like his fangs were extra sharp.

Brendon grabbed his brother around the throat, letting his claws dig into the skin enough to make Mitch nervous. But before he had time to gloat about his brother’s sudden stillness, water, cold and imported directly from Denmark, ploughed into his face.

Both brothers snarled and separated, looking up into the smug face of one gorgeous She-wolf.

“Didn’t have time to bother with the tap.” She held the empty water bottle in her hand. Water that cost him five bucks a pop. “Although why a body would go all the way to Denmark to get water, I’ll never know. Ain’t American water good enough for ya?”

She put the empty plastic bottle on top of a side table. “Anyway, sorry about that, but I figured there had to be a better way for you two to work out whatever it is you’ve gotta work out. And, to be quite honest, you won’t let me go and I haven’t got all night to sit around here waiting for you two to get bored. So”—she held her hands out to both of them—“why don’t you two try talking this out rather than ripping each other’s throats out. I’d hate to have to explain all that blood to those poor maids.”

Not knowing what else to do, Brendon grabbed her hand and Mitch grabbed the other. She pulled and both of them stood up, towering over her.

“I have three older brothers,” she explained with a smile. “If I didn’t stop some of their fights, those boys would have fought all damn day and one of them would have died from blood loss. That would have upset my momma no end, and she would have found a way to blame me.”

Using the tips of her fingers, she turned Brendon’s head a bit so she could look at his neck. She grimaced, sucking the air in between her teeth. “Lord, boy. You really need to learn how to pull back when it’s your own kin.”

Mitch’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “And who are you exactly?”

“Be nice,” Brendon growled, his hands clenching into fists.

“Don’t start that shit again.” She stepped back. “Look, I’m right downstairs. Why don’t I—”

“No. You stay here.” Brendon grabbed his brother’s worn leather biker jacket and yanked him toward the door. “Don’t leave. I’ll be back.”

“Where the hell are we going?” Mitch demanded.

“I’m getting you a room and you’re staying the night. And don’t even think about giving me any shit about this.”

Pulling open the door, he shoved Mitch through it and toward the elevator. He glanced back at the She-wolf. “I’ll be back in a little while. Make yourself at home, but promise me you won’t leave.”

She opened her mouth to argue, he could see it on her face, so he added, “Promise me or I’ll start kicking his ass again, right here.”

His brother turned away from the elevator and snarled, “You wish—”

“Shut up.” Brendon snapped at his brother while staring at her. “Promise me.”

Exasperated, she rolled her eyes. “All right. All right. For the sake of family harmony, I’ll stay. But not like for twelve hours or something. My Pack might notice if I’m gone that long.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” He started to close the door, but he stepped back and looked at her. “One other thing.”

“Yeah?”

“What is your name?”

She looked torn between being amused, embarrassed, and appalled.

“Rhonda Lee Reed. Everybody calls me Ronnie Lee or Ronnie.”

“Anybody ever call you Ron?”

“Not and live to tell about it.”

Brendon grinned. Yup. He liked her.

“All right, Ronnie Lee. Make yourself at home and I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Yeah. Yeah. But you better have TV,” she mumbled as he closed his front door.

He walked over to his brother and the elevator doors slid open. Grabbing the younger man by the back of the neck, he threw him inside. “And that’s for trying to rip my throat out, you little shit.”

How she could initially miss the fifty-inch, flat-screen plasma TV attached to Shaw’s wall, she had no idea. Then again, his tongue down her throat and his hands on her tits might have had something to do with it.

Settling down onto the man’s butter-soft leather couch and picking up his gargantuan remote to start flipping channels, Ronnie shook her head. He hadn’t even known her name. She almost fucked a man who didn’t even know her name. Lord, she hadn’t done something that trashy in a very long time.

So then why wasn’t she running for the exit instead of sitting on a lion’s couch, reprogramming his inadequately programmed remote?

Because…because she liked him. Stupid idiot that she was, she liked a cat. She liked a male who would never want more from her than a quick, anonymous fuck so he could tell his friends he did a She-wolf.

Even as she thought it, though, she realized that didn’t seem Shaw’s way. He could have anyone he wanted. Human or shifter. Any breed. But he wanted her. He made that clear in front of Bobby Ray’s room. She just couldn’t figure out if this was a mistake or not.

Then again, as long as she kept it simple, maybe it wouldn’t be. Maybe they could have a fun, meaningless fling. Lord knew it wouldn’t be her first.

Of course, if it was all so damn easy, why had her stomach tied itself into knots?

She should go. She should write a little note telling the cat thanks but no thanks. She should. Really.

Ronnie kept thinking that, too, even as she stretched her legs out on his couch and smiled when she realized she’d had the good fortune to catch some CSI reruns.

Brendon scrubbed his face and leaned back, staring at his brother. After three hours and two enormous sandwiches from the kitchen—he knew the kid hadn’t had a decent meal recently—he still didn’t know a damn thing.

“At least tell me why you showed up in my apartment after all this time.”

Mitch paused for a moment, truly contemplating his answer. Brendon knew that expression. Knew Mitch would only tell him enough truth to get Brendon off his back. He’d done it enough times before. Eventually, Mitch shrugged and took another bite. “Marissa left a message on my voice mail,” he grumbled around a mouthful of food.

“She did?”

“Yeah. And she was way pissed. She blames me for this, doesn’t she?”

“Don’t worry about her. So you came here to check on me?”

Mitch rolled his eyes. “If that helps you sleep better, bruh.”

“It’s nice to know you care.”

The middle finger salute given, Mitch went back to his steak sandwich. “So who did it?”

“Doogan brothers.” For a split second Brendon saw surprise register on his baby brother’s face before he quickly masked it. The kid had a talent for that.

“They killed Petrov before Christmas,” Brendon continued. “Shot him in the back of the head.”

“They used guns?” Mitch made a sound of disgust. “Tacky.”

“Doogans,” Brendon reminded him, leaning back in the chair. “They wanted the Llewellyn Pride. They killed Petrov. And they almost killed me.”

“Is that what happened to your face?”

Brendon chuckled. “Yeah. That’s what happened to my face, but it’s healing.”

“Where are they now? The Doogans?”

Brendon knew that look on his brother’s face. He’d seen it on Marissa’s enough. Knew what the kid would do if he had the chance. Too bad for him he wouldn’t have the chance.

“Hyenas ate ’em.”

Mitch stared at him for a long time. Nearly a minute. Until he said, “Excuse me?”

“Hyenas ate them.” Brendon lifted his hands and let them drop. “Like forty of them. Ripped the three of them apart. Considering the bastards were about to shoot me in the back of the head—they kind of deserved it.”

“Good point. Although I don’t see a bunch of hyenas helping you.”

“They didn’t. A really well-endowed cop and a Pack of wolves helped me.”

“Is that where you met She of the Sexy Shorts?”

“She stayed with me through my fever. She protected me from a couple of guys. Got me out of the hospital and stashed me at her aunt’s.”

Again that look passed across Mitch’s face clearly stating he knew more than he was spilling. Only, for once, he looked a bit panicked. “What guys?”

“I don’t know. White. Humans. That’s all anybody knows.” Completely useless information in a court of law.

“You didn’t…uh…I mean…” He cleared his throat. “How badly did you…uh…”

“They’re still breathing, if that’s what you’re asking me.”

Mitch nodded, guzzled his beer.

“Anyway, she stayed with me, man. She didn’t desert me. And she looks amazing in those cowboy boots.”

Mitch put down his beer. “You like her.”

Brendon grinned. He couldn’t help himself. “Yeah. I like her.”

“And what’s your precious Pride have to say about that?” He never could keep the disgust out of his voice when he mentioned them. Just like Marissa. They’d hate it if they knew how alike they were.

“I’ve only been hanging around lately because of the Doogans. I wasn’t going to let them get near my kids. But we’ve been done with each other for a while now. They got what they wanted out of me and I got what I wanted out of them. So everyone’s happy.”

Mitch smiled. “How are my niece and nephew?”

“Beautiful. Kitten-cranky.”

“I love that age.”

“They’d love to see you.”

“Maybe.”

“What’s going on, Mitch?” Brendon asked yet again.

His face perfectly blank, Mitch stated, “Nothing.”

A stranger might have believed him, but Brendon knew better. Unfortunately, Mitch had the Shaw stubbornness. He wouldn’t tell anyone anything until he damn well wanted to.

“So basically you came to check up on me. You were worried about your big bruh.”

“I wasn’t worried. But I knew if you were dead, I’d want your stuff.”

“Oh, that’s very nice.”

“Come on. Can you blame me?” Mitch gestured around the opulent room. “This gorgeous hotel. Staff waiting to do my bidding. Beautiful woman right upstairs…even if she is a dog.”

Brendon ignored the flash of uncharacteristic jealousy over a female he suddenly experienced. “She-wolf.”

“Whatever.”

“You’d still have to fight Marissa for it all.”

“I could take her. Once I took a bat to her head.”

“Such family love we have.”

“We’re like the lion equivalent of The Waltons.”

Brendon laughed and shook his head. “You’re the biggest idiot.”

It made him feel really good when Mitch smiled.

Chapter Seven

Brendon opened his front door not expecting but hoping to find Ronnie still there. And he did. Asleep on his couch, the television playing an X-Files repeat low in the background. Her body curled into a tight ball, her feet and hands twitching in sleep as she dreamed. She sort of looked like she was…well…running. In her sleep.

Forcing himself not to laugh, he crouched in front of her. Carefully, Brendon brushed her brown hair off her face. She made little whimpering sounds in her sleep and then her lip pulled back in a snarl.

Perhaps the cutest damn thing Brendon had ever seen in his entire life. He kissed her cheek and Ronnie snapped awake…and up. Their heads slammed together. You could almost hear the “thunk.”

“Ow!” Brendon rubbed his nose where her cheek made contact. Christ, his body had taken more abuse in the last few days.

“Sorry,” she said while gripping her own head.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No. No. It wasn’t your fault. I dreamed I was fighting a puma. A full one,” she added, which explained why she might be so jumpy. A Pride of shifters might decide not to attack a lone wolf because they knew her Pack would come after them, but the full-bloods had no such worries about repercussions.

Which explained why Brendon left hunting in wild animal parks to the hearty and insane, of which his father turned out to be both.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked with a giggle.

“No. I’m fine.”

She felt his forehead. “I still say that fever is there. Not a lot, but a bit.”

“My fever’s gone. Stop worrying.”

“My daddy thought he was over the fever once after he got in a tussle with a wild boar. Then he passed out in the Piggly Wiggly. Went down head first. Bam! Took out their entire candy display.”

That quick, the woman had his heart right in the palm of her hand. To quote her, “Bam!” She probably didn’t even realize it, and Brendon sure as hell had no intention of telling her.

“I’m okay,” he reassured her before he could say something stupid. Like “marry me.”

She shrugged. “Fine. Males wanna take chances with their health, no female around can convince ’em different.”

Ronnie sat up, scratching her head and yawning. “You work everything out with your brother?”

Brendon gave a sharp snort. “Not really. My brother’s not big on telling me or my sister anything.”

“Y’all from the same Pride?”

Sitting down beside her on the couch, enjoying simply having her there, “Nope. His mother belonged to the West Philadelphia Pride and our mom to the South Philly. Our mom died when we were born and her Pride didn’t want us.”

“Why not?”

He shrugged. “Got me. Sometimes cats just get that way.”

“So your dad took you in?”

“Yeah. He raised us. Was determined to do things differently.”

“Differently than what?”

“His father. He died in prison. Art thief.”

Ronnie pulled her legs up onto the couch, her arms around them and her chin resting on her knees. “I used to have an Uncle Louie who robbed banks until he was shot in the head.”

Brendon leaned back and put his feet up on his coffee table. “Ya gotta love family, huh?”

“Not really. But you can’t pick your family. It’s just the way it is. Your brother can’t be that bad, though.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I don’t think you’d be worried about him if you thought he was hopeless.”

“Know that much about me already, huh?”

“Nah. Just a feeling I have. And I’m usually pretty right about people. Got it from my great-grandmother. She was Blackfoot tribe…or…something.”

“And you have three brothers.”

“Yup.” She shook her head. “They wouldn’t like your pretty face one bit.”

“Don’t give a rat’s ass about your brothers. Do you like my pretty face?”

“Yeah. I do.” She gently stroked his cheek. “But if my brothers come to New York and find you sniffing around me, what the Doogan brothers did to you in those tunnels will seem like a cakewalk compared to the Reed boys.”

Brendon leaned into her, his eyes locked on her lips. “I’ll take my chances,” he whispered and moved in.

Should have kept his eyes open, though. It would have prevented him from going face-first into his couch.

By the time he sat up, she had his front door open.

“Where are you going?”

“My momma says to hell in a handbasket, but I’m fightin’ that.”

She got as far as the elevator before he caught hold of the back of her denim shorts and proceeded to drag her back into his apartment.

“You’re not walking out on me again.”

“I can’t stay. I can’t do this.”

“Do what?”

“Have sex with guys who don’t even know my name.” She grabbed the doorjamb and held on for dear life. “I promised myself no more of this wild child bullshit. I’m thirty now, I gotta be responsible.”

“And being with me isn’t responsible?”

“And I repeat—you didn’t even know my name and you’d already started sucking on my nipples. So, yeah, I’d say this is us about to be irresponsible.”

He had to pry her fingers off the doorjamb and haul her into his apartment. “Your name was the first thing I planned to ask you when I came out of the fever, but you were already gone.”

She scrambled out of his arms and backed up into his apartment. Thankfully, she didn’t smell frightened, but she did seem wary. He just didn’t think it was about him.

“I swear it’s nothing personal,” she insisted, “but it is for the best.”

“Don’t leave, Ronnie.”

She shook her head. “I can’t stay. I won’t stay.”

Brendon realized there was only one thing he could do. A risk. But he had to try. “I understand.” He walked away from the door so he no longer blocked her exit. “I’m sorry.”

“No, no. You didn’t do anything wrong, darlin’. It’s all me.” With one last look at him, those beautiful eyes filled with regret, she headed toward the door.

Letting out a low, mournful sigh, he sat on the armrest of one of his club chairs, his head hanging down.

“What…what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m fine. You better go.”

He didn’t look at her and when he heard the door open, it took all his strength not to run over and slam it before she could leave.

He waited. The door didn’t close.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Go on. I’m just tired.”

Another moment of silence, a growl, and then the front door slammed shut. Cool hands grabbed his jaw and lifted his head. “Look at me.”

He did…and Christ, those eyes.

“I bet it’s that fever. I told you it hadn’t finished with you yet.”

“I’ll be okay. Really. I’m sure I’m only tired.”

“Come on.” She took his arm and put it around her shoulders. “We’re taking you to bed before you pass out or start running down Fifth Avenue on all fours.”

Brendon let her help him up, and he led her straight to his bedroom. As she helped him onto his bed and proceeded to take off his boots, he realized that yes, he would be going to hell for lying his ass off.

Somehow he knew, though, that Ronnie Lee Reed would be worth every second he’d burn.

He could be faking it. Hell, he probably was faking it.

And if she were to be real honest with herself, she didn’t really care. He’d given her a guilt-free excuse to come right back inside and take this man to bed…uh…to help him through the fever. She wouldn’t get into bed with him.

Unless he needed her to.

Clearing her throat, she dropped his frighteningly large work boots at the side of the bed. “We should…uh…get your jeans off, too.”

“Okay.” He pushed himself up on his elbows and let out that sigh again.

“Now don’t go exerting yourself. I don’t mind helping.” Yeah. Helping. She didn’t mind helping one bit.

Forcing herself to be completely impartial, she reached for his jeans. “We’ll get you out of these and into bed. By morning you should be right as rain.”

She pulled his jeans down past his hips, realizing too late the man wore no underwear. Swallowing past the lump of lust in her throat, she locked her knees tight and yanked his jeans down his legs.

“I really appreciate you taking care of me like this.”

“Oh, it’s no bother.” No bother at all when a man had thighs like these. Big. Hard. Perfect. She could “hee haw” her way to orgasm on those thighs.

Crouching at the end of the bed to finish pulling off his jeans, she tried not to think about the mouthwatering cock a few inches from her mouth. She didn’t do very well, but she did really try.

“Ronnie?”

Ronnie closed her eyes. If you look at him, you’re a goner. Whatever you do, don’t look at him.

“Ronnie. Look at me.”

Damn, damn, damn!

Still crouching by the bed, Ronnie slowly lifted her head.

“Open your eyes.”

“I don’t think I should.”

“Okay. Keep ’em closed.”

Strong hands gently gripped her face, big fingers sliding into her hair, angling her head a little up and to the side.

“Keep ’em closed,” he whispered, his warm breath against her mouth. “Keep ’em closed and just kiss me, Ronnie Lee.”

Shaw’s lips brushed hers. Tongue stroking, teeth nipping. Ronnie grabbed hold of his wrists and whimpered. She opened her mouth, and Shaw dived in. His tongue tangling with hers, both of them groaning.

Then, with his fingers still buried in her hair, he pulled her to her feet. Before she could even blink, he had her on her back across his lion-sized bed.

Yup. Goner.

Chapter Eight

Absolutely. This woman was absolutely worth any stint in hell he may have to do. Her smell. Her taste. That canine “yip” sound she’d make every time he nipped her neck. All of those things were driving the lion buried inside him out of control.

“Christ, you smell good.”

Ronnie didn’t answer him, but slid her hands under his sweater and yanked it up. He stopped kissing her long enough for her to pull the sweater over his head and throw it across the room.

“If you value your clothes,” he said while kissing her throat, “you’ll get them off in the next thirty seconds. I won’t be responsible for what happens after that.”

She pulled out of their kiss and dragged her body out from under his.

“My daddy’s,” she explained about the T-shirt before it went sailing across the room. Her lace bra went flying next.

“No,” he growled low. “The boots stay on.”

Brendon had never met a female who looked at him with such raw sexual hunger. Exactly like the way Ronnie looked at him now, her hands sliding up the cowboy boot she’d been seconds from taking off, up her leg, until she reached the fly of her shorts. Clasp opened, zipper down, and then she wriggled that gorgeous body out of the scraps of denim.

“Come here,” he ordered, and watched with narrow eyes as she backed away from him, still on her knees.

Her lips curved into a smile and her eyes shifted from human to wolf. She reached the top of his bed, shoving his pillows to the floor before leaning back against his headboard, her arms hooked over the top.

She spread her knees wide so he could see the wetness of her pussy and her trembling thighs. Softly, she said, “If you want this, hoss, you better come over here and get it.”

No one had ever accused Ronnie of being shy. If she knew what she wanted, she went after it without a second’s thought. Being wolf, this wasn’t exactly surprising.

This bit of her character put off most human men or attracted the really scummy ones. Wolf males saw a challenge. A chance to dominate. They always thought they had to. And once they made her come they thought they owned her. They were always so shocked when they woke up in the morning and found her long gone.

She could say in all honesty that although she’d had some wonderful lovers, she’d never met her match.

Until Brendon Shaw dropped to all fours and crawled across his bed to her. Fangs slowly slid from his gums, and his claws kept catching on his sheets. He didn’t rush over to her, slam her down. He moved like the king of the jungle he believed himself to be. Like he knew he’d get what he wanted eventually. She liked that he hadn’t dived face-first into her muff in the hope of forcing that orgasm out of her so he could get in and get off.

Nope. Shaw meandered his way across that bed like the world belonged to him. Once he reached her, he nuzzled her thigh and licked the back of her knee. His hands smoothed across her skin, exploring every inch, taking his time. He even rubbed his mane of hair across her breasts and stomach, the feel of it exciting her more than any tongue or finger ever had.

Eventually he moved lower, his tongue swiping up between her legs, licking the wetness already coating the inside of her thighs. Then he purred, and Ronnie’s eyes crossed. She gripped the headboard and gritted her teeth. “Let him work for it” had always been her motto, but his skills were such, he didn’t have to work very hard.

Big hands slipped around the back of her legs and lifted her hips up, resting her thighs on his shoulders. Her cowboy boots pressed against his back, and his hands took firm hold of her ass. His tongue swept inside her and Ronnie cried out, her hips rocking against his mouth. Brutally fast, that orgasm crawled up her spine. Her body tightening, her claws gripping the back of his headboard, tearing at the wood.

Yet the man didn’t seem to be rushing anything. Licking her slow and easy, still purring up against her flesh. Ronnie looked down to see that oh-so-happy smile he sported while giving her head—and she came like a freight train all over that pretty face.

Shaw rode it out with her, keeping a tight hold on her until her ecstatic cries turned to exhausted whimpering.

Grinning like he owned the universe, he lowered her legs until they rested against his thighs. Ronnie still had her arms holding the headboard, so Shaw ran his hands over her body. When his big thumbs grazed her nipples, she squeaked.

“Man,” he sighed, “you are easy.”

She’d been called that before, but for once she didn’t get pissed because she knew he didn’t mean it as an insult. “Don’t get cocky, cat. We ain’t done yet. We’ve got miles to go before you sleep.”

He laughed and kissed her, pulling her body flush against his. “You are so beautiful,” he said against her lips while his hands roamed over every inch of her. “I can’t wait to get inside you.”

“And why exactly are we waiting?”

He shrugged, kissed her shoulders. “Trying to be a gentleman or…whatever.”

She snorted. “You know what I do with gentlemen? I chew them up and spit them out and leave the remains for the hyenas.” Ronnie wrapped her arms around his neck. “Gentlemen don’t make me hot. They don’t make me squirm. And they sure as shit never make me come.” She dug her hands into his hair, loving the way he never had true control over it. A big healthy mane. “If you were a gentleman, I wouldn’t be here with you. I’d be anywhere but here with you.”

Shaw leaned back, his hands brushing her hair off her face. “But you are here with me.”

“Yeah. I am. Now it’s time for you to get to work. Show me how you’re king of the jungle and all that.”

He laughed and joked, “You sure that’s a good idea? Once you’ve had the king, you’ll never go back to the lowly Alpha Male.”

He knew how to have fun in bed. Thank God! Nothing Ronnie hated more than a man who had to be serious all the time. In bed or out. But especially in bed. Here you are, naked and groping each other. Seemed like the perfect time to joke, tease, have fun. But some men acted like they were “taking the beach” at Normandy during World War II.

Ronnie slipped her right hand down, gripping Shaw’s cock and totally enjoying the way he groaned as she slowly pumped it.

“Talking. Talking. Talking. But I’m still waitin’ for the proof, hoss.”

Teasingly he rolled his eyes. “If you insist on me having actual intercourse with you to prove my point—and thereby ruining you for other males—I guess I have no choice but to oblige.”

He reached over into the side drawer, her going with him since she now rested on his lap and still had his cock in her hand.

Pulling out a long strip of condoms, he held them up and asked, “Think we’ll need all of these tonight?”

“If you want me bragging about you in the mornin’, then you damn well better.”

“Here.” Brendon handed her a condom. “Make yourself useful.”

She grinned while tearing open the packet, and he tried not to panic at the riot of emotions assaulting him at the moment. Instead he stroked her, caressed her, reveled in the softness and hardness of a female predator’s body. He traced scars riddling her shoulders, back, and torso. She didn’t hide them, nor did she stop him from touching, exploring. He really liked that about Ronnie Lee. She didn’t shy away, it seemed, from anything.

The condom slipped over his aching cock, and she rolled it down to the base. She wrapped her hand around it and squeezed.

Letting out a groan, “Evil.”

Ronnie chuckled, probably not realizing the hold she had on him went deeper than the hold she had on his cock.

Gripping her ass, Brendon pulled Ronnie firmly into his lap until his cock slipped just inside her. Her arms again wrapped around his neck, her face buried against his throat. Brendon impaled her with one firm thrust, loving the gasp of surprise she let out and the way her fingers tightened in his hair.

He held her like that for a long while, enjoying the way she wrapped around him and how she felt in his arms.

Perfect. That was how she felt. Absolutely perfect.

He held her in his arms like he would a fragile, weak-boned full-human. Like the slightest move could break her. Hurt her. She nipped his neck, reminding him of what they were. Not enough to break skin or accidentally mark him as her own, but enough to startle him back into action.

The next thing she knew Shaw had her flat on her back again. The gentle kitty cat had left the building, replaced by the killer cat. Not that she minded either way. She enjoyed both.

Lacing his fingers with hers, he pinned her hands down on the bed beside her head while he stared at her with the eyes of a lion. She could even feel the tips of his claws against the back of her hand. And…yup! Those were fangs.

She grinned at him, flashing her own canines. Daring him to fuck her right.

He snarled and then he moved. Fucking her hard, so hard. Using his weight and the strength of his arms to keep her in place while he pounded into her.

Lord, that felt good! So damn good.

They snarled and snapped at each other, and he made sure to hit her clit on every brutal thrust.

“Yeah,” she said when she felt another orgasm starting to move through her system. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she chanted over and over again until she came so hard she could only scream.

Still pinning her down, Shaw kissed her, their fangs scraping against each other, their tongues licking and stroking. His big cock slammed into her, pushing her toward another orgasm. Demanding it. She couldn’t resist it. Couldn’t stop the way he made her feel. She shook beneath him, the strength of her orgasm wiping her mind clean. She couldn’t even scream anymore, could only gasp and whimper.

When Shaw came, he roared so loud Ronnie wondered if all fifty-three floors heard him.

He dropped on top of her, panting hard, their hands still locked even though both sets of claws and fangs had retreated.

They were quiet for a while, until Ronnie said, “Well that’s definitely the most fun a body can have while naked.”

She smiled when he snorted a laugh into her neck.

Chapter Nine

Brendon felt amazing. Better than amazing. He’d left his blinds open and he could see the dark skyline of his city.

Still dark out and he had no idea why he would be up this early—but he did know that he felt amazing.

Hair brushed the inside of his thigh, and he glanced down his body.

No wonder he felt so damn amazing. No wonder he was up so early.

Ronnie deep throated him again, her hand massaging his balls while she did.

“Christ, Ronnie,” he rasped when she swirled her tongue around the tip of his cock, then took him deep again.

She sucked hard and released him. “Oh, don’t mind me none.”

Brendon laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nah. Go back to sleep.” She tore open another condom and put it on him. “I just need to borrow part of you for a time, is all.”

He would have laughed if she didn’t feel so goddamn good sinking onto his hard cock.

Her head fell back, and Ronnie let out a long, luxurious moan. “Yeah. That’s exactly what I need.” She started moving. Slow and easy, a smile of pure joy on that gorgeous face.

She looked into his eyes while she rode him. “You don’t mind, do you? If I take dirty, disgusting advantage of your sleeping body?”

“Anytime, sexy. Any goddamn time you want to.”

“You may regret that. I can be real demanding.” She leaned over him, her hands gripping his shoulders. Her rhythm never changed and her pussy clutched him on every rocking thrust.

“So you’re a glutton. Always demanding more?”

“As much as I can get, hoss. I might be too much for you. More than you can handle.”

He gripped her hips hard enough to bruise. “No, sexy. You’re just right.” Brendon used his hands to speed up her rhythm. Make her rock into him harder, faster.

Their groans grew louder, more desperate. Their bodies slick with sweat.

“Christ, Ronnie. You’re amazing.”

She laughed. “I bet you say that to all the girls who wake you up with a blow job.”

Brendon slapped her ass, eliciting a yelp as her pussy clenched him hard. “I’m saying that to you.”

“All right, hoss. All right. No need to get cranky.”

He rubbed her where he’d slapped her ass. “You liked that, didn’t you?”

She leaned down, licked his nipples, and Brendon barely stopped himself from coming.

“Liked what?” She very gently gripped one nipple between her teeth, then tickled it with her tongue.

Brendon closed his eyes and briefly thought about the Phillies baseball team season. He’d have to remember to get tickets this year. Maybe he could convince Ronnie to go along with him for a couple of games.

“Liked what?” she asked again, her hands running along his shoulders, her hips and pussy rocking him into oblivion.

“When I slapped your ass. You liked it.”

“Do you really think I’d answer that question?”

He arched into her. “You just did, sexy. You just did.”

Ronnie gave a frustrated whimper.

Brendon opened his eyes to see Ronnie shake her head, a frustrated frown on her face.

“You need help going over, baby?”

She nodded, whimpered again. “I’m so close.”

He pulled one hand away from her hips and placed his thumb against her mouth. “Suck on this like you sucked on my cock.”

Without hesitation, she took his thumb into her mouth and sucked hard, her tongue swirling around a bit before going back to sucking.

I can’t believe I slept through most of that blow job.

Dragging his finger from her mouth, Brendon brought it down the middle of her body until he hovered over her clit. He stared up into her face, wanting to watch Ronnie while he did this. While he gave her this.

He touched her clit with the pad of his thumb and made small circles.

“Oh God, yeah,” she panted. “Oh yeah.”

Brendon increased the pressure a bit and Ronnie exploded, her orgasm ripping through her, leaving her shaking and gasping. And smiling. She always smiled when she came. He kept up the pressure and the movement until she caught his hand with her own.

“Stop. Stop.” Ronnie laughed and leaned back, shaking out her shoulder-length hair. “Whew! That was exactly what I needed, darlin’.”

Taking Brendon’s hands and placing them on her breasts, she said, “Now I need to know what you need.”

He grinned, loving that she cared enough to ask. “For you to finish that blow job.”

“Oh baby. That I can so do.”

Ronnie woke up when the morning sun hit her full in the face. She took a moment to enjoy the feel of Shaw’s back pushed up against her own. Took a moment to enjoy the scent of a male surrounding her. Shaw’s scent. But she only gave herself that one moment. Now it was time to go. Like she did nearly every morning she woke up in a man’s bed. And Shaw would be no different. No different from the other men in her life that she wrung pleasure from and then left before they ever woke up. Before they ever had a chance to ask her to stay.

Moving with the stealth she’d been born with, Ronnie slipped out of Shaw’s bed and started toward the door. Quickly, though, she realized she had to pee like a race horse. Taking a detour, she went to Shaw’s adjoining bathroom, pausing for a moment in the doorway. Good Lord, the man had a huge bathroom.

Huge bathroom, huge apartment, huge cock.

She used the toilet, washed her hands and face, brushed her teeth using her finger.

“You’re procrastinating, girl,” she said to herself in the mirror. “Just get your clothes and go.”

Ronnie slipped back into the bedroom, picked up her clothes and boots, and headed to the door. She stopped right in front of it, staring at it.

All she had to do was put her hand on the knob and open the door. She glanced back at Shaw. Still asleep, he wouldn’t know she’d left hours ago. She looked back at the door.

Open the door, Ronnie Lee. Open the door and leave.

But the thought of going back to her boring hotel bed held absolutely no appeal. Usually, she couldn’t get out of the room—and away from the male she’d just had sex with—fast enough.

For the first time ever, she didn’t feel that overwhelming desire to escape. The realization unsettled her, but she blew it off. Merely the holidays, she told herself. People got lonely around the holidays.

Dropping her clothes into a chair, Ronnie walked back over to the bed. A deep breath, and she slipped back under the covers, resting on her side. It felt nice and right, but she blew that off, too. She was just tired, is all.

Shaw turned over and wrapped his arm around her waist, his face nestled into her hair, his cock snug against her ass. She rested her hand on his arm, smiled, and went back to sleep.

Brendon waited until he knew she was asleep before he let out the breath he’d been holding. True, he would have stopped her before she made it through his front door, but he wanted her to come back on her own. Wanted to see if the pull she felt was as strong as his own.

He didn’t feel smug in the knowledge she came back. More like relieved. He’d fallen hard and fast for this female. This woman. He had no intention of letting her go now, but he wasn’t stupid enough to believe it would be easy to keep her. Ronnie didn’t like anyone having a hold on her. Not a man or her family. Not even her Pack. If she knew Shaw wanted her to stay in his life forever, she would have sprinted out the door like in one of those Bugs Bunny cartoons, leaving a big Ronnie-shaped hole in the wood.

No, he’d have to be crafty. He wouldn’t trick Ronnie. He didn’t want her to stay because she thought he was dying or something. He wanted her to stay because she loved him. Because the wolf in her realized it had found its mate. So he’d have to be crafty to keep her around until she realized it. Until she admitted it not only to him but to herself.

Thankfully, cats were known for being crafty and extremely patient.

Already planning his next move, Brendon pulled her closer and smiled in pure pleasure when she gripped his arm tight—afraid to let him go.

Ronnie stood in front of Shaw’s refrigerator and continued to debate the pros and cons of its contents.

She absolutely detested eggs, so that was out. The man had enough bacon to feed the French Foreign Legion, but then she’d have to cook. She worked really hard to avoid using that stove thing.

She could eat some fresh fruit, but…nah.

“Uh…excuse me?”

Ronnie didn’t bother glancing over her shoulder at Shaw’s brother. She’d heard him at the front door as soon as he slipped the key in the lock and she smelled him as soon as he got off the elevator. And she didn’t feel self-conscious because Shaw’s Philadelphia Flyers hockey shirt reached below her knees, covering her naked ass.

“He’s in the shower,” she answered his unasked question.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No. Just didn’t want you walking around the apartment calling out his name like some stray cub, thinking he’s ignoring you when he’s only in the shower.” She winked at him. “Figured it was best to tell ya up front.”

At her smile, he seemed to relax. She had no idea why he might have been uptight. She’d been nothing but polite to the man while he rolled on the floor trying to kill his own brother.

“Breakfast or lunch?”

“I know the clock says lunch, but I’m just getting up after my own shower. My stomach wants to be fed but I don’t see anything I have the energy or inclination to tussle with.”

“Um…can I make a suggestion?”

For a man whose own brother referred to him as “scumbag” he sure seemed awfully polite.

Stepping back from the fridge but keeping the door open with her butt, Ronnie gestured toward the cold storage. “Be my guest.”

Mitch crouched in front of the open refrigerator and dug around the back. Really, the damn thing was huge. Take out the shelves, you could comfortably fit a family of four in there.

“My brother usually has…ah…there it is.” He glanced at what he held in his hand. “Expiration date’s good, too. Here.” He handed her a medium tub of low-fat vanilla yogurt.

If she hadn’t been having wild sex with his brother all night, she might have kissed him. “Yes!” She grabbed a spoon, then leaped up onto the counter without using her hands. An old She-wolf trick. She crossed her legs at the ankles and opened the fresh yogurt. “How did you know?”

Mitch shrugged and closed the refrigerator door. “I used to date a She-wolf when I was sixteen.” He opened the fridge door again, grabbed a water, and reclosed it. “Went to her house for Thanksgiving dinner. At dessert, they had five kinds of pie, six cakes, and this enormous bowl of plain, low-fat vanilla yogurt.” He leaned at the far end of the counter, forcing her to turn a little to see him but keeping a healthy distance. “By the end of the evening, a few slices here and there of cake and pie were gone, but the yogurt bowl…completely cleaned out. When I asked her, she said wolves love yogurt.”

“Did you mock?”

“No. Then I wouldn’t have gotten laid.”

“This is very true.”

Ronnie ate her yogurt, her feet banging against the counter doors.

“Ya know,” she finally offered as she steadily worked her way through that tub of yogurt, “you seem awful polite for a lowlife.” She shrugged when he stared at her. “You wear that rebel without a clue motorcycle jacket, appear to shave only once or twice a week, got a couple of interesting scars on your neck, but…”

“But what?”

She shrugged. “You bathed this morning. You use conditioner. What nails you do have are clean. And I don’t know many lowlifes who would have dug around in a fridge to get his hated brother’s lay-of-the-moment a yogurt without trying to get some pussy himself, and yet you are halfway across the room. Out of respect.”

He picked at the wrapper on his ridiculously overpriced water bottle and stared at her. Finally, he said, “I don’t hate my brother.”

“I know. Not sure Shaw does, though.”

“And that bothers you—why?”

“It doesn’t. Just passing on the information.”

Mitch smirked and looked so much like his brother when he did. “I think you like him.”

“Not at all. I often have sex with men I can’t stand.”

“I don’t mean that kind of like. I mean, you like him.”

Reaching the bottom of the yogurt tub, she joked, “You’re right, Mitchy. And would you pass him a note in study hall for me?”

He snorted. Then he froze, his gold eyes glued to the swinging kitchen door. Ronnie’s eyes narrowed, a female scent hitting her hard.

The door flew open and a tall, beautiful, and clearly feline female strutted in.

She stared right at Mitch. “Here to mooch off Brendon again?”

“I don’t need to mooch. I can just steal from his wallet.”

“And I’m sure you do.” Her nose crinkled. “Why do I keep smelling wet dog?” Gold eyes turned to Ronnie. “Oh. That must be you.”

Mitch straightened but Ronnie held her hand up to stop him. “It’s okay, Mitch.” She slid off the counter, turning to face the lioness who had to be Shaw’s sister. She looked exactly like him, only female. Sleek and elegant in designer jeans and sweater and designer boots, she still couldn’t hide the cold eyes of a predator. Or the rough edges of the less-than-wealthy upbringing Shaw had mentioned over late-night bowls of cereal.

“You’ll have to accept us eventually,” Ronnie said simply, her eyes downcast.

“I will?”

Ronnie smoothed her hand over her stomach. “Of course. Once I have our baby.”

The female went from fifteen feet away to two with one leap, coming at Ronnie just like she goaded her into doing. As soon as she landed, Ronnie slammed her hands against the female’s chest, forcing her back and right into Shaw’s arms as he walked into his kitchen.

He’d been having the best day, too. Got to sleep in, nice sore cock from great sex, and a sexy little She-wolf all to himself. But leave it to his own relatives to try and ruin everything.

He glared down at his twin. “Why are you here?”

Growling, she struggled out of his arms. “To check on you and to make sure that idiot,” she pointed at Mitch, “didn’t steal all your good china. But I had no idea you were entertaining canines. Or getting them pregnant!”

“Pregnant?” Brendon knew he was potent, but to go through latex…wow.

What should really worry him? That the idea of Ronnie carrying his baby didn’t scare him at all. He’d bet she’d look beautiful pregnant.

Then it hit Brendon like a brick to the head where his mind had happily wandered.

Look at that. Your heart can just stop in your chest but you keep on breathing.

To keep himself from asking if Ronnie wanted to go maternity clothes shopping, he looked at her and softly asked, “Pregnant?”

Ronnie shrugged. “Nah. I was just fuckin’ with her. As soon as she tried to kill me she would have smelled I wasn’t pregnant.”

Okay. He really liked this female. He’d always loved a woman with a healthy sense of humor. But one who refused to be intimidated by his sister made him all horny and anxious to get her back into bed.

Trying not to laugh in the face of his sister’s blinding anger, he said, “Ronnie, this is my twin sister, Marissa. Rissa, this is Ronnie. She and her Pack saved me the other night.” He yanked Marissa back. “So be nice,” he snarled in her ear.

She didn’t apologize and Brendon didn’t expect her to, but she stopped talking and looked away.

“Ronnie, could you give us a minute?”

“Yeah. Sure.” Thankfully, she didn’t seem angry he’d asked her to leave.

She pushed through the door and Rissa turned on him. “Couldn’t you at least fuck one of the small ones? She’s built like a linebacker.”

Not surprisingly that swinging door slammed back open, denting Brendon’s wall as Ronnie walked in yelling, “You tree-climbing heifer!”

“You car-chasing slut!”

Mitch came around the counter and grabbed hold of Marissa while Brendon put his arms around Ronnie and pulled her back. Unfortunately, the two females were in full rage, and even Brendon’s roar didn’t get them to shut up.

But Mitch’s quiet “You know, lions really don’t climb trees” brought the yelling to an abrupt end, and the three of them looked at him.

He shrugged. “I mean…we can climb trees. Especially ones with low branches. But then we can’t get down again. Leopards, however, are quite spry. So they take their prey up into trees. So other predators like us or hyenas can’t steal their meal.”

After a long moment of silence, Ronnie shook her head and pulled out of Brendon’s arms. Without a word, she walked out of the kitchen. He waited until he heard his bedroom door close, then he looked at Marissa.

“I think you better get used to something.”

“What?”

“Her.” He stepped up to his sister. “Cause if I get my way, she’ll be around. A lot.”

“Are you giving to the ASPCA, too? I didn’t know you’d become so altruistic.”

Knowing he was way close to popping his own sister in the mouth, Brendon picked her up and dumped her in front of Mitch.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with her?”

“Take her to your room. The two of you can have lunch and discuss other fascinating cat trivia.”

Marissa stepped away from Mitch. “Brendon—”

“Out!” He took a deep breath. “Out of my sight. Until I’m ready to see you again. Of course that may not be until after New Year’s.”

“Fine! Do whatever you want. And when you get fleas, don’t come complaining to me.”

Mitch shoved Marissa out the door. He stopped and looked at Brendon. For a second, Brendon thought he had something really deep to say. But the kid only shook his head and said, “I’ll see ya later, bruh.”

His family left and he walked into his bedroom to find Ronnie back in her own clothes.

“Ronnie—”

“Forget it.” She turned and glared at him. “I’m leaving you. And I never want to see you again.”

He swallowed the lump of panic in his throat. “If you’ll give me a—”

She cut him off. “Shaw…”

“Yeah?”

“I’m just kiddin’.” She burst out laughing. “You should see your face!”

His eyes narrowed. “You think that’s funny?”

“I think it’s hilarious.”

“You’re mean.”

“Not as mean as that sister of yours. I’ve met snakes nicer. But compared to my momma she’s a lightweight. And I don’t scare easy.”

“That’s good. Now get over here.”

“You want me all the way over there? That’s like a really long walk.”

“Don’t make me come get you, Ronnie Lee.”

“Oooh. And what if I do make you come get me? Whatcha gonna do, Yankee?” He watched her nipples harden under her worn T-shirt. “Whatcha gonna do to poor little ol’ me?”

Slowly, Brendon moved around the bed. “I gave you an order you didn’t follow.” He made a tsk-tsk sound. “That requires punishment, Ronnie Lee.”

“Punishment?” He watched her fight a smile as she took steps away from him. “You’d punish me?”

“Yeah. I would. And I know I’d enjoy every minute of it.”

“That’s not a good idea, hoss.”

“Oh?”

“I’m a fighter. I won’t go down easy. No pun intended.”

“Good. I don’t need any weak females in my bed. Now get over here and take your punishment like a good little pup.”

“Sorry, pussy. Can’t do it.”

Now a few feet from her, Brendon shrugged. “That’s too bad, sexy.”

He made a wild grab for her and she expertly dodged him, avoiding his arms and audaciously slapping his ass as she passed.

“You little brat!”

She laughed and leaped up on his bed, charging across it. He didn’t bother running for her, instead leaping right from the spot where he stood. She’d reached the door when he tackled her from behind, knocking her to the ground.

Brendon used his arms to protect her while he made sure he fell on his side.

She struggled even as she laughed hysterically.

“Shaw, you crazy bastard! Let me go!”

Jumping to his feet, Brendon grabbed hold of her ankle and dragged her back to the bed. “Oh, I’m not letting you go, sexy. Not for a while anyway.” Not ever.

He grabbed her waist and lifted her, tossing her on the bed. She tried to sprint away, but he slapped one hand against her back, and the power of it kept her right where she was. He had to be careful, though. Too hard a slam from his hand or paw could snap her back like a twig.

Ronnie kicked and cursed and laughed, trying her best to get away from Brendon. He sat on the edge of the bed and dragged her over his lap.

“I have to say, Ronnie Lee, I love this ass.” He reached between them and expertly got her shorts loose.

“Don’t even think about it, Shaw,” she squealed when he pulled the denim off her ass.

“Too late.” He brought his hand down on one cheek.

“Ow! You bastard!”

“That was just mean, Ronnie Lee.” He slapped her other cheek.

“Stop. Stop!” She reached back and tried to cover her butt.

“Now, now, Ronnie. You know how important it is to get your punishment.”

“Don’t,” she begged, even while she giggled. “I’ll do anything.”

“You say that, but I don’t think you mean it.” He raised his hand and she wiggled desperately.

“I promise. Anything!”

Brendon pretended to think about it for a second. “Anything?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Stay with me today. We’ll go out, have some fun, then come back here tonight.”

Ronnie blinked in surprise. “Spend the day together? I don’t know…”

He raised his hand again.

“Okay! Okay! I’ll spend the day with you.”

“And tonight.”

“You said the day.”

He brought his hand down on her ass and she howled. Literally. “All right! Tonight, too.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Good.”

Brendon didn’t say anything for a minute, and finally she looked over her shoulder at him. “What?”

“You wet, sexy?”

Smirking, she looked away. “Maybe.”

He shoved her back on the bed and pulled her shorts completely off.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t leave you like this. All wet and horny because of little ol’ me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh puhleeze!”

Brendon pushed his basketball shorts down and put her legs on his shoulders. He grabbed the last condom from the box on the nightstand, making a mental note to pick up more while they were out. “No need to beg, sexy. I’ll take care of it.”

“Are they all like you?”

“All what? Cats?”

“Yeah.”

“They want to be, but they’re not kings of the jungle. Only I am.” She looked up at him with one raised eyebrow. He shrugged and added, “Duh,” before he buried himself balls-deep inside her and “took care of it.”

Ronnie pulled out a pair of black jeans, a black sweater that would show some cleavage, and her favorite pair of black cowboy boots. Shaw really seemed to like her in cowboy boots. Now if she could get him in a pair of cowboy boots, all would be right with her world.

Smiling, Ronnie made a small pile of her clothes and then stood by the bed trying to figure out what else she might be forgetting. She knew she probably forgot something. Especially with her mind wandering back to last night with Shaw. She could say in all honesty she’d never had such a good time before in bed, and she’d had many good times in bed. Yet something about being with Shaw felt so right.

Whatever. Until the last year or so, Ronnie had never been a big-time worrier, concerned with how events would play out a few months or years down the line. And she wouldn’t start now with Shaw. She’d keep this relationship as simple as she kept all the others. They’d have a good time now and end it when it got boring. She gave what they currently had about a three-day shelf life. She figured by New Year’s Eve they’d both be looking for something more in line with who they were. Shaw would want back into some Pride, and Ronnie would be on the lookout for the wolf of her dreams.

Until then, until they were both so bored they couldn’t stand the sight of each other, she and Shaw would merely enjoy the moments—and have astounding sex.

Satisfied with her plan, Ronnie didn’t even bother to turn around when her bedroom door opened. She knew Sissy and Marty walked up behind her.

“Hey, y’all.”

When they didn’t answer, she looked at Sissy, shocked by the anger she saw there. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Do you think we don’t know?”

“That the whole Pack doesn’t know?” Marty added with more venom than Ronnie ever heard from the woman.

“If y’all are talking about Shaw—”

“You doin’ more than one lion?”

“You know what, Smith? That ain’t none of your business.” She didn’t know why Sissy should be so pissed. In the bar the other night she’d practically thrown Ronnie face-first into Shaw’s lap.

“Everything that happens in this Pack is now my responsibility.”

“You don’t even know anything happened,” Ronnie reminded her friend. “You haven’t even been here.”

“We have proof.”

Huh? “Proof of what?”

“The disgusting things you two were doing,” Sissy snapped.

Ronnie rubbed her eyes. “What the hell are you two talking—”

She stopped when Sissy Mae tossed down the first eight-by-ten picture on the bed. Staring blindly, it took Ronnie several seconds to understand what she was actually seeing.

“You’re a whore, Ronnie Lee Reed,” Sissy said while tossing down more photos. Lord…so many sexual positions. So many disgusting, inappropriate things for two beings to be doing to each other. “And now everybody in the Pack knows it.”

“You,” Ronnie said through gritted teeth, “showed this to everyone in the Pack?”

“Had to,” Marty sighed. “Had to prove what a whore you are.”

Ronnie picked up the picture of a male and female having oral sex. “You two spent time on this?”

“Sure.” Marty shrugged. “Quick stop over at FAO Schwarz to pick up Ronnie”-Marty lifted up the stuffed wolf she had hidden behind her back—“and Shaw.” Her other hand held the stuffed lion.

“Then we used Bobby Ray’s digital camera so we could capture the true essence of what you two have been up to since yesterday.”

Ronnie kept staring at the pictures. She couldn’t help herself. “Where did you find the little latex thong? And the whip?”

“Wolf ingenuity, darlin’.”

Idiots. Her Pack was filled with absolute idiots.

Marty picked up another picture. “I had heard you have some oral skills, my dear. I must say I’m impressed.”

Sissy held up a different photo, Ronnie’s stuffed representative in a position with the Stuffed-Shaw that no amount of money in the world would get the breathing Ronnie to try. “And she’s not afraid to experiment. Are ya, my kinky little friend?”

Ronnie grabbed several other photos: Stuffed-Ronnie getting it from behind. Stuffed-Ronnie sitting on Stuffed-Shaw’s face. Stuffed-Ronnie wearing a leather bustier and a little leather mask. They’d tied her paws to the makeshift cardboard four-poster bed and stuffed-lion Shaw was—oh good Lord in heaven.

“You showed these to the Pack?”

“Oh yeah. Over breakfast in that fancy restaurant they have downstairs. Couple of tigers were there too, came over and looked cause they heard us laughing. Then they laughed.”

“And the jackals. Don’t forget the jackals.”

“Oh. Those jackals were so entertained.”

The title Alpha Female of the Smith Pack completely forgotten, Ronnie slowly rounded on her childhood best friend. “Sissy Mae?”

“Yeah, darlin’?”

“Run.”

Chapter Ten

She smelled good. She’d used his shampoo and soap, and he liked how those scents clung to her.

She’d also slipped into a worn pair of black jeans, a black V-neck sweater, and black cowboy boots that sounded sexy as hell “clopping” against his hardwood floors. Even her leather motorcycle jacket made her look like one of those biker wolves that roamed the West Coast and Texas.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as soon as she saw his face.

“Nothing. You ready to go?”

He started to stand, but she pushed him back to the couch and crawled into his lap, her knees on either side of his thighs.

“Now come on, darlin’. Something’s not right. What is it?”

Ronnie put her arms around his neck and looked at him, waiting for him to answer. It occurred to him she actually cared.

Brendon had kept most things to himself or between him and his sister. There were few he trusted with his personal information, but those hazel eyes patiently gazing at him made him feel remarkably safe.

“My brother took off again.”

She winced and he knew he’d been right. She did care. “I’m sorry, darlin’.” Her fingers tangled in his hair. “I know you’re worried about him. And I think you’re right. He’s definitely hiding something. But you can’t protect him if he doesn’t want you to. Whatever it is, I think it’s something he has to work out for himself.”

“I know. But I feel like I should help him. I didn’t know about him until he was fifteen and I wasn’t there to protect him like I should have been.”

“That’s not your fault.”

“I know. Doesn’t make me feel better, though.” He sighed. “It doesn’t make me feel less responsible for him being such a…”

“Fuckup?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

She brushed his cheek with the palm of her hand. “I hate to tell you, but he doesn’t exactly look helpless. Plus it doesn’t seem like he wants anybody’s help. And, as my daddy would say, ‘fuckup’ is relative.”

Shaw gave a short laugh. “Your father sure has a lot of interesting sayings.”

“You have no idea. He’d also say there’s absolutely nothing you can do about any of this. Your brother’s grown. He needs to make his own decisions. All you can do is hope he starts doing the right thing and that he doesn’t set himself on fire in the process.”

Brendon frowned in confusion. “Huh?”

“Forget it. Long story. Now”—she smiled and he felt his mood lighten instantly—“you promised me we’d get out of here.”

“That I did.”

“Then don’t keep me waiting, hoss.”

“In one second.” He leaned his head down and rubbed his cheeks against her face, neck, chest, and finally her hands when she giggled and tried to push him off.

“What the hell?”

“Okay, now we can go.” Standing, Brendon placed her on her feet.

He moved toward the door while she sniffed her hands.

“Hey…Hey! Did you mark me?”

Grabbing the back of her jacket, he pulled her toward the door. “Stop squawking, sexy. It’s totally temporary.”

“Daaaaaaaaaddddddddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!”

Ronnie’s eyes crossed. The kid hit notes that made her feel like barking in response.

The little girl pulled away from her mother and charged head-on into Shaw’s arms. He picked her up, lifting her in the air. She squealed in glee again, her little legs kicking out.

Ronnie stepped back, not wanting to intrude and refusing to ask why Brendon Shaw brought her over to meet his goddamn kids. Means nothing, Ronnie Lee. Figured he’d just take care of it while he was out.

Yeah. That reasoning did sound stupid, didn’t it?

Not wanting to obsess about it, Ronnie did the only thing she could think of. She watched the quiet city street for any danger. She’d do the same thing if this were a Pack pup.

“What’s my baby girl up to?”

“Going to Grandma’s. New Year’s hunting!” she cheered.

Apparently Shaw’s child had one decibel level, and Ronnie’s head had already begun to throb.

A young couple walked down the opposite sidewalk, and Ronnie watched them with an intensity bordering on the psychotic. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t know them, wasn’t sure she liked them, and Shaw’s kids were right behind her. The pair must not have liked what they saw on her face because they sped up and disappeared around a corner. That’s when Ronnie realized Shaw had called to her.

“What?” She turned and found Shaw holding his daughter against his chest with one arm while he held the other out toward her. He wiggled his fingers and she took his hand.

“Baby, this is daddy’s friend, Ronnie. Ronnie, this is my daughter, Serena.”

“Hi, Serena.”

The little girl snuggled her father’s face while piercing gold eyes sized her up. Baby predators. Ya gotta love ’em.

“You smell different,” she finally said.

Ronnie nodded. “I do.”

“And you smell like Daddy, too.”

Glaring at Shaw, Ronnie said, “That I do.”

“So you’re Pride?”

“Uh…”

“Don’t be rude, Serena,” a lioness chided while watching the butler or chauffer or whoever load up one of the waiting limos. “We’ll be back about a week after the New Year, Brendon.”

“That’s fine, Allie.” He and his daughter rubbed noses. “When you get back you’ll be staying with me for a while, baby.”

The girl cheered and kissed her father’s face.

Another lioness walked out, a small toddler in her arms. “Hey, Brendon.”

“Hey, Serita.”

“Glad you could stop by before we left.” She watched the limo driver try and put a bag into the trunk. “No, no! Not like that. Oh, I’ll do it!”

She turned to Shaw, saw his hands full, and then turned to her sister who raised one eyebrow. “Hands full.”

Must be that one tiny Louis Vuitton purse she has on her arm.

“Here.” She looked at Ronnie. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Uh…” Before Ronnie could answer either way, the little boy reached out for her, and the lioness practically threw him into Ronnie’s arms.

Shaw grinned. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Sure.” She’d held children before. Lots of them. She had more than thirty-five cousins last count. Still, this wasn’t some wolf pup. This was a lion. Future Breeding Male. It felt a little overwhelming. What if she dropped him or something?

“I’m assuming Missy’s not here, Allie.” Shaw rubbed his cheek against his daughter’s while he reached out and affectionately brushed his son’s head.

“Nope. She left early this morning with the other kids. Thankfully. If I had to hear her complain one more time about Mace and that woman, I would have ripped her arms off.”

“Low-class Po-rican whore.”

Shocked, they all looked at the little girl in Shaw’s arms.

Allie winced when Shaw glared at her. “I’m sorry, Brendon.” She tugged her daughter’s hair. “I told you those were bad words, Serena. And you’re not to say them.” Allie looked back at Shaw. “I’ll talk to Missy when I see her.”

“You better. I’d hate to have to enforce the terms of our contract because your sister can’t watch her mouth.”

“I said I’ll take care of it. Hey!” Allie snarled when her sister tossed one of the bags out of the trunk. “That’s one of my bags.”

Ronnie hugged the boy in her arms. Only two or so, if she was guessing right, with an incredibly out-of-control baby mane of hair. Not a full mane yet, but one day it might rival his father’s. “Contract?”

“Do you actually think I’d go into this without an ironclad contract?” he murmured, kissing the top of his daughter’s head and smoothing his hand down her back.

Lord, a breeding contract. Only lions would think of that. Wolves were much more…“in the moment.” A bottle of tequila and a quiet spot in someone’s backyard during a party, and whole Packs were created with matings lasting fifty or sixty years.

Curious, she asked, “What did they pay you…exactly?”

“Pay me?”

“You know…to…uh…” She lowered her voice to a barely there whisper, “Breed?”

Shaw blinked, then he exploded. “What?”

Ronnie took a quick step back while his daughter giggled. “You made him mad.”

“I just thought—”

“Well, you’re wrong.” He looked hurt she’d even think it. “The contract is only regarding the cubs. Everything is spelled out. Custody. Visitation. And basic ground rules. That’s it. Everything else is by…well…” He glanced down at his daughter’s head.

Ronnie grinned. “Mutual agreement?”

“Exactly.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t raised in a Pride. I wanted to see what it was like.”

“And?”

He nodded his head. “I love my children.”

Chuckling, Ronnie hugged and rocked the little boy in her arms.

Shaw’s expression warmed as he watched his son bury his face in Ronnie’s neck. “He likes you.”

“Like father, like son apparently. He’s been nipping my neck for the last five minutes.”

“Be grateful he doesn’t have his fangs yet.”

“Okay. Time to go.” Allie tried to pull her daughter away from Shaw, but the little girl held on like her life depended on it, refusing to let her father go. Shaw took her to the limo himself and buckled her into her car seat with surprising efficiency.

Her little guy, Erik, Ronnie finally discovered, didn’t put up a fight when his father pulled him from her arms, but he did look deep into her eyes for several seconds, then kissed her cheek before letting anyone put him into his own child seat.

As the limos pulled away, Ronnie turned to Shaw. “Good Lord, is that boy like you.”

“So tell me about your mom.”

He didn’t expect that question to send her tripping over her own two feet and flying into the bookstore’s erotica section he’d followed her to. Luckily he had fast hands and caught her before her head could make contact with the Kama Sutra.

“Whoa! Are you okay?” The few times she’d mentioned the woman it hadn’t been very positive. Brendon simply hoped to find out why.

Ronnie gripped his arms and let him put her back on her feet. “I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want.”

Shaking her head, “No. No. I don’t mind.”

“You two argue a lot, I guess.”

“Not often. Only anytime the sun rises or sets somewhere on the Earth.”

Brendon laughed and didn’t immediately release her. He liked having her in his arms. “Okay, so you two have your, uh, issues.”

Ronnie tried to pull out of his arms, but when he didn’t release her, she shrugged and leaned back. “Yeah. We don’t get along much. Never have. My daddy said we started arguing when I was still in the womb.” She leaned forward and grabbed one of the books off the shelf. “Said he’d walk in the room once and found her yelling at her stomach, telling me to stop kicking her so damn much.”

Keeping one hand around her waist, Brendon took the book out of her hands. “Let’s see what we have here.” He quickly read the blurb on the back. “Nope. Forget it. There’s no spanking. You’ll get bored.”

She elbowed his stomach. “I will not get bored.” She snatched the book back. “I don’t need to read about spanking, ya know?”

“True. Why read about it when I can slap your ass myself?”

She slammed her foot into his instep. And, if he were a lesser man, it would have hurt like hell. He tried to get the book back but she held onto it, the two of them laughing as they struggled over it. It took them a few seconds to realize they were being watched. Slowly, they looked over their shoulders at the human male ogling them. They stared at him for several moments, then Ronnie snarled and snapped. The man couldn’t run fast enough.

Grinning, Ronnie looked up at Brendon. “I love doing that.”

She mentioned the schools she had interviews set up with, and Shaw drove her to the closest one. They got out and walked around the deserted campus for a good thirty minutes before Ronnie had to sit down on a bench by a Japanese garden so she could put her head between her legs.

“I can’t do this. I can’t go back to this.”

“Why not?” He sat down next to her, his hand smoothing down her back. “Ronnie, it’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be trapped. Like an animal. In these tiny classrooms. And they’ll expect me to be back at a certain time on certain days—for four years.” At the moment, four years sounded pretty much the same as forty.

“You’re not real good with everyday routine.”

“Why should I be? What’s so great about routine? The same thing everyday. Is anything more depressing?”

“Routine doesn’t always mean boring.”

“Ha!”

Shaw scratched her head, leaning over to kiss her temple. “What are you planning to study anyway?”

Shrugging, she replied, “Probably engineering. It’s what I studied in college the first time around.”

When he didn’t say anything, Ronnie looked at him. He stared off across the campus, a deep frown on his face.

Insulted, she slammed her fist in his shoulder, making him wince. “I know this accent confuses you superior Yankees, but being Southern does not make you stupid.”

“I never said—”

“Shut up.”

Shaw quickly complied, but she knew he was trying not to laugh. So was she.

Clearing his throat, he said, “Was that the textbook you had at the hospital? The one you hit me with?”

“You deserved it. And yeah. One of my old engineering textbooks.” She rubbed her hands over her face and rested back against the bench. “I started reading it, and it all rushed back to me. How boring this all is. No wonder Sissy Mae didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to bail. And bail I did.”

He chuckled. “But I thought you were ready to change your life. Settle down—”

Ronnie sat up abruptly and slapped her hand over his mouth. “Let’s not use those words right now.”

Intense gold eyes watched her, and he pulled her hand off his mouth. “What if you meet the right guy, Ronnie? Would you settle down then?”

“You mean the right wolf?” She wanted to get the distinctions clear because she didn’t much like the expression on that gorgeous face.

“Why limit yourself?”

“Mostly because I don’t want funny-looking children.”

Shaw rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you believe that breedist bullshit. Just because two different breeds mate doesn’t mean—”

She had her wallet out and her pictures unfurled before he could even finish. “One summer we stayed with Sissy Mae’s cousins in North Carolina. Momma’s Smith Pack, daddy’s a black leopard. This is their daughter when shifted.”

Ronnie handed Shaw the picture of her, Sissy Mae, and her cousin lounging around many years ago after the Fourth of July family hunt.

Shaw jerked back. “Christ.”

“Yeah. Exactly. Do you think that snaggle tooth is attractive?”

He shuddered but tried to hide it. “Okay. That’s one instance.”

“Really? Have you seen a wolf with a full mane? Or a cat with a long muzzle?”

He shuddered again. “Okay. Okay.” He motioned to the picture. “But what does she look like human?”

She flipped a couple of pictures over and showed him a picture of the three friends on the North Carolina beach in bikinis a year or two back.

“Whoa.” Shaw took the wallet out of her hand. “She’s hot.” He glanced at Ronnie and back at the picture. “North Carolina, right?” He shoved Ronnie off the bench. “That’s where I can find the snaggle-toothed babe?”

For a second there, he ran so fast she wasn’t sure she’d catch up with him.

Brendon glanced around the dance studio and frowned. “Explain to me why we’re here.”

For some unknown reason she’d dragged him into one of those ballroom dancing studios and had signed up for one of the advance classes. She wouldn’t tell him why, but she kept giggling, which had begun to make him very nervous.

“Would you relax already? You are so uptight.”

“I’m not uptight. I just don’t like to be confused. It’s a cat thing.”

Ronnie scrunched up her nose and glared at him. “Are you trying to imply that wolves like to be confused?”

“I’m not trying to imply anything. You’re the ones who chase your tails for apparently no reason.”

She went to slam her foot on his instep again, but he dodged her this time. Then the pulsating beat of Latin music started, and the teacher got in the middle of the room.

“All right, everybody. Let’s all partner up and get started.”

Ronnie Lee grabbed his hand and dragged him to the middle of the dance floor.

“Have you lost your mind? I don’t know how to do this.”

“Oh yes you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

Ronnie started moving to the beat, shaking that delightful ass as only she could. “Come on, darlin’,” she coaxed. “You did a great job the other night.”

“The other—” Oh God! He glanced around at the dancing couples. “I…I thought I dreamed that.”

She grabbed his hands and started taking him through the mambo. “Nope. You didn’t dream a thing. I had no idea you could move so well.” She took a step back and swung her head from side to side like, he now realized, he did that night, only with full mane swinging in the cold December wind.

“Oh Christ, shoot me now.”

“Now, now. No need to be shy around ol’ Ronnie Lee.” She turned and rubbed her ass against his cock in time to the music. “One day I’ll have to teach you the two-step, but this’ll do for now.”

Taking her hand, he spun her around and caught her in his arms. “You are never to tell anyone about this, Rhonda Lee.”

“Lips are sealed, darlin’—except during sex.”

“Good girl.” He started to move and then abruptly stopped, looking at her in a panic. “That night…I didn’t do anything else, uh, embarrassing?”

She snorted while she watched and emulated the foot moves of the other dancers. “I got two words for ya, hoss. Play. Bow.”

Oh please, someone shoot me now.

Ronnie took a step back, wrinkled up her face, and shrugged.

“What does that mean?” Shaw looked down at what he wore. “It doesn’t look right?”

“It looks fine.” Actually, the man looked astounding. “Tuxes are just…” She shrugged again. “Boring.”

He threw up his hands. “And what would you suggest?”

“What are you asking me for? I don’t care what you wear.”

“I’m asking you because you’ll be with me when I wear this on New Year’s Eve.”

Ronnie took another step back. “What? When did I agree to that?”

“You didn’t. But you’re my date for New Year’s.”

“And you decided that when exactly?”

“When I met you.”

“And you assumed I’d say yes?”

“Yeah. Unless you have another date.”

“If I had another date, I wouldn’t be here with you now.” Annoyed, she walked up to him. “I date one male at one time. I may not date ’em for long, but I don’t overlap.”

Shaw slipped his hand behind her neck, the skin tingling where he touched her, and pulled her close.

“Good,” he murmured. “I’d hate to have to kill a man for being in my way.”

“Don’t get too attached, hoss. This is temporary.” Fun, but temporary. Right?

“You going somewhere I don’t know about?”

She tried to answer him, to tell him that soon she’d be gone just like she’d done so many times before. But he massaged the back of her neck and she had to grab his hand when her leg started to shake.

Staring at her, Shaw looked down at her legs and she stumbled away from him before he could start again.

“Man, am I hungry!” She cleared her throat so she wouldn’t yell the next sentence like she’d yelled the first. “How about some dinner?”

“I know a perfect place. Great Italian and amazing desserts.”

“Perfect.”

“What about the tux?”

Shrugging, “If it’s the best you can do.”

“It’s Armani.”

She pointed at her jeans. “And these are Old Navy. Don’t care when I’m hungry. Let’s move, hoss.”

Brendon took another bite of the mass of dark chocolate fudge cake with Belgian dark chocolate candy, “enrobed” in the dark chocolate sauce monstrosity they’d ordered for dessert. The plate it came in took up half the table. Luckily they only ordered one and decided to share.

Ronnie scooped up another spoonful. “Okay, have you ever been in love?”

They’d spent the whole day together and Brendon had never enjoyed himself quite so much with a female. Ronnie kept things light and funny, seemed to enjoy life in general, and adored his kids. Now they ate at one of his favorite restaurants for dinner, grabbing seats outside so they could watch the world speed by while they downed two prime rib dinners. Rare.

Brendon crunched on the walnuts his half of their chocolate dessert contained. “Once,” he said after a moment of thought. “When I was thirteen. Her name was Denise Leweskie. I learned how to polka for her.”

He expected Ronnie to laugh at him, his sister sure as hell had in seventh grade until he shoved her into his gym locker with his unwashed jock.

But Ronnie didn’t laugh. Instead, she said, “That’s nothing. To impress a polar bear I met in Switzerland, I once got on two tiny sticks and flew down a snow-covered mountain.”

Brendon blinked. “Do you mean ski?”

“Yeah. Never again. Which is exactly what I said when I went flying off that mountain. I also said it in the hospital, too. And while I was in traction.”

Focusing on the dessert in front of him to prevent himself from laughing in her face, he asked, “Didn’t you take lessons first?”

“Lessons? Oh no. I didn’t need lessons.” He glanced up and found her shaking her head in disgust at her own idiocy. “You see, Sissy said I wouldn’t need lessons. ‘You’re a shifter,’ she said. ‘We can do anything,’ she said. And the fact that I’d had six hot chocolates laced with tequila had me believing she was right. So, there we are on this mountain some-the-fuck-where in Switzerland, at midnight—”

“Midnight?”

“Yeah. And I was standing at the little kid’s run, thinking to myself, ‘Girl, have you lost your goddamn mind?’ and Sissy says, ‘If you’re going to impress a polar, Ronnie Lee, you better get over to that other run…way up there.’ So, like a damn fool, up there I went.”

“And how old were you exactly?”

“Nineteen, I believe. Nineteen and dumb as a load of bricks. Dumb and horny.”

“And the polar bear?”

Ronnie gave a slow grin that made his cock hard. Brendon had to admit, he was beginning to love that smile. “Let’s just say he made the nights go very fast in a lonely Swiss hospital where the staff, mostly jackals, mocked me.”

Brendon couldn’t believe the next words about to come out of his mouth, but he discovered he couldn’t help it. “Ever seen that polar bear since?”

She looked surprised at the question. “Are you kidding? That was a long time ago. I’m not even sure I’d remember his face or he’d remember mine. Besides, he was only visiting Switzerland; he was originally from Norway. And, last I heard, me and Sissy are still banned from there.”

Jealousy over some big, dumb bear flew out the window as he stared at Ronnie. “You…you were banned from Norway? The country?”

“Yeah. Talk about an uptight people. Apparently they have no sense of humor.”

Brendon stared at his filled spoon for several seconds. “Um…are there any other countries you’re not allowed in?”

“Whole countries?” She shrugged. “Well, there’s Korea.”

“North or South?”

“Both.”

Brendon put his spoon down. “Both?”

“Yeah. And then we were banned from Japan, but they lifted that. Peru and Morocco also temporary. Now Belgium did say never to return, but that still doesn’t seem fair. For once it was not our fault. And Germany…well, let’s just say that whole thing about the Autobahn having no speed limit—not entirely accurate.”

The “recommended speed” on portions of the Autobahn was eighty miles an hour. Other than that, most of it was pretty freewheeling. Brendon and his sister, after making several million, had vacationed over there, rented Ferraris, and hit the Autobahn. They raced each other for hours, but locals still passed them.

“And those cops are mean,” she added.

“You got pulled over on the Autobahn?”

Ronnie shrugged again. “Eventually. When they caught us.”

Brendon leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed in front of him. “You’re never driving my car.”

Confused, Ronnie asked, “Why not?” Then her eyes brightened. “What kinda car ya got?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re not driving it. Ever.”

Brendon had more than one car. His Mercedes got him around the city. But he had a sweet Jag he would never put into the hands of this female. She could take care of his kids but never his car.

She pouted for about two seconds, then she looked panicked and tried to duck down.

“What?” Christ, he hoped it wasn’t some ex-boyfriend. Something told him he’d be meeting a few of those over time. They probably had some “Ronnie Anonymous” association to help them get over the addictive nature of this woman.

“Well hey, y’all.”

Brendon looked up into the face of a She-wolf. She looked familiar. He probably saw her with the Smith Pack.

“You don’t mind if we join you?”

Ronnie sat up straight. “As a matter of fact—”

Too late. She’d pulled out a chair and plunked herself down at their table. Another female stepped up. A human. A human Brendon recognized.

He smiled. “Detective MacDermot.”

“Shaw.” She glanced at Ronnie and shrugged. “I tried to make her keep going, but she insisted.”

“Now, now. Ronnie loves me.” The She-wolf motioned to a chair. “Sit, Dez. Sit.” She placed her elbows on the table, interlaced her fingers, and rested her chin on top of her hands. Big, innocent, brown eyes turned to him, and she smiled. “Now tell us, Brendon Shaw. Are you having a good time with my friend here?”

If Brendon were a lesser man, he would have run for his life.

Ronnie sighed and looked at Dez.

“Sorry,” Dez muttered. “I really did try and stop her.”

“I’m having a great time,” Shaw answered, a warm smile on his face. “The best time I’ve had in a long while.”

Sissy sat up straight and grinned at Ronnie. “Good. Very good.”

Shaw pointed at Sissy’s face. “What happened to your eye?”

Ronnie scratched her nose to stop the smile. “Yeah. Tell him how you got that black eye, Sissy.”

Glaring, “Walked into a door.”

Ronnie glanced over at Dez only to find her staring at what was left of their dessert.

“Want some?”

“It looks really decadent.”

“Cause it is, darlin’. Here.” Ronnie reached over to an empty table beside them and grabbed a spoon. She handed it to Dez and pushed the enormous bowl toward her.

Dez, with an unholy gleam in her eye only other chocolate lovers could truly understand, dug her spoon into the dessert. Halfway to her mouth, she stopped when she realized Shaw was staring at her.

“What?”

Dez wasn’t exactly a subtle gal, but that could explain why they all liked her so much. Before they met her, they figured she’d be more like a cat with Mace being a lion and all. But she was way more doglike.

“I wanted to thank you.”

Her eyes narrowed. “For?”

Shaw gave a small frown. “For saving my life.”

“Oh. That. Yeah. You’re welcome.” She motioned to the bowl in front of her. “Think I can eat now without you staring at me?”

Yup. Subtle.

“Y’all should come out with us tonight,” Sissy offered, ignoring Ronnie’s pointed glare. “We’re meeting the Pack and Mace at a club on the East Side.”

“Forget it,” Ronnie snarled before Shaw could say a word.

“Why? You ashamed of your new boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

“I’m not?”

Shocked, Ronnie turned to a pouting Shaw. “What?”

“Oh my God! This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever tasted.”

Ignoring Dez’s orgasmic reaction to their dessert, Ronnie leaned forward. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m hurt. I got the marriage license for nothing.”

“The marriage—Have you lost your mind?”

“I already added you to my will. And, of course, our future snaggle-toothed children. All ten of them.”

Sissy laughed so hard she cried, and Dez banged her free hand on the table. “Freakin’ amazing. This chocolate has to be imported.”

Shaw motioned to the waiter for the check. “Why don’t we go back to the hotel and talk about this and start the breeding process immediately. No more pills for you, and the condoms can go too.”

“Not on your damn life, cat!” One gold eyebrow perked up at the slightly hysterical sound to her voice, and Ronnie cleared her throat. “We’re going to the club with the Pack. Remember?”

“Oh?” The pout returned. “I guess. If you really want to.”

Damn tricky cats!

“And ya know, this cake,” Dez continued, completely oblivious, “it’s completely flourless. Amazingly dense. And rich.”

“I guess if you’re insisting.” Shaw grinned, acting like he won something. “We’ll go hang with your Pack.”

“I’ll get you for this.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Tonight.”

Dez pointed her spoon at the bowl. “The candy…I think it’s imported dark chocolate. I’m betting 72 percent cacao. You do know this is evidence of God?”

Shaw let out a sigh of satisfaction. “You know, Detective, I have to say I’m going to enjoy you being part of the Llewellyn family.”

Chapter Eleven

“He likes you so much,” Sissy enthused, ignoring yet another one of Ronnie’s sighs. “Aren’t I right, Daria? He can’t keep his damn hands off her.”

“Yup,” Daria agreed. “He’s always touchin’ her. Flirtin’ with her. I didn’t know cats could be so friendly.”

“Me either. I think he’s sweet as hell. Don’t be stupid, Rhonda Lee. You gotta keep this one.”

“But he’s a cat,” Marty added. “The Reed boys ain’t gonna like that none.”

“It don’t matter if he’s cat or wolf. Reed boys won’t like any male getting too close to their baby sister. And that’s a fact.”

“Can we talk about this some other time?” Ronnie growled.

“Lord, girl. What are you doin’ in there?”

Yelling through the bathroom stall door while she hovered over a toilet no amount of money or protective sheets of paper would ever allow her to sit on, “I am tryin’ to pee!”

“Well hurry up. We need to analyze this.”

“I don’t want to analyze anything. And move away from the goddamn door.”

They did, allowing Ronnie to finally pee in peace. Once done, she stormed out of the stall and over to the sinks. She washed her hands and Sissy sat on the counter.

“You like him.”

Ronnie took the paper towels Marty handed her. “Yes. I like him. So?”

“Then don’t do anything stupid, Ronnie. He really likes you. I can tell.”

“Leave it alone, Sissy Mae.”

“Tell her, Marty.”

Marty folded her arms over her chest. “I have faith Ronnie will make the right decision without our help.”

Suddenly feeling smug, Ronnie tossed the wet paper towel into the trash can and headed toward the door. “And stop trying to get me to drink tequila tonight.”

“Might get you to loosen up a bit.”

“Do you remember the last time you said that to me?”

“No, but—”

“We were in Prague. ‘Loosen up,’ you said. ‘What can it hurt?’ you said.”

They entered the hallway, pushing past some of the most beautiful humans in the world like they were no more than bums on the street.

“Are you still not over that?” Sissy sighed.

“Do you think a Prague jail is fun? It’s not.”

“That was not my fault. Perhaps you forgot the hyenas that were involved.”

“I forget nothing, Sissy Mae Smith. So unless you want me to shove a glass of tequila up your ass, you’ll stop bugging me.”

Brendon nursed his drink and tried to ignore the make-out session going on next to him at the bar. Eventually, he had to look past the couple at Smitty, who stood on the other side. He raised an eyebrow, and Smitty gave a slow easy grin that must have had females passing out at his feet.

The wolf turned and rested his elbow against the bar, focusing on the couple. Brendon mirrored him and they both watched until Dez’s eyes snapped open and she looked at the two men staring at her.

With an incredibly strong shove for a human, she pushed Mace off her. “Why don’t I go see if I can find a booth or something.” She practically sprinted off, and Mace Llewellyn glared at them. “Bastards.”

He stormed off after his female and Smitty moved to the stool next to Brendon, which kind of surprised the cat. Actually, the whole night had been a surprise. The Packs Brendon had met since owning the hotel had been barely tolerable, and some had been downright violent. But Smitty and his Pack really didn’t seem to give a shit about him and Ronnie. He appreciated that, because the more time he spent around that woman, the more his feelings for her grew. But he only had to take one look at her face to know the thought of anything remotely permanent freaked her the hell out.

It entertained Brendon to watch her constant struggle between wanting to find a nice “wolf” and settle down and wanting to remain that traveling wild child on her own timetable.

It would not be easy to convince Rhonda Lee Reed that he could give her everything she ever wanted. But he’d always been determined, and he had no intention of giving up now.

“So…” Smitty began.

“So…?”

“You and our little Ronnie, huh?”

“Yup.”

“My sister says you like her.”

“Yeah. I like her.” Brendon shrugged. “I like her a lot.”

Smitty gave a surprised chuckle. “Man, you and Mace sure do confuse things.”

“How do we do that?”

“We’re the loyal ones. The ones who love forever. Y’all are the alley cats. Not to be trusted. Y’all are ruining what I’ve been using in my favor for many pleasurable years, and I don’t appreciate it one damn bit.”

Brendon laughed. He could see why Mace liked Smitty. Smart and funny hidden under a veneer of slow-moving Southern male.

“Sorry, but I never saw her coming.”

“Most don’t.” He sipped his beer. “A lot of people think Ronnie just follows Sissy Mae around like a lemming. I think she even thinks it sometimes. But she’s smarter than that. There’s no one else I would have trusted my baby sister with when she went traipsing over to Europe.”

Smitty looked over at him. “Her brothers are probably going to be coming this way soon, Shaw. If you’re not serious about her, I’d suggest you end it right quick.”

“I’m very serious. But she scares easy.”

“So does Sissy. They’re afraid of becoming like some of the Smith females. Trapped in a small town, mated to men they love but can barely stand with five or six more Smith males to raise. The two of them wanted more, and they went out and got it. I admire that myself.”

“Me, too.”

“Then I best warn ya…the Reed boys, they love their sister something fierce. But she uses them and her daddy to keep any male serious about her away. You want that little gal, you’ll have to face them boys head-on. They’re gonna mess that pretty face up some, but I doubt they’ll kill ya…unless they really don’t like you. Which, with the Reed boys, is a definite risk cause they don’t like many.”

Brendon shook his head and faced Smitty. “Why are you telling me this? Warning me, I mean?”

“I don’t know really. You don’t irritate me much. And you’re kinda funny. Plus, I guess, because Ronnie and Sissy are two peas in a pod. The two of them can convince the other of anything and often do. But maybe if Ronnie finds somebody…”

“Then maybe Sissy will stop fighting it?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather take a bowie knife to my eye than think of my baby sister with any male on this planet. But I don’t wanna see her alone and bitter because she’s trying to not be like our momma. Because the harder she tries not to be like our momma, the more like our daddy she becomes. And, hoss, I simply can’t have that.”

Brendon motioned for two more beers from the bartender. “Then I guess I’m on deck to make this thing happen, huh?”

“Better get your cat ass in gear, too, son. Because that Ronnie…she don’t stand still long for any male.”

The four females stepped into the main part of the club. Music pulsated, lights flickered and flashed, and bodies writhed on the dance floor. It surprised Ronnie the little interest this held for her anymore. At one time, she and Sissy would have been right in the middle of all those people dancing their asses off.

Sissy stood beside her. “You wanna dance, darlin’?”

Ronnie looked at her friend. “Do you?”

She scrunched up her face a bit. “Not really.”

“Me neither.”

“Lord, we’re gettin’ old, aren’t we, Ronnie?”

“Nah. Not old. Maturing. Maturing’s a good thing.”

“Who taught you that lie?”

Ronnie started to laugh, but stopped abruptly and stared out over the dancing crowd. A few of them shifters, but most of the writhing bodies were humans. Still, she’d always been good at recognizing scents.

Sissy Mae watched her. “What is it?”

Ronnie sniffed the air and growled. She took several steps forward and her eyes caught sight of one of them. She remembered the scar on his neck, bruises still on his face from his run-in with Shaw, and the persistent smell of gun oil.

She started toward him, watching as he headed to a back door and slipped out. Like most humans, completely oblivious to being tracked.

Not clear why Ronnie went after him. But she knew she didn’t track him alone. Without having to say a word, the She-wolves were right behind her, slipping out of the crowd and following. The best part of being in a Pack—you were never alone. They always had your back. They always protected their own. No matter what internal fighting may go on as each member tried to stay out of the Omega spot, they were always a unit. With a helpful howl, they’d have the males by their side as well. But they didn’t need the males. They rarely did when it came to hunting a full-human.

Ronnie reached the emergency exit the man had slipped through and pushed open the door. Ten feet below, the exit door slammed shut. Ronnie grabbed the railing and leaped over it, landing in a crouch.

Cracking her neck, she shoved open the door and walked out into a large back alley. At the mouth of the alley, the scarred male leaned against a late-model Ford, talking to the other man Ronnie remembered from Shaw’s room. Each leaned over the roof, speaking in low tones.

Ronnie sauntered over, loving the cold December air against her skin. She always got a little hot and bothered when she stalked. Nothing she loved better.

Neither male realized she was there until she placed her hands on either side of the scarred male. Her fingers gripped the metal roof, and she barely held her claws in. She’d pull those out only when necessary.

“Well, hello, darlin’,” she purred in his ear.

Stunned, both men froze. The male facing her quickly saw the other females behind her as they slowly made their way around the car. Surrounding them as Ronnie surrounded the scarred human.

He slowly turned, gripped her hands, and pushed her away. “Can I help you?” Ronnie grimaced. The male’s New York accent was thick and powerful, grating on her sensitive wolf ears.

“I was just wondering,” she softly stated while stepping close again, her hands resting on his chest as she leaned into his lanky body, “what your fascination with Brendon Shaw might be?”

The male snorted, dismissing her. “Mind your own business, sweet cheeks.”

Using very little effort, Ronnie slammed the scarred human back against the car, then pinned him there with her body.

“I’m sorry. Maybe I wasn’t clear, darlin’.”

The She-wolves moved closer. Gemma climbed up on the hood of their car and Sissy Mae got close to the other male, sniffing his neck while she rubbed up against him. Any other time, Ronnie would bet the male would love that move. Right now, he looked terrified.

“What do you want with Brendon Shaw?” she asked again.

The male stared at her. They were of equal height, but Ronnie easily outweighed him. She felt the gun attached to his slacks, but she had no fear he’d ever get close to it if he tried.

“Nothin’. I don’t want nothin’ from Brendon Shaw.”

“I saw you at his hospital room. I know you were there.”

He smirked, so Ronnie leaned forward and snapped at him. She didn’t bare her fangs, but she added a little growl for effect.

“Answer me, boy. I’d hate to have to ruin that face any more than necessary.”

His smirk turned feral and he said, “Lady, get the hell away from me before I arrest you for assaulting an officer.”

Ronnie raised an eyebrow. “You’re a cop? You expect me to believe that?”

The other male pulled out the long chain hidden under his orange sweater. The badge hanging at the end of it blinked at her in the streetlights.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Holding her hands up, Ronnie stepped back. Damn, but she really didn’t want to go to jail tonight. Although New York jails couldn’t possibly be any worse than the ones in Mexico and Russia.

“You’re cops,” she said flatly.

“Yeah, brain trust. We’re cops.”

With a motion from Sissy Mae, the other She-wolves slowly backed off.

The humans opened the car doors, but Ronnie couldn’t leave it at that.

“What do you want with Brendon Shaw? Why were you at the hospital?”

The male on the driver’s side ignored her and got into the car, immediately starting it up. Poor guy couldn’t wait to get out of there. The other looked at her and smiled. “Let’s just say,” he offered as he climbed into the vehicle, “we’re not here because of Brendon Shaw.”

“You know, the first time you ever spoke to me, you held a conversation with my tits.”

A lesser man would have spit his beer across the table. Brendon, however, choked it back and looked straight at a scowling Mace and smirking Dez across the booth they’d absconded.

With a shrug, he said, “What can I say? They’re so…there. It’s hard not to talk to them like they’re individual people.”

Dez’s eyes narrowed, but Mace grunted and turned away. It took her all of five seconds to realize he was laughing. “What’s so damn funny?” she demanded.

“Nothing.” Mace cleared his throat and looked back at her, trying, Brendon noted, not to let his eyes stray anywhere near her very prominent breasts. “Just thinking about how much I lo—”

Dez’s hand landed across Mace’s mouth so fast and hard, Brendon almost jumped.

“I thought,” she growled, “we had this discussion.”

Mace pulled her hand away and kissed her fingers. “You discussed. I didn’t agree to a damn thing.”

“Tricky cat.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. Besides”—he nuzzled her palm—“you know you lov—”

Dez’s free hand slapped across his mouth. “Stop it!”

Sure, most people would walk away, give the pair some alone time. But Brendon was cat and, to be quite honest, he found the whole thing absolutely fascinating. Humans could be so weird. Especially human females. Didn’t they live to hear someone say they loved them? When did that change?

Really, give him a predator female any day. They were much easier to deal with and a lot less drama.

“Well”—Ronnie dropped into the booth next to him—“I almost got arrested again.”

Then, of course…there was Ronnie.

Taking a deep breath, Brendon asked, “Why did you almost get arrested…again?”

“For, according to him, assaulting an officer.” Now Ronnie, completely oblivious, had Dez’s full attention. “Although I didn’t assault him. He was just pissed off I had him pinned against his car with my knee real close to his nuts.”

After several long seconds, Brendon shrugged again. “You know…I have absolutely no response to that statement.”

Dez did, though. “Explain to me why you had a cop pinned up against a car.”

“I didn’t know he was a cop. I thought he was some scumbag. Looked like a scumbag. And, he was the one ol’ Tigger here beat up in his hospital room.”

Brendon winced. “I beat up cops?”

“Sure did. They had badges and everything.”

Dez snorted. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean shit. What were their names?”

Now Ronnie shrugged. “Got me. Yet their scent did have a strong hint of jackal. But they’re completely human.”

Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Dez asked, “Okay, I’m not going to let that statement freak me out, so let’s try this. What did they look like?”

After thinking for several moments, “One had dark blond hair and a scar across his neck.”

“A scar? Like someone cut him from ear to ear?”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

“Was the other one a little runty, dark-haired guy? With a mustache?”

“Yeah! That’s them.”

Dez nodded. “Yup. You beat up cops.”

Brendon frowned. “Then shouldn’t I be in jail?”

Ronnie rested her head against his shoulder and yawned. “They said they don’t want you. I think they want your brother.”

Completely drained, Brendon rested his elbows on the table and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. “What exactly has that dumb fuck done?”

“You can’t assume he did anything.” When Brendon glared at her in disbelief, Ronnie shrugged. “Innocent until proven guilty. And if he is guilty, I’m sure he has an explanation.”

“Why do you constantly protect that idiot?” Brendon hated how much he sounded like Marissa, but suddenly he saw how idiotic he must sound to her. Always making excuses for Mitch. Mitch who was wanted by the police. Nice one, asshole.

“I protect him cause he’s your kin.” She brushed her knuckles against his cheek. “I protect him like I’d protect you or your cubs. Although”—she gave that adorable smirk—“your sister is on her own. Because Mitch may or may not be a criminal, but at least he’s nice to me. He gave me yogurt.”

“Yogurt?” he asked to give himself a few seconds to get control of his suddenly exploding emotions. Not over Mitch. Hell, he’d gotten used to these times with his baby brother. But the fact that Ronnie protected him and his family like she would her Pack. Brendon didn’t even know if she realized it yet. Realized how much that simple admission said to him.

“I love yogurt, and he dug it out of the back of that inhumanly large refrigerator you have. He did it for me. Hardened criminals don’t do that unless they’re expecting to get some pussy out of it.”

Brendon took her hand, kissed her knuckles. “That was eloquent, Ronnie.”

She snorted in response and then climbed into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close to his chest.

Ronnie nuzzled his neck and licked his jaw. “Any chance you’re ready to go home, hoss?”

Nibbling her ear, Brendon whispered, “More than ready. What would you like to do when we get there?”

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Let’s not worry about family or cops or anything else tonight.” She kissed him and pulled back with a grin. “Tonight I’m a coquettish schoolgirl and you’re the dirty next-door neighbor boy trying to talk me out of my virginity.”

Dez choked on her beer, and Mace had to pound her back to help ease the cough.

Brendon ignored it all, instead staring into Ronnie’s dark hazel eyes. Because of the darkness of the club, they glinted when she moved. “The coquettish schoolgirl?”

“Trust me, darlin’.” She slipped off his lap and stood, grabbing his hand to drag him out of the booth. “I’ve got the perfect skirt.”

Chapter Twelve

She’d practically shoved him into his elevator and told him she’d meet him upstairs in a little while. That had been forty minutes ago and he was starting to get antsy. Something about that female, something that made Brendon insane and wild. Something that made him want to do whatever necessary to make her a part of his life forever. Not just because she was a great time in bed—and Christ, was she ever—but because she had a heart as big as Asia. He loved how Ronnie cared about those in her life and did what she could to take care of them. Protect them.

He loved how she loved life. The woman had done more in her thirty years than most people in their sixties, but still she acted like everything was wonderful and new. She always found something interesting to learn.

Christ…he loved her. He loved her and she was home. They were home. She just hadn’t realized it yet.

The knock on the door surprised him since he’d given her his key. He dropped his beer on the table and headed to the front door. He didn’t need to check the peephole because he could smell her on the other side. He smelled her excitement and anticipation. The scent made him hard and desperate, but when he opened the door he froze.

He thought she’d been kidding. But nope. Not his Ronnie. There she stood in a way-too-short plaid skirt, white blouse, and white Keds. She’d put her hair into a ponytail at the top of her head, and she even had on small wire-rim glasses. She held a notepad and textbook against her chest, and she stared down at the floor.

“I’m…I’m here for your tutoring session,” she stammered out, and all Brendon could do was lean against the door, staring down at her. She glanced up at him. “Ain’t ya gonna let me in? My momma will be real mad if I ain’t back in an hour.” Her accent was thicker, her voice a little higher and insecure sounding.

She wanted to play to get his mind off his brother, and he was more than happy to oblige.

“Guess you better get in here then.” He stepped back from the door and she walked in, doing her best not to brush up against him.

“Wanna beer,” he offered, making sure to slam the door behind her.

She jumped and turned around. “Uh…no. No. That’s okay.”

“You sure? Might loosen you up.”

“I don’t need loosening up, Brendon Shaw. I need to get this trig down your throat, so I can go home for dinner.” She stormed over to the living room and slammed the books down on his coffee table, then sat primly on the edge of his couch. “I’m just doing this cause Coach Wilson asked me to.”

“Makes sense. You being president of the math club and all.”

Brendon sat down on the couch next to her. “So tell me, Ronnie Lee, why don’t you like me?”

“Don’t like you? Who said I didn’t like you?”

“You do, pretty much. You never say hi to me or sit next to me in history class.” He brushed the hair falling from her ponytail off her neck. “You look right through me.”

Her eyes closed when his fingers touched her throat, and a small shudder rippled through her body. “That’s…that’s not true. I just…we don’t…” She shook her head. “I can’t think when you’re doing that.”

“Doing what?” he softly demanded as he kissed her neck again. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We need to study.”

“Study later. I need you to reassure me now.”

“Reassure you?”

“Tell me you like me, Ronnie Lee.” He nipped her neck. “Even better…show me.”

Ronnie’s eyes crossed and she clenched her knees together. She thought she’d have to drag Brendon Shaw into this little role-playing thing. Not a lot of males, human or shifter, were real comfortable with it. Or they did it wrong. Diving right for the good stuff and not even bothering with the little scene she’d created.

Not Brendon. She could easily imagine him as head of some Texas high school football team, luring young girls to the death of their virginity. As much as she was ready to straddle him and fuck him into oblivion, she had no problems extending the game a wee bit more. How often would she get someone worthy of the effort?

“You stop that right now, Brendon Shaw! I’m not like those slutty cheerleaders.” She slapped her hand against his face to push him back and squealed when his tongue licked her palm. “I…I’m a good girl.”

“You don’t have to be, Ronnie Lee.” One of his big hands cupped her breast, the thumb teasing her nipple. “Let me show you how much fun it is to be bad every once in a while.”

“I…I can’t. It’s wrong. What if my momma finds out? Or the preacher? They’ll see it on my face. I know they will and I’ll burn in hell.”

With him kissing her neck and massaging her breasts, it took Ronnie a good thirty seconds to realize Shaw had slowly pushed her onto her back.

“No one will know, Ronnie Lee. I promise.”

“You’ll tell everybody.”

“I won’t. I know what your daddy will do to me if he finds out.” He unbuttoned her blouse in record time, slipping it off her shoulders. “It’ll be our little secret, Ronnie Lee. Yours and mine.”

Brendon’s big hands slid under her skirt and took hold of the plain white cotton panties she had to dig through her entire suitcase to find. She always made sure to keep a pair with her, and she’d never been so grateful before.

“But…I’ve never done it before.”

He slid the panties down her legs. “Not ever?”

“No. Not ever.”

“I’ll be your first?”

She gave a shy nod. Amazing, since she’d never been shy a day in her life. Even when she had lost her virginity.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll take care of you.”

She thought Brendon would just get on top of her and go for it, not that she minded, but he didn’t. He played the game of the only-slightly bad boy next door. He rested on his side, staring down at her, his head propped up by one arm.

“Since this is your first time, we’ve gotta take this slow. I can’t rush you or I’ll hurt you.”

Oh man.

“And I don’t wanna hurt you, Ronnie Lee.”

“Okay.”

The fingers of his free hand slid down her chest, stopping briefly to unhook the front clasp of her bra and gently cup and squeeze her breasts. Then his hand continued its journey down her body until it reached her legs, slid back up her thighs, and under her skirt. The only thing, besides her white Keds, she still had on.

He slid one finger inside her, and Ronnie’s eyes closed.

“No, baby. I want you to look at me. I need to know if I’m hurting you.”

Oh Lord. The man is good!

Slowly, shyly, Ronnie opened her eyes.

“Good girl. Now tell me if this hurts.” His index finger slowly pumped inside her, going in only so much like there was a hymen actually left to break. Normally this wouldn’t do much for her, but the way Shaw watched her and made her watch him, while still keeping their little game going, had her arching into his hand. “You like that?”

She gave a shy nod and fought her desire to tackle the man onto his back and take him by force.

“How about this?” His middle finger joined his index, still moving slowly and carefully inside her. “Does that feel good?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.” He settled himself comfortably on the couch, his head still resting in the palm of his hand.

The entire room filled with the sound of their heavy breathing and his fingers stroking inside her, all that wetness making squishy sounds that might have embarrassed a lesser female.

“Now I’m going to try something else, Ronnie Lee. You might get a little scared at first, but what you’re feeling is completely normal. Okay?”

She nodded and grabbed hold of his shoulders when his thumb brushed against her clit. Her legs moved restlessly over his couch and her breathing turned into hard pants.

“That’s right, baby. Just go with it.” Shaw watched her with wild eyes, like he couldn’t wait to see her come. Merely the out-of-control high school quarterback triumphant over making the uptight math wiz come all over his hand? Nah. Ronnie knew better. Shaw simply liked to get women off. A rare and mighty attractive trait in a male.

His thumb pushed hard against her clit and moved in circles. Ronnie couldn’t hold back anymore. Her body bowed, her head thrown back, glasses flying across the room. She vaguely heard them slide across his hardwood floor, then she came. The power of it exploding through her, her fingers digging into Shaw’s shoulders as she rode his hand.

By the time she floated back to the here and now, Shaw had his clothes off and a condom on, probably from the box he’d picked up earlier at a little drugstore.

She knew he really liked her skirt when he still didn’t take it off—merely lifted it out of the way—while settling between her thighs.

“You ready for me, Ronnie Lee?” he demanded between deep kisses.

Ronnie could only nod. She didn’t want to say anything stupid. Like “marry me.” She didn’t want to fall for this guy, but how could she not? Sure, he was great in bed, but hell, so were a lot of guys. No, Brendon Shaw was a full-fledged, honest-to-God sweetheart with a wicked sense of humor.

And he liked her. He didn’t just lust for her, he liked her. She could tell. She’d known enough men to know when they only wanted a woman for sex and when they liked her.

And she liked him. A lot.

His hands gripped her hips, raising them a bit. “It’ll hurt a little at first,” he whispered in her ear. “But then I promise it’ll get better.”

She grinned, loving the fact he was still rolling with the game.

“Will it be like what just happened?” she panted, loving the feel of his cock sliding inside her.

“Better, baby,” he groaned desperately in her ear. “Christ, so much better.”

“Brendon Shaw, you do not know how to share.”

Brendon looked up from the glass of cold milk he’d just dunked his Oreo cookie into. “Hello? Male lion. Duh.”

After more than an hour on his couch, they’d somehow ended up stomach-down on his living room floor with a hell of a lot of junk food. But apparently they both favored the chocolate cookies with the creamy center. Too bad for Ronnie there was only one bag.

Determined, Ronnie reached for another cookie and Brendon pulled the bag back, closer to his body. Ronnie snarled and Brendon roared back.

Her eyes narrowed. “You roared at me?”

“And I’ll do it again if you can’t keep your paws off my Oreos.”

She moved fast, he’d definitely give her that, landing on his back before he could even blink. Couldn’t say he really minded, though. With both of them being naked, it felt really nice to have her wiggling around back there.

“Give me that cookie!”

“Get your own, scavenger.”

Ronnie gasped in outrage and gripped his earlobe with her teeth while her hand reached out and made a wild grab for his cookie.

“Get those fangs off me, woman.”

“Start sharing,” she demanded between teeth firmly clenched on his ear.

“I don’t share.” She bit down harder at his statement. “Ow! Okay. Okay! You can have a little nibble.”

“I want the whole cookie, cat.” She released his ear and reached over, snatching it out of his hand.

He flipped onto his back, grabbing hold of her hips before she could wiggle away from him. Realizing he had her, she shoved the entire cookie into her mouth and grinned around it.

“I can’t believe you stole my cookie.”

She chewed a bit and stuck her tongue out, showing crumbled, spit-covered cookie and cream.

“Oh, very nice.”

“Come on, Shaw. Kiss me.”

“No way.” He turned his face away and she landed a crumb-covered kiss on his cheek.

She swallowed and sighed in pleasure. “That was the best cookie I ever had.”

“I bet.”

“Don’t be jealous.”

“I’m not. I just think it’s sad we’re fighting over one cookie and I’ve got a whole package of them right there.”

“Oh. You do.”

Ronnie made a move for the cookies, but he held her back.

“I want another cookie. Now!”

“Okay. On one condition.”

She leaned back and stared down at him. “This doesn’t involve me wearing a full nurse’s uniform with spiked heels, does it?”

“Not tonight, no.”

“Latex? Furry handcuffs? Entertainment involving me, a vibrator, and—”

“Please stop.” Brendon ordered his cock to behave and it pretty much laughed at him. “Those things will be for later.” Maybe even tonight if he could track down the nurse’s uniform. “Right now, I want you to promise me something.”

“What?”

He had to proceed cautiously here. “If you have to leave for any length of…uh…time, you’ll let me know.”

She reared back, and if he hadn’t had a firm hold of her, she probably would have bolted. “That sounds like a commitment.”

“No, no,” he said quickly, already smelling her panic. “Not a commitment. A courtesy. That’s all. The polite thing to do.” Southerners, from what he could tell, were big on courtesy and politeness. “You wouldn’t want me to worry if you and Sissy Mae are only off shopping, would you? Especially with all this stuff going on with my brother.”

“You’re not asking me to stay forever, are you?”

“Nope. Just let me know when you’re heading off somewhere.” That way if she’s leaving him, he can convince her to stay forever.

He could be very persuasive when the situation called for it.

“This is so you won’t worry, right?”

“Right.”

“Not because you’re expecting me to settle down with you or anything.”

“Never,” he lied. Unfortunately, there were times when a man needed to lie to his woman. The wild look of panic in her eyes…lying was very important at the moment. He needed to lure her over before he pounced and made Ronnie his forever.

“Okay. That I’ll agree to. And just that,” she tacked on with a large amount of unnecessary vehemence.

“Perfect.”

“Are we now done with this frightening conversation?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I want more cookies.”

“Get your own damn cookies.”

“Give me those cookies or I’ll kick your Yankee ass.”

Laughing, his hands sliding along her naked body, “You know there are much nicer ways of getting me to give you those cookies.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “You’re right.”

Before Brendon could move, Ronnie pulled out of his arms and turned to face away from him.

“Ronnie, what are you—”

Suddenly he had a face full of her pussy and Ronnie’s mouth around his cock. She sucked, causing his eyes to roll back into his head, then wiggled her ass a bit.

“Get to work, hoss,” she said after releasing him with a wonderful pop sound. “We get done here, we can tussle over the cookies some more.”

Brendon gripped her hips and pulled her lower. “You know, sexy,” he sighed before taking her to heaven, “I love tussling with you.”

Ronnie groaned deep and long when he pushed his tongue inside her. “Me too, hoss,” she panted out. “Lord in heaven, me too.”

Chapter Thirteen

Ronnie was kind of surprised she could walk at all as she made her way out into Shaw’s living room. Room service had already delivered a huge breakfast, and tightening the belt around her Kingston Arms robe, she sat at the table across from Shaw. He had the Wall Street Journal in front of his face, and there was something amazingly domestic about it all. It shocked her she still hadn’t made a run for it. She would have before.

Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she checked under the silver covers keeping the food either hot or cold.

When Ronnie found a big bowl of plain yogurt under one of those covers, she nearly squealed. Tossing some fresh fruit over the yogurt, she picked up the bowl and spoon and sat down in the chair. She’d finished off half the bowl by the time Shaw lowered his paper and looked at her.

Raising one eyebrow, “You didn’t think to offer me any?”

Ronnie shook her head. “Nope.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, kings of the jungle eat first.”

“And She-wolves love to chase cats into trees, then laugh and laugh. So don’t push me.”

Grinning, he picked up a slice of thick-cut bacon. “So what do you want to do today?”

“Don’t you have to work or something?”

“I am working. I’m staying out of my staff’s way. They love when I do that.”

“You’re one of those nitpicky bosses, aren’t you?”

“Damn right I am. I know what I want. I won’t take any less.”

She refused to comment on that one. Not when he had that intense look again with those gold eyes locking on her.

“Do you like museums?” he asked. “We can check out a few. Then I can fuck you in the Guggenheim bathroom.”

“Such respect for the artists.”

“I try.” He stared at her. “You look good in my robe, sexy.”

“Thank you kindly.”

“Open it.”

She hid her smile by shoveling a spoonful of yogurt into her mouth. “I’m eating,” she said around her food.

He rested his elbow on the table, his chin in the palm of his hand. “Open the robe, Ronnie Lee.”

With an annoyed sniff that even she didn’t buy, she put her nearly empty bowl on the table and loosened up the belt at her waist. Keeping her eyes on him, Ronnie pulled the robe down over her shoulders and licked her lips. “Like this?”

Brendon growled and she thought he’d come over the table for her when his cell phone went off. His growl turned into a snarl, and he snatched his cell phone off the table. “What?”

He glanced at her and Ronnie opened the robe completely, arching her back. His eyes locked on her breasts and he gave a small whimper. He frowned. “Mace who?”

She covered her mouth to stifle her laugh.

Brendon flinched. “Oh. Llewellyn. Yeah. What’s up?”

Ronnie watched the humor go out of his eyes. “You can’t tell me over the phone? Yeah. Okay. Okay. One o’clock. I’ll be there.” He sighed and disconnected.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mace needs to see me. Has information on my brother.”

Ronnie stood up, pulling the robe back on. “Come on.” She stepped over to him and held her hand out. “Let’s get showered and dressed. Once you’re done, we can still do that museum thing if you want.” Although she doubted that would be happening, she wanted to act as positive as possible. But if Mace didn’t have bad news, he would have told Shaw over the phone.

“You don’t have to go.”

“Do you want me to go?”

He didn’t answer at first, staring at the table. Finally, he slipped his hand into hers. “Yes. I want you to go.” He let out another sigh and allowed her to pull him out of the chair. “I’ll need you to keep me from beating the shit out of Mitch. Who knows what the little idiot has gotten himself into now.”

Brendon stared blindly while they chatted around him. He stared blindly at the corkboard with its pictures and diagrams. He stared and stared and stared, not sure what he was actually seeing. Realizing he knew nothing about his own blood. His own brother.

Around him they talked about the offices Mace and Smitty had so quickly secured with Sissy Mae’s help, including a gorgeous cheetah receptionist who looked organized, highly competent, and like she could probably outrun a gold medalist sprinter. They chatted about the weather and the annual New Year’s Eve party at the hotel. They chatted about a new club on East Fourteenth. Llewellyn and Smitty dropped their bomb and then let him deal with it on his own while they drank bottled water and chatted about their lives.

Finally, after he’d stared at the corkboard—and that one picture that said so much—for longer than many might consider normal, he exploded, his roar shaking windows and the glass on tables.

Silence, not surprisingly, followed until he heard Ronnie ask, “Could y’all leave us alone for a minute?”

They left without making a sound, and hands that were becoming as familiar as his own cupped his face. Ronnie turned him so he gazed down at her. One look into those hazel eyes and Brendon pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her neck.

“How could he not tell me?”

Ronnie’s arms held him tight and she said, “Because he’s being a passive-aggressive prick. But he’s not hopeless.”

“I’m going to kick his ass when I see him.”

“Call him. Tell him to come to the hotel. You’ll feel better once you know he’s safe. ’Round his own kind.”

“I should let him deal with this on his own.”

She kissed his cheek. “You’ll never forgive yourself if anything happens to him. We both know that.”

He nodded, knowing she was right.

“So call the little fucker up and tell him to get his skinny lion ass over to your hotel.”

“And my sister.”

“If you must.”

He released her so she could hand him the phone she took off his jeans.

Dez walked into the room from a separate door, carrying two bottles of water. She glanced around as she stepped closer to them. “Where is everybody?”

“They ran to safety,” Ronnie joked.

Those strange green-gray eyes narrowed and Dez asked, “Did Mace roar at you guys? I told him not to keep doing that.”

“No.” Ronnie patted his shoulder. “That was ol’ Shaw here.”

“Oh.” Dez seemed to immediately lose interest, turning and staring at the corkboard Mace and Smitty had set up. She frowned and pointed at a picture of Mitch. “Who’s that?”

Sighing as he speed-dialed his brother. “Him? That’s my brother.”

“I didn’t know your brother was a cop.”

Brendon glanced up at the picture of his brother in full Philadelphia PD uniform. His graduation picture. The graduation and career Brendon had never known about.

“Yeah. I didn’t know either.”

Chapter Fourteen

Brendon looked up as his brother sauntered into the suite that had been reserved for him.

Hands in pockets and a cocky stance, he stared down at Brendon. “What?”

“You said you’d be thirty minutes. That was three hours ago.”

“I was busy. What do you want?”

Standing, Brendon walked to the small fridge in the corner. He grabbed himself a beer and offered his brother one. Mitch waved it away.

“Busy doing what?” Brendon asked, popping the top on his Heineken. “Dealing? Breaking someone’s kneecaps? Pimping?”

Mitch shrugged. “Something I don’t think you should know about. It’s for your own protection, big bruh.”

“I see.” Tempted to use the beer bottle, Brendon used his elbow instead, slamming Mitch to the ground. With his foot firmly planted against the back of the little shit’s neck, he said calmly, “Let’s try this again, Detective Shaw. What were you busy doing?”

“Fuck,” Mitch growled while trying to dislodge his brother’s foot.

“No, I’m sure you haven’t been fucking. You’d be much more relaxed.”

“Get off me, you asshole!”

“I’m an asshole? Do you know how long you had me believing you were some scumbag I had to reform?”

“Yeah. Now you can brag about me to your yacht club friends.”

“First, you idiot, I don’t belong to any yacht clubs. Second, what did I ever do to you to make you so goddamn pissed at me? I tried, Mitch. I really tried. But no matter how hard I try, you continue to be an asshole.”

Abruptly, the fight went out of Mitch. He sort of laid there. “I didn’t want anything from you,” he said softly. “I didn’t want your help. I didn’t want your handouts. I wanted to prove I didn’t need you.”

“Proven.” Brendon lifted his foot off Mitch’s neck and stepped back, turning away. “You don’t need me. You don’t need Marissa. You’re an army of one. Good for you.”

“At first.”

Brendon turned and looked back at his baby brother, who’d pushed himself off the floor. Some days it was like looking into a mirror, but Mitch didn’t have as much brown hair in his mane yet. He would soon when he got a little older. “At first?”

“At first I was going to show you all. Show up for Thanksgiving dinner with my gold shield and enough attitude to choke a walrus.”

“And?”

“I went undercover. I became part of this crew. Irish mobsters. Old school. Christ, Bren, I did things…saw things.” Mitch shook his head and turned away. “In the end it was safer they didn’t know you or Marissa existed. I didn’t want them to have any leverage over me. I didn’t worry about Mom. Her Pride is twenty strong with four Breeding Males. But Marissa doesn’t have a Pride…I couldn’t risk her. Either of you. So I let you believe I was a scumbag. It was easier because you both stayed away from me.”

Brendon swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Two cops were looking for you the other night.”

“Nah. They weren’t looking for me. They were watching out for you.” Mitch laughed. “Poor guys. First you beat them up at the hospital, then your girlfriend and her Pack of She-wolves scare the shit out of them. They were doing me a favor, but I’m pretty sure their wives won’t invite me back to dinner anytime soon. They’re jackals and not real friendly as it is.”

“So they weren’t trying to arrest you?”

“No. I’d heard about you being in the hospital before Marissa ever called me.” Mitch took a deep breath. “The truth is, Bren, I’m supposed to be in protective custody right now. I’ll be giving testimony on the crew in a few months, and the city put me in this shitty little hotel with three other cops. Humans. I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t leave, the room was tiny, the scent of those humans on some days…” He shook his head at the memory. “Too much. A few more days and they would have known exactly what I was. I took off. Been hanging in New York since. I asked Monahan and Abbott to watch out for you and Rissa as soon as I went into protective custody.”

“Why?”

“The people I brought down…I was afraid they’d find out about you. Afraid they’d use you to get to me.”

“What about the trial?”

“The prosecutor is one of us. A leopard. She knows where I am and how to get in touch with me. She said she knew I wouldn’t last five minutes in that hotel. But cases like this take months if not years to come to trial. They can’t expect me to stay trapped for that long. I’m better off taking care of myself.”

Mitch ran his hands through his hair. “I’m really sorry, Bren. I never meant to—”

“Forget it.” And Brendon meant it. “It’s over. Now we know and we can figure out what we’re going to do from here.”

“I don’t want you involved, Brendon.”

“Shut up, Mitch.” Brendon sat down on the couch. “Just…shut up. It’s too late for you to protect me. It’s too late for you to protect Rissa. You’ll stay here. We’ll amp up security. Mace Llewellyn and Smitty can get us people. Our own kind. Until this is all over, until you’re done with the trial, we have no choice.” Brendon stared at him. “I won’t lose you, little brother.”

The suite door opened and Marissa walked in, carrying a duffel bag with a change of clothes.

“Well, I’m here as ordered.” She frowned, her eyes darting between the two of them. “What? What’s wrong?”

Brendon sighed. “I’m in love with a She-wolf and Mitch is an undercover cop mobsters are actively trying to find and kill. They’ll probably try to kill us too since we’re family.”

Marissa dropped her bags, her face white with shock. Slowly she walked closer to the two males. She glanced at Mitch, shoved him out of the way, turning both barrels on Brendon. “How the hell could you fall in love with a She-wolf?”

The two brothers looked at each other…and grinned.

“You all right, darlin’?”

Ronnie Lee smiled at Sissy Mae as her friend walked over to her. She knew Sissy would eventually come looking for her. They’d been traveling buddies for so long, they knew each other’s moods as well as their own. Now the two friends stood outside a fancy New York hotel in the biting cold, their lives about to go around a new bend in the road—for better or worse.

“Called my momma tonight,” Ronnie admitted.

“Lord, girl. Why would you do that?”

“Glutton for punishment, I suppose.”

“I guess so.” Sissy leaned against the wall next to her. “She tell you your brothers are on their way here tonight?”

Ronnie sighed, big and long. “No. She failed to mention that.”

“Probably wanted it to be a surprise.” Probably. Ronnie could tell from their tense phone call her mother knew something was going on. Most likely hoped her brothers would ferret out the information and get back to her. Then she could really shove it down Ronnie’s throat.

Once her brothers got here, the party with Shaw would be over. She didn’t have to see them tonight, but they’d track her ass down by morning. In her estimation, she had one more good night with her lion, then she’d have to walk away. It gave her the perfect excuse. At least that’s what she kept telling herself.

“Did she tell you you’re hopeless and no good?”

“No. This time I didn’t care enough to call on Christmas and how could I be so mean to my daddy. Oh. And there was lots of sighing.”

“There’s always lots of sighing where your momma is concerned. Didn’t you know? The weight of the universe rests on those shoulders.” Sissy Mae nudged Ronnie’s shoulder with her own. “She does love you, Rhonda Lee. In her own special, mean-as-a-snake, everyone-is-against-her way.”

“Yeah. I guess she does.”

“What are you going to tell her about Shaw?”

“Nothing. Why?”

“What do you mean why? You gotta tell your momma something. The boy’s so in love with you, he can’t see straight.”

Ronnie had always been the rational one. The one who, unless seriously drunk, always said, “Are we sure we want to do this?” But clearly all that wonderful rationality went flying out the window when she swung her fist at Sissy’s face.

Sissy Mae caught that fist, too. In an instant, her eyes shifted from friendly human to Alpha Wolf as she shoved Ronnie back against the wall. Becoming Alpha Female wasn’t any easier than becoming Alpha Male. You needed your wits and the ability to make split-second decisions. You also needed to be able to scare the bejesus out of people. When Sissy leaned in close to Ronnie and bared those pearly white fangs, brutally snarling, Ronnie knew she’d stepped over the line.

Turning her head away, she pressed back against the wall, cowering as Sissy came a hair’s breath from her face, snarling and snapping. Making it clear who was Alpha Female and who was just a Beta.

Ronnie kept her eyes down and her body submissive. If she had her tail, it would be tucked up between her legs. When Sissy Mae felt she’d cowered enough, she released Ronnie’s hand and stepped back.

“Someday you’ll have to tell your momma about Shaw. One, because your brothers will notice a big cat rubbing against you and purring. Second, the boy is not walking away from you anytime soon, Ronnie Lee. And you might as well get used to it.”

Ronnie didn’t know if she momentarily hated her friend more for making her cower…or for being right.

After five full hours of their arguing, Brendon lost his patience and stormed out of the suite. Mitch and Marissa didn’t even notice.

Sleep. A few hours of sleep and he knew he’d feel so much better and a damn sight less mean. Because after refereeing between those two, he felt really mean.

He stepped into his apartment and headed toward the kitchen. Pushing open the swinging door, Brendon froze.

She sat at his counter, a magazine open in front of her, a pile of M&M’s next to that. What he found most disturbing was how she’d separated the colors out. Black and reds in one small pile, in little pairs. Greens in another. Yellows and oranges in another. No blues, which made him think she’d put those back in the bag or ate them. Nothing like the slightly obsessive-compulsive wolf to make life interesting.

“You’re here.” Christ. Is that the best you can do, you idiot?

She didn’t even look up from her magazine. “Yup. Looks that way, now don’t it?” She turned a page. “If you want me to go, all you have to say is go. We both know it don’t take much to get me to leave.”

“Stay if you want to. Go if you want to.”

What the hell was wrong with him? Why the hell was he goading her? He didn’t want Ronnie to leave. Ever. Isn’t that what he just spent five hours shoving down his twin’s throat? So why push her out the door now?

Ronnie looked up from her magazine. “You gonna be an asshole the rest of the night?” she asked calmly.

“You know,” he responded sarcastically, “I think I might. So feel free not to be here for it.”

There. He’d given her an out. Now she could go and he could be even more miserable. Good plan, Bren.

Ronnie closed the magazine and slid off the stool. She’d put on another pair of ratty cutoffs and a Coors Beer T-shirt. The woman really knew how to wear clothes most women wouldn’t be caught dead in.

A few steps and she stood in front of him. He looked into her beautiful eyes and didn’t see tears or even pain. She didn’t look hurt. More amused. But before he could figure that out, her fist slammed into his jaw, knocking his head to one side.

“Motherfuck—”

Leaning in close to his ear as he massaged his sore face and cursed up a blue streak, “Talk to me like that again and lose one of those lion balls you’re so proud of, hoss.” Her forehead brushed against his wounded jaw. “And now you’re going to have to convince me to stay. Think you got the balls to make me stay, Brendon Shaw?”

Without another word, she pushed past him and headed out of his kitchen. Maybe out of his life.

And there was no way in hell he was ever letting her go.

Typical shifter male. They handled stress in the worst ways. Especially when it involved their kin. Her daddy only got real crabby when he and Momma had a fight. Something about her pushed all his cranky buttons. Still, after a good fight, her brothers often had to drag Ronnie out of the house to a movie—or two—until they all felt it was safe enough to head back home.

Ronnie made it to the door before Shaw caught up with her. His big body stepped in front of her, blocking her way out of the apartment.

She barely stopped her smile in time.

“You gonna move?” she asked.

“Nope.”

Ronnie stepped away from him, claws unleashing. “This won’t be pretty, Shaw. I got in a little tussle with Sissy Mae tonight and I’m not my usual fun-loving self.”

“Kick your ass, did she?” he murmured, ignoring her annoyed growl and tossing his leather jacket aside. “Sorry I missed that. Especially if you guys were naked and there was oil or mud involved. Now come here.”

“Like I’d ever make it that easy.” She took several long steps back. “You want me, hoss, you better come and get me.”

Forgetting—again—lions had quite the leap in them, she almost didn’t move in time.

She took off across his living room, clearing furniture easily, and headed down the hallway. He made no sounds as he moved up on her, but the one thing Ronnie knew about lions—the females did most of the hunting. The males came in for the kill bite and to feed. Otherwise you could find their lazy asses sleeping in the shade while the females did all the work.

Shaw reached for her, and she ducked under him, heading back the other way.

“You little…”

She laughed, loving the chase. Needing their ridiculous frolicking to take her mind off everything else.

He caught up with her, and she felt the air move as his arms swung for her. She dropped to her knees and Shaw tumbled right over her, landing with a painful thud. She stopped long enough to look him in the eye. He gazed at her, clearly stunned.

Licking her lips, she whispered, “Gotta be faster than that, pretty kitty.” Then she popped to her feet and jumped over him, heading down the opposite end of his ridiculously enormous apartment. His roar shook the walls, and Ronnie moved faster, knowing he was right behind her. Knowing he’d get her.

Ronnie charged into one of the unused bedrooms, slamming the door behind her. She’d made it into the bathroom when the bedroom door slammed open. She had a distinct feeling the man had kicked it off its hinges.

She went through the bathroom into the adjoining bedroom and out the door. Only Shaw hadn’t followed her, he’d backtracked to this door and she ran right into his arms.

He slammed her against the opposite wall, his mouth crushing hers while his hands kept her claws from tearing him apart. She fought him. No fake fighting either. She kicked and bit and knew she hurt him by his grunts of pain.

She tasted blood and she knew her fangs had scraped him hard.

Panting, he pulled away from her, gripped her tight around the waist, and stormed off down the hall. She thought he’d take her to his bedroom so he could have his dirty, disgusting way with her—at least that’s what she hoped for—but apparently the kitchen was closer.

He pushed through the swinging door, and the next thing Ronnie knew, he had her facedown over his kitchen counter.

A bloody lip, sore jaw, and a couple of bruised ribs. Seemed a small price to pay to have Ronnie Lee Reed bent over the island in the middle of his kitchen.

She still had her claws out and insisted on putting up a hell of a fight. Grinning, Brendon pushed his knee between her legs, forcing them apart and raising her a bit so she couldn’t get a clear shot at his nuts—again. He laid one hand flat against her back, keeping her pinned to the spot.

His free hand rubbed his throbbing jaw. “You’ve gotta hell of a right cross, sexy.”

“Thank ya kindly.”

“You were kind of rough on me, weren’t ya?”

She laughed even as her claws dug into the marble countertop, trying to pull herself out from under his hand. “Are you kidding? You had every one of those hits coming.”

“You’re right. I was a total asshole to you.” Brendon moved his hand so he could stretch out over her, resting against her back. She tensed beneath him.

“I’m sorry, Ronnie,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m sorry I was an asshole.”

She held herself rigid for several long moments and he waited for her to start swinging.

Instead she let out a breath and turned her head to look at him. “Don’t do it again.”

“I won’t.”

“Cause next time I won’t be so nice.”

He flinched, wondering what her “mean” must be like. Then Brendon decided he didn’t want to know and he hoped he never stupidly found out.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Do.”

He nuzzled her chin. “So you forgive me?”

“If I must.”

“You must.” He kissed her forehead, her cheek. “I like having you around, Ronnie. I don’t want you mad at me.”

“Then don’t piss me off,” she said with a smile.

“I promise to try really hard to keep the pissing off to a minimum.”

She snorted. “At least you’re realistic.”

“I like doable goals.”

She pushed back against him, her ass rubbing against his hard cock. “You still have that condom we were going to use if we made it to the Guggenheim?”

“As a matter of fact…” Brendon dug into his back pocket and slapped the condom down on the counter.

Ronnie reached one hand back and gripped his cock through his jeans. “I say we find out how sturdy this fancy counter is.”

Brendon pulled her hand away before she made him come in his pants. The female had wicked fingers. Grabbing both her hands, he slapped them on the counter and held them down with his own.

“All the way over, Ronnie.”

She looked back at him and nipped his chin. “I will, but you better make it worth my while.”

Ronnie bent forward, resting her cheek against the cool marble counter. Shaw released her hands and ran his fingers up her arms, over her shoulders, and across her back.

“Keep your hands on the counter,” he ordered while reaching around her waist and undoing her cutoff shorts. The ragged denim dropped to the floor, and he groaned while his hands palmed her bare ass.

“No underwear? You’re a horny little thing, aren’t you, Ronnie Lee?”

“Never been a big fan of wasting time. Besides. You’re a ripper. Girl could lose her best underwear with a guy like you ripping them off all the time.”

Shaw ran his hands over her ass, and her back arched. The man had the best hands. Rough and insistent most of the time, but he knew how to back off when she wanted him to.

“Good point,” he muttered, and she heard him unzip his jeans. His cock came out so fast, she knew he hadn’t bothered to drop his pants. The condom wrapper crinkled and then his knee pushed her legs farther apart.

Ronnie braced herself for it, knowing the first time with Shaw always had enough edge of pain to make it interesting. Two big fingers slid between her legs, and she gasped as they pushed inside her pussy.

“Christ, Ronnie. You’re already so wet.” She didn’t respond, only grunted while his fingers pulled out and shoved back in. “And hot,” he whispered against her hair. “So goddamn hot.”

She pushed back against his hand, loving the way his body tensed when she made it clear what she wanted.

His hand suddenly withdrew and Ronnie whimpered, feeling the loss until his cock replaced those fingers and Shaw’s hips slammed her forward, thrusting into her in one long, hard stroke.

Flush against her back, his cock seated firmly inside her, Shaw rested against her, the two of them panting into his marble counter. Hands resting on top of hers, his fingers scratching the skin.

He waited and she didn’t know why. She didn’t want him to wait. She wanted him moving.

Ronnie leaned her head back, rubbing against his cheek, her nose nuzzling his chin. Then she nipped his jaw, hard, and Shaw bared his fangs, snapping at her.

His left hand slid into her hair, pulling her head back and leaving her neck exposed while his body rocked into hers. Closing her eyes, Ronnie let the feel of his cock forcing its way into her over and over again take her where she wanted to be. Lost among the sensations only Shaw seemed able to give her. His face buried against her neck, harsh breaths panting across her flesh as he rode her hard. His fingers only releasing her hair long enough to get another good grip and hold her tighter.

Letting her instincts take over, Ronnie risked losing some hair to lean back a bit and snap at Shaw again. She didn’t even realize she had her fangs out until they grazed her lip.

With a short, powerful roar Shaw pushed her farther forward and pulled her head to the side, gripping her shoulder with his teeth. A typical predator move to keep a dangerous lover from causing permanent, life-ending damage.

But Ronnie winced when she felt Shaw’s fangs dig past her T-shirt and into her skin. Her eyes snapped open when she realized, too late, what he was doing.

“Wait—”

He either didn’t hear her or didn’t care because those fangs tore through flesh and muscle, sinking deep into her shoulder and holding her steady as he fucked her brutally hard and with absolutely no mercy.

Her heart soared while her stomach dropped, and Ronnie barked, trying to get loose. Shaw dug in deeper, a short warning growl making it clear he wouldn’t let her go. The She-wolf inside her stopped fighting, smart enough to know its mate even if Ronnie wasn’t.

Shaw’s free hand slid between her legs and held steady, letting his thrusts push her clit into his fingers. Even as she fought it, even as she tried not to let it happen because she knew it would be the final nail in her coffin, the orgasm ripped through her system with a vengeance.

Screaming, Ronnie exploded. Her claws tore into the marble counter leaving deep gouges, and her body shook from the strength of her climax.

Shaw finally unclamped from her shoulder and roared out his orgasm. His entire body shuddered behind her and his grip tightened around her body.

Slumped over the counter, the two of them panted and didn’t speak.

Ronnie didn’t know what to say. What did you say to a man who just made you his for eternity?

Especially when she had the distinct feeling the big-haired idiot hadn’t even realized it.

Chapter Fifteen

Only the sounds of their harsh breaths filled the large kitchen. Brendon still rested against her and he could feel her body shake beneath his with every rough pant.

She’s mine.

That one thought kept ringing through his head. Over and over.

she’s mine.

She’d always be his. Just as he would always be hers.

Brendon’s lips curved into a smile and he hugged her close. She’s mine.

“Get off me, Brendon.”

Whoa. That didn’t sound good. Especially when she used his first name. She never called him by his first name. And she’d never sounded that cold before. Not ever.

“Now. Get off me now.”

Slowly, Brendon stood straight, gently pulling out of her. He stepped back, quickly disposing of the condom and tucking himself back into his jeans.

Ronnie pushed away from the counter and reached down to grab her shorts. He watched her silently pull the denim on, tug her shirt back into place, turn, and head out of his kitchen. The entire time she never said a word and she never looked at him.

He followed her as she walked to his front door, opened it, and walked to his elevator. She pressed the call button and the doors immediately opened. She stepped inside, pushed a button, and finally looked up at him.

Confused and a little panicked, he demanded, “Where are you going? You promised you’d tell me if you were going to be gone for a while.”

“You’re right. I did.” She gave a casual shrug. “Europe.”

Refusing to believe he heard her correctly, “What?”

“Europe. I’m going to Europe. See ya.”

Then the doors slammed shut in his face.

Ronnie walked out into the main lobby, her eyes focused on the floor. She needed to go. She needed to run. She needed to do something but stay here and face this. She couldn’t face this.

She pushed open the front door of the hotel and stepped outside. After walking past the doormen who helped new arrivals, she stood on the corner. It could have been minutes she stood there or hours, she didn’t know.

“You may wanna put on some shoes.”

Ronnie looked down at her big feet and realized that not only did she not have on shoes, she still only had on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. No wonder she felt cold.

She looked up into the handsome face of Mitch Shaw.

Concerned, he asked, “Sweetie, are you okay?”

“I’m leaving. Before I get trapped any more than I am, I’m leaving,” she spewed out.

“Leaving? Now? You sure that’s a good idea?”

“I always leave.” She headed down the street.

“But why? You and Bren—”

“No. No.” She stopped and spun on him, slamming her hands against his chest like she’d done to his sister. Unlike his sister, however, Mitch didn’t move. Not even a flinch. “Me and ‘Bren’ nothing. I’m going before I start driving a minivan and worrying about the school system.”

“You can’t just leave him.”

“Well, Lord knows I can’t stay!” She knew she sounded hysterical. People on Manhattan streets were actually staring at her. Took a lot to get their attention.

Shaking her head, embarrassed, Ronnie walked off, Mitch right behind her.

“Why are you following me?”

“I’m walking with you. I was leaving anyway.”

Ronnie stopped again and turned, Mitch walking right into her. If he hadn’t grabbed her, she would have hit the ground after bouncing off all those muscles.

She immediately noted the duffel bag on his shoulder. “You’re leaving, too.”

He looked slightly ashamed. “Yeah. Me and Marissa had this fight. She kind of stormed off and…I thought maybe if I—”

“Ran away?”

Gold eyes narrowed. “I don’t see you sticking around.”

Without answering, Ronnie again turned and walked away. She didn’t want this conversation. She didn’t want to talk about this. She wanted to leave. She wanted to go far away. As far away as possible.

“Ronnie, wait.” Mitch grabbed hold of her arm. “Please wait. I’m sorry.”

“He loves you, Mitch. You can’t leave without telling him.”

Mitch gave a low chuckle. “He loves you, too.”

She shook her head. “I can’t hear this. I can’t—” She tried to pull out of his grasp, but Mitch wouldn’t let her go.

“Let’s do this.” His free hand cupped her chin, his fingers smoothing along her cheek. She knew that move. He was trying to soothe her. Calm the yipping dog before she started barking at the neighbors again.

“Let’s go back inside,” he offered, “and talk. I’ll buy you a hot chocolate. We won’t go anywhere until we talk. Okay?”

She knew she should leave, but she didn’t want Mitch to go, too. That wouldn’t be fair to Shaw. “You’ll stay?”

“If you stay.”

She couldn’t let Mitch run off again. Shaw would lose his mind if his kid brother took off again. “Okay. For hot chocolate only.”

Mitch grinned, looking so much like Shaw it made her heart ache. “Yeah. Although we may want to get you some shoes before you take off. Walking around New York in December with no shoes…probably not a good idea.”

He steered her back to the hotel, leading her inside and to a small restaurant tucked away behind the more glitzy popular places. They sat down and a waiter glided over to take their drink orders. Once he glided away, Mitch frowned at her. “You look like you’re freezing.”

“Freezing? Not really.” But her teeth chattered when she spoke.

Giving a snort of annoyance, Mitch took his jacket off and reached over, placing it around Ronnie’s shoulders.

“Tell me what happened, Ronnie.”

She shrugged under his big heavy jacket, pulling it tighter around her. “Nothin’.”

“Ronnie, he marked you. I can smell his scent all over you.”

Placing her elbows on the table, Ronnie rested her face in her hands.

“This isn’t what you wanted?”

“It would have been nice if he asked.”

“True. But would a wolf have asked? Or would he have just taken his life in his hands and hoped for the best?”

Ronnie dropped her hands to the table, moving them when the waiter placed her enormous cup of hot chocolate in front of her. Giant imported marshmallow right on top.

“Don’t you see, Mitch? I’m trapped now. I’ve gotta tell him where I’m going. When I’ll be back. If I’m arrested.”

Mitch blinked and leaned back in his chair. “Um…are you arrested a lot, sweetie?”

“In this country? Not really.”

“That’s good to know. But wouldn’t you want someone to bail you out when you’re arrested?”

“That’s what my Pack is for. And I don’t need to give them constant updates on my whereabouts.”

“True, but now you’ve got Bren. Think of it like an extra pair of thermal underwear. Sometimes you’re in a situation when you really need two.”

Ronnie started to sip her hot chocolate but stopped and put her cup back down. “Darlin’, that is one of the dumbest analogies I’ve heard in a long time.”

He shrugged. “Cut me some slack. I’m winging it here.” Mitch’s face turned solemn. “Bottom line is, babe, you’ll break his heart if you leave him.”

“Cats don’t mate for life.”

“Who told you that?”

“National Geographic and the Discovery Channel. The males come and go, jumping from Pride to Pride. And wolves don’t share anything but our food, but even that we tussle over.”

“All of that’s absolutely true—for cats who live to be about twelve and reside in the Serengeti. Last I looked, this was New York and me and Bren have another fifty or sixty years to fill. I know Bren wants to spend it with you. And neither of us have any intention of spending the rest of our lives being traded around by a bunch of females who can barely stand us.”

“He just wants me ’cause I stayed that night. They left and I stayed.”

“That’s not why. He’s grateful to you for staying that night. He wants you ’cause you look fierce in those shorts.” Mitch grinned when she smiled. “And he loves you because you make him happy. I’ve never seen the big butthead smile so damn much.”

“He makes me feel…” Ronnie stopped and looked back at the table.

“What, Ronnie? He makes you feel what?”

“It’s what he doesn’t make me feel that’s the problem.”

“Which is?”

She took a deep breath. “Restless. I never feel like I have to leave when I’m with him. I never wake up in the morning with one foot already out of the bed.”

“And that’s a problem because…”

“Because I always leave. Now I only want to stay, and it’s freakin’ me the hell out.”

“You’re freaking out because you know your life is changing for good. If you weren’t freaking out, I’d be worried.” He took a long sip of his hot chocolate. “How about I make you a deal?” Mitch suggested softly.

“What deal?”

“You stay…and I’ll stay. At least for a little while.”

“I shouldn’t care whether you go or stay. I shouldn’t care how it affects him at all.”

“But you do care, Ronnie. And that’s okay.”

“Fine.” Ronnie pushed her cup aside. “I’ll stay.”

“Good. Now let’s go find him before he tears the friggin’ hotel apart looking for you.”

He’d checked her room. The front lobby. Even a couple of the restaurants. She’d disappeared.

Hell. What she’d done was left him.

Now he had to stand here dealing with Sissy Mae Smith. A lesser man would have killed her by now.

“Let’s think…where could she have gone? Did she take her passport?”

“I have no idea,” he replied.

“No idea.”

That’s what annoyed him. She kept repeating everything he said back to him.

“Did she give you a hint of where she might go?”

“She said Europe.”

She tapped her fingers against the solid oak of the front desk. “Europe.”

Brendon dropped his elbows on the desk and buried his face in his hands.

“Now, now, darlin’. No use crying. We’ll find her eventually.”

“I’m not crying. I’m trying to stop myself from ripping out your vocal cords.”

Surprisingly, she laughed. “My Lord, Brendon Shaw. You are just the cutest little thing when you’re upset.”

When she pinched his cheek, all he could do was laugh.

Sissy Mae glanced over his shoulder. “And look. There she is.”

Brendon turned around. The relief hit him first, quickly followed by blinding jealousy when he saw his brother walking with her. She even had on the treacherous bastard’s leather jacket. Mitch had never let anyone else ever wear that jacket—until now.

“Hhhmm,” Sissy Mae mused. “I wonder where those two have been together for such a long time.”

A small, rational part of him knew Sissy was merely fucking with his head; based on stories from Ronnie, he knew that’s what she did for amusement, like some people knit or play video games. That didn’t stop the jealousy from coming up and choking him.

Brendon stalked over to the pair, ignoring the smile Ronnie Lee gave him that quickly turned into a dark frown.

“What the hell is going on?” He didn’t even look at Ronnie, he only focused on Mitch.

“Nothing, big bruh. Just…ya know…” Mitch placed his hands on Ronnie’s shoulders and smoothed them down her arms. “Trying to make Ronnie feel better.”

In that instant, everything melted into this one moment. The attack, the truth about Mitch, Ronnie running out on him—all of it slammed right into Brendon at that moment, leaving him filled with a rage he hadn’t experienced since his wild days running the South Philly streets with his twin.

Carefully, Brendon lifted Ronnie up and out of the way, not even hearing her warning growls or the words she said to calm him down. Then he slammed his hands into Mitch’s chest, sending the little shit back five feet.

“Maybe you’re an idiot,” Brendon snarled. “Maybe slightly brain damaged.” He shoved his brother again. “Whatever the fuck is going on with you, you need to remember she’s mine.”

Mitch lowered his head and glowered at Brendon, lips pulling back over bright, white fangs. “Then, maybe, big bruh, you should learn how to keep your female without needing me to do it for you.”

Brendon’s rage centered and narrowed to a fine, honed point and, like the lion he was, he went for his brother’s throat, not really caring about all the snarling and growling in the middle of his five-star hotel.

“What did you say to him?”

Sissy gave her that innocent look. “Me? I didn’t say anything, darlin’.”

“You’re lying to me, Sissy Mae.”

“Lying is such a strong word.”

The scent hit her first and Ronnie spun around, coming nose to chest with Rory Lee Reed.

“Baby sister,” her brother’s deep voice greeted her. “Typical. We just get into town and we find you and Sissy Mae dead center of a shit storm.”

“What’s going on anyway?” Ricky Lee Reed asked, curious as always.

“Nothin’,” Ronnie choked out, grabbing hold of Rory’s arm and trying to drag him away, hoping Ricky Lee and Reece would automatically follow like they always did. But apparently Sissy Mae had other ideas.

“Those two lions are fightin’ over Ronnie Lee.”

Slowly her brother looked at Sissy Mae. “Excuse me?” Rory asked.

“See the bigger one?” She helpfully pointed out Shaw. “That’s Brendon Shaw. He marked your sister tonight. If you take a good sniff you can catch his scent all over her. And the slightly smaller one…that’s his baby brother, Mitch.” She grinned. “I think he’s mighty cute. Now see, Brendon is all jealous because he saw Ronnie Lee and Mitch walking together. Poor baby, I don’t think he’s used to being possessive over a female.”

Ronnie Lee turned on her friend. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”

Rory nudged his sister. “Watch your mouth, Ronnie Lee.”

“How long has this been going on?” Ricky asked, his big hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans.

“Just a few days. But your sister moves fast as y’all know.”

She’d kill her. She’d absolutely kill her best friend.

Reece glanced around at the growing number of observers. “Think we better deal with this. Can’t let some cats embarrass the Reed name.”

“Wait.” Ronnie jumped in front of her three brothers before they could move. “Don’t hurt him.”

“At the very least don’t hurt his face,” Sissy piped in helpfully, but she slapped her hand over her mouth when Ronnie gave her a withering glare.

“Why shouldn’t we?” Rory demanded in that calm, low voice of his. “That bastard’s been messing with our baby sister to hear Sissy Mae tell it.” Rory’s hazel eyes stared down into hers. “You gonna give me a reason why I shouldn’t tear him apart, Rhonda Lee?”

Ronnie cleared her throat and looked around. A few of the Pack males had wandered over, always lured by the sound of a good fight. Now they stood behind her brothers, staring at her and waiting. Unfortunately, Smitty was out with Mace. The one rational wolf among a bunch of junkyard dogs. Dammit!

“Answer me, Rhonda Lee,” Rory pushed. “Answer me or move out of my way.”

She couldn’t answer. She couldn’t. Until Rory shrugged and tried to go around her.

“I love him!”

Rory stopped, his eyes again focusing on her. Reece and Ricky Lee stepped closer, watching her but saying nothing.

“What did you say, baby sister?”

“I…I said I love him.” Ronnie’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She suddenly felt like that high school virgin she’d played with Shaw the other day. Sure, she’d told her friends and family she loved them. But she’d never said it about a male before. A male she had regular sex with. And Lord help her, but it was true.

“You sure about that, baby sister?”

“Yes. I’m sure.”

The three brothers passed glances and then pushed her back, advancing on the fighting Shaws. Apparently they didn’t care that she loved him.

“Just remember…not his face!” she called after them in a last-ditch effort to save something.

Rory reached down and grabbed the back of Shaw’s neck, yanking him up, but Shaw had his claws dug into his brother’s shoulders, so Reece grabbed Mitch, pulling him the opposite direction, and Ricky Lee went about pulling claws out of important body parts.

“Y’all need to simmer down now,” Rory warned softly. “A lot of full-humans around and they’re watching.”

Shaw closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Mitch shook his head, trying to get the hair out of his eyes. Unfortunately, he sent some blood flying in the process.

Rory grabbed Shaw by the hair and pulled his head around. He squinted into his face. “You’ll heal.”

“We should clean up this one, though.”

“Yup. Come on.”

The Reed brothers pushed the Shaw brothers ahead of them toward the elevator.

“Where the hell are you going?”

“Don’t you never mind, Ronnie Lee. We’ll send him back in one piece.”

Rory winked at her and ambled off, the rest of the Pack males following behind.

Once the elevator doors closed, Ronnie turned to Sissy Mae. “What the hell was that?”

“That, my friend, was male business.”

“Male business?”

“Yeah. Shit too stupid for a female to ever think about getting in the middle of.”

“Ahh.”

“Come on, darlin’. Let’s get you into some clothes before you freeze to death. And a nice big vat of tequila.”

“Good plan.”

But before either could take a step, Marissa Shaw exited one of the other elevators. Her gold eyes searched the lobby, and when she locked onto Ronnie, she marched right over to her.

Ronnie grimaced. “Aww, shit.” She’d really hoped her night of excitement was over. Apparently not.

“Don’t fret none, darlin’. I got your back.”

“You said that in Budapest. I still have the scars, too.”

“You are such a whiner.”

Marissa Shaw stepped in front of them, her eyes locked on Ronnie.

“Uh…hi, Marissa.”

“After a delightful fight with that idiot baby brother of mine,” she launched with absolutely no preamble, “Brendon’s phone rang. It was Missy Llewellyn.”

Ronnie frowned. “Missy?”

“Yes. Missy. Apparently her sisters had just told her about you and Brendon.” Uh-oh.

Marissa’s arms crossed in front of her chest and she braced her feet apart. The woman was definitely sturdy and powerful. A typical predator.

“Look, Marissa—”

The lioness held her hand up, silencing Ronnie. “When she asked me what was going on, I was forced to tell her about you and Brendon. About how Brendon told me he loved you and how I was almost positive he was going to mark you as his own.”

Sissy Mae opened her mouth, probably to confirm that, but Ronnie slammed her foot into the woman’s instep. Sissy’s mouth opened in a silent scream, but she kept her pain to herself.

“Maybe you should talk to Bren—”

“I had to tell her that a She-wolf would be helping to raise the Llewellyn Pride’s cubs. And that they would have little half-wolf sisters and brothers one day. Plus there was nothing she could do about it because of the contract. I also had to tell her that every Pride on the East Coast would know she lost one of her favored Breeding Males, not to some rich Pack from Boston or Connecticut but to a Smith Pack She-wolf from the backwoods of Tennessee.”

Ronnie would have probably been good and angry if tears hadn’t started to slide down Marissa’s face. Oh good Lord in heaven, she’s sobbing.

“I had to tell her all those things and I have to say that nothing, absolutely nothing, has ever made me happier.”

Ronnie blinked. “What?”

“You, my She-wolf friend, have given me hope when I only saw darkness. You’ve given me joy, when I’ve only known misery. You, Ronnie Lee Reed, have made me happier than I’ve ever been before.”

Then Marissa wrapped her arms around Ronnie and held her in a tight bear hug. Eyes wide, Ronnie looked over at Sissy who, also wide-eyed, stared right back at her.

Wow. And she thought her family was weird.

“That’s…uh…really great, Marissa.” Ronnie awkwardly patted Marissa on the back. “I’m glad I could be of help.”

“Oh, you were. I haven’t had that kind of fun since I stopped stealing cars.”

That’s when Sissy Mae covered her mouth and turned away, her shoulders shaking.

Ronnie carefully pushed Marissa off her. “I am so happy I could bring you this kind of joy.”

Marissa stood straight and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “Why don’t we get some dinner and champagne to celebrate this auspicious event of making Missy Llewellyn the most miserable bitch on the planet?”

Ronnie glanced down at Mitch’s jacket that she still wore and her bare legs peeking out from under it. “I’m not exactly dressed for most of the restaurants in the hotel.”

Slinging her arms around both Ronnie and Sissy’s shoulders, Marissa reminded them, “Hello? Own the joint. We can go into any damn restaurant we please, wearing any damn outfit we want to.” She started walking, both She-wolves trapped in her iron grip, unable to escape. “I’m in the mood for steak. How about you ladies?”

What could Ronnie say? She’d never be able to outrun a lioness. “Sure. Sounds great.”

Boy, would she make Shaw pay for this little nightmare.

How could Ronnie desert him like this? For two hours he’d been trapped with her brothers, five other wolves who he didn’t bother to learn the names of, and his idiot baby brother. Who, at this moment, stood on the balcony with Ricky Lee and howled at a nonexistent moon.

Rubbing his eyes in the hopes of stopping the unbearable pounding in his head, Brendon asked again, “Are you sure?”

“I was standing right there. I ain’t deaf.” Rory Reed forced the Mason jar back into Brendon’s hand. When he started to pass it off to another wolf, Rory gave him that glare again.

With a sigh, he took a long swig of the clear liquid and grimaced as it burned a hole in his esophagus. After a few moments, he cleared his throat and handed the jar back to Rory. “She actually said those words?”

“Yup.” Rory took a deep drink, looking completely unfazed by the amount of liquor he’d imbibed in the last two hours. “She said, ‘I love him.’”

“Did she mean it?”

“Well, she’s never said it before.”

“She’s never stopped us from putting a hurt on a male before either,” Reece Reed added. “Most of the time, she actually steers us over there. So she must like you some.”

She must like you some? Talk about vague.

The howling became louder and Brendon couldn’t stand it anymore. “Mitch! Would you stop making that annoying, goddamn sound!” The howling cut off abruptly, but now Brendon had the attention of every wolf in the room. Clearing his throat, he added, “It’s so annoying when a cat does it, don’t ya think?”

The wolves nodded and Rory held the jar out to him again.

“No, thanks. I really don’t—”

They all stared, and Brendon realized he didn’t have much of a choice. So he took the jar and gulped down more stuff he felt pretty confident could eat through titanium.

Man, he would so make Ronnie pay for this nightmare.

Chapter Sixteen

Ronnie went to knock on her brother’s door, but it already stood ajar. Kept that way by one long arm.

“Oh Lord.”

Ronnie pushed the door open and it slammed right into Ricky’s big head. She kept pushing until she could easily enter. Disgusted, she stepped over her brother and stormed into the middle of the room, staring down at all of them.

With an angry growl, she kicked Reece in the head. “Wake up!”

Still holding onto his bottle of ’shine, Reece grumbled and turned over. Then he started snoring again.

“Rory Lee Reed!”

Rory sat straight up. “What? What?”

“Where is he?”

“Um…?”

Ronnie waited for her brother to answer until she realized he’d passed out again while sitting up.

“Goddamnit.”

A toilet flushed and the bathroom door opened.

“Hey, sweetie.” Mitch walked by and gave Ronnie a friendly scratch on the head.

Well at least one of them had survived. “Are you okay?”

“I’m gonna hurt in the morning from all that liquor. But right now I feel very little pain.” Reaching down, Mitch grabbed Reece, lifted him, carried him to one of the two queen-sized beds, and carefully placed him on the mattress.

“Did you really drink Uncle Willy’s ’shine?”

“That stuff in the glass jar? Yup. Sure did. Hence the not feeling any pain.”

But he wasn’t slurring his words or walking funny or passing out midsentence. He looked sober as a judge.

“Where’s Shaw?”

“Bed, I think. He bailed when Rory dropped. And that was after those three guys over there dropped.”

“But he’s okay?”

“He’s fine. An asshole, but fine.” He flashed her a killer grin every Shaw male seemed to have, then he picked Ricky up and laid him out next to Reece.

Fascinated, Ronnie watched as Mitch did the same thing for Rory, carefully laying him on the bed. It was the nicest thing she’d ever seen a man do for another man.

Until Mitch started picking up the other wolves and placed them on top of each of the Reed boys in a lovely sixty-nine position. Thankfully they were all dressed, but she knew when her brothers woke up…

“That is wrong,” she finally gasped out, tears rolling down her face from laughing so hard.

“Yeah. I know.” Mitch grinned “But admit it. It’s so fuckin’ funny.”

Where she got an air horn from at two o’clock in the morning, he had no idea, but the damn thing blasted him right out of bed and halfway across the room.

“What in holy hell are you doing?” he roared while covering his ears. He knew they must be bleeding. He’d probably be deaf for life. Still, the crazy She-wolf he felt the need to mate with didn’t seem too concerned with the damage she may have caused.

“Mornin’, darlin’.”

Brendon glanced out his big windows facing the city. “It’s still dark out. So it’s not morning in my universe.”

“I know. You city people sure are used to being lazy and getting up when the day has just passed you by. But we have a few things to straighten out before you get to sleep.”

Uh-oh. “What kind of things?”

“First, never leave me alone with your sister again. She scares me, which isn’t easy.”

“What happened between you and—”

She hit the button on the air horn and he slammed back against the wall, his entire body shaking with rage. He’d bet hard money she got that damn thing from Timothy.

“Was I finished speaking?” she asked cheerfully. “Nope, sure wasn’t. Now where was I before I was so rudely interrupted? Oh, yes. Your sister is insane, and you’re not allowed to desert me if she’s around.”

“Fine,” he spit out. He might actually wear his teeth down into nubs at this rate. “Anything else?”

“Yeah. I want three pups, which you’ll clearly have to teach how to fight because a wolf with a mane…not a pretty idea. And our children’s misery will be all your fault.”

“Ronnie—” He quickly held his hands up when she pointed that stupid air horn at him again.

“Did I look done talkin’?”

He stared up at the ceiling, praying God would give him strength. “No.”

“Also, every once in a while, I may take off for places unknown. I will leave a note and call you regularly. I will return, but I have to feel I can leave whenever I want or I will go insane like your sister. And if I go insane I’ll make sure to take you with me.” She raised an eyebrow and again he held up his hands, letting her know the floor was still hers. “You will let me drive your cars…all of them.”

“Now wait one goddamn minute—” He slammed into the wall again, his hands over his ears. “Stop doing that!”

“Stop,” she replied calmly, “interrupting me.” She cleared her throat and continued. “You will no longer be a Breeding Male unless you’re breeding with me. You marked me, now you’re stuck with me. I don’t share cock, underwear, or toys. It’s that simple. Any female lions come sniffing around you, no one will find their remains for a very long time. You, of course, will not go sniffing around anyone else because you already know how mean I can be. Now, last, and this is most important. There will always be Oreos in the cupboard, and you will share, Brendon Shaw. With me and definitely with our children. You’ll eat first only if the rest of us aren’t in the room. Okay. Are we all clear?”

Brendon nodded and she smiled. “Good.”

He held his hand out. “Can I have that?”

“This?” She held up the air horn. “Sure.” With no effort, she snapped the cheap plastic part off the can and tossed the can to him. “You didn’t think I’d give you the thing whole, did you?”

“Doesn’t matter. I was only going to snap it in half anyway.” He tossed the can aside and stepped toward her. “Now you’re gonna say it.”

“Say what?”

“You know what.” He kept moving forward, and she started to stumble back. “You said it in front of your brothers, you can damn well say it to me.”

“Oh. That.” She rushed out of the bedroom, down the hallway, and into his living room. “I was just saying that so my brothers wouldn’t hurt you.” She stood on one side of a large couch. “I’d feel real bad if they did that.”

His eyes narrowed. “Ronnie Lee…”

“Brendon Shaw…”

He faked right and she darted left; he had her in his arms before she even got around the couch.

“Put me down!”

“Say it.”

“No.”

He flipped her over and held her by her feet. “Say it, Ronnie Lee.”

Laughing, she squealed and slapped at his legs. “No! I won’t say it. Now put me down.”

“Fine. Don’t say it.” He took hold of her ankle in one hand and slapped her ass with his free hand.

“You bastard!”

“Stop whining. You know you love it.” He slapped her again. Again she squealed.

“Stop!”

“Say it, Ronnie Lee. Say the words.”

“Pull me up first.”

“No. Say it.”

“Fine, you bastard. I love you. Happy now?”

Ronnie squealed again as Shaw flipped her back over. But before she could tell him what an asshole he was, he kissed her with so much passion, so much love, she felt her insides melt. He shoved her into one of the club chairs, yanked off her shorts, and buried his face between her spread thighs.

She cried out from the pleasure of it. Not only the pleasure he gave, but from the joy her words brought him. She didn’t realize how much it would mean to him. Or how much it would mean to her to make him so happy.

Digging her fingers into his hair, she whispered, “I love you, Shaw. I love you.”

Big gold eyes stared up at her from her lap. “Say it again,” he demanded. “Say it again.”

Typical lion…just a glutton.

“I love you.”

Suddenly his arms were around her and his mouth crushed hers. She let his passion flow from him right into her. Let him show her how much this all meant any way he wanted to.

“I love you,” he panted against her lips. “I love you, Ronnie.” He pulled her off the chair and spread her out on the floor. “I’ll always love you.”

She knew that. And for once the thought didn’t scare her at all.

Chapter Seventeen

Ronnie never knew a cat’s obsessive cleanliness could turn into such a pleasure.

Arms tight around his shoulders, legs tight around his waist, Ronnie let Shaw hammer into her. Again and again. She lost count of how many times she’d come just during this morning session, but she had a feeling this would be a regular thing. Not that she minded. A girl had to stay clean, didn’t she?

Fangs gripped the skin on her throat and another orgasm started to flash through her. “I can’t,” she begged over the running shower. “Not again.”

“You can. You will. Christ, Ronnie, you feel so good.” She exploded at his words, at the sound of desperation in his voice. And this time she made sure to clench her pussy so hard, she dragged his cat ass right along with her.

He roared against her throat and the pair of them slid to the shower floor, water pouring down on them.

Ronnie finally opened her eyes and smiled at Shaw. He had that look again. The one that used to freak her out. The one where he stared at her with such love she didn’t know quite what to do.

“I love you,” he said again. He said it a lot. She didn’t mind.

She leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you, too.”

“Can you walk?”

She chuckled. “With a little help, sure.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“What surprise?”

With great effort, Shaw stood and lifted her with him. He held onto her as he shut off the shower and stepped out into his way-too-big bathroom.

“Tell me.”

“Sure you don’t want to wait?”

“I’m sure. Tell me.”

“No.” He placed her on the bathroom counter and kissed her nose. “But I’ll tell you some of it.”

“Okay.”

She watched him walk away to grab a towel, and she started wiggling, running out of patience. “Tell me,” she whined.

“Okay. Okay.” He began drying her off with the towel. “Tonight we do the New Year’s Eve party thing. I have to go, being the host and all.”

“Yeah. Yeah.” No biggie. She already had a dress for it. She had shoes too, but Shaw made it clear he wanted her in her boots. He really loved those boots.

“Then tomorrow, on New Year’s Day—”

“Hey, bruh.”

Gritting his teeth and shielding Ronnie’s body with his own, Shaw glared at his baby brother over his shoulder. “What?”

“I need to borrow a tux if I’m going tonight.”

“Can’t you buy one?”

“Do I look made of money to you? Hello? Cop’s salary.”

“Hello? Heir to a fortune. Go downstairs and tell Timothy to hook you up. And stop just walking into our apartment.”

“Why? It’s not like Ronnie has anything I haven’t seen before.” Mitch wiggled his eyebrows at her, making her giggle.

“It’s like you want me to kill you,” Brendon seethed. She almost hated herself for enjoying his jealousy.

Mitch leaned over a bit to see her better. “Hey, sweetie, where’s my jacket?”

“Sissy Mae has it.”

Mitch frowned. “Why?”

“Because she said, ‘Ooh. Nice jacket. I’m taking it.’”

Now he looked pissed. “And you just gave it to her?”

“Alpha Female, remember? Besides, she’d snarled and snapped at me earlier. I wasn’t about to go through that again. You want your jacket back, you’re on your own, O King of the Jungle.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Mitch disappeared from the doorway and Ronnie started to tell Shaw to finish about the surprise when Mitch came charging back—all three Reed brothers on his ass.

“Come back here, you twenty-hour-sleeping bastard!”

Brendon shook his head. “I need to change that lock.”

“Won’t matter. Every wolf knows how to pick a lock, hoss.”

“Great.”

“Don’t give me that look. You wanted me. You got me. That includes my Pack. Now tell me about my surprise.” She wiggled again, and Shaw laughed.

“I can almost see your tail wagging.”

“Ha ha.”

“Okay. You and I are going on a trip tomorrow afternoon. Taking Dad’s private jet, too.”

“Cool. Wait.” She frowned. “Did you check it against the list?”

Shaw sighed. “Don’t worry. You can legally go where I’m taking you.”

“Don’t get that tone. I gave you that list so you wouldn’t get disappointed when you try to go to Singapore or Madrid or—”

“Yes. I appreciate the helpful and long spreadsheet with all the many places you can’t go.”

“Well that statement was riff with sarcasm.” She wiggled again. “Tell me where we’re going!”

“Nope. It’s a surprise. But you’re totally going to thank me when we get there.”

“You lying, conniving son of a bitch! Let me go, Brendon Shaw!” Ronnie tried to dodge past him again and he grabbed her around the waist, forcing her up the porch steps while he continued to argue with his sister long distance.

“Look, Rissa, I’ll be home in about a week,” he barked into the phone. “You should be able to manage the hotel until I get back. This isn’t brain surgery.”

“I know that but it’s been a while, Bren. And all I’m saying is a little warning before you went traipsing off with your Huckleberry Hound would have helped considerably.”

“Get over it. I’ve gotta go.” He disconnected and took firm hold of Ronnie so he could haul her over to the door.

He’d hoped she’d be too tired to put up much of a fight. The hotel party lasted until five in the morning. A great night of drinking, food, and Ronnie. He couldn’t think of a better way to bring in the New Year. After the party, Brendon took her back to their apartment and fucked her senseless for several hours, gave her only three hours to sleep, then carted her off to the airport. He got her on the plane and wouldn’t let her get any sleep by bringing up her college plans, which she still hadn’t made up her mind about, but the discussion caused a nice bit of panic that kept her wide awake.

But as soon as they got off his father’s private plane and she realized where they were, he’d been having a hell of a time keeping track of her. She tried to ditch him at the rental car place and then at a gas stop on the way. And he’d already had to chase her into the surrounding woods once. He had no desire to do it again…unless, of course, they were naked.

Before she could squirm away, he knocked on the door and the fight in his female became decidedly worse.

But as soon as the knob turned, she stopped fighting and turned to face the horror on the other side.

If he didn’t have Ronnie already in his arms, he’d have assumed she’d just opened the door…and aged a few years. Wow, he thought in surprise, she’s gonna be hot when we hit fifty.

“Rhonda Lee.” Powerful arms crossed over a Randy Travis T-shirt. “What brings you here—after all this time?”

“After all this time? I was here four weeks ago.”

“But Christmas passes and no word from you. Think that’s fair to your daddy?” With a resigned sigh, Tala Lee Evans motioned to them with a wave of her hand. “Well, y’all might as well come on in since you’re here. Your brothers got here a couple of hours ago.”

“Why are they here?” Ronnie demanded without going inside.

“You’ll have to ask them. I’m assuming they wanted to spend New Year’s Day with their parents. Unlike some other ungrateful children I could mention.”

“That’s it.” Ronnie threw her hands up. “I’m leavin’.”

Brendon caught up with her on the porch steps and had to pry her fingers off the banister.

He carried her into the house, and her mother motioned to the living room, apparently unfazed by her grown daughter having to be physically forced back into her childhood home.

“Go on in,” Tala sighed. He’d never heard a female sound so put upon before. Almost every sentence started after a deep, heartfelt sigh. Yet he didn’t get any real anger or annoyance from her. Just drama.

Tala watched Brendon carry Ronnie into the living room and place her down. Still, he had to take firm hold of her jacket before she could take off.

“So…a cat,” Tala said.

With a nod, “Yes, ma’am.” One hand still held Ronnie’s jacket while he stepped forward and extended his hand. “Brendon Shaw.”

Tala stared at his hand and, with that dramatic sigh, “Want some coffee and sweet rolls, Brendon Shaw?”

“That would be great, ma’am.” He briefly wondered if she’d always call him by his full name.

“Well then, you may as well sit down for a spell.” She glanced at Ronnie. “Your brothers are in the barn. They’ll be back soon.” She raised an eyebrow at her daughter and walked out without another word.

“What was that about?”

Ronnie slapped Brendon’s hand off her jacket. “My momma thinks I’m going to have sex with you in her pristine living room.”

He wouldn’t exactly call Tala Evans’s living room pristine. More like tidy and comfortable. But just this morning he’d begun to notice that Ronnie’s clothes seemed to find permanent spots on the bedroom floor. He had a feeling his female was a messy gal, so she probably did think her mother’s house was pristine.

“Aren’t we going to have sex in her pristine living room?”

“Yes,” she snapped in exasperation. “But she shouldn’t assume we will. My own momma thinks I’m a whore.”

“Only with me.”

When she glared at him, he wandered away to look at the pictures of Ronnie and her brothers from birth until now. They filled the small room, proving just what Brendon had been thinking. They may argue from sunup until sundown, but clearly Tala loved her children. Even Ronnie. He guessed especially Ronnie.

“I can’t believe you tricked me into coming here,” she grouched, her arms crossed over her chest.

“I didn’t trick you,” he drawled, and smiled down at a picture of Ronnie as a howling pup. “Tricking you is putting you in the car, driving you five miles from home, and releasing you in a field. Which would be very wrong.” He barely ducked her fist and laughed as he pulled her into his arms.

“I wanted to meet your family, Ronnie, and waiting until one of them died—which was your suggestion—is unacceptable.”

She growled and pouted but rested her head against his chest and her arms around his waist. “You owe me for this, Shaw.”

“I owe you for a lot, sexy.” He kissed the top of her head and then her cheek. She went up on her toes and touched her lips to his. That was all it took. Her fingers tangled in his hair, moans easing up the back of her throat while Brendon pulled her tight against his body, holding onto her the way he planned to hold onto her for the rest of his life.

She reached down with one hand and gripped his cock through his jeans, making him instantly hard and ready. Her nipples were hard under her sweater, and he was mere seconds from pushing her onto the couch and fucking the living—

“Rhonda Lee Reed!” The snarled words slammed across the room, startling the two away from each other. “I know I don’t have to tell you that you will not be having sex with that boy in my living room.”

Suddenly Brendon felt like a horny fifteen-year-old caught on his girlfriend’s couch. He even had to turn away for a bit to get his cock back under control.

“And let me tell you something else”—Tala slammed down a tray with two cups of coffee and freshly made sweet rolls—“y’all are sleeping in separate rooms.”

Ronnie gasped in outrage. “What? I’m not sixteen, Momma. You can’t—”

“Oh yes I can, little girl. This is my house. Will be until they bury my bony ass in the backyard. Until then, I will not have your poor father hearing the two of you having…relations. Understand me, Ronnie Lee?”

Giving a dramatic sigh of her own, Ronnie turned away and stared out the window. Nothing like a Reed female standoff.

So Brendon answered for them both. “We understand, ma’am.”

Those dark hazel eyes, so much like Ronnie’s, looked Brendon over. “At least the cat’s got some damn sense,” she muttered. “Now when your daddy gets back from his still, Ronnie Lee, y’all better have more control than what I just witnessed.”

Tala walked back into the hallway but stopped and turned toward Brendon. Uh-oh. “Ham do you for dinner tonight, Brendon Shaw?”

Startled she asked, and realizing he was being invited to dinner among wolves, Brendon quickly answered, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Gotta have pork on New Year’s Day. It’s good luck. I’m even making my famous redeye gravy and biscuits. You’ll like it.” The “or else” definitely implied.

“Sounds wonderful, ma’am.”

She grunted and headed back to her kitchen.

Ronnie turned away from the window and punched his arm. “You suck up!”

He pushed her back. “Shit starter.”

They glared at each other for a moment, then the two of them grabbed hold of available body parts, viciously tickling while tripping their way over to the couch. They barely controlled their laughter, made worse by the fact that they didn’t want Ronnie’s mother, who had wolf hearing no less, to catch on to their wrestling. Or, as Ronnie liked to call it, “tusslin’.”

Suddenly the weeklong vacation in Tennessee seemed way too long with the idea of separate rooms, and at the same time Brendon couldn’t think of anyone he’d rather sneak around with, trying to cop a feel.

The one thing he could say about his Ronnie Lee, she made nearly anything fun.

The front door opened, and he and Ronnie scrambled to separate corners of the couch.

A large, unfriendly hulk of a wolf stopped in front of the living room and stared at them.

“Hey, Daddy!” Ronnie jumped up and ran to her father, throwing her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek and the old man hugged her back. But those wolf eyes stayed locked on Brendon.

“I missed you, Daddy.”

“I missed you, too, little pup,” Clifton Reed said gruffly. “Who’s this?”

Ronnie walked back to Brendon’s side as he stood up to face the man who had hurt a lot of males he felt weren’t worthy of his daughter.

“Daddy, this is Brendon Shaw. My mate. Brendon, this is my daddy. Clifton Reed.”

“Mr. Reed.” Brendon stepped forward and shook the old wolf’s hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

The old man grunted. “Boy.” He looked back at Ronnie. “Your brothers are bringing in wood for a fire. Looks like it might snow. Where’s your momma?”

Ronnie sighed good-naturedly. “Where she is every day at this time for the last thirty-five years y’all have been mated. She’s in the kitchen.”

“That’s all that needed to be said, little pup.” With another grunt in Brendon’s direction, the wolf walked off.

Ronnie beamed up at him. “He likes you,” she whispered.

Brendon frowned. “Likes me? The man grunted at me. Twice.”

“You’re still breathing, aren’t you?” Brendon didn’t even know how to respond to that, which Ronnie took as agreement. “Exactly.”

The front door opened again, and heavy footsteps could be heard as Ronnie’s brothers marched in the room, their arms filled with either wood or Mason jars filled with that paint thinner they tried to pass off as liquor.

Rory stopped first, staring at the pair. “What y’all doing here?”

“He tricked me,” Ronnie said simply.

“You decided to get involved with a cat.” Rory dropped a pile of wood by the fireplace. “What exactly did you expect?”

Ricky Lee took off his heavy winter jacket and carelessly tossed it onto a chair.

“Don’t you leave that coat lying around, Ricky Lee,” his mother yelled from the kitchen.

“How does she do that?” he demanded while snatching the coat back up and taking it to the hall closet.

Ronnie opened her mouth to reply and Rory cut her off without even looking at her, “And don’t say Satan, Rhonda Lee. It wasn’t funny twenty years ago, it’s less so now.”

“Are you guys staying with Smitty’s Pack?” Brendon asked as he walked around the room, taking everything in. Enjoying this side of family life he’d never experienced before, but might now that he had both Marissa and Mitch admitting blood connections.

“Yup. Already talked to Daddy. He knows it’s for the best.”

“Besides,” Reece added, his big fingers affectionately scratching Ronnie’s head as he passed her to help himself to the entire plate of sweet rolls, “he likes the idea of us keeping an eye out for this little monster.”

“I don’t need y’all watching out for me.”

“Is that right?” The big grin on Rory’s face had Brendon’s eyes narrowing. Crouching by the fireplace, Ronnie’s brother looked back at Brendon. “Rhonda Lee ever tell you how she and Sissy Mae made money while traveling the world?”

“No. How did she—”

“Hookin’,” Ronnie Lee tossed in desperately. “I was a prostitute. A damn good one too.”

“Stop lyin’, Rhonda Lee,” her mother called from the kitchen. “I doubt you were good at all.”

Brendon grabbed hold of Ronnie before she could go after her mother.

“She was not a prostitute,” Ricky Lee said, scooting by Ronnie but not before flicking her forehead with his middle finger.

“Try illegal racing,” Rory said, and his grin grew.

Brendon blinked. “What?”

“You heard me, hoss.”

“Her and Sissy Mae,” Ricky Lee added.

“Sissy Mae would set ’em up and Ronnie Lee would knock ’em down.” Reece laughed. “They still sell her T-shirts in Japan and Korea.”

Her face red with embarrassment, Ronnie Lee walked away from them all and threw herself into one of the plush recliners.

“What was their motto again, Ricky Lee?” Rory asked, his hands held in front of a now-roaring fire in the fireplace.

“A rich boy and his money will soon be parted.”

“That’s right. Sissy Mae would find some rich boy with no sense and a hot car. Challenge him to a race, and the brain surgeon over there would race him. By the time they were done with him, they’d have the winnings, the poor sap’s car, and sometimes real estate.”

“Which they’d sell and invest. Sissy Mae can turn a dime into ten thousand dollars in an hour.”

“That She-wolf does have a gift.”

“I don’t want to discuss this anymore,” Ronnie snarled.

Nodding, Rory stood up. “She’s right. Might as well save the really good info for tonight’s dinner.”

The three brothers headed for the hallway, but Rory stopped and asked, “How did you two get here so fast anyway?”

“Took his daddy’s jet.”

“Hey!” Ricky cheered. “Did you hear that, boys? We’re taking a jet back to New York City.”

“Who the hell invited you?” Ronnie practically yelled.

“Ronnie Lee, you can’t expect us to go coach now that you’ve snagged yourself a rich boyfriend.”

Ronnie flashed her fangs at Ricky and Rory stepped between them. Staring down at his sister, he said, “Be nice, Rhonda Lee, or I’ll have to tell Momma how the barn burned down that time.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You swore you’d never tell.”

Her brother snorted and winked at Brendon. “Rory Lee Reed in a jet. Has a nice ring to it, don’t it?”

Laughing, the three brothers walked out, and by the time Brendon turned back to Ronnie, she already had one of the windows open and was halfway out of it.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed her, dragging her back into the house.

She struggled in his arms. “I won’t stay!”

Brendon spun her around and kissed her. Within seconds, they were practically tearing each other’s clothes off.

“Rhonda Lee!” her mother bellowed from the kitchen. “Get that ass in here right now, little miss!”

Startled, the couple jumped apart.

Ronnie pulled her shirt back down while Brendon adjusted the front of his jeans.

“What is it, Momma?” Ronnie Lee called out, somehow keeping her panting under control.

“Y’all come into this kitchen and keep me company while your daddy and the boys hunt down that boar for dinner.”

Like a teenager, Ronnie rolled her eyes. “But—”

“Now, Ronnie Lee.”

“Fine!”

Stamping her foot, Ronnie started to storm off, but Brendon grabbed her arm, pulling her back a bit.

“Don’t start a fight, Ronnie.”

“Me? She started it—”

“Ronnie.”

“Fine. You wanna side with her, go ahead. Hope you enjoy sleeping alone tonight, hoss.”

She turned and started to storm off again when Brendon said to her retreating form, “I packed the skirt.”

Ronnie froze in the doorway, her body tense, fingers gripping the door frame. After several moments, Ronnie turned and whispered, “Keep it down, Brendon Shaw. If my momma finds out what we did on your parents’ couch she’ll skin me alive.”

Flowing right into their little game, Brendon moved in front of her and placed his hands on the archway, his arms and body leaning over Ronnie Lee. If he remembered correctly, he did the same thing to her at the hospital. It was a signature Shaw move he often used in high school. “I promised I wouldn’t tell and I won’t. But I need to see you tonight.”

“I…I can’t. I have a calculus test next week.”

“Meet me, Ronnie.” He leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her forehead. “Promise you’ll meet me.”

“Where?”

“My car. Tonight.”

She swallowed. “Your car?”

“Yeah. I wanna see if those boots look as good against the inside roof of my car as they do against this floor.”

Ronnie looked honestly surprised for several moments before a beautiful grin spread across her face. She shook her head and instantly went back to their game. “Are we gonna do what we did…before?”

“Did you like what we did before?”

Looking appropriately embarrassed and turned on at the same time, she nodded. “I…I did.”

“Then, yes. We’ll do what we did before. As many times as you want.”

“Rhonda Lee Reed. Get your ass in here now!”

Her grin returned. “Coming, Momma,” she called back. She looked at Brendon, sizing him up. “At least I better be. Tonight. In that car.”

Brendon laughed. “That I definitely promise.” He brushed a finger across her cheek. “Love you, Ronnie Lee.”

She went up on her toes and kissed his lips. “I love you, too. Now,” she grabbed his hand with her own, intertwining their fingers, “let’s go have some fun molesting each other when my family ain’t lookin’.”

Grinning, Brendon let Ronnie lead him to the warm Evans-Reed family kitchen. “Rhonda Lee Reed, I absolutely love how you think.”