Alpha Call (8 page)

“I can’t come back in right now, Shane. I can’t.” Her left
arm was broken, she couldn’t lift her piece and she sure as shit couldn’t take
it to a hospital. “Just…”

“Just what, Wendy? Cover for you? What the fuck is going on?
Your house is trashed, you haven’t been back in town…”

“I know. I know.” How could she explain all this to someone
who thought they knew everything about her, but didn’t have a clue? Someone who
spent twelve hours a day with her.

“What the fuck are you doing up there,
amica
?”

“Nothing. Nothing, I’m heading back in. Today. I’ll call in
a few hours. Gotta deal with shit.” She rolled out of Brett’s bed, looking for
a shirt that she could borrow, that would hide her arm.

Brett appeared just as if she’d summoned him, big and wet
from the shower, bare-chested and glorious. He grabbed the phone from her,
giving her a growl.

She snarled back. “I need a shirt. I’ll call you, man.”

“You’re not going in, baby.”

“I need to borrow a shirt.” She had to go. She had a job, a
house. She wasn’t pack yet, no matter what her heart was saying. “I’ll be back
on my next days off. My partner’s pissed.”

“I’ll call him.” He still had her phone in his hand.
“Believe me, I can get through to him.”

“He doesn’t know about us. About me. I can’t…” She stopped,
made herself focus and calm, then breathed in and continued. “I need to borrow
a shirt to hide this arm.”

“Baby, he doesn’t need to know. If he’s been on the force
here any length of time, though, I bet he knows more than you think. We’re a
big pack, and there are the kitties, the witches, the demon hunters…”

“Demon hunters. Great.” She shook her head, her hair pulling
and tangled, the bandages on her shoulder irritating the fuck out of her.
Everything hurt and she wanted a bath. “A shirt?”

“After we have a bath, huh? I know you love baths.” He was
being soothing. She wanted to smack him.

“I told Shane I was coming into town.”

He touched her shoulder. “Just let me get your hair cleaned.
Let me check the bandages.”

“You’re trying to distract me. I’m not distractible.”

“No?”

“Don’t smile at me.” When had they made it to the bathroom?

“Why not?” He eased her down, stroking her hair.

“Because.” There was a seat in his shower and the water
started, warm and gentle, pouring over her. “I was trying to get dressed,
Brett.”

“But you don’t need to, baby. It’s been a rough couple of
days.” So reasonable. And his hands were so warm and good on her skin. He
slowly wet her hair, the scent of the shampoo light and good, the feel of his
fingers made her eyes cross. “You’ve got the prettiest hair, baby. So heavy and
soft.”

“You don’t have to treat me like a girl. I’m tough. I know
it.” Still, his words made her preen a little.

“You are.” That little smile pushed his lips into an amazing
shape, one she wanted to kiss. “You’re a stud. I still want to pamper you
some.”

She gave into the urge, brushed his lips with hers, the jolt
of electricity between them making everything better.

“Mmm.” He eased away just long enough to rinse her hair.
Then he was on her, kissing her hard enough to steal her breath.

She moaned, gasping into his lips, her good arm wrapping
around his shoulders. He was so solid, so hard against her and Wendy wanted to
stay with him, let him hold her indefinitely.

“I can’t. You make me want.” He made her want things that
she’d left behind.

“That’s not a bad thing, baby. I want things too. I want you
as my mate. That’s a big damn job. We have a huge pack.” He was so damn
serious. As if he meant it. He wanted her as his partner. She could tell.

“I’m a cop. Someone’s going to notice if I start wolfing
out.” She stole another kiss, then another, wondering at how he managed to hold
her and never hurt her arm.

“Yeah. Yeah, we’ll talk about that, huh?”

“When I get back…” Her head fell back and he nuzzled her
throat, making her toes curl.

“Uh-huh. God, I want you.” His body burned against hers, so
warm, the crisp hair on his chest and thighs making her skin tingle.

“You make me feel good.” The man was an addiction and she
needed him. Every touch made her feel stronger.

“That’s what I’m supposed to do.” He was such a confident
asshole. She liked that about him too. She liked it even more when his hand
slid up under her breast.

“Touch me.” She leaned back, letting him hold her up,
letting their hips roll together.

He did what she asked, his hand squeezing, his fingers
sliding up to pull at her nipple. She could blame him for making her late
later. That little aching tug was perfect. He knew it too, the way he grinned
and did it again. Smug man.

She rumbled, the little sounds he responded with deep enough
to make her dizzy. His chest vibrated against her ribs, his lips on her throat.
The touch should make her furious, wild, and it just made her melt a bit. Hell,
it made Wendy tilt her head back and give him more access. He took full
advantage too, nipping at her, almost hard enough to leave a mark.

She swallowed, then let herself relax. He was hers; she
could wear his marks.

Maybe she ought to think about him wearing hers too.

Wendy groaned, pushing him back against the tile. Her turn.

He laughed, eyes dark with need. “What’s up, baby?”

“You’re mine.” Careful of her arm, she pushed closer. “Mine,
Brett.”

“I am. What are you gonna do about it?” He seemed easier in
his skin now that she’d admitted to them being mates.

She bit his chin, his jaw, then his throat, growling softly
as she tested him.

Brett took it well, his muscles bunching up when she nipped
his Adam’s apple. He didn’t roll her back under him until she tried to bite
down hard.

The tile was cold on her back and she fastened her lips to the
join of throat and shoulder, pulling hard, making him feel it.

Moaning for her, he slid between her thighs, his legs hard
and fuzzy. The pressure was perfect. She let her teeth scrape, teasing her wolf
as she rocked closer. Her arm was protected by his body, Brett careful, even as
they touched.

“Toothy woman.” He nipped under her ear, lips soothing the
sting. They were exploring now, having fun.

“Making sure the others know you’re mine.”

“Oh, I am, baby. Heart and soul.” His cock pushed at her
center, demanding.

She hummed as she let him in, the motion easy, smooth, as
though he was coming home. He fit inside her without any room to spare, just
enough to move, to slide.

“Good.” Her lips slipped over his jaw, tugging the soft
beard.

“Come on, love. Faster.” He urged her on, his kisses tiny
little explosions at the base of her skull.

“Uh-huh.” Her back slid on the tile, her cries echoing. He
never once let her arm smack against anything. If she hadn’t loved him before…

God, she was in so deep. Or rather, he was, but she meant in
love.

Her eyes met his and the connection burned. Her mate. Her
Brett. Her own.

He growled, his teeth clenching, and thrust inside her one
more time. Then he was coming for her, hot and wet inside her.

She still moved, restless, but then his fingers found her
clit, worked it, making her tighten,

“Want you, baby. Now. Come on my cock.”

Wendy moaned, teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she gave
it up, her orgasm shaking her.

“Oh.” The sound shivered through her, his body still bucking
a little.

She nodded, all baby headed and goofy with pleasure and
suddenly, overwhelmingly exhausted.

“My girl.” Strong and steady, he picked her up and dried her
off before hauling her back to the bedroom.

“I told him I’d come in.”

They settled into the blankets and he curled around her,
soft sounds soothing her, encouraging her eyes to close.

“One day you’ll have to deal with me instead of loving me
into mush.” She wasn’t even sure she’d said that out loud.

“One day, maybe when we’re very old.” He smoothed her hair.

“Mmhmm.” Such an asshole. Wendy tried to think, but sleep
was right there, stealing her good sense.

His fingers petted her belly and suddenly she was dreaming,
running under the moon.

Work would just have to wait. This pack thing was still too new
to worry about anything else.

* * * * *

Man, Wendy was stubborn.

Brett grabbed her cell once she was asleep and headed
downstairs. Time to talk to her partner.

He hit Shane’s number and the man picked up immediately.
“Wends? Where the hell are you?”

“Shane? Officer Fiorelli? This is Brett. I think we met the
other day?”

“The lumberjack she’s got a thing for? Hey. Why the fuck do
you have my partner’s phone?”

“Because that psycho got ahold of her just long enough to
tear her up a bit. She’s too stubborn to admit it, but she needs to rest.”

“She found him? She fucking found him? Where is he?” The
words slowed, the odd accent proving that the Fiorelli family was new to
Colorado. “Tell me she didn’t kill him.”

“He’s gone. No need to worry about him. I made sure he left
town.” That was true, as it went. Brett had made sure the carcass was out of
his pack lands.

“Yeah. That doesn’t sound suspicious. Let me talk to her.”

“She’s asleep. Look, who’s your lieutenant? Avery?”

“Yeah? Why?”

“Talk to him. Tell him Brett McMillan called. He’ll
understand.”

“She’s really okay, though?” The man’s concern made him
smile. They’d have to have him up, feed him. Brett loved Italians.

“She’s fine. Just not ready to chase bad guys. She wants to
talk with you and all. You should come up to my cabin. Maybe tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow. After I talk to Avery.”

Avery was a good guy, in the know and would have Wendy’s
back. There was no way, in a pack as big as his, that you didn’t have friends
in relatively high places in human society. Avery was a good cop and a better
dragonkin. The man could drink like nothing going.

Of course, finding out about Avery would piss Wendy right
the hell off. He’d wait to tell her for a while. God knew there was enough to
keep her busy. She had a whole pack to get to know and it would take some doing
to establish her place with some of the more…hopeful females. Steph could help,
as Jordan and Shaw were climbing the ladder.

Hell, Wendy was a stud. There wasn’t any female here who
could take her. He just knew she had issues with pack…

A sharp knock came at the front door seconds before it
opened, his sister appearing as if thinking of pack and women and trouble had
called her. “So? Where is she?”

“Hey. Good to see you too, Kayla.” He raised a brow,
crossing his arms over his chest.

“Lovely. Where is she? I want to meet her.”

“Can I put some clothes on?” He grinned, knowing she would
just laugh.

“Like I haven’t seen your pecker.”

“Well, you won’t be seeing it again.” Wendy’s voice cut
across, clear, sure, and the sound made his belly jerk.

Damn, woman.

“I would rather she hadn’t seen it before now.” Brett
stepped back to let Kayla in. “Wendy, my baby sister, Kayla. Kay-Kay, this is
Wendy.”

“Kayla.” Wendy was wearing his favorite red sweater and a
pair of his soft shorts. God, that was… Damn. She held one hand out to Kayla.
“It’s good to meet you.”

Kayla shook her hand. “Did he set the arm?”

“Yeah. Is Stephanie okay?”

“Shocky, frightened. The boys have her.”

“Well, as long as she’s okay.”

Brett watched his two favorite women in the world size each
other up. It was a little hilarious.

“She’ll be fine. She likes you.”

Wendy nodded. “She’s a good friend, a little witchy, but
good.”

Kayla chuckled, nodded. “You’ve got amazing hair. Are there
any more terrifying fuckers coming to bother you?”

“Probably. I’m a cop. I’ve put a lot of terrifying fuckers
away.”

“Well, I can see I can leave you two to make coffee while I
get dressed.” Women. Brett rolled his eyes and headed upstairs, noticing that
Wendy stared. Hard.

He liked that. He liked it a lot, knowing he had her
attention.

Brett chuckled, leaning against the wall once he got out of
sight and giving his cock a few lazy pulls. Just because it needed them. She
got to him so fast.

“You’re staying?” Kayla was nothing but direct.

“He’s mine. I’m keeping him.”

Well, well. That was sure. He grinned, thumping his cock
down before going to get dressed. Damn, that was a fine thing to hear.

His jeans were mostly on when he heard her feet on the
stairs. “Your sister said she wanted to bring food later.”

Her breasts pressed against his back, the warm, soft flesh
enough to make him moan.

“Yeah? How much later?”

“Tonight.” She nuzzled his shoulder. “I should probably do
something more useful than borrow your clothes.”

“I called in for you.” She could be pissed if she wanted, as
long as she kept touching him.

“Called in?” Her hand wrapped around his belly, fingers
tugging the hair at his bellybutton just enough to sting.

“Uh-huh. As in called in sick.” His hips rolled and he
shoved the jeans back down.

“Horndog.” Her fingers wrapped around his cock, thumb
working the heavy vein along the shaft. “Cops don’t call in sick.”

“You did.” He groaned. Christ that felt good. “Need you.”

“We just got off.” Her hips rolled against his ass and her
thumb traced the slit in the tip of his prick.

“Uh-huh. When you look at me the way you did when Kayla came
in…” Yeah. It made him want to howl. Loud.

“No other women. You’re mine now. Mine.” Her teeth found his
shoulder.

“I am. What are you gonna do with me?” There was a serious
satisfaction in a woman who could keep up with him.