Winter's Dawn (31 page)

“Sure, John, we should go hunting.” Adam took another long drink. “I don’t really need to hunt right now, but I always enjoy it. Deer meat is good all month long. It’s my favorite. I have no taste for rabbit.”

Max was busy finishing the rest of this shots and he gestured for Susie to intervene, which she did, speaking his thoughts out loud. “Adam, John doesn’t hunt like you do,” she said slowly. “Remember?”

Adam studied John, his brows furrowed. “Right.” He nodded and then frowned. “Why hasn’t he dropped yet?”

“I suppose the two years of college have built up his immunity.” Max refilled the glasses in front of him and then leaned over to fill up John’s. “I’m bored with this game. Let’s end it.”

“You’re wearing down,” John said. “It’s okay to quit. I won’t make you pay the fifteen hundred bucks you’d owe me. No one can drink me six to one. That was an unfair bet.”

“If I were to lose, I would pay you fifteen hundred just for the novelty of getting drunk so easily. But, that’s unlikely, so I’m going to help you out.”

Max took his pills out of his pocket and dumped a couple into his hand. He took them with the first shot, no longer wincing over the burn, because his mouth had long since gone numb.

“What were those?” John asked in concern.

“They steady my heart rate.”

Susie grinned. “That was pretty creative, Max.”

“Yes, thank you.” Max took one more shot and then pointed to John’s glass. “Drink up, college man, because I feel like being fifteen hundred dollars richer.”

John appeared hesitant as he eyed Max and then Adam. “Something fishy is going on.”

“She really isn’t toying with him for his intellect, is she?” Adam observed, before he tilted his head to eye the glass in front of John. “Maxwell, this puppy will never be able to have another drink. You’ve already won.”

John picked up the glass and swallowed the contents in one big gulp. He set it back on the table with a thump and pointed. “Okay, Max, game on. We’re finishing it.”

Adam shook his head. “So easy.”

“Max, why are you doing this?” Susie asked, before she held out her glass to him. “Is this some sort of revenge?”

Max refilled her glass. “No, this is me trying to knock the two of them out. Come on, Adam, have another.”

Adam held his glass out gratefully, smiling at Max. “You don’t have to knock me out, mate. You two can do whatever you want and I’m fine with it.”

“I’m sure.”

Max set down the now empty bottle and stared at John, who wasn’t paying attention to either Adam or Max, instead he was staring at Susie with the same puppy-like adoration that shined in his eyes all night. He missed half of everything Adam said because Susie was near and distracting to him.

A low growl rumbled from the center of Max’s chest before he could stop it. “Revenge is just the bonus. Adam, grab another bottle.”

Adam laughed and got up, while Max started working on the six shots in front of him.

Susie shook her head at him. “This isn’t nice, Maxwell, it really isn’t.”

“Sometimes I’m not nice,” he offered as he gestured to John’s glass. “I’m waiting. You’re letting a business man put a frat boy like you to shame.”

John tossed back the glass of whiskey, looking slightly green. “I’m going to win this bet.”

****

“What should I buy with my thousand dollars?” Max asked Susie as he carried John up the narrow staircase of Susie’s townhome. “I’ll get you something, anything, name it and it’s yours.”

“Get me a boyfriend who’s not unconscious.” Susie turned around on the staircase to arch an eyebrow at Max. “If he starts throwing up I am going to be so upset at you.”

“Nah, he’s fine,” Max said as he reached the top of the stairs and hefted John higher in his arms to avoid knocking his head against the wall, no matter how tempting. “But, I have to give him credit, he’s not a quitter. I think I’m mildly buzzed.”

“He’s sweet.” Susie opened the door to one of the guest bedrooms. “He was so happy you were coming down. He loves you.”

“Wish I could say the same,” Max said as Susie pulled back the comforter on the bed. He dropped John unceremoniously on the bed and growled under his breath when Susie started undoing his shoes. “He can sleep in the rest.”

Susie glanced up with scowl. “No one likes to sleep in their clothes.”

“He’s human,” Max said distractedly. “They love it.”

“Like you know. I’m getting him out of his shirt. Go downstairs if you can’t handle it.”

Max took her up on the offer and left her there working on John’s shoes. When he got back downstairs he found Adam sleeping on the floor next to the coffee table. He had been semi-conscious moments earlier, but not anymore. He was completely out.

Max grabbed the bottle of whiskey they had been working on and fell back against the couch. He kicked off his shoes and then rested his sock covered feet on Adam. Susie found him like that, comfortable and sprawled out, feeling relaxed from the tranquilizers and liquor.

He gave her a lazy smile when she gasped. “Maxwell, what are you doing?”

“Trying out your future red fur rug.” Max rubbed one large foot over Adam’s back. “It’s nice.”

Susie stared in horror at the red wolf curled up on her living room floor. “Why did he change forms?”

“Because he’s sleeping on the floor.” Max snorted, thinking it was obvious. “I would have done the same. A floor is much more comfortable in wolf form. Fur makes nice padding.”

Susie shook her head and sat down next to Max. She stretched out her feet and rested them next to Max’s on Adam’s back, caressing his red fur softly with the bottom of her foot.

“It is nice.” She giggled. “Gods, he is drunk. He would die if he knew we were using him for a foot rest.”

“I’m telling him tomorrow.” Max took a long drink and then laughed, nearly choking over the burn. “I’m telling him lots of things tomorrow.”

“You’ve got to wake him up and put him in bed. John can’t wake up and find a sleeping wolf in my living room.”

“Did you clear his memory?”

“Of all the important stuff, yes—He’ll be none the wiser.”

“It won’t work with him here.” Max gave her a pained look. “Especially as we get closer to the full moon. My nobility only goes so far.”

Susie let her head fall to his shoulder. She squeezed his biceps comfortingly. “We’ll figure something out.”

“Put your feet up.”

Max waited until Susie did as told, curling her feet under her on the couch. He pushed his foot against Adam’s ribs. When he didn’t stir, Max kicked him lightly and then jerked back when Adam snapped at him. His hackles were raised, his teeth gleaming white and deadly in the dim light of the room. Adam lifted tired, amber colored eyes to Max and Susie on the couch, growled once more and then dropped his head onto his paws and fell back to sleep.

Max snorted. “He’s staying where he is. There is something to be said for letting sleeping dogs lie.”

“But, John?”

“Tell him you got a new pet because I’ll hurt Adam if he bites me. Getting a wolf bite in human form is not fun.”

“Then change forms,” Susie suggested as she looked down at Adam in annoyance.

Max gave her another lazy smile. “You want to use me for a foot rest?”

“Yes, that’s it.” Susie cautiously lowered her foot to Adam’s back and trailed it over his red fur. “Your fur is softer than his.”

“All the better for you to pet.” Max’s smile grew broader. “You want to pet me, Your Highness?”

Susie let out a snort of laugher. “Gods, you’re drunk.”

He took another long drink. “Just a bit. The tranquilizers help. I feel like a lush taking them this early in the cycle.”

“Why did you?” Susie asked. “You usually don’t start taking them until the week of the full moon.”

Max shrugged. “I didn’t like him looking at you like he owned you. I wanted to hurt him.”

“You
did
hurt him,” Susie reminded him. “He is going to be so ill tomorrow.”

“Good.” Max tilted his head to study Susie in her conservative cashmere sweater and tailored black pants. His gaze lingered on her breasts, which were full, much bigger than Serena’s now. “You want to get naked?”

“Yeah, sure.” Susie laughed as Max stood and held his hand out to her. She took it and then stepped around Adam. “I hate to leave him on the floor.”

Max waved off her concern. “He wishes every day was a running day and that’s how he sleeps during the running. He’s probably having nice, dirty dreams about sweet Danielle as we speak.”

“Fine, we’ll let the sleeping dog lie.”

It was an odd feeling, as if he and Susie were breaking the rules while they undressed in her simple bathroom. Her tub was too small for Max and he wondered why they hadn’t considered that when they bought the place. They settled for a shower. Their naked bodies were pressed close as they tried to make room with Max’s large frame filling up the narrow stall that was only made for one person.

It was a rush.

If they hadn’t been so far from the full moon Max would have lost his head because he and Susie had never had this feeling of the forbidden. Everyone wanted them to mate. It had been beaten into their heads since they were born and too young to understand what was really being expected of them. But, now, with John in the other room, they were doing something dark and forbidden by showering together. Max had slept at her townhome many times, but never with John there.

“Here.” Max wrapped his hands around Susie’s bare waist and turned her around to face the wall. He pressed against her and buried his face into the curve of her neck. “Put your hands on the wall.”

Susie laughed. “Why?”

“To make room.” He bit lightly at her wet skin and then hummed in pleasure at the taste of her. “You need a bigger bathroom.”

“You’re a liar.” Susie tilted her head to the side to give him better access. She placed her hands on the wall as requested, surprising him. “You want to be a naughty wolf.”

“Yes, I do,” he admitted as he licked at her neck once more, savoring her, and wishing he could bite hard enough to draw blood. “I want you to remember what it’s like to have a real wolf worship you when you are playing with that puppy.”

“Gods, Max.” Susie moaned and tossed her head back against his shoulder when he licked and nipped at her shoulder. “This will never work once I go into heat.”

Max pulled back to frown down at her. “What won’t work?”

“John.” She looked up at him with dazed, icy eyes before she closed them heavily. “I’ll have to have you, I know it. Gods, I think I’m in heat now.”

“You aren’t.” He groaned from the feel of her, all smooth wet skin rubbing against him. That mixed with the cold water beating against his bare back had the lust thumping through his system hard enough to wash away the booze and tranquilizers. “I’d notice you if you were. I bet you’ll smell heavenly. You’re going to have to be states away from me when it happens.”

“Maybe I should come home,” Susie said thoughtfully as Max wrapped his arms around her middle, holding her against him despite the blatant evidence of his desire. “This is not fair to John and I’ll never get to finish college. We aren’t going to last.”

“Oh, come on.” Max leaned down again and started placing small, chaste kisses against the curve of her neck and over her bare shoulder. “We can last a few more years. I want you to finish college, even if you have to be with that puppy.”

Susie sighed and turned in his arms. She leaned back against the wall as she raised her gaze to his. The tortured look on her face made the wolf in him tense with defensiveness.

“I erase his memory all the time, Max,” she whispered, sounding miserable. “I feel so guilty.”

“Why?” Max asked, frowning at her in concern. “You know how to act human. What are you erasing?”

“I keep calling him Max,” she admitted and covered her face with her hands. “And every time, the look on his face. Gods—”

Max couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of him. “That has to be priceless. Calling out your cousin’s name likely shocks him straight. It’s probably why he isn’t getting any.”

Susie laughed with him, though it was a pained and miserable. “I care for John. He’s such a sweet man. I wish I could love him, but—”

Max sobered as he trailed a hand up from curve of her hip, over the flat plain of her stomach and then to the valley between her breasts. Finally he wrapped his large palm around the back of her neck. He pulled her close so that her cheek was resting against the hard muscles of his bare chest.

“I know how you feel,” he admitted, staring at the small tiles of the shower wall in front of him. “Playing alpha games with betas and humans is not nice, but what can we do, Sue?”

She sighed, her breath warm against his skin. “I don’t know. I really don’t. I just wanted to be normal. To have a boyfriend to go to dances with and a date for the movies on Saturday night, maybe someone to kiss in the car when he drops me off, but it’s not working.”

“We aren’t normal.” Max shook his head in disgust at the cruel irony of nature that was forcing them to hurt others. “We will never be normal.”