Shifting Michelle's Boundaries (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (11 page)

As they headed up to the door of the house, Stefan appeared in the doorway. He flashed them both a quick smile, then held the door open. As soon as Craig set foot in the house, he smelled blood.

“What happened?”

Stefan gestured to the living room. “Tate got in a fight with a few of this new crew.”

“And I fucking won,” came the boss’s voice from around the corner.

Craig and Jack stepped into the room to find Tate sitting in an armchair with a sewing needle between his lips. A long thread led down to a wide slash on his forearm that he was in the process of stitching together. While they watched, he pulled the thread tight and then took the needle from his mouth to start another stitch.

Jack folded his arms over his chest. “See, you get us all worried that it’s something serious, and we come in to find you’re just practicing your cross-stitch.”

Tate snorted and yanked another stitch tight. “Stefan hates it when I bleed on the furniture.”

“No, I hate it when you don’t clean it up afterwards,” Stefan said from his spot in the doorframe. “You going to fill ’em in, or am I?”

“Yeesh, you’re like a wife. Hold on.”

Tate quickly finished the last of the stitches and tied a knot, then yanked the excess thread free like he was working on a shirt and not his own arm.

“Right. So, I was out picking up some groceries and took a shortcut down an alley. Next thing I know four shifters come at me with fucking knives. Knives! I tell you, these new guys have no class.”

“Stick to the story,” Stefan said.

“Yes, dear.” Tate grinned. “Anyway, they came on hard and fast, and I got this new scar for my troubles, but they were all new, like I said. I broke a few of their bones, and they bolted.”

Craig sat on the sofa, his fists balled and resting on his knees. “So, was this blond guy that Jack fought with them?”

Tate shook his head. “Didn’t recognize any of ’em. Given the blades, though, they’re taking a leaf from his book. Pussies.”

“The other guy was there, though,” Jack said. “I can smell him on you. I’m not so good with faces, but I never forget a scent.”

“So, I guess they found out who was in charge,” Craig said. “Now what?”

Craig knew exactly what he would do about it, and he doubted Jack would be in disagreement. Hunt them down and cause so much pain that they’d understand who was in charge. Diplomacy only worked when the other guy was willing to talk. They’d proved they weren’t.

Tate rolled the sewing needle between his fingers, watching it. “I want you two to try and track them as soon as possible. The trail should still be clear enough for a few hours, unless it rains. Find where they call home and then let us know. We’ll work the rest out once we have that information.”

Craig nodded and stood. It looked like he’d be taking the day off work. Jack headed toward the door, and Craig could sense his anger hidden beneath his calm exterior.

“See you later,” Jack said. “Try not to get in any more fights.”

“You know me,” Tate said with a laugh. “The picture of restraint.”

Jack was furious. Partly because his alpha had been hurt and he hadn’t been around to help him, and partly because if he’d managed to track Blondey and his friend on that first night, the whole situation might have been avoided.

Cats might not be known for their loyalty, but Jack prided himself on such things. He joked around with Tate all the time, but that didn’t mean he didn’t respect him. Hell, if it hadn’t been for him Jack would still be packless and shunned by the shifter community at large.

He kicked at the truck’s tire as he waited for Craig. He appeared a few moments later, the picture of calm as usual. The only time the man seemed to get riled was when he was fighting or fucking. He unlocked the doors with his remote key, and Jack jumped into the cab.

“You okay?” Craig asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “You seem more steamed than I’d expect in this situation.”

“I could’ve stopped this,” Jack said. “Back in the bar. If I’d tracked them down then maybe I could’ve—”

“Gotten your ass kicked by a large group of shifters?”

“I was thinking more that I could’ve let Tate know earlier who they are and where they live.” He smirked. “Though, yeah, that too.”

Craig punched him lightly on the shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Jack. You tried your best. Besides, we had no idea things would escalate so quickly.”

“I guess.” He still felt guilty, but telling Craig that would only prolong the conversation, and they needed to get to work. “Let’s go find them.”

Craig had gotten the directions to the alley from Tate while Jack was outside waiting. It wasn’t far, and they arrived within ten minutes. Jack was the first out of the cab and made a beeline from the parking lot to the site of the attack.

“Here,” he said, pointing at a dark stain on the cracked and filthy ground. “That’s Tate’s.”

Craig came in behind him and closed his eyes as he breathed in. Jack’s sense of smell was more powerful, but Craig’s was more acute. He could sift through and discard the useless scents much quicker, so Jack let him. After a few minutes his eyes snapped open again.

“All right. They came in from both ends, but they all left through the far end.” He pointed down the alleyway. “Once we get past the smell of shit and rats, it’ll be much easier.”

A trail of blood headed out toward the exit to the alley, too. Apparently Tate had not only beat the guys, he’d chased them while bleeding heavily from his arm. Jack shook his head, smirking. The guy was a machine.

At the end of the alley, the scents became easier to track. Tate’s scent ended, which meant he’d headed back to the parking lot, but the other four shifters had stayed as one group and headed east along the sidewalk. After a hundred yards or so they’d crossed to the other side, then disappeared down another alley. Jack and Craig followed, alert and ready in case of an ambush.

* * * *

Michelle spun around slowly on her desk chair, a cordless phone to her ear while she waited on hold. While working for big companies certainly helped her job security, it took forever to get hold of anyone useful.

As she turned, she caught sight of Alison, who had been assigned a cubicle near the manager’s office. She had quickly settled in, and was already getting more than a few admiring glances from the males in the office. Michelle made a mental note to tell her later which ones were married.

There was a time when she was jealous of the attention Ally got, but that had fallen by the wayside in the past couple of days. After all, she wasn’t just dating a great guy, but there was a distinct possibility she’d soon be dating
two
. Not that she’d tell Alison. Not right away, anyway.

Alison noticed her and waved. She was also on the phone, no doubt arranging the manager’s appointments, or checking if her dry cleaning was ready. Wouldn’t be the first time the woman had used her secretaries for things she shouldn’t. Still, Alison looked happy enough.

I’ll get her a potted plant for her desk or something. Brighten it up a little.

She gave the phone call another five minutes before deciding to call back later and get on with some other work. She had five projects going, and she hated four, which made the decision easy enough. Once again she considered just walking out the door and starting up for herself. There was enough in the savings account to keep the bill collectors at bay for a few months, not that she had any real debts. The thought of getting up after six in the morning seemed so damn decadent.

Maybe I should talk to Jack about it when I see him next.

Jack the freelance programmer, with his laid-back attitude and Craig-like body. Her thoughts went back to much earlier that morning. Her naked and bent over in the fridge, with Jack watching silently from the shadows. She wondered if he had gone into his room and played with himself while thinking about her. God, she wished she could have seen that…

“Thinking about Craig?”

Michelle jerked around in her chair to find Alison stood by her desk, a wry smile on her face.

“What makes you think that?”

She grinned. “I know that expression anywhere. Lust.”

Michelle felt her cheeks warm. “It was a very good night and morning. Let’s leave it at that.”

“For now. But don’t think I won’t get all the juicy details out of you at some point. I wanna meet him at some point, too.”

“I’m not having you lusting after my boyfriend, Ally.”

“Boyfriend?” She beamed. “So it’s official already?”

“Slip of the tongue,” Michelle said. “It’s too soon.”

“But you’d like that, right?”

“Oh, definitely.”
Maybe both of them.

Her bag buzzed as her cellphone vibrated from inside, and she ducked down to grab it. A number she didn’t recognize came up on the screen. After a glance around the room, she answered it.

“Hello?”

“Michelle? It’s Craig.”

“Oh, hi! How are you doing?”

“Pretty good. Just heading back from an errand with Jack.” Another voice spoke briefly in the background. “He says hi. So, uh, are you free tonight?”

Michelle grinned, and Ally smirked. “Craig, then.”

“I’m free, yeah. What did you have in mind?”

“Nothing too fancy, but I was wondering if you’d like to come over for a quiet night in. Jack’s offered to cook. It’s no big deal if you don’t, but I thought—”

“I’d love to.”

“Great! I’ll swing by your place later on.”

They both said their good-byes, then hung up, and Michelle hid her phone again.

Alison raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

“He’s picking me up tonight, and Jack’s cooking for us. Quiet night with a movie.”

“With Jack, too?” She frowned. “Does a new couple need a third wheel?”

Michelle shrugged and tried to look nonchalant. “They’re like brothers. It means a lot to Craig that his dates like Jack, too, and it’s no big deal to me.”

“I guess.” Alison leant in. “Maybe you’ll get drunk and end up in a big ole three-way.” Michelle blushed scarlet, and Ally laughed loud. “I’m only kidding. Yeesh, you’re so uptight at times.”

If only you knew…

* * * *

Craig pulled up outside Michelle’s house a little after seven and turned his engine off. The trail he and Jack followed had led to an old church on the outskirts of the city. Judging by the multitude of shifter scents around the building, it was the new crew’s current home.

Jack had, of course, wanted to barrel in there and knock some heads together, and if he was honest Craig would have enjoyed it, too. But they had been told to report back and nothing more, and that’s what they did. Telling Jack his idea about a meal with Michelle seemed to pull him right out of his bad mood.

Craig knocked on Michelle’s door and waited. She appeared in the doorway in a bathrobe, her hair tied up in a bun to keep it dry in the shower.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting you this early. Come wait inside.”

Craig followed her to her bedroom, then sat on the edge of the bed as she walked back into the bathroom.

“So, how was your day?” she called from the next room.

“Odd. Glad it’s over. Yours?”

“Same old, same old. I really am thinking about packing it all in and going freelance.”

“Well, Jack’s the one to talk to about that. He’s been freelance for years. He must know what he’s doing, as I never see him working, but he’s always got cash.”

Michelle laughed from the bathroom. “As long as I can pay my bills I’ll be happy. Oops.”

Craig heard a soft thump as her robe hit the bathroom floor. He stood quietly and moved to the doorway to find her leaning over the sink adjusting her hair. Her robe lay about her feet, leaving her pale skin for Craig to gaze upon. She glanced at him in the mirror and smiled as he walked over.

“Now there’s a sight,” he said as he placed a hand on her bottom.

“It’s all yours whenever you want it,” she said, though blushing.

“I wish I could.” He ran his hand around, his fingers brushing against her pubic hair. “Nothing would give me more pleasure than to slide my cock inside you right here and now.”

She bit her lip. “I’m not stopping you.”

“No, you’re not.” He ran his finger over the nub of her clit, making her shudder. “But Jack’s already started cooking.”

She let out a long breath. “In that case you’d better let me get ready, tease.”

Craig grinned and backed out of the bathroom. “Yes, ma’am.”

He sat back on the edge of the bed and let out a long sigh under his breath. So maybe that wasn’t the ideal way to start the evening. He’d be horny all damn night, now. Michelle was so sexy, though. Standing there naked, bent over the sink with her ass in the air…Craig adjusted his stiffening cock and waited, trying not to think about what he was thinking about.

Michelle appeared a few minutes later, her bathrobe back in place as she grabbed some clothes off the bed before winking and heading back into the bathroom.