Strange Lake Falls Panther (Strange Lake Falls Series Book 4) (5 page)

“How do you like Strange Lake Falls so far?” Roxanne asked. She was nervous despite all the little things that Lucas was doing to put her at ease. He was easy to talk to. Though he seemed very formal at times, he never talked down to her.

“I just arrived this morning, but the people seem very friendly.”

“They are. I interact with them at the market every weekend. Such good people here.”

“Market? Do you buy or sell?”

“Sometimes both. But mostly I go there to sell my produce. The proceeds go in part to the pack and the rest to me.”

Lucas looked a little shocked. “You are working? But you are our princess. You should be waited on hand and foot, not slaving away.”

She sighed with disappointment. All the wolves she had dated thought that way, that she should be waited on and pampered, although some clearly thought she should wait on them too.

“I’m not a princess. I’m just Roxanne. I love gardening, I love helping my pack, and one day I will dedicate myself to making my mate and children happy.”

Lucas looked her in the eyes and then gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I know that your family is high up in the werewolf hierarchy. I just assumed . . . but I can see that I was wrong. You are simply remarkable. Why have you not mated before now?”

She felt a little more at ease. “I haven’t found someone that my wolf will accept.” It was just that easy. She couldn’t mate someone her wolf didn’t want.

“What does your wolf think of me?” Lucas asked.

“She is curious. But she is also wary. We have been disappointed before.”

“Well, I hope to surprise both you and your wolf. How about we take a run in the forest after dinner?”

Wow. Most guys would want to take her dancing or something. But Roxanne was a more private person. She loved nature and wanted to be outside more than inside. “Okay. First let me go to the bathroom.” She stood up and left the table. Once she was in the bathroom, she texted Sam that she had made it through dinner. It was a first. There was hope. Maybe. Her mind kept racing to Connor. What was he doing? How long was he staying?

*****

The next evening, everyone was getting dressed and heading to Adrian’s nightclub for the official welcome home party Jackie and Mary had organized in Connor’s honor. Adrian was closing the club for the private party and had invited humans, vampires, and the wolf pack to come.

“Does this look okay?” Sam asked Roxanne, spinning around to show off her outfit.

“Oh, you’ll turn heads for sure. But Adrian and Ric will probably be busting some if anyone gets grabby.” Roxanne laughed.

Sam snorted. “Sure it’s funny to you. But I have like basically three dads telling me what to do all the time. Not that my human dad talks to me much. Ever since Adrian married my mom, he has been protective of me to the extreme. And now with Ric as my Alpha . . . he pretty much treats everyone in his pack like his children, except for Mary. But, damn it, I’m not a child.”

“No, you’re not. But they only do it because they love you. After your attack, everyone just wants to make sure that nothing like that happens to you again.” Roxanne knew what it was like to grow up protected by her family’s wolf pack. It could be stifling.

“I can’t be protected from life. It doesn’t work that way. I have to live my life, make mistakes, learn and grow. If I’m kept in a bubble and never learn who I can trust and who I can’t, it sets me up to be taken advantage of even more,” Sam insisted, clearly frustrated.

Roxanne was impressed with Sam. She had grown up quite a bit these last few years. She had wisdom beyond her age. No one seemed to notice that. It was going to be a tough time for her when she was ready to date again.

“Are you wearing that?” Sam asked for the first time really looking at Roxanne.

Roxanne glanced down at her tight jeans and sweater. “Yeah.”

She hadn’t dated anyone for years before she had came to Strange Lake Falls. She agreed to date per the council’s request, but Roxanne was no longer into putting on a show for a male. She felt confident in herself. Either a guy liked her the way she was or he didn’t.

She dressed for herself. She liked comfort so she wore her jeans and favorite sweater. However, she did make sure to put on her best Louis Vuittons. Shoes were her one weakness, she loved designer shoes and how they made her feel like a million bucks no matter what else she was wearing.

Sam shook her head. “Oh no you’re not. Over my dead body.” She grabbed Roxanne’s hand and pulled her down the hall to her own bedroom. “I’ve got just the right outfit to show off your sexy legs.”

Roxanne looked surprised. “I have sexy legs?” She indulged Sam by allowing her to take over her wardrobe. The younger woman meant well.

Sam rolled her eyes. “You know you’re gorgeous. I would kill to have your long blond hair and blue eyes.”

“I have always envied your darker hair and eyes. You’re beautiful. The men around here have certainly noticed.”

Sam almost dropped the skirt she was holding in her hands. “Men notice me? I’m not sure I want that.”

Roxanne walked over and gave her a hug. “It’s okay to be desired and to feel desire for others. We’re supposed to want a partner.”

“I’m just not sure I’m ready yet.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to be ready yet. Give yourself time. You’re still young.”

“But won’t the council need me to do my duty like you?”

Roxanne frowned. “I won’t mate if I’m not ready, but it’s my time and I want a mate. For you, it’s different. You have time to find the right man for you. Whether he’s human or wolf, it will be your choice.”

Sam still looked worried, so Roxanne decided it was time to change the subject. “So is this the hot outfit that will have men falling at my feet?”

“What? Oh. Yes. This skirt and my red top will be perfect on you. You already have the right heels. All you’ll need to add is a touch of red lipstick. It feels good to get dressed up for yourself, doesn’t it?”

Roxanne grinned in agreement. “Yes, it does. All right, let’s get me dolled up. I’m meeting Alpha Lucas at the club and don’t want to keep him waiting too long.”

“You must be excited about this one. A second date! You’ve never had one of those with any of the other guys.”

“Lucas is handsome, smart, stylish, sophisticated, and I sense kindness in him.”

“Um, that’s great. But where’s the spark? The fire? The unbelievable passion?” Sam asked curiously.

“Sometimes passion is not the most important in a relationship. What matters will be whether my wolf likes him.” Roxanne shrugged into the skin-tight leather skirt that ended three inches above her knee. The red top she was given was just as tight, which was surprising since Sam was larger in the chest than Roxanne.

“And does she? Does your wolf like him?”

“She’s interested but hesitant. She needs to get to know him and his wolf better first.”

“Well, you look fantastic. So do I. Come on, let’s go before the good music starts playing.” Sam pushed her out of the bedroom door.

*****

Connor was at the bar waiting on his beer. He had spent the past half hour being welcomed and having his back slapped. Some of the werewolves and vampires present noted the change in his scent but did not comment on it. He was grateful. He didn’t want to have to explain himself and what happened. He could tell his mother was still upset over it. He hadn’t had a chance to speak to her again in private, but he knew he would have to, especially before he left again. His thoughts were interrupted when one of the werewolf twins came up beside him and ordered a beer.

“Oh good, they finally got here,” the twin said.

“Who?” Connor looked towards the front door. He smiled as she saw Sam come in. She was wearing leather pants and a leather bustier. It made her look like a very cute biker chic. Then his eyes settled on the person that followed her in and his breath caught in her throat.

“Roxanne,” he whispered. She was wearing a very short leather skirt and a shirt that clung to her breasts lovingly. His inner cat wanted to suckle from her for hours. She looked delicious.

“Damn. Roxanne is looking fucking hot tonight,” the twin said.

Connor’s claws came out and he had to fight his cat not to shift. This was a problem; his cat was extremely emotional. It made it very hard to control the shift. He used the breathing techniques the shaman had taught him. In and out. His claws receded and he felt himself more in control.

He turned his back to the entrance and faced the mirrored bar. He watched as Roxanne came in and greeted her fellow pack members. Then a tall man with blond hair walked up to her and kissed her cheek with great familiarity. That must be the Alpha she was dating. They looked like the perfect couple. Both were blond, good-looking, and well built. He seemed to be rich and sophisticated, all the things that Connor wasn’t. Plus, he was a werewolf alpha and not some possible psycho killer.

“That’s Alpha Lucas,” the twin said.

“What do you know about him?”

“Just that Alpha Ric knows him and is the one to recommend the match. It seems Alpha Ric is right. This is the first guy that Roxanne has gone on a second date with since I’ve known her. She must really like him.”

It hurt to hear it. Roxanne liked this wolf. Connor wanted to hate this guy. Maybe he did a little. He watched as the smooth asshole led her out onto the dance floor and took her into his arms. His cat growled and paced inside.
Mine.

What the hell? His cat had never acted this way before. He had slept with a few women before going to South America. After his change, he found some women very attractive sexually, but he didn’t dare sleep with them for fear that he wouldn’t be able to control his shift. Extreme emotions set his shift off, so he had to work very hard to remain calm and cool. Glancing up at the mirror and watching the werewolf’s hands get extremely close to Roxanne’s ass was just too much. He felt his fur aching to burst through his skin. He needed to do something about this. Get his control back somehow.

*****

Roxanne was doing her best to not look in Connor’s direction. She had seen him when she first walked into the club, but she made sure she didn’t lock eyes with him. He was fucking hot, with his tight black jeans and tight jersey t-shirt stretched across his chest. Every muscle was on display and she was desperate to lick every inch of him. Her wolf was in complete agreement.
Ours
, her wolf kept growling. She wasn’t sure what to do to get her wolf to back down.

When Alpha Lucas asked her to dance, she was grateful for a distraction, but now that her body was pressed against his, she knew it was a mistake. Her wolf wasn’t completely closed off from his wolf’s charms, but her wolf had only one thing on her mind: Connor.

“Is everything alright?” Alpha Lucas asked.

“Yes, I just need to . . . go to the ladies’ room.” She excused herself and walked across the crowded dance floor. But instead of going to the bathroom, she took the back hallway to the alley behind the club. She just wanted to get some fresh air. A little talk with her wolf and she should be ready to go back inside.

As soon as she was outside, the fresh breeze helped cool her a little. Yes, this was what she needed, a moment to herself. She closed her eyes and lifted her face towards the half moon. She couldn’t wait until the full moon was there again. She would run with the pack. She could shift any time, but she loved running during a full moon. Everything seemed brighter, fresher, more alive. A voice from the shadows surprised her.

“Guess I wasn’t the only one who needed fresh air.”

“Connor?”

Connor stepped out of the shadows, his eyes glowing and his breathing labored.

“Are you okay?”

He stalked closer to her. She could see him struggling with his cat. He was so new to his shifter status. She had been born a werewolf, and sometimes she wondered what it was like for others who had been changed and what they had to go through. To suddenly have their lives flipped upside down and have to learn a new way of living must be scary. She could tell he was having a hard time with it still.

“I haven’t been okay in a long while.”

“Is there something I can do to help?”

He stood less than a foot away, close in her personal space. His hand reached up and cupped her cheek. Then he moved the hand to the back of her head and gripped her gently but firmly. He pulled her to him. “Yes. I am dying to know . . .”

“Know what?” she whispered.

“What you taste like.” Then his lips took hers in a strong, thorough kiss.

Oh . . . yes.
She couldn’t think of any response except to wrap her arms around his neck. Nothing mattered except this man and his delicious kiss.

Connor growled with need as his hands found their way to her ass. For someone so petite, she was voluptuous in all the right places. He loved her tight firm ass. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, which made the short leather skirt roll up like a window shade, giving him even more access to her almost bare backside. He felt primitive towards her, like dragging her off and making her his.

“Connor,” Roxanne moaned.

His cat purred. That had never before happened. He ground his cock into her, wishing their clothes would just be gone. He could rip them off. In seconds he could have them both naked. Then he could plunge into her sweet depths the way he had been fantasizing about for all these years.

He nibbled her chin, moving down to her neck. He smiled when he heard her wolf growl in need. She wanted him, she and her wolf wanted him. It amazed and excited him. At the same time, he was humbled. This amazing beautiful woman wanted him.

“God, Roxanne, you are so lovely.” He reached under her stretchy top to cup one lace-covered breast. He wanted to see her and taste her.

“Connor, I need you.” Roxanne was grinding herself down on him. She had very strong legs.

“I need you too, Roxanne.”

He walked her over into the shadows of the trees surrounding the club. He pressed her back against a tree, giving him the leverage he need.

He lifted her shirt further and pulled down her bra cup so that her sweet pink nipple popped free. “Yes.” His mouth was on her, taking her inside his hot warm cavern. He suckled her like a starving man. She was so sweet. The only thing better would be if she were filled with breast milk. He purred again.

Roxanne arched her back to give him more access. He reached down between their bodies, moving her underwear aside. She was so wet. He wanted to fall to his knees and lick her juices. He would do that, he would do so much more.

He slid one finger inside her tight channel. Oh damn, she was really tight. He could hurt her if he didn’t slow down a bit. He added another finger as he pumped in and out of her. He could tell she was close to reaching her orgasm. She dug her claws into his back and he reclaimed her lips as he twisted his fingers and curled them inside of her. His thumb tweaked her clit and that was all it took.

“Connor, yes!” Roxanne squeezed her legs around his waist as she came hard.

Connor began to fumble with his pants but a sound behind them, from further into the dark woods, made him stop. He lifted his head in the air and sniffed. A sick, bitter smell drifted toward them, one that he recognized immediately. Mors.

He lowered Roxanne to the ground and stepped away. He turned his back on her and began pacing, searching the darkness. The scent was very faint. Was he imagining it? He needed to track it down.

“Connor?” Roxanne’s confused and shaky voice called out from behind him.

He turned sideways and cringed. Roxanne was pulling the skirt back down and restoring her perfect breasts to order under her shirt. He looked around, grateful no one had come out and found them. No one but Mors. This was a mistake. He never should have touched her. The thought of Mors watching them, looking at Roxanne as she was being pleasured, filled him with anger and a fear he had never experienced before. With emotions so strong, he knew he wouldn’t be able to control his shift much longer. His head jerked to the right as he caught a glimpse of movement. She needed to leave right now.

*****

Roxanne watched as Connor paced back and forth. He looked like his cat was clamoring to come out. He wouldn’t look at her. “What’s wrong?

“You need to go back inside,” he said, not looking at her.

“What? But we have things to discuss. Especially about what just happened.” She was so confused. She had just had the most amazing orgasm of her life and he was acting like it was nothing. Worse, he was dismissing her. The breeze blew and she caught a strange scent. “Do you smell that?”

“You need to go inside, now.” He practically shoved her toward the back door to the club

“You are being an ass, Connor. Talk to me. Did I do something wrong?”

“I don’t have time for this. Go back inside . . . back to your date.”

She felt like he had punched her in the gut. He cared so little for what they had shared that he was throwing her in the arms of another man? Fine, if that’s what he wanted.

“Screw you, Connor. You had your chance and you blew it.”

She finished adjusting her clothes and stomped her way back to the back entrance of the nightclub. The door was normally kept locked on the outside but it hadn’t closed all the way so she was able to get back in. Just to spite him, she made sure the door closed and locked behind her. If he was going to be a fucking jerk, he could walk all the way around the building to get back in.

Tears escaped and ran down her cheeks. She couldn’t go back to Lucas looking like this. She went to the bathroom and freshened herself. She looked at herself in the mirror. She could tell, even without the scent of arousal still on her skin, that she had just had some type of sexual encounter. What was Lucas going to think of her? That she was some kind of slut. She slumped down on the cushioned seat as her tears turned into huge sobs, wracking her body.

She wasn’t sure how long she was in there crying before a knock on the door surprised her into sitting up.

“Hello? Roxanne? Are you in there?” Lucas asked as he cracked open the door. She saw his head peer inside and their eyes locked. He stepped inside and lifted his nose, gathering information from her scent instinctively. Without hesitation he came to her, lifted her in his arms, and settled on the cushion with her in his lap.

“Lucas . . .”

“Shh . . . you can tell me about it later. Right now you need to cry and I need to hold you.”

He was so wonderful. Perfect in every way. Except for one: he wasn’t Connor. The tears started up again and she cried. Lucas crooned to her as he comforted her. He used his Alpha powers to calm her. She pulled back to look at him when she was finally able to stop crying.

“I owe you an explanation and an apology.”

“Not here. Let me take you home and you can tell me what ever you want.”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to go back to the pack house tonight.”

“Then come to my hotel room.” When she bit her bottom lip, he reached up to cup her cheek. “Just to talk. You can stay as long as you want. I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

She needed someone to talk to. Someone who wasn’t friends or family with Connor. “Okay.”

Lucas placed her gently on her feet and kept an arm around her back. He opened the door and surprised a woman on her way inside. He gave the woman a polite smile as he spoke in a serious manner to Roxanne.

“I must say, they have extraordinary facilities here.”

Roxanne bit her lip not to laugh. What a scene they must have made. She owed Lucas for so much. “Thank you.”

“There is nothing to thank me for. I am sure you would have come to my aid if I was in tears in the bathroom.”

She smiled feeling a little better. “Absolutely. Urinal or no urinal, I will definitely be there for you.”