Pushing open the door and facing a determined Alex aiming a 9mm at his chest was an experience he wasn’t likely to forget. She’d been willing to face down whoever was at the door with only a skimpy towel wrapped around her.
He didn’t think she had any idea just how much the towel enticed more than it hid. She might have been covered, but the thin towel had clung to her curves, outlining her waist and the flare of her hips. It had taken all his discipline not to rip the towel from her body, toss her on the bed, mount her from behind and fuck her until they both yelled with pleasure.
Digging the palms of his hands into his eyes, he pressed hard. His cock was throbbing like a damn toothache with no relief in sight. He sank down on the bed and yanked his cell phone out of his back pocket. It was a disposable one he’d dump once he was home. All of them used disposable phones, changing numbers frequently. Bounty hunters might not trust authorities, but they did love their electronic toys and he knew they’d have hackers who could get into phone records with no problem at all.
He punched in a number and waited. It was picked up on the first ring. “What?”
Joshua grinned even as he growled into the receiver. “Your day couldn’t have been as bad as mine so shut up and listen.”
The man on the other end snorted. “I saw just how hard your day was, little brother. I saw you talking with the woman in an alleyway this morning. If you’re smart, you’ll claim that woman you’ve been running all over town with. Fuck her so long and hard, she’ll never want any other wolf but you.” He paused. “It’s what I’d do if I were in your position.”
“You’re not in my position.” The thought of his brother fucking Alex brought a red haze to his eyes. “It wouldn’t be fair to Alex.”
“And you’re all about honor, are you not, my brother?”
Joshua swiped a hand down his face, suddenly feeling very tired. “Isaiah.” He didn’t quite know how to answer his brother. It was a touchy spot between them that Isaiah had felt no sense of duty toward the pack, refusing to take his father’s place as Striker after his death. It had fallen to Joshua, the next in line, instead. He loved his brother fiercely, but he didn’t always understand him. He turned back to the business at hand. “The car was compromised.”
“Shit. I pulled Simon off it as soon as I knew you were headed that way. I figured it would be more productive for us to hunt rogue wolves instead.”
“It was hunters.”
Isaiah swore long and loud. “Son of a bitch!”
“I got a vehicle from Damek.” He gave his brother the location, hating to do even that over the phone, but knowing it was necessary.
“I know where it is. We won’t be far behind you.” He sensed his brother’s momentary hesitation. “Joshua. Don’t allow honor to deprive you of what is yours. Do not be afraid to reach out and take something for yourself.”
“Isaiah,” he began, not quite certain what he was going to say. But it didn’t matter. His brother grunted and broke the connection. Joshua snapped his phone shut.
“Who was that?” Alex was standing in the open door of the bathroom watching him. She looked adorable in the shirt, which skimmed the tops of her thighs. He stared hard. If he wasn’t mistaken, she wasn’t wearing a bra.
“No one.” He shoved the phone in his back pocket as he stood.
She raised one eyebrow and glared at him.
He sighed. It would be easier if she was a submissive female, but then he probably wouldn’t be attracted to her at all. Shaking his head, he resigned himself to the inevitable. He held out one of the chairs. “Come and eat and I’ll tell you.”
Chapter Ten
Alex tugged at the hem of the shirt as she walked to the table. Thankfully, Joshua didn’t seem to be paying her any attention as he was occupied digging drinks and napkins out of the bag. Now that she had something clean to wear, she’d decided to take the chance and washed her bra and panties, hanging them over the rod in the bathroom to dry. The thought of having clean underwear in the morning was heavenly. The only problem was that the shirt wasn’t quite as long as she’d have liked. It just covered her behind. Barely.
Hurrying over to the table, she pulled down hard on the hem, tucking some of the cotton fabric beneath her as she sat. Relaxing now that the table was covering her from the waist down, she eyed the small mound of items Joshua was unpacking. He’d been busy and had obviously gone to more than just the pizza parlor. There were two toothbrushes, a small tube of toothpaste, a comb and a bottle of lotion. She knew he hadn’t bought the lotion for himself. Again, she was touched by his thoughtfulness.
“You were busy.”
He shrugged as he unscrewed the top off a bottle of water and laid it on the table in front of her. “There was a convenience store next to the pizza joint. They didn’t have much, but I got what I thought you might need.”
“Thank you, Joshua.” Reaching out, she touched his hand.
His fingers twined with hers until their palms were pressed together. “You’re welcome, Alex.”
The tension in the room rose dramatically each second their hands remained clasped. A feeling of anticipation filled Alex. A yearning grew deep inside her. Her breathing became shallower, her chest rising and falling quickly. The motion caused the fabric of her shirt to brush her nipples, making them pucker. A trickle of liquid flowed from her core and she made a tiny sound of distress in the back of her throat.
Joshua dropped her hand as if her skin suddenly burned his. “Have some pizza,” he ordered gruffly as he opened the box. “You’ve got to be hungry.”
Alex nodded, unable to speak. She’d forgotten all about being hungry for food. Her hunger was for something else all together, but something told her that particular appetite wasn’t going to be appeased right now.
Taking a slice, she placed it on one of the napkins and licked her fingers. The scent of tomato sauce, basil, oregano and cheese wafted upward making her stomach growl in anticipation. She glanced over at Joshua, but he was busy consuming his first slice of pizza. He had to be starving. He wasn’t a small man and he hadn’t had much to eat today.
“So, who were you talking with on the phone?” She picked up her slice and took a huge bite, almost moaning with pleasure as the tangy tomato and spices hit her tongue. He’d gotten pepperoni and peppers, but true to his word, no “yucky” stuff. She watched him as she chewed, wondering if he’d tell her the truth. He polished off his slice of pizza, washing it down with a swallow of water before replying.
“That was my brother.”
“Really. Which one?”
“Isaiah.”
“He’s the eldest, right?” Alex wasn’t sure she had them all straight in her head.
“That’s right.” Snagging another slice, he bit into it, tearing off a huge chunk. His teeth were white and his canines looked to be incredibly sharp, reminding her once again that he was something more than just human.
She shivered as she wondered what it would be like to have him nibbling on her neck, her shoulders, her stomach and lower. She’d only gotten a taste of what it would be like in the bathroom of the diner earlier this morning.
It had certainly gotten hotter in the room in the past few minutes. She tugged at the neckline of the T-shirt, but it didn’t help. Finishing off her slice of pizza, she grabbed another. What had they been talking about? Oh, yes. “What did he say?” Honestly, trying to get Joshua to tell her anything was an exercise in frustration.
He shrugged, finished chewing and swallowed. “He’ll be waiting for us tomorrow and will watch our backs. All we have to do is make our way to the truck first thing in the morning and we’re out of here.” He helped himself to another slice of pizza. “We’ll blend in with the regular surge of traffic on the road.”