“Beer. Whatever’s on tap.” It didn’t matter to him what it was. His metabolism ensured he couldn’t get drunk on it no matter how much he drank.
“Sure. Anything else?”
He was about to say no when his stomach growled again. “Is the kitchen still open?”
“Absolutely.” She handed him a small menu even as she listed off several items. He ordered two double cheeseburgers and fries to take the edge off his hunger. She nodded and gave him another smile. “No problem. I’ll be right back with your beer.”
Isaiah reached out and snagged her wrist before she could get two steps. The waitress raised her eyebrow in question. He tugged her closer so he wouldn’t have to shout. “Who is the woman behind the bar?”
The waitress glanced over toward the bar and then back at Isaiah. “That’s Meredith. Meredith Cross. She owns the place.”
Meredith. He let her name roll over his tongue as the waitress slipped away. He liked the sound of it.
A few minutes later, the waitress returned with his beer. He nodded and slipped her the money for his order and a generous tip. “What’s your name?”
“Tammy.”
“Thanks, Tammy. Keep the change.”
Her eyes widened and she smiled. “Thanks.”
Isaiah picked up the glass, rubbing his thumb over the condensation forming on the side. He sipped as he let his gaze wander around the small club. Meredith left the bar and disappeared into the back. His gut tensed, but he relaxed when she returned a few minutes later. She chatted to customers in an easy manner as she worked her way across the floor.
The whole place had a laid-back vibe that slowly eased the tension out of him. Tammy returned with his food and set it on the table. Isaiah devoured all of it, even the pickles, which he really wasn’t fond of, but he was too hungry to care. He was surprised by how good the burger tasted. When he was done, he pushed the empty plate aside and ordered another beer.
Meredith ran a smooth operation. Everyone did their job and well. He sat back in his chair and continued to watch her and everyone around her. The big guy behind the bar wasn’t the only bruiser who worked for her. He noted another man working the far end of the bar. About six-four, he looked enough like the first bartender to be his brother.
A tall man with brown hair came from out back to ask Meredith something. She went up on her toes and kissed his cheek before he returned to wherever he’d come from.
Jealousy reared deep within him, dark and ugly. Why was she surrounded by all these men? On the one hand, he was glad she was well-protected. On the other, he felt like she belonged to him, was his to protect.
Which was crazy. He couldn’t protect anyone. Hadn’t he proven that when his sister had been kidnapped by paranormal bounty hunters thirty-five years ago? She’d only been fifteen, not yet a woman when they’d taken her. He’d been going for a run in the woods and she’d wanted to come with him. He hadn’t wanted his baby sister tagging along with him so he’d told her no and taken off, not realizing until much later she’d tried to follow him.
He’d returned home later that day to find his sister missing, his mother shattered and his father and brothers all out hunting for her. What they’d discovered was grim. There had been no mistaking the stench of bounty hunters in the woods.
Isaiah had held himself responsible and made it his mission in life to kill as many hunters as possible. He’d never found a trace of his sister though he’d searched for years. Eventually, the family had accepted that she’d been killed. They’d never been the same.
When the time had come for him to assume the mantle of Striker for his pack, he’d known he couldn’t do it. He’d failed the one person who’d needed him the most—his sister. His loyalty was to her memory. He couldn’t trust himself to put the welfare of the pack over that of his own family. He had four brothers left and now a sister-in-law. And he’d kill anyone who threatened them no matter what, even if that meant killing another member of his own pack.
Ever since the life-changing incident with his sister, Isaiah had felt apart from all of them, as though he no longer quite belonged. For a werewolf, the pack was everything. He felt more like an outcast, a loner, as time went on.
He shook off his bitter memories and took another sip of the now warm beer. He should leave and head back to watch the garage. In a day or two, he could start loading up the truck and head home.
The thought of being able to deliver Alex’s stuff and then take off by himself for however long he wanted should have made him feel better. It didn’t. He’d been alone for most of his life and liked it that way. He enjoyed his own company and didn’t need anyone. But for the first time, he felt…lonely.
He shoved back his chair and got to his feet. This was stupid. He didn’t know what the hell was wrong with him, but he didn’t like it. It was time to leave this place and these strangers, including the alluring woman.
As though he’d conjured her from his thoughts, Meredith stepped up onto the stage. The dress she was wearing fell to her calves and shimmered in the spotlights. Two thin straps held up the top and the fabric molded two very fine breasts. The neckline dipped low, exposing quite a bit of cleavage. She was slender but curved in all the right places. Isaiah’s fingers itched to dip into that neckline and tease the curves of her breasts.
The band stopped playing and the crowd clapped. She held up her hands and laughed. He felt that laugh all the way to the tips of his toes. Every muscle in his body tensed and his balls grew heavy.
“If you don’t mind indulging me, I think I’ll sing another song for you this evening.”
The crowd went wild, hooting and stomping. From their reaction, Isaiah guessed this must be a normal occurrence. Meredith glanced at the band and nodded. They began to play a song he recognized. Then she opened her mouth and sang.
He sank back down onto his chair, mesmerized. It was the voice that had drawn him to the club in the first place. As if she was stroking him physically, his body responded to every note she sang. He didn’t care about the words of the song, which were about a woman who wanted someone to watch over her. Although it was no hardship at all to watch her sing, all he cared about was the way her voice made him feel.
Aroused? Without a doubt. His cock was as hard as a steel post. He ached with wanting her. It was all too easy to imagine stripping off the form-fitting sparking blue dress she was wearing and kissing and licking every inch of her creamy skin.
Her long hair streamed down her back like a dark waterfall. He wanted that hair skimming over his naked body, her fingers wrapped around his engorged cock as she stroked him.
His large body shuddered as her voice continued to seduce him. Once he had her naked, he’d spread her legs wide and feast on her pussy until she screamed his name in pleasure. Then he’d fuck her until neither of them could remember their own name.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and trickled down his back. This was crazy, but there was no denying the pull he felt for this woman. He hadn’t even met her, and he was already fantasizing about having her in his bed or against a wall or anywhere he could get her. He didn’t care where it was just as long as he had her.
For all he knew, she belonged to one of the men who worked here. A low growl of warning slipped from him. He’d rip out the throat of any other man who touched her.
That thought stopped him cold. He’d never felt possessive about a female in his life, let alone a human. It just wasn’t right. She might be beautiful, but no matter how much sex he had with her, she wouldn’t be able to still the relentless need pounding within him. Only a female werewolf could do that. And only the one meant for him could truly ease the edginess that seemed to be a permanent part of him.