Authors: Crystal Red
Chapter Two
Sweat poured down Brandon’s neck and
back. He regretted every second he had the black leather outfit on. He lifted
the last box out of the moving van. This time he managed not to drop it.
“This would have gone a lot faster if
you’d let the neighbor girl help us.” Chad took the box of heavy glass plates
from him.
They entered the small kitchen. The
oak cabinets left lots of room to store their items. A white round table with
two matching chairs was all they needed for the size of the room. The cheap
gray tiled floor had its wear and tear, but it was a place he could call home
for now.
“If I did that, then she’d get too
comfortable.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We don’t need that.”
“You don’t need sex?” Chad smirked.
“Who said anything about getting laid,
jackass?”
“You think she’s hot, don’t you?” Chad
placed the plates in the cabinet and then the glasses.
A low grunt escaped his lips. The
claws ready to come out. Why was it Chad’s business if he found Kelsey
attractive, anyway? The animal in him became restless.
“She’s not for me.” He stiffened,
resisting the urge to scratch his friend’s eyes out. No. He needed to save his
anger for another reason. A better one. The day would come.
Chad chuckled, punching his arm.
“Dude, you said this about a lot of women you’ve been with. It hasn’t stopped
you before.”
“It will this time,” he muttered.
“Okay, what happened?”
He ground his teeth. “Fuck. Nosy
much?”
Chad’s voice rose to a high pitch. “I
see what’s going on. You’re afraid she’s not going to like the ‘real’ you.”
“Don’t go there!” Brandon clenched his
fists tight and swung them at his sides.
His claws sprung out and he let out a
loud growl. He morphed into his wolf form. Damn it. He’d let his temper get the
best of him over a woman. Again. That was why he needed to stay far away from
Kelsey. Both of their lives depended on it.
“Really? You just had to change into a
werewolf?” Chad frowned.
Brandon growled again, swinging a claw
in the air. He missed scratching Chad by half an inch.
Chad grimaced, taking a step back.
“You need to get your anger in check. We’re friends. You can’t keep living like
this.”
Brandon groaned, shifting back into
his human form. His breath came out in heavy pants. “Shit, I’m sorry. You know
I wouldn’t hurt you on purpose. We’re bros for life.”
Chad nodded. “As long as you remember
that we’ll be cool.”
Brandon sauntered over to the
refrigerator and opened the door. He grumbled under his breath and slammed it
shut.
He ran smack into Chad. “What’s wrong
now?”
“We’re out of beer.”
Chad laughed. “So go to the store or
maybe you could ask the neighbor girl if she has any.”
Brandon snorted. “That’s a fucking
laugh. She probably doesn’t even drink.”
“How do you know until you ask?”
“I’d rather go to the store and buy
some,” Brandon muttered.
“That’s one way to die alone.”
Brandon narrowed his eyes. “Even if
she does drink, it’s probably wine or some other girly shit.”
“So what’s your point?”
“Fuck you.” Brandon marched past him.
“Fuck me? Dude, I thought you had your
anger in check.”
Brandon whipped around to face Chad.
“I do, but your smartass comments don’t help.”
“Sorry, bro.”
Brandon waved for Chad to follow him.
“If I’m going over there, then you’re coming with me.”
Chad snickered. “Are you afraid she’ll
try to seduce you?”
A muscle in his jaw jumped. “That’s
not going to happen. She doesn’t like me.”
Chad shrugged, scurrying down the
steps and then up the sidewalk to Kelsey’s house. Before Brandon could even
make an attempt to ring the doorbell, Chad pushed the button for him.
The door swung open and Kelsey peered
out. She wore a red silky nightgown. Instantly, her nipples hardened beneath
her lingerie. He tried not to stare, really he did, but the animal in him
lusted after her like any man would with a pulse.
Brandon cleared his throat, hoping to
drown out the sound of his pounding heart. Why did her lips have to look so
damn kissable? He wanted to reach out and bite them. Or even nibble a little.
Yeah, his mind always went there. Of course it had been a while since he’d had
sex. He looked into Kelsey’s eyes only to see her lips curl in to a tight
frown.
She crossed her arms. “I was going to
take a shower until you guys interrupted me.”
Oh, great. I don’t
need that picture in my mind.
It was too late. He already had it in there.
She probably would glide a soapy sponge up and down her smooth, curvy body
until she got herself off with the showerhead or maybe her finger. Yeah, he bet
she was in to some kinky shit. The girls who didn’t always show their bad girl
side were naturally freaks in the sheets.
“Sorry. I wanted—”
Chad held a hand up. “We just wanted
to hang out and get to know you better. Plus, we were hoping you have beer, or
something that isn’t too girly.”
“If we’re bothering you…we can come
back another time.” Brandon rubbed the back of his neck. “I know I can be a
jerk sometimes, like Chad points out, but…”
To his surprise, her lips formed a
huge smile. She waved them in. “It’s fine. We might as well be friends if we’re
going to live next door to each other. Besides, I have two beers left and other
drinks that aren’t so girly. I don’t mind sharing.”
“Great, thanks.” Brandon stepped into
Kelsey’s gray carpeted living room. Chad followed him as if he were his shadow.
“You guys can sit and watch some TV if
you want,” Kelsey called from the kitchen.
He choose to sit in the blue recliner,
and Chad took a seat on the white flowered loveseat. Before he could grab the
remote, Chad snatched it off the brown glass-topped coffee table. His friend
turned on the sixty inch flat screen TV. Right away, Chad turned it to the show
Cops
.
Brandon exhaled as Kelsey stepped into
the living room, holding two bottles of beer.
That’s the kind of a woman I
want to marry. One who’ll bring me a beer any time I want one.
His grin faded as Kelsey scowled. She
didn’t say anything, just handed him the beer. She offered the other one to
Chad, but his friend shook his head.
“What’s wrong?” Brandon asked,
studying her. He swallowed a long swig of beer.
“You only want to marry a woman who will
wait on you hand and foot?” She brought the beer to her lips and took a long
drink.
Brandon squirmed against the chair.
How could she hear his thoughts? There had to be something about Kelsey that he’d
missed. What was it?
Kelsey’s eyes narrowed. “Well?” Her foot
thumped against the carpet.
He held a hand up. “I never said a
word. I swear.” He drank half his beer.
Chad snickered as he looked their way.
“Maybe she can read your mind. You finally met a woman who can see through all
your bullshit.”
Brandon muttered under his breath. Not
here. He couldn’t show her that side of him. The animal in him would have to
stay away, at least for now. He didn’t need any trouble.
Kelsey tightened her grip on her beer
and stepped back. “That’s not possible.”
He stiffened. Maybe some things
weren’t. After all, who would really believe werewolves exist? Hell, he was
obviously living proof they were real. Even if he’d received the bite by
mistake and not by choice. He couldn’t let Kelsey find out his secret. The day
would come, but not today.
“Maybe some things aren’t,” he
mumbled.
Chad tilted his head to the side. “Do
you two need to get a room or what?”
“No!” Kelsey’s lips tightened.
Brandon glared at Chad, then he looked
at Kelsey, forcing a smile. “I think it’s time to go. I guess we’re getting on your
nerves.” He rose to his feet.
Kelsey shook her head. “You’re not.
I’m just—”
The front door swung open, and in
stepped a woman with long, red curls that fell into her bright green eyes.
“Hey, Kelsey. I didn’t know we were going to have company.”
“Me neither.” Kelsey threw back the
rest of her beer.
Chad whistled as he eyed the redhead
up and down. “That’s what I’m talking about. Double date. Sweet.”
The redhead glowered at Chad. “Excuse
me? I have a boyfriend.”
“Don’t mind Chad, Beth. He’s a smart
ass. I guess he has a thing for redheads.” Kelsey laughed.
“What a damn shame.” Chad leaned
against the back of the loveseat. “I bet I could make you melt with one touch.”
Beth snorted. “I doubt that. I’m dating
a very successful lawyer.”
“Well,” Chad rubbed his palms
together. “That changes everything.” The smirk that formed on his friend’s face
proved his sarcastic tone.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Beth crossed
her arms over her chest.
“Oh, I mean you’re obviously attracted
to a guy who is either full of himself or he’s a workaholic.” Chad tapped his
lips. “So, which is he?”
“Chad, leave the poor girl alone.”
Brandon downed the last of his beer. “Time to go. I can see we’ve already
overstayed our welcome.”
Beth’s lips puckered. “No doubt about
that.”
Chad waved, walking toward the front
door. “See you girls later.”
“Oh, and, Chad?” Beth’s voice rang out
like a demand.
Chad turned around to face Beth.
“Yeah?”
“Steve is neither,” Beth called as
Chad shook his head.
“Whatever you say, Beth.” Chad stepped
outside.
Brandon stared at Beth, then Kelsey.
“I, uh…”
“I’m going to get ready for bed,” Beth
muttered, stomping toward a room down the hall.
“Follow me.” Kelsey waved him into the
kitchen.
Inhaling a deep breath, he trailed
behind her in slow strides. Unlike him, she breathed light and steady. Her
heart wasn’t racing as hard as his either. So he wondered why the hell she made
him lose his cool. Maybe it was the unknown…
He pulled out a pine chair and sat. As
he leaned back, she grabbed a bottle of brandy out of the top oak cabinet and
two shot glasses.
She grinned, setting one in front of
him. “I thought you’d like this better than beer.”
“Sure.” He took the bottle from her
and poured them each a shot.
Kelsey plopped down onto the chair
next to him. She clanked her glass with his and then tipped her head back to
chug the drink. Then she poured another.
“Maybe you should slow down. It’s
Monday night.”
She rolled her eyes. “Shouldn’t you be
the one who’s downing shots rather than me? I’m the one who has become
telepathic.”
“We don’t know that yet.”
“Why are you so uptight?”
He coughed after downing the shot. “I
wanted to ask you the same thing.”
A low moan tumbled out of him as she
licked her lips after her third shot.
Holy shit
. Could this woman drink
him under the table? What was her deal, anyway? There was no doubt he wanted
her. The way she licked her lips made him want to strip her naked and take her
right there on the kitchen table.
Damn, she’s beautiful. All I can think
about is kissing her
.
Brandon lost count of how many shots
Kelsey knocked back, but his guess was around seven plus the beer.
“So, are you going to do this thing or
not?” She giggled. Her words slipped out of her in a slow and unsteady slur.
He gaped. Did she mean what he thought
she did? No way. He wouldn’t be the guy to take advantage of the drunk girl. No
matter how much he wanted her.
“I think it’s time for you to get some
sleep. You don’t want to do anything you’ll regret in the morning.”
Kelsey’s lips curled downward, and she
stomped her foot. “I see how you look at me. You wouldn’t have come over here
if you didn’t like me.”
“You’re drunk.”
She jabbed a finger at his chest. “So
what? I can be lots of fun. How do you know until you try?”
His gut ached, bile threatening to
rise. And not from the liquor. He had to get out of there before he made a really
bad decision.
She poked him again. “You don’t have
an answer for that, do you?”
Brandon climbed to his feet and took a
step back. “Kelsey, you’re beautiful. Any guy would be lucky to have you, but
you’re drunk. I’m not the right man. You deserve better than me.”
“What a bunch of bullshit.” She stood
and attempted to walk, but instead tripped over one of the chairs and fell to
her knees.