Moonlight Kin: A Wolf's Tale (11 page)

He knew the pup was young and impetuous. Hell, Damon had been the same way at that age. Luc was only looking out for the pack, unlike his Alpha, who was finding it harder and harder to distinguish between loyalty lines. Once he had calmed down, Damon realized he’d overreacted.

Luc was his friend, his Beta. He trusted him with his life.

Yet, it was Madie who’d haunted him all day. Visions of her lush body danced before his eyes. Her skin soft and pliant, her mouth inviting. His palms itched at the thought of touching her. Damon imagined her in so many phases of undress that his shaft became engorged and he needed to stand.

Damn her. He was the one who was supposed to be doing the seducing.

Her sinfully full lips taunted him. She’d welcome his need there, too. He’d envisioned her snowy hair, so much like silk, splayed across his down pillows. Silk on silk. Body on body. Wolf on prey.

In his mind, he’d removed her clothing repeatedly, sometimes ripping them from her, at other times peeling the fabric away in layers, excruciatingly slow. His fingers trembled at the thought and his cock jerked.

Damon shook his head and gripped the edge of his maple desk, trying to clear the unwelcome fantasies. He heard something snap and looked down to find that he was holding part of his desk.

Crap! Now he’d have to replace the desk. Damon dropped the wood and examined his palm. Instead of seeing a wound, Madie’s face flashed before him again, taunting. This was not good. He needed to take things slow. If she truly was a virgin, he couldn’t pounce on her and rut like a beast or he’d scare her away.

Damon glanced at the clock and cursed. He’d have to make it a quick shower, if he was going to catch Madie before she got off work at Berta’s Diner. It was time he made her
suffer
like he was.

***

The bell on the door clanged against the glass. Madie shook her head. Only Sarah managed to make that sort of a ruckus. She turned to playfully chastise her friend. Instead of Sarah, Damon stood in the doorway a sexy grin on his lips.

He wore snug fitting blue jeans that lovingly cupped his sex and a black long sleeved shirt that could easily be mistaken for a second skin. The matte fabric clung to his chest like a barnacle, outlining his wide shoulders and every ripple of his washboard abdomen.

Madie sucked in a surprised breath and glanced at the clock on the wall. “W-what are you doing here so early?”

“I wanted a cup of coffee.” He smiled disarmingly. “Is that all right?”

“No. I mean sure.” She stammered. “Sit down. I’ll get you one.”

Damon glided the rest of the way into the little shop and sat on a bar stool at the counter. She could feel heat radiating from his body like a furnace or maybe it was just her nerves. Madie scooted around the counter with a pot of coffee in her hand and refilled the cups of the few people seated at the tables.

She couldn’t even focus on their faces with him so near. Her fingers trembled until she had to use both hands to steady the pot.

What had really brought Damon here? It couldn’t be the coffee. It wasn’t that good.

Madie walked back behind the counter and put the coffee pot on the warmer. Picking up her pad, she strolled over to Damon. “What can I get you?”

His eyes raked her from head to toe, then he said, “I’m in the mood for something sweet.” A wicked grin slashed across his handsome face. “Since I can’t have what I want, I’ll start with coffee and a slice of pie.”

“You’re going to ruin your appetite,” she said without thought.

His smile widened. “Don’t worry, I’m always hungry.”

Madie swallowed hard. She wasn’t about to touch that one. She pointed to a chalkboard behind her, which listed today’s specials, along with the diner’s selection of fresh baked pies. “What kind of pie?”

“For some reason, cherry comes to mind.”

The line was corny, but effective. Her heart gave a hard jolt.

He licked his lower lip.

Her gaze subconsciously followed his tongue’s movement. The look in his eyes should be illegal, but she was glad that it wasn’t. Madie’s dormant body responded in an instant, leaving her breathless.

Out of self-preservation, she retreated to fetch the pie. Her mind searched frantically for something to talk about, since she’d never had anyone flirt this hard with her.

Get a grip, Madie. The man just ordered pie, for goodness sake.

She sliced him a large piece and put it on a plate. Madie’s hand trembled as she reached for the whip cream can. She shook it hard and aimed the nozzle at the pie. White foam exploded out of the can, covering the pie and the wall behind it.

This wasn’t happening.

Madie closed her eyes and counted to five, before cracking one eyelid open. Whipped cream oozed down the wall in white fluffy clumps.
Please don’t let him have noticed.

She glanced over her shoulder, praying for a miracle. No such luck. Damon’s eyes sparkled and his whole body shook as he tried his best not to laugh.

Madie walked over to where he sat and dropped the plate on the counter in front of him. “Here’s your pie.”

Damon laughed even harder.

It wasn’t that funny. “Coffee?” Madie asked through gritted teeth.

“Please.” He gave her an innocent grin that on anyone else might have been convincing.

She grabbed a clean cup, filled it to the brim, and handed it to him. “Would you like cream with your coffee?”

He snorted. “Why not?”

Madie glared, then reached for the cream. Damon stopped her. He lifted her captured hand to his lips and proceeded to lick off a spot of whip cream that she hadn’t noticed dangling from her fingers.

Madie’s breathing stuttered and her senses locked onto the velvety rough texture of his tongue. Moisture fled from her mouth and headed south between her thighs. If he could do that just by licking her hand, what he could to the rest of her?

She bit back a groan and closed her eyes as her thoughts shifted to where else he could use that tongue.

Damon released her fingers and Madie’s eyes flew open in time to see him wink.

“Tease,” she muttered under her breath.

He laughed again. “Never.”

Damon finished his pie and paid Madie, leaving her a generous tip. He walked toward the door, stopping short before opening it. He looked over his shoulder at her, holding her gaze for what felt like hours, but was only a few seconds.

The world seemed to stop.

Damon smiled. “See you later,” he said, then glided out the door.

Chapter Twelve

Madie walked around for the next few hours in a haze. Berta greeted her with a smile, when she came in. The grin slipped off the woman’s face the second she got a good look at Madie.

“Only one thing puts that kind of expression on a woman’s face, and that’s a man. Come over here honey and tell Berta all about it.” The woman took Madie under the arm and led her to a booth in the back. “Charles,” she shouted to her husband, “you take care of the customers for a few minutes. I’ve got a crisis to solve.”

Madie let Berta seat her. Berta then wobbled over to the counter and picked up two cups. She filled them with coffee and ambled back. She placed one in front of Madie and the other across the table. She returned to the counter for a couple of forks, and then swiped the chocolate cake from the mini-fridge. She placed the confection between them and sat down.

“I’ve got a feeling this talk is going to need chocolate.” She nodded her head knowingly and shoved a fork in the side of the cake, producing what passed for a bite in Berta’s book. “You know Berta don’t work well, when she’s hungry.”

Madie laughed despite herself. She picked up her fork and dug into the chocolate cake. It was moist, sweet and decadent. Just what the doctor ordered. She took a sip of coffee, and then looked into Berta’s big brown eyes.

“Tell all child, I’m dying of curiosity. Who is this man that’s got your panties so wound up?”

Madie sighed. “You don’t know him.”

Berta brow furrowed. “I know everybody. Now spill.”

“His name is Damon Laroche.”

Berta whistled between the gap in her teeth. “Mmm-mmm, he’s a fine looking man. Could put the giddy-up in any girl’s drawers.” She giggled and took another bite of cake.

Madie played with the crumbs on the table.

“You’ll feel better once you get it all out.” Berta took another bite. “Lordy that’s good.”

“I really like him, but I’m worried he’s way out of my league,” Madie said. “He’s really
worldly
.”

“Girl, whatchu mean by worldly? Is he foreign or something?” Berta asked.

Madie shook her head and heat flooded her face.

Berta stared at her as she licked the frosting off her fork. “Now I understand.” Her brown eyes softened and she lowered her voice. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. If Damon is as worldly as you say, he’s going to know patience. He’ll be understanding when it comes to…you know what. Just don’t let him rush you, if you’re not ready.”

“You probably think a twenty-four year old is stupid for worrying about something like this,” Madie said.

Berta jabbed her fork into the cake and shoveled out another hunk. “Nothing stupid about it. Sometimes I wish I would’ve waited for the ‘one’, but I am not a patient woman.” She chuckled, causing the extra layer of love around her stomach to jiggle.

Madie felt better after talking to Berta. If nothing else, it helped calm her nerves.

The woman smiled and patted Madie’s hand. “You think about what I’ve said, child. I have to get Charles out of here and to bed. All this talk of sexy men has got me itchin’, if you know what I mean?”

Berta rose from the table. “You still okay with closing by yourself?”

“Sure.” Madie nodded. “It’ll give my mind something else to think about.”

“Don’t think too hard. Men like Damon Laroche don’t come around often.” Berta laughed, and then hollered for Charles.

Madie watched the older couple exit the diner hand in hand. She picked up the cake, took it to the back, and placed it in the refrigerator. The last of the customers wandered out five minutes before closing. Madie wiped down the stove area and workspace. She dropped the used rags into the laundry bag and brushed her hands on her apron.

She was about to leave the kitchen when she heard the bell clang on the door. Madie looked at her watch. It was eight-thirty, well past closing. She’d already turned off the ‘open’ sign and was pretty sure she’d locked the door. Maybe it was Damon. She’d hoped to have a few minutes to get ready before he arrived, but didn’t mind that he was early.

“Hey,” Madie yelled out.

No answer came.

It was probably just Sarah messing with her again. Madie walked through the kitchen. She was headed toward the counter, when the lights went out. She stopped in her tracks.

“Sarah?” she called out tentatively. “This is so not funny. Now turn the lights back on.”

Nothing.

Something wasn’t right. Madie crouched down on her knees and crawled forward until she could peek out from behind the counter. In the doorway stood a man. From the streetlight, she could see that he wore a mask.

Blood roared in her ears. She could taste her own fear as bile rose in her throat. She ducked back behind the counter and searched for another way out.

The man took a step forward. His boots scraped over the tile floor like there was a pebble caught in the tread. He walked past the cash register, not even breaking stride. If he was there to rob the place, why didn’t he stop to check it?

Madie couldn’t seem to slow her breathing. She looked around the counter again. The man now stood ten feet away from where she was hiding. Up close he was big—really big.

Where was Damon? He should’ve been here by now.

Madie crawled back into the kitchen as silently as possible. Her ears strained to hear telltale footsteps that would let her know that the man had followed. She made it across the kitchen floor to the back storage area, which had an outer door that was used for delivering fresh produce.

The outer door stuck and had always been hard to open. It also screeched loud enough to wake the dead. Berta had planned on replacing it eventually, but she hadn’t gotten around to it yet. The second Madie went for the door the man would hear her. She had to slow him down somehow.

Madie turned the knob and slipped inside the storage room as quietly as she could. It was impossible to see in the darkness. By feel, she went around the room, searching for anything that could be propped against the door. She needed something to buy her a few precious minutes, while she pried open the other door. She found a couple of crates full of what felt like cabbages off to the side. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

Pots and pans hit the floor.

She used the clatter to cover the sound of her dragging the crates across the floor. Madie stacked them against the door as quietly as she could, then made her way to the back entrance. The alley lay on the other side. Madie’s fingers trembled as she tried to open the door. As per usual, it wouldn’t budge.

She heard the doorknob to the kitchen rattle.

Madie yanked hard, putting all her weight behind it.

The door leading into the kitchen clicked, then hit the crates with a bang.

Madie started screaming and banging on the outer door, trying to get out. The crates she’d placed as an obstacle fell over and were quickly pushed aside. Madie wheeled around and hit the light switch. She scanned the room for a weapon. Any kind of weapon. There was nothing, only produce. “What do you want?”

The masked man stepped through the door, holding one of Berta’s kitchen knives.

Madie let out another bloodcurdling scream and wrenched the door with all her strength. The door came off its hinges.

She dashed through the opening, still clutching the doorknob. She looked back over her shoulder as she ran down the alley to the side street. The man shoved the door out of the way and loped behind her, as if he was enjoying the chase.

She made a quick right and headed for the main road. She turned a corner and ran face first into Damon Laroche.