Resisting Velocity (13 page)

The bitter laugh that escaped him, paired with the lack of expression on his face, left a pang in her heart. “Nothing. Let’s just drop it.” He shook his head and held out a hand. “Still friends?”

“Always, Benji. So what now?”

“Dunno. I’m feeling a little better, even if I think this whole damn situation is beyond stupid.”

She blew out a breath, feeling like she should agree with him, but like she said before, she was torn. So she changed the subject instead. “Wanna go for a run?”

“Are you nuts? In broad daylight?”

“Maybe I have gone a little crazy, but I want to run. My wolf needs it.”

“All right.” His quick agreement relieved her, relaxed her. “Let’s do this.”

Charlie stepped forward and called on the shift, the danger of being caught mixed with the decadence of running in the daylight had her beast clamoring to go, go, go! She couldn’t believe she was actually doing this, even though security always picked a private area with surrounding woods for situations just like this.

She finished with her change and turned, only to feel a nudge against her shoulder. She shot Benji a wolfy grin and took off, headed towards the wooded lot at a dead run. Hearing Benji behind her, hot on her heels, Charlie dug in to pick up speed and together they ran, two friends enjoying the simplest of pleasures and the bond of pack.

***

With sex on his mind, Zane prowled back to his trailer. He imagined her sprawled out on his bed, one hand between her thighs, her fingers playing among the moist curls. His stomach clenched at the thought—he could nearly smell her, nearly taste her, sweet nectar on his tongue—and wound down the hall. The bathroom smelled fresh and moisture clung to the mirror.

He found himself excited, aroused, at the thought of having her again. Yeah, maybe Micah was right: Definitely the love bug. He’d never had the whim to screw the same woman more than a handful of times, but with Charlie it was different. He couldn’t explain it.

The bedroom was dark beyond the sunlight filtering in through the blinds. Pushing the door open, he couldn’t bite back the groan that escaped him as he flicked on the light.

And found nothing. The bedroom was empty and when he searched the trailer, he found it void of Charlie’s presence and despite knowing that the stalker, the explosion, the graffiti were only a figment of his creativity, he found himself pushing the panic button as he sought her out and came up empty handed.

“Charlie?”

Shit, she wouldn’t have left without a note. Spinning, he slammed through the door and down the steps. He turned to the tall guard on duty, a string-bean sort of guy with a buzz cut. “Have you seen Charlie Banks anywhere?”

The man looked at him, almost bored, as if he couldn’t be bothered to do his job. “Maybe?” he drawled out. “She might’ve passed by here. Yeah, that’s right; I think she went for a run.”

“But you can’t be sure?” When the guard only blinked at him, Zane scowled. “What’s your name, anyway?”

“Bud Hopkins.” He said it in a “What you gonna do about it?” tone that pissed Zane off.

“Consider yourself fired.” He would turn the place upside down looking for Charlie with the nagging pull in his gut the whole time. When he passed through to people shutting down, he thought he caught a whiff of wolf in the air. He stopped, breathed in short and sharp, and bolted into the woods. His sneakers pounded the ground as he weaved through trees.

“Charlie?” His relief was audible as he came up on a clearing to find her and Benji sitting on a log, their legs splayed out in front of them. His body shuddered, the panic curling into wisps of smoke. Charlie was safe—sweaty and smudged with dirt, her clothes wrinkled, but safe.

“What’s wrong?” Her eyes were wide as he stalked towards her. “Zane, I—” She gasped as he took her face in his hands and placed a demanding kiss upon those lips. Her hands fluttered at his chest and he backed away, breathing hard. “Zane?” It took her a moment to compose herself.

“I thought they’d gotten you,” he said softly, glancing sidelong to Benji. The other man stiffened, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Relief washed through Zane like a river. “I’m glad she was with you, Benj.” Another man would’ve been jealous that his friend and fellow band mate had gone for a romp with his girl, but he trusted Benji. And he trusted Charlie, so all he felt was relief.

He turned to Charlie, gathered her hands in his. “I want to take you out.”

“On a date?”

“Is that a problem? Yeah, I want to take you out. A night on the town, just you and me.”

She looked at Benji and he followed her gaze. The wolf looked sad, but nodded in a small way. Charlie released a breath and squeezed Zane’s hands. “Okay, it’s a date, but I want to clean up first. I feel like I just rolled in mud.”

Benji smirked. “You did.”

“See you later, Benj,” she said with a wave, then strode off. She left them in an awkward sort of silence. Zane watched her go for a moment, then turned to Benji on a sigh.

“Look. I’m sorry, man. I had no idea that you liked her.”

“Not that it matters.” Benji shrugged slender shoulders.

“It does. It feels like I stepped on your toes.”

He smiled wistfully. “She’s never liked me that way. I’m just the kid-brother type, always there and loyal to her, but she’s never seen me in the same light. But you…” He shook his head slowly. “She has that sparkle in her eye when you come around. I hate admitting it, knowing that I’ll never get my chance, but this is it for you, isn’t it?”

Zane tipped his head, curious. “What do you mean?”

“You’re ready to settle down. Your party days are over and your wolf is ready to mate. Maybe you’ll take Elysium once your parents step down. Maybe you’ll have a couple kids. Zane Alexander is smitten with a woman.”

Zane smiled, chuckling as he realized that Benji just hit the nail on the head. “Looks that way, huh? Still, I feel bad”

“No. Just, I meant what I said. I don’t want to see her hurt. I can’t stand the idea of picking up the pieces if you broke her heart. I’d take advantage of her sorrow, her emotions, and she’d have me—but not the way that I want.” He let out a low sigh. “She’s yours, Zane. Even if I challenged you, I’d have no chance. So congrats. Just be good to her.”

“I will.”

Benji smiled and in that moment, the shadows that seemed to plague him were lifted. “Go woo your woman, Zane,” he said and walked away, straight into the woods. Probably to run off the emotions warring inside of him, to chase off the disappointment.

Zane walked back to the trailer, nerves turning his stomach inside out the closer he got. He wanted to make tonight right, make it perfect—something she’d always remember, even when they were sixty and had grandchildren. Not just dinner and a movie, but laughs, maybe a few stolen kisses.

“You ready?”

Zane stood in the doorway as Charlie slipped on a pair of strappy black heels. She wore a slinky dress, one that hugged each and every perfect curve, and a black choker. She smiled at him, her summer eyes bright.

“I’d say you’re a little too dressed up, but damn, woman.” He let out a low whistle and Charlie seemed to glow. She was just radiant. He offered a hand. “I’m probably going to imagine stripping that dress off of you during the entire date, hope you know.”

She shot him an impish smile, a touch of the woman he’d slept with last night. “Good.”

They got in one of the band’s privately owned cars and drove into town. Streetlights and shrubs passed them in a blur, the city big and shiny. He wasn’t sure yet where he was taking her; he started out just driving aimlessly around, but when he saw the glow of rope lighting advertising an arcade and mini-golf, he knew that was it. Perfect. Remote enough that they could probably get through a couple rounds of golf without being spotted by fans, yet still fun.

When he pulled in, her eyes met his, surprised.

“Do you doubt my dating abilities?”

“Maybe.”

“I vow to make this the best night of your life, and that’s before I take you home for another round of mind-blowing sex.”

“Cocky.”

“So I’ve been told.” He flashed a smile, then got out of the car and went around to open her door. “Right this way, sweeting,” he said on a purr and she used his arm as leverage to climb out. His eyes slid down her back and she spun in a teasing little circle before taking off for the arcade. He was right on her tail.

The arcade was loud and brightly glaring, almost overwhelming and definitely not little-black-dress and heels approved, but Charlie took it in stride. She owned it and it made him want to take her out and ravish her. There would be time for that later, but damn. He paid for two rounds of golf, handed her a neon pink putter, and they went out the doors and onto the golf course.

“This is pretty homey,” she commented as she swung back. Her club hit the ball and it flew up the ramp, circling the hole and then dropping right in for a hole-in-one. “Hot damn! Did you see that?”

“Why do I have the bad feeling that I’m going to lose?”

“Is that a challenge? You’re on, Alexander.”

They spent the night laughing, taking turns knocking the ball around, and Zane found something he was truly horrible at. When he swung too hard on the last hole, the ball flew up, up, up—and landed in the little waterfall, plunking into the water with a splash. “Shit.”

“Aw, poor sport?” She flicked him on the nose. “I win.”

He grabbed her arm and gave a tug and she pressed up against him. One arm coiled around her waist while the other played with the dark curls at the nape of her neck, he gently tugged her head back and kissed her. “What do you say we go home and play a different sort of game?” He took her mouth again and again; he’d never grow tired of her.

She gave a mewl into his mouth and he pulled back. “At this rate, I don’t know if I’ll make it back home…”

His heart jumped. “Well we can’t do it right here—there’s little kids around.”

“What about the car?” Her eyes flashed with excitement, lighting up like bulbs on a Christmas tree. As she spoke, her hand trailed down, stroking against the denim of his jeans. He groaned and kissed her again.

“Car works.” Ditching the golf clubs at the last hole, Zane took her by the hand. They half-ran to the car parked in the lot, Charlie giving a gleeful giggle. “I’ll find us someplace secret to park, just give me a few minutes,” he said and kicked the car into gear on one final kiss.

Chapter Eleven

“Mmph!” The sound came out a startled mix of pain and sleepiness and Charlie looked over to see that she’d just cracked Zane square in the back of the head. She tried to suppress a giggle, but in too good of a mood after last night’s fun, she gave up the fight and laughed out loud.

“Damn it, woman. I was sleeping.”

“Good morning, Sunshine.”

“Blow me—again.”

“You’re an addict.”

Charlie let out a squeal as Zane tackled her, pinning her to the bed in one fell swoop. They wrestled for a few moments before his mouth found hers, then dipped lower. She threaded her fingers through Zane’s hair, wanting so badly to urge him on for another round, but knowing better.

Mustering up her last ounces of self control, she called a halt to their fun and smiled when Zane pouted. “You’ve got a lot to do today. Show day—and your fans will probably riot if you walk offstage early again.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve already gotten the lecture of the century from the guys and Conner. I’ll be good—this time.” The smile that he flashed was all too naughty.

After a luxurious shower in which Zane picked up where he left off, his kisses making heat blossom at her core and his fingers bringing her release, they slapped together breakfast and left the trailer. Her arm curled through his, the picture of young love, made her feel a sudden rush of possessiveness.

Things had slowly settled down. She and Zane were in a tentative relationship, the stalker attacks had ceased as quickly as they’d begun, and her friendship with Benji had been patched up. Now if they could only catch the bastard who had caused so much trouble, things would be gold.

“You in la-la land, sugar? Need me to wake you up?” Parker’s suggestive tone startled her. Somehow during her wandering thoughts, they’d ended up amidst the hustle and bustle backstage. Charlie rolled her eyes, gave him a wave, and went looking for a seat, but his next words made her turn back around. “Man, Char. You aren’t even telling me to shut up? Love is a strange master.”

Love? What was he even talking about? Sure, she was going against the grain having sex with her boss, but certainly she wasn’t already in
love
with him. Love didn’t happen like in the movies. It took time and work…right?

She gave a bark of laughter that felt more forced than real and went to sit down. She found a spot in the front row, right in the middle. Lost in her mind, Charlie didn’t notice that she had company sitting right beside her until the other woman spoke.

“So what, you’ve taken a sudden interest in banging Zane?”

Charlie stiffened at the tone in the short, scantily-clad wolf’s voice, bitterness lacing the edges. “Lola, how lovely to see you. You must’ve gotten backstage passes for tonight’s show.”