Authors: Shelly Laurenston

The Mane Attraction (29 page)

BOOK: The Mane Attraction

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Or this goddamn conversation?

For thirty minutes, they’d sat and tried to find something to talk about. Sissy couldn’t believe it. This was Mitch. Mitch who she’d had eight-hour-long conversations with while watching really bad late-night cable, only to realize it was dawn so they’d head out to the local diner for breakfast and another two-hour conversation.
That
Mitch she suddenly had nothing to say to.

And he wasn’t doing much better. He kept tapping the table with his fingers, and she briefly debated biting them off.

She’d known this would be a bad idea.

This sucks.

“What? Your shrimp cocktail?”

Shit.
Sissy hadn’t realized she’d said that out loud, and now she had those gold eyes watching her.

“No. This.” She dropped the shrimp she’d been holding for the last ten minutes back onto its plate. “We have nothing to say to each other, and considering we are two of the chattiest people I’ve known, that is saying a lot.”

Mitch let out a sigh. “I know. I feel awkward. I never feel awkward.” He briefly frowned and added, “I make other people feel awkward.”

Sissy reached across the table and patted his hand. “And you’re really good at that, too.”

He pushed his plate of potato skins away. “Okay. So what’s the problem?”

“We are. This isn’t us. I mean, I look like goddamn Gidget, and you’re acting like ... like ...”

“Like what?”

“Like Brendon.”

Mitch winced. “Ew.”

“I mean, are you comfortable in that sports jacket?”

“Do I
look
comfortable? It’s freakin’ hundred and two degrees outside, and he made me wear this goddamn thing. He tried to make me wear a suit.”

“Why?” Sissy asked dryly. “Are you planning on going to a funeral after our date?”

Finally, Mitch grinned. “Not unless it’s my own.”

“Take it off, Mitchell.”

“Okay.” He was already pulling the jacket off his big shoulders. “And you take off the dress.”

Sissy’s hands were reaching for the ties when she stopped and smirked at him. “Smooth.”

His grin grew wider. “Can’t blame a cat for trying.”

“Bastard.” But this time, she wasn’t mad.

“Okay. Keep the dress on, but that headband ...”

Sissy tore it off before he could finish and shook her hair out. “Better?”

“Oh, yeah.”

And Sissy liked how he said that. Like the lust was getting to him.

Resting her elbows on the table, she leaned way over and tried to peek down at his pants. “You sportin’ a lead pipe there, hoss?”

“At the moment, I could start my own plumbing company.”

Sissy laughed, and she knew the snotty cats and bears were staring at her, but she didn’t care. They’d left Smithtown and come into Taylor County. Mostly oblivious full-humans lived here, and it was considered neutral territory for the breeds. Of course, this fancy steakhouse got most of their business from the local cats, dogs, and bears. They did have a really good steak and gave very healthy portions.

“All right,” Mitch said as the waiter took their half-finished appetizers away. “You’ve gotta tell me how your aunts got you in that dress.”

“They wrestled me into it. Francine damn near broke my arm ... what are you doin’?”

Mitch had his head back and his eyes closed. “I’m replacing your aunts—lovely as they are—with Ronnie and Dee-Ann. There.” He looked at her and motioned for her to continue. “Go on. I’ve got the whole scenario set. It’s like one of those women in prison movies from the seventies.”

“There are oils involved, aren’t there?”

“Baby, there are always oils involved.”

The shoes eventually came off, too, tossed carelessly under the table, and Sissy’s feet were tucked up under her as she offered Mitch some of her New York strip steak. Like him, she preferred her meat medium rare.

“So explain to me how we got here tonight. The aunts wouldn’t tell me a damn thing.”

“I wanted to go on a date with you.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. Sorry that I wasn’t a little more interesting.”

“It’s not uninteresting. But I’m not usually the first girl guys think of when they want to go to a fancy dinner.”

“You are to me. I like you, Sissy. And if you draw that damn box again with your fingers, I’m breaking them.”

She quickly looked down at her food, but he got the feeling she was smiling. “Fine. Be like that. I’m only trying to keep us from getting ourselves into trouble.”

“It’s a little late for that.”

“I know.”

Mitch put down his knife and fork. “Okay, let’s look at some hard, cold facts. The whole boundaries thing doesn’t work for two people who spend their whole lives fucking with other people’s boundaries.”

“Oh, my God.” Sissy started laughing. “You’re right.”

“So let’s deal with realities. I’ll be going back to Philly next week. I testify, and then I’m gone. For good.”

Sissy looked up at him and nodded. “I know.”

“Then let’s really enjoy the time we have together.”

Sissy put her hand over his, and his cock became instantly hard from the innocent action. “You do understand you’ll never get over me, right? Every woman you’re with from now on, you’ll compare to me and find them lacking.”

She was joking, but he had the distinct feeling she was absolutely right. But Mitch was a take-your-enjoyment-where-you-can kind of guy. He wouldn’t be Mr. Hero and cut their time together short. Instead, he would enjoy every moment, every second.

“And you’ll never find a guy who’ll do you the way I do. You’ll be so unsatisfied in bed unless you’re fantasizing about me. I hope you’re ready for that.”

“I guess I’ll just have to suffer about that.”

“And suffer you will.” Mitch leaned across the table a bit. “But not yet.”

Sissy smiled. “I, uh, put something in your pocket when we were coming into the restaurant.”

“You did?” Mitch was usually pretty good about knowing when someone was putting something in or taking it out of his pocket. One of his favorite aunts was a notorious pickpocket, and she’d taught him a few things. But Sissy would have done her proud. Because when he grabbed the sports jacket he’d tossed onto the seat beside him and dug into the pocket, he found a black lace thong buried inside.

“When did you take these off?”

“When the aunts were arguing over the shoes.”

Mitch shoved the thong back into his pocket and started to slide out of the booth. “Time to go.”

“No. No, Mitchell Shaw.” Sissy’s smile was cruel and wicked at the same time. “You promised me a date, and a date I shall have.”

“Oh, come on!”

She pointed at the part of the booth where he’d been sitting. “You just put your butt back there, mister. So we can finish our date all properlike.”

With a heartfelt sigh, Mitch slid back across from her. “Can I at least sniff your thong?”

“Only when you’re in the bathroom. Don’t want anyone to think we’re tacky now, do we?”

Sissy rested back in that lovely booth, her feet in Mitch’s lap under the table. Their meal long since finished, they talked, and Mitch rubbed her feet, paying special attention to her instep.

“Okay, so what were you like when you were fourteen?”

Sissy laughed. “Fourteen? Why did you pull that number out of your ass?”

“I didn’t. It’s the one age you never discuss. You’ve discussed up to you turning thirteen when you said you woke up one day and boom, there were breasts. And when you were fifteen and started building cars. So what are you leaving out? What was Sissy Mae Smith like at fourteen?”

“I was mean, Mitch. I was really mean.”

“You sound like you regret it.”

“No.” And she realized she wasn’t lying. “I don’t regret it. I regret some of the things I did, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t have done them again if the situation called for it.”

“Words of a true Alpha.”

“Yeah. I guess. But it’s hard to grow up a Smith and not be a little bit ...”

“Unstable?”

Sissy scowled. “I was going to say a little bit mean.”

“Yeah, but Smitty isn’t mean.”

“Bobby Ray has selective memory. He may be nice when it suits him, but Lord help you if you cross that boy.”

“I try not to. I need the job until I testify.”

“I remember once back when we were at the mall and this bear, a big ol’ buck, grabbed Jessie Ann’s ass. Now we weren’t hanging together, but we were at the bookstore checking out the car magazines at the same time, and Jessie Ann was in the geek section—”

“And that’s the rest of the bookstore, I’m guessing.”

“Cute. Anyway, she did one of her ineffectual wild slaps, but I was surprised because Bobby Ray didn’t say anything. Up to this point, he was constantly protecting her. Found out he and the Reed boys waited for that bear outside the bowling alley a week later. Beat the shit out of him. He was big, too, so I think two-by-fours were used, but don’t quote me on that.”

“You knew then, didn’t you?”

“Knew what?”

“That Smitty and Jessie Ann were—”

“Made for each other? Yeah, I knew. I was surprised he left for the Navy without her. Hell, I was surprised he hadn’t gotten her pregnant by then. If nothing else, they’ll have cute kids. They’ll be insane hybrids with large heads, but cute.” That made Mitch laugh.

“What about you?” she asked. “What were you like at fourteen?”

Mitch thought about it a minute and answered honestly. “Horny.”

“You’re horny now.”

“I was hornier then.”

“That is truly scary.”

“Thank Christ I was the only male cub in the house at the time. I had my own room. I jerked off constantly.”

Sissy laughed. “Thank you for that little detail.”

“You asked me a question. I was trying to be as forthcoming as possible.”

“Did you get in a lot of fights?”

He snorted. “I was six-two by the time I was thirteen. Only the seniors tried to fuck with me, but they stopped after they met Brendon.” He grinned. “The first time he met me, I had a black eye, and he lost his mind. I told him who did it because I didn’t think he really cared. He beat the fuck out of that guy. In Philly, that’s a definite sign of caring.”

“So how come you didn’t trust him? How come you gave him such a hard time?”

“Because I was fourteen. And Marissa. Now she was mean.”

“You know now, though, right? How much they love you?”

“You’re not letting that go, are you?”

“Because you need to know. Look, I know Travis couldn’t care less if I lived or died. Same thing with Jackie. Donnie could go either way. But it’s knowing that Bobby Ray and Sammy love me and would protect me that makes up for the others. You need to know how much they love you. ’Cause let me tell you, coming down here is not one of Brendon’s favorite things.”

“Really?” And Mitch looked really perplexed. “ ’Cause I like it here a lot.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. It’s nice. Quiet.”

Sissy started to say something, but she was distracted when the waitress came by yet again. When she stood there and didn’t move, Sissy glared up at her, making the girl step back.

“Is there something you want, darlin’?”

“Um ...” The little full-human swallowed. “We’re actually closing ... or are closed ... or whatever. But feel free to stay!” she spit out in a rush before running off.

Mitch looked around. “Shit. We’re the only customers left.”

Sissy laughed again. “Maybe it is time to go home then.”

Slowly, Mitch looked at her, that gold gaze stripping her naked right there. “I think that’s a very good idea,” he growled.

Leaning across the table, Sissy snarled, “Then you better move that fine ass, hoss. I’m gettin’ needy.”

Chapter 24

T
hey didn’t even make it out of the car. One second, Mitch was shutting off the ignition, the next he had a persistent and determined Sissy Mae in his lap. With remarkable speed, she had the seat and him flat—Mitch didn’t even know if seats on the Barracuda could recline back. Yet he had the distinct feeling if they couldn’t, that would be the first thing Sissy and Ronnie Lee would rectify.

Even with the side windows open, they still managed to steam up the back window, and Mitch already had the top part of Sissy’s dress down around her waist.

To be honest, he’d never enjoyed making out in a car so much before.

Mitch pulled Sissy’s head to the side and began to kiss her neck and shoulder—that’s when he saw them watching.

“Aaah!”

Sissy jumped. “What? What’s—” Her eyes narrowed, and he saw her fangs slide out as she stared out the driver’s side window. “What the hell are you old bitches doin’?”

“Sissy Mae,” Francine explained primly, although she looked more than a little amused, “only whores sleep with a man on the first date.”

“I’m really beginning to hate you.”

Janette leaned in a little and looked around the car. “Nice. But Ronnie Lee will have your ass if you screw around in her car.”

“Go. Away.”

Darla seemed thoughtful as she stared at Sissy. “You’ve got titties just like your momma.”

“
That is it!”
Sissy sat straight up and immediately slammed her head on the roof. “
Goddamnit!”

“Mouth like her momma, too,” Francine laughed. She motioned to her sisters. “Let’s leave these lovepups to their business. We left you children dessert. Enjoy.”

Sissy rubbed the back of her head and stared down at Mitch. “Would it have been that horrible to be an orphan? I mean, really?”

Mitch shrugged. “I like ’em.”

“Fine. They can be your aunts then.” She rested against his chest, and he pushed her hand out of the way so he could rub the back of her head.

“They only bust your balls because they like you as much as they love you. It’s a compliment.”

“Whatever.” She settled a little more against his chest.

“Sissy?”

“Hhhmm?”

“They left us dessert.”

Her head came up off his chest as if in slow motion, and those light brown eyes stared at him behind lowered brows. “And?” she asked, pretty much daring him to say the words.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Dessert will be great later.
Much
later.”

She sniffed, as arrogant as any lioness, and rested back against his chest.

The mood broken by her damn aunts, Sissy went in the house fully expecting to start cutting the pies or cakes they’d probably left behind. But when she turned around to ask Mitch if he wanted coffee, she found him staring at her like she was a wounded impala.

“What?” She glanced down at herself and ... nope. Everything was in order. She’d pulled her top back up before leaving the car since she wouldn’t put it past more of her relatives to be hanging around.

“Come here.” She took a step, and Mitch held his hand up, halting her. “Take off the dress.”

No problem there. She hated the damn thing. In Sissy’s estimation, dresses had been devised to slow women down when they needed to run away. The straps on her shoulders were already untied, and she tugged down the tight bodice until her breasts were bare. She pushed the dress past her hips and to the floor.

He chuckled. “Where are the shoes, baby?”

“Uh ... under the table at the restaurant.” Sissy put her hands on her hips. “Think you can manage without the shoes?”

“I guess. But don’t you think they do wonders highlighting my calves?”

It started off as a small snort, and then Sissy was doubled over on the couch laughing. Mitch had a way of doing that to her. Making her hot one second and laughing hysterically the next. When he could do both at the same time, she’d be so screwed.

When Mitch rolled her onto her back, he was already naked. He lifted her up, carrying her in his arms as he went up the stairs. He took her into her bedroom and dumped her on the bed. After she stopped laughing, she looked up at him.

“Are you ready for me, Sissy Mae?”

She snorted again. “You have to stop.”

Mitch put his hands on his hips, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Ready to partake of this level of perfection?”

“I am
begging
you to stop.”

He turned his head away, lifted his chin. “Of this true symbol of all that is good and right in men?”

And that’s when Sissy lost it again, rolling back and forth on the bed, tears streaming down her face.

The bed dipped, and Mitch grabbed hold of Sissy’s ankles, pulling her legs apart before he dragged her down to him. He wrapped her legs around his waist and dropped forward, catching himself with his hands. He hovered above her, his eyes watching her.

“Christ, I love making you laugh.”

And he said it with such feeling that Sissy went warm and dripping, pushing herself up on her elbows and capturing Mitch’s mouth with her own. He groaned and relaxed into her, pressing her into the bed with his weight.

With Mitch’s forearms braced on either side of Sissy’s head, their kiss became deeper, more intense. He slid inside her, and Sissy pulled her knees up, trying to pull him in further. Her hands reached down and gripped his ass, squeezing and digging her fingers into the taut flesh.

Something was different, and Sissy wasn’t sure what. And she couldn’t even focus long enough to figure it out. Mitch’s thrusts were slow, deep, and powerful. Afraid she’d lose control and unleash her claws or—more importantly—her fangs, Sissy wrapped one arm around his neck, holding Mitch to her. Her free hand reached back and grabbed hold of the headboard. She felt like it was the only thing anchoring her to this world, to this moment. Damned if at times like these she wouldn’t follow the man like a puppy after a tennis ball.

With him completely surrounding her, Sissy should have felt trapped. She should have been fighting to get out from under, to be right on top, taking control. She always took control. But she loved what he was doing to her, and she didn’t want to fight it.

So she didn’t. She didn’t fight Mitch or herself. She simply held on to him and her headboard and let him take her wherever he wanted to go.

Something was different. Different ... and ... and so damn
amazing
. Mitch didn’t know what to do with himself. Sissy was warm and solid underneath him, her breath a soft pant in his ear.

He held her face between his hands and kissed her jaw, her cheeks, her neck. When he kissed her mouth, her grip on him tightened, and her body began to shake beneath his.

Mitch placed his palms flat against the mattress on either side of Sissy and raised himself over her. He took her slower but harder, watching her face to see what each thrust did to her. Watching to see if she was feeling anything close to what he was feeling.

Her eyes fluttered open, and her gaze caught his. Her arms reached up, and those long fingers speared into his hair, massaging his scalp until he was purring her name. Then Sissy’s eyes clouded, her breath catching in her throat. Mitch held off his release, instead choosing to watch Sissy’s. She came so beautifully, torso arching, head thrown back. She bit her lip and looked away from him. But he kept fucking her until a sob burst from her and she climaxed again. She didn’t hold anything back this time. Simply pulled him down until she could bury her face against his neck, short, hard breaths racing against his skin.

Mitch came then. Buried deep inside her, holding her to him.

They didn’t have much time together, but the time they were together Mitch knew he’d never forget.

BOOK: The Mane Attraction

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