Dance on the Wilde Side: Cannon Pack, Book 2 Page 13

  “Very funny. Ha-ha.” Conrad rolled his eyes at him, then pointed at a box-shaped hunter winding his way through the throng of bar patrons rushing for the door. “Damn. This one’s called Skanland and he’s carrying something more deadly than a bottle.”

  Skanland hurried toward them, his hand stuck inside his leather jacket. His lips curled into a snarl, accenting the thick scar running along the side of his neck. As the hunter drew closer, he pulled out a large handgun and pointed it at Conrad.

  Conrad groaned and shook his head. “Well, shit. Why do they always aim for the big guy first?”

  “Bigger target.” Devlin lurched forward but Skanland darted away. “Don’t try it, shifter, or your canine crony here is roadkill.”

  The animal raged inside Devlin, begging for release, and he scanned the room around him. Too many eyes would witness his transformation if he shifted. Yet he couldn’t stop his fangs from lengthening. He opened his jaws in a challenge. “Hunter, you pull the trigger and I’ll rip out your bowels.” A sneer lifted his lips at the flicker of fear in Skanland’s eyes. “I haven’t had dinner yet and I’ll eat anything. Even hunter guts.”

  “Now, boys, what’s the problem?” Conrad snaked his arm around Devlin’s waist. “My sugar daddy here and I were having a little drinkie-poo together when your friends—” he wiggled his wrist to flap his fingers at the unconscious hunters, “—decided to break up our little tête-à-tête. Wasn’t that just plain rude?” Sliding away from Devlin, Conrad sashayed a few feet closer to the hunter. “Oh, I get it. Are you wanting to get with us, too? Huh, sweet thang?” He puckered his lips, pouting at the man.

  Devlin couldn’t help but admire his friend’s courage—even if he didn’t care much for his humor. “Man, be careful.” He widened his eyes, shooting his friend an unmistakable signal. “His finger’s already twitching.”

  The squat hunter took a step back, revulsion written on his face. “What the crap? Keep your queer paws off me, you limp-wristed dogface.”

  Conrad feigned a shocked expression, clamping his hands over his mouth and puffing up in fake indignation. “I can not believe you just said those mean, horrible things to me. You are a bad, bad, bad little man.”

  “C, don’t push it. Hunters are stupid, but Skanland doesn’t look that stupid.”

  Skanland darted his gaze between the two shifters. “Never thought there could be anything worse than a shifter. Now I know there is. A fag shifter.”

  Conrad tsked and shook his index finger at him. “We prefer the word homosexual, you uncouth pig. How very un-PC of you.”

  Devlin shrugged at his friend’s see-I-told-you-so expression. “Then again, maybe I’m wrong.”

  Skanland pressed the muzzle of the gun against Conrad’s forehead, pointing his chin at Devlin. “So you know my name, huh? Good. You should know who’s going to wipe you and all the other mongrels off the face of the earth.” He glared at Devlin. “Listen to your friend, dog breath. When my associates wake up, we’re all going to take a little walk outside to my van and head on over to a party at my house. You’re gonna love our party favors.”

  Conrad pushed the gun away and jumped up and down, clapping his hands together. “Yippee! A party. Oh, but wait. I forgot. We’ve already made plans for the evening.”

  Devlin caught the direction of Conrad’s glance and nodded his understanding. “He’s right, friend. No offense, but we’d rather party with them.” He looked past Skanland to the person standing behind him.

  “Come on, do you think I’d fall for that old trick? I ain’t stupid, you know.” Skanland rolled his upper lip in scorn at Devlin’s unspoken disbelief. “I ain’t!”

  Devlin tilted his head and shrugged. “If you say so. But my daddy always told me you shouldn’t ignore a lady with a stun gun.”

  Skanland had just enough time to turn around and find the red-haired barfly standing behind him. “Fuck!”

  “Bye, bye, jerk face.” She rammed the weapon against his neck.

  Spasms jerked the hunter’s body and he hit the floor face first.

  “Talk about in the neck of time.” Conrad cocked his head at the redhead, aiming his glorious smile at her. “Get it? Neck of time? You, sweetheart, are a lifesaver.”

  The redhead saluted him and kicked the hunter’s gun under the bar. “No problem. I cain’t stand to see anyone picked on by bullies. Especially not yummy-looking hunks like you two.”

  Devlin released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d held in check. “And I’m glad you did. Thanks for the assistance.”

  “No problem.” Red’s fire-engine lips spread wide and Devlin couldn’t help comparing her to the Tasmanian She-Devil. He swallowed, forcing the unsettling image from his head.

  “She can’t take all the credit. The stun gun’s mine.” The big-breasted blonde standing next to Red batted her eyes first at Conrad and then Devlin.

  “Yeah, but I taught her how to use it, Betty.” The last of the trio, a skinny brunette, pushed her way between her friends. “All you did was let Roxy try it out on you.”

  Betty blinked twice, opened her mouth to speak and came up empty.

  What we have here is a lack of brain function. Devlin couldn’t believe the absurdity of their conversation. Roxy, aka Red, had used Betty Big Breasts as her guinea pig for stun gun training? “Then we should thank all of you.”

  “My friend is right. We should thank you. With everything we have to offer.”

  Sometimes his friend could charm a worm out of an apple. Although clean breath would charm these girls.

  “How about we get out of here?” Roxy and Betty slid into Conrad’s welcoming embrace. “I don’t want to be around when those guys come to.”

  The skinny one pouted and gave Devlin a give-me-a-hug face. Succumbing to the moment, he wrapped his arm around her and followed his friend and the other women to the front door. The girls’ giggles echoed around the room and Conrad dropped his hands to squeeze their rumps.

  Slinging the bar door open, the big man and the girls made a straight arrow to a multicolored Volkswagen Beetle convertible. Devlin tried to release his hold on the other girl, but she kept a death-grip on his waist.

  Roxy jumped into the back seat and motioned for Conrad to do the same. “Come on, man. Let’s head on over to our place and keep the good times going.”

  Betty clapped her hands in delight and hopped up and down, turning her huge mammary glands into quivering mountains of flesh. “Ooh, goodie. Playtime with boy toys.” She squashed into the back seat next to Conrad and tossed the keys to Devlin’s human attachment. “You drive, Trixie. I don’t want to miss a minute with my new honey bun.” Licking her lips like a fox in a henhouse, she ran her gaze up and down Conrad’s body. “I bet he’s got a long hard one just ready to make me all hot and happy.”

  Roxy, however, wasn’t about to give up an inch. Especially not an inch of male. “Hey, who said he’s yours? I’m the one who saved his cute tush tonight. So I should have dibs on him first.”

  Conrad wiggled his eyebrows at Devlin and ate up the attention from the two complaining women. “Now, girls, there’s no need to fuss. Trust me. My friend and I have more than enough to satisfy all of you.” He planted a quick kiss on Roxy’s ruby lips.

  “Hey!” Betty stuck out her lower lip until he laid a smack on her, too.

  “Dev, get a move on.” He sent him a wink that said, “Don’t worry. It’s just a little fun.”

  Trixie tugged at Devlin. “Yeah, Devvy. Come on. Let’s go. You can ride shotgun for me.”

  Devlin’s mind flew into high gear, visualizing a shotgun in the hands of Trixie’s backwoods father. The image shook him, racing along his spine to tingle in his feet, urging them to take flight. No way would he risk another load of buckshot in the ass. Taking her arms, he gently pried her away from him. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I’ll have to pass.”

  “There they are!”

  The hunters exited the bar and stormed toward them, albeit it on wobbly le
gs. Impressive speeds for men recovering from a serious beat-down. Unfortunately, hunters were notoriously hardheaded and resilient.

  Devlin pushed a protesting Trixie around the front of the car and into the driver’s seat. “Girls, I suggest you hit the road.”

  “Get in, man. This is no time to hang around here.” Conrad lifted up to reach for Devlin, but Roxy and Betty dragged him back into the seat again.

  Devlin snarled at the men moving closer to the car and slammed the car door after Trixie. “Damn it all to hell and back.” Hurdling over the door, Devlin landed in the passenger’s seat just as Trixie turned over the engine.

  “Where’d you pick up that phrase, dude?”

  But Devlin didn’t have time to answer. Trixie gleefully shouted at the top of her lungs, soon joined by Roxy and Betty, and stomped her foot to the gas pedal. Gravel shot in the air and rained down on the angry men chasing behind them.

  “Zero to sixty, sweet man. Zero to sixty.” Trixie laughed, her ratted hair holding as hard as a rock against the wind. The crowded Bug flew into traffic. Horns blared and drivers cursed as Devlin held onto the handle and prepared to die. And Tala thinks my driving is bad.

  Thirty minutes later, after seven near collisions, a couple of incidents of road rage, and one fender-bumping mishap with a stop sign, Trixie pulled into a rundown apartment building’s parking lot and swung into a space beneath a metal carport. Shoving the gear into P, Trixie shouted for the girls to pile out of the car and take the men along with them.

  “Woo-hoo! Testosterone time!”

  ƒ

  George hid in a corner of the deli behind a wall of newspaper and spied on Tala Wilde. Bitch. He gritted his teeth, hatred searing through him. Her animalistic boyfriend had almost killed him and she’d had the balls to fire him. Hell, she’d done it even when she didn’t have the authority to do so.

  He rubbed his neck where the bruise still remained, a purplish green reminder of his humiliation at the hands of her wolf-loving companion. But no matter. Revenge would heal all his wounds.

  The bitch handed money to the clerk behind the counter and took her sandwich. When she turned his way, he lifted his paper higher, waited a few seconds, then held his breath and peeked around the edge. Whew. She didn’t notice me. Releasing his pent-up breath, he brought the coffee cup to his lips and was shocked to see his hand shake. Shit. Get a grip, man. Placing the cup down before he let it slip through his trembling grasp, he watched the bitch stride from the deli. Although he wanted nothing more than to jump up and hit her, he remained seated, knowing he’d have to bide his time.

  Devlin. She’d called her boyfriend Devlin. Remembering Devlin’s hands on him wasn’t half as scary as remembering the way the man’s—the freak’s—features had morphed, with long vicious-looking teeth protruding from his mouth. What the hell was he anyway?

  Just like before, fear swept through him and he swallowed the bile rising to his throat.

  He waited a moment longer before throwing a couple of dollars on the tabletop and lurching out of his chair to hurry through the door. Tala was several yards away, moving at a rapid speed. He frowned and stretched out his stocky legs to keep up with her incredible pace. Since when had she gotten so fast? The way she moved her body had changed, too. Instead of short paces, she flowed along with more fluid, more powerful strides. Although he struggled to keep up, he soon lost sight of her.

  Doesn’t matter. She’ll find out she can’t treat me the way she did and not get punished. He licked his lips, the thrill of imagining her cowering before him giving him an added burst of adrenalin. You’re gonna come crawlin’ on your knees. It’s payback time, bitch.

  Chapter Seven

  Tala surveyed the area behind her apartment and chewed on her bottom lip. Damn him to hell and back. Why do I always get involved with all the offbeat men of the world?

  “Crap.” She headed to the kitchen for one last cup of coffee. Just like the last five cups she’d called “the last one”. But she’d known she wouldn’t get any sleep tonight. Not with her stomach as torn up as her heart.

  Where the hell can he be? She scowled at her reflection in the microwave and punched the Start button to heat up the coffee. Well, what do I care, anyway? I’m the one who threw him out. Good riddance. “Argh!”

  Picking up her cup with care—even though she felt more like throwing it—she traced her steps back to the sliding glass door. Leave it to her to get hung up on a man she’d just met. A man she knew nothing about. Or was the mystery, the possible danger, part of his attraction? Maybe, but she could sense there was more to it. He called to her in some unknown, primal way as though they were meant for each other.

  She peered into the woods around her home and stared at the moon. To top it off, he had her wishing he was out there, snooping on her again.

  She sipped the hot brew and let her mind wander. What if he’s hurt again? “No, he’s fine. Better than fine.” But even saying the words out loud didn’t make her feel better. She reached up to rub the marks on her neck. He bit me. How strange is a man who bites a woman? Even if it did turn me on. And stranger yet, who heals as fast as he did?

  The man had more secrets than she liked, but she couldn’t rid herself of the memory of him licking along her body, around the curve of her breasts. The place between her legs clenched and she groaned, needing him more than ever. Better to keep my mind away from sex. At least until he comes back. She blew out an exasperated sigh. No doubt about it. She wanted him back. Mentally shaking herself, she put her mind on the questions he’d left unanswered.

  How had Devlin healed so fast? Had she thought the injury was worse than it really had been? She’d seen enough wounds on animals to know his injury wasn’t a scratch. Yet, without proper medical help, the wound had closed up and starting scarring over. Even the scars weren’t that bad.

  So the man heals fast. So what? Healing quickly isn’t a bad thing, after all. Unusual, maybe. But biting people? A man who bites while making love? She remembered Devlin’s insistence on the term “making love” instead of “having sex” and smiled. Lots of people do kinky stuff in bed and by some people’s standards, biting is pretty tame. Still…

  Tala moved her hand along her neck, massaging out the rigidity in her muscles. The memory of Devlin’s tongue on her body sent renewed goose bumps along her arms. Damn it all to hell and back. He’s the best lover I’ve ever had.

  Wanting him as a lover was one thing. Yet the deeper, stronger urge ripping her heart apart took hold and held on. Devlin was more than just a good lay. Something about him called to her, making her ready to throw all logic aside and follow him anywhere. Even to hell and back.

  She renewed her stance at the window. Could she take him in again? Would she let him in her bed again? And even more important, should she let him in her heart forever?

  ƒ

  At this point, Devlin was unsure if the Bar Bitch Trio were more of a danger than the hunters. Trixie held on to his arm and pulled him toward her apartment, making his gut churn.

  He protested each step of the way, but she dismissed each of his not-so-polite arguments and ignored his not-so-subtle attempts to break free. As they drew closer to her door, he gave up the pretense of civility and jerked his arm out of her grasp. “Look! I’m sorry!”

  Conrad, flanked by Betty and Roxy, swiveled around and scowled at him. The girls gaped at his outburst. Cocking his head, the C-man shot him a warning look. “Problem, Dev?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got a problem.” The low pitch of his voice laid down a challenge, drawing an invisible line in the sand.

  The foursome glared at him, ready to meet his dare. Roxy spoke up, ice dripping from her tone. “So what’s your problem? Is Trixie not good enough for you?”

  Hunters, where are you when I need you? Right now he wouldn’t mind getting shot and mounted on one of their walls. “Uh, sure she is.” He smiled at Trixie, the picture of Daddy’s Little Girl Gone Wrong with confusion, anger and hope somehow
managing to show up under all the heavy makeup. “But I can’t be with any woman.”

  A stunned silence followed his statement. He grimaced. A blind man could see what they were thinking. Oh, shit.

  Roxy turned to each of her friends before narrowing her eyes at him. “But wasn’t the gay thing a gag for the bully?” She stepped back from Conrad, skimming her eyes up and down his body. “Are you telling me you two really are together? And I mean, together-together.” Making a circle with her thumb and middle finger, she poked the index finger of her other hand through the hole she’d formed.

  Devlin couldn’t wait to correct her. “No, no. You don’t understand.”

  Trixie stepped up to him, pressing her skinny frame against him. “No, sweet man, we understand real good. And I’m sorry if we dragged you along for nothing. We didn’t know you was really gay. If we had, we’d have left you alone.” An over-plucked eyebrow arched upward. “Unless you don’t want to be gay?”

  Roxy gave Trixie a slap on the shoulder. “Don’t be dumb, bitch. Didn’t you see that Dr. Phil show? He cain’t choose to be gay or not. He was born girly.”

  Trixie, however, couldn’t give up the dream without a fight. “Are you sure? I mean, I could try and change you. You know, give it a shot to bring you back to the straight and narrow. I mean, I like a dick as good as the next person, but if you try some pussy, you might find out you like it a whole lot better. Have you ever even been with a woman?”

  Measuring his shaft against a giant’s couldn’t have delivered a bigger blow to his self-esteem. “No. Yes. I mean, you’ve got me all wrong.” Devlin bounced his gaze from one girl to the next. Conrad rolled his lips inward, trying to suffocate a laugh. “I swear. I love women. All kinds of women.”

  Roxy scoffed, “Well, sure you do, hon. Most homos do. You know, to go shopping with. Queers love gal pals.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, Conrad fell against the wall and clamped a hand over his mouth. But he couldn’t stop his body from shaking with humor.