Bane Of His Existence Read online

  I was nuts! Crazy! Out of my fuckin' mind!

  As long as she lived, there would always be a question of infection, of infecting someone else through contact. Was sexual contact enough? She had no idea, and there was no one she could ask. A bite into deeper tissues would probably suffice. She could honestly say she didn't know because she'd never done it. Her own bite, way back when, had been nearly healed by the next day. One of the benefits of being a moon beast. She didn't worry about cancer, or diabetes, or heart attacks the way everyone else seemed to. Whatever went amok seemed easily cured by her next transformation.

  Now, of course, her first—and last—intended victim, Charlie Ascott, was strolling her direction. Sexual contact would be safe with him…

  Where had that errant thought come from? Was there some secret well of lust she was tapping in desperation?

  The picture in the corporate register hadn't done him justice. She gazed, fixed, on his stature, his walk. He is rather hot…

  Verity groaned, and buried her face in her hands. What's wrong with me?!

  She sucked in a deep breath. Time to confront her cowardly human half. Oh, the wolf in her felt free to run around rampaging if yesterday was any example. The human part was much more sedate. Verity continued to watch his progress, nibbling her lower lip as he came on, wondering what he wanted. Clearly, to talk.

  To accuse?

  She had no excuse she could offer him to explain yesterday's lapse, or her designs upon his person. Very few excuses were good enough to explain away evil.

  For maybe two minutes she was tempted to dodge out the front door and head for the rear of the building. Unlikely he could sniff her out, but what was the point? Unless she wanted to walk away from all she'd established for herself over the last few years, it would be better to talk it out. This wasn't going to go away because she ignored it, and if she pissed him off he'd only get nasty about it at work.

  Something neither of us can afford…

  Besides, I owe him. He was right. She'd attacked him with little provocation. For the first time she realized how hard it was to remain decent when you were driven by animal instincts, and you had no one to bounce ideas off, no one to help curb them. There hadn't been anyone up till now whom she could discuss this with. She'd gone through the horror, the terror of discovery, alone. Since then, she'd avoided contact with anyone at night, particularly when the moon was full. She couldn't trust anyone, least of all herself. Without an ethical sounding board, though, it was too easy for her to slip and let down her guard. The only person she had to answer to was Verity Connors. Yesterday's fiasco taught her that just wasn't good enough.

  She just wished Charlie didn't look so howling good to her as he strolled along the sidewalk.

  ~ * ~

  The moment of truth. Charlie sucked in a cleansing breath. Well, actually, it was a still-your-nerves breath, and he inhaled so strongly his nostrils flared. As far as truth went, he didn't really care whether she was honest with him or not at this point. He just wanted to see her again. He was by no means celibate, but things never got as wild as he wanted. He was too afraid of passing on his curse. His bedroom antics were almost sedate, which left him feeling both like a dick, and slightly dickless. Oh, he satisfied the ladies, but warily, and there'd been a few comments about "not expecting him to be so timid".

  But this was her. She. His she-wolf. He'd smelled her before, longed for her, looked for her, mourned for her in her absence. Now, he'd met her. She wasn't exactly what he expected, and that "wolves mate for life" rubbish wasn't going to scare him off. Especially where the "mate" part was involved. Ever since he'd touched her in the alley, he'd had trouble getting her out of his head.

  Now, he was nervous as hell. What if she couldn't stand him? Just because he was a Were, and hung up on her, didn't mean she would go for him. It's not like she's desperate.

  Am I? Charlie hesitated, finger poised over the bell. Seems pretty desperate to track her down at her home on a day when she's called in sick from work. Stalkerish, even.

  We need to clear the air.

  But maybe the air would be better for the clearing if given a little time—for everyone to cool down. Charlie's cock was already stiff, just at the thought of her. He needed a cool down, all right.

  ~ * ~

  Where was he? Verity pressed her face against the window. She'd followed his progress into the building, but there was no buzz to announce him. Was he sneaking up to her room somehow? It was an old building. She'd opted for that rather than terribly modern, filled with cameras. Wolf days were better unrecorded.

  She frowned at her door, waiting angrily for his knock. The nerve of him! A niggle of who-attacked-whom preyed at her conscience but she shunted it away. My home. My refuge. Mine.

  Another minute passed but there were no steps in the hall. Verity pressed her face against the glass once more, and saw him step out of the entry and onto the steps, then hesitate before going back in.

  Still no buzz.

  Bloody hell! Wolf or mouse?

  Frustrated, she checked herself in the mirror, then tore downstairs as fast as she could go.

  ~ * ~

  This isn't exactly showing respect, for her privacy or anything else. Charlie didn't want her to hate him for catching her out. Personally, he had no problem with that kind of thing, but women were different. If he were to see her with scuzzy teeth or fuzzy hair, or without makeup, there'd be hell to pay. It was something he hadn't thought of when he'd come up with this clever plan.

  What if she's really sick?

  Werewolves don't get that sick. Not in his experience, anyway. He was healthy as a horse…or a wolf.

  But what if she's not?

  I came here because I'm concerned…?

  Like hell. She's really going to buy that. Whether or not it was true now, it hadn't been his motivation. And she's no dummy—

  It was as far as his deliberations went. The door was suddenly yanked open with a loud hinge squawk, and Charlie jumped. The next second, Verity latched onto the front of his shirt and tugged him in through the door.

  Five

  She didn't say anything—just switched her grip from his shirtfront to his hand. He wasn't resisting, so she figured he had no major objections. I do, though. She couldn't believe she was doing this! What must he be thinking?! First, the attack in the alley, and now this.

  Verity refused to look at him. "We need to talk." Her hand shook as she twisted her doorknob.

  "I agree."

  His voice shook as badly as her hands. She twisted to look at him, and caught him grinning. The bastard was laughing at her.

  I'm nothing but a parody of my former self. In that moment, she felt as if there was nothing of the cool, professional manager left, and anything she could say to explain her actions would merely sound like an excuse. "The situation's quite serious…"

  His eyes widened, and for some reason, it hit her, too, right in her funny bone. Her natural good humor re-asserted itself, and she burst out laughing. "I'm not myself," she told him, thinking what a ridiculous thing it was for a wolfwoman to say. She bit her lip to stop herself from nervous giggling.

  "'s that why you took the day off?" he asked.

  I give up. There was no point mucking around, trying to impress this guy, though Lord knows—she eyed his broad chest and well-muscled arms a little longingly—she was tempted to try. I'm man-hungry. Hungry for the safety of a pair of strong arms, a male who would love her for what she was…everything she was. This guy was as close as she was going to get. He was a Were, a colleague—and she'd already alienated the hell out of him. He was here, but it was more likely to threaten her than anything else. She ran her tongue hungrily over her lips, realized he was watching, and closed her mouth with an audible snap.

  Struggling with her baser instincts, Verity did her best to sink coolly onto her couch while Charlie perched on the arm of an overstuffed chair. He didn't seem inclined to make himself too comfortable.

&nb
sp; Keeping his edge—or edginess, as the case may be.

  Okaaaay… Bald truth time. "I needed a chance to figure out why I waylaid you."

  "In the alley."

  "Yes. It's not my style."

  His smile started in his eyes. "And it's men they always portray as wolves."

  She grinned, appreciating the joke, but made a point of ignoring the implications. Though, give me a reason, she thought, remembering his hot body and strong muscles pressed against her. Any reason at all… Verity cleared her throat. "I didn't think anyone knew."

  "If it helps, I didn't—until that day."

  ~ * ~

  She stared at him enquiringly, obviously wanting to know what she'd done on that particular day to give herself away.

  Bloody hell! What am I going to tell her? I smelled you? Your scent permeated my senses?

  His cock was hardening at the thought, and he dropped into the chair. Perched like that, his hard-on was all too obvious. Charlie wracked his brain for an inoffensive response. Where was wit when you needed it?

  "Something in the way you moved," he finally added. "Too smooth for a mere human." There. He'd done it. Charlie wanted to pat himself on the back. Success.

  She sniggered, then burst out laughing again. "Too smooth?" she repeated. "Nice comeback, Charlie." It was the first time she'd used his name, and he felt unduly flattered that she'd put face to name. He was back to grinning like a buffoon. This woman was out of his league. He didn't usually

  date girls who could read him this well. It wasn't safe.

  He decided to be straight with her…to a point. "My wolf senses gave you away."

  She blushed. Bright red. She knew. Olfactory, it was. But I washed! He saw it written in her face, but thank God she didn't say it.

  He avoided her eyes and leaned forward to take her hand, moving on to the real bone of contention. "I get it. You didn't mean to attack me."

  "Yes, I did." Her eyes filled. "You know how you thought I was the one who turned you? Well, I thought something similar. Even if you weren't, you should be."

  He was confused, but figured there was sense in there somewhere. "I should be a Were?"

  "Yes. It was self-defense."

  "So if I were a Were, too, I couldn't blab about your little problem."

  She nodded. "Frankly, yes."

  Ah-hah! I get it. He smirked. "What about the time between your little attack, and the next full moon?"

  It was clear she hadn't considered that until this moment, and didn't exactly appreciate his pointing it out. Biting him on a waning moon would mean weeks before he fully turned. He crossed his arms sternly. "You could have at least tried to be sneaky, or was it meant to be a hit and run?"

  This isn't the way to make friends, Charlie…

  He relented, his voice losing the harshness. Honestly, though, someone had to point out the error of her ways. If that was her idea of surreptitious, she was in deep shit. "I know—you acted on impulse." Charlie attempted to make it sound reasonable, as though he didn't think she was stupid. Actually, he didn't. He knew how strong those Were instincts and impulses could be. Difficult to resist, especially if she was running scared. "Sorry about that—scaring you, I mean." He focused on her face. "None of this would have happened if I hadn't played that stunt with the dog treats. If it had been me, I would've been worried, too." He frowned. "Why did you come downstairs to nine, anyway? I mean, if there was anything you needed, you could have emailed." That had been bothering him. He'd pulled the rug out from under her, left her defenseless, before finding out what she'd wanted. He'd been too damn surly, too annoyed with her for her wolfiness, for discussion…even work-related discussion.

  Just goes to show even a wolf can be a dick.

  Her face turned red again, but she faced him. "I thought you were someone I wanted to know."

  Then, but not now. Shit! Charlie cringed. "I bet I've given that little decision a workout." His cringe relaxed into an apologetic, and—hopefully!—charming smile. "I'd still like to get to know you." He lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed each finger in turn, watching her face as he did so. There was longing there, something he hadn't expected. Lust maybe, yes, but longing, no. It could be she had as hard a time trusting as he did. He turned her hand over, his lips lingering on her palm.

  ~ * ~

  Verity sucked in a quick breath, but didn't pull her hand away. Amazing what such simple gestures could do to her insides, her nether regions. He was working so assiduously on her digits, her palm. She wondered whether he'd apply the same effort to her womanly regions, given an opportunity. Involuntarily, she leaned forward, toward him. It had been so long…

  She licked her lips nervously as he continued his explorations, tracing gentle fingers, then lips and nibbled nothings, along the soft surface of her forearm. Her mouth was as dry now as her womanly parts were moist. Wonder if it all still works down there?

  He froze, and Verity realized she'd said it aloud. "Crap and damn," she whispered, mortified.

  He, on the other hand, went for matter of fact. "Maybe we should give things a test run and find out."

  Perhaps it was because some of her she-wolf was still present, or maybe all that finger sucking had stirred irresistible impulse. Verity straightened almost primly. "Yes," she said, eyes meeting his as gooseflesh danced down her limbs. "I think maybe we should."

  ~ * ~

  He couldn't believe his ears. She'd given her permission.

  She said yes.

  Charlie jumped up, all the longing from three years of unfulfilled wolf lures coming to the fore. He broke out in a sweat, a reminder that he was no longer wolf but man. It didn't help overmuch. His hairs stood on end, as erect as his dick, his muscles tensing, all ready to pounce. His mind was filled with visions of his teeth gripping the ruff of her neck, while his cock slipped seductively into her womanly crevice, driving home.

  He could barely breathe, and he was about to make his move when he caught her expression.

  I'm a man, not a beast. "Sorry…" he gasped, his eyes on her breasts, barely able to mouth the word.

  ~ * ~

  Verity was afraid to touch him. He was poised, tense. Every muscle tight. There was only one way to handle this.

  By instinct.

  Verity growled, deep in her throat, then gave him a shove so hard he tumbled backward over the chair arm. He was still picking himself up from his sprawl when Verity chuckled, and…ran.

  ~ * ~

  There was no thought left. Her flight stole the last of his humanity. Charlie leapt to his feet and tore after her, catching her halfway to the bedroom. She growled and laughed and squirmed while he tried to devour her with his lips, his mouth, his tongue. His hands stripped down her jeans with her own fingers leading the way. Then his hand was at her core, touching her, but it wasn't what she wanted.

  She kicked her feet out of the pants and he was left standing holding them while she ran for the bedroom. Charlie howled and tossed the jeans aside, then sprang after her. She lunged, then flung herself across the bed, and Charlie pounced on top.

  She arched her back and he bit her nape, while his glans, his engorged cock, found home. She was so moist, so ready, there was no holding back, nor did she want him to. She forced her pelvis up, tilting to receive his thrusts.

  Charlie lost it. He drove into her again and again while she clawed at the bedspread, and did her best to lift up to receive him. Then she was howling, her cunt clamping down as she came, and Charlie howled with her. They rode her orgasm together as Charlie came, too, driving home to spill his seed deep within.

  He lay then, atop her, breath held, awaiting her reaction. Had he hurt her? He'd been so driven, so drawn to her warm wet softness that he'd lost control.

  She wriggled, deliberately, suggestively. Charlie couldn't believe it until in one rapid slither, she'd turned over, so they were face to face. She was smiling, but her eyes were wild still.

  "Wolf style," she whispered, nudging him, then bitin
g his jaw. There was a ferocity, a feral quality in her expression that drove Charlie wild. "Nowwww…primate," she whispered. With that, she lifted her legs over Charlie's shoulders, opening herself to him.

  He moved slowly now, learning her body, the scent of her breasts, the soft skin of her stomach, the slight curve of her womb. He trailed kisses along her neck, wanting to eat her, but in the way of lovers. Wanting all of her with him, surrounding him. Wanting to take her, but deliberately prolonging movement, while she squirmed beneath. Her body was already beginning to know him, to want him. It pleased him immensely.

  He lowered his head, sucking lightly on her belly button, then moving south to the curls coiling delightfully at her threshold. The scent of sex was rich in the air, and he nuzzled her labia, inhaling deeply. His kissed her clitoris, sucking on the button, while Verity groaned in frustration. There was more exploration to do here, but his lady was ready—now.

  Charlie stuffed his thickened cock in and up while Verity gasped, taking him, drawing him deep and hoarding him.

  Charlie didn't remember anything after that.

  ~ * ~

  Verity lay there, half covered by Charlie, and half by blankets. She ran her fingers over his head, loving the feel of his coarse hair, the warmth of his face against her breast. His hand was flat on her stomach, the fingers splayed. They'd stretched that way the last time he'd come—the fourth time they'd both come. She'd never been so sexually sated in her life. Warm, satisfied, happy.

  It was too much to take in. Too exciting after so much abstinence. Too thrilling for her to lie here quietly, quiescently. What she really wanted was to laugh, shout, howl. Carefully, so as not to wake him, she slid sideways out of the bed and tiptoed to the window, needing to be in the moonlight, no matter how minimal. She stood, eyes closed, in the narrow shaft of light, dreaming…and then she saw him. There was a figure down below, but what marked him was the way he focused on her window.