In Too Deep (34 page)

“Hi Liam. How are you?” Slater sounded hurried.

“Good. What’s up?”

“We have a new wolf moving up. I just wanted to fill you in.”

Liam listened to Slater drone on about the new female. There was something in Slater’s voice that was different than any other time he spoke of a new wolf—or anything really. He always had a hollow tone before.

Liam
’s mind spun through the possibilities. He found himself sitting there in the clearing long after Slater hung up.

* * * *

Jess sat behind her desk at Greg’s Pub. The office was horrendous with its whore red walls, chairs and shag rug. The desk was black, as well as the shelves and filing cabinet. It was so trashy it was sad, and that fucktard wouldn’t let her change the decor.

The books were done, and now she was dreaming about her own bar. She had big plans on how she wanted to decorate. Edenton was an out of the way small town. She could see a rustic hunting lodge, complete with pool tables and dartboards.

Slater had already impressed her with his efficiency. He faxed the contract an hour after she called.

The man had a super sexy voice. All low and smooth like silk sliding over skin. She could listen to him all day and night, as long as she remembered her new motto. No screwing the
Alpha
.

The phone rang and Jess cringed. She knew this conversation was coming sooner or later. After a deep breath, she picked up.
“Hello, Gregory.”

“What? You aren’t going to ask, what can I do for you?” he purred.

She shuddered and not in a good way. “We will never speak of last night again. Ever,” Jess insisted, squeezing her eyes shut. She really hoped Slater had already called him. “Besides, I won’t be around much longer.”

“I heard, though I don’t believe it. Why ever would you want to leave
me
, my pack and
your
bar?”

“
My
bar? It’s
your
bar, as you keep reminding me. You can have it. I have my own up in Washington now.”

“You do everything in the bar, so it’s yours. You really want to leave
your
bar behind?” He said, but it wasn’t true and even if it were, it was a little too late. His voice went colder. “Slater will never sell you the bar. He’s older than I am which means he shares the same views.”

“Funny, I already have the contract. It is official.” She tapped her fingers on the table.

“Bullshit.”

“Would you like to see it? And remember, if you do, you aren’t touching me again. Period.”

“But you loved everything about last night.”

“Oh, no I didn’t.”

“Yes you did.”

“See, I figured my leaving without a word this morning would be a good indicator that last night was clearly a mistake.”

“That’s not what you were thinking when you sat on my face and swallowed my cock.”

She gagged, she couldn
’t help it. That memory came back with sudden clarity. “Trust me, it’s never happening again.” Then she ended the call before he could say another word.

Jamie slipped through the door and plopped down in the chair opposite Jess with a sassy little smirk. Her twin
’s pale blond hair was up in a ponytail, instead of down like Jess’s. She wore almost the same clothes. Her big blue eyes danced with humor. “So Gregory, huh?”

Jess groaned.
“I want to forget.”

“Was he that bad? I mean, I walked in on you two in the bathroom. He seemed to know what to do with his tongue.” Jamie snickered. “He had you bent over the counter, your skirt hiked up and his face in your pussy, going to town. You, my dear, were screaming his praises like you were at a Southern Baptist revival.”

“Well, that was good,” Jess grinned. She might have been desperate for a little of the real thing after one long-ass dry spell. “Still, he’s already trying to get more, and it’s not happening.”

“You could do worse.” Jamie shrugged, and she would know from past experiences. “It would be just sex.”

“He’s the Alpha, and expects me to be his new playmate and be fine with sharing. You know me better than that. It will never happen. Besides, you know I wouldn’t have gone there if I weren’t drunk off my ass for the first time in fourteen years.”

“I still can’t believe you were letting Fallon hand you cup after cup of the moonshine.”

Jess shrugged. “I didn’t think I could get drunk anymore. I remember hearing rumors, but that shit hit me hard.”

“Yeah, well I tried to warn you, but you were slurring by then, and I let it go.” Jamie sat back in her chair. “So, what’s your plan of action?”

Jess settled in and told her about her new bar, the cabin she would be renting and everything up in Edenton.

Jamie listened intently and a frown pulled her lips down. When Jess finally finished, Jamie nodded.
“Okay. Just promise you’re not going to forget about me down here.”

“Of course I won’t. You could come.”

“Maybe in time. I’m just not ready to leave yet.”

“Yeah, didn’t figure that.” Jess reached over to squeeze her sister’s hand. “I’ll come to visit, and vice versa. When you’re ready, you should move up.”

“Agreed.” Jamie finally smiled back. “Now, just promise me you’ll let me know if you find my mate up there.”

“Done.” She truly hoped Jamie would move up because she was always getting into trouble.

Want more? New Beginnings is available almost everywhere ebooks are sold

Also available in paperback on
www.createspace.com
and
www.amazon.com

Copyright 2013 Brandy L Rivers

Preview of Chapter 1

Flashing lights swirled her headache to new heights as the siren drilled into her throbbing skull.
Perfect, just what I need, after driving all flipping day.

Amethyst Lakes had just reached Edenton, so being pulled over just added to the layers of crap she was already shoveling. Trouble was the last thing she needed, especially after the mess with her ex-boyfriend and the Silver Council.

Maybe moving all the way to Edenton wasn’t the best decision, but Amethyst needed a change. Everything in San Francisco reminded her of Carl and that just made her sick to her stomach. Her mother had been on her case to do the one thing she couldn’t stand to do, and when she finally did, it went all wrong.

She still couldn
’t believe he committed suicide. It just didn’t make sense. He was never
in love
with her.

A giant burly mountain of a man climbed out of the police SUV, and she just knew he was going to give her grief. Menace poured off him, and he hadn
’t even managed to stalk to her door yet.

Lovely
.
Little towns are notorious for dickhead cops with power complexes.

Hopefully Fallon was right, and her being Other wouldn
’t be a big deal. There was a wide variety in Edenton, and she didn’t have to hide what she was.

Pretending to be human was laughable. Her purple hair couldn
’t be dyed, and no human she ever met had violet eyes. As a full blooded nymph, she had no glamour. Public school had been a nightmare because she never fit in.

The cop was almost to the window. She took a deep breath and hid all emotion before reaching toward to the glove box.

His big meat hook of a fist pounded on her window, making it shudder.

Right, probably should have opened that first
. She immediately rolled down the window and smiled up at the cop.

“Evening officer.” She didn’t bother lying and call it good.

His feral energy rolled through the car, nearly suffocating her. The throbbing vein in his forehead proved he was close to being in a rage. To top it off, the big brute was a werewolf, and he looked like he was about to lose control at any second.

“Do you realize you were going eighty in a forty?” His jaw clenched, and she was sure he would blow a gasket if he didn’t calm down.

What was this guy
’s problem anyway? She wasn’t arguing, she was even being nice. So, why did he have to scowl at her like that?

And okay, she was doing twice the legal limit. She nodded and plastered a semblance of a pleasant expression on her face,
“I’m sorry, it’s been a really long day and I wasn’t paying attention. I can get my registration and proof of insurance. They are in the glove box. My ID is right here.” At least her voice was calm and cool, even if she would have loved to slap the cop for the way he glared at her, his eyes searched her face, seeming to focus on her eyebrow ring and purple hair.

“Why were you reaching for the glove box, Ma’am?” he snarled his question as if he was ready for her to attack, and she already noticed his hand was hovering at his gun on his hip.

Checking his badge, she smiled wider and squashed any thought of using her natural gifts to get out of the ticket.
“Officer Simons, I was just reaching for my papers.”

“Out of the car,” he barked.

What? Really?
She bit back her irritated groan and climbed out of her jeep with her hands open and out, “If you want the registration and proof of insurance, it’s in the glove box.”

“Why are you being difficult?” he snapped, getting right in her face as he towered over her.

She wasn’t afraid yet. If she needed to, she would push right back, but not until he gave her a really damned good reason. For now, she would cooperate. Maybe he would chill before things went that far.

She raised one eyebrow,
“How so?”

“I’m bringing you in for questioning. You’re awfully fucking difficult.” He spun her around, and shoved her against the jeep to cuff her. Then he reached in to grab her keys. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so calm, because most of her options just took a hike with those blasted cuffs.

Stunned, she blinked a few times, but she managed to keep her voice calm, even if the steel burned. At least it wasn’t as bad as iron. “Why are you doing this? I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve been patient and cooperative, and you’re just bringing me in?”

“Yes,” he snarled and literally dragged her to the SUV, her feet barely touching the ground. He stuffed her into the backseat and slammed the door before climbing in and doing the same to his
.

He was seriously stomping all over her rights, and he hadn
’t even buckled her in. What a creep. Hopefully the rest of the cops weren’t such jerkwads.

If she was lucky, she would figure a way out of the situation before Fallon found out she was pulled over. She could just see the woman who was like a big sister, storming into the station to bust her out.

Taking a deep breath, she calmly told him, “You can’t do this. Besides speeding, what did I do to you? I plan to pay the ticket, and I am cooperating. You didn’t even read me my rights.”

“You aren’t under arrest—yet.”

“Then why am I in cuffs?” At least she held back her snort, but now she was pissed.

“Just shut up,” he bellowed, making her eardrums hurt.

She slumped back in the seat and tried to remain calm.

It was a short trip to the station. He radiated rage and hate, but she had no clue why. He must have been having one crappy day. Officer Jackhole screeched into the parking lot and slammed on the brakes, which sent her face first into the partition, and it hurt.

While she was still stunned, he yanked the door open and dragged her out of the vehicle.

This time she snapped at him.
“Can you just take my arm and let me walk before you hurt me? I’m not resisting, not fighting, just trying to figure out what you think I did.” There was only a thread of anger in her voice, but as a wolf, he was going to smell that on her anyways, so there was no point in hiding it.

He was more than a foot taller than her, and obviously liked having superhuman strength, because he didn
’t let her walk. He grabbed her around the upper arm and half carried, half dragged her inside. He definitely bruised her with that iron grip.

Then he slammed her into a chair as another big man stormed out of his office. She felt a slight rumble through the floor, and the air seemed to grow denser as he scowled at Officer Simons.

Great, more testosterone and more anger.
At least this one didn’t seem to be pissed at her.

* * * *

“Simons, what the fuck are you doing to this little lady?” Sheriff Hayden Hunter demanded as he stepped out of his office. The most unusual woman sat in the seat next to Kevin Simons’ desk.

She was put there by the big werewolf who towered over her menacingly. Thankfully she mostly seemed confused, slightly pissed, but he sensed her distress and pain that she hid quite well.

He took another look at the curvy little woman, maybe five foot two tops, with long purple hair, but it was streaked with lavenders and darker violets that looked too natural to be dyed. Her eyebrows were a rich purple, and her eyes sparkled like amethysts. Even her lips were tinged with a hint of lavender, though she wasn’t wearing a trace of makeup.

In a word, she was breathtaking.

There was a ring in her eyebrow, a little amethyst stud in her nose, and another placed like a beauty mark. There were little rings all the way up both ears. He was willing to bet there were more interesting piercings hidden under her clothes, which he really didn’t need to consider.

Some sort of fae he was guessing. That would explain the pain. At least steel was better than iron, but he was going to resolve that issue as quickly as he could. Besides, he had a feeling this little woman was the one Slater and Brody already told him about. Neither of them seemed real sure as to which flavor of fae she was, and neither Fallon nor Jess offered a hint.

Simons seethed like the brute he was since finding his wife cheating. Normally he was so calm and gentle. But since last night, he had become a hulking, raging beast.

His eyes cut down to her, but her eyes were trained off in the distance.
“She was doing eighty in a forty, and she was reaching for a weapon when I pulled her over.” He growled down at the woman.

Hayden closed the distance with a snarl.
“Back off of the girl, now.”

She sighed and managed a calm, almost patient tone,
“He stopped me from reaching into my glove box for my proof of insurance and my registration. I gave him my ID, and he also has my keys. I told him to look in my glove box for the rest of my documents. I would have gladly allowed him to search my jeep. I don’t even own a weapon.”

“I’m sorry for Simons’ behavior.” Hayden shot him a look, and warned. “And I am sure he will be,” he glared at Simons, and fought back the urge to smash his face, “after he thinks his actions through.”

A rough time at home, didn’t give him the excuse to be an asshole. Softening his expression, he moved his attention to her. “You’re Amethyst Lakes. Am I right?”

“Yes sir, I am.” She didn’t sound happy that a cop knew who she was. Hayden didn’t blame her. She already dealt with the Silver Council, which was basically the mages’ version of the police, only worse. She already knew that Edenton was chalk full of Others, and most of them followed different rules. She was probably worried they might hand her over to the Council, which he absolutely would not allow.

“Here’s what I’m going to do, Amethyst. I am going to excuse the ticket this time since Simons flew off the deep end.” He gave his officer a challenging look, daring him to open his mouth. When he didn’t, he turned back to her. “Please, do not drive that fast in my town in the future.”

“Yes sir,” she nodded once, not sucking up, not offering excuses, but not arguing either.

“Can you come into my office for a moment? I would like to talk to you for just a minute, and I will remove those cuffs.” Hayden wanted to take them off that second, but didn’t want to let Simons know exactly what she was or how bad certain metals were for her. Unfortunately, he just didn’t trust his old friend right then.

“Sure.” She stood up and didn’t bother glancing back at Simons who just glared at her.

“Just through that door. I need to have a word with Simons first.”

“Yes sir.” She went into the office without argument, and he shut the door before turning back to Simons with a lethal glare.

“You need to take some time off. I know your situation with Stacy is getting to you, but you can’t be pulling this shit. Miss Lakes is moving into town, and coming from a lot of shitty circumstances because of an ex-boyfriend. None of it was her fault. Slater already talked to me about her. She is one of Fallon’s friends. So you are going to give her a break. You hear me?”

“Fine, how much time off?” Simons bit out. Any second now, and the man’s head would explode
, his face was so red.

“Tonight and tomorrow. Paid, and I will check on you then. We’ll figure this out.” Hayden nodded toward the door, “Go, and when you see her next, apologize. I will check her car, but I can guarantee she won’t have a weapon. Piercing gear perhaps, but that’s her profession.”

“All right,” Simons growled and turned to leave. Hayden just hoped the other man would get his shit together before he did something he would regret and couldn’t just apologize for.

* * * *

Amethyst fought back tears. The cuffs were really hurting now. The longer they were in contact with her skin the worse it was going to be. She wouldn’t cry though. Simons was a big brute of a wolf. He was tall, with brown hair, and muddy brown eyes, and just a big bully.

She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

The sheriff came back in. “I’m Hayden Hunter. Here,” the deep rumble of his voice caressed over her ears, and she had to fight back a shiver, “stand up so I can get those damned things off of you. I am sorry about his reaction, but he knows squat about fae and their possible reactions to steel.”

She stood up and turned her back to him, not really wanting to. He felt like a predator, but she didn
’t think he would hurt her either. She was drawn to him, but she didn’t trust that instinct

The cuffs fell from her wrists. She turned around with a frown, rubbing her blistered wrists.
“Thank you.”

“Sorry, I would have removed them faster, but I know most of us don’t want everyone knowing exactly what we are. I’m lucky enough to not have an aversion to metals, but I’m guessing you do.”

“You’re not like me.” She shook her head and took a shaky breath as she looked up into his eyes. And yes, he was Other, fae in fact, but not any type of water fae. His eyes were deep, dark, almost black, and his gaze was irritatingly soothing, but she fought her reaction. His tousled hair was the color of dark chocolate drizzled with caramel, and his skin was the color of honey. He smelled of musk and dark spices that reminded her of a home she only knew from ancestral memories. She had to fight her instinct to lean into him so she could breathe him in.