Tracey H. Kitts - Lilith Mercury 1 - Red (39 page)

His natural tan seemed to stand out even more against the white of the undershirt he wore. The way his hair was tossed about so carelessly made him look wild. I reminded myself that morning that I was looking at a gentle version of what could potentially become a beast. But what I saw that day was definitely the beauty. It turned me on to see the marks I’d left on his skin, but it also made me sad to have marred his perfection. Part of me wanted to finish the job, but the other part just wanted breakfast.

Before I had much time to elaborate on the fantasy Luther couldn’t hold his peace any longer.

“Did you guys hear anything last night?” He winked at me and I could have strangled him.

“No,” Marco answered, careful to keep his back turned.

“Well, from downstairs it sounded like there was a wild animal up here.”

Marco sat a pitcher of juice on the table as he responded with a smile, “Well, I didn’t hear anything.”

Luther couldn’t seem to control himself any longer, “Then what happened to you?”

Marco absently rubbed the bite mark near his throat as he responded, “I cut myself shaving.” He raised one eyebrow as if challenging Luther to say otherwise.

Luther poured himself some juice with a muffled laugh, but he didn’t comment further.

As I went back to watching Marco cook breakfast, I knew what I was hungry for and it wasn’t fruit. Luther got down some plates from the cabinets. The way he kept looking at me let me know he had something else to say.

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

196

After breakfast was on the table Marco said, “Will you two excuse me for a minute? I need to make a phone call.”

He left in the direction of the bedroom and had barely closed the door before Luther turned to me. “
Damn
, Mercury.”

“What Luther? I know you want to say something, so let’s have it before I wake up enough to get pissed off.”

“If I’d had any idea what a wildcat you were, I’d have asked you out in high school.”

“And what makes you think I’d have said yes?” I sneered.

Luther ran his fingers through his long hair dramatically and said, “Because I’m so sexy.”

I laughed so hard I nearly snorted juice up my nose. “It’s not like that, Luther.”

“Oh,

really?”

“Yes, really. It’s not as bad as it looks.”

“Well, if you can resist Marco, you’d be the first, which I doubt.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He leaned in conspiratorially. “In case you haven’t noticed, he’s got ‘em lining up.” At my shocked expression he added, “Not that he’d take advantage, of course.”

Before I could comment Marco returned. “Sam will be here tomorrow.”

“Who’s Sam?” I asked.

“You’ll see. I think you’ll really like him.”

After breakfast Marco went downstairs with Luther. When I asked where they were going he informed me, “It’s business.” I’m sure he would have elaborated if I’d asked, but I didn’t. I had no idea what it took to run a club or a pack of werewolves and honestly didn’t want to know. I busied myself with yoga and playing video games in Marco’s bedroom.

Sometime in the wee hours of the morning I felt Marco crawl into bed beside me.

Instinctively, I snuggled back against his warmth.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s

alright.”

He started telling me how he’d spent the day ordering supplies for the club and handling disputes within the pack.

“You don’t owe me an explanation,” I mumbled sleepily as I rolled toward him.

“I

know.”

Marco pulled me on top of him and I fell asleep.

* * * *

It wasn’t as difficult to keep my hands off Marco for the rest of the week as I’d expected. In fact I had very little opportunity to touch him at all. When he’d said he would be busy, he wasn’t kidding.

I decided that if he was expecting company, I should put on some shoes. Since the platform boots I’d worn to the club didn’t exactly go with my torn jeans and tight black t-shirt, I decided to go rummage in the trunk of my car for something more suitable and slipped on Marco’s shoes to go downstairs.

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

197

I was on the way to my car Tuesday morning to look for shoes when I heard the unmistakable rumble of a Harley Davidson motorcycle behind me. A man dressed all in black pulled up and parked right beside where I’d been clunking along in Marco’s slippers. As he stood up and swung one long leg over the bike I could see that he was tall. The man was well built and lean, slender, but not quite thin. When he took off his helmet I saw that he was also handsome.

He was older, possibly in his fifties, with chin length salt and pepper hair that looked wild even though he attempted to smooth it with his hands. He had a bushy mustache, a kind smile, and dark eyes.

I was glad that I’d changed into my jeans and t-shirt instead of Marco’s pajamas.

“Good morning.” His voice was deep, pleasant, and warm as whiskey.

I liked him instantly.

“You must be Lilith.” He extended his hand.

“And you must be Sam.” I smiled as I took his hand.

He had a nice firm handshake, not like some men who seem to be afraid of hurting a woman’s hand. I hated wimpy handshakes. They were just another way of saying that a man didn’t think of you as an equal. But Sam’s firm grip said he had no such hang-ups.

“Well no wonder Marco’s all worked up. I don’t reckon I blame him.” He smiled.

It surprised me to hear that Marco had discussed me with anyone. The fact that he would have mentioned me at all was flattering, but it also let me know how much he trusted Sam.

“He

mentioned

me?”

“More than once.” He winked.

The motorcycle matched Sam well, but he almost looked like he should have ridden in on a horse. After I got some flip-flops out of my car, we went inside where Marco met us.

They embraced each other like brothers.

“You’ve met?” Marco asked.

Sam smiled. “Yes, I’ve had the pleasure.”

They spoke briefly about it having been a long time since they’d last seen each other before Sam asked, “Is there some place I could wash up? I look like I’ve been rode hard and put up wet.”

“No,” I said, “but maybe you need to be.”

I had no idea what made me say that, but it was true. That rough and dusty motif looked good on Sam. The comment went over fairly well with him, but did not have the same effect on Marco.

“I like her.” Sam smiled at Marco.

“Which is why you’ll be staying with Luther,” Marco said as he put an arm around Sam and raised an eyebrow at me. “Let me show you to your room.”

Later that day I found out that Samuel James was a visiting alpha werewolf from Texas. He was the leader of the second largest wolf pack in the country, and Marco’s mentor.

“Who has the largest?” I asked about the pack.

RED

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Marco smiled wickedly. “Red, you should know that mine’s bigger.”

Sam laughed. “In this case at least, that’s right.”

“What does that mean exactly?” I asked.

“Darlin’ that means that if they’re not with us, they’re just strays.” Sam smiled.

The club was closed during the week, so we were sitting at a table downstairs near the bar. Other than the three of us, there were a few pack members there including the DJ

that had gotten wasted at the hurricane party.

Sam looked in his direction. “Hey John, play somethin’ I like.”

Before long we were listening to country music. Not the new crap that sounds like it was written by a boy band, but the good stuff. I have always liked a variety of music, but you couldn’t grow up in the south and not be exposed to country. Even people who weren’t fans of the genre, like myself, still had their favorites. I couldn’t resist classic country.

“Do you dance darlin’?” Sam asked.

He winked at Marco and I assumed that was as close as he would come to asking permission.

“Stranger, you don’t know who you’re talking to,” I teased as I imitated his accent.

To my surprise he did a really nice two step and his waltz wasn’t bad either. Sam reminded me of a cowboy from an old western novel. He was polite and charismatic, but there was a bit of the devil behind his smile.

As we danced he asked, “So, what are your intentions with him?” he nodded toward Marco.

“Why do you care?”

“Because he’s been like a son to me, and I don’t wanna see him hurt.”

I was truly touched by what Sam had said. “That’s sweet, but I honestly can’t tell you my intentions, because I don’t know.”

He pulled back to look me in the eye. “Are you telling me you don’t have feelings for him? Darlin’ I’ve seen the way you look at him. That ain’t just a friendly smile.”

I was quiet for a few minutes as Sam spun me around and then pulled me close again.

“There’s someone else?” He made it a question.

“Yes.”

Sam glanced at Marco again. “Does he know?”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “Well, I don’t have the answers, sugar. But if you need to talk, you can trust me. There ain’t too many tricks this old dog ain’t seen.” He winked.

“Thanks, Sam.”

I kissed his cheek.

* * * *

The purpose behind Sam’s visit had been to listen to Marco’s ideas and help him prepare for the hearing. They spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday pouring over the many law books in Marco’s office.

RED

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199

Even with the full moon approaching the sex that Marco normally radiated diminished as his anxiety increased. He was still his usual flirtatious self, but he didn’t actually make any more moves on me. I spent most of my time with Luther. We worked out, went shopping together, and reminisced about old times. My week wasn’t bad, but Tuesday and Wednesday I went to sleep alone and woke up in the early morning with Marco curled around me.

Thursday would be our last night together. Friday night was the full moon, and I was going home before then. He had invited me to the full moon gathering along with the pack, but I decided to pass. This was where he would say his farewell to the pack and leave Luther in charge until his return. I just didn’t think that I belonged there.

He looked so worried late Thursday afternoon as he was going over his notes that I had to intervene.

“Put these away,” I said, taking Marco’s notes from him.

“I’m sorry, Red. I didn’t invite you to stay just to be ignored. I forgot how much I had left to do.”

“Then why did you want me to stay?”

I got on my knees in front of him on the bed. Marco wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face against my stomach.

“Thanks for staying, Red. You have no idea how much your presence has soothed me.” He sighed. “This was supposed to be where I showed you that I’m not such a bad guy, but you can’t get to know a man who’s never around.”

I ran my fingers through his thick dark hair as I said, “But I have. I’ve seen a responsible man who cares about other people.” I leaned down so that I could see his face. “You make the pack’s problems your problems and that’s very commendable.

You’re far from the ravaging beast I expected.” I smiled.

“Sorry to disappoint.” He sighed.

“That’s the problem, Marco. You’ve been anything but disappointing. You know that once Alfred comes back ….”

“I know,” he interrupted as he flopped back onto the pillows. “I’m not asking to change your life remember? I just wanted you to have an opportunity to see the real me, not just judge me from what you’ve heard.”

“So what happens now?”

He sighed and scratched the stubble on his chin.

“Now you’ll go on with your life, and I’ll go on with mine … and we’ll see where that takes us.”

His response eased my mind somewhat, but something still bothered me.

“Marco, I don’t want you to think that spending this time with you hasn’t meant something, because it has.”

He sighed. “Red, I’m not asking you to make a choice now. Go back to your scientist. And if you’re happy, I’ll leave you alone.”

“But

….”

“Don’t complicate things that need not be complicated.”

RED

Tracey H. Kitts

200

He was right and I decided to listen, at least for the time being. I helped Marco put away his notes and started to gather up my things for when I would leave the next day. He picked up some silver nail polish that had fallen out of my purse.

“Can I paint your toe nails?” He smiled seductively.

“Do you have a foot fetish, Marco?”

“Only for your feet.” He winked.

That’s right, The Big Bad Wolf very carefully and very skillfully painted my toenails. While I lay back with my feet in his lap I remembered something Luther had said.

“Marco, I want to ask you something.”

“Hmm?” He didn’t look up.

“Is it true you’ve got women lining up for a chance to sleep with you?”

He nearly spilled the polish.

“What? Red, who’ve you been talking to?”

“Luther.”

“Hmm, Luther exaggerates.”

He hadn’t answered my question. “Is it true?”

“Technically, yes. But if you’re trying to ask if I nail my pack members, the answer’s no.”

I sat back and crossed my arms.

“That was what you were asking, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was.”

He bent back over my feet.

“Do you date?” I asked.

“Don’t

you?”

“Are you seeing anyone now?”

“No,

why?”

“Were you sleeping with Amy, the woman who attacked me?”

“No.” He looked up in frustration. “I am not, nor was I previously
fucking
any members of my pack. Happy?”

He had hardly touched the polish to my next toe nail when I asked, “What about Sam’s pack?”

“Damn it, Red I am not going to spend the night like this.”

“I’m sorry I just ….”

“I’m saving myself for you, Red. Is that what you wanted to hear?” he growled.

“What?” I was stunned. Surely he was being sarcastic.