The Beast in Him
Page 43

And she said that just like she might have said, I dont mind cheese on my salad if its available.
He crossed his arms over his chest, barely aware he stood before her butt naked. Text you?
Yeah, but I know were both busy. She smiled. Dont worry. I wont call you crying hysterically if I dont hear from you. No shotgun wedding. Then she laughed.
The elevator doors opened and she immediately stepped in. Bye, handsome.
Fifteen minutes later and he was still standing in the same exact spot.
Three meetings and one high-level firing and it was barely eleven A.M. Once in her office, Jess kicked off her pumps and threw herself into her chair.
She had to admit, paying attention to any of it had not been easy. She couldnt stop thinking about fried chicken and hard cock. Although those thoughts made that firing go a lot easier.
Christ, she was in too deep. She should be able to have sex with a man and then not think about it again. She knew women who did that all the time. But, as usual, Jess didnt really know how to separate her heart from her pussy. She hated it too. Hated what she considered a weakness. She had no doubts Smitty wasnt spending a second thinking about her. Although a big part of her wanted him to be. She wanted him as wound up and horny as she was.
Why should I suffer alone? she murmured to herself.
Hell, it didnt matter. She still had a lot of work to do. She spun her chair around and raised her wrist to look at her watch when she saw them all sitting there, filling up her couch and the available chairswatching her.
What?
When her four friends all continued to stare, she snorted. Forget it. Im not telling you guys anything.
Why not?
She liked how Phil had the nerve to sound so indignant that she wasnt filling them in on all the details of her night with Smitty.
Because its none of your business.
We told you about our first time, Phil coaxed.
You didnt tell me anything. I was there. In a sleeping bag across the room desperately trying to mind my own business. But you, sir, are a screamer.
Smitty woke up the seventh time someone called. They wouldnt leave a message, they just kept calling back instead. Hed gone back to bed as soon as hed walked back into his apartment. He didnt really have any intention of getting up before he was ready. Seemed someone else had other plans.
Snatching the phone off the receiver, he barked, Yeah?
Bout time you picked up the damn phone, boy.
Smitty scowled. Daddy?
Who did ya think it was? The Queen of Siam?
Sitting up in bed, Smitty shook his head. Itwas too early for this. Too early to deal with the one man who still rattled him. And hed been having such sweet dreams too. Well... sweet and damn dirty. He simply couldnt seem to get enough of Jessie Ann. He should have worked her out of his system last night. But pathetic wolf that he was, he simply had to have her again. He would too. He snorted when he realized all he had to do was text her. Lord, what hed been reduced to.
Are you there, boy?
Huh? Smitty shook his head again. Damn, hed completely forgotten about his father. That had to be a first. Must be his lack of coffee. Anything before noon and he couldnt focus without his coffee. Oh, yeah. Sorry, Daddy. He scratched his head, yawned. So why are you calling me?
Im trying to figure out this bullshit your mommas been telling me. What does she mean you dont want anything to do with the Tennessee Smith territory?
Yeah, he needed his coffee... now. Momma told me yall were revising territorial lines and I asked her not to include me. Smitty got out of bed and headed for his kitchen. Im not going to fight those idiots over Smithtown. Let them have it.
You always were a fool, boy.
Faster. Make coffee faster. Cradling the phone between his neck and shoulder, Smitty tossed out the crappy coffee from earlier, ground up fresh beans, and poured water into the pot. His apartment didnt have a lot, but a reliable, sturdy coffeepot would always be an integral part.
Why does that make me a fool? Im not coming back there, Daddy. This is my home now. This is Sissys. Well make this work.
His father laughed. Do you really believe that? Do you really think youll be able to compete with all those fancy high-end companies? Do you think that cat will stay loyal to you? Hell be out as soon as he gets bored and youll be left holding that bag. Be smart, boy, for once in your life. Come back to Smithtown where yall belong. Before those other Packs get a sniff of you and try to force you out. Yall aint strong enough to fight off those bigger Packs, and we both know it.
Smitty pushed his empty mug away and leaned against the counter. No, he finally stated.
Dammit, boy! You never
Bye, Daddy. Tell Momma I said hey.
He disconnected the phone while his daddy was still going off and sat in the silence of his apartment for several minutes.
Several long minutes before that phone went flying, smashing into the wall and breaking into way too many pieces for him to bother repairing.
Jess walked into her office. Another two meetings, one right after the other. Barely one oclock and already exhausted.