Three Fur All

Chapter Four

Mika followed his friend into the kitchen and handed him the keys to his car. The pipes groaned from the sudden rush of water through them.

October was in the shower. An image of her lithe body with water dripping off it flared through his mind. Her hands trailed over her breasts while she soaped them up. Her fingers then slipped lower, caressing the flat expanse of her stomach and then gliding to the down of her black curls, where she would touch herself and think about him under the scalding water. She would moan his name and then come to him after.

“Dude!” Elliot punched him on the shoulder.

Mika shook himself from his vision and blinked a couple of times. His cock jerked and firmed at the thought of claiming her. Her body was gorgeous even when it was covered in grime. He had changed her clothes after Dawn had left. He’d left her bra and panties on. Besides, her tattered garments had been covered with the scent of the beast they were hunting.

They were now stashed behind his hamper in his closet so she wouldn’t find them. When he had brought them to his nose to detect the other wolf’s scent, hers was mixed with it, and he found her delectable.

“Did you hear me?” Elliot asked.

“Yeah. I heard you. I was just thinking.”

His friend crossed his arms over his chest. “I know what you were thinking. Don’t even go there with her. We don’t need you getting into any more trouble and making her into one of us against her will.”

“How could you say that to me?” Mika growled. “I’d never do that again.

Besides, Dawn freaked at the last minute before I was going to bite her, and I couldn’t pull it back. That’s the truth. Not the way she spun it to Cooper.” Elliot threw up his hands. “Sorry, man. It’s been a long day, and I’m late.

Go out and find some chick to f*ck. I don’t care. Just keep your paws off our guest. We want to make sure she heals and doesn’t run back to the authorities. We don’t need human law on pack lands. Now I have to run.

Play nice with her until Dawn can come.”

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“Why did you call her back here so soon?” He wasn’t in any mood to deal with his ex. All he wanted to do was switch his shape and run out some of his aggression. The wolf inside of him was clamoring for a hunt. He was hoping he could glean some more information from October.

“Because our guest needs another woman to talk to and we don’t have any clothes or personal effects here. Did she tell you who we need to call?”

“She said she would call her roommate when she felt better.” Elliot shook his head. “Right. She did say that. I have way too much on my mind. Thinking about Lana and how she was busted up is tearing me up.”

“I can’t believe you’re thinking about that stupid car again. At least we can assume October doesn’t have a boyfriend, which could work to our advantage.”

“Man, you think too much with your dick, and that’s what has always gotten you into trouble. You and those boyish good looks of yours. Every chick at the bar last night was eyeing you. I can’t get them to give me a second look. Lana was the only woman who adored me.” Mika was about to make some witty retort about Elliot’s Corvette, but he stopped when he saw his friend’s face. The sadness that lingered in his eyes was apparent. It didn’t matter how many new toys he bought to drown himself in technology. The hurt around his heart was like a cancer eating away at him. He was worried about Elliot. It might have been two years since Dominique had passed away, but his grief resonated inside the house like a ghost haunting a forsaken churchyard. Its wails were heard even in the night and in the howls his friend let off when they were alone in the forest. He figured Elliot was trying to hide that he was dying inside. No matter what he did, Mika couldn’t cheer the other man up.

“That’s because they knew your ugly ass was driving that insane car that got totaled last night,” Mika joked.

“Don’t bring Lana into this.”

Mika threw up his hands. “You’re the one who brought up the car first.”

“It’s bad enough I have to drive around in that beat-up Honda of yours.

You really need to get a new car.”

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“Hey, it runs. I don’t care how it looks.”

“Smart-ass. I’ll see you later.”

“Remember her cheeseburger, onion rings, and vanilla shake.” Elliot flipped him the one-finger salute as he walked out the door. When the taillights disappeared down the driveway, he dug through the refrigerator, searching for something that October might find appetizing. On the shelves were Chinese food boxes from last week that were starting to go rancid, an anchovy-and-olive pizza, which was Elliot’s favorite, with a half-eaten slice left, a can of beer, and a half-empty bottle of soda. There was also a loaf of moldy bread, but nothing else. He checked the pantry and found nothing but canned sardines and peaches, which had been in there for two years or more.

The freezer was almost empty too. He did find a box of chocolate ice cream that hadn’t been opened. All chicks are supposed to like chocolate. Maybe this’ll do until Elliot can come back with her food. The water shut off while he hunted for a clean bowl and a spoon. Finally, he washed one out and then scooped the ice cream into the bowl. He waited a few minutes until he thought October had enough time to get dressed, and then knocked on the closed door.

“Come in,” she called in a soft, raspy voice.

Mika pushed open the door and saw her sitting on the bed in his shirt that hung down to her knees. The pants lay on the bed. She was pulling her fingers through the wet tendrils of her hair. Her milky calves were tucked underneath her. He saw the dip of her breasts from the V in her shirt. Her nipples poked through the fabric. Beneath all the cuts and bruises was a beautiful woman he could easily find himself in bed with. She’d make a good tumble partner. His wolf growled in agreement with the idea. He tried to rip his gaze away from the rise and fall of her chest, showing the subtle bounce of her breasts, but his cock stirred once again at the thought of her.

October met his eyes. Her expression was one of surprise and then embarrassment. She grabbed the sheet and pulled it over her lap. He tore his eyes away from her chest and turned them to her heart-shaped face. He forced a smile and tried to think about baseball.

“Sorry, I really couldn’t find anything in the house that was edible except the ice cream. I hope you like chocolate.”

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A tentative smile turned up her lips, but her eyes were still indecisive. He sensed the fear in her. If she could bolt, she would. Something in her didn’t trust him. Shit. I’m coming on way too strong. She probably thinks I was looking at her like she’s lunch. Even though I’d love to taste that p-ssy of hers, I can’t let my dick dictate my actions. Elliot was right. Damn him!

“Chocolate’s fine.”

He set the ice cream on the nightstand, next to her glass of water, and then sat in the chair, trying to keep his distance so he wouldn’t spook her any more. “Sorry about leering at you. I’m sure you think I’m some kind of pervert. I’ll leave you to your ice cream.”


“No. Don’t. It’s nice to have the company. I’ve been alone for . . . well, I don’t know how long. When there isn’t anyone around, all I can hear is their screams. And I think, why me?” Tears slipped down her cheeks.

He hesitated. After seeing her shivering, he couldn’t help but put his arm around her. Her body went rigid, but then she relaxed against him. October rested her head on his shoulder and started to cry again. Everything in him said to pull her even closer into his body so that he could comfort her, but he sat perfectly still so she could continue crying. Finally, he melted and moved his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead. The aroma of peaches clung to her hair. He remembered that Dominique used to use that bathroom, and she had had some scented soap in there. Elliot had probably never cleaned out the bathroom.

Mika shook his head and tried to think more wholesome thoughts, because his mind easily allowed him to peel back the collar of the shirt and plant kisses along her collarbone, to the base of her throat. There he would lick the hollow before moving along her breastbone, over each of her breasts, sampling her skin, and taking each nipple between his teeth. Then he would tease them until they were hard and swollen from all the attention.

October pulled away. Her eyes were puffy, and a few tears lingered on her cheeks. Mika wiped the tears away with his thumb. Even with the lost look in her eye, he wanted to kiss her. She leaned closer until her mouth was centimeters from his. He needed to see if those lips were as soft as they appeared. If they were, then Mika knew he was in trouble. An explosion of 20



hot breath blasted against his mouth. The heat of her breath warmed his exposed skin, and he was losing himself to the moment.

“We shouldn’t do this. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take advantage.”

“I don’t.”

He nodded, only half hearing her. October’s lips were full and so very kissable. Mika focused on how they parted slightly when she exhaled, giving him a glimpse of her even teeth. He couldn’t wait any longer and claimed her lips for himself. A shock went through her and vibrated across his skin. Her heart raced from their lips touching, and she returned the kiss with a fervor he hadn’t expected. Mika took her face between his hands and cupped her cheeks. October pushed against him, craving to be kissed more. She moaned so softly he thought he had imagined it. But no, he had heard her. It made him yearn to bury his dick inside of her p-ssy. He ran his tongue across her bottom lip and waited. She opened her mouth and touched his tongue with hers. It took everything in him not to throw her down on the bed, rip her clothes off, and f*ck her right there. Elliot was right. It has been way too long since I’ve gotten laid.

“My, my, why am I not surprised to see this?” Mika pulled away from October and glanced at the doorway. Dawn stood there with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder and another plastic bag in her hand. Her lips were pursed and her eyes tinged yellow from holding back her anger. She dropped the things on the floor, then turned and left the room. He raced after her and caught her arm. She whipped around and slapped him so hard he could feel the imprint of her palm on his cheek. The force of it turned his head. He worked his jaw just to be sure it was still attached.

“How dare you!” she seethed.

“Excuse me, but I never asked you to butt into my affairs. You washed your hands of me when you claimed I turned you against your will. You were the one who chickened out at the last moment, when I warned you ahead of time I couldn’t pull back. Because of you, I was thrown out of the pack. I 21



can’t go back to my house. I barely make a living. But I kept my mouth shut, hoping one day you could love me again.”

“I could never love you after what you did to me. And you’re going to do it again to that innocent woman in there. Elliot asked for some of Dominique’s clothes and some personal items because I know he doesn’t have anything like that here. I left the crutches in the kitchen. I’ll be back in the morning. If I find out that she’s not human, then I’m going to Cooper, and you’ll be run out of here.” Dawn stomped out of the house, and the door slammed shut.

Mika shook his head and couldn’t control the anger and hurt that welled up inside of him. For a moment he saw nothing but red. He smashed his fist into the wood paneling next to a picture, which crashed to the floor. Behind him he heard a gasp. When he turned around, he saw October leaning on the doorjamb with such fear in her eyes that he knew she would never see him as anything more than a monster.

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