~*~
Sherry splurged on a red dress that made her feel sexy and daring. She put it on in the dressing room of the small store and wore it out. No way was she going to dinner with this handsome man dressed like a ragamuffin. She took a minute to fix her hair and makeup as best she could with the items she had in her purse before walking out to face the head of security, only he wasn’t alone.
A tall, sandy haired man stood with an equally statuesque blonde woman at his side. Both wore the headsets of hotel security and these also had discrete pins on their chests with the logo of the casino. A niggling little question was answered in Sherry’s mind. This guy really was who he claimed. It was certain he was giving these two orders. She heard the tail end of his instructions for “guarding the perimeter” as she approached.
He sniffed, then turned his head. The smile that lit his handsome face was worth every exorbitant penny she’d spent on the most daring dress she’d ever owned. She heard a wolf whistle from the other man, but it cut off abruptly as Chet elbowed him in the ribs.
“Sherry, this is my sister, Cara, and my second in command, Tony. Guys, this is Sherry.”
The woman towered over Sherry, but her eyes were the same chocolate brown as Chet’s and they were welcoming, as was her smile. “Welcome to Dunvegas, Sherry. I’m sure my brother will take good care of you, but if you have any questions, feel free to call me.” So saying, she handed Sherry a business card with the casino logo and her name, number and title—Security, Chief Communications Officer. Sherry was impressed. She thanked Cara for the odd offer and the woman took her leave, breezing through the casino as men stopped to stare. She was gorgeous, after all.
Sherry tried not to feel inferior, but the tall blonde was so far out of Sherry’s league looks-wise, she felt like a wallflower. One look in Chet’s eyes, though, cleared that right up. He gazed at her as if he wanted to lick her all over, though where that thought came from, she had no idea. Heat flooded her cheeks again as she stared into his warm chocolate eyes.
“I’ll just leave you two alone,” Tony said, utterly forgotten for the moment, though he stood at Chet’s side.
“Sorry, T.” Chet shrugged as he broke the stare and turned to his friend. “You know how it is.”
“Not yet,” Tony said with something like regret, “but I hope one day, I will.” He slapped Chet on the back and smiled at Sherry, moving away. “Lucky dog.” Tony gave a little laughing howl as he headed out across the crowded casino, but nobody seemed to think anything of it. Then again, this was Las Vegas, Sherry reasoned as she turned back to Chet. He was staring at her again, his eyes lit with what she thought was desire.
It was unreasonable, after what she’d been through that day, but she felt an answering fire in her own blood. No way could she be so attracted to a stranger so soon after breaking up with Jeff, but apparently logic had little to do with her response to Chet. She wanted him and she was honest enough with herself to admit it—if only in the privacy of her own mind. Jeff didn’t even feel like a blip on her radar at the moment. She was focused solely on Chet.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said in a low, rumbling voice that set her insides on fire.
“I’m glad you think so. I had to get out of that sundress. It was looking kind of bedraggled.”
“You looked enchanting in white, but you’re even sexier in red, Red.”
“It clashes with my hair a little.” She fingered a tendril of her curly hair.
Chet touched her hair, stroking her like a puppy. “Not at all. Red is a good color for you. The hotter, the better.”
“Thanks.” They stared into each other’s until a howl of joy from a nearby slot machine broke them apart as someone struck the jackpot.
Chet seemed to come back to himself. “Come on, I’ve got dinner waiting. I hope you like filet mignon.”
The perfect gentleman, he took her arm, escorting her to a private elevator. Sherry was surprised. She thought they’d be heading for one of the restaurants, but he was the head of hotel security. Perhaps they had a private dining room for employees.
When he hit the button for the top floor, Sherry was surprised but willing to see where this magical evening—and man—would lead. She’d never done anything so daring in her entire life, but for once, she felt like taking a chance.
The elevator stopped at the top and he led her to a penthouse suite that overlooked the Las Vegas Strip. The view from the crenellated stone parapet was breathtaking and the table just inside the glass doors was set for two. Candles flickered in the dim light and savory aromas wafted from the serving dishes that had been left on an electric warming cart. She looked around for whoever had laid the feast and prepared the table, but they were alone. Intimacy surrounded them and Sherry’s mouth dried with sudden nerves.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, her gaze glued on the view.
Chet padded to her side and offered a crystal glass filled with champagne. She took it and turned to face him. He smiled and raised a matching glass.
“You’re beautiful.”
For the first time in her life, Sherry truly felt beautiful. This special man made her feel that way. It was completely crazy. They’d only just met and she was on the rebound, but somehow, it all made perfect sense.
They ate a sumptuous dinner accompanied by one of the most expensive bottles of champagne Sherry had ever seen, much less drunk. The bubbles tickled her nose as the delicate flavor burst on her tongue. The wine, as well as the man, were pure magic.
“And now for desert.” Chet licked his lips, staring hotly at the woman who would be his mate. Any minute now, the mating fever would kick into high gear…if he was right. It wasn’t the usual course of business for his kind, but Chet was something special among werefolk. He’d gone to work for Mr. Fritz, the wizard who owned Dunvegas, because of a prophecy and certain promises.
Chet had agreed to let Mr. Fritz cast a spell, to draw his mate to here, to Dunvegas, so Chet could focus the energy he would have ordinarily put into a mate hunt on securing the premises. Chet had waited for the woman to come, but he hadn’t expected her to show up during the busiest time of the year, smack dab in the middle of the ParaPleasures Expo. Sure, they’d brought on extra security to deal with the convention itself, but the casino still needed guarding—more so with the increased activity and fully booked hotel. Vamps, weres and other supernaturals didn’t always play well together. It was Chet’s job—and that of his pack—to make sure not too much blood was spilled.
And now here she was. Fritz had told him his destined mate would be human. Chet had prepared himself to accept a weaker female into his life. But Fritz hadn’t said how unutterably beautiful she’d be, or how alluring.
He stood and went around the table, taking her hand and urging her gently to her feet.
“I thought we were going to have desert.” Her voice was sultry and low, skating along Chet’s spine like fingernails scratching sensually through his pelt.
“We are,” he all but growled, though he tried to keep a lid on his libido, but it was hard. Hell, he was hard.
Chet lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. When she didn’t object, he flipped it over and ran his lips over her palm, holding her gaze all the while. Her nostrils flared slightly in pleasure and he moved to nibble on her fingers, sucking here and there as her breath started to speed. A minute later she was panting as he lifted her hand to his chest and wrapped one hand around her waist.
He reeled her in and she came willingly. Her skin was hot, just as Fritz had said would happen when the mating fever hit, but there was one true test still left to perform. With great deliberation, Chet lowered his lips to hers, inch by inch. He drew the moment out, wanting to remember these next few minutes for the rest of their lives together, but she would have none of it.
With surprising strength for such a tiny woman, she pulled him closer and, reaching up, dragged his mouth even closer to hers, locking them together in a deep, sensual kiss.
She tasted like heaven itself. The feel of her hands petting his back, his shoulders, and running up into his hair was more than he ever could have imagined.
He tore at the slinky straps of her stretchy red dress, glad there weren’t any buttons or zippers to deal with. Right now, his inner wolf needed her naked just as much as the man did.
“I don’t understand any of this,” she gasped, coming up for air as he drew her dress off over her head. Her little fingers went to work on the buttons of his shirt the moment her hands were free. He liked that.
“Don’t ever try to understand magic, my love. This was meant to be. I accept that. Now all you have to do is accept me.”
She stilled. “I don’t even know you.” For a moment it looked like sanity was going to slow her down, but then her palms rubbed over his chest under the open shirt. Chet took it as a good sign, but he knew he had to get her full involvement and cooperation. Just seducing her senses wasn’t enough.
“You’re right, but you know my soul, Sherry. Just as I know yours. I recognized you the moment I caught your scent. Didn’t you recognize me, too?”
Her eyes turned dreamy. “I felt something when I saw you. You’re different, Chet. I realized that right away, but I don’t know what it is.”
Chet took a deep breath. Should he reveal his inner nature now or later? She would find out sooner or later, of course, but how to tell her? She was only human. He had to tread lightly.
He stroked her hair as she rested in his arms. “I’m an alpha, sweetheart, and you’re my mate. Can’t you feel it? The mating heat has you in its grip, just as Fritz said would happen. His magic drew you here. To me. And once we join, we will never be apart.”
“You want to marry me?” Confusion made her cute.
“I do.” He placed nibbling kisses on her cheeks and mouth. “Don’t you want to be mine? Forever?”
“I do. God help me, I do.” She lifted into his kiss once more as he unhooked her bra and slid her panties down curvy legs. She was so soft and pliant, so delectable in every way. He rid himself of his pants and shorts as quickly as possible, kicking shoes and socks in every direction until they were both naked, rubbing, yearning, together. When they broke apart for a moment, she whispered, “What’s an alpha?”
Chet had to laugh, just once. She knew so little about the real world, but she would soon learn. “I’m the leader of my pack, the alpha wolf. And you’ll be my mate, Sherry. Tonight. I’m going to make love to you and bite your beautiful neck to place my mark. It will let every were in this town know you belong to me. And then I want you to wear one of the outfits I bought for you.” He cupped her breasts and squeezed, watching her eyes dilate in pleasure.
“Outfits?” She seemed adorably confounded by his words, but she wasn’t objecting. The mating fever ran true, allowing her to accept—for now—things she didn’t fully understand yet. But she would. Soon. As soon as he got inside her.
“While you were buying that little red number, I had the Bondage Boutique send up the things you looked at.” He smiled at the flush that rose on her soft cheeks. “There’s an even better selection in the convention hall. I’ll take you there tomorrow.” He liked the idea of showing her off to the whole para world and letting them see her, wearing his mark.
The very idea made his inner wolf stand up and howl in joy. His mate was finally here, in his arms, naked and willing. She didn’t understand everything yet, but she would in time. The important part was to make her his in the most basic way.
Chet swung her up into his arms and headed for the bedroom. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to be inside her. Now.
He laid her on the bed and spread her legs, noting with pleasure the dark red of her curls. She was a natural redhead, which pleased him greatly. Chet bent over her, licking her straining nipples and sucking on her skin as she writhed beneath him.
“I can’t wait, Sherry. It has to be fast this time.”
“It’s okay. Don’t make me wait.”
The dreamy expression on her face coupled with the elevated heat of her skin let him know she was more than ready, but he had to be sure. He didn’t want to start their life together by hurting her. Reaching down, he stroked his fingers through her curls, then tested her readiness. She was slick and wet, ready for him and writhing in pleasure as he pushed inside, just a short way.
“I’m going to make this good for you, sweetheart. Tell me you want it.” He moved closer, lining himself up to stake his claim. She whimpered when he removed his fingers.
“I want it. I want you. Please!”
The last word was a sobbing cry as he pushed home within her.
Sherry felt so full, so gloriously complete in a way she’d never felt before. Jeff hadn’t given her this much pleasure at his best, and Chet hadn’t even really started yet. True, there’d been little foreplay, but her blood was humming so hot, she didn’t need it. She’d never been this ready before. Not for anyone. And never this fast.
“Yes,” he growled, his eyes glowing as he began to move. “You’re mine, Sherry. Say it!”
A whimper left her lips as her excitement rose another notch. Any more and she was going to come right out of her skin. She’d never known such pleasure.
“Yes! I’m yours. Yours!”
His grunts became growls as he drove her higher. Sherry flew over the edge before she was even aware of how high he’d pushed her. He felt so right within her, as if that’s where he always should be. She cried out as she came, hard and fast.
But Chet wasn’t done. Muscles rippling, he flipped her onto her stomach and lifted her up until she was on all fours. He entered from behind, pushing deep while the heat rose another notch. She’d never had multiple orgasms before, but Chet was pushing her higher, and for the first time in her life, it seemed like more than a possibility. She was panting with every thrust as he deepened his possession.
“Now, Sherry. Now you become mine.” His breath tickled her ear as he covered her back with his hard body. A moment later, she felt his teeth grazing down her neck, spiking her excitement. When he bit into her shoulder, she screamed, coming so hard, she blacked out for a minute.
When she came to, she was lying on her back with Chet leaning over her. One hand stroked her hair, while he gazed at her with loving concern. Slick wetness between her thighs told her he’d come just as hard as she had.
“Are you okay?” His voice was gruff, a low growl that fired her senses.
She nodded. “I’ve never felt like this before.”
He grinned. “We have years to explore all the ways to make love, sweetheart, now that we’re together.”
“You were really serious about that?” Hope filled her heart.
“You doubted me?” His surprise was almost comical.
Sherry reached up to stroke his stubbly cheek, giving him a soft smile. “I had a rough day.”
He captured her hand and kissed it, nibbling on her fingers. “Tomorrow starts the rest of our lives together. I meant every word, Sherry, my love. I’ve been waiting for you and now that you’re here, I’ll never let you go.”
“Now that I’ve had a taste of you, I don’t think I’ll ever want to go anywhere.”
He growled and rolled so that he lay on top of her, letting her feel a little of his intimidating weight. “Good thing you said that, but I’m still going to have to punish you for doubting my sincerity.” The devilish smile in his eyes stilled any worries she might’ve had about a guy his size wanting to ‘punish’ her.”
“Tomorrow,” he punctuated his words with nibbling kisses along her throat and down to the fresh marks on her shoulder, “you can wear the red leather number and I’ll paddle your pretty ass ‘til it matches. What do you think?”
Her breath caught and her imagination took flame. “I think I’m going to like my punishment a little too much.”
“That’s okay. I can always punish you for that later.” With a wink, he slid inside her and together they rocked the world until morning. B
etween love bites and shattering completions, he told her a fantastical story about being a werewolf and leading a pack of his kin. She didn’t believe a word of it, but late the next day, he proved it to her, then made love to her again. And again. And again.
And they lived happily ever after…Red and her big bad wolf.
(Return to Table of Contents)
Dunvegas: Alien Attack
By Jody Wallace
“If I were an alien who’d escaped Area 51, where would I go?” Miranda Mellons raised the binoculars to her sweaty face and inspected the military base from atop Tikaboo Peak, the closest legal vantage point to the Groom Lake facility. All she could see was a cluster of white warehouses encircled by the thin, tan lines of desert roads. Nothing else but twenty-six miles of sand, bushes, and mountain ranges. No signs of life, much less the military masses searching for alien life.
But there’d been no mistaking the signal she’d picked up with her dad’s old radio less than twenty-four hours ago. Her father, an ex-military survivalist, had taught her well, and she knew what the coded message meant.
Loose foo.
An alien had escaped.
It was the day they’d all been waiting for. She was determined to be the one to locate the ET, to prove herself to the other Dream Team members who humored her out of respect for her father’s memory.
She had to decide on a plan of action. Others might be hiking up Tikaboo even now, at least the ones spry enough to handle the terrain. She’d beaten them here because she’d neglected to relay the message until she’d been en route. Hey, they’d pawned off the shit Nevada outpost job on her while they handled the exciting aspects of extraterrestrial hunting—anything besides monitoring a radio. She should benefit at least a little. After all, it was her father who’d started the Dream Team, a faction of ET hunters and conspiracy theorists that had spanned the globe since before the Internet.
They’d all thought Area 51 was a dead zone. No way would the government hide anything or anyone here since it was so well known.
They’d been wrong.
What to do, what to do. Miranda buzzed with excitement, and also the several energy drinks she’d consumed on the trip. The others had more contacts than she did, more resources. But she had two things they didn’t have—the first and most relevant being proximity.
Not that it was doing her any good. She didn’t see anything unusual. Didn’t smell anything. Didn’t hear anything. She’d been up Tikaboo enough to know what was usual, too.
Her second ace in the hole hadn’t helped yet, either—her souped-up gamma wave scanner. The others had scanners, but not like hers. She didn’t plan to tell them about the modifications until she confirmed they worked. Unfortunately, the main unit was too heavy to carry up the mountain, and she hadn’t detected anything on the handheld.
Hell, if she were an alien who’d escaped Area 51, the first thing she’d do would be blow the place. Barring that, she’d hightail it as fast as she could towards the closest human establishment where she could blend in. Might that be Rachel? No way. Only 100 people lived there and half of them were crazy. Alamo? Nope, still too small.
Well, of course. By hook, teleportation, pick-up truck or crook, the alien would head for Las Vegas. Let the other Dreamers scour the desert around the ET Highway. Miranda was going straight to Sin City to extend the hand of human friendship to their stellar kin.