Marie Harte: Foxy Lady

Ty’s doubt unnerved her. Hell, he wasn’t going to help. She needed his support to influence the clan council, and even the town council if it came to that. The silver fox held a lot of respect in town, respect he’d more than earned.

“Ty, please.”

He studied her with those quicksilver eyes. “I’ll support Jason with the council… if you agree to certain conditions.”

“Conditions?” Trust Ty to screw things up even more than they were. “God, why did you have to show up today?” She pulled at her hair, wondering if Aunt Lynn would arrive and make things worse.

“Now, now, honey. Yes or no?”

“First, tell me what conditions means.”

“Yes or no?” he asked again, his soft voice menacing enough to make the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Threatening bastard.

“Yes, yes,” she grumbled. “Fine.”

“Seal it with a kiss.” He grinned and stood with his thumbs in his belt loops, waiting.

She’d give him a kiss… Julia yanked his head down to hers and plastered his mouth with a doozy. Tongue and teeth and lips, until Ty tried to pull her closer. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d all too easily fall under his spell again.

She tore her mouth free. “Signed, sealed and delivered,” she said in a breathy voice. “Now let’s get out there and tell Meghan we’ll support her to the council.”

“You’re a cruel woman,” Ty moaned, rubbing his arousal through his jeans. “I just willed this away, Julia. Damn.”

“I’ll meet you out there.” Try to outsmart me, will you?

After taking a moment to bury her own lust, she found Gabby, Meghan and Jason involved in a lively discussion about computers. Watching the trio, Julia noticed how happy Meghan looked sitting with Jason, hand in hand. A twinge of uncertainty hit her. Was Meghan really in love with him?

“There you are.” Gabby smirked. Her sister knew all about Julia’s fixation on Ty, thanks to Julia’s intolerance for anything alcoholic. That one night she’d let slip her secret crush not only to Ty, but to her sister as well. What a disaster.

“Ty and I were talking.”

“Just talking?” Gabby murmured.

Ignoring her, Julia continued. “Ty thinks he can talk the family into meeting Jason and you in Seattle in the near future.”

Meghan blinked. “Really?”

“If Jason really loves you, and you really love him, I’m sure we can work something out. After all, what’s a future without family?”

Jason smiled. Gabby looked stunned.

Meghan let go of Jason and leapt to her feet. She hugged Julia tight. “Thank you, sis. This means so much to me.”

“Jason still has to pass muster,” she whispered as she hugged Meghan back.

“He will. He’s the best.” Meghan stepped back and wiped her eyes. “Jason and I are going out for a while. Gabby wants to come with us.”

“No, that’s not—”

Ty interrupted. “Great idea. That way your sister and I can talk about our own plans for the future.” He walked behind Julia and put his arms around her, squeezing her back to his front. He rested his chin on her head.

“That is so cute,” Gabby gushed as she studied them. “You two look perfect together.”

Julia was so going to get her sister for this. “Gee, thanks, Gabby.”

“I can see I’m not wanted,” Gabby teased and gestured to Meghan and Jason. “Let’s go, you two. We’ll pick up lunch out in town and bring back something for dinner.”

“My treat,” Jason promised.

The three of them waved goodbye and left.

Julia tried to pull away but Ty held her tight. She couldn’t miss his erection prodding her back.

Jason’s vehicle sounded loud in the silence before the rumble of its motor died as he drove away.

“Now, foxy lady, it’s just you and me.”

Ty had been waiting forever to have Julia all to himself. But he knew better than to rush things. The woman wanted him. Hell, he could smell her musk right now and it was killing him. The fact she made no move to act on her lust gave him pause. He wanted Julia—now, to date, as a girlfriend. He refused to entertain thoughts of forever. Despite what his family and friends constantly urged him to do, he had no intention of finding a mate just yet.

He liked dating. Yes, he’d grown tired of it lately. That didn’t mean the urge wouldn’t hit him after this dry spell. He didn’t want Julia just for sex, though he wouldn’t say no to it. He liked female companionship. Unlike what the rumors in town hinted, Ty didn’t fuck every woman he dated. He’d been out with foxes, bears, a few raptors. But nothing serious. Only a select few made it to his bedroom, and those few hadn’t lasted beyond physical entertainments. When Ty eventually mated, he’d take a fox as wife. But not now. Now he wanted to play and have fun.

Except he had to keep reminding himself of that fact, because lately, he wanted something else.

Not a soul-deep connection. That was Gerald’s thing. The idiot lawyer wanted a woman to marry. Ty just wanted a girlfriend he wouldn’t tire of after three dates. They’d have dinner, spend time together, and yeah, indulge in red-hot sex.

Julia could give him all that and more. But she wouldn’t give it up easily. The chase fired his blood, and he grinned when she squirmed in his hold. He grew harder just thinking about outfoxing her.

“Let me go.” She huffed when he did and turned around, glaring at him.

Ty smiled and began unbuttoning his shirt. Most Shifters treated nudity with a casual regard. Ty didn’t much care if anyone saw him without clothes, and he admitted to liking the look of a female without encumbrance. But he normally didn’t get a hard-on around anyone but Julia.

Her gaze was glued to his fingers, he noted with satisfaction.

“Wh-what are you doing?” she asked.

“What does it look like?” He stripped off his shirt and moved to his belt buckle. With slow movements, he undid his belt and unbuttoned his jeans. The pull of his zipper sounded overly loud in the sudden silence.

Julia cleared her throat. His little fox looked wild around the eyes.

He toed off his boots, then bent down and took off his socks before straightening again. Hell of a thing with a hard-on the size of Montana.

With a grimace, he forced himself to behave and continued to watch Julia as he undressed. Her full lips opened on a gasp as he pushed his jeans and underwear to the floor.

“Why are you, ah…? That is, what do you…?”

Gratified by her rapid breathing, Ty stood there letting her look her fill. This is what you’ve been missing, honey. All this is yours. All you have to do is ask. He could feel how hard he pulsed, knew there had to be some precome there at his tip. The woman had a powerful hold on his sex drive, no doubt.

“Julia? You okay?” he teased, liking this side of her. At work she always seemed so put together. Her clothes just right, never a hair out of place. Classy, pristine. Right now she seemed anything but. Her jeans and large denim shirt were rumpled. Her hair was wild, framing her face with the untamed look it deserved. And her breathing definitely told him she was anything but calm.

“I’m fine.” She exhaled on a whoosh. “Just worried about my sister.” Her gaze continued to stray to his cock.

When she licked her lips again, it was all he could do not to start stroking himself, willing her to go down on him.

Instead, he waited for her to meet his gaze again. When she did, she turned scarlet.

He gave her a wicked grin. “I’m going to turn and check out the surrounding woods. Wait for me here, would you?”

“Ah, yeah. Sure.” She tried to shutter her gaze, but Ty knew she wanted him. He could smell her desire. He needed some space before he took advantage of her. God forbid he actually give her what she really wanted. She might not speak to him for a year.