The Mane Event (31 page)

“Pregnant?” Brendon knew he was potent, but to go through latex…wow.

What should really worry him? That the idea of Ronnie carrying his baby didn’t scare him at all. He’d bet she’d look beautiful pregnant.

Then it hit Brendon like a brick to the head where his mind had happily wandered.

Look at that. Your heart
can
just stop in your chest but you keep on breathing.

To keep himself from asking if Ronnie wanted to go maternity clothes shopping, he looked at her and softly asked, “Pregnant?”

Ronnie shrugged. “Nah. I was just fuckin’ with her. As soon as she tried to kill me she would have smelled I wasn’t pregnant.”

Okay. He really liked this female. He’d always loved a woman with a healthy sense of humor. But one who refused to be intimidated by his sister made him all horny and anxious to get her back into bed.

Trying not to laugh in the face of his sister’s blinding anger, he said, “Ronnie, this is my twin sister, Marissa. Rissa, this is Ronnie. She and her Pack saved me the other night.” He yanked Marissa back. “So be nice,” he snarled in her ear.

She didn’t apologize and Brendon didn’t expect her to, but she stopped talking and looked away.

“Ronnie, could you give us a minute?”

“Yeah. Sure.” Thankfully, she didn’t seem angry he’d asked her to leave.

She pushed through the door and Rissa turned on him. “Couldn’t you at least fuck one of the small ones? She’s built like a linebacker.”

Not surprisingly that swinging door slammed back open, denting Brendon’s wall as Ronnie walked in yelling, “
You tree-climbing heifer!
”

“
You car-chasing slut!
”

Mitch came around the counter and grabbed hold of Marissa while Brendon put his arms around Ronnie and pulled her back. Unfortunately, the two females were in full rage, and even Brendon’s roar didn’t get them to shut up.

But Mitch’s quiet “You know, lions really don’t climb trees” brought the yelling to an abrupt end, and the three of them looked at him.

He shrugged. “I mean…we
can
climb trees. Especially ones with low branches. But then we can’t get down again. Leopards, however, are quite spry. So they take their prey up into trees. So other predators like us or hyenas can’t steal their meal.”

After a long moment of silence, Ronnie shook her head and pulled out of Brendon’s arms. Without a word, she walked out of the kitchen. He waited until he heard his bedroom door close, then he looked at Marissa.

“I think you better get used to something.”

“What?”

“Her.” He stepped up to his sister. “Cause if I get my way, she’ll be around. A lot.”

“Are you giving to the ASPCA, too? I didn’t know you’d become so altruistic.”

Knowing he was way close to popping his own sister in the mouth, Brendon picked her up and dumped her in front of Mitch.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with her?”

“Take her to your room. The two of you can have lunch and discuss other fascinating cat trivia.”

Marissa stepped away from Mitch. “Brendon—”

“
Out!”
He took a deep breath. “Out of my sight. Until I’m ready to see you again. Of course that may not be until after New Year’s.”

“Fine! Do whatever you want. And when you get fleas, don’t come complaining to me.”

Mitch shoved Marissa out the door. He stopped and looked at Brendon. For a second, Brendon thought he had something really deep to say. But the kid only shook his head and said, “I’ll see ya later, bruh.”

His family left and he walked into his bedroom to find Ronnie back in her own clothes.

“Ronnie—”

“Forget it.” She turned and glared at him. “I’m leaving you. And I never want to see you again.”

He swallowed the lump of panic in his throat. “If you’ll give me a—”

She cut him off. “Shaw…”

“Yeah?”

“I’m just kiddin’.” She burst out laughing. “You should see your face!”

His eyes narrowed. “You think that’s funny?”

“I think it’s hilarious.”

“You’re mean.”

“Not as mean as that sister of yours. I’ve met snakes nicer. But compared to my momma she’s a lightweight. And I don’t scare easy.”

“That’s good. Now get over here.”

“You want me all the way over there? That’s like a really long walk.”

“Don’t make me come get you, Ronnie Lee.”

“Oooh. And what if I do make you come get me? Whatcha gonna do, Yankee?” He watched her nipples harden under her worn T-shirt. “Whatcha gonna do to poor little ol’ me?”

Slowly, Brendon moved around the bed. “I gave you an order you didn’t follow.” He made a tsk-tsk sound. “That requires punishment, Ronnie Lee.”

“Punishment?” He watched her fight a smile as she took steps away from him. “You’d punish me?”

“Yeah. I would. And I know I’d enjoy every minute of it.”

“That’s not a good idea, hoss.”

“Oh?”

“I’m a fighter. I won’t go down easy. No pun intended.”

“Good. I don’t need any weak females in my bed. Now get over here and take your punishment like a good little pup.”

“Sorry, pussy. Can’t do it.”

Now a few feet from her, Brendon shrugged. “That’s too bad, sexy.”

He made a wild grab for her and she expertly dodged him, avoiding his arms and audaciously slapping his ass as she passed.

“You little brat!”

She laughed and leaped up on his bed, charging across it. He didn’t bother running for her, instead leaping right from the spot where he stood. She’d reached the door when he tackled her from behind, knocking her to the ground.

Brendon used his arms to protect her while he made sure he fell on his side.

She struggled even as she laughed hysterically.

“Shaw, you crazy bastard! Let me go!”

Jumping to his feet, Brendon grabbed hold of her ankle and dragged her back to the bed. “Oh, I’m not letting you go, sexy. Not for a while anyway.” Not ever.

He grabbed her waist and lifted her, tossing her on the bed. She tried to sprint away, but he slapped one hand against her back, and the power of it kept her right where she was. He had to be careful, though. Too hard a slam from his hand or paw could snap her back like a twig.

Ronnie kicked and cursed and laughed, trying her best to get away from Brendon. He sat on the edge of the bed and dragged her over his lap.

“I have to say, Ronnie Lee, I love this ass.” He reached between them and expertly got her shorts loose.

“Don’t even think about it, Shaw,” she squealed when he pulled the denim off her ass.

“Too late.” He brought his hand down on one cheek.

“Ow! You bastard!”

“That was just mean, Ronnie Lee.” He slapped her other cheek.

“Stop. Stop!” She reached back and tried to cover her butt.

“Now, now, Ronnie. You know how important it is to get your punishment.”

“Don’t,” she begged, even while she giggled. “I’ll do anything.”

“You say that, but I don’t think you mean it.” He raised his hand and she wiggled desperately.

“I promise. Anything!”

Brendon pretended to think about it for a second. “Anything?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Stay with me today. We’ll go out, have some fun, then come back here tonight.”

Ronnie blinked in surprise. “Spend the day together? I don’t know…”

He raised his hand again.

“Okay! Okay! I’ll spend the day with you.”

“And tonight.”

“You said the day.”

He brought his hand down on her ass and she howled. Literally. “All right! Tonight, too.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. I promise.”

“Good.”

Brendon didn’t say anything for a minute, and finally she looked over her shoulder at him. “What?”

“You wet, sexy?”

Smirking, she looked away. “Maybe.”

He shoved her back on the bed and pulled her shorts completely off.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t leave you like this. All wet and horny because of little ol’ me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh puhleeze!”

Brendon pushed his basketball shorts down and put her legs on his shoulders. He grabbed the last condom from the box on the nightstand, making a mental note to pick up more while they were out. “No need to beg, sexy. I’ll take care of it.”

“Are they all like you?”

“All what? Cats?”

“Yeah.”

“They want to be, but they’re not kings of the jungle. Only I am.” She looked up at him with one raised eyebrow. He shrugged and added, “Duh,” before he buried himself balls-deep inside her and “took care of it.”

Ronnie pulled out a pair of black jeans, a black sweater that would show some cleavage, and her favorite pair of black cowboy boots. Shaw really seemed to like her in cowboy boots. Now if she could get
him
in a pair of cowboy boots, all would be right with her world.

Smiling, Ronnie made a small pile of her clothes and then stood by the bed trying to figure out what else she might be forgetting. She knew she probably forgot something. Especially with her mind wandering back to last night with Shaw. She could say in all honesty she’d never had such a good time before in bed, and she’d had many good times in bed. Yet something about being with Shaw felt so right.

Whatever. Until the last year or so, Ronnie had never been a big-time worrier, concerned with how events would play out a few months or years down the line. And she wouldn’t start now with Shaw. She’d keep this relationship as simple as she kept all the others. They’d have a good time now and end it when it got boring. She gave what they currently had about a three-day shelf life. She figured by New Year’s Eve they’d both be looking for something more in line with who they are. Shaw would want back into some Pride, and Ronnie would be on the lookout for the wolf of her dreams.

Until then, until they were both so bored they couldn’t stand the sight of each other, she and Shaw would merely enjoy the moments—and have astounding sex.

Satisfied with her plan, Ronnie didn’t even bother to turn around when her bedroom door opened. She knew Sissy and Marty walked up behind her.

“Hey, y’all.”

When they didn’t answer, she looked at Sissy, shocked by the anger she saw there. “What? What’s wrong?”

“Do you think we don’t know?”

“That the whole Pack doesn’t know?” Marty added with more venom than Ronnie ever heard from the woman.

“If y’all are talking about Shaw—”

“You doin’ more than one lion?”

“You know what, Smith? That ain’t none of your business.” She didn’t know why Sissy should be so pissed. In the bar the other night she’d practically thrown Ronnie face-first into Shaw’s lap.

“Everything that happens in this Pack is now my responsibility.”

“You don’t even know anything happened,” Ronnie reminded her friend. “You haven’t even been here.”

“We have proof.”

Huh?
“Proof of what?”

“The disgusting things you two were doing,” Sissy snapped.

Ronnie rubbed her eyes. “What the hell are you two talking—”

She stopped when Sissy Mae tossed down the first eight-by-ten picture on the bed. Staring blindly, it took Ronnie several seconds to understand what she was actually seeing.

“You’re a whore, Ronnie Lee Reed,” Sissy said while tossing down more photos. Lord…so many sexual positions. So many disgusting, inappropriate things for two beings to be doing to each other. “And now everybody in the Pack knows it.”

“You,” Ronnie said through gritted teeth, “showed this to everyone in the Pack?”

“Had to,” Marty sighed. “Had to prove what a whore you are.”

Ronnie picked up the picture of a male and female having oral sex. “You two spent time on this?”

“Sure.” Marty shrugged. “Quick stop over at FAO Schwarz to pick up Ronnie”—Marty lifted up the stuffed wolf she had hidden behind her back—“and Shaw.” Her other hand held the stuffed lion.

“Then we used Bobby Ray’s digital camera so we could capture the true essence of what you two have been up to since yesterday.”

Ronnie kept staring at the pictures. She couldn’t help herself. “Where did you find the little latex thong?
And the whip?
”

“Wolf ingenuity, darlin’.”

Idiots. Her Pack was filled with absolute idiots.

Marty picked up another picture. “I had heard you have some oral skills, my dear. I must say I’m impressed.”

Sissy held up a different photo, Ronnie’s stuffed representative in a position with the Stuffed-Shaw that no amount of money in the world would get the breathing Ronnie to try. “And she’s not afraid to experiment. Are ya, my kinky little friend?”

Ronnie grabbed several other photos: Stuffed-Ronnie getting it from behind. Stuffed-Ronnie sitting on Stuffed-Shaw’s face. Stuffed-Ronnie wearing a leather bustier and a little leather mask. They’d tied her paws to the makeshift cardboard four-poster bed and stuffed-lion Shaw was—
oh good Lord in heaven.

“You showed these to the Pack?”

“Oh yeah. Over breakfast in that fancy restaurant they have downstairs. Couple of tigers were there too, came over and looked cause they heard us laughing. Then they laughed.”

“And the jackals. Don’t forget the jackals.”

“Oh. Those jackals were so entertained.”

The title Alpha Female of the Smith Pack completely forgotten, Ronnie slowly rounded on her childhood best friend. “Sissy Mae?”

“Yeah, darlin’?”

“Run.”

S
he smelled good. She’d used his shampoo and soap, and he liked how those scents clung to her.

She’d also slipped into a worn pair of black jeans, a black V-neck sweater, and black cowboy boots that sounded sexy as hell “clopping” against his hardwood floors. Even her leather motorcycle jacket made her look like one of those biker wolves that roamed the West Coast and Texas.

“What’s wrong?” she asked as soon as she saw his face.

“Nothing. You ready to go?”

He started to stand, but she pushed him back to the couch and crawled into his lap, her knees on either side of his thighs.

“Now come on, darlin’. Something’s not right. What is it?”

Ronnie put her arms around his neck and looked at him, waiting for him to answer. It occurred to him she actually cared.

Brendon had kept most things to himself or between him and his sister. There were few he trusted with his personal information, but those hazel eyes patiently gazing at him made him feel remarkably safe.

“My brother took off again.”

She winced and he knew he’d been right. She did care. “I’m sorry, darlin’.” Her fingers tangled in his hair. “I know you’re worried about him. And I think you’re right. He’s definitely hiding something. But you can’t protect him if he doesn’t want you to. Whatever it is, I think it’s something he has to work out for himself.”

“I know. But I feel like I should help him. I didn’t know about him until he was fifteen and I wasn’t there to protect him like I should have been.”

“That’s not your fault.”

“I know. Doesn’t make me feel better, though.” He sighed. “It doesn’t make me feel less responsible for him being such a…”

“Fuckup?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

She brushed his cheek with the palm of her hand. “I hate to tell you, but he doesn’t exactly look helpless. Plus it doesn’t seem like he wants anybody’s help. And, as my daddy would say, ‘fuckup’ is relative.”

Shaw gave a short laugh. “Your father sure has a lot of interesting sayings.”

“You have no idea. He’d also say there’s absolutely nothing you can do about any of this. Your brother’s grown. He needs to make his own decisions. All you can do is hope he starts doing the right thing and that he doesn’t set himself on fire in the process.”

Brendon frowned in confusion. “Huh?”

“Forget it. Long story. Now”—she smiled and he felt his mood lighten instantly—“you promised me we’d get out of here.”

“That I did.”

“Then don’t keep me waiting, hoss.”

“In one second.” He leaned his head down and rubbed his cheeks against her face, neck, chest, and finally her hands when she giggled and tried to push him off.

“What the hell?”

“Okay, now we can go.” Standing, Brendon placed her on her feet.

He moved toward the door while she sniffed her hands.

“Hey…Hey!
Did you mark me
?”

Grabbing the back of her jacket, he pulled her toward the door. “Stop squawking, sexy. It’s totally temporary.”

“
Daaaaaaaaaddddddddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
!”

Ronnie’s eyes crossed. The kid hit notes that made her feel like barking in response.

The little girl pulled away from her mother and charged head-on into Shaw’s arms. He picked her up, lifting her in the air. She squealed in glee again, her little legs kicking out.

Ronnie stepped back, not wanting to intrude and refusing to ask why Brendon Shaw brought her over to meet his goddamn kids.
Means nothing, Ronnie Lee. Figured he’d just take care of it while he was out.

Yeah. That reasoning
did
sound stupid, didn’t it?

Not wanting to obsess about it, Ronnie did the only thing she could think of. She watched the quiet city street for any danger. She’d do the same thing if this were a Pack pup.

“What’s my baby girl up to?”

“Going to Grandma’s. New Year’s hunting!” she cheered.

Apparently Shaw’s child had one decibel level, and Ronnie’s head had already begun to throb.

A young couple walked down the opposite sidewalk, and Ronnie watched them with an intensity bordering on the psychotic. She couldn’t help it. She didn’t know them, wasn’t sure she liked them, and Shaw’s kids were right behind her. The pair must not have liked what they saw on her face because they sped up and disappeared around a corner. That’s when Ronnie realized Shaw had called to her.

“What?” She turned and found Shaw holding his daughter against his chest with one arm while he held the other out toward her. He wiggled his fingers and she took his hand.

“Baby, this is daddy’s friend, Ronnie. Ronnie, this is my daughter, Serena.”

“Hi, Serena.”

The little girl snuggled her father’s face while piercing gold eyes sized her up.
Baby predators. Ya gotta love ’em.

“You smell different,” she finally said.

Ronnie nodded. “I do.”

“And you smell like Daddy, too.”

Glaring at Shaw, Ronnie said, “That I do.”

“So you’re Pride?”

“Uh…”

“Don’t be rude, Serena,” a lioness chided while watching the butler or chauffer or whoever load up one of the waiting limos. “We’ll be back about a week after the New Year, Brendon.”

“That’s fine, Allie.” He and his daughter rubbed noses. “When you get back you’ll be staying with me for a while, baby.”

The girl cheered and kissed her father’s face.

Another lioness walked out, a small toddler in her arms. “Hey, Brendon.”

“Hey, Serita.”

“Glad you could stop by before we left.” She watched the limo driver try and put a bag into the trunk. “No, no! Not like that. Oh, I’ll do it!”

She turned to Shaw, saw his hands full, and then turned to her sister who raised one eyebrow. “Hands full.”

Must be that one tiny Louis Vuitton purse she has on her arm.

“Here.” She looked at Ronnie. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Uh…” Before Ronnie could answer either way, the little boy reached out for her, and the lioness practically threw him into Ronnie’s arms.

Shaw grinned. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Sure.” She’d held children before. Lots of them. She had more than thirty-five cousins last count. Still, this wasn’t some wolf pup. This was a lion. Future Breeding Male. It felt a little overwhelming. What if she dropped him or something?

“I’m assuming Missy’s not here, Allie.” Shaw rubbed his cheek against his daughter’s while he reached out and affectionately brushed his son’s head.

“Nope. She left early this morning with the other kids. Thankfully. If I had to hear her complain one more time about Mace and that woman, I would have ripped her arms off.”

“Low-class Po-rican whore.”

Shocked, they all looked at the little girl in Shaw’s arms.

Allie winced when Shaw glared at her. “I’m sorry, Brendon.” She tugged her daughter’s hair. “I told you those were bad words, Serena. And you’re not to say them.” Allie looked back at Shaw. “I’ll talk to Missy when I see her.”

“You better. I’d hate to have to enforce the terms of our contract because your sister can’t watch her mouth.”

“I said I’ll take care of it. Hey!” Allie snarled when her sister tossed one of the bags out of the trunk. “That’s one of my bags.”

Ronnie hugged the boy in her arms. Only two or so, if she was guessing right, with an incredibly out-of-control baby mane of hair. Not a full mane yet, but one day it might rival his father’s. “Contract?”

“Do you actually think I’d go into this without an iron-clad contract?” he murmured, kissing the top of his daughter’s head and smoothing his hand down her back.

Lord, a breeding contract. Only lions would think of that. Wolves were much more…“in the moment.” A bottle of tequila and a quiet spot in someone’s backyard during a party, and whole Packs were created with matings lasting fifty or sixty years.

Curious, she asked, “What did they pay you…exactly?”

“Pay me?”

“You know…to…uh…” She lowered her voice to a barely there whisper, “Breed?”

Shaw blinked, then he exploded. “
What?
”

Ronnie took a quick step back while his daughter giggled. “You made him mad.”

“I just thought—”

“Well, you’re wrong.” He looked hurt she’d even think it. “The contract is only regarding the cubs. Everything is spelled out. Custody. Visitation. And basic ground rules. That’s it. Everything else is by…well…” He glanced down at his daughter’s head.

Ronnie grinned. “Mutual agreement?”

“Exactly.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t raised in a Pride. I wanted to see what it was like.”

“And?”

He nodded his head. “I love my children.”

Chuckling, Ronnie hugged and rocked the little boy in her arms.

Shaw’s expression warmed as he watched his son bury his face in Ronnie’s neck. “He likes you.”

“Like father, like son apparently. He’s been nipping my neck for the last five minutes.”

“Be grateful he doesn’t have his fangs yet.”

“Okay. Time to go.” Allie tried to pull her daughter away from Shaw, but the little girl held on like her life depended on it, refusing to let her father go. Shaw took her to the limo himself and buckled her into her car seat with surprising efficiency.

Her little guy, Erik, Ronnie finally discovered, didn’t put up a fight when his father pulled him from her arms, but he did look deep into her eyes for several seconds, then kissed her cheek before letting anyone put him into his own child seat.

As the limos pulled away, Ronnie turned to Shaw. “Good Lord, is that boy like you.”

“So tell me about your mom.”

He didn’t expect that question to send her tripping over her own two feet and flying into the bookstore’s erotica section he’d followed her to. Luckily he had fast hands and caught her before her head could make contact with the
Kama Sutra
.

“Whoa! Are you okay?” The few times she’d mentioned the woman it hadn’t been very positive. Brendon simply hoped to find out why.

Ronnie gripped his arms and let him put her back on her feet. “I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to answer me if you don’t want.”

Shaking her head, “No. No. I don’t mind.”

“You two argue a lot, I guess.”

“Not often. Only anytime the sun rises or sets somewhere on the Earth.”

Brendon laughed and didn’t immediately release her. He liked having her in his arms. “Okay, so you two have your, uh, issues.”

Ronnie tried to pull out of his arms, but when he didn’t release her, she shrugged and leaned back. “Yeah. We don’t get along much. Never have. My daddy said we started arguing when I was still in the womb.” She leaned forward and grabbed one of the books off the shelf. “Said he’d walk in the room once and found her yelling at her stomach, telling me to stop kicking her so damn much.”

Keeping one hand around her waist, Brendon took the book out of her hands. “Let’s see what we have here.” He quickly read the blurb on the back. “Nope. Forget it. There’s no spanking. You’ll get bored.”

She elbowed his stomach. “I will not get bored.” She snatched the book back. “I don’t need to read about spanking, ya know?”

“True. Why read about it when I can slap your ass myself?”

She slammed her foot into his instep. And, if he were a lesser man, it would have hurt like hell. He tried to get the book back but she held onto it, the two of them laughing as they struggled over it. It took them a few seconds to realize they were being watched. Slowly, they looked over their shoulders at the human male ogling them. They stared at him for several moments, then Ronnie snarled and snapped. The man couldn’t run fast enough.

Grinning, Ronnie looked up at Brendon. “I love doing that.”

She mentioned the schools she had interviews set up with, and Shaw drove her to the closest one. They got out and walked around the deserted campus for a good thirty minutes before Ronnie had to sit down on a bench by a Japanese garden so she could put her head between her legs.

“I can’t do this. I can’t go back to this.”

“Why not?” He sat down next to her, his hand smoothing down her back. “Ronnie, it’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be trapped. Like an animal. In these tiny classrooms. And they’ll expect me to be back at a certain time on certain days—for
four years
.” At the moment, four years sounded pretty much the same as forty.

“You’re not real good with everyday routine.”

“Why should I be? What’s so great about routine? The same thing everyday. Is anything more depressing?”

“Routine doesn’t always mean boring.”

“Ha!”

Shaw scratched her head, leaning over to kiss her temple. “What are you planning to study anyway?”

Shrugging, she replied, “Probably engineering. It’s what I studied in college the first time around.”

When he didn’t say anything, Ronnie looked at him. He stared off across the campus, a deep frown on his face.

Insulted, she slammed her fist in his shoulder, making him wince. “I know this accent confuses you superior Yankees, but being Southern does not make you stupid.”

“I never said—”

“Shut up.”

Shaw quickly complied, but she knew he was trying not to laugh. So was she.

Clearing his throat, he said, “Was that the textbook you had at the hospital? The one you hit me with?”

“You deserved it. And yeah. One of my old engineering textbooks.” She rubbed her hands over her face and rested back against the bench. “I started reading it, and it all rushed back to me. How boring this all is. No wonder Sissy Mae didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to bail. And bail I did.”

He chuckled. “But I thought you were ready to change your life. Settle down—”

Ronnie sat up abruptly and slapped her hand over his mouth. “Let’s not use those words right now.”

Intense gold eyes watched her, and he pulled her hand off his mouth. “What if you meet the right guy, Ronnie? Would you settle down then?”

“You mean the right
wolf
?” She wanted to get the distinctions clear because she didn’t much like the expression on that gorgeous face.

“Why limit yourself?”

“Mostly because I don’t want funny-looking children.”