Welcome to the Neighborhood (4 page)

“Tell me the truth. Were you attracted to him?”

Alexi leaned against the center island and rubbed her temple. “He’s good-looking. Large frame. Blue eyes. Dark hair. He has a trimmed beard…”

“I feel like masturbating.”

Alexi burst with laughter. “Okay, he’s hot, and smart–”

“Uh-oh.”

“What?”

“Hot and smart? Sweetheart, you are in big fucking trouble. I think you like him.”

“I do not!”

“Maybe you don’t want to admit it, but you do.”

“I’m smarter than–”

“Hands down you are extremely intelligent and experienced. But do you know when a man will use you and when he won’t?”

Alexi walked slowly around the center island, dragging her hand over the smooth countertop. “I’ve yet to meet a man who didn’t want something from me.”

“Alexi, I love you, but…”

“But?”

“He sounds well educated. Be careful.”

Alexi stopped, her arm outstretched and hand flat on the counter. “Don’t worry. I can handle a brainy werewolf.”

Cass chuckled. “I don’t doubt it. Call me tomorrow night, after your party.”

“You know I will.”

“Bye.”

Alexi set the phone on the counter. Gaze lowered, she saw the trash can and broom. She needed to return them. What better time than when he was asleep? She could run over to his house, leave them at the doorstep and not worry about seeing his masculine body. If by chance she did meet his eyes again, she’d return home and find her vibrator. Setting her plan into action, she picked up the broom and trash can, then headed toward the door.

From her house, she crossed her driveway and stepped onto the lawn. The grass felt cool and soft under feet as she strode from her side to her neighbor’s yard. She stepped onto Greg’s concrete driveway and lights from the sides of the garage illuminated as if they were motion activated. She followed the small path to the front and noticed the home seemed dark and quiet. She guessed he was probably sleeping.

She stepped onto the concrete porch and quietly placed the trash can next to the door with the handle of the broom leaning against the brick wall. The home remained silent and dark. Relief began to build within her with her task nearly completed. Now she had to make it back to her place.

She stepped away from the house but before she reached the end of the porch the handle of the broom skidded over the bricks and made a rugged scraping sound. She spun, quickly grabbed the broom and froze. She hoped the noise didn’t wake Greg.

Alexi cursed silently at herself. The urgency to leave pressed upon her. If Greg answered the door and invited her in, she might not be able to turn him down. No, not a good idea to see him again in her sex-starved condition. Carefully, she angled the broom handle so it wouldn’t slide again. As she took a step back, she heard movement from inside the home. Footsteps and a beating heart drew closer. Running now would seem rude and she didn’t want to give that kind of impression, so she waited to explain the disturbance.

Alexi stiffened as she stared at the door and listened to the clicking sound as someone unlocked it. She’d apologize for waking him and promptly leave. Her simple plan would work, unless he appeared in front of her half naked.

She bit her lip as the door swung open. A stocky man with tussled, sandy-blond hair stood near the frame wearing nothing but boxer shorts.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“I was awake.” He grinned.

Her gaze lowered. She couldn’t help it. “Do you always answer the door in your underwear?”

He glanced down at his blue-stripped boxers. “No, not usually. Do you like them?”

“Uh, sure.”

Doubt pricked at her mind. Did she have the right house? Though she hadn’t seen Greg walk to or from the home, she believed he lived here. She glanced at the window to the side, and pictured him standing with the curtain in his hand.

“Does Greg live here?”

“He’s in bed.” The stranger’s gaze scanned her body from toe to breasts. “Would you like me to get him for you?”

She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Was Greg gay? Why would this man say he was in bed instead of saying Greg was sleeping? It was a small detail, but one none the less. Come to think about it, Greg had stared deep into her eyes the entire time they conversed. Not once did she notice him looking at other parts of her body as regular men tended to do. But the stranger in the doorway had checked her out. Were they lovers? Guilt slipped into her head. Had she interrupted them?

Alexi took a step back. “No, that’s okay. No need to bother him.” People’s sexual orientation had no influence on her. She hoped she hadn’t accidently halted their playtime. For another matter, she didn’t want give him any wrong signals.

“I’m Corey Fleming.” He took a step closer with his arm outstretched.

She glanced at his hand and for a split-second she hesitated to shake it.

“Alexandria Cartwright.” Gripping his hand, she gazed in his green eyes and slipped into his mind. Nothing was there. She probed deeper for a memory and found emptiness, similar to what she’d discovered with Greg. She suspected Corey was either a werewolf or warlock and placed her bet on the former.

“Would you like to come inside for a drink?” He let go of her hand and pointed his thumb behind him, toward the inside of the home.

The only drink that could quench her thirst was warm blood. Her mouth watered, tempted by the idea of tasting the rich fluid of such a robust man. Then she bit her tongue and pushed the thought out of her mind. For God’s sake, she couldn’t bite her neighbor.

“No thanks. I came by to bring back the trash can and broom Greg brought over earlier.” She extended her arm toward the items near the door.

He glanced down and found the items. “Greg told me you were having trouble with the moving company. Were you able to work everything out?”

“Yes, but I’m still going to contact the owners.”

“If you need any legal assistance, let me or Greg know. Either one of us can answer any legal questions you have.”

“Are both of you lawyers?”

“Greg specializes in child-support law. I work with domestic violence cases. Andy handles burglary and other petty crimes. But we often help people with other issues.”

“Andy?”

“He’s our roommate. You probably won’t see him too much.”

“Have the three of you lived together for long?” The niggling desire to find out about three men under the same roof overpowered her. Were they all gay? She didn’t want to seem nosey, but she’d never met homosexual or bisexual werewolves or warlocks.

He reached behind his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “About two years. Greg and I met in law school and have known each other for eight years. We met Andy several years ago after we took jobs at the prosecutor’s office. He introduced us to his pack.”

“So, you’re all werewolves?”

“Yeah, lawyers and werewolves.”

And they were gay or bisexual werewolves too. How interesting and intriguing.

“I’ll be sure not to cross your property line in a couple of days.”

He gave her a grin. “Oh, don’t worry, we’re like big, loveable dogs.”

She pressed her lips together as she pictured just how loveable they would be with their naked, hard and erect bodies. Cass would hop on a plane and visit for sure as soon as she found out. Maybe moving to Midnight Gardens was a good idea after all.

“I should go.” She glanced down and though she hadn’t intended to peek at his groin, she did. Her cheeks warmed instantly when she spotted the bulge behind his thin cotton shorts. “It was nice to meet you. I’m sorry to keep you awake.”

She stepped off the porch and with hurried steps she walked away from him. The man had a hard-on. A fucking hard-on. So, he had to be bisexual.

“Wait,” Corey yelled as she crossed the lawn.

She stopped and twisted to face him. He stood on the edge of his driveway.

“Are you going to the Welcoming party?”

“Of course.”

“Maybe we can talk more. I’d like to know you better and I know Greg would too.”

“Sure.” She grinned as she walked backward. Oh yeah, they were lovers, and he’d practically invited her into their bed. Although she was in need of some manlove, she couldn’t fathom a
ménage à trois
with her neighbors. Not yet, anyway.

“It was nice to meet you,” Corey said.

Before he could say another word, she turned and headed for her house. A cold shower would calm her. She hoped. If not, she’d dig out the vibrator from her suitcase.

She stepped into her home with her bare feet smacking on the hardwood floor. As she closed the door, a touch of sadness pressed upon her heart. In a way, she’d hoped Greg wasn’t gay, bisexual or into group sex. The unusual attraction she’d felt earlier piqued her curiosity, and she wanted to explore it. Part of her wondered if he could be a decent man, someone she could talk to and trust. Someone who wouldn’t use her. Now that she knew the truth, her interest in him had deflated.

Alexi grinned as she walked away from her door. Her neighbors were lovers. Maybe they wouldn’t be interested in her for sex or financial advice. On second thought, if they were interested in sex with no strings attached she might consider it. She’d take sex with hot, big men instead of a vibrator any day. But first, she’d have to find out more about them before considering getting involved. Too many times in the past, men had used her up and left her. She would never let a man take advantage of her again.

She picked up her cell phone and hit speed dial for Cassandra. Her best friend would undoubtedly find Alexi’s situation interesting. More than likely, she’d plan a visit soon.

“What’s on your mind?” Cass asked, cheerful as always.

“You’re not going to believe what I found out about my neighbors.”

4

Greg stood in the middle of the living room in his white cotton t-shirt and boxers. Half-awake and rubbing eyes, he stared at the open front door. He had just dozed off when he thought he’d heard Alexandria’s voice. At first, he thought he was dreaming. Then he heard Corey speak. The two couldn’t have been together in his dream. That would’ve been a nightmare. Seeking an answer, he rose from the bed and strode down the hall. The door was wide open, but neither Corey nor Alexandria were within sight.

Greg moved closer to the door as Corey stepped inside with a wide smile on his face. In Corey’s hand, he held the trash can and broom Greg had given to the movers to use. Corey shut the door without noticing Greg. But when he turned to head for the kitchen, he saw Greg and the joyous look on his face quickly vanished.

“Oh, hi,” Corey said, holding the trash can in front of him. The beat of his heart quickened.

Greg ambled toward him. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” One of his hands disappeared behind the can. “Nothing at all.”

Greg took a breath and noticed the scent of sweat. It was light, but enough to raise his suspicions more.

“Was Alexandria here?”

“Yeah, she dropped these off. I was awake, so I introduced myself.”

His roommate avoided Greg’s gaze and he kept the trash can in front of him rather than setting it down. Greg found his behavior curious.

“Did she say anything?” Greg asked.

“Not much.”

“She just returned this stuff and left?”

Corey gave a speedy nod. “Pretty much.”

Short answers, fast heartbeat and sweat were all signs of anxiety. The lack of eye contact troubled Greg too. What would cause his roommate to act so oddly?

The answer came to him fast.
Alexandria.
Greg had heard Corey talking to her. He’d recognize that soft, seductive voice anywhere. What did he do? What did he tell her?

Greg noticed Corey’s free hand wedged between the trash can and his body. He grabbed hold of the plastic container and jerked it from Corey’s hand.

“Hey!” Corey blurted.

Greg looked down to find Corey’s hand covering his enlarged cock. “What the fuck?”

“Damn it, you didn’t tell me how smoking hot she was.”

“Did you sport wood in front of her?” Blood rushed to Greg’s head and initiated a light throb in his head. How embarrassing. They were lawyers. Not lust-craving werewolves.

“Not exactly.” Corey ran his fingers through his short hair. “Well…maybe.”

“Unfucking believable.” Greg stomped into the kitchen and put the trash can and broom back in the pantry. More colorful words waited on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back. Heading back toward the living room, he found Corey standing in the open entryway.

“Did she see it?” Greg asked.

“Maybe. She glanced down right before she left.”

Greg clenched his teeth, annoyed with his roommate’s behavior toward their new neighbor. She’d probably left because she’d seen his growing erection. While anger filled Greg at Corey’s display, Greg couldn’t be more pleased of the outcome. Corey had a suave appeal that attracted many women, but it seemed he hadn’t captured Alexandria’s eye.

“Look, I’m sorry. It just happened. She was standing in front of our door with her big breasts facing me, and I couldn’t help but look.”

“You checked her out?”

“Oh yeah.” Corey grinned widely. “She has some perfect tits and long legs to wrap around–”

“Stop.” Irritation growing by the second, Greg lifted his hand to silence him. He didn’t want to hear any more about how beautiful her body was. He’d seen it and couldn’t get her lovely image out of his head. Adding to his frustration, Greg disliked the thought of other men checking her out. She seemed like a smart woman who deserved respect, not ogling.

“I think you should apologize to her.”

“For what?”

“She’s our new neighbor and a bright woman. What you did was disrespectful.”

“Come on. It’s only natural to get hard for a beautiful woman. I’m sure she understands. Hell, it’s a compliment.”

Greg’s annoyance meter shot to the red zone. “In front of her, Corey?”

“She might not have even seen it. She took a glimpse, then walked away.”

Greg believed she’d seen him. Vampires could detect emotions like desire, anxiety and fear as easily as werewolves could. She had keen eyesight similar to them too. If Corey had been fully erect, she would’ve undoubtedly seen it.