Rescuing Their Virgin Mate(29)
He leaned against his dresser. “I honestly thought she wasn’t ready for another man in her life.”
“Let her decide. Take her out. Have a good time. I’m betting with a little encouragement, she’ll take the initiative.”
His style wasn’t to let a woman lead, but with her it could work. At least he wouldn’t feel guilty if she asked him to make love to her. “I will.”
“Just make sure you don’t waste the opportunity the next time you get her naked.”
Chapter Eight
Elena paced the living room. It shouldn’t take Clay that long to dress. She decided to knock on his door to see if something had happened. Her hand was in mid-air when she heard voices. One sounded like Dirk’s, and she let out a breath, relieved he’d returned.
Not wanting to disturb them, she retreated to the living room and waited on the sofa. Now that Dirk was home, it was going to be more difficult than ever to be in the same room with both men. Clay said there were no secrets between them. A twinge of guilt sliced through her for almost seducing him.
Too bad. Loving Dirk had not been wrong. Lusting after Clay? Now that might have been a different matter.
She closed her eyes to remember what it was like with each man. Her body reacted to them in different ways. With Dirk, it was a safe relationship, one that could grow with each passing month. Clay was the volatile one. She could almost see him being the type to hold her hands in one of his. His need for her would be so great he’d be unable to take his time.
The door opened and both men appeared looking refreshed. Her traitorous body lit up, and her nerves jumbled in excitement.
She stood. “Did everything go okay at the warehouse?” That was a safe topic.
Dirk smiled. “Yes. In fact, when I snuck into the warehouse, I found two girls, both caged.”
Her breath lodged in her throat and she made the sign of the cross. “Thank God, you found them. How are they?”
He explained their condition and how they were now taken care of. “Neither one was your friend, Cheryl.”
Her heart ached for her. “There’s no way to find her?”
“We’re trying. We have two of our best men on the case.”
Clay’s phone rang and her heart jumped.
“Demmers. Yeah. Maybe. When? I’ll let you know. And thanks, Trax.”
She waited for him to tell her. Perhaps Hood had slipped up. “Anything important?”
Clay walked over to the fridge and grabbed a beer. “We’ve been invited to a party.”
A party? “Why?” With all that had gone down, she didn’t expect anyone to be in a festive mood, but then again, only the three of them had been involved in the human trafficking tragedy.
The more she thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her. Not only would it give her a chance to get out, but she’d learn who Clay and Dirk hung out with.
“It’s just a get together.” Clay laughed and the tension rolled out of her. “Trax Field, and his brother, Dante, are our Pack surveillance experts. They’re the ones who saved the girl who approached you.”
“What was her name?”
“Liz Wharton.”
“Did Couch hurt her, too?”
They gave her a short version of what went down. She suspected a lot more had happened but didn’t ask. Right now, she really didn’t want to learn more about these terrible Colters.
“When is the party?” She could use some post-holiday cheer.
“Tomorrow night. You up for it?”
“Sure.” She wouldn’t have the killer outfit she’d like to wear, but Dirk seemed to like her no matter what she wore.
#
The next day, Clay agreed to drive her to the drugstore to pick up some makeup since he didn’t want her driving herself. He explained how many werewolves had ordinary jobs, and she wouldn’t know which teller or salesperson was one. So, the less exposure the better.
After he told her that, she might never feel safe in Gulfside again.
As she put on the finishing touches to her eye makeup she’d purchased, a knock sounded on her bedroom door.
“Sugar, you ready?”
She hadn’t been that long. Apparently, their idea of a few minutes to get ready didn’t match hers. “Coming.”
In a way, she was pleased it didn’t appear they’d ever lived with a woman before. She took one last look in the mirror. Given someone else purchased her clothes, she looked pretty darn good. If Clay hadn’t left the boxes in the parking lot, she would have had her heels to wear. Oh, well. Sneakers with yoga pants went together. Her outfit just wasn’t as fancy as she’d have liked.
She pulled open the door.
Clay whistled. “You look hot.”