Chapter 11

No sooner had Mandy disappeared inside her house than Charles raced past. After exchanging a quick wave with him, I headed home. The world sorta dimmed. With me wandering in a drooped-shoulders funk, dishes were cleaned, the bed got made, and I ended up straightening the same things over and over.

Each whiff of that elegant perfume or the haunting sweet scent of her arousal sent shivers through me. All day long, my mind whirled with what had happened, what she’d done, plus the tenderness we’d shared.

The next morning, I stumbled through my regular workout, time and again glancing at the neighboring house. Yes, hoping for the briefest glimpse of her. Once finished, I showered, and my gaze locked onto Debbie’s shampoo, soap, and that silly, but so very special, pink sponge ball. With both an achy chest and a swelling cock, desire flooded me: Mandy, all of her.

Ditto for the following day, and the next; a whole week. Not a peep. Even threw open the bathroom balcony doors, to no avail.

As I sipped coffee and scanned empty backyards, my heart kept aching, like a machine missing a key component. Besides the pain not suffered in a long, long time, I’d not been this anxious since Debbie.

Sure, rational thought proclaimed that with her husband home, she couldn’t saunter over and spend another night. The ache only strengthened; she hadn’t waved or done—anything.

“Anything.” I swallowed a chuckle.

Not even a passing smile, which meant she was hiding from me. Yeah, could’ve walked over; also might’ve been smart to have gotten her phone number, but...

But free will. Nope, wouldn’t jeopardize hers. If there was one thing I understood, an unfettered choice was far too valuable.

Kali had polished that concept to the highest glow. As much as the alabaster undead beauty’s haunted eyes might yearn, she’d be nothing more than whatever the Baron wished.

Hell, Mi had run from the court, home of all Fae, to seek happiness. Sometimes, one must escape or choose to stay.

Perhaps Mandy had tasted something too enticing and chosen to keep distant, remain in safety, enjoying a quieter, pre-Jim life. Made sense, given she’d perused Debbie’s toys. Or had I simply pushed her too far? Had she done things a wife and mother now regretted?

“No matter what...”

My whisper faded as a hand ran through my hair. In a bizarre way, felt kinda good to be concerned about somebody other than myself for a change. Even if I’d lost her to a much safer husband and a calmer life. With shoulders sagging, I turned from my window. Yep, could worry just as well as love from afar.

Resolve gathered and stacked into a neat pile, come the following dawn, my goal sharpened. No shock, it was the same damn one: move forward. Like I had any actual choice, right?

With a world-shaking yawn, I slapped off the alarm and stared at the ceiling. This old warrior would take my “reignited” ass and find a woman far less complicated, and farther away than the neighboring house.

Time to call Lucy. Let her off the leash to set me up with one of her friends.

Yep, had me a plan.

Right until I left the bed and inhaled. Debbie’s flowery scents, as well as the faint aromas of Mandy’s sweat and sex, sent my heart spinning. For a second, I wavered, my foot hovering over the carpet.

“No. No. That’s in the past,” I muttered.

My toes sank into the pile, and I rose. Never lived in that past; it haunted me enough. Gotta drown that out.

“She’s made her choice.”

That expression she sometimes wore — the conflict in her gaze. Charles ... Her husband. They had a child. A family together. A life. With a growl, I rubbed my eyes and leaped into running gear.

With air hissing through clenched teeth, I raced along the shadowed trails winding through fog-shrouded hills. As my sneakers thumped, my mind shoved away any thought of her.

Once home, I left the pool in a white-tipped lather and drove myself to the edge of collapse with an extra lengthy weight routine, keeping my back to the neighboring house. At last, lungs burning, I skipped the hot tub and staggered into the shower.

No longer was my heart alone; every gods-cursed muscle ached. A fading roar announced Charles leaving for work. I could go over and simply ask her.

“No. Free will,” I muttered into the spray.

Yet, a single whiff of Debbie’s shampoo and one glance at the pink sponge ... Mandy was right there with me. Hands on the tile, shaking, sliding against me, wrapped around me. So wet. So hungry. Those little whimpers. The soft cries as her slick pelvis thrust. The racing of her heartbeat, matching mine. Toned legs pumping faster while slippery delight clenched my shaft.

And, oh, gods ... Those bottomless, gleaming eyes, their mischievous sparkling in the morning sun. Or the way her dark hair had swayed as she’d danced for me, alone. My hard-on ached with need; blue balls heavy—for her. But also ... My soul sobbed. Yep, fucking sobbed.

Hellish shower done, I strode to the faux balcony and glanced at her bathroom window. The curtains were drawn. No audience. Fine. A sacrifice then. After flinging open the doors, I pressed chilly lube into my hands. A grin at the window, and my heart thundered as both palms rubbed the slickness along my shaft.

If not Mandy, then at least the divine ones would be entertained, plus this fool needed relief. Besides, if my future included a conversation with Lucy, well ... Gods above, she’d be revving me even higher.

As fingers glided, a shudder built in my back muscles. With my gaze locked on the window below, I widened my legs. Each swirling caress pulled a moan from deep inside a lonely, suffering core.

Her eyes—sparkling. That compact firm butt, the shower spray sheeting from it as she shuddered. The glistening dribbles from her upturned, open lips as she moaned. Her tightness; so alive.

“Ungh, mmm, um,” left me as I lurched forward.

Both hands were a blur. Droplets of oil and the first long, whipping tendril of pre-cum flew to twinkle in the morning light.

Her smile. The way she’d just let that surge of jizz sluice over her chin, then drizzle onto those perfect little tits.

“Oh, fuck!”

At the massive gush of relief, the world wobbled. As I bucked and shuddered, my rod flung a torquing ribbon of gleaming white far across the side yard. Even as it spun towards the grass, I rocked forward and launched a second glistening strand.

The curtain shifted.

A brief shadow.

A muted whimper.

As one more glossy jet twirled free of my lurching tip, I flashed a cheek-aching smile. Another muffled cry and a flash of darkness behind the curtains. With a tighter grin, I drew the last thick, milky syrup from my shrinking pole. As the glimmering ribbon swayed to the ground, the outline in the distant window faded from view.

Yet, still, she didn’t stop by ... or call.

But neither did I contact Lucy.

The day wore on and, just as I was moping into my second glass of whiskey, the phone rang. After glimpsing the number, I cursed under my breath.

“Hey Jim.” Gary’s voice was strained.

“What’s going on?”

“You’re not gonna like it.”

“No shit. Whenever you call me on the work line, or without Lucy’s loud panting in the background, I know I’m not gonna like whatever you’re about to say.”

Gary chuckled. “She misses you.”

“Well?”

“Soon, maybe.” The speaker filled with a full-on guffaw. “You always wreck my poor woman.”

For the first time in days, I joined in. “She’s the one who wrecks me. The horny beast.”

My laughter hitched at the memory of Mandy’s playful giggle, and my gaze flashed toward the little tease’s home. So close. Just walk over and...

After a sigh, I took a hefty draft of fiery booze and shook my head to clear away thoughts of her. Surprise, didn’t work.

“Alright, tell me,” I said, staring at the amber fluid swirling in the glass.

“The were—”

“Oh, fuck.”

“Yeah, told you so.”

His voice had become serious and anxious. A much longer exhale slipped from me.

“Noted,” I grumbled. “What’s happening with the doggies?”

“Luka’s feeling slighted. Says some others are moving into Dusk Pride territory.”

“So? Why do I give a shit?”

Even as the words left me, I knew what Gary was about to say. What they all said—every single time.

“Because”—heavy breathing resounded for a long second—”you’re the only one they trust, sir.”

Living a bazillion years made me an anomaly not just to regular humans, but to the freaky edges of the more or less—mostly less—human types. The Baron came to mind. Then there was Luka, leader of the Dusk Pride, one of the dominant packs, or clans, or tribes, or whatever. Their titles depended on the part of weirdo-land from whence they’d wandered.

Of course, more were-variants than wolves existed, but they were the most problematic with their incessant territorial squabbling.

“Sir, he wants you to visit.”

“That’s not how it works. He knows better.”

Despite the growl in my tone, I was visualizing my schedule. A bit more whiskey burned my throat.

“But, sir ... uh, sorry, Jim. He’s, um, really nervous. He was full-on whining, and I mean—like Lucy, you kinda wreck her.”

“Luka knows I don’t work for money. Besides, has he asked her about this?”

After gulping the last of the booze, I sauntered to the bar for a refill. A chuckle left Gary.

“Dunno. But based on his reaction when I mentioned Lisandra, doubt it.”

Yeah, also had my doubts. His wife was an exquisite beauty, quite talented, and, when in sexy beast mode, a hell of a lot of fun. We had a thing going back—a long time. Luka was well aware.

The bottle shook in my hands as my breath hitched. My heart stuttered. Would Mandy understand? Of course, Debbie had never cared; she’d enjoyed plenty of her own entertainment. Besides, my gorgeous neighbor had Charles. Pretty sure he was riding her when she wasn’t with me. If not, there were some serious issues with that man.

“Tell him.” I took a gulp of fresh whiskey. “Send Lisandra and I’ll help. Otherwise, good luck with their happy little turf war.”

“Jim, you can’t walk away from this. I mean, a lot of innocent folks—”

“Not gonna walk away. You know me better. But that asshole ... He’ll never realize it. At least, he hasn’t in how long?”

“She’s that great?”

“Yeah, she is. Don’t tell Lucy.”

“Oh, no worries ‘bout that, sir.” A deep guffaw echoed from the speaker. “Wouldn’t have a clue how to explain it.”

“Contact me when he replies. I’ll figure out when and where to expect his wife.”

“Yes, sir.” After catching my sigh, he corrected himself, “I mean, Jim.”

“Good night.”

“G’night ... Jim.”

After tugging on a swimsuit, I walked outside, swirling the whiskey and slapping sunglasses onto my nose. A heavy breath left me as my maudlin glance swept Mandy’s house...