Dead silence came across the line, but Isaiah refused to break it.
After a few tense moments, Joshua sighed. “I don’t understand you at all lately, brother.”
Isaiah rolled until he was sitting on the side of the mattress, the phone to his ear. The moon was practically invisible given all the lights of the city. But he knew it was up there, was able to see it due to his enhanced vision.
His shoulders bunched as the muscles tensed. He knew Joshua meant well, knew he owed his brother more than he could ever repay for taking over the position of Striker with their pack. Then there was the unavoidable fact that he loved him. Isaiah rolled his shoulders and tried to relax. It wasn’t easy with his cock throbbing incessantly.
“I went out for a walk.” He didn’t give details, didn’t want to discuss Meredith with anyone.
“I know the city is hard on you and I appreciate what you’re doing for me, for us. It’s been hard enough for Alex trying to settle in. I want her to have her own things around her. I know she misses having her own clothes and stuff.”
Now he felt like a dick. Joshua was a good man with more than enough to handle at the moment without Isaiah adding to it. “Look, it’s no problem. I just need a few more days to check things out.” And to see Meredith again. Although that was his business and no one else’s. “As soon as I’m sure things are clear over at the garage I’ll make contact with Divine and load everything up.” Divine was the human female who now owned the garage.
“I’ll tell Alex it won’t be long now.”
“I’ll call you when I have some news.”
“One more thing,” Joshua added before Isaiah could end the call.
“What?” His brother hesitated, raising his curiosity. “What do you need?”
“Alex has a short list of things she’d like you to pick up in the city while you’re there.”
Isaiah snorted. “Do I look like a personal shopper?” he groused even as he knew he’d do it. Their females were important to the future of the pack and, if his sister-in-law wanted him to buy her a few things, he’d damn well do it. He wouldn’t enjoy it, but he’d do it.
He yanked open the drawer of the nightstand and found a sheet of motel stationary and a complimentary pen. Dragging them both out, he tucked the phone between his shoulder and his ear. “Shoot.”
Joshua listed off a dozen items, mostly food related, including several pounds of specialty coffee. Isaiah grinned in spite of himself. Alex sure did love her coffee. “That it?” he asked when his brother finished speaking. “Sure I can’t buy you some new underwear or a few pairs of socks for the rest of the boys?”
Joshua snorted. “I’ve never worn underwear a day in my life and neither have you.”
“Thought maybe the little woman might want to civilize you,” he taunted.
“The little woman likes being able to get to my equipment whenever she wants it.”
Isaiah was reminded of his own hard-on and the fact that he was alone. Meredith was home in her bed. Alone. The fact that she’d kissed him back led him to assume she didn’t have a mate. His stomach churned and he tensed again. She damn well better be alone.
“You still there?” Joshua asked.
“Yeah. I got everything. Tell Alex I’ll make sure I get all of it.”
“Thanks, bro. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. Talk to you in a few.” He ended the call and tossed the cell phone and pen onto the nightstand. “Fuck,” he swore as he drove the heels of his hands into his eye sockets. There was no way he was going to sleep tonight. Not with an erection the size of a steel spike.
Blowing out a breath, he rolled back, sprawling on top of the sheets. He wrapped his hand around his erection and thought about Meredith. It had been years since a woman had drawn his attention, had tempted him.
There was something about her that made her shine. Her confidence, certainly. Her voice. Damn, her voice could bring a man to his knees. It was throaty and low. Sensual. A bedroom voice. One that bespoke of silk sheets and hot sex.
Then there was her body. She was tall for a woman. He liked that. She’d fit perfectly against a man of his size, all their parts lining up just the way they should.
He pumped his hand up and down his shaft, feeling the tension building at the base. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on remembering every detail about her. Her waist-length, straight black hair would feel incredible sliding over his heated flesh. Her stormy blue eyes would take in every hard inch of him. He could imagine them widening before narrowing as she examined his body from head to toe.
Oh yeah. His cock jerked and fluid seeped from the tip. His fangs lengthened and his body threatened to change. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he fought the wolf for domination. The sac between his legs constricted and drew up closer to his body.
Then there was her delectable body. Meredith was slender but strong. Her hips were narrow, but her breasts were a handful. The creamy mounds tipped by a tender nipple of pale pink. He’d seen one, touched it, wrapped his tongue around it.
He increased the motions of his hand, squeezing and pumping faster. His chest was expanding and contracting quickly as he sucked in air. Thigh muscles tensed, his shoulders bunched.
Meredith. He whispered her name in his head, picturing her lovely lips parted in invitation. His back arched off the bed. His hand worked faster. Harder.
Her lips were soft and full and would be a thing of beauty wrapped around his cock. He groaned and bit back a howl as he came. His release spurted onto his stomach in a heady release. He kept pumping until there was nothing left. Releasing his shaft, he let his hand flop back on the bed.
His lungs were heaving as if he’d run for miles. Sweat coated his body. He needed a cold shower. He might have gained some physical satisfaction, but there was something missing.
Ignoring the growing emptiness inside him, he rolled off the bed and padded to the shower. He only hoped that took the edge off his hunger enough for him to sleep. He had a long day tomorrow.
Chapter Four
Isaiah sauntered into Riley’s Garage at ten o’clock the next morning. It was a large brick building, kept in good repair, better than most on the street. Although it wasn’t the only place that showed signs of being well-kept. There was nothing pretty about it, but it was solid. Much like the man who’d owned it for more than twenty years.
James LeVeau Riley had raised his daughter Alex here. Isaiah wondered how he’d managed to live in a city for that long and stay sane. But then again he’d had a powerful motivation—protecting his daughter. Isaiah had learned you could do anything you set your mind to if you had the right motivation.
He rolled his shoulders and emitted a soft sigh, suppressing a yawn that threatened. He’d passed a restless night and was more than a bit on edge. Even the large breakfast he’d eaten about an hour ago hadn’t helped settle him. Of course, the two cups of coffee probably hadn’t helped, but he needed the caffeine kick.
A man in his mid to late twenties looked up from the car he was working on and frowned. “Can I help you?” As he straightened, his fingers tightened around the wrench he was holding.
“Maybe.” Isaiah kept his gaze on the man, but his peripheral vision on the wrench. He let his senses flare, but couldn’t smell much beyond the oil and grease of the garage and the sweat and soap of the man. “I’m looking for Divine.”
Suspicion grew in his eyes. “Divine hasn’t come downstairs yet.” He hesitated briefly before squaring his shoulders. He was a tall man, a little over six feet, but skinny. And certainly no match for Isaiah, even without his preternatural strength. “She doesn’t do that anymore.”