Author's note:
Ok, we all know sequels are never as good as the original. I'd planned on leaving the first story as a stand-alone, but got talked into a second one. I'd like to thank all the people who took the time to send me positive feedback. Hope this one lives up to your expectations. ~Cas
************
Allie eyed the ringing phone on her desk much as she would have watched a scorpion. She briefly pondered ignoring the imperious noise and continuing her work as if nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, the better half of her nature won out and Allie flipped the phone open to answer it. "Yes." Not a question or an invitation for conversation.
"Yeah, it was good for me too. Now are you going to be snippy and make me call back later?" Grey's voice was particularly warm. She could tell he was in a teasing mood. Teasing was good, and her mood brightened considerably in anticipation.
"Bitchy, actually. But I'm waiting for you to say something before I rudely hang up on you. What's up?"
"Well, that's comforting. I thought you agreed we weren't going to ignore each other. I also thought I could bribe you into a good mood by offering to feed you."
She let her voice go slightly husky, "Depends entirely on what you're planning to feed me, sunshine." As innuendos went, it was hardly subtle or clever. Fortunately she was only interested in keeping his mind firmly in the gutter and away from pesky details like reconciling her with her father, or any other Pack business. Subtle and clever were completely unnecessary.
"Well, when you put it that way, I can pick up Chinese and be at your house in half an hour..."
"Anticipated that I'd say yes?" The drive was closer to an hour, not that she'd obsessively stalked him online to find out where he lived or anything. A girl has a right to know basic information on guys she sleeps with, she assured herself.
"Well, I anticipated that if you said no, I would show up anyway and impose on your hospitality. After all, we're practically kin. And you like me, remember?"
What exactly she liked remained unspoken. No need to be tacky, when they could be mutually admiring each other shortly. "Oh yes, I'd almost forgotten that part. Liking you, that is. But since I do like you, why don't you come into my parlor?"
"Said the spider to the fly. Or, more appropriately, said the bat to the wolf." She was smiling, and her panties were a bit damp, as she hung up the phone.
***********
Grey had never been invited into the home of a witch before. From what he could see, it lived up to none of the juvenile expectations. In fact, other than the impressive garden that wrapped around the yard and the aversion to any kind of architectural unity, Allie's home was much like all the others in her neighborhood.
Ok, perhaps the spires were a bit ostentatious. And the steepled roof was a shade dramatic. With the wrought iron gate, it looked a bit like the TV version of the Addams Family estate, though in brick. A perfect abode for a sexy witch. Maybe her home was the slightest bit stereotypical...
As he was debating whether to remain in his car and call to let her know he had arrived or simply to try and jimmy the lock on the gate, he looked up at the window above the porch entrance.
Silhouetted against the filmy curtains, he could see Allie in profile. She was pulling on a shirt of some kind. No bra, he saw her breasts swinging freely while she wiggled a bit, bent at the waist. His mouth went very dry. He could feel his IQ slipping a few points.
He'd softened since he'd called ahead twenty minutes ago, but that was getting fixed pretty quickly. Fortunately, she moved away from the window before he embarrassed himself by showing up at her door with a woodie.
"The rice is getting cold, Elliot. And remember, be strong. Interrogation first, wild crazy sex second. And probably third, too." Talking to himself never seemed crazy to Grey. Maybe that was a bad sign, but he selectively ignored everyone's pointed comments on the subject.
He left his car parked on the street, and lugged the bag of Chinese over to the gate. Perhaps it was fortunate that he remembered that Allie was a witch before he seriously considered letting himself in through the gate. And while she might only Change into a bat, she'd been raised with wolves. Probably at least a bit territorial.
When he pressed the little glowing button next to the gate, he could feel it grow hot for a second against his skin. And even after he removed his finger, it continued to tingle. The gate swung open on its own...
And Allie opened the sturdy, hardwood door at the top of the veranda stairs. "Ignore the sentry, it was just making sure you had no intention to do me harm. Welcome, you're delightfully early." She was practically bouncing with energy. Her T-shirt, a bright orange, clung nicely and he could feel his resolve to get answers slipping. If he had less control over his instincts, his tongue would be lolling. Instead he merely ran it around his teeth and ogled as subtly as he could.
"You look amazing. I'm sorry I only come bearing Chinese." As soon as he got to the top of the veranda, Allie snagged the bag of Chinese, stuck her tongue out at him and skipped back inside laughing. "It's good to see you, Grey. C'mon in!" She didn't look back to see if he followed her. Her house had a way of making sure people ended up where she wanted them.
Grey found himself stuck in the entry way, awed. If ever he had seen a more hideous room, he had mercifully forgotten it. Heavily carved wood antiques were matched with neon pillows and tie-dye tapestries. Art Nuevo posters were next to hanging prisms. Paisley wall paper oozed across the walls. Heavily jeweled glass lamps gave the entire scene a macabre light. Clutter was everywhere.
Allie's voice came from off to his left, "Oh, yeah, ignore the entryway. It's meant to discourage visitors. Works eighty-five percent of the time."
Grey shook off the awed horror and walked dazedly into a formal dining room, which was done in cherry wood and cream silk. Bone china and blush pink roses decorated the table. Silver gleamed discretely. The normalcy and simplicity of that room helped him come back to his senses. He'd never been affected by decor in the past. He could only suspect that Allie had put some enchantment on the previous room. Clever little witch, she'd left him to face it because she was trying to keep him off balance.
Off to the right, the door to the kitchen was open. Modern appliances and marble counters gleamed. And Allie was bent over getting something out of the fridge. Grey leaned in the doorway and appreciated the view. Damn, those were short shorts.
"Are you just going to stand there or do you want to be useful?"
"Depends, if I'm useful am I going to get a welcoming kiss? Because so far, you've stolen the food and left me in the Addams Family drawing room."
Allie laughed and put the soy sauce she'd taken from the fridge down on the counter. She lightly ran over to Grey and threw her arms around his neck, holding herself hard against him. She crushed her lips against his and welcomed his tongue when he grabbed the back of her head. His other hand cupped her ass and lifted her up so she could get a better angle on his mouth. He tasted like cinnamon breath mints, and Allie gave a little mew when he lifted his head to nibble on her neck. "We should start with dessert first," her voice understandably a bit rough.
Grey very suddenly remembered he was supposed to be getting her to talk before he dragged her off to bed. Which really came as an unfortunate thought, since he hadn't gotten any since last he'd seen Allie a week ago. Self-gratification had seemed particularly unexciting after their last mind-blowing encounter. And she felt nice and warm, nestled against him. "We'll need our strength. Maybe a quick supper?"
She nuzzled against his throat, clearly not happy he'd turned down her offer. "How quickly can you eat?" She frowned when he lifted her down and settled her a bit away from him.
"As quickly as you answer my questions." Be tough, he thought. Don't sound desperate.
"That's not fair. Are you going to be a tease, Grey? Because I promise I'll still respect you in the morning." Her large, dark eyes simultaneously laughed at him and tested his resolve.
"You're talking to the guy you left in a hotel room that smelled like sex with your father, the werewolf with an acute sense of smell, minutes away. And who's going to have to try and keep a tight leash, pardon the pun, on your extended family. And who will be stuck in the middle of all your immediate family's drama so long as you continue sleeping with me. I just want a few answers. You can ask me anything about my life, and I'll tell the truth." Grey leaned back against the doorway again.
"You're making this into a relationship." She sighed. "Fine, ask away, but we trade questions and you can't ask me specifics about my witchcraft because I'm bound to silence. And then we adjourn to the bedroom and skip dinner."
