Cougar Falls: Foxy Lady Part 2

Ty took a step in her direction, his eyes cloudy with l.u.s.t, his mouth parted and ready for another kiss.

Julia couldn't help looking him over, centering on his obvious arousal. Oh boy. He looked big. Really hard, and really big.

"Don't move," he warned and walked to the door. After cracking it long enough to take a sniff, he stepped back and pulled it open. "You must be Jason."

Jason blinked in surprise. "Ah, well, yes." He cleared his throat, sensing the buried frustration in Ty as easily as Julia felt it. "I'm here for Meghan."

Ty drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Come in." He closed the door behind Jason, subtly adjusted himself in his jeans and walked to the bedroom. "This isn't over," he growled in a low voice to her before calling Meghan outside.

Julia had just avoided a very big mistake. She should have been thankful Jason had saved her from sure disaster. But she wasn't. Even knowing Ty would bed her and leave her, like all the others he'd dated, Julia wanted a taste of that pa.s.sion. How stupid. She knew better than most what heartache could do. If she could keep the relationship strictly s.e.xual, she'd have done it already. But she was more than half in love with the stubborn man and had been for years.

Her stupid crush had blossomed into what she suspected was a bad case of puppy love. Considering male foxes were called dogs, she didn't think the term puppy love all that far from the mark.

"So I hear you saw Ned again," Jason said in a somber voice. "I'm sorry, Julia. I tried to talk him out of this obsession, but when Ned gets something into his head, he won't quit."

"I don't get it. Why the whole marriage thing?"

Jason shrugged. "Mom's tired of waiting. She's been after Ned to settle down for a while, but he hasn't seen anyone he likes as much as he likes you. My mom wants grandkids, and she wants to see her sons married. That's part of the reason she's so in love with Meghan. Not that Meghan isn't terrific on her own," he hastened to say with a flush.

He seemed so young and innocent that Julia felt like an ogre for stepping in the way of true love-if that's indeed what it was.

Meghan rushed out of the bedroom and into his arms. "Oh, Jason. It's been awful."

Gabby rolled her eyes behind her. Ty joined them, a disgruntled frown on his face.

Jason soothed her sister with a skill Julia expected he'd honed after many such instances of exaggerated worry. "Honey, I'm sorry about today. But tomorrow night will be better. You can meet the rest of the family at dinner. They're not all as bad as Ned and my brothers."

Meghan added, "Jason's mother is sweet."

Julia knew why Meghan didn't mention Jason's father, Ned Senior. A bigger chauvinist Julia had yet to meet.

Ty answered for them all. "We'll come to dinner tomorrow night. Thanks, Jason. I'm Ty, Julia's boyfriend, by the way."

"Oh boy," Jason breathed. "I'm pleased to meet you, and I apologize in advance for whatever Ned's going to do to make your life miserable. My brother really, really likes Julia."

"So I gathered." Ty glanced from Jason to Meghan and to the sparkling ring on her finger. "I see you two are engaged."

Jason nodded. Meghan beamed before shooting Julia the famous Easton death glare. Julia grudgingly agreed with Ty-her sister should have majored in theater.

"When did that happen?"

"Just last week. Imagine our surprise when Julia and Gabby showed up to congratulate us." Meghan said in an overly sweet voice.

Julia didn't appreciate the brat's tone.

"Julia, easy," Gabby whispered. In a louder voice, she said to Meghan and Jason, "We were happy but surprised. You haven't introduced Jason to the rest of the family yet."

Meghan ignored the gentle reprimand. "It's great to have you guys here to celebrate. And Ty too. Wow." She batted her eyes.

Ty said something under his breath Julia probably didn't want to hear.

The silver foxes were going to pitch a fit when they heard Meghan had involved herself with an outsider.

First she'd need permission from the clan to date him. For anything more serious than that, the town council would become involved. Anything that compromised Cougar Falls as a whole fell under town jurisdiction. It made sense, though the idea of asking permission to date someone felt like a restraint even Julia didn't necessarily like.

As rebellious as Meghan was, Julia knew the girl would marry Jason if for no other reason than to prove a point. Perhaps if the clan gave her permission to at least date, without a defiant need to spite her family, Meghan might gradually end her a.s.sociation with Jason. A nice enough young man, but he'd never be family.

"Ah, would you excuse us for a minute? Jason, Meghan, don't go anywhere." She pulled Ty with her into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

"Now, Julia?" Ty glanced at the bed, a spark of humor in his eyes. "I'm ready, but I have a feeling you're a screamer. If you don't mind being loud in front of your family, I don't care." His fingers moved to his belt buckle, and she hurried to stop him.

"Cut it out, smarta.s.s," she hissed. Realizing her hand covered his and that the backs of her fingers lay against his belly, she quickly retreated. "I have an idea."

"I have several of my own." His heavy-lidded gaze did weird things to her libido.

"Ty, shut up and listen. I think Meghan's in l.u.s.t with this kid."

"Kid? He's what, four or five years younger than you?"

"He's a kid," she said again. "Meghan's always bucking authority. Maybe if the clan council gives its permission for her to date an outsider, she'll decide he's not worth the ha.s.sle and come home."

"But she's already dating him. She's engaged to him."

"The council doesn't know that."

"Ah. I see. You want me to pretend I don't know about that ring on her finger, that it?"

"Yes. I was thinking that if you, as the sheriff, added your weight, the council might actually approve of Jason. Not that I want her to be with an outsider. I just want her to see him as a real person and not an excuse to irritate the council, the town and me." Julia didn't like playing the role of mother to her younger sisters, but someone had needed to take charge. If only Meghan would see how much Julia cared, that she didn't try to run her sister's life for the h.e.l.l of it, but to protect her from the harsh realities life had to offer.

She held her breath, waiting for Ty's answer.

He responded with hesitation. "I don't know, Julia. Seems to me Jason's family really is a threat. What if she actually wants to marry him?"

"She doesn't." I love him, Julia. Meghan's words bothered her, but Julia ignored them. Meghan was too young to know what she wanted. What the h.e.l.l did Meghan know about love? Love had torn their parents apart before Meghan was born.

"Well..."

"Jason's okay, Ty. And it's not like they'll really be getting married. This is another one of Meghan's phases." To Jason's credit, after a year of dating, he still treated Meghan with respect. He didn't seem to fit in with his oddball family, luckily for him. Because if he stepped so much as one foot out of line, Julia would kick his a.s.s from Nowhere back to Seattle and away from her sister.

Ty's doubt unnerved her. h.e.l.l, he wasn't going to help. She needed his support to influence the clan council, and even the town council if it came to that. The silver fox held a lot of respect in town, respect he'd more than earned.

"Ty, please."

He studied her with those quicksilver eyes. "I'll support Jason with the council...if you agree to certain conditions."

"Conditions?" Trust Ty to screw things up even more than they were. "G.o.d, why did you have to show up today?" She pulled at her hair, wondering if Aunt Lynn would arrive and make things worse.

"Now, now, honey. Yes or no?"

"First, tell me what conditions means."

"Yes or no?" he asked again, his soft voice menacing enough to make the hair stand up on the back of her neck. Threatening b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

"Yes, yes," she grumbled. "Fine."

"Seal it with a kiss." He grinned and stood with his thumbs in his belt loops, waiting.

She'd give him a kiss... Julia yanked his head down to hers and plastered his mouth with a doozy. Tongue and teeth and lips, until Ty tried to pull her closer. If she didn't watch herself, she'd all too easily fall under his spell again.

She tore her mouth free. "Signed, sealed and delivered," she said in a breathy voice. "Now let's get out there and tell Meghan we'll support her to the council."

"You're a cruel woman," Ty moaned, rubbing his arousal through his jeans. "I just willed this away, Julia. d.a.m.n."

"I'll meet you out there." Try to outsmart me, will you?

After taking a moment to bury her own l.u.s.t, she found Gabby, Meghan and Jason involved in a lively discussion about computers. Watching the trio, Julia noticed how happy Meghan looked sitting with Jason, hand in hand. A twinge of uncertainty hit her. Was Meghan really in love with him?

"There you are." Gabby smirked. Her sister knew all about Julia's fixation on Ty, thanks to Julia's intolerance for anything alcoholic. That one night she'd let slip her secret crush not only to Ty, but to her sister as well. What a disaster.

"Ty and I were talking."

"Just talking?" Gabby murmured.

Ignoring her, Julia continued. "Ty thinks he can talk the family into meeting Jason and you in Seattle in the near future."

Meghan blinked. "Really?"

"If Jason really loves you, and you really love him, I'm sure we can work something out. After all, what's a future without family?"

Jason smiled. Gabby looked stunned.

Meghan let go of Jason and leapt to her feet. She hugged Julia tight. "Thank you, sis. This means so much to me."

"Jason still has to pa.s.s muster," she whispered as she hugged Meghan back.

"He will. He's the best." Meghan stepped back and wiped her eyes. "Jason and I are going out for a while. Gabby wants to come with us."

"No, that's not-"

Ty interrupted. "Great idea. That way your sister and I can talk about our own plans for the future." He walked behind Julia and put his arms around her, squeezing her back to his front. He rested his chin on her head.

"That is so cute," Gabby gushed as she studied them. "You two look perfect together."

Julia was so going to get her sister for this. "Gee, thanks, Gabby."

"I can see I'm not wanted," Gabby teased and gestured to Meghan and Jason. "Let's go, you two. We'll pick up lunch out in town and bring back something for dinner."

"My treat," Jason promised.

The three of them waved goodbye and left.

Julia tried to pull away but Ty held her tight. She couldn't miss his erection prodding her back.

Jason's vehicle sounded loud in the silence before the rumble of its motor died as he drove away.

"Now, foxy lady, it's just you and me."

Chapter Three.

Ty had been waiting forever to have Julia all to himself. But he knew better than to rush things. The woman wanted him. h.e.l.l, he could smell her musk right now and it was killing him. The fact she made no move to act on her l.u.s.t gave him pause. He wanted Julia-now, to date, as a girlfriend. He refused to entertain thoughts of forever. Despite what his family and friends constantly urged him to do, he had no intention of finding a mate just yet.

He liked dating. Yes, he'd grown tired of it lately. That didn't mean the urge wouldn't hit him after this dry spell. He didn't want Julia just for s.e.x, though he wouldn't say no to it. He liked female companionship. Unlike what the rumors in town hinted, Ty didn't f.u.c.k every woman he dated. He'd been out with foxes, bears, a few raptors. But nothing serious. Only a select few made it to his bedroom, and those few hadn't lasted beyond physical entertainments. When Ty eventually mated, he'd take a fox as wife. But not now. Now he wanted to play and have fun.

Except he had to keep reminding himself of that fact, because lately, he wanted something else.

Not a soul-deep connection. That was Gerald's thing. The idiot lawyer wanted a woman to marry. Ty just wanted a girlfriend he wouldn't tire of after three dates. They'd have dinner, spend time together, and yeah, indulge in red-hot s.e.x.

Julia could give him all that and more. But she wouldn't give it up easily. The chase fired his blood, and he grinned when she squirmed in his hold. He grew harder just thinking about outfoxing her.

"Let me go." She huffed when he did and turned around, glaring at him.

Ty smiled and began unb.u.t.toning his shirt. Most Shifters treated nudity with a casual regard. Ty didn't much care if anyone saw him without clothes, and he admitted to liking the look of a female without enc.u.mbrance. But he normally didn't get a hard-on around anyone but Julia.

Her gaze was glued to his fingers, he noted with satisfaction.

"Wh-what are you doing?" she asked.

"What does it look like?" He stripped off his shirt and moved to his belt buckle. With slow movements, he undid his belt and unb.u.t.toned his jeans. The pull of his zipper sounded overly loud in the sudden silence.

Julia cleared her throat. His little fox looked wild around the eyes.

He toed off his boots, then bent down and took off his socks before straightening again. h.e.l.l of a thing with a hard-on the size of Montana.

With a grimace, he forced himself to behave and continued to watch Julia as he undressed. Her full lips opened on a gasp as he pushed his jeans and underwear to the floor.

"Why are you, ah...? That is, what do you...?"

Gratified by her rapid breathing, Ty stood there letting her look her fill. This is what you've been missing, honey. All this is yours. All you have to do is ask. He could feel how hard he pulsed, knew there had to be some precome there at his tip. The woman had a powerful hold on his s.e.x drive, no doubt.

"Julia? You okay?" he teased, liking this side of her. At work she always seemed so put together. Her clothes just right, never a hair out of place. Cla.s.sy, pristine. Right now she seemed anything but. Her jeans and large denim shirt were rumpled. Her hair was wild, framing her face with the untamed look it deserved. And her breathing definitely told him she was anything but calm.

"I'm fine." She exhaled on a whoosh. "Just worried about my sister." Her gaze continued to stray to his c.o.c.k.