Francine laughed. “Oh, you’re a bad one. No wonder the girls drop their panties for you.” The phone rang and she leaned over to grab it. “House of pleasure, how may I orally please you?” she purred, recognizing the number.
“You are such a nasty skank,” Naomi exclaimed. “I see you made it home safe. But, I’ve got to say, I’m surprised at your choice in rides.”
“Just because Mitchell suddenly decided to notice I exist doesn’t give him the right to act like a jerk. Besides, you should have seen the look on his face when I turned him down. Freakn’ priceless.”
Laughter pealed from the ear piece and Francine held it away with a cringe that made Alejandro grin before he sipped at his beer.
“So, when should I expect Javier’s furball of a brother home?”
“Tomorrow.”
“What? Francine, don’t tell me you’re going to sleep with him?”
She rolled her eyes. “Of course not. But, I figured he’d enjoy my quiet couch more than your noisy spare room.”
“My guest room isn’t… Oh, you are such a bitch. Like you’re so freakn’ quiet.”
“I know I’m not.” Francine began to moan into the mouthpiece to Naomi’s laughter and Alejandro’s widening gaze. She got to the part where she panted and screamed, “Yes! Yes!” before letting it taper off as Naomi giggled hysterically on the other end. Poor Alejandro just stared at her with a glazed expression. She winked at him. “Talk to you later, my oversized BFF. Oh, and don’t pop out those babies having too much fun.”
Naomi blew her a raspberry before hanging up. Francine took a sip of her beer, eyeing Alejandro’s gaping mouth. “What?”
“I can’t believe you just did that.”
“You mean the fake orgasm?” She beamed. “I know. I’m good. I should have been a phone sex operator or something, but instead, I work as a legal secretary. How boring, huh?”
“So, what does a real orgasm sound like?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” She winked, horny, but at the same time, at ease. Unusual, given she drove most men nuts when she spoke and they did anything to shut her up.
“Actually, I would, but that would be wrong. Right?” He didn’t sound certain.
Funny, neither was she, but she agreed anyway. “So very wrong. Mitchell’s my one and only. Stupid jerk who won’t come to his senses.”
“Are you sure he’s the one?”
“I’ve known he was my mate since I learned to crawl,” she retorted. “I didn’t understand what I felt, though, until I talked to my grandma about the whole mating thing. Once I knew, I tried for years to get him to admit he felt it too, but that man is slippery like a wet eel.”
A puzzled look crossed his face. “And yet, you still want him?”
A depressed sigh made her deflate. “I know, super dumb huh? He keeps rejecting me and I keep going back for more. But the heart wants what it wants, or in this case, my wolf wants. Figures I’d be fated to mate with the one man who needs me to tie him down and beat him until he finally stops hiding from the truth.”
“Mmm, stop your dirty talk about bondage or I might forget I’m a gentleman,” he said with a leer and a chuckle.
She grinned. “You are really good for the ego, you know? I might just have to keep you around.”
“And people say I’m a flirt.”
Blowing him a kiss, she cocked her head and studied him as she sipped on her beer. Gorgeous didn’t come close to describing Alejandro with his tanned skin, dark chocolate eyes, and sensual lips. He would be so easy to fall for. “So what about you? What are you running from?”
“Who, me?” His wide-eyed false innocence made her laugh.
“Get caught in the wrong bed?” she guessed.
“That happens more often than you’d think. All I try to do is bring a little pleasure into a woman’s life and yet do their husbands or boyfriends understand?”
Holding in her snicker proved impossible and they both broke into gales of laughter. “You are so bad,” she gasped.
“Or good, it depends on your definition. You should use that to your advantage.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Your Mitchell situation. Maybe your reluctant wolf just needs the right incentive.”
“Meaning?”
“Well, you say he finally noticed you for the first time in years tonight. What was different?”
“The fact he didn’t run off before I arrived,” she replied dryly.
“But think for a second. Why did he stay?”
“Because he got held up going out the door? The rear entrance was blocked? ”
“No, I think he stayed because he saw you with another man.”
“You think he was jealous?” She tilted her head in thought, then shook it. “Nope. Probably more of that misplaced big brother protection crap. He did the same thing after the prom with my poor date.” She could still see it, Mitchell slugging Tommy in the face, saying over and over, “You dirty pig. Keep your hands off my sister.”
“I think Mitchell is mistaken in his feelings. I say, we test him.”
“What exactly are you suggesting?” she asked.
“We date.” At her arched brown, he added, “Pretend date. We’ll need to enlist Naomi’s help. She’ll find out where Mitchell is going to be, and we’ll show up looking like a happy couple.”
“And he breathes a great big sigh of relief because he thinks I don’t want him.”
“Or, if he’s truly your mate, he won’t be able to help himself from trying to shove me out of the picture and claim you for himself.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “And what do you get out of this?”
“A place to stay. A chance to needle my brother, among others. And in the pursuit of our answer to Mitchell’s affection, make-out time with a hot redhead.”
Her lips quirked. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re an evil, evil man?”
“All the time, usually followed by handcuffs.” Laughter spilled from her, which he joined, his low tenor doing strange things to her insides.
Oh God, she’d have to lock her door tonight, and then toss the key so she didn’t come back down to ravage him. Despite her feelings for Mitchell, she couldn’t deny Alejandro made her hot-soaking wet, smoldering pussy, hot.
Chapter Four
Alejandro tossed and turned on the couch after Francine went to bed. What possessed him to ask her to pretend date him? And so she could snag that idiot wolf! The lady deserved better than some dog who lacked the ability to recognize the true beauty right in front of him. If it were him, he’d fall to his knees and worship the fiery goddess who could moan so deliciously.
God, when she’d faked that orgasm, Alejandro almost leapt over the counter, ready to bend her over and sink his cock into her pussy. More shocking, his cat almost made him follow his visual fantasy, but with one added element, his teeth sinking into her flesh and marking her.
