Page 22 of Flesh and Fury

“Aren’t there any? I thought I read something about that.”

“No. I think there used to be, but not in recent history.” He held out the key fob as they approached the Charger and then got in. Ari climbed into the passenger seat.

“So, what should we do?”

“How was that giant chicken fried steak you ate for breakfast?” Eoghan asked with a grin.

“Ugh,” Ari groaned, banging his head against the headrest several times before rolling his head and looking at Eoghan. “No jogging, please.”

“Fine. We’ll go work out then. We agreed to work out and change our lifestyle, right?” He started the car.

“The last time we decided to do that, it didn’t work out so good, remember?”

“I remember but I somehow doubt we’re going to run into any mermen in Bishop,” Eoghan said, grinning at him. “We could go hiking or something. How would that be? I think there’s plenty of trails around here.”

Ari reached over and took his hand, squeezing it. “Yes, you’re right.” He looked side to side to see if anyone was looking. No one was around. He leaned close and kissed Eoghan, smiling when he pulled back. Eoghan was also smiling.

“Good. Let’s go back to the room, change, and call the boss to give her an update. And I tell you what. If you’re reallynice to me the rest of the day, I might even be tempted to let you see me naked.”

Ari laughed as Eoghan pulled out of the parking lot, happier and more carefree than he’d been since waking up in his lover’s arms that morning.

Chapter Seven

EOGHAN

The drive to Hawthorne took a little over two hours. Both of them were tired and really hoping they weren’t going to have to argue with the Hawthorne pack’s new Alpha. Eoghan had to admit, he was still jumpy around werewolves, but he wasn’t allowing Ari to feel his apprehension. He knew the weres would be able to sniff it on him the minute they got close, and he hated the idea, but for now, he wasn’t going to worry. It never did any good anyway.

After their meeting at the diner that morning, they’d gone back to the room, changed into hiking boots and taken a five-mile hike on a trail head just outside town. At this time of year, Bishop was pretty, in bloom with summer flowers, but damned hot. By the time they returned to the Charger, they were worn out, hotter than hell, ready for showers, and a long nap before dinner. They picked up salads at a local supermarket at his insistence. Fortunately for him, Ari hadn’t argued with him about the choice of fare and munched on his lettuce with a smile on his face as they sat at the small table in their room.

“I had a really nice day,” he said, glancing over at Ari after they gotten into the car and set out for their destination. They still had a few minutes before they were scheduled to arrive at the diner. They were running a little early but that was okay. It was always good to scope out the parking lot before the others arrived, just in case the Garcia family’s new Alpha left somemen waiting outside in the car when he and Carmen went inside. Ari smiled at him, reaching across the console for his hand. Eoghan loved the fact that he was so affectionate. It was really nice when he made small gestures like that.

“I had a really nice day too,” he said. “Of course, the surprise blowjob in the shower was better than the hike, but I had a good day.”

“The surprise blowjob?” Eoghan repeated, smirking.

“Wouldn’t you call it that?” Ari asked, as Eoghan eased into the parking lot and headed for a spot near the front door. The restaurant appeared to be inside a gambling hall. Judging by the motorcycles and several less than luxury vehicles parked outside, Eoghan figured it was going to be pretty uninspiring inside as well, just as Carmen had warned them. Too bad. He was kind of looking forward to trying something different. Neither of them had eaten anything since the salads earlier, and he’d really been hoping for a nice appetizer or something.

“Well, the fact that it started out as a make out session and then you pinned me up against the tile, I’d say no, you should have figured I wasn’t done with you,” Eoghan said. “Sliding to my knees was simply an honest next step.”

“An honest next step,” Ari repeated.

“Nowyou’rebeing obtuse.”

Ari burst out laughing, leaning so close he was about to kiss him when someone rapped on the window, making both men yank their hands away from each other and sit back.

Eoghan turned and looked up into the anxious face of Carly Rusch in profile. She was staring at the restaurant, probably trying to see in through the front door, which was the only window he could see. She wasn’t alone in her anxiousness. All around them there was nothing but desert. Hawthorne truly was a one-horse town. Eoghan rolled downthe window and Carly turned to look down at him, smiling broadly. She bent so she could see Ari too.

“Hey, guys, come on. We’re already inside.”

Eoghan breathed out a sigh of relief that she hadn’t seen him about to be kissed by his partner. He rolled up his window and was getting out of the car when another vehicle pulled in a few spaces down from them. Inside the front passenger seat sat Carmen Garcia. Her long, dark tresses shone under the fluorescent lights in the parking lot, and as he and Ari climbed out of their car, she and a very large male with dark hair did as well. The man shared Hispanic heritage with the girl, and it was clear to Eoghan that they were related. Ari came to stand beside him on the sidewalk with Carly and they waited until the pair spotted them and walked over.

“Ms. Garcia,” Eoghan said. “I’m Eoghan Sapphire. We met the other night, but not under the best circumstances. My condolences to your family.” He held out a hand and she shook it before taking Ari’s. “This is my partner, Aristotle Brown, and I don’t know if you know Marshal Carly Rusch, one of the I.S.R. marshals from here in Hawthorne.”

“Yes, of course,” she said, taking the hand Carly offered before turning to the man beside her, larger than life. “This is my brother, Juan Garcia. He’s the new Alpha.”

“Ah,”Eoghan said, holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Alpha.”

“Nice to meet you both and you, Marshal Rusch.” Garcia shook all their hands. He checked his watch before looking at Carly. “Where are the others?”

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