Waiting For Curves Read online

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Lance Greystone

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Other Books By Harmony Raines

  Waiting For Curves

  ***

  All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written consent of the author or publisher.

  This is a work of fiction and is intended for mature audiences only. All characters within are eighteen years of age or older. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, actual events or places is purely coincidental.

  © 2013 Harmony Raines

  Silver Moon Erotica

  Kindle Edition

  Lance Greystone

  “Coming for a drink with us, Lance?”

  Lance Greystone looked up from the animal feed he was measuring out. “Not tonight Kai. Thanks all the same.”

  “You sure? I can’t remember the last time you joined us,” Kai said, making it clear the others had started to talk about their boss and his lonely habits.

  “Next time, I have to finish up here, and then I’ve got some paperwork to do.” Lance turned back to his work, knowing he really ought to go, if only to stop any rumours, but he wasn’t in the mood for it.

  “Paperwork is it? The other's think you’ve got a secret woman, that you’ve found your mate and are keeping her all to yourself.”

  Lance laughed, “Chance would be a fine thing, but if that keeps the others happy, tell them I have a hot date.” He looked up at Kai, and grinned.

  Kai was one of his younger cousins. No doubt he would leave the Greystone estate in the next couple of years, go off into the world, and find his mate. Over the last few years Lance had grown to accept it was very unlikely he would ever get so lucky.

  Not many people passed through this way, and the town was five miles away, with one store and one bar. Lance had known for some years his mate did not live there, he had met every woman under thirty five, and she wasn’t one of them.

  Lately he had become resigned to the fact that he was going to be a bachelor wolf, probably the first in the Greystone family, but you had to start somewhere.

  Sighing he finished his chores and did a last check before heading back to the big house and warming up some stew left over from lunch. He couldn’t be bothered to cook anything fresh, and anyway he did have something he had to do, someone he planned to visit.

  Digging out a bowl with a lid he put the rest of the stew into it and grabbed his keys. It was a beautiful evening and he figured he could drop this over to Mrs Hobbs and still make it back early enough to go for a run through the woods.

  Lifting his head he took in the scents of the pine forests, and knew that he would rather live here, alone with his freedom, rather than head off to the city in the hope he might find his soul mate.

  His skin itched and he longed to change now, to shift into a wolf and run for hours. For a moment he nearly turned around and took the food back into the house, but then his protective side kicked in.

  Mrs Hobbs was old, and alone, she had lived on the Greystone Estate for longer than he had been alive. Her husband had helped work the estate, and his father before him. When Mr Hobbs had died the Greystone family had unanimously decided to let his widow stay on for as long as she wanted to.

  Now she struggled to look after herself, a fall last winter had knocked her confidence, and her health suffered. Yet she didn’t want to leave and go in a retirement home where she could be looked after properly. Lance could understand that, he had no plans to ever leave; he would die here and be buried in the forest.

  He shook off his morbid thoughts and got into his truck, reversing before driving up the track and onto the quiet road that would take him to the small cottage where Mrs Hobbs lived. Enjoying the breeze coming through his half opened window he once again became lost in thought.

  Five minutes later he pulled up in front of the small cottage and grabbed the food, tucking it under his arm before heading around to the back of the house. Mrs Hobbs always left the back door open and it had become his routine to open it and give a loud call before going in. It saved Mrs Hobbs struggling out to meet him; her legs simply didn’t work as well as they should.

  Closing the back gate behind him, Lance crossed the garden, taking in the scents of her roses, which he tended on a regular basis. Mr Hobbs had planted them for his wife several years ago and Lance knew how much they meant to the old lady.

  He glanced over at them, feeling pleased with the beautiful blooms. To Lance there was nothing better than working the earth, he understood the connection between life and death, and the turning of the seasons. It was why he had been appointed manager of the Greystone Estate.

  However there were times when the thought of never having a mate, and his own children, haunted him. More than anything he wanted someone to share his life with, a mate who understood him and shared his love of nature. If he stayed here all of his life would that be his sacrifice?

  His brain mulled this over while the scents of the garden infused his breath, and then he stiffened there was a different scent, unfamiliar, an intruder. The open door, what if someone had taken advantage of the unlocked door and hurt Mrs Hobbs?

  Instantly on his guard his senses strained to catch any noise, or the glimpse of something out of place. Yet he struggled, his normally excellent reflexes becoming muddled, as he rounded the corner he saw the thing that threatened to turn his world upside down.

  There, with only a towel wrapped around her, was a woman, but not just any woman, Lance knew instantly that the most unbelievable thing was taking place. He had found his mate. She was here, half naked in front of him, only the thin blue towel concealing her voluptuous body.

  His mate turned and looked at him, for a moment the attraction between them was there, tangible, and so strong it took his breath away. Then the moment was broken, his mate opened her mouth and screamed, picking up the nearest thing she could find, a washing line pole and rushing at him.

  His mate had spirit, but no training or discipline. Instead she flailed around with the long pole, predisposed to failure by the fact she had to desperately cling onto the towel with one hand to save her dignity. However she shouted very loudly.

  “Get out of here, before I call the police,” she yelled.

  Lance regained his senses and batted the pole away easily, holding his hands out to soothe her just as he would a frightened colt. “Steady now, I’m not going to hurt you, just put the pole down.”

  “Why? So you can attack us in our beds?” she spat.

  Lance would like to do something to her in bed, but he planned on it being slow and consensual. “I think you need to calm down and let me explain,” he replied soothingly.

  “I don’t need to hear your explanations.” She moved around, trying to see a point of attack.

  “Look, I’ve bought food for Mrs Hobbs.” He held out the stew so she could see it, and then he got struck by a thought. If he wasn’t the intruder, perhaps she was. Mrs Hobbs had never told him she was going to have visitors. He placed the food down on the ground, and moved away from it, circling his prey.

  She didn’t know it yet but she was about to be brought to the ground by a superior hunter, she didn’t stand a chance.

  “One more chance to put it down and we’ll sort this out in a civilised manner.” His testosterone had gone into overdrive, he wanted to dominate her, force her to submit to him, a feeling he had never experienced before.

  “You don’t look
overly civilised, and anyway, you’re trespassing, leave and I won’t hurt you.” She lifted the pole, ready to strike.

  Lance could tell exactly what she planned to do, and so allowed her to take her best shot. Just as it was about to come into contact with his shoulder he reached out and in one rapid movement grabbed the pole out of her hand and jerked it forward. She had no choice but to fall into his arms, and he wrapped them tightly around her like a vice.

  To her merit she struggled valiantly, but she didn’t stand a chance against his brute strength. She twisted and turned, striking out with her free hand. Lance didn’t want to hurt her, so as carefully as possible he took her legs out from under her, and eased her fall to the ground. Covering her with his body to hold her down, he held her wrists firmly in his large hands above her head.

  Still she fought him. “For god's sake woman, hold still.”

  “Let me go,” she shouted, although somewhat breathless now.

  “And if I do will you sit quietly while we work this out?” He didn’t care if she said no; he liked the feel of her soft body under his.

  She strained against him, using all her strength to no avail, she knew she was beaten but she didn’t want to admit it. Lance smiled to himself, his mate had spirit, that was for sure, but he was going to have some trouble taming her and making her his wife, and this was not a good start.

  “Oh, Lance, it’s you.” Lance turned his head, and the wild woman beneath him stopped struggling. “I see I have no need to introduce my great niece to you.”

  “Mrs Hobbs,” he said, nodding his head to her. Reluctantly he loosened his grip on his captive, and made to move off her.

  “The towel,” she hissed at him.

  He looked down and saw what she meant, in their struggle the towel had opened and she lay completely naked beneath him. She had the most wonderful breasts, but he only got a brief glimpse before he averted his eyes. Like the gentleman he truly was, he gathered it up and wound it back around her, his hands stroking her heated skin as he did so.

  The connection between them shook him to his core, but when he met her eyes he found a steely countenance that seemed impenetrable. Worry crossed his face, this was supposed to be a two way thing, she should feel it too. His confused expression didn’t go unnoticed, for a moment her expression softened, but then her walls went back up and blocked him out.

  He quickly stood up, tactfully looking away while she covered herself and scrambled to her feet. His gaze met that of Mrs Hobbs, whose eyes were full of amusement. “Perhaps you'd like to come in for some tea while Ava makes herself decent.”

  Lance wouldn’t have minded Ava remaining wrapped in the towel, it gave more than a hint of what lay beneath. Generous curves in all the right places, he would love to pull the towel away from her now and admire every inch of her body. Perhaps his admiration would extend to touching and kissing her soft flesh too.

  Lance cleared his throat and tried to pull himself together, a stirring in his pants told him he could do with a cold shower at this moment, but tea with Mrs Hobbs would probably work just as well.

  “Yes please, Mrs Hobbs.” He bent down to retrieve the container of stew, not knowing now whether she would need it. “I brought you some stew, not enough for two I’m afraid. I had no idea you were having visitors.”

  He glanced at Ava who had stomped off to retrieve her clothes which were drying on the clothesline. She looked so beautiful in the evening light, the sun catching the red tints in her hair, and her pale skin giving her an ethereal air that took his breath away.

  Lance stood for too long watching her, he couldn’t help it, only when she turned and scowled at him again did he move, going into the house and following the noise of tea cups being placed on saucers. Mrs Hobbs always liked to serve tea properly, no mass produced mugs here, only the best china.

  “Sit down, Mr Greystone. You look as though you need to regain your strength.”

  “I’m fine Mrs Hobbs, really. And please, I’ve told you to call me Lance, my brother is the proper Mr Greystone.” He was referring to Nat Greystone, the pack alpha, and billionaire.

  “That’s as maybe, but you are still my landlord. Now you sit down and we’ll wait for Ava to come and join us. Sorry she gave you so much trouble, but she's not used to our ways. Comes from the city.” Mrs Hobbs added the last sentence as though it explained a multitude of sins.

  “Are you sure she'll want to join us? I think she's taken an instant dislike to me.” Lance had a feeling that just because he had found his mate he wasn’t going to be lucky enough to have her fall at his feet. In fact he had an inkling he was going to have quite the fight on his hands.

  “She'll be down; you know she will, after all you two have some unfinished business between you.”

  Lance set his teacup down steadily; it took all his resolve to keep his hand steady. “I don’t know what you mean, Mrs Hobbs.”

  “Of course you do dear.” She looked at him earnestly. “You don’t think I’ve lived here all these years and not learned about the Greystone boys?”

  “Learned what exactly?” he asked keeping his voice even, although he sensed the danger in the old lady's words.

  “It’s alright; your secret is safe with me.”

  “Secret?”

  She patted his hand fondly. “I understand, you don’t talk about it. But I know what Ava is to you, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Yet I don’t envy you, she's not going to give in very easily.”

  “Oh?”

  “No, she came here to escape. I’m afraid the last thing on her young mind is settling down with a husband.”

  Lance knew he should brush her comments off, he should deny wanting Ava as a mate, as a wife, but his interest was piqued. “And what exactly is she trying to escape from?”

  “It’s not for me to tell you her business, but lets just say she's trying to make a life for herself without being pulled in too many directions.”

  “She’s running away from a man?” His wolf hackles were rising, would he have to protect his mate from a rival for her affections?

  “Worse,” Mrs Hobbs continued, refilling his cup. “Her parents.”

  “They're very controlling?”

  “Pull her one way and then the other.” Mrs Hobbs looked up, listening to the sound of her great niece coming down the stairs. “Divorced,” the old lady whispered. “Ava is expected to be the go between and it got a bit much for her, she's come here to finish her studies in peace. So I’m afraid romance is the last thing on her mind.”

  Ava reached the bottom of the stairs; Lance could tell she hesitated for a moment before coming into the kitchen. She stood in the doorway and looked at Lance, her face full of hostility.

  He swallowed hard, trying to cover the instant arousal he felt for her. If he was going to win her over he was going to have to do this carefully, no pressure. An incredibly hard thing to do when all he wanted was to carry her upstairs to bed to make her his.

  Chapter One

  Ava stood looking at the man seated at the table, she wanted to hate him, she really did, but the pull he had on her emotions was incredibly hard to fight. He made it easier to dislike him by the open way he looked at her as though she were his goods, something he already owned and could bend to his will.

  But she'd had enough of people controlling her. Ava’s parents had made her life unbearable for the last six months, and now she was finally free, the last thing she wanted to do was become entangled again.

  She had no interest in men, least of all the man in front of her. He had already acted in such an insufferable way towards her; she wanted him gone, out of her sight for ever. No that wasn’t true, she wanted to bask in his gaze, to have him strip her clothes off and touch her in the most intimate way. However, those thoughts would have to stay hidden; he would never know the real need she had for him.

  One thing the break up of her parent's marriage had taught her was that you couldn’t trust anyone with your heart. Despite being marr
ied for twenty five years, and sharing a daughter, they had only spent the time together arming themselves with the best weapons with which to wound each other.

  Those wounds ripped the very soul out of the small family, and Ava had borne the brunt of it all. She had watched the two people she loved most in the world suffer a monumental meltdown in their very nature. They had left Ava dead inside, no longer did she have thoughts of settling down with a man; she would never burden her own children with what she had gone through, because she was never going to have children. Ever.

  So strong were these feelings that all she wanted to do when this man looked at her the way he did was scream and scratch his eyes out. To wound him in such a way he would never even think of her romantically again.

  Ava suddenly focused on her thoughts, they sounded like her parents, hurting and wounding. She'd come here to escape that, to finish her studies and do her exams in peace. All she had to do was show her disinterest and he would move on; she was a novelty, no more. After all why would a gorgeous hunk of a man have any real interest in her plump body?

  That was it; he simply wanted to bed her, another notch on his bedpost no doubt. Truth be told she would probably encounter this more than once while she was here. A new face in a small town like this was sure to attract attention; she had forgotten this wasn’t a city of faceless people.

  Having persuaded herself this was the real truth she smiled pleasantly, but not too friendly, and went and sat down next to her great aunt.

  “There now. That’s better, Ava. Mr Greystone here only came over to give me some of this lovely stew. He’s been very good at looking after me since...I’ve been on my own.”

  Ava covered her great aunt's hand with hers and gave it a squeeze. This was the side of marriage and love that gave her pause for thought. As much as her parents now hated each other, she knew other couples found everlasting love, like her Great Aunt Jo.

  “Aunty Jo has told me all about you helping her with the garden, it was very thoughtful of you, but I’ll be able to take over from now on.” Ava kept her voice very business like.