Whisper

  Whisper

  Copyright © June 2012, Tressie Lockwood

  Cover art designed by Mina Carter © June 2012

  ISBN 978-1-937394-50-9

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  Amira Press

  Charlotte, NC

  www.amirapress.com

  Chapter One

  “Whisper, wake up,” came the voice through a hazy fog in her brain. Whisper moaned and tried to sink further into sleep. Someone flicked her nose, and she swatted out blindly. “Whisper, damn it, wake the hell up!”

  She jerked and opened her eyes. Her best friend, Sheila, sat on the side of her bed still in the slinky red dress she’d worn on her date out. Whisper yawned and rubbed her eyes. “What?” she grumbled. “You know how hard it is for me to fall asleep. Why do you want to mess with me when I finally get there?”

  Sheila sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “I wanted to tell you about my date.”

  “And it couldn’t wait until the morning?”

  “No, now get up.” She tugged Whisper’s arm until she was in a sitting position on the queen size bed. Then her friend took up the spot next to her and kicked off her shoes. Whisper sighed and offered a bit of her cover.

  “Fine, tell me, but if I get fired tomorrow because I’m drooling on the conference room table asleep, you’re going to pay my rent.”

  Sheila sucked her teeth. “Please. You know damn well your boss is into you. He’d give you a raise if you just shook your ass a little for him.”

  “Which is exactly why I won’t!”

  Sheila waved her hand. “You have to learn how to use what you got without using what you got. If you know what I mean.”

  Whisper smothered another yawn. “If I knew what you meant, I’d be already using it, and this conversation would be pointless.”

  “Lawd, girl, why you have to be difficult?”

  Whisper squinted at the bedside clock. “Because it’s two in the morning.”

  “So we went to Carrabas, right?” Sheila said as if Whisper hadn’t spoken. “And then he said to me—”

  Whisper stared at her friend, and Sheila stared back. Something had thumped and crashed in the hall outside her apartment. The noises had been followed by what distinctly sounded like the growl of an animal. Whisper gasped. Pets weren’t allowed in her building, and as far as she knew no one had any. All of her neighbors were older, although she remembered Mrs. Stevens had mentioned a new guy moving in across the hall. Whisper hadn’t seen or heard him.

  “What the hell was that?” Sheila said, casting her voice low.

  Whisper tossed her covers aside and rose. “Like I know? Whoever it is better get rid of the animal before the management company finds out. They aren’t very tolerant.”

  As if they’d signaled each other, they both crept on tiptoe toward the front of her small apartment. Whisper reached the peephole first but couldn’t see anything. “No one’s there.”

  “I’ll get to the bottom of it.” Before Whisper could stop her, Sheila wrenched the door open and stepped into the hall. Whisper rushed out after her to jerk her crazy friend back inside, but a man naked from the waist up stopped both of them in their tracks. He stood in the doorway diagonally across from hers and watched them with narrowed dark eyes. Whisper couldn’t figure out if they were a deep gray or just downright black. She shivered. Either way, they were sexy as hell but held a hint of danger.

  The man said nothing but let his gaze lower. Sheila had paused just ahead of Whisper, so she figured he was checking out her friend’s body. Who could blame him when Sheila loved to wear skimpy clothes that accentuated her lithe figure. Boobs the perfect size as well as her round ass and long legs, Sheila always had to beat men off with a stick. Whisper on the other hand—well, she’d been fighting with the same thirty pounds too many for half her adult life. She loved her friend but, damn, a woman like her couldn’t be seen past the diva that was Sheila. Tonight was no exception.

  “I suggest you watch your step,” Tall-And-Sexy said in a panty-wetting tone.

  Whisper glanced down at the floor. Right in front of her place, something glass had shattered. Sheila squealed and leaped to the side. Whisper noticed she’d moved in the direction of Mr. McHottie instead of back into the apartment. Dang, wasn’t she just excited about the date with man number fifty thousand? Now she’s set her sights on my new neighbor? Just let me enjoy a little hope that I have a shot for a minute!

  “Oh, let me get a broom and dustpan,” Whisper offered. She turned to go back into her apartment, but Sheila wasn’t paying her any mind. She walked on tiptoes toward the neighbor, easy for her since she wore stilettos like they were flats. Whisper rolled her eyes and stomped inside.

  When she returned, she ignored the two beautiful people chatting with each other and began cleaning up the mess. The more Sheila giggled, the higher her anger rose. The least the idiot could do was thank her. No, he was busy probably looking down Sheila’s dress or grabbing her ass or… She grunted in frustration and bent lower to scoop the last bit of glass that had escaped her. A sharp intake of breath made her wonder what happened now.

  “Do all the women around here dress this way in public, or just this building?” The cynicism was clear in the man’s tone. Whisper peered over her shoulder, and a flutter of panic hit her when she realized the man was aiming his question at her. His gaze was no longer on Sheila but on Whisper’s ass. Too late she remembered that she’d been feeling sorry for herself because she had no one in her life and she’d worn the thong panties she’d ordered online from a plus size lingerie site.

  She jumped to her feet and yanked her nightie down. The broom and dustpan she let fall, scattering the glass all over the floor again. She took a hasty step toward her door, but he was there in front of her in a heartbeat. She wasn’t even sure when he moved or how he could have done it so fast. Maybe she blacked out from embarrassment for a second. His hand was a heavy weight at her back, and then both were about her waist. He raised her like she weighed five pounds, and set her down in her doorway.

  Whisper just stood there staring at him while he bent to clean up the mess. Her heart raced, and her head spun from the memory and sensations of having him touch her. He’d smelled so good, delicious enough to eat. If she’d had her head on right, she would have used one of Sheila’s numbers and stumbled against him so she could get a feel of that big chest and hard abs. No, she was too busy worrying about him seeing her fleshy butt in a thong. Mercy! Why me?

  “Um…” she stuttered. If her skin weren’t a rich brown, she’d be beet red, she was sure.

  “So, baby, you just moved in? What’s your name?” Sheila asked, never missing a beat.

  The man glanced up at her. Whisper was struck again by his eyes. They were black now that she saw them closer. He didn’t appear to be about to answer Sheila’s question. His interest was in getting the glass up and getting back to his apartment. When he glanced at Whisper, however, he answered. “My name is Alec Macgregor.”

  For some reason only when he said his name did she detect the lilt in his speech. Scottish, she guessed. She opened her mouth to say her name, but Sheila zipped to his side once again and held her hand out. “Sheila Tate. This is my friend Whisper Price.”

  Alec took the proffered hand and shook it. Whisper tried not to notice if he held it a little too long or if he again surveyed her friend’s body. She’d seen it happen too often, and most of the time she didn’t resent Sheila for being what she was. Whisper wasn’t down on herself. She worked hard, was planning to go back to school as soon as her work situation became more stable, and f
or the most part she took care of herself. She liked her face. Many had commented that it was pretty, which irked her. Hey, she had her pluses, so she wasn’t a total freak.

  On the other hand, a man like Alec wouldn’t give her two thoughts. He stood at least six foot four, was built like a Mac truck, and had thick black hair she wouldn’t mind running her fingers through. Just once she had dated a white man, but he turned out to be a dog just like the previous black guys she’d gone out with. Not that there were many. There weren’t. Still, she liked to think she was open to whatever package love came wrapped in. Stupid thing hadn’t shown up yet, and she was pushing thirty-five.

  Alec seemed about ready to turn to her, extricating his hand from Sheila’s, when he went stiff looked toward his open apartment door. Whisper followed his line of sight. Damn, he was so eager to get away from them that he was looking longingly toward his new home?

  While she peered in that direction, her eyes widened and mouth went dry at the large furry head that popped around the doorway. “What the…?” she murmured. A breeze stirred her hair, and she found Alec zipping back to his apartment.

  “You shouldn’t be out here,” he growled.

  She wondered at the way he spoke to the animal as if it would understand every word. Alec reached a hand out, but the animal faked left and darted right to sidestep him. Sheila clamped onto Whisper’s arm. Her friend hated pets of all kinds, which was why she was perfectly happy living in her own no pets allowed apartment not far from Whisper’s place.

  “What the hell is that?” Sheila squeaked, tightening her hold until Whisper winced.

  The creature padded on huge paws with slanted eyes that locked on Whisper and her friend. Whisper took a step back, and the animal matched her speed as he advanced. “S-Some kind of cat,” she stuttered. “He’s not supposed to be here. Pets aren’t allowed.”

  Yeah pet. He looks like a freaking horse!

  “Don’t run,” Alec called out. “You will only incite him. Max, get back in the apartment!”

  Whisper frowned. What kind of name was Max for a…a cat? Hell, what kind of cat was so huge? The thing was almost twice the size of a tiger, but it looked like a leopard. The yellow eyes were trained on Sheila, and her friend darted behind her, crying out, “I think it wants to eat me.”

  As if it understood her words, the beast growled low in its throat and bobbed its head wildly. Just when it got within steps of Whisper, Alec was there, blocking out her view of the cat with his broad back. Whisper couldn’t help peering around his arm. The cat roared and leaped, but Alec caught it at the neck. His arm muscles flexed, and if Whisper weren’t so scared out of her mind to even move, she could appreciate the man’s body.

  The two of them—man and animal—stared into each other’s eyes as if they held a battle of wills. Whisper couldn’t imagine why anyone would keep a pet that was liable to attack like that, even the hand that fed him. Having such an animal as a pet had to be illegal.

  “Max, you don’t want to do this. I know it hurts, but she’s gone, and you have to accept that.”

  Who is she? Whisper wondered.

  “Go back,” Alec told the beast again. “Calm down, and we’ll talk all night if necessary.”

  Again Whisper questioned his talking to the cat as if it were human. Too bad the tall sexy man was out of his head. Well, she could enjoy looking at him when he came and went from his apartment. Eye candy couldn’t hurt. Well, unless it comes with a cat big enough to swallow a woman whole. She shivered.

  At last the cat gave a small mewl which sounded like annoyance. From the look of it, it had not intended to hurt Alec at all. The beast had wanted to scare them. Boy had it succeeded. The whole demeanor, the stiff, rippling muscles seemed to relax, and it dropped down to all fours. With another glance in Sheila’s direction, the cat turned and padded back to Alec’s apartment to disappear through the doorway. Whisper thought she heard a collective sigh from the other two along with her own.

  If Whisper thought they were going to get an apology for the near mutilation, she was going to be waiting forever. Rather than say a word, Alex half spun in their direction, gave a curt nod, and disappeared after his pet. Whisper’s mouth dropped open, and Sheila swore.

  “Who the hell does he think he is?” her friend demanded. “Um-uhn, ain’t that much sexy in the world for me to put up with that kind of treatment without a I’m sorry or something!”

  She started off as if she intended to bang on Alec’s closed door, but Whisper grabbed her arm. “Are you insane, girl? Did you see that thing? If you piss him off, he might just sic it on you.”

  “I think he should be reported.”

  Whisper pulled her back to the apartment. “Probably. Tonight though, I’m going back to bed. You sleeping over?”

  Sheila crossed her arms over her chest and stomped into Whisper’s living room. Sometimes when Sheila was out, she’d have her dates drop her at Whisper’s place, and they would chat into the wee hours. Then Sheila would sleep on the pull out couch, and Whisper in her bed until noon. They would get up, shower, and make an elaborate breakfast of waffles, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Now that she thought of it, Whisper figured that’s why she could never lose the extra weight. Sheila could eat whatever she wanted. Whisper couldn’t.

  “Yeah, I’m staying.” She walked over to the couch and began tossing pillows on the floor. When she was done, she swung around to wag a finger at Whisper. “But you better believe in the morning, his ass is toast.”

  Whisper rolled her eyes. “Why do I feel like you’re more annoyed that the cat interrupted your play with Alec than anything else?”

  “Please. Alec Macgregor and his giant leopard are nothing. Soon enough, they will be gone, and we won’t have to deal with them ever again.”

  Chapter Two

  Alec stood in the doorway to his brother’s room and frowned at the man sleeping half on, half off the bed. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. On one hand he realized his brother was having a hard time, but the man was risking exposure of their existence, which he couldn’t allow to happen. Of course, he could never imagine how hard it must be to lose his mate. Alec had never taken a mate. He hadn’t even been in love before. Not really. Women to him were for pleasure and nothing to involve his heart or bind himself to. He gave as much as he got, so his outlook didn’t make him feel guilty. His tastes varied, and he knew what he wanted when he saw it.

  That thought brought up the very delectable African American woman he’d seen in the hall the night before. Her sweet figure, curved in all the right places, had given him a hard-on, but Alec never allowed his physical desires to interfere with what he needed to do. What had been important last night was getting Max into the apartment and out of sight.

  While he stood there, his brother’s blond head popped above the covers, and he peered at Alec through squinted eyes. “I thought I felt your accusing glare,” Max quipped.

  “I am not accusing you, Max.” Alec pushed off the door jamb and strode across to the window. He threw open the blinds, allowing early morning sunlight to stream in. Behind him, his brother groaned, and he suppressed a grin. “You’re letting your emotions get the better of you. We can’t allow anyone to know what we are.”

  “I know that.” Max rose naked from the bed. Neither of them were ashamed of their bodies, especially since shifting required no clothes. “No harm done. They thought you had a pet.”

  “A leopard? Come on, Max, even if they did believe it, it’s against the law to keep such an animal. We agreed when we moved to Virginia we would only shift in a wooded area, not here in the hallway of an apartment building where others can see.”

  Max pulled on jeans, not caring that he hadn’t first put on boxers. “You agreed, not me. I didn’t say I wanted to come here. I was happy in Maine.”

  “Happy?” Alec repeated.

  His brother flared his nostrils. “I lived at least.”

  “With supreme effort on my part.” Alec approached his
brother and laid a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t pretend to know what you feel, but I am here for you. I will get you through this even if I have to put my foot in your ass.”

  His brother chuckled, a rare occurrence lately. “I’m tearing up at all the love. Anyway, what will we do about the ladies? They threatened to report us.”

  Alec shrugged. “Let them inspect. They will find nothing, and who will believe I was keeping a four hundred pound leopard here?”

  Max grinned. “Good then I can—”

  “Keep it under wraps,” Alec finished for him.

  Max grunted. “You were always the one that played by the rules, Alec. When are you going to let loose and go buck wild? It would do you good. Hell, fall in love for once. Let a woman stomp all over your heart, and then drink all night feeling sorry for yourself. It’s life.”