Ruthless Outlaw: Fierce Mates: Rock Creek Clan, #2

By Liza Street

He has the power to enter the dreams of others.
She isn't afraid to act on his darkest desires.

Fox shifter Margot is content running her bakery, For Fox Sake Cupcakes, even if no one gives her a second thought--not her clan, not her parents. But when a sexy voice starts haunting her dreams, she starts craving more from her life, and more of the mysterious stranger.

When grizzly shifter Bryce returns home to help the Rock Creek Clan, his estranged brother's harsh reception is no surprise, but the presence of a gorgeous blond fox shifter is. Unfortunately, she seems pretty close to his brother, which makes her off-limits. When the clan needs to contact a mysterious witch living in South America, Bryce jumps at the chance to help out and escape Margot's sexy smiles.
 
So, of course, the person accompanying him to South America is Margot...and she's posing as his wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Liza Street
• Release date: Mar 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386634409

Book preview

Chapter One

Margot took a swig of her beer and eyed the label, which looked different from their usual local microbrewery's.

It's Dos Equis, Nolan said from the lawn chair next to her. We need to get you some new cultural experiences.

I'm happy in Idaho, Margot said. Forever.

Nolan gave a long-suffering sigh, so she reached over and shoved his massive shoulder. He barely moved, which was no surprise. The man was built like a truck and probably weighed as much as the walk-in refrigerator at Margot's bakery.

Nothing happened when she touched him—no spark of recognition, no sudden lusty feelings like she'd read about in Gemma's book, Dyin' to Be Your Lion, which was the fastest-traded romance novel the Rock Creek Clan had ever seen. Margot kept waiting for that attraction, that spark, because she and Nolan got along so well. Being mates would be freaking perfect.

The fire in the pit crackled merrily away and the sounds of conversation washed over her. Everyone was here tonight, visiting and laughing together, just as a clan should. Home, she thought. It was perfect, even if, occasionally, Margot wondered if something was missing. She just couldn't figure out what that thing was.

At the table set up with french fries, cole slaw, and an ever-replenishing plate of mini hot dogs, Jameson, the alpha, stood with his mate, Nina. He leaned forward slightly and brushed a kiss against her temple. Margot's heart gave an extra beat. Having a mate—could that be what was missing in Margot's life? Jameson and Nina were together, as were Rex and Gemma, who sat on the other side of Margot. And just a couple of months ago, Margot's sister, Erena, had gotten together with a mountain lion shifter named Matt.

But Margot wasn't the only single shifter in the clan. There was absolutely nothing wrong with sleeping alone. In fact, she'd been enjoying some rather steamy dreams lately.

As she settled back into her seat, she was aware of the occasional attention on her and Nolan. Nobody had said anything about her and Nolan hooking up, but it seemed everyone expected it. She took a sip of her beer as she looked him over. He was attractive. Hot, even. Plus, she'd seen him without his clothes on, and she could promise that whatever lucky lady landed that man, she'd be well satisfied with the size of his—

Weiner? Gemma said at the other side of her.

Margot choked on her sip of beer.

You okay? Gemma asked, patting Margot's back.

Margot turned and looked at Gemma, who was leaning back in her lawn chair and resting her plate of mini weiners and fries on her lap. She stabbed one of the weiners with her fork and held it out toward Margot.

Margot felt her face turn red. I already tried them, thanks. They're good.

Matt was standing at the barbecue a few feet away. He thrust the barbecue fork in the air and shouted, Erena, I told you that everyone would love my weiners.

Erena tossed one of her weiners at the back of his head. He turned with a growl, but his blue-green eyes softened when he saw who'd thrown it.

Margot settled back in her lawn chair and stared at the fire. Typical RCC evening, complete with at least one piece of food thrown at someone in the clan. Nolan ignored the jokes, focusing on his french fries and, as usual, not talking much.

Jameson, the alpha, came over to sit with Nina on the other side of Nolan. Margot watched them over the neck of her beer, wondering if she'd ever find someone to love her like Jameson loved Nina.

She was starting to doubt it—she'd never been anyone's first pick before, even as a little girl. Her parents had always preferred Erena. Erena had been the one to get the new clothes. Erena had been hugged goodnight every night, without fail. She'd been the clear favorite. Margot could still remember her disappointment when she'd learned that unlike Erena, she'd have to save up with a part-time job to buy her own car.

The whole thing felt petty in retrospect, but when Margot kept getting shunted to the shadows in favor of her older sister, time and time again, it had really started to hurt.

It hadn't been Erena's fault, but it had taken Margot a few years to realize that. Luckily, their own relationship had survived the favoritism.

She wondered if maybe Nolan and his brother hadn’t been quite so lucky. He hadn't ever volunteered information about his family, but she knew he had a brother.

So, she said, turning in her lawn chair to face him, it looks like nothing's happening with your brother.

Half-brother, he corrected.

Oh, don't sound all gruff and cranky. I know you're not mad at me anymore.

Almost two months had passed since she'd called Nolan's brother to invite him to the Rock Creek Clan.

Only because the asshole never showed.

She nodded. She still felt kind of bad for making that phone call and inviting his brother here. She hated confrontation and she didn't know why she'd overstepped her bounds in that way. At least it had turned out all right in the end.

Except they were nowhere closer to finding more people to help guard the territory, a problem Jameson was quietly discussing with Nina at this very moment.

I talked to Doug again, Nina was saying, but he won't come. Something about 'personal shit' he has to deal with.

Wonder what it is, Jameson mused.

Nina laughed. Knowing Doug, he probably did something douchey or stupid and now he's in trouble with the alpha. She stopped smiling and added in a serious voice, It'll be okay. We've got those posts on the shifter forum. Someone will come, even if we have to hire them.

Margot wondered if that was true—from what Matt had said a few days ago, their enemy, Bronson, was hiring and recruiting even more aggressively. Margot glanced at Nolan again and saw that he looked just as concerned as she felt.

I'm done for the night, Margot said, standing up.

Nolan stood as well. Up, and up, and up. He was at least six-five. Me, too.

Wanna play checkers? she asked him as they carried their dirty dishes back toward their cabins.

He shook his head, but hesitated at the short path that led up to Margot's door. The violets were blooming in little planters Erena had made for her. Little touches of spring, everywhere she went.

She faced Nolan, holding her empty plate at her side. Jameson sounds really worried.

Nolan's ice-gray eyes flashed to hers. Are you worried?

Maybe a little. I don't like to fight.

You won't have to, he said, frowning.

She shook her head. If they need fighters, I'll do it. It's just, as a fox, I don't have a lot of brawn, ya know?

Yeah, I know. He rubbed the scruff on his cheek, and one of his tribal tattoos showed from the end of his sleeve.

It was kind of weird, hearing Jameson and Nina talking, Margot said. It reminded me of overhearing my parents when I was a kid. Did you ever do that—eavesdrop on your folks?

Nope.

When he didn't add anything, Margot reached out to touch his arm. Maybe that was the reason she'd never felt a spark with him—she didn't know enough about his past. You've never really told me about your family.

He shrugged. Nothing to tell.

She suspected that wasn't true. One of these days, she'd convince him to have more than just a couple of beers, and she'd get him to tell her everything.

Are you sure you don't want to come in? Margot asked, jerking her chin toward her blue cabin door. We could play Crazy Eights instead of checkers.

Nah, he said, grinning. I'd just kick your ass again and you'd get mad.

Would not.

She was relieved to see his grin, even though it just as quickly disappeared. Sometimes it was hard being friends with someone who didn't talk much. What was he thinking about?

His gaze flicked over to the fire pit where Jameson and Nina were still in a serious conversation.

What's on your mind? Margot said.

Worried about the clan.

Nina's hand rested casually over her belly. She hadn't started to show her pregnancy yet, but she probably would in another month or two. Margot wondered whether Nina was worried about their baby, given all the uncertainty with the clan and what Bronson was doing. She wished someone would come to help.

Turning back to Nolan, she said, Are you going to try calling your brother again?

He snorted. Half-brother. And trust me, no matter how desperate we get, we're better off without him.

If Bronson and the Bitterroots were as intensively gathering new members as Matt seemed to think, Margot wondered if what Nolan said could possibly be true. Surely every warm body would be a help at this point, right? She felt a flash of annoyance that Nolan was being so stubborn. They still didn't know what Bronson was planning, if anything, and they'd scented strangers outside the bounds of the Rock Creek territory on more than one occasion.

Nolan's expression looked pained, and her annoyance dissipated as quickly as it had hit. Whatever had happened with his brother, it must've been pretty bad. Prying and getting angry at him wouldn't make her a good friend; it would just make her a nosy busybody.

Well, goodnight then, Nolan.

Margot turned to go inside, but she stopped when she felt his massive hand on her shoulder. She turned and he pulled her into a hug.

Goodnight, Margot.

She inhaled his bear scent—cool and fresh, manly. His arms were firm around her.

Nothing. It did absolutely nothing for her. She hoped it was the same on his end.

AS MARGOT SLEPT IN her flannel fox-print sheets, a low voice spoke to her, directing her dreams away from baking and cupcake recipes and over to fantasies of fevered skin, of taut muscles surrounding her, a set of sharp teeth grazing her shoulder, and hands caressing her breasts, squeezing her hips, guiding her toward release...

She woke and stared around her darkened bedroom, her pussy throbbing with want. She was so aroused, she could barely stand it. This voice had been visiting her for weeks. He sounded familiar, but she couldn't place him.

As she sent her hand down the waistband of her pajama pants, she fell back into her dream and heard the voice again, telling her how beautiful she was, telling her she was loved, and telling her just how to touch herself. When the voice commanded her to come, she came—hard.

Chapter Two

Bryce hauled his friend toward their Volkswagen Bus, even though Ian nearly matched him in size and his sloppy-drunk muscles weren't cooperating. Exasperated, he gave Ian a shove.

Ian tumbled to the cracked sidewalk.

Dude, Bryce said. I can't help you if you don't help yourself.

That's the problem, Ian slurred. I helped myself too much.

Most fucking true thing you've said all night, Bryce said. He didn't know how he'd gotten roped into yet another ridiculous evening at a bar with Ian, who wouldn't stop chasing women.

He helped Ian up and into the bus, noting how Ian's black eye was