Beautiful Moves: A Motorcycle Club, Shifter, Romance (Shifting Steel Book 3) Read online

  “Wolf, you don’t understand. I really should go.”

  Ella attempted to pull free of his grasp, but he refused to let her loose. Wolf liked the invigorating sensation her touch incited.

  “Come on, Ella, relax a little. Would it make you feel better if you watched me get my ass kicked? We were going to set up a little boxing match,” Wolf coaxed.

  “No, I think you got knocked in the head enough for one night.”

  “Nah, it’s fine. There’s not much to hurt up here anyway.” Wolf knocked on his head, eliciting a smile from Ella. “Come on, hang out.”

  Ella relented and sat on a bench with a sigh.

  “I’m sorry,” she paused and nibbled her lip. “I think you misunderstood when you overheard me talking to my sister.”

  “I wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping. I wanted to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat and get a ride. But, I am deadly serious about you walking after dark.”

  Ella stared into the fire looking conflicted, her eyebrows drawn together. She opened her mouth several times to speak, then shook her head as if not knowing what to say.

  “I know you wouldn’t know it, considering my recent request, but I’ve always taken care of myself.” Ella closed her eyes. “That sounds awful. My parents did their best to hold it together.” Ella continued to stare at the flickering fire as she paused.

  Wolf kept quiet as he sat next to Ella. He got the feeling she was trying to gather the courage to say something that was hard for her to admit out loud.

  “Sabine started getting sick when we were five. She’s been in hospitals more than she’s been at home.”

  Wolf recalled seeing Ella’s sister’s name included on the lease. Although, best he could tell, the sister had never been to the apartment. If Sabine was in a hospital that would explain it.

  No wonder Ella felt like she had to take care of herself. Her parents spent all their time taking care of an ill sibling, draining all their attention away from Ella. That was a rough way to grow up. At least with the pack, everyone was close knit. No child ever had to worry for affection.

  “It must have been hard for you,” Wolf said as he squeezed Ella’s shoulder.

  “We were in high school when dad died. And mom just couldn’t cope.” Ella paused, trapped in the memory, then looked at Wolf. “I don’t begrudge my sister, I’d be lost without her. She’s so strong. Sabine’s the only one who really understands me.” Ella shook her head.

  Wolf now understood why Ella was able to shut herself off so efficiently. It wasn’t because she had no emotions. It was because life taught her, her emotions didn’t matter, when her sister’s health took priority. Wolf looked into Ella’s eyes, as she stared at the bonfire. The desolation in those hazel depths struck him hard. It was like a vise was constricting his chest.

  “I admit I was shocked by what happened yesterday. I don’t do well with that sort of attention. I didn’t mean to imply…,” Ella paused awkwardly. “I just can’t have relationships like normal people,” she smiled sheepishly.

  It was nice to know the cause of Ella’s disparaging comment, but what she just said bothered him. Wolf wondered if Ella had a hard time connecting with people, because of her parent’s neglect, or had something horrible happened while she was left alone? Ella looked incredibly uncomfortable seeing the guys in the trashed bathroom.

  “Princess, did some guy do something he shouldn’t have?” Wolf asked, his voice filled with concern and dread. His beast snarled at the mere suggestion Ella might have been abused.

  “No! Nothing like that.” Ella looked mortified. “But thank you for your concern.”

  “Thank god.” Wolf shook his head, feeling relief.

  “It’s just that I’m weird, really weird.” Ella looked down at her hands, turning them over as if she might find a discernible sign of this perceived difference.

  “Like what? You don’t look like you have webbed toes.” Wolf glanced at her painted toe nails in the girly sandals. “And I certainly didn’t feel a tail yesterday.”

  “It’s nothing like that.” Ella blushed as she swatted him.

  “Normal is overrated,” Wolf chuckled. “I know two chicks, girlfriends of my buddies, who make weird look real fucking normal.”

  Wolf thought about Iris, Cain’s old lady, who could see the future and read minds. Then there was Marisol, who could light your ass up, literally, if you looked at her crossways. Compared to that, everything else was child’s play.

  Ella

  Ella felt horrible that Wolf overheard her comment, and had taken offence. No wonder he’d been so cool toward her. Add that she was guarded with her emotions, and he obviously thought she was a big old B. She couldn’t really explain to him the reason she was so odd, but Wolf seemed to accept what little she could tell him.

  “Hell, no one here comes close to being normal. You’re surrounded by a pack of animals,” Wolf said loud enough for everyone to hear.

  The bikers around the fire-pit grinned then started howling into the night. Wolf tipped up his head and called to the moon. He did a great job mimicking his namesake. Ella couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face. Wolf was attempting to cheer her up, and it was working.

  “See, a bunch of freaks, every last one of us.” Wolf nudged her.

  I can show you a freak.

  Ella had no doubt that if Wolf knew the extent of her quirky nature, he truly would run howling into the night. She’d already nearly knocked his brains out, because she lost control in the kitchen.

  “Thanks for the pep talk,” Ella replied.

  She appreciated Wolf making peace with her. Unfortunately, that didn’t solve her problem. Even when the gorgeous man wasn’t antagonizing her, she was still on the edge. Just being around him, had her stretched to the limit.

  “Just be yourself. We’re a bunch of badass rabid biker. There’s nothing you can do that would shock us.”

  “Au contraire mon ami,” Ella snorted.

  “You speak French.” Wolf looked at her with interest.

  “Yes, my mother and father were from the old country.”

  “I bet you could say the most boring shit in that accent, and it would still sound erotic.”

  “Stop. There you go again being… being” Ella’s cheeks heated.

  “Being male. Yeah, I know. But it’s too much fun watching your cheeks turn pink. I can’t help myself. Seriously say something else.”

  “Wolf, je souhaite que je n'étais pas la façon dont je suis.” Wolf, I wish I wasn’t the way I am. “J'aimerais sentir vos lèvres pressées contre le mien.” I would love to feel your lips pressed against mine.

  Ella felt strange saying such things to Wolf, but she meant them. Wolf was a flirt for sure, but he was turning out to be more sweet and empathetic than she gave him credit for. His honey-brown eyes glowed in the fire light, as he hung on every word she spoke. It took everything in her, not to get lost in them.

  “Holy hell, woman, that’s hot. What did you say?” Wolf gave Ella a heated look, and she almost regretted giving in to his request, almost.

  “That’s for me to know, and you to wonder forever.” Ella grinned evilly.

  “You are an Ice Princess.” Wolf clutched his chest as if he were mortally wounded. Ella laughed at his antics. “I bet I could force you to tell me.”

  Wolf reached out and tickled her ribs. Ella gasped. Not only was she terribly sensitive, but that it was Wolf teasing her, didn’t help. Ella felt the rapid spiraling of her control, that she’d only just got a handle on again. Ella held on tight, directing things inward. The vibration starting in her core, worked its way outward, despite her best effort to repress it.

  “Wolf, please,” she half laughed, half cried out.

  “Hey, Wolf, I thought we were going to throw down,” one of the bikers she’d seen yesterday, hollered at Wolf, as he approached the picnic table.

  Wolf ceased his torment, and Ella sighed in relief. The distraction had come just in time
.

  “Are you going to be fine if I put Vick in his place? Things might get a little bloody.”

  “I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals. Blood stopped bothering me a long time ago,” Ella replied as she took several calming breaths.

  “Alright then.” Wolf turned toward the guy with slick black hair. “It’s on Vick. I’ve officially been given permission to kick your ass.”

  Ella watched with rapt attention as Wolf stood, and pulled off not just his leather jacket, but the tank top he wore as well.

  Oh, wow.

  The sight of Wolf short circuited her brain. In that moment, Ella knew god was cruel. No benign deity would torture her this way. Why did well-built men have those muscles at their hips that pointed straight toward their crotch?

  “Like what you see, Princess?”

  Before Ella could respond, Wolf swooped in and gave her a peck on the cheek, then sauntered into the middle of the yard. Her hand flew to her cheek. Ella felt the tingle of his lips against her skin. The warm sensation instantly ignited her gift and the picnic table started rattling. Ella kicked it to cover up the anomaly.

  “Ow, crap,” Ella yelped. The pain in her foot distracted her and the table stopped its seizure.

  An excited roar rose and Ella glanced over to see the fight had begun. The crowd hadn’t noticed her slip, since they were watching Wolf and Vick circle each other.

  Ella watched the men go at it, but after a few blows were traded, she couldn’t stomach anymore. She hadn’t lied. She wasn’t squeamish about the sight of blood. It was the sickening thud of flesh meeting flesh, that she found disturbing.

  Ella couldn’t help what she did next. She moved in close and projected her quirky gift toward the brawling duo. When Vick threw a punch that was certain to strike Wolf in the nose, Ella mentally deflected it, sending Vick staggering to the side. It took a lot more effort than she expected. There was something about the men that made them harder to move. It was a sensation she’d never experienced before.

  “Drink a little too much,” Wolf taunted.

  “Fuck you,” Vick growled.

  Ella liked Wolf, and they had called a truce, but the man admitted he liked to antagonize her. In fact, he’d done a pretty good job of it. It was only fair to return the favor, particularly since he was being so cocky.

  Wolf lashed out at Vick, and Ella slowed his motion just enough, that Vick was able to dance out of the way, laughing as he did.

  “Who’s drunk?” Vick countered.

  The men then went at it with increased aggression and mounting frustration. Ella found after her initial interference, she wasn’t as effective at keeping them from beating each other to a bloody pulp.

  Maybe you’re exhausted, Ella reasoned. She’d never used her gift as much as she had the last few days, intentionally or unintentionally.

  Vick struck Wolf in the ribs, but Wolf caught him in the head, opening a nasty gash in Vick’s brow.

  Ew, I can’t watch this. Ella cringed as she drifted behind a taller biker, and waited it out. Boxing was obviously not her thing.

  When the fight was finished, Wolf and Vick headed toward her. They didn’t look too beat up, considering they were just brawling. Vick shook his head looking perplexed.

  “I don’t know. There’s been some truly bizarre shit going on lately,” Wolf mumbled back. “Hey, Ella, there you are. Are you ready to head home?”

  Crap they noticed. She probably shouldn’t have tampered with their fight.

  “Yeah. I think I’ve seen enough to put some ideas together,” Ella replied.

  “Just let me clean up.”

  Ella trailed Wolf into the clubhouse. The overhead light glistened off his sweat covered torso. His shoulders were incredibly broad, they practically spanned the hall. He had muscles that Ella didn’t even know were possible. A bead of moisture ran down the valley of his spine. Ella paused as she followed its descent, suddenly struck by what she saw.

  Wolf’s back was covered with a giant tattoo, or was it a series, created by a single artist, worked together over time. Ella tilted her head as she panned the living artwork. The designs were done in all black. The way the artist laid down the ink, it looked fluid and smoky, like watercolor on paper. The execution, mixed with the depicted scenes, created a slightly macabre but breathtaking backpiece.

  The silhouette of the moon and forest, contained several vignettes. One fascinating scene was the image of a man, climbing out of the mouth of a wolf. But the one that caught Ella’s attention the most, was of a couple. The man, with a head of a wolf, was clutching a scantily clad female. His mouth was open, teeth bared, poised to devour her. It screamed raw hunger, and dark desire. Ella stilled her hand before she forgot herself and reached out.

  “What’s up?” Wolf turned and looked back at her, as he grabbed a towel near the sink.

  “What?” Ella almost blushed. She’d been caught in the act of gawking.

  “You touched my back.” Wolf grinned.

  Ella’s eyes widened. She actually hadn’t touched his back, at least not with her fingers.

  Stupid curse.

  “Oh, sorry. I was admiring your tattoo. It’s really good,” Ella stammered, trying not to turn pink.

  She couldn’t say she hadn’t touched him, so the truth spilled out before she could think of a better excuse.

  It’s really good. Ugh. Seriously, Ella. You were just waxing poetic a moment ago, and that’s the best you come up with.

  “I can’t take credit for it, but I do appreciate talent and beauty when I see it.” Wolf affixed Ella with that unnerving gaze, that sent the butterflies in her stomach aflutter.

  “Oh,” Ella squeaked unintentionally. “Well, the artist is talented,” she attempted to recover.

  Wolf smiled then washed up and took her home. Ella did her best to keep her hands still, as she gripped him, sitting on the back of his growling bike. It was hard to ignore the way his skin heated her hands, or the way his abs rippled beneath her fingertips. She tried to concentrate elsewhere, but his scent worked its way into her psyche as she pressed against his back. If that wasn’t bad enough the rumble of the motorcycle beneath her, sent vibrations to unmentionable places.

  When Wolf pulled up at the apartment Ella hopped off the bike and hurried to her door. She was at the end of her rope. It wasn’t her gift so much, as it was the building desire she felt.

  “Thank you for the ride. I had fun, and have a lot of good ideas,” Ella called over her shoulder, as she made it to her door. “I gotta let Wolf, I mean Wright out. Goodnight.” Ella smiled as she quickly let herself into her apartment.

  “Goodnight, Ella,” Wolf chuckled, as she shut her door.

  Ella leaned against her door and closed her eyes.

  God you’re such a freak, Ella.

  4 Purple Unicorns

  Ella

  Ella leaned into the mirror as she applied her lipstick, then smacked her lips.

  “Not too shabby. What do you think, Wright?”

  Wright yipped hearing his name, while she examined her reflection. Ella felt almost normal the last few days, or whatever normal was for her. Since the party her curse had behaved, even when she thought about Wolf kissing her cheek. It was like she’d burned off all her extraneous energy with her recent outbursts.

  Ella wandered out to the living room humming a tune. She grabbed the binder she’d been working on for the Clubhouse, then grinned as she also put the decoy into her shoulder bag. Not only was she excited, as usual, when she showed off a design to a client, but she was eager to see Wolf. Try as she might to remind herself he was off-limits, she couldn’t seem to get it through her thick skull. So, Ella gave up and just enjoyed the infatuation.

  There was a knock on the door and Ella jumped up.

  “Coming,” she hollered.

  Wright ran toward the door, barking his fool head off. Ella grabbed him before opening it.

  “Oh good, you’ve got Killer safely corralled.” Wolf smiled ch
eekily at the pup.

  “I think you’re safe with those boots on. Besides you’re reformed aren’t you, Wright. No more ankles for you.” Ella bounced her mutt.

  “It’s alright. I brought a peace offering, just in case.” Wolf held a bone out to Wright. “If you want this, you need to share Ella.”

  Ella snorted.

  Wright was salivating as he followed the bone being waved in his face. Ella sat him on the floor and Wolf tossed the treat.

  “Quick, let’s go before he figures out I’ve duped him.” Wolf quickly ushered her out the door. “You look good.” He glanced Ella up and down.

  Ella looked at Wolf and nearly doubled over laughing. He had a breast cancer survivor t-shirt on that read, ‘Yes, they’re fake. My real ones tried to kill me.’

  “Thanks. You look pretty good too,” she choked out.

  Wolf grinned that sexy smile, that always made Ella freeze, like a deer in headlights.

  “Char likes buying me horrible t-shirts. She decided this one served dual purposes, charitable and embarrassing.”

  “Kudos to her for finding it in your size,” Ella giggled as they walked to the parking lot.

  “She was rather proud of herself. It was a toss-up between this shirt, or ‘I’m with stupid,’ with an arrow pointing up.”

  Ella snorted. Wolf obviously had a good sense of humor, if he was rocking the self-deprecating clothing that his sister hoisted on him. It didn’t really matter. Wolf could wear anything and still look mind numbingly hot.

  “No, this was a good choice.”

  Ella patted Wolf’s chest, feeling the rock-hard pecs beneath his shirt. She pulled her hand back when the zing, characteristic of her gift gearing up, surged through her fingers and up her arm. Touching him was a bad idea.

  “You care if we go to the clubhouse and order a pizza?”

  “Sounds good. That’s the best place to look at what I’ve come up with. I have several ideas, since we never got a chance to talk about your budget.”

  “We’re not taking the bike today,” Wolf announced as Ella walked toward his motorcycle.