Two

Blister was having the kind of dream he’d die for to be real. He was fully aware none of it was true, but the thing was he didn’t give a shit. He’d never allow himself to do these things in real life, or even imagine them, so what happened in his sleep was all he’d ever have.

So when he was given a gift like this, he didn’t waste time worrying about whether it was real or not.

Fuck that.

He was making love to an angel. The sweetest blond-haired beauty he’d ever laid eyes on. With the kindest smile and the warmest hands and the sexiest curves in existence. And he wasn’t worried about hurting her or scaring her away. Because he was normal. And not just absent of his horrible scars, but truly normal. He could laugh and smile back at her. He could feel and what he felt was so fucking good.

He rolled onto his back, bringing his angel with him to straddle his waist. Her quiet laugh was sexy as hell and her smile made him hard as steel. She was breathtaking and she was his, and she would be forever.

As long as he never woke up.

Blister let out a groan, straining for control as she rose up to take him inside her wet heat. She shivered as he filled her, closing her eyes in ecstasy. He leaned up to kiss her lips—with lips that weren’t twisted at the corner with scar tissue. She moaned into his normal mouth before pushing him back to the bed.

Fuck, they were in a bed. And it felt normal. It didn’t give him the queasy feeling he expected it to.

The power of a dream.

With her hands planted on his chest, she began moving. Slow and luxurious at first. He reached up to palm one perfect creamy breast, teasing the hardened tip with his thumb. As amazing as her body was, he couldn’t look away from her face. The way her teeth tortured her bottom lip at his touch. The way her lids were at half mast. The way her blond ringlets bounced with her movement.

“Rogan,” she moaned, using his real name. Because in this dream he was normal. He wasn’t burned beyond fixing. And he didn’t mind that the person’s name she called didn’t exist anymore.

He gripped her hips as she rode him faster. She was so beautiful he wanted to cry. To thank the god of creation for forming such a magnificent creature as his angel. And for giving her to him in dreams.

Blister dragged his hand down the center of her chest, over the slight swell of her belly, until he reached the pearl at the top of her mound. With his thumb, he pressed in, relishing her gasp of pleasure and the way her tight sheath clamped around his cock.

He was close to busting, but he wanted her orgasm first. Only then would he lose himself in her.

“Yes, my love,” he whispered. “Let go for me.”

She quickened her pace, her skin slapping against his until he could barely keep control. And then he felt it. The quiver of her release as it held his erection in a vice grip. He followed her over the edge thrusting upward in time to her movements, and letting her wring him for everything he was worth.

His angel was taking him to heaven. He’d kissed the fires of hell long enough.

Blister!

Blister, goddamn it!

No. He wasn’t ready to wake. Whoever was shaking him out of his sweet dream was asking to be murdered.

“Blister, fucking wake up, asshole.”

It was Drake. His alpha. And his niece’s mate. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t give him an ass-chewing for this.

Blister’s eyes came open on a glare. “Get off me, Drake.”

“Hell, you could sleep through a boulder falling on you. Get up. Get your ass to the house.”

Frowning, Blister sat up, unzipping his sleeping bag, and for the first time noticed the rain battering his tent. Shit. He’d slept through the thunder. He was damn lucky he didn’t get struck by lightning, tucked in the middle of all these trees. But that’s how badly he hadn’t wanted the dream to end. In the dream, he could be with the angel. In real life, he couldn’t.

The angel was real. The man in the dream was not.

He scrubbed his hands over his face, trying to come back to reality. He felt his scars. Skin once melted, now webbed to form a mess on his right side. It served to remind him how different he was from the man who loved her so thoroughly when he was asleep.

Reality was this. A storm. One that was likely going to rip his makeshift home to shreds.

There wasn’t time to take his tent down. He’d have to leave it. But that was the great thing about not having many personal belongings. What he did care about, he kept in the big house.

He shrugged on his clothes and boots, and stepped out of the canvas to find Drake hurriedly collecting items and tossing them in the tent.

“Tornado warning,” he shouted. “It’s on the ground about fifteen miles west of us.”

Blister zipped the tent and followed his alpha out of the wooded area of DTD’s property. As he walked he tried not to let his mind go where it wanted to. He’d been fighting instinct for several weeks, but right now it was riding him like a fucking spider monkey. His bastard wolf wouldn’t shut up.

Fifteen miles west. He could track the storm by the direction of the wind, and that meant…

Shit.

“The women okay?” he asked nervously, trying to get information without being direct.

“Punk and Beast moved from the trailer to the house already. I dropped Ella there too, before coming to get you.”

Blister waited but the info he was looking for didn’t come.

He waited until they were in Drake’s truck before he pushed.

“What about the other one?”

His alpha frowned.

Damn it, there was only one other woman that had anything to do with the club. Why did they make him spell it out for them every fucking time?

“Annie?” Drake asked.

His stomach tensed at the sound of her name. Annie.

Blister nodded and stared out the window at the storm.

“She has a name, you know. You could stop calling her ‘the other one.’”

He’d call her whatever he needed to, to get by. Saying her name felt too personal. He couldn’t afford to be personal. Not with her.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Drake muttered. “Ella said she has a shelter.”

He pulled the truck right up to the porch of the big house, turned the ignition off, and got out.

Blister chewed his thumb nail, debating how to take that news. I’m sure she’s fine. It wasn’t good enough. His wolf paced inside, unsatisfied. Worried.

Opening the door, he stepped into the rain to follow Drake inside. But the thought of his angel alone underground, in a cold cellar, riding out this bitch of a storm, had him hesitating on the first step of the porch.

He’d tried not to learn about her, but he ended up knowing a few things. Like that she was a loner. She didn’t have any family around, and even though she ran the busiest watering hole in town, she only had Ella and Punk as friends.

But… what if she didn’t make it to the shelter? What if she slept as hard as he did and missed the warning? Had the town sirens even gone off?

He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her because nobody bothered to check on her.

Shit. Goddamn it.

Why hadn’t someone called her? They were her friends. Isn’t that what friends do?

Drake held the door open. “You coming?”

Blister started toward him. Stopped. Started again.

Damn it, he couldn’t leave her alone.

“Give me your keys,” he demanded.

Drake frowned. “Why?”

“Give me your fucking keys.” Blister held out his hand, not giving one damn about his alpha’s scowl.

Drake dropped them into his open palm and Blister darted through the downpour back to the truck.

“Where are you going?”

He didn’t answer. He just started the engine and backed out of the yard, spinning tires in the mud that had already accumulated.

It was a short drive to her house but it wasn’t quick by any means. Not with the wind howling and causing him to swerve through puddles. And the rain was so heavy Drake’s wipers hardly made a difference at all. Leaves and twigs littered the road and slapped the windows of the cab, but finally he made it to Annie’s house.

He’d been there once before. She didn’t know it. Neither did anyone else. It was his little secret. His wolf had wanted to see where the angel lived and wouldn’t let him settle until he complied. When he was satisfied that she lived in a well constructed home in a decent area of town, Blister was able to relax.

Rain fell in sheets as he stared at the house. There were no lights, but it could be that the electricity was out. A quick glance at the other houses in the area confirmed his suspicion.

Now that he was here, he wasn’t sure about the best way to approach her. Knocking on her door at eleven o’clock at night probably wasn’t the best idea, but staying in the truck wasn’t either. The wind rocked it precariously.

Fuck. His animal could sense the danger in the air. The air swirled with tension. It was time to take cover.

Hopefully Annie had gone to the shelter.

Blister got out of the truck, letting the rain pelt him as he ran around to the back of her lot. A branch smacked him in the head but he ignored it to peer through the darkness. He spotted the storm shelter several yards away, but as he started toward it, a small figure darted from the house, slipping and stumbling all the way to the cellar.

He called for her, but his voice was lost with the wind howling.

Blister was only halfway across the yard when she managed to get inside and shut the door.

He stopped, clenching his fists to dispel the adrenaline.

Well, okay. She was safe. He saw it with his own eyes. He should leave now.

But one look at the sky told him that wasn’t happening. It was ominous. A swirling mass that was only visible by the shot of electricity that lit everything, confusing night with day for a solitary second before turning it all black again.

Even if he made it back to the truck, he wouldn’t make it to the big house before this motherfucker hit.

He looked at Annie’s shelter. Damn it. It was a horrible option, but he had no other choice.

Blister ran, dodging fallen branches, until he reached the door of the shelter. She wouldn’t hear if he knocked, so he just yanked the thing open, hoping like hell he wouldn’t scare her too badly.

He hurried down the steps, securing the door as he went. Slowly, he turned around.

His angel sat huddled on a small bench, blanket wrapped tightly around her. Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t look scared. Just surprised.

“Hi,” he said, glancing away. She was like the sun. You couldn’t look for too long.

“Hi.”

Silence stretched between them, with only the wind whistling and the rain pattering on the vent.

“You’re one of the dogs right? Blister?”

His chest tightened when she spoke his name. She knew who he was.

But of course she did. She was friends with Ella and Punk. She knew who all the dogs were.

“Yeah,” he grumbled, keeping his right side turned away. “Came to check on you, but the storm is too bad for me to get back to the club.”

“I don’t think we’ve officially met.” She smiled with her hand outstretched. “I’m Annie.”

What was she doing?

She looked pointedly at her own hand which hung between them like an offering waiting to be accepted.

Wait… she wanted him to shake it? She wanted to touch him?

He couldn’t. No, she was too good and he couldn’t chance ruining her with even a small cordial touch. And his wolf wanted so much more than that.

Don’t touch her, do not touch her. He warned his animal, but the bastard wasn’t listening. The mere idea of learning what her skin felt like outside of the dream had him inching forward.

Blister turned toward the door, seriously considering chancing the drive back through town. “Storm should pass quickly. As soon as it’s clear, I’ll be on my way.”

Her small sigh echoed along the cement walls. It wasn’t a happy sound.

“Sorry about barging in like this,” he apologized. “I wasn’t planning on getting cornered here.”

“Did Ella send you? I tried to call her but couldn’t get through.” Her voice was deflated. Not how it was when he’d first arrived. “There’s no need for anyone to check up on me. I’m a big girl.”

He peeked over his shoulder. Big girl? She’d barely reach the middle of his chest if she was standing tall. She was tiny. Though deliciously curvy.

Blister squeezed his eyes to shut off the thought.

“Something like that,” he said under his breath.

Even underground, the roar of the storm was deafening and growing louder. Debris banged against the door, causing Blister to jump backward.

“Shit.”

He turned to look at Annie. Her brow was furrowed and she shivered in her blanket.

“It’s bad, isn’t it? I’ve never heard a storm that loud before.”

“It’s a tornado.”

She looked queasy before her eyes fell closed and she lowered her head to rest on her knees. But she only stayed like that for a moment. Lifting her head, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She nodded, her brow going up as she attempted a cheerful grin.

“Well, okay then. A tornado. It’s not that bad. That house was built to be sturdy. It’ll be fine.”

Blister stared at her. He wasn’t going to be the one to tell her otherwise.

“You might as well sit. Looks like we’ll be here for a while.”

He looked around. It was cramped quarters. The only place to sit was the bench along one wall. Where she was. They’d be too close. Her scent was already all he could smell in the small space. Being right next to her would be torture.

Breathing deep, he let it soak in. It was like nothing he’d ever smelled before. Apples and lavender and something that didn’t have a name. Or couldn’t be named because it was just her. It was both unbearable and irresistible.

Blister sank to a seat on the floor, pulling his knees up and resting his arms there. He made sure to angle the damaged side of his face toward the wall. She’d already seen it, but the less she was reminded of it the better.

“Let’s see… are you hungry? Thirsty?  I’ve packed this place with granola bars and water. Pretty sure there’s a bag of Doritos somewhere too. I’d much rather give my guests a home cooked meal but this is the best I can do without electricity.”

He lifted his gaze to catch her staring at him expectantly. Well, shit. He didn’t want anything from her, but he was hungry. When was the last time he’d eaten? And it was kind of her to offer when he’d just barged in here.

“Sure,” he answered.

Her face widened in a grin and she threw off her blanket, standing to rummage through a shelf.

Blister’s mouth went utterly fucking dry and his cock swelled to the point his pants were tight.

She… his angel had no pants on. Zero fucking pants. Her generous ass was barely covered in a pair of pale pink boy shorts. Her short, curvy legs were bare and smooth, and all he could do was envision those thick thighs wrapped around his head.

No.

He forced his gaze upward, but that sight wasn’t much better. Her threadbare t-shirt gave him too clear an idea of what her breasts looked like. And they were perfect.

“Where the hell are your pants?” Shock and frustration made is voice harsh.

Annie jumped, dropping the bag of chips on the floor. Her face went twelve shades of scarlet and her sweet little mouth opened in surprise. “I… I…” Her panicked gaze traveled the room, never finding what they were looking for.

“The blanket,” he barked. “Cover yourself.”

She glanced down at herself, biting her lip. Sighing, she calmly bent down to pick up the chips, grabbed a bottled water from the shelf and handed them to Blister. Then she picked up the throw and wrapped it around her body, securing it like a towel.

“I forgot,” she said quietly. “I forgot I didn’t have pants on. I ran out of the house in a hurry and…” A shrug finished off her explanation.

Blister uncapped the water and chugged the entire bottle down.

“Sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” she muttered. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

He couldn’t answer her. Not without sounding harsh, and he didn’t want to scare her anymore. The way her scent had changed left him feeling bereft. Her essence had twisted into something foreign, something acrid. Something he’d caused.

“But since you’re here,” she said, her voice forcibly brighter. “Maybe we should get to know each other. I’ll go first. I’m Annie Redmond—but you already know that. I live in that big ‘ol house by myself because my parents are gone and my twin brother is… off in Texas finding himself. Red Cap is the family business, so I have to run it. But I kind of love doing it, because I get to cook. What else, what else… I grew up at the speedway. We were a racing family so you and I have that in common.”

Damn it, he didn’t want to know anything. He knew too much already. And he definitely didn’t want to tell her anything about himself, but if he didn’t, he had the feeling she’d keep talking.

“I’m Blister—but you already know that. I live in a tent in the woods on the back of the club’s property. All of my family is dead.” Damn it, not all of them. He had to quit thinking like that. “Except for Ella. I work in DTD’s shop. I like working on cars okay, but racing is better.” Racing gave him a thrill like nothing else. Reminded him he was alive. That the fire might’ve burnt him but it hadn’t killed him. And the oval was never scared of him no matter how much he ripped into it. No matter if he looked like a monster.

Monsters were welcome at the speedway. The track didn’t care what your face looked like or if you turned into a wolf to forget about your troubles. All that mattered was how you mastered your run, how you worked the crowd into a frenzy, and what place you finished. Get those three things right and they could overlook your scars. Even if they looked as grotesque as his did.

“Why do you live in a tent?” Her tone was genuinely curious. There was no ridicule in her question.

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I like being alone.”

Her features scrunched into a frown. “You do?”

Blister nodded.

She looked away, rubbing her arms as if she had a chill. When her gaze returned to him, it was with a small uneasy smile. “I sure don’t. I’ve never known anyone who liked to be alone.”

“Well now you do.”

Her smile faded. Shit, what did he say? He was trying to speak normally. This was exactly why he didn’t like making conversation.

Brow furrowed, he opened the bag of Doritos and shoved a few into his mouth. If it was full, he wouldn’t be expected to talk.

Thunder boomed and Annie let out a small yelp. His gaze jerked to her.

She stared with wide eyes the color of the sea. Damn it, would he ever get used to how breathtaking she was? Part of him wanted to take those heart shaped lips and press his against them. Tenderly, so he could feel how they contrasted, her softness with his blemish. He’d kiss her so carefully she wouldn’t notice his deformed mouth. Or if she did, she wouldn’t mind it. Maybe he could make her forget about it altogether.

But that was the part of himself he fought. And would keep fighting.

Unexpectedly, she started giggling. Almost as if she knew what he was contemplating, but she couldn’t hear his thoughts.

“I’m not usually so jumpy, I promise,” she said, between rounds of the most beautiful sound he’d ever heard. God, her laugh. It was like the sun coming out after an everlasting night.

She took a deep breath and let it out slow. Leveling her gaze on him, she said, “This isn’t how I expected our first meeting to go.” She laughed again. “Sometimes you just have to find the humor in things, ya know?”

He didn’t know, but if she wanted to keep up with the giggling, he wasn’t going to complain.

She sighed and the sound was half sad, half hopeful. Rising from the bench, she came to sit next to him on the floor.

Blister stiffened. Too close, too close. He was fucking dying to touch her. Just one tiny brush of his finger against her skin. It would be enough to hold him over until…

Until what? Shit, this was going to be a problem forever. Until one of them moved away or… died. Things looked more hopeless than they had in a long, long time.

“Don’t worry,” she murmured, gesturing to the chip bag. “I’m just hungry. I thought we could share.”

Blister forced his brow to unfurl and pushed the bag toward her. He could do this. He could make it until the storm was over and then he’d go back to his place in the woods where he belonged.