Shepherd’s Watch: Controlled
Harm Germaine is an alpha in training who embraces his ability
to be man or dog. Meeting his mate, who happens to be human, gives him second
thoughts about what he is and finding a way to tell her causes the
always-in-control alpha to lose control.
Elle Naylor’s caught his scent and can’t get it or Harm out of
her mind. Strong and stubborn, Elle knows she’s found the one man who can make
her life complete.
A stray shepherd, a series of accidental mishaps, and Harm
becomes sure of one thing: Elle loves dogs! But will she love him when she
finds out that’s exactly what he is?
Excerpt:
Hell
wouldn’t have seemed like a bad proposition to the asshole lying in the
stagnant, garbage-strewn water had he known he was dealing with monsters.
“Oh, God,
please!” Boots scraped asphalt in the alley as the jerk tried to scoot away.
“Aww, hell
no.” Looming over six feet tall, Court grabbed the miscreant’s shirt collar and
shoved his face into the slimy puddle beside the dumpster. Straddling the
bloodied man, he asked, “You did not just take the Lord’s name in vain?”
“Let him go,
man.” Not only was Harm late checking in with a very important client, he was
tired, hungry and cold. Changing, covering his body in fur, would solve the
latter, but it was too late. Why did they have to run into this son-of-a-bitch
manhandling his girlfriend? The woman silently huddled in the dimly lit corner
of their apartment building. A few minutes earlier, a few later, this sordid
situation would have gone unnoticed. “He’s a coward. I don’t think he’ll come
back around here.” Harm strode over, took hold of the man and snatched him to
his feet. “Am I right?”
“You can
have the bitch, please, just let me go.”
“Jackass,
you said one word too many.” Harm drew back and cold-cocked the bastard.
Lifting him high, he told Court, “Open the dumpster. He can go out with
tomorrow’s trash.” The unconscious body bumped loudly on the bottom where he’d
be found in the morning by sanitation workers.
“Hey, stop,
don’t put him in there!”
Turning in
unison, the brothers gaped. Court spoke up. “Lady, your boyfriend was getting
ready to seriously kick your ass.”
Belongings
from her purse lay scattered on the pavement. Watching her stoop down to
collect them, Harm’s head tilted quizzically. “Are you kidding?” She couldn’t
possibly be upset at how they handled the creep.
“First off,
he’s not my boyfriend. The dirty rotten sucker stole my wallet with my credit
cards and money. It’s in his back pocket.” Straightening, she glared angrily in
the direction of the trash container. “You arrived in time to prevent anything
else.”
“Glad we
could help.” Harm twisted toward Court. “Get the wallet.”
“You think
I’m climbing into that stink hole?” Court’s hands dusted his still immaculate
jacket, brushed at his pants and pinched the razor-sharp crease. “Brother,
you’ve lost your goddamn mind.”
“Jesus
Christ, get the wallet.”
“I’m not
getting in there, Harm. No way.”
“Oh hell,
both of you shut the fuck up.” Short legs ate up the distance from the wall to
the dumpster. “And you’re both blasphemous idiots. Talk about taking the Lord’s
name in vain. I’ll get it myself.”
Before Harm
could move, she’d grabbed the container’s lip and hiked a luscious, petite body
over the edge. His jaw dropped and he glared at Court. “She just jumped in the
trash.”
“Good,
because I wasn’t going in there.”
They spun
toward the dumpster when they heard a loud smack. “Take my fucking wallet.”
Another crack. “Teach your sorry ass some manners.”
Court
chuckled. “Damn, she’s vicious. He’s lucky we came along.”
Harm stood
rooted to the spot in disbelief. He liked this spitfire. His shepherd was on
the prowl, pawing and panting. He liked her too! Sniffing loudly, he picked her
scent from the stench wafting through the air. Sweet.
Thinking
about getting to know her better caused his cock to swell and jerk in his
pants. Slender fingers appeared on the edge and Harm took hold to help hoist
the woman over the side. Feet had barely touched the ground before she pulled
one hand free and pushed a wave of dark hair back. Lifting Harm’s other hand to
her nose, she sniffed loudly. Fuck. Something a dog would do and the
action yanked his cock to attention.
“His balls
will hurt for a week.” Hearty male laughter bounced from the walls of the
alley, putting a smug smile on her pretty face. “I was ready to kick his nuts
to hell and back when you turned the corner.” Purse in hand, she walked away
and glanced over her shoulder. It was as if Court didn’t exist when her eyes
nailed Harm to the spot he stood in. “It’s good to know chivalry’s not dead.”
She disappeared around the corner.
“What the
fuck was that?” Court continued to laugh. “I believe she would have taken him
out.”
Harm wanted
to chase after her but his feet wouldn’t move. Watching her plump little ass
twitch away stirred something raw and natural in his gut, causing his shepherd
to react by immobilizing Harm in his path.
“Well I’ll
be a son-of-a-bitch.” Court’s head fell back and he roared, laughing until he
choked. “Your dog got you by the balls.”
