Chapter 25
The next morning, Tom woke up to the ear-shattering sound of a very familiar bass line and guitar riff. He groaned and rolled over onto his side, cupping the pillow around his sensitive ears. Sadly, the cotton didn't do much to muffle the sounds of the Scorpions single.
It's early morning
The sun comes out
Last night was shaking
And pretty loud
My cat is purring
It scratches my skin
So what is wrong
With another sin . . .
Tom growled and, throwing the pillow to the side, sat upright, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He was wearing only his dog tags and boxers, and despite the fact it was October, he was quite warm. Even so, he pulled on an old T-shirt and jeans before stalking out into the living room. He snarled, "Judy . . ." and stopped dead when he saw that she was . . . in the kitchen, cooking? Since when did Judy know how to cook? Well, the omlette she'd made yesterday was pretty good . . . Oh, snap out of it!
Upon closer inspection, he saw she was actually moving to the beat of the song. Judy was so lost in the music that she didn't hear the soft tread of footsteps as Tom came up behind her. With a smirk, he said, "Really, Jude? 'Rock You Like a Hurricane'?"
Startled, she jumped and turned around, revealing nothing in her hands. "Hanson! Geez, don't do that!"
"I take it you slept well then."
A mischievous look crossed her face. "Of course I did. Why, didn't you?"
Snatches of skin-on-skin contact and passionate moans briefly filled his mind before he pushed them away.
. . . More days to come
New places to go
I've got to leave
It's time for a show
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane . . .
Instead of answering, he winced. "Can you change the station, please?"
"Sure." Hoffs shot the 'wolf a smile as she walked over to the sound system and switched to another rock station. Hanson let out a groan as he caught some of the lyrics:
Pour some sugar on me, ooo, in the name of love
Pour some sugar on me, c'mon fire me up
Pour your sugar on me, ooo, I can't get enough
I'm hot, sticky sweet, from my head to my feet, yeah
"Uh, let's try a different station," Tom suggested.
"What, you don't like Def Leppard?" Judy teased.
"Kinda. Just not this song."
"All right." She turned the dial once more, and this time Hanson actually growled at the stereo. "You gotta be kidding me."
Judy ignored him and began dancing and singing along.
"'Cause baby we'll be
At the drive-in
In the old man's Ford
Behind the bushes
Until I'm screaming for more
Down the basement
Lock the cellar door
And baby
Talk dirty to me"
Hanson's growling continued as he stalked over to the radio, ready to turn the darn thing off, when a thought hit him: Hang on. Poison? Officer Judy Hoffs listens to POISON?! He smiled slowly. Oh, wait till Doug and Harry find out. If he could have, he would be wringing his hands and throwing his head back to cackle evilly. As it was, his smile widened, with his fangs clearly visible.
Judy turned, saw the toothy grin, and froze in place. She swallowed hard, and he could hear her heart begin to beat faster. He could also smell the subtle fear-scent coming off her. "What?" she asked, voice wavering.
Tom leaned against the wall, legs crossed in front of him. He didn't take his eyes off her. "How does this song start? Oh, yeah, I remember. 'You know I never, I never seen you look so good. You never act the way you should—'"
He was cut off as Judy covered his mouth with her hand. Unable to resist, he stuck out his tongue and licked the palm of her hand. Instantly she pulled her hand away, but not before Hanson caught the flash of heat surging through her.
Judy glared. "What was that for?"
The grin he gave her rivaled that of the Cheshire cat. "I couldn't resist. Now, where was I?"
. . . So I can hear you
When you say those words to me
And whisper so softly
I gotta hear you
'Cause baby we'll be
At the drive-in
In the old man's Ford
Behind the bushes
Until I'm screaming for more
Down the basement
Lock the cellar door
And baby
Talk dirty to me
C.C. pick up that guitar and talk to me . . .
"One word out of you, Hanson," Judy warned, "and you're a dead man."
His grin, if possible, widened even more, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
"It's not funny!" Judy snapped.
"Yes, it is. Wait 'til Doug and Harry hear about this."
She paled. "You wouldn't."
He bared fangs playfully at her, eyes slowly turning yellow, and she sighed. Tom said, "Try me."
Judy would have replied, but the phone rang, interrupting their banter. Hanson crossed over to the phone and picked up the receiver. He answered, "Yeah?"
"Hey, Tom. It's Jenko," his captain said. Tom motioned quickly for Judy to turn the stereo down so he could hear Jenko better. She did, and Jenko was able to continue. "Is Judy there?"
"Yep," Tom replied.
"Was that 'Talk Dirty to Me' I heard playing in the background?"
"You know that song?"
"Contrary to popular belief, I don't listen to The Monkees, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, and the Beatles all the time, Hanson. Now, as to why I'm calling: I was able to secure an arrest warrant for Folan, but we still need a confession. Get in close with him, but please, don't do anything stupid."
"Relax, Coach. I'm in his pack, and the alpha and John promised not to blow my cover."
"Do you trust them?"
"I hate to admit it, but yeah. Where are you?"
"The Chapel."
"Are Doug and Harry there?"
"No. You should probably go talk to them, Hanson."
"I will. Thanks, Jenk. You're the best."
"I get that a lot. Later." He disconnected.
Tom hung up too and turned to Judy. "That was Jenko. He got us an arrest warrant on Folan."
"That's great!"
Hanson yawned and massaged his temples. "What time is it?"
Judy glanced at her watch. "Nine-ten."
"Well, Doug and Harry are probably at church by now. It's Sunday, remember?"
"Is it really?" Hoffs blinked. "Wow, this week has gone by fast."
"No kidding." For Tom, the days had blurred together. It felt like a month had passed rather than a few days. Everything had been going fine until his life was turned upside down and he found it had gone to the dogs, had been screwed straight to hell.
Found himself a werewolf.
Okay, so he was beginning to control his new side and he liked the power his 'wolf gave him, but he was still worried that he would just let the 'wolf go and injure or turn one of his friends. Lost in thought, he chuckled darkly. Welcome to my nightmare.
"Tom?" Judy's voice broke through the murky haze over his thoughts. "Are you okay?"
"No," he said slowly. "I'm not. How can I be? I'm a freaking werewolf, Judy!" His voice had risen with each word, and now he was shouting. "I'm scared that I'll lose control and attack one of you. My 'wolf . . . it's so hard, trying to resist. The bloodlust, the cravings . . . Do you have any idea what that's like?"
"I don't, but I have a pretty good idea from watching you." Judy moved closer to him, and he backed up until his entire body was pressed against the wall. He started to ask what she was doing, but speech failed him as she gave him a quick kiss. Then she was gone.
Hanson took a couple deep breaths, trying to slow his racing heartbeat, and didn't bother taking his eyes off her. "What was that?"
Hoffs just smirked and hooked a finger at him. "Come on, Hanson." She was already walking toward his front door.
He followed her. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
Well, lately I've been playing the three songs used in this chapter nonstop. Clearly, they are the Scorpions' "Rock You LIke a Hurricane," Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me." I guess I was just in a real fluffy mood for some reason. Okay, either that or the plot bunnies struck again. This story seems to have a life of its own. I was hoping to have it finished 5 chapters ago! Seriously, it's not quite going the way I had it vaguely planned out in my head. Anyway, Chapter 26 will hopefully be up soon. Oh, before I forget, anyone catch the Alice Cooper reference? :)