Her scent drifts to me on the hot Arizona breeze. She smells of warm caramel and sunshine.
An apron cinches her narrow waist, and the flare of her hips draws my attention, but she works quickly and efficiently, not allowing me time to admire her curves.
She scoops up dishes from the café table while speaking to the couple dining in the outdoor seating area. They both beam at her, their napkins tossed to the side as potted plants of rosemary and thyme jut up around them partially obstructing my view.
“I’ll be right back with your bill,” she says.
Even though she’s forty feet away, I easily hear her. I watch avidly as she glides to the cash register, drops the dishes in a tub, and then grabs the diners’ receipt. She tilts her head, giving me a clear view of her long arching neck and defined jaw bone.
The beast stirs inside me.
Images of a huge tawny wolf crunching that jaw bone between his teeth fill my mind. My mouth salivates. No, not my mouth. The beast’s mouth. He wants her.
Now.
I scoff. Hell, he’ll take any human since it’s been ten days since his last meal.
“Quit filling my head with images you sick fucker,” I mutter to him.
Even though he can’t speak, I talk to him often, considering he’s a part of me. His emotions and impulses constantly invade my mind. Images of what he wants then follow. Those images convey his desires better than any words could.
I hunker down lower in the alleyway. A dumpster hides me from view so if a human peers in here they won’t see the ragged man with glowing eyes watching the young waitress working in the café across the road.
The sun’s bright light filters onto the city street, and the fact that I’m out during the day says everything.
Since when do wolves stalk during the day?
Desperate motherfuckers that’s who.
Even though I stand six-three, and my shoulders are as broad as the dumpster, nobody detects me. Couples and groups of people have passed by and not even sensed me.
My large form is still—deathly still. If there’s one thing I’ve become very good at in the past eighteen months it’s stalking.
So the humans remain oblivious to the hunter hiding in the shadows while the tall, fit-looking waitress across the street glides around the café.
My interest in her is growing, and I’m aware that it’s … unnatural. As for why I have this interest—I don’t know.
I’ve never felt this intense need to watch a woman before. Of course, approaching her in my current state isn’t an option, so I’ve been stalking her every day for the past week, sometimes for multiple times per day, hoping that will satiate my interest in her.
But it hasn’t.
My fascination with her has only increased.
I can’t even blame the beast for this obsession. Because even though a pile of murder victims lie in my wake, none of those kills were due to my interest. Those deaths were a result of the beast’s appetite.
But with the waitress…
I want her.
And that makes me realize that my human mind may finally be giving into the darkness, but the crazy thing is that I don’t want to hurt her.
I just want her.
It’s fucked up and I know it, but I can’t help myself.
I shift slightly in my crouched position. The waitress has moved back to the table and is speaking to the diners again. My gaze trails up and down her frame as she finishes with the couple.
Firm, round breasts strain against her shirt. If I cupped one of those globes in the palm of my hand, her tit would fill it.
The waitress whisks the diners’ drinks from the table as they get ready to leave. Her long dark hair drapes down her back, highlighting her strong shoulders. She can probably bench press more than most men.
A flutter of admiration runs through me, but the beast has a different reaction. His mouth waters, which makes my mouth moist, since the beast is fantasizing again.
Sick bastard.
I try to shake his interest off, but it’s no use.
As I watch her retreat inside the café, I wonder if it’s her banging body that’s captured my interest. Her butt looks round and toned. She works out and plays sports regularly. Strong thighs, toned calves, and slim ankles form her lower half.
My cock hardens at the thought of taking her. It’s been so long since I’ve been with a woman. It’s amazing that my nuts haven’t turned into shriveled-up raisins.