Chapter 8

As they pulled up to the hotel, Alex walked up to the limo. “Hey guys bout time you all made it back from the desert. I been waiting here for you for an hour or two.”

David and Tico slid from the car followed by Richie. Alex took two fast steps back as Jon exited the car followed by what looked to be a rather large dog. “Where the heck did you get that? Hell nix that WHAT is it?”

Richie gave Alex a goofy grin then thumped him on the shoulder. “That is Jon’s newest lady, she’s a real animal I hear.”

Alex shook his head and started to laugh. “Only in this band can you come back from the desert with something like that.” He knelt down and reached over to the wolf to scratch her ears only to have the animal plaster herself to Jon’s legs, her lips curling backwards. Standing quickly he gave Jon a strange look. “Don’t think she likes me.”

Teek grinned. “Knew that wolf had taste.”

David piped in, “Yeah she’s a real brainy wolf, she can tell who the classy ones are here.”

Alex frowned at their humor for a moment before shrugging, “or she don’t like the smell of what I’ve been drinking.”

Jon shook his head then began to walk to his room. “Give us twenty minutes Alex, we’ll be ready to go eat by then.” Opening the door he gave a quick whistle and Wolf quickly loped into his room and pounced upon his bed. “You did always like that bed huh girl?”

As he shut the door he heard his band mates laughing and joking about the wolf not liking Alex. Walking over to the bed he sat on the edge and sighed. Alex was becoming a problem of late, drinking too much and refusing to show up for video shoots. Absent mindedly he reached out and ruffled the wolf’s fur. “What am I going to do with him Wolfie?? Do you know something I don’t? IS that why your hackles got raised?”

He stood and shrugged off his jacket and began to walk to the bathroom. “Well can’t keep the guys waiting.” Within moments he was humming softly in the shower, a golden eyed wolf keeping a relaxed guard upon the bed. Less than fifteen minutes later he strolled from the bathroom a towel haphazardly surrounding his waist and began to dry his hair. With his hair styled to his usual messy perfection, he donned a pair of faded skin tight jeans and a grey print button up shirt. Stuffing his room key into his pocket he walked to the door. “Well wolfie? You coming? You have to eat too ya know.”

The wolf huffed softly in what Jon could only see as agreement, then jumped from the bed to join him at the door. Grinning softly he walked out of the room and found his band members walking towards his door. Richie glanced down at the wolf then up at Jon. “You taking her into the restaurant too bro?”

Jon laughed. “You wanna tell her to stay Rich?”

Rich shivered dramatically, “Hell no, I wanna keep my fingers, they sort of needed for the work I do ya know?” The wolf reached over and licked Richie’s fingers and huffed softly. “You wouldn’t eat old Richie’s fingers now would you girl,” he grinned as he scratched her head, “Of course you wouldn’t, but you can always chew on Alex, he might be a bit stringy though.” The wolf coughed softly and shook her head in the no direction. “Damn I told you she had smarts.” Richie smirked as the rest of the guys started laughing.

The guys laughed and joked as they walked down the street towards the diner. They could have found a classier restaurant, but too a man they had all somehow agreed on greasy cheeseburgers and fries this night. As they drew close to the diner a photographer strolled up, his eyes going to the wolf nervously. “Um, would you guys mind giving me a photo?” He stayed well back however, he wasn’t too sure if the “dog” was friendly or guard dog. “Fancy bit of guard dog you have there too.”

Jon smiled, “well she’s a wolf, not a dog and yeah I think she’s going to be a great addition to my security staff, and as you asked nicely you can have your photo.”

The photographer took a couple of shots and thanked the band profusely then left. He wasn’t of the paparazzi type and appreciated their need to have off time. With a backward wave he sauntered off into the night mumbling to himself about rock stars and their odd sense of humor. They boys turned and walked off in the opposite direction than the photog grinning. They did love getting a reaction, and that was one of the better ones to date. As they got to the diner and began to walk in Jon whispered a soft be right back to the wolf then entered the diner’s door.

~~~

He had followed them from the motel, a grin on his face. Tonight was the night, he would have her in hand and be able to return her to the community. He watched with amusement as the guy took their pictures and shook his head at how she seemed to even pose for the photo. As he walked towards the wolf he slowly pulled a leash from his hand and made a loop of the end. He was amazed at how easily he was getting closed to her, obviously her infatuation with that Skin was making her an easy target. Before she knew it he had lunged forward and wrapped the noose around her neck and began dragging her from the diner door. “if you make a sound I’ll go after your Skin little girl.”

Within minutes he had her at the motel and in his room, talking the entire time. “you know I have been chasing your ass for four years? The community wants you home.” He began throwing clothes into a tattered ruck sack in preparations of getting the hell out of Dodge before the Skin figured out she was missing. “If you play it nice little girl your little lover Skin won’t even get hurt. He’ll forget you in time too, so it won’t even be a hardship to him.” As he turned his back her fur rose and she began to snarl as she lept toward him jaws snapping. “you little Bitch” he yelled as he reached up to catch her, his body falling back onto the floor hard.

Throwing her off him he swiftly stood bracing himself for the next attack. As she raced toward him he kicked out and landed a hard kick to her underbelly. “You couldn’t just play this nice and easy huh? Had to be a fighter.” He dropped to the floor, his body shimmering as he swiftly changed from his human appearance to his true form. The fight was on, both not holding back. HE fought for his honor, his anger, his need. She fought for her freedom and her deep abiding belief that she was where she belonged.

With a growl he lunged, his teeth aiming for purchase on her neck as she whirled and snapped at his front leg. She was no match for him in size or strength, but she made up for it in speed. As his teeth finally found a hold along side her neck she whipped backwards, his teeth tearing a 5 inch gaze along her shoulder. With a sharp whine she dropped and bit down on his left front leg, snapping bone as she snapped her jaws. With a angry howl he rammed into her, his might jaws tearing a ragged chunk from her side. Blood was pouring from her wounds as she shook her head trying to clear the pain. If she fell it was over, and somewhere deep inside she realized she only had one last shot. With a loud huff she lunged for his right front leg and snapped hard, hearing the satisfying sound of bone crunching.

As he fell she backed off, her body quivering with exhaustion and pain. She had to get out of this room, but that was impossible in this form. With a whispered whine she slowly shifted to human form, her body covered in the damage of battle. Limping to the rucksack she pulled a tee from its depths and slowly slid it over her head wincing at the pain the simple cotton caused to her ravaged flesh. With a groan she walked past the hobbled male wolf and kicked out hard. “I won’t go back Max, I don’t belong there. Just go back and tell them that I have found my place.” She stumbled to the door and opened it nearly falling outside.

As she reached the sidewalk she pushed herself to put one foot in front of the other, each step sending a dancing jolt of pain through her very being. The further she walked, the less white the tee became and the redder it looked. She knew she was hurt badly, but she had to put distance between her and Max. She had to be safe. She had no idea where she was walking, just that she was getting away from the one trying to take her. As she reached the doorway that led to Jon’s room she slumped against the wall, her heart thundering in her chest. She couldn’t abandon him again, she just couldn’t. Closing her eyes she gathered together all strength she had within her and begin the transformation, refusing to obey the pain, needing him to only find the wolf. As the move from girl to wolf completed she fell into the darkness, her wolven form crumpled before Jon’s door.

Chapter 7

Max couldn’t believe he was back in this tiny God forsaken Arizona town again. He had chased the rogue for close to four years, always just missing her, never actually seeing her. He didn’t want to return to the community in failure so he kept looking and hoping that one day he would find the one that had thumbed her nose at all they believed in and struck out on her own. She wasn’t fully rogue, she’d never hurt anyone innocent, for that he was thankful, but she had run away.

He thought he had her four years before. She had taken up residence in this town and even spent time in her human form. He had caught up to her at the beginning of August and started watching her, planning on how to get close enough to her without her knowing. It took patience, and that was something he rarely had in abundance. After weeks of watching where she worked, or where she went to enjoy herself he had finally gotten her schedule down. He went into the desert that night to capture her and return her to the community when he came upon her saving some stranded biker, and that had scattered his plans to the winds.

He watched for days as the wolf and biker were always together, watched with concern as the wolf vanished each night only to be replaced by the girl. She had never revealed herself to a Skin before and the fact she had revealed herself to this one man concerned him. She was of the mate to choose her life’s mate and he worried she had chosen this mop topped biker as he had always fancied that one day, once she was back inside the community that she would choose him.

Somewhere deep inside a small flicker of anger began to burn as his eyes took in her willingness to slip into the bikers bed each night, imagining them doing all the things he wanted to do with her. Each night the anger grew until his mission of returning the rogue back into the community’s folds began to shift and become something darker and more sinister; so he watched and he waited and he allowed the flickering spark to grow, the flame fanned by jealousy and need.

He had gotten too close that fateful final night and he knew it by the look in her face. HE had to see what they were doing so he risked getting closer, his eyes narrowing as the biker took her in his arms and kissed her. He almost growled as the rogue seemed to melt into that Skin’s arms as if she belonged there. It was then her head lifted and she pulled from the man and shortly after altered forms and ran off into the desert. He raced after her trying to catch her but she evaded him, a fact that angered him further. After hours of trying to track her scent he gave up and returned to the place that housed the Skin. If she did anything the way he thought she would return to there and he would finally have his bounty. He waited for days, not daring to move to eat or hunt, only to be disappointed as each day ended without her return. There came the day when the Skin finally left and Max knew that the rogue wouldn’t return then, there was no reason for her to.

That had been four years ago, and after all this time he had finally made the circuit once again to this dry barren town in hopes that she would with luck return to the town in search of her memory or the Skin she had grown so closed too. He shook his head as he wandered down the main street, his hazel eyes scanning for anyone or anything that might carry her scent. As he walked to his motel room he noticed a rather large limo pull out of the motel parking lot on its way out of town. Wrinkling his nose he caught the faintest scent that nagged at his memories. It wasn’t her scent, but it was one he knew. He thought a moment about chasing the car but decided against it. Whatever left the motel would probably return too it eventually.

After showering off the dust from the days searching he walked back out of his motel room and down the street to the one diner in town. He hated Skin food, but in these days and times a Shifter of the community had to be careful. One wrong move, one wrong witness and a life could be cut short. He ordered the rarest steak he could get and settled in to enjoy the meal, his little flame of anger flaring momentarily that he had to eat this way instead of hunt.

As he finished his meal he pulled some cash from his pocket and tossed it upon the table before standing and leaving. It was time to sleep and prepare for the next day’s search. Walking back down the street to the diner he noticed the limo returning. Stepping back into the shadows he watched as four men exited the car followed by one very furry companion. His eyes widened as a grin begin to slide over his face. Tilting his head heavenward he inhaled deeply and was rewarded with the scent he had been on the trail of for four years.

His eyes turned towards the Skin she was sticking close too and finally recognized the scent that had nagged at his memory earlier. It was the skin from four years before, a bit more refined looking and lacking his mop top of hair, but it was him. She had returned to this area and found the skin and in doing so had allowed herself to be found.

All he had to do now was wait. A slow heartless grin slipped over his lips as he showed his teeth to the night. She was finally within his grasp.

Chapter 6

Richie took a timid step towards Jon, his fear radiating outward. He had to get Jon to safety somehow or another. Inch by agonizing inch he moved towards the prone man whose chest was full of wolf. “Ehh buddy, um bro, I know that wolf looks all friendly, but them’s some sharp teeth it seems to have.” He went to kneel close to Jon only to backup a foot or two when the wolf’s head raised and a very unhappy snarl seemed to plaster itself over the wolf’s mouth. “Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit Bro it’s gonna eat me.”

Jon laughed softly, his head turning to watch Richie back up faster than the speed of light. “She’s a sweetie Rich, She’s not gonna eat you she’s smiling at you.”

Richie’s brow arched up into his hairline. “Yeah and I’m Ronald Regan.”

The wolf huffed softly and pounced off of Jon her golden eyes centered on the tall dark guitarist. Richie’s eyes grew round as saucers as his brain raced to come up with an idea. He knew if he ran or showed fear it would be like painting a neon sign for the wolf to come and get him. Freezing in place he risked a glance at Jon only to see his friend lying on his side in the sand a loopy grin on his face. “Well just lay there you fucker, I mean it’s not like this wolf wants ME for its lunch.” Before he could say another word the wolf pounced, Richie screamed and Jon roared with laughter. Richie threw his arms up over his face, praying it would be over quickly and continued to pray until he realized that he wasn’t being chewed on, matter of fact it tickled. Slowly he cracked one eye open before slowly moving his hands away from his face; he started to laugh as a very cold nose pressed itself to his neck and a rough tongue bathed his check gently.

He snorted softly then started to laugh as the wolf hopped off of him and trotted back to Jon who had started to stand. “I told ya she was friendly Bro.”

Richie shook his head as he stood and dusted the sand from his clothing. “Only you would come out to the desert and find a friendly wolf, but we need to be getting back or the guys are going to send out the calvary.”

Without any further words the two men started their walk back to the video shoot with Jon’s new found companion. “So what’s the story about this little wolf Jon?”

Jon explained briefly how he had ran out of gas and ending up nearly freezing in the desert night only to be saved by the wolf, that ended up being the semi-tame pet of a blonde goddess named Dusty. When he got to the part about meeting Dusty his face darkened slightly as he talked of how she left and why. What he didn’t explain to Richie was the faded memory of the wolf and girl becoming one; mainly because he had shrugged that off as something that never really happened. “So you see Rich, the wolf was my companion, and I grew kinda close to her. I always wondered if she had survived and was ok and it was just joy to find her alive and well.”

As they sauntered up to the vid shoot David and Tico came rushing out of a small trailer only to skid to a halt when they saw what was walking with Jon and Rich.

“Is that a” Tico started only to be finished by David “Wolf?”

Richie nodded with a grin. “Yep it’s a wolf, Seems we have fans of the four legged variety as well boys. Well HE does anyhows,” he finished as he nodded towards Jon.

David blinked rapidly a bit unsure about having a wolf there, that although it seemed content to just sit there beside his buddy, was still a wild animal after all was said and done. “Ummm, you sure it’s not just planning on eating us?”

Richie laughed, “Wells SHE, yep it’s a she don’t it figure, seemed to be more into nosing and sniffing and licking than eating.”

One pointy ear flicked forward as the wolf seemed to grin at David. Next thing he knew he had an arm full of wolf standing up paws on his chest. Her nose had buried itself in his curly hair and she was sniffing him as if to imprint him to her memory. “Uh Jon, can ya like call off the teeth there Bro? I know she won’t well I HOPE she won’t nibble, but man, can ya please make her stop?” Before he could even finish the wolf had left him and was already giving Tico the exact same treatment. With an obvious sigh of relief David muttered, “never mind.”

Tico chuckled in that gravelly voice of his and gently caressed the silvery fur. “Pretty girl, go back to lil Jonny now.” The wolf settled back down and padded back over to Jon and sat thumping her tail happily. “They wrapped up a bit ago Jon, its time we got back to town.” Tico finished off as he watched the golden eyed wolf. “Time to leave your little friend and go back to civilization.”

Jon sighed softly and knelt down next to the wolf. “It was real good to see ya wolfie. Damn I hate to just leave but I have to ya know? Wish you could talk, you could tell Dusty I woulda loved seeing her too.” He ruffled the wolf’s ears softly and stood sadness haunting his eyes. Why hadn’t Dusty come along with the wolf? Was Dusty still even in this area? Something deep inside of him ached at the knowledge she may be lost to him forever. With a sigh he turned and made his way to the limo followed his three friends and one lone wolf.

She whined softly as they all entered the limo her body, instinct and need to not lose the man driving her forward. Before Tico could reach over and shut the door she had climbed into the limo and over the the body sitting next to Jon. Wedging herself in between his knees on the floorboard in front of him she lay her head on his knees, her golden eyes pleading to not be left behind.

He looked down at the wolf that was staring up at him pleadingly and grinned. With a shake of his head he glanced over at Tico. “Shut the door she’s not going anywhere.”

But Jon, isn’t she a wild animal? Isn’t there some law against taking in endangered species or something?” David looked at his friend with a cross between worry and humor.

Jon laughed softly. “You wanna get her outta the limo bub?”

David threw his hands up, his gesture oddly mimicked by every guy in the back. “Nope, not me, not today, I need my fingers to play.”

“Then I guess we now have a mascot, right girl?” Jon reached over and gently caressed the wolf’s head to the thumping beat of a tail that could rival Tico’s power on the drums.”

The guys could only stare in amazement at the relaxed look on Jon’s face, a look that had been absent for years and could only shake their heads at the idea that the man who claimed to have no special love for animals seemed to have such an affinity with this one.

As the limo sped back to down, Jon leaned his head back and smiled. If wolf was around Dusty would be close and just maybe, after all these years, he could get answers.

Chapter 5

1993 The Arizona Desert

She ran as if the Devil himself were after her, and in some way he was, only the devil had taken on the form of the man she left behind. How could she have been so stupid as to allow herself to want him or fall for him? Even if he didn’t understand the consequences she had been told from childhood what would happen if you bonded with another; the problem was she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that although she had saved him the pain of it all she hadn’t saved herself. She stopped running as she ridged the small ridge beyond the house, her golden eyes staring down at the flickering of light that told her he had went back inside. All she wanted to do was run back that way and become Dusty again and allow him to make her his.

She wandered the desert for months avoiding a return to both her human form and the little house that now was branded with his scent. She had made the choice to not return after that night and she had regretted it every day since. The day she watched him ride away was the last day she had entered that small house and from that day forward she had tried to escape the pain of his leaving by wandering further and further from that area, always in wolf form and always alone.

She tried once to go back to the human way of things, even going back to the places that to this day had his imprint upon it. She padded softly up onto the porch of the little house she had called home, her golden eyes taking in its lonely abandoned air. With a soft huff she slowly began to change. Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath she reached for the door knob and entered the place she called home. As she stepped into the main room her eyes ghosted over each inch noting the dust and accumulated detritus of a place left standing alone for too long. She stepped over to the bed and lifted a pillow to her nose inhaling lightly and even after all this time she could smell the scent that was so inordinately Jon that she dropped the pillow and stepped back from the bed quickly. She whirled to leave the house, the memories of his short time here overwhelming her. As she moved towards the door she caught a glimpse of a sheet of paper, yellowed with time, propped against an extremely dried and wilted flower upon the table. Taking a deep breath she moved over and carefully lifted the paper and began to read.

And I would give up tomorrow
And die for one yesterday
I'd lie, beg, steal and borrow
To hear you whisper my name
Tonight there ain't no miracles
Washing up on this beach
The angels left here long ago
But I still believe that

Maybe someday
I will hold your hand
and maybe someway
We'll trace our footsteps in the sand
And just walk away baby someday

Now I don't know how a heart beats
But I sure know how one breaks
Remember how I used to hold you
To share every breath that you'd take
How can I forget
Your every tear that I cry
I know you're coming back
You never kissed me goodbye

Maybe someday
I will hold your hand
And maybe someway
We'll trace our footsteps in the sand
And just walk away

They say that nothing lasts forever
But we know our two hearts beat together
And though you're far away
Every night I pray
Maybe someday someday

Maybe someday
I will understand
baby someway
We'll trace these footsteps in the sand
just walk away maybe someday
Maybe someday
Maybe someday
Maybe someway

Jon

Tears fell from her eyes at the obvious emotion in the words. Even though they had never gotten physical he had felt something there that had torn at his soul and it shined in the words on the paper. He had such talent, she could see that and it made her wonder if he had become a success or more of one or if his group had faded with the times. With a sigh she walked outside and headed to town. It was time to see what had become of the man who had walked into her life and changed everything without even knowing it.

As she entered town she noticed the rather huge hive of activity going on. The town was usually a pretty sedate sleepy town and she didn’t think a few weeks had changed all that. Making her way to the town store she casually picked up a newspaper and was astounded to realize she had been gone nearly three years instead of the few weeks that she had thought she was gone. “Damn, I really lost myself that long,” was her only thought. She wandered up to the clerk and paid for the paper, offering a slight smile to the young man behind the register.

“So yet another pretty lady hits town in hopes of getting onto the video shoot I suppose,” the pimple faced clerk uttered.

She arched a brow at the clerk and cleared her throat praying her voice would work after all this time. “Video shoot?”

“Good grief lady where have you been hiding yourself? Bon Jovi is here to film his newest video. Don’t ask me why he chose such a god forsaken place, but it’s sure been a good thing for business.” He gave her a once over and grinned. “They have pretty tight security, but I hear those guys like a pretty lady. Lead singer isn’t much for the girls though, rumor has it he ended his last relationship three years ago and has barely dated since. Maybe there’s a chance for a guy like me out there these days, he ain’t trying to take them all for himself.”

Dusty took in all the info offered and began to wonder if maybe the Jon she had known had been affected more than she even realized. It was unusual for anyone of their kind to forgo relationships, unless they had found their life mate, yet supposedly a man in a high profile life style, one that gave him the chance at many women was going it solo. She shook her head as she wandered out of the store deciding that rumor was just that, rumor.

~~~~

Jon, Rich, Dave and Tico stood on the sidewalk of the sleepy little Arizona town waiting on the limo that would take them out to the shoot. David muttered softly about hot dry places, which caused Rich to punch Jon in the arm. “Tell me again why we came to this god forsaken place to film a video? The desert? Me on a mountain? Bro you ain’t been right for years, but fuck this is insane.”

Jon smiled slightly at his best friend. “I know you don’t get it Rich, but this place is special to me. Remember when we all went our separate ways after the Jersey Tour? Well I ended up here for awhile. It seemed the perfect place to film the Roses video.”

Richie grinned slightly. “What lil chickadee here inspired that bit of musical genius bro?”

Jon was saved answering as the limo pulled up. “Come on guys, time to take to the desert.”

The trip to the spot chosen for the video took a few minutes, but as the limo pulled up Richie noticed a slight haunted look that shadowed Jon’s eyes. Something had happened here three years before, he wasn’t sure what but he knew he was going to do his best to find out. He picked up the guitar he was going to use and walked over to the make up tent with a grimace. One of the things he hated was being “made up” for the camera, but it was a necessary evil so he endured it with a smile. Everyone was joking around and getting ready for the shoot but he didn’t see Jon and that worried him. Usually Jon was the poster child for preparedness when it came to shoots, wanting everything to be just right. Just as he was about to go in search of Jon he saw him enter the make up tent. Waving Jon over he waggled his eyebrows slightly. “Ready to climb mountains bro?”

Jon laughed slightly, the shadows in his eyes fading for a moment or two, “I guess so Rich, but it’s not me being flown to the top of some shit sucking mountain top.”

“And what do you plan to do while I’m risking my life on that mountain?” Richie grinned, expecting Jon to say he would be watching the filming and got surprised for the effort of thinking.

“I thought I’d wander around and take in the scenery or something bro. Not often we get to see the desert you know.” Jon gave his friend a shaky smile unwilling to tell him he was there for the sole purpose of trying to find a little wooden building that held so many memories.

Filming went along as smoothly as possible, although they had a dicey moment or two when they couldn’t get the helicopter to land. The sun was nearly setting when Richie just threw a “Fuck this” to the winds and took a leap of faith into the hovering helicopter. As it landed he went in search of his buddy wanting to let him know all about how he appreciated freezing his assets off on top of the mountain with no one to keep him company. After searching the entire base of operations he finally decided to ask someone where the heck his friend was. A roadie shrugged and pointed to the south muttering that Jon had wandered off that way nearly an hour before.

Richie frowned at the knowledge. Jon never left a video shoot as he was a control freak of some report and wanted to have his fingers in every bit of filming done of the band. With a shrug Richie looked at the slowly darkening sky and began to walk in the direction they had said Jon had taken.

~~~~

She had left town shortly after her encounter at the store and headed out towards where the video shoot was supposed to be. She had quizzed a few people along the way and had the information about security repeated more than once. As soon as she was outside of the town and alone she changed. A girl they might try to run off, a wolf they would never pay mind too; at least they wouldn’t if she kept her distance. It took her thirty minutes of hardcore running but soon she could hear the music filtering out over the landscape. Lifting her nose she tested the wind and was teased by the scent that seemed to go straight to her heart.

One ear flicked forward and she began to pad softly closer to the activity. Crouching low behind a bush, golden eyes surveyed the goings on as she looked for the one body the scent she had followed belonged too. Locating it she stood and swerved around the outside of the circle of vans and trucks and began to follow.

~~~~

He wandered the area for nearly an hour lost in thought before realizing he had homed in on the little building he had spent time in. Had it been nearly 4 years since he had first seen this place? He walked up onto the porch and tried the door, surprised that it wasn’t locked. From the looks of things the girl had never returned as the house was in a sad state of repair. “Well damn, I guess her and wolfie really did leave.” He turned and exited the house a soft sigh echoing from his lips. Shaking his head to clear the memories and cobwebs he started walking back towards the shoot, knowing that Richie was going to be busting at the seams about his not being around when he returned from the mountain. As he walked his mind once again skittered down memory lane and he smiled remembering the walks he had taken in this very place, his only companion a golden eyed wolf that seemed to understand all he said far better than most people would have.

Unbeknownst to him he was followed as he made his way back to the trucks, so lost in thought that the soft footsteps behind him were unheard. As he reached the film shoot he glanced up and saw that Richie had returned so smiled and proffered a half assed wave. His head tilted as he watched his bro wave his arms wildly a look of panic on his dark face.

Richie was scared shitless as he watched his friend return. His brown eyes grew wider as he finally was able to see what was beyond Jon. It was a wolf, a damn big ass wolf and it was damn near stalking his best friend. Taking a deep breath he raced towards his friend yelling “Watch out!” As he reached Jon he yanked his arm and twisted him around pointing back in the direction his friend had just come from. “Fuck all bro, wandering the desert is one thing but getting stalked by wild animals and eaten is NOT my idea of a good time.”

Jon blinked and looked out to where Richie was pointing. Blue eyes brightened then widened as he took in the sight before him. It couldn’t be could it? A smile slid over his lips as he watched the animal stealthily approach. “Shhh Rich, it’s ok.”

Richie looked at him with stupefied amazement. “Have you lost your mind? Let’s get the hell outta Dodge before that puppy there makes lunch outta both of us!”

Even from this distance Jon could see the gleam of golden eyes and that vision alone had his heart racing and his soul soaring. If that wolf was here then Dusty was close by, and that meant he had garnered the miracle he had prayed for. “Shh Rich what’s a big boy like you afraid of a little wolf?”

“Little my ass, She looks as big as King Kong.” Ok so Richie was prone to exaggeration, they both knew it, but he could see and tell a big wild wolf when it was staring him down.”

Richie began to back pedal as the wolf crouched in preparation to lunge. “Fuck it all Jon COME ON!!”

Jon didn’t run, he just stood there then suddenly held his arms open wide. Richie blinked again thinking he had finally lost a job, a friend, hell probably an appendage or two as the wolf grew closer.

Suddenly the wolf leaped and Jon tumbled his arms wrapping around the soft furry body. Laughter rang out over the desert floor as a cold nose buried itself in his neck before a long tongue took a swipe over his face. “God damn it’s good to see you too wolfie.” The grin on Jon’s lips translated to his eyes lighting his whole face with joy. “I wondered if you’d show up girl.”

For Richie’s part, he stood there stunned as he watched Jon hug the wolf and the wolf nuzzle back. “Well I’ll be goddamned, even fucking wolves like Bon Jovi.”

Chapter 4

He ate the simple dinner he fixed himself sharing tidbits with his ever present friendly wolf. After eating he grabbed his guitar and wandered out to the small porch and took a seat on the one chair there. He casually pushed back and leaned the back of the chair against the wall as his blue eyes studied the sun on its downward track into the horizon. It was this part of the day that always managed to stun his sensibilities with its fiery hues that slowly darkened to black. As light faded into dark he stood and went inside, carefully propping the guitar in what had now become its spot beside the fireplace. He shook his head and chuckled at the knowledge that the boy who loved the late nights and hysteria that went along with all the parties was also totally content with the quiet and early nights. He wondered for the umpteenth time if that’s why Dusty stayed away, that perhaps in some strange way she knew his heart, mind and body needed this to heal.

Wandering over to the hotplate he put on a pot of coffee and waited for it to percolate. He made it strong and black, hoping that its stimulating properties would help keep him awake until Dusty returned that night. No matter how he tried he never was awake when she returned and that bothered him. He wanted to get to know her better, wanted to get inside her head. Truth be told he wanted her to get to know him and more than just in the biblical sense. Maybe tonight would be the night if he could just stay awake. He laughed softly at his thoughts as the wolf huffed softly at him, as if asking him what was so funny. “If you only knew wolf you’d probably decide I was better off breakfast instead of your walking buddy. Why won’t she ever show up when I’m awake at night? I want to get to know her better, learn all her secrets. Why won’t she let me get close to her? You have any idea wolf? Does she know who I am and is that what scares her?”

He grinned as the wolf seemed to shake her head no. “I wish you did know the answer wolf, I’m just a guy so what if my job is singing in front of thousands, it doesn’t change what and who I am, does it? Nah, it don’t. I just want to understand her, and she’s not even giving me that chance.”

His brow arched as the wolf padded softly over to the front door and pawed at it with a soft huff. Now that was odd, usually she was content to stay in with him when night struck. It was an odd eccentricity for a wolf he knew, they were usually animals that thrived in the night, but he had become used to her being there. “So you need out huh? Well it’s odd, but who am I to argue with a lady?” He grinned as he opened the door. “Not like I’ll be going anywhere so you scamper on home whenever you get the urge wolfie.” He watched as she shot out of the door and raced off into the night then whispered softly, “Well so long to you too wolf.”

Closing the door he went and poured himself a second cup of coffee, humming the song “Solitary Man” softly under his breath. As he made his way over to the table he heard sounds outside and figured the wolf had come back. Moving to the door he opened it quickly and came face to face with the pretty blonde with the odd gold eyes. “Well hi there, fancy seeing you this time of night.” A quick grin flashed over his face then was gone as he studied her and recognized the signs of nervousness there.

She tilted her head a slight smile gracing her lips. “I just thought you might like some company tonight, well company of the more human variety that is.”

He flashed her a smile that would have melt the most frozen ice and handed her a cup of coffee. “Now that sounds like a winning idea. I just brewed coffee, how about we go enjoy the view?”

She reached out to take the cup from his hands and he almost jerked with the sensation that attacked his nerve endings. Just a simple touch of skin had all his synapses tingling with fire, and from the stunned look on her face she had felt the same. There was a strange underlying shadow of fear in her eyes at the same time, a haunted look that had him wondering what had hurt her to put that shadow there.

He leaned back against the porch railing as Dusty settled into the chair and took a deep breath before plunging into the abyss. “Tell me Golden girl, why a lady as beautiful as you lives all the way out here in the desert, cuz it just doesn’t seem to be the type of place you’d be suited too at all.”

She arched a brow before taking a sip of coffee. “And exactly what type of place am I suited too?”

His first thought was to say wherever he was so he could take care of her, but settled for “someplace nicer I guess.”

He was amazed when she stood and poked him in the chest and her next words had him nearly falling backwards off the porch. “What? You thought I was some uninformed idiot that didn’t know who you were just because I live out here? Well you were wrong, I knew who you were and it didn’t matter a bit. You were a guy and you were in trouble and physically exhausted. I could help so I did. Fancy that, stupid lil me from the desert.”

Damn she was gorgeous when she was pissed He reached out without thought and pulled her into his arms his lips swooping in to cover hers in a teasing kiss. He groaned softly into the kiss as her slender arms wrapped around him then ran slowly up and down his spine. The flames licking along his nerve endings became incendiary as her lips slid from his lips down along his Adam’s apple. His hands slid up and under her shirt and caressed her skin before gliding up towards the underside of her breast. “God baby, you feel so soft.”

She murmured softly as he began to walk her backwards to the door, his hands in continual movement along her skin. Her tongue flickered out begging entrance to his mouth and his brain shut down as all thought processes save for getting her inside and undressed seemed to vanish into the desert night. He was so intent on the feel of her skin and her lips on his that he walked her into the door, startling the both of them into laughter. “Oops baby, sorry bout that,” he whispered into her ear as he reached for the door knob, only to find her twisting out of his arms.

She looked so forlorn as she stood there staring off into the night. Something was bothering her and he wasn’t sure what it was that had her turning from hot to cold so quickly, but he was determined to find out. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Wanna talk about it Golden girl?”

He kept his arms around her in a gentle reassuring way. “You can tell me anything, nothing fazes me you know. Was it something I did or did I just read you wrong?”

“You did nothing wrong Jon, matter of fact your doing everything right. That’s what I’m afraid of. If I let this go further and you find out certain things, well I don’t want to think of what might happen.”

Jon shook his head and kissed her ear. “There’s nothing you can say that would change how I’m feeling Golden girl. Just tell Jonny what’s scaring you.”

He heard her sigh once before she turned to look up at him. “I’m different, just not like most people, and I don’t give myself to just anyone. Never have matter of fact, and if I give myself to you I’ll be lost forever because I know you’re just not into forever right now. Let’s just leave it at that ok?”

He reached up and cupped her chin, leaning in to kiss her lips tenderly. “How do ya know I’m not into forever babe?”

He heard her laugh as it faded off into a sob. “Because you aren’t Jon Bon Jovi, your young and the world is at your feet. Women the world over are ready to be your Miss Right Now. You aren’t looking to find a soul connection because dammit it all you don’t even know who you are deep inside.”

He huffed softly and replied. “Of course I know who I am. I been me for my entire life, and I know what I want.”

She looked up at him her eyes blazing a luminous gold. “No you don’t know, and because you don’t I’m going to save you the heartache our making love would cost us both. Yes I want you, I need you, but I can’t have you. We are too alike and until you realize what you are, there is no chance in hell for either of us.”

“I have no idea what you are going on about here Golden, but you need to know that I’m a forever kind of guy and I’m pretty fucking sure you can’t tell me anything that will change how I feel.” He turned her towards him his eyes glittering with intensity, “so if it will make you feel better, you go ahead and tell me and realize nothing will change how I’m feeling right this second.”

“You’re so damned sure of yourself aren’t you?” Her eyes blazed as she pulled away from his arms and stepped off the porch. “So fucking sure you know everything, and that everything is going to go according to your plans. Well let’s just see how that works for ya Jonny. You see if we do anything we’ll be bound forever, it’s our way, our kinds way, not that you’d know about that. Why didn’t your parent tell you?”

She begin to shimmer before his eyes and even seemed to be shrinking. He blinked once or twice then shook his head trying to clear his vision. What WAS in those herbs she’d been feeding him daily? Maybe that’s what had his head so twisted up because he couldn’t find a logical explanation for the fact that the girl was vanishing to be replaced by his friendly wolf. It wasn’t possible, it was too crazy and yet there it was in front of him. With a soft huff the wolf turned and started to run off, but stopped as he yelled “Stop!”

A regal head turned and looked his way sadness gleaming in the golden depth of her eyes before the wolf whirled and raced off into the night. He thought of trying to chase the wolf down but knew it was impossible so he walked into the small house and sat down in a chair prepared to wait for Dusty to return. He’d get his answers to the questions beginning to scramble in his brain once she returned, and he knew she would return.

~~~~~

The pounding on the door continued only to be followed with a “DAMMIT FRANK open the fucking door!”

He ran his hands raggedly through his hair as he took a deep breath. Memories of that time always unsettled him. His blue eyes were shadowed as he turned and made his way to the door. She had never returned after that night. He had waited for days and it was if she had never existed. The wolf had vanished that same night, and although he had searched the desert around the small house he never saw either of them. When the food ran out he was forced to finally gas up his bike and leave.

He opened the door a crack only to find his best friend preparing to knock again. “Dammit Dean, there are people trying to sleep around here.”

Richie studied his friend intently and saw the shadows playing hide and seek within the depths of Jon’s eyes. “Oh don’t give ME that bullshit Frank. You weren’t sleeping.”

A weak smile fleetingly passed over Jon’s lips as he opened the door wider. “Didn’t mean me bro, meant the folks in the neighboring rooms.” He walked over to the couch and sank into its soft depths. “So what has you pounding on my door at 5 am in the morning?”

“You missed the wake up call Bro. Remember we fly out to do the This aint a love song video today.”

Jon groaned softly. “Oh damn that’s right.”

Richie gave his friend an understanding look. “You had that dream again didn’t ya? So which one was it? The one from ’89 or the one from ’92?”

He knew better than to deny what his friend just said. Richie knew him far better than most. He’d explained it to Rich once, about the girl and the desert, but he had left the part out concerning the wolf. He doubted that even Rich for all his loyalty and open minded ways would get that. “Doesn’t matter Rich, I guess finding out we were headed back to that particular area opened old wounds.”

“She must have been some kind of woman to have affected you that deeply even after all this time. Hell you never even considered going back with Dot after you returned from the desert, and you’ve never been happy with any girl you’ve met since and it’s been what six years? She must have been something else.”

“Oh she was Bro, more than you’ll ever know.”

Chapter 3

He studied her quietly, his body responding to her simple presence. A slow smile teased her lips as she reached up and traced his lips with one slender finger. Eyes as blue as the summer sky locked onto eyes of molten gold, a question riding deep within their depths, a question that was answered by a rueful smile as the golden eyed woman slid from the bed wrapping a sheet around her in one fluid move. He sat up and watched as she stepped behind a dressing screen and returned a few moments later full dressed in cut off shorts and a light blue sleeveless top.

He wasn’t too sure what to say or do next. It wasn’t often that he found himself in bed with a total stranger, at least one he didn’t actually invite into his bed in the first place. He exhaled softly then stood and made his way over to the woman who was now starting a pot of coffee on the small hot plate next to the refrigerator. He propped against the wall and flashed one of his smiles, tempting the girl to at least say hello and got a soft smile in return. He wondered then if the girl could talk as she didn’t seem to be inclined to even ask him what he was doing in what was obviously her place.

He watched silently as she reached for a couple of small jars above the fridge and opened them, taking a pinch of whatever was inside and slowly stirring it into the cup of coffee she poured. He wondered exactly what she was putting in the cup, but refrained from asking as she probably wouldn’t answer any way. A grin flashed over his fine features as he continued to observe her, deciding he liked what he saw. She was petite to the point of being tiny, her head having only reached to the top of his chest, and her skin was the color of golden honey, which made him wonder if she tasted as sweet. Her hair was straight, hung nearly to her ass and was the color of wheat. As she turned to walk toward him he flashed a smile her way. Damn she was the prettiest thing he had seen in a while with her golden eyes and that tiny waist that he was sure he could span easily with his hands.

His brow arched comically as she sat the cup of coffee in front of him. He could see the herbs floating there and shook his head, unwilling to be a guinea pig to whatever hoodoo she had placed in the cup. Soft laughter caressed his ears as she pushed the cup closer to his hand. “It won’t hurt you, it will help your throat, it’s simply an herbal remedy I learned. Her voice was honey smooth and it went straight to his groin and he again commanded his body to behave.

With an arch of a brow he lifted the cup and sniffed it. “Doesn’t smell like any coffee I’ve ever had,” he offered in lieu of taking a sip.

Her laughter again washed over him, making his heart thunder in his ears. “Don’t be such a puppy, drink it, it will help you I promise. It’s an herbal coffee, probably not that poison you buy in the cities. You trusted me last night, trust me this morning.”

He looked up at her quizzically, not remembering even seeing her the night before, “I trusted you last night?”

She smiled gently, her hand reaching out to wrap his hand around the cup. “That’s an explanation for another day. Drink up.”

He lifted the cup and took an experimental sip, his nose wrinkling in distaste at the odd smell that came from the cup. “Well it’s definitely gotta be medicine because it tastes like shit.”

She winked as she turned back to the refrigerator. “I never said it would taste good.”

In a few short moments she was setting a plate of breakfast and a cup of coffee in both places at the table. Seating herself across from him she indicated that he should eat while it was hot. He took a sip of the hot coffee and couldn’t help but grin when the caffeine hit him like a bolt of lightning. “Now that is coffee.” He grinned. “By the way I’m Jon.”

“I’m Dusty, now eat before it gets cold,” she exclaimed as she tucked into her food.

As he ate he continued to watch her, there was something about her that called to him and he wanted to figure out what it was. As he finished his meal he leaned back with a soft groan of appreciation. He cradled his cup of coffee in one hand as he propped his bare feet on the remaining chair. “So what happened to the wolf that was here last night? She your pet or something?” He watched as her fork dropped to the table and her golden gaze skittered up to meet his curious blue eyes.

“Not exactly, you never tame a wolf, you should know that yourself, but she’s a friendly thing that comes around sometimes.” She hesitated a moment before continuing, “Solitary creatures usually, they don’t befriend many humans so it’s odd how she took to you.”

He grinned as he sipped his coffee. “Yep, she crawled right into bed with me. Funny thing I don’t recall her leaving.”

A slight smile slipped over his lips as the girl in front of him nearly choked. “Careful there Dusty, coffee can be lethal if you try to inhale it.”

She gave him a weak smile and reached for his empty plate. Moving over to the tiny sink she silently washed everything up from breakfast. He could almost hear a soft catch in her voice when she finally began to talk. “I guess you’ll be wanting to head out and find whatever it is you’re looking for. I’ll just go and get that spare can of gas I have out back.”

She didn’t want him to leave; he could tell that by the catch in her voice, the question was why? He felt it in air between them, a connection that defied logic and time. Hell he didn’t know her from Adam, yet something about her sang to some deep dark part of himself that he didn’t even recognize. He shook his head slightly, “Nope, no one’s looking me and I’m not looking them. I think my gas running out here was meant to be, so if it’s ok with you, maybe I can just hang here for a few days.”

She turned and studied him intently, then nodded her agreement.

~~~~

The next couple of days passed in an amiable way. He’d wake up each morning to the beautiful blonde who would then offer him that god awful herbal drink before fixing his coffee and breakfast. She would then disappear to where ever and the wolf would appear. That wolf kept him company on a lot of long walks around the desert area. At first when he was riding through the land seemed unfriendly and inhospitable, but now just a scant two days later, it was serene, a simple balm to his exhausted soul. He talked to the wolf just like she was a person, pouring out all his frustrations and worries over his life and career. It was almost like she understood all his fear about his music and singing, or how hard it was to tour like that non stop. Sometimes he would bring his guitar along and simply play, while he and his wolf companion watched the sun dance upon the sands.

“Doc said I shouldn’t ever sing again, but ya know, it’s my job. Hell it’s my life, all I ever wanted to do was be a rock star and I did it, Machine took us over though and it nearly destroyed us all. I told Richie; my best friend, that we just needed time apart. We need to find ourselves again, but he’s probably off banging some girl and here I am in the desert of all places.” He grinned as the wolf seemed to snort. “That’s ok girl, I’m actually liking it here, liking it too much considering.” He absentmindedly began to caress her fur. “I just wish I could figure out what it was that has Dusty so distant. Seems she has a secret she’s afraid to tell me, or maybe she don’t like me. I want her wolf, I do, but what can you do if a woman won’t even give ya the time of day? I wake up beside her every morning, where the heck do you go by the way, and she’s there and my body, my soul wants her, but she just vanishes again. No insult to you wolf, you’re a great companion and all.” He stared out at the desert. “Why am I telling you all this huh? Not like you can fix it for me.”

He pushed up off the desert sand and began to walk back to what he now called his lil desert home. He knew he’d eat and sleep and the wolf would be there, but he knew that on the morrow the beautiful blonde with secrets in her golden eyes would be there, and he was going to go for the gold, learn her secrets and make her his, once he figured out exactly how to do that.

Chapter 2

He studied her quietly, his body responding to her simple presence. A slow smile teased her lips as she reached up and traced his lips with one slender finger. Eyes as blue as the summer sky locked onto eyes of molten gold, a question riding deep within their depths, a question that was answered by a rueful smile as the golden eyed woman slid from the bed wrapping a sheet around her in one fluid move. He sat up and watched as she stepped behind a dressing screen and returned a few moments later full dressed in cut off shorts and a light blue sleeveless top.

He wasn’t too sure what to say or do next. It wasn’t often that he found himself in bed with a total stranger, at least one he didn’t actually invite into his bed in the first place. He exhaled softly then stood and made his way over to the woman who was now starting a pot of coffee on the small hot plate next to the refrigerator. He propped against the wall and flashed one of his smiles, tempting the girl to at least say hello and got a soft smile in return. He wondered then if the girl could talk as she didn’t seem to be inclined to even ask him what he was doing in what was obviously her place.

He watched silently as she reached for a couple of small jars above the fridge and opened them, taking a pinch of whatever was inside and slowly stirring it into the cup of coffee she poured. He wondered exactly what she was putting in the cup, but refrained from asking as she probably wouldn’t answer any way. A grin flashed over his fine features as he continued to observe her, deciding he liked what he saw. She was petite to the point of being tiny, her head having only reached to the top of his chest, and her skin was the color of golden honey, which made him wonder if she tasted as sweet. Her hair was straight, hung nearly to her ass and was the color of wheat. As she turned to walk toward him he flashed a smile her way. Damn she was the prettiest thing he had seen in a while with her golden eyes and that tiny waist that he was sure he could span easily with his hands.

His brow arched comically as she sat the cup of coffee in front of him. He could see the herbs floating there and shook his head, unwilling to be a guinea pig to whatever hoodoo she had placed in the cup. Soft laughter caressed his ears as she pushed the cup closer to his hand. “It won’t hurt you, it will help your throat, it’s simply an herbal remedy I learned. Her voice was honey smooth and it went straight to his groin and he again commanded his body to behave.

With an arch of a brow he lifted the cup and sniffed it. “Doesn’t smell like any coffee I’ve ever had,” he offered in lieu of taking a sip.

Her laughter again washed over him, making his heart thunder in his ears. “Don’t be such a puppy, drink it, it will help you I promise. It’s an herbal coffee, probably not that poison you buy in the cities. You trusted me last night, trust me this morning.”

He looked up at her quizzically, not remembering even seeing her the night before, “I trusted you last night?”

She smiled gently, her hand reaching out to wrap his hand around the cup. “That’s an explanation for another day. Drink up.”

He lifted the cup and took an experimental sip, his nose wrinkling in distaste at the odd smell that came from the cup. “Well it’s definitely gotta be medicine because it tastes like shit.”

She winked as she turned back to the refrigerator. “I never said it would taste good.”

In a few short moments she was setting a plate of breakfast and a cup of coffee in both places at the table. Seating herself across from him she indicated that he should eat while it was hot. He took a sip of the hot coffee and couldn’t help but grin when the caffeine hit him like a bolt of lightning. “Now that is coffee.” He grinned. “By the way I’m Jon.”

“I’m Dusty, now eat before it gets cold,” she exclaimed as she tucked into her food.

As he ate he continued to watch her, there was something about her that called to him and he wanted to figure out what it was. As he finished his meal he leaned back with a soft groan of appreciation. He cradled his cup of coffee in one hand as he propped his bare feet on the remaining chair. “So what happened to the wolf that was here last night? She your pet or something?” He watched as her fork dropped to the table and her golden gaze skittered up to meet his curious blue eyes.

“Not exactly, you never tame a wolf, you should know that yourself, but she’s a friendly thing that comes around sometimes.” She hesitated a moment before continuing, “Solitary creatures usually, they don’t befriend many humans so it’s odd how she took to you.”

He grinned as he sipped his coffee. “Yep, she crawled right into bed with me. Funny thing I don’t recall her leaving.”

A slight smile slipped over his lips as the girl in front of him nearly choked. “Careful there Dusty, coffee can be lethal if you try to inhale it.”

She gave him a weak smile and reached for his empty plate. Moving over to the tiny sink she silently washed everything up from breakfast. He could almost hear a soft catch in her voice when she finally began to talk. “I guess you’ll be wanting to head out and find whatever it is you’re looking for. I’ll just go and get that spare can of gas I have out back.”

She didn’t want him to leave; he could tell that by the catch in her voice, the question was why? He felt it in air between them, a connection that defied logic and time. Hell he didn’t know her from Adam, yet something about her sang to some deep dark part of himself that he didn’t even recognize. He shook his head slightly, “Nope, no one’s looking me and I’m not looking them. I think my gas running out here was meant to be, so if it’s ok with you, maybe I can just hang here for a few days.”

She turned and studied him intently, then nodded her agreement.

~~~~

The next couple of days passed in an amiable way. He’d wake up each morning to the beautiful blonde who would then offer him that god awful herbal drink before fixing his coffee and breakfast. She would then disappear to where ever and the wolf would appear. That wolf kept him company on a lot of long walks around the desert area. At first when he was riding through the land seemed unfriendly and inhospitable, but now just a scant two days later, it was serene, a simple balm to his exhausted soul. He talked to the wolf just like she was a person, pouring out all his frustrations and worries over his life and career. It was almost like she understood all his fear about his music and singing, or how hard it was to tour like that non stop. Sometimes he would bring his guitar along and simply play, while he and his wolf companion watched the sun dance upon the sands.

“Doc said I shouldn’t ever sing again, but ya know, it’s my job. Hell it’s my life, all I ever wanted to do was be a rock star and I did it, Machine took us over though and it nearly destroyed us all. I told Richie; my best friend, that we just needed time apart. We need to find ourselves again, but he’s probably off banging some girl and here I am in the desert of all places.” He grinned as the wolf seemed to snort. “That’s ok girl, I’m actually liking it here, liking it too much considering.” He absentmindedly began to caress her fur. “I just wish I could figure out what it was that has Dusty so distant. Seems she has a secret she’s afraid to tell me, or maybe she don’t like me. I want her wolf, I do, but what can you do if a woman won’t even give ya the time of day? I wake up beside her every morning, where the heck do you go by the way, and she’s there and my body, my soul wants her, but she just vanishes again. No insult to you wolf, you’re a great companion and all.” He stared out at the desert. “Why am I telling you all this huh? Not like you can fix it for me.”

He pushed up off the desert sand and began to walk back to what he now called his lil desert home. He knew he’d eat and sleep and the wolf would be there, but he knew that on the morrow the beautiful blonde with secrets in her golden eyes would be there, and he was going to go for the gold, learn her secrets and make her his, once he figured out exactly how to do that.