Just Right

by Bronwyn Green

  Noah piled logs in the fireplace in his room and lit the kindling. He wanted the room warm enough for Gwen since that’s where she’d be sleeping. It was going to kill him to have her in his bed while he sat there staring at her all night, waking her up every two hours, wishing he was under the covers…between her legs…buried inside her. Christ, it was going to be a long fucking night. He pulled on a t-shirt in an attempt to hide the hard-on that got worse every time he thought about her.

  When he returned to the kitchen, Lucas was putting her groceries away in the fridge and Gwen held a steaming mug of tea, laughing at something the other man had said. Noah put the pills in her hand and sat down next to her.

  “Gwennie was just telling me about the fight in the woods. How’s your head?”

  Gwennie? “It’s fine.”

  Looking up, she lifted her free hand as if to touch his face before letting it fall to her side. “About that.” She frowned, remorse shadowing her eyes. “I’m really sorry I clubbed you with that stick.”

  He shrugged. “It’s not like you knew it was me.”

  A small smile curved her lips. “Believe me, I’ve thought about it often enough the last few months. You really know how to piss a girl off.”

  “Frankly, I’m impressed by your restraint.” Lucas grinned. “Three months is a long time to wait.” Before Noah could respond, the other man headed toward the hallway. “After everything that went down tonight, I’m sure you and Goldilocks have plenty to discuss. See ya in the morning. Sleep well, Gwennie.”

  She smiled at Lucas, and a spurt of jealousy flared in his gut. Her smile faded as she turned her attention to him. “I’m going to ignore the whole nickname thing for a minute since I’m still trying to get past the wishful thinking that I imagined everything I saw in the woods and just ask the obvious question. What the fuck?”

  “Lucas? He’s always an ass.”

  “Not him.” She frowned. “Seriously, what the hell is going on here? How is any of this even possible?”

  “You realize that I’ll deny any of this if anyone ever asks me about it. I won’t put my family in danger by confirming anything.”

  Concern shown on her face and she laid her hand on his arm. He didn’t miss the nervous tremble in her fingers or the hint of worry in her eyes. He supposed that finding out that he’d hidden his true identity—that he was what most people considered a mythological being was more than enough to make her a little skittish. He could understand that.

  “I’d never do that to you—or them. Believe me, I feel horrible enough about hurting Quinn. I’m just trying to understand what’s going on.”

  She pulled her hand back and he immediately missed her touch. He also realized that he trusted her completely. He hoped it wasn’t misplaced.

  He took a deep breath. He’d never spoken of this to anyone outside his immediate family. “My family is of Ojibwe descent. As long as anyone can remember, there have always been shifters among us. Wolves, bear, deer, fox, lynx—we are the other.”

  “The other?”

  He nodded. “Human, but more. Animal, but not. Other.”

  The light of understanding dawned in her eyes.

  “As far as I know, there’s only one type of shifter per family, and only one or two males in every generation born with the ability to shift. However, in ours, there were three. Probably because Quinn and Lucas are twins.”

  “Fraternal, right?” she asked, her expression rapt. She’d looked much the same watching the sow and cub this afternoon.

  He nodded.

  “Have you been able to shift since you were a child?”

  “It doesn’t happen until you’re at least twenty-five. No one knows whether they have the ability until the first time it happens.”

  She took a sip of her tea. “Well, that could get awkward.”

  He laughed. “You have no idea.”

  Her smile drew him forward, and he wanted so badly to taste her lips, to thread his hands through her honey gold hair. Instead, he got himself a glass of water and poured her another cup of tea. If he hadn’t, he would have given in to his need that was increasing exponentially.

  “I’m guessing this is the real reason you refused to take me to any of the nesting areas. You didn’t want me to run across your cousins.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, I was planning on taking you anywhere you wanted to go after they left the area.”

  Something flared in her eyes, but she looked away before he could identify it. “So how does this work?” she asked quickly.

  “Usually, an elder guides the cubs through their first changes and teaches them to control their abilities. To stay present while in their animal form. I’ve been working with these two for the last few months.”

  “What are you? Thirty?”

  “Thirty-two.”

  “Hardly old enough to be considered an elder, are you?”

  “No, but I’m the only one in the area, so…here I am.”

  She rubbed her hands together, tugging the too long sleeves over them for warmth. He should have urged her toward his room when he first came out here. “The bedroom’s warmer. Why don’t you go lie down for a while? You can take my bed.”

  “I don’t want to kick you out of your own room.”

  “I don’t plan on sleeping much tonight, anyway. I’ll be up checking on Quinn and waking you up, too. I don’t think you have a concussion, but I’d rather be safe.”

  She stood and headed for the hall, but stopped midstride and turned to face him. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I really do appreciate you taking care of me.”

  The sentence hovered between them as if she wanted to say more.

  “But you have another question,” he guessed.

  She nodded. “So…what about the bears?” she asked.

  “What about them?”

  “Do you…interact with them while you’re in shifted form?”

  “Sometimes,” he answered slowly, wondering what she was getting at. “We occasionally hunt with them or play with the cubs.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “That’s not quite what I meant.”

  Gwendolyn knew the moment Noah figured out what she was trying to ask him. His lips quirked and he took a step toward her.

  “Are you asking me if we mate with the sows?”

  Her stomach dropped to her feet at the intense look in his eyes and a nervous laugh bubbled out. “Now that you mention it, it does sound silly.”

  He reached out and grasped one of her braids, coiling it around his finger as he stared into her eyes. “I like sex,” he rumbled. “I like it a lot.”

  “I’m sorry. That was incredibly nosy of me to ask.” She took a step back, but he followed, still holding her hair and staring into her eyes. Swallowing nervously, she tried to speak, but he beat her to it.

  “I like sex with women.” Her belly flipped at the rough sound of his voice. He brushed his thumb across her trembling bottom lip as he lowered his head against hers and inhaled deeply. “Especially with women who smell like apples and honey.”

  “Oh,” she breathed.

  “In the truck today, it was all I could do to keep my hands on the steering wheel. I could smell your arousal. I could smell your need. And more than anything, I wanted to lay you back against the seat and taste it.”

  Chapter Two

  Gwendolyn couldn’t move away from Noah anymore than she could stop breathing. Eyes flashing with annoyance-laden desire held hers, and she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. She also wished he’d just kiss her already.

  “Heightened sense of smell?” she ventured with a squeak.

  He nodded slowly, his big hand stroking the line of her throat.

  She swallowed hard and stared at his chest. “Good to know.”

  Noah tugged on the braid he still held and tilted her head back until she met his heated gaze. Her pussy clenched at the look on his face, at his nearness, at the heat emanating from his body. His nostrils flared sligh
tly, and she knew he smelled her renewed arousal. His free hand slipped around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

  There was no mistaking his erection. The hard ridge of his cock pressed against her. They were separated only by lace panties and a couple layers of flannel. He wanted her. Or maybe he just wanted sex with someone who used the same shampoo she did. Either way, she wasn’t sure she cared. His nearness drove away every thought but one. More.

  She breathed deeply, trying to steady her nerves. Instead, all she took in was his intoxicating scent. Faint traces of wood smoke and pine mixed with the unique smell of his skin, sharpening her need for him.

  Without warning, his lips covered hers. There was no gentle coaxing, only the heat of possession, the need to absorb. Her lips parted beneath his, inviting him in. On a ragged groan that sent flutters through her belly, he delved inside, stroking her tongue, tasting her thoroughly. Pulling back slightly, he nipped at her lower lip.

  “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time you walked into my office.”

  “Do it again,” she breathed. She threaded her fingers through the silky length of his hair and tugged him forward, drawing his mouth to hers.

  He kissed her. Slower this time, but no less intensely. He took her mouth like he wanted to devour her. His fingers slipped beneath the hem of her shirt, and he stroked her back. Big and callused, his hand caressed her skin. She arched against him, wishing he were touching her nipples. They ached, the lace of her bra feeling coarse against her swollen flesh. The tight peaks had nothing to do with the cold. He’d finally chased that away. No, this was all him. His mouth, his taste, his scent, his touch all combined to make her shudder with want.

  He backed her against the wall, pinning her there with his body as he continued the assault on her lips. Sliding a thickly muscled thigh between her legs, he pressed against her mound, catching her needy whimper in his mouth. With a butterfly-light touch, he trailed his work-roughened fingertips along her side and over her stomach, circling her bellybutton with the pad of his thumb. A tremor fluttered through her at the barely there caress. Finally, he made the upward climb to her breast and cupped it, covering her, the heat of his palm soaking into her skin.

  “Oh…hey…never mind. I can see you’re busy.”

  Noah broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers, his hand still wrapped firmly around her breast. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucas’ gaze riveted to the spot and inexplicably, a fresh rush of desire coursed through her and her nipple tightened further against Noah’s palm. Her eyes closed in mortification.

  “What do you want?” Noah asked, raising his head.

  “Quinn’s awake.”

  “I’ll be in there in a second.”

  “Take your time. I’m making him a sandwich—he’s starving. Big surprise,” he murmured as he maneuvered past them in the narrow hallway, pushing Noah more firmly against her.

  Noah released her and stepped back and she felt the loss of his warmth immediately. Shivers raced through her and the desire in his eyes turned instantly to regret.

  She swallowed the bitterness of disappointment and stepped around him, crossing her arms over her chest. “I think I’ll go lie down and leave you to check on Quinn.”

  “I’m sorry, Gwen.”

  She had no idea if he was apologizing for the interruption or kissing her in the first place. Or maybe he smelled her increased arousal when she caught Lucas staring at Noah groping her and thought she was a slut. Judging from the regret, she’d bet the latter. She was stupid to think she could actually have anything with him.

  Humiliation heated her cheeks and she ducked into his room and quickly closed the door behind her, slumping against it. She’d give anything to go home now and avoid this whole awkward mess. This night couldn’t get any worse.

  The door handle jiggled behind then stopped as if whoever it was had second thoughts. It was likely Noah, but she supposed it could have been Lucas. She had no doubt that he scented her arousal as easily as Noah had. God, maybe they both thought she was a whore.

  She walked to the huge window and glared at the falling snow. The way it was coming down, she wasn’t getting out of here any time soon. Noah was right. Tow trucks wouldn’t be out until the roads were passable. She’d be here well into the next day—if not longer. It looked like it would never stop snowing.

  Her headache was back and the adrenaline fueled energy finally left her body. Noah’s big bed looked better by the second. Branches and tree roots entwined to make a high headboard and footboard and the huge mattress in between looked like heaven on earth. She pulled back the heavy quilt and flannel sheet. Of course, it would be better if Noah was in here with her, but that clearly wasn’t going to happen.

  Climbing into the bed, she pulled the covers over her and immediately breathed in his scent. Her pussy clenched with need and she shifted, trying to get comfortable. It was going to be a long night. She lay on her side and watched as the blue glowing numbers on the alarm clock changed, slowly counting the endless moments she’d laid in his bed. Nearly midnight and finally they began to blur as sleep inched closer.

  Gwendolyn’s eyes snapped open and the first thing she saw was the clock switching to two-thirty-six. Shifting, she sat up and tried to figure out what woke her. She had no trouble remembering where she was. Noah’s bed.

  A shadow moved by the door and her breath caught in her throat before she realized who it was.

  “You’re awake,” Noah’s voice rumbled quietly. He crossed the room to sit on the mattress next to her. “Have you slept at all?”

  He leaned forward and shined his penlight in her eyes.

  Squinting, she blocked the light with her hands. “I don’t have a concussion.”

  “I just want to be sure.”

  She sighed. “My name is Gwendolyn Elizabeth Locke, I’m twenty-eight, it’s January nineteenth—well, twentieth now, and I don’t have a freaking concussion.”

  She could make out his smile in the dim light of the alarm clock and the glow of the still burning fire. “Good.” He picked up the end of one of her braids, slid the hair tie off the end and began unraveling her hair.

  “How’s Quinn?” she choked out.

  “His side is pretty bruised, but he’ll be fine.” Slowly, he raked his fingers through her hair before freeing the other one. “I’ve always wanted to see it down.”

  The low rumble of his voice stroked her nerve endings as thoroughly as his fingers stroked her scalp. Closing her eyes, she leaned into his touch.

  “I know I should get out of here and let you sleep, but every time I touch you, I can’t seem to find the will to stop.”

  She gripped the bedding and held perfectly still—afraid to speak, but more afraid not to. “What if I didn’t want you to stop?”

  The words had barely left her mouth before he cupped her face with both hands and covered her lips with his own. His fingers slid through her hair as he cradled the back of her head, urging her closer.

  Releasing her death grip on the sheets, she trailed her fingers over the tight muscles of his abdomen, tugging at his shirt. She hadn’t had the presence of mind to enjoy the sight of his bare skin earlier. It was time to make up for that now.

  He broke the kiss long enough to let her pull the fabric over his head before devouring her lips again. Skimming her hands over the fluid, flexing muscles of his back, she laid back on the pillows, trying to pull him down on top of her. Instead of following her to the bed, he threw back the covers and straddled her legs.

  Even in the low light, she could make out the tightly-corded, delineated lines of muscle on his chest and arms as he planted his hands on either side of her head, caging her with his arms. Taking advantage of his position, she trailed her hands over his chest, sweeping her thumbs across his nipples before caressing his stomach. The warm expanse of skin teased her palms as she slid her fingers through the fine dusting of hair on his lower abdomen. Reaching his waistband, she tugged at his dra
wstring and untied his pants.

  He caught her hand before she could reach inside and pinned it above her head. When she reached toward him with her other hand, he secured that one, too. She pulled against his grip, but he held fast. She moaned at the sensation of his fingers tightening around her wrists and he chuckled.

  Nuzzling the side of her neck, he brushed his lips over the sensitive skin of her ear. “Good to know,” he breathed.

  “What is?”

  “So far tonight, I’ve discovered that you like to be held down and that you like to be watched.”

  Her stomach flipped in nervous anticipation of what he might say next. “I…”

  “You aren’t going to deny it, are you?”

  She couldn’t answer—she was too far out of her depth with him. Instead, she turned her face away.

  He kissed her neck where it met the curve of her shoulder, scraping his teeth over the sensitive skin. “Don’t be embarrassed. I plan to discover all the things that excite you before we’re done.”

  Her breath caught in her throat at his roughly whispered words.

  Transferring both wrists to one hand, he splayed the free one over her belly. “Now, what I want to know is what you were thinking about in the truck, earlier.”

  When she didn’t answer, he slipped his hand under her shirt and gently traced the skin along the lower edge of her bra. She arched off the bed, hoping he’d take the hint and touch her breasts again.

  “Nice try.”

  When it became clear that he wasn’t going to cooperate, she sighed and closed her eyes. “You.”

  He pinched the tight bud of her nipple. “What about me?”

  Wanting more contact than he was giving her, she answered. “Just remembering a dream.”

  His hand hovered above her, clearly waiting for more.

  “About you fucking me. Hard and fast. From behind.”