by Ashlee Sinn
Fuck. I’d messed up. But it was too late now, and all I could do was hope this feeling of panic would subside.
Well, fuck him. Fuck all fucking shifters. I slammed the cabinet door in our small trooper office and swore again when it almost bounced back into my face.
“Sutton?” Alan asked with caution. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I grumbled, filling up the sugar container. I wasn’t fine. I was pissed. And the more I kept running through the events of last night in my head, the angrier I got. It wasn’t just that Calvin fled after we’d had sex, but I think he ran away because he had a vision. And I think I might have caused it. Somehow.
As I rounded the kitchenette area, I slammed my big toe into a large, blue cooler sitting in the middle of the space for absolutely no reason. “Son of a bitch!”
Alan let out an exaggerated sigh. “Jesus, Sutton. Do you want to tell me what happened?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well,” he started, leaning back in his chair and putting on his concerned face, “In my limited time with you, you only swear when something is brewing inside.”
“Brewing?” I asked with a huff.
“Yes. You let things build up inside of you too long.”
I looked at Alan, not quite sure I was ready to call him a friend, and found myself letting out an unamused chuckle. “Who the fuck are you? You’re analyzing me now?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned into his chair even more. “I’ll let that one slide because you’re mad.”
“Of course I’m mad. I just broke my toe on that stupid cooler of yours. Why did you set it in the middle of the god damned floor?”
“You’re not mad about the cooler,” he astutely observed.
“Yes I am!”
The door to our office opened and caused the annoying doorbell thing to go off. I’d tried to dismantle it several times now. I was about ready to pull out my gun to finish it off.
“Am I interrupting something?” Danika’s tall, lean form filled the doorway and blocked most of the light coming from outside. Her odd, non-human eyes met mine. I knew she was something different, but no one had informed us exactly what type of shifter…or other creature…Danika was. Just one more thing to be annoyed at.
Alan immediately slammed his feet to the ground and sat up straight in his chair. “No…no, you’re good. I mean we’re good.”
I could see him pale from where I was standing. Danika studied me a little longer before stepping forward and handing a manila envelope to me. “I’m leaving tomorrow and I just wanted to make sure that you had all of the proper contact information for the ISC.”
Alan looked up at me and the envelope in confusion, so I was forced to ask. “Who will be the ISC representative in Homer?”
“Major Patel will be stepping back into his role. He’ll report to me daily, but I have to…well, there are some other things I need to focus on now.”
Vague. And that also made me angry. “Fine,” I grumbled.
Alan’s jaw dropped at my response. He’d been telling me since day one how uncomfortable he felt around Danika and how we should spend as little time with her as possible. He also said we shouldn’t disrespect her, and I guessed he thought my curt response just had.
I strode past the kitchenette to my office on the other side of the small space, fresh coffee in hand. Maybe that would help. I heard Alan stuttering his way through some kind of apology for my behavior, but when I closed the door, he just sounded muffled. I sat down, tossing the envelope onto the pile of papers that kept getting higher every day. I’d ordered a file cabinet and book shelf, but neither had arrived yet thanks to the state government’s ridiculously slow purchasing process.
Sitting down in my chair, I let out a breath. I shouldn’t be acting like an angry girlfriend, but I couldn’t help it. Calvin and I were…connected somehow. I’d never clicked with someone so instantly, and I had a feeling it was the same for the lonely cougar. The world didn’t know much about him, despite being one of the revealed. And the Calvin I got to know the past few days was certainly someone worth my time. Well, until he bailed on me in the middle of the forest last night.
“Fuck him,” I muttered to myself again.
Trying to get something accomplished today, I lifted a file that had been growing steadily. A domestic dispute. A wife that wanted to be with a shifter and a husband that continued to beat her until she agreed to stay. For the life of me, I would never understand why women put up with that shit. And this one was particularly crazy. She didn’t want to leave her husband…she wanted a little of both worlds. Alan and I had been to their house twice already. And each time, no one pressed charges. I was due to testify in the restraining order case tomorrow and really didn’t have my mind in the right place to think clearly at the moment.
So, I switched to my computer to fill out the spreadsheet that showed what I did each day. This was something the ISC had asked for so that they could decide how long Alan and I would be needed in Homer. I’d just finished logging the files from yesterday when I heard another set of muffled voices.
“Sir, um yes, sir. She’s here but…but I don’t think she wants to see anyone.” Alan’s voice trembled and I wondered how he ever made it through basic training.
“Can you please just tell her that I need to see her.” Calvin.
“I..I don’t think that’s a good idea. Hey—”
Footsteps echoed through the space, one set of large, determined ones stomping down the hall with another faster pair running behind.
“Mr. Baptiste, I wouldn’t…”
There was a knock at my door and I hated the way my heart sped. “What?” I tried to sound pissed, but there was a weakness in the tone.
“Sutton. It’s Calvin—”
“Go away.”
“See, I told you that—” Alan’s voice abruptly cut off.
“Sutton, don’t make me break down the door.”
“You’d be destroying public property if you did.”
I heard Calvin sigh. “Please.”
“Mr. Baptiste. Maybe you should go.” I suddenly admired Alan for having the balls to go up against the large cougar shifter standing outside.
After a long pause, Calvin asked one more time. “Sutton?”
My heart pounded against my ribs. Not out of fear but because I was so excited he was here. Damn him for running away, but at least I could listen to his reasons, right?
“Fine. Come in.”
Calvin opened the door and I sucked in a breath. Clad in dark jeans and a black leather jacket, his large frame dwarfed the bouquet of roses he held in his hand. Alan stood behind him, raising his brows to ask if I was okay. I waved him away and he reluctantly turned on his heel to retreat back to his desk in the front.
Moving slowly, Calvin took a step into my office. His golden eyes held mine for the longest time and I immediately got swept back up into him. There was a palpable energy between us—a force that we shouldn’t try to fight. But I was still hurt by his actions and I needed an explanation. When he reached for the door, I nodded, giving him permission to close it.
As soon as the knob clicked, Calvin rested his forehead against the wood frame. “Sutton, I’m sorry.”
I cleared my throat and crossed my arms, determined not to make this too easy for him. “It would be nice if you would face me while apologizing.”
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he slowly turned his head and lifted the white flowers. “I didn’t think red ones were appropriate for our relationship.”
“We’re in a relationship?”
This time he smiled for real. “I hope so. I mean, I hope I didn’t mess up my chance.”
His dimpled cheeks, the day-old stubble on his chin, the way a slight blush dotted his neck—the man was simple too gorgeous to stay mad at. But I still needed an explanation. “What happened to you?”
He pointed to the desk and I nodded. Handing
me the flowers, he partially sat on the closest corner. “I freaked out.”
“No shit,” I muttered.
“Are you clairvoyant?”
“Umm…what?”
“Do you see the future?”
The calm way he asked made me super suspicious and started to freak me out at the same time. My mouth hung open while I tried to decide what I should say.
“Sutton?” he asked quietly.
“I have visions sometimes.” I think that was the first time I ever admitted that to anyone.
Calvin nodded and ground his jaw together. “My grandmother had a connection to the magic.”
“Magic?” No, I did not just hear him correctly.
“There’s a long line of powerful females in my Haitian lineage.”
“Okay,” I really didn’t know how to respond to that.
“And for some reason, last night…I saw something when I touched you.” Calvin rubbed his head and sighed. “That’s never happened before.”
“What did you see?”
“What?” He seemed surprised at my question but that didn’t make sense.
“What did you see that had you so freaked out?”
Shaking his head, he slid off the desk and dropped to his knees in front of me. “What I saw wasn’t important. It’s that fact that I had a vision that scared me so much. And I’m sorry for running away and leaving you in the woods.”
His hands slowly moved up my thighs, sending shivers to my core. “It was kind of an asshole move.”
He chuckled and kissed both my knees. “I know. Will you ever forgive me?”
“I don’t know if I can,” I teased, spreading my knees wider so he could move closer.
“Well,” he said, slinking between my legs like a naughty cat, “how can I make it up to you?” His fingers brushed the seam of my pants and I sucked in a sharp breath. “Perhaps I could show you how sorry I am?”
Oh, dear god. I briefly thought about how inappropriate it was to do something like this in my office, but when Calvin started to unbutton my uniform, my mind descended into mush. With a stealth unmatched by any others, Calvin had my pants opened and pulled down to my ankles in a matter of seconds.
“Calvin,” I breathed. “I don’t know if we—” My protests were cut off when he pressed his lips against mine. His tongue darted inside my mouth, cutting off any objection the rational side of me might have had. I sucked in everything about him—his taste, his smell, the amazing way he knew how to move his tongue. When he gently sucked on my bottom lip, I let out a content moan. And as his lips descended down my neck, I knew that I would allow him do anything to me right now.
“Do you forgive me?” he breathed into my ear while he unbuttoned my tan collared shirt.
“Not yet,” I said.
With a growl, he grabbed my breast and slid his other hand along my folds. I gasped as they made contact with the moisture pooling between my legs. His fingers dug into my breasts while his tongue danced around my hardened nipple. But it was when he pushed two fingers inside of me that I had to muffle the moan that left my lips.
Calvin chuckled while he trailed kisses down my stomach. His fingers continued to pulse in and out of me, hitting the perfect spot instantly. I loved that he was the kind of man who knew how to please a woman. Perhaps it was his prolonged life that gave him the experience. Or maybe he’d always been a thoughtful lover who cared how his woman felt.
His eyes meant mine and reflected the mischief hidden inside. As he slowly lowered his kisses from my stomach, to my hips, and down to my clit, I watched in excitement. I adored a man who could take control, and Calvin Baptiste would always want to take control. His lips met my folds a moment before he licked my clit. I slapped my hand over my mouth to muffle my pleasure, knowing that Alan would be able to hear me rather easily. Old walls and all. Calvin sucked and nipped and eventually pushed his fingers inside again in time with the way his tongue rolled around my sex.
My body pulsed with the impending orgasm, my toes already numb in anticipation. Calvin’s other hand cupped my ass as he buried his head between my legs. His tongue…good god, his tongue could move in ways I didn’t know possible. Somehow, he twisted, tugged, and nipped all at the same time. And the fact that we were doing this in a semi-public place had my head spinning in satisfaction.
“Calvin!” I called out in a whisper a second before my body exploded. While the orgasm pulsed through me, he flicked my clit to prolong the amazing feeling. My legs tingled, my knees melted, and I knew that I could never be mad at this man for long.
I leaned back into my chair, legs spread and cougar shifter hovering between them. The sweat dampened my skin, glistening in the light coming in through the one window on the side of the building. Calvin nuzzled against my folds, his nose brushing the still sensitive clit. I giggled as he continued to tease me.
“Are you still mad?” he asked with a wicked grin.
I looked up at the ceiling and bit my lip. “Yes,” I lied.
Calvin rose up to his knees and snuggled closer to me. “Really?” he said. Kissing my lips, I felt my moisture on them and for some reason that turned me on even more. Too bad we weren’t alone right now.
“Okay, maybe not as much.”
He smiled at me and brushed his nose against mine. “I tell you what. How about we go on a proper date tonight. Dinner, drinks, and…” He wiggled his eyebrows. “And maybe round two.”
I pulled him closer and kissed his cheek. “And round three, and four…”
He laughed. “Sounds perfect.”
The knock on my door had us stifling our giggles. “Sutton, you good.”
“Oh, I’m good,” I replied with a laugh.
I heard Alan shuffle his feet but then he walked away. Calvin watched the door closely. When he heard something to his liking, he jumped to his feet. “Okay, how about I pick you up at six?”
Sprawled out in my office chair, mostly naked, I wished I could speed up time. “Sounds good.”
Calvin reached forward to help me stand. Then he put my arms on his shoulders while he bent over and pulled up my pants. As he started to button my shirt, he kissed me between each one. I stood there, weak and satisfied, and let him take care of me.
“I’ve never met anyone like you before, Sutton.”
His comment caught me off-guard. “Really?”
With a chuckle, he kissed my nose. “Really. You have broken something in me.” When he realized what he’d just said, he shook his head. “No, I mean in a good way. You’ve broken through my wall and I think I love it.”
Is he trying to tell me that he loved me? Holy shit. How could this be happening so fast? And how was it that I totally felt the same way?
When Calvin saw my surprised face, he smiled and kissed me one more time. “Okay, I’ll pick you up at six.”
I nodded.
“In eight hours.
“Yep.”
He smiled and brushed my nose with his fingers. “I’m going now.”
“Okay.” I couldn’t form my words right now.
“Bye, Sutton, ma femme forte.”
I watched him walk out the door while I still tried to comprehend how I could possibly love someone I’d just met. But then again, when you know, you just know. And even though I’d come to Alaska to help protect those that were different from me, I found myself more passionate about the shifters than ever before. I would do everything I could to protect him and his friends.
After all, that’s what people did for those they loved.
I felt like a damn teenager. I’d lived a long time and not once had I ever had fallen in love. Sure, I thought I had many times over, but never did I feel like this. Like I did with Sutton. She was so much better than me, so much stronger. Yet I wanted to protect her and hold her close and the thought of allowing any other man to touch her beautiful, soft skin had my animal roaring inside.
It was five and I still had an hour before I could pick her up for our date. But I’
d been ready for a while now and the pacing back and forth was starting to get on my nerves. I’d bought a new shirt, ironed it, shaved my scruff, and now I had nothing to do. My animal wanted to run, but I didn’t want to have to shower again. So, we decided to leave early and take the long way through the woods to get to her hotel.
I’d just passed the turnoff for my new house, which I would close on in ten days, when I spotted some flares on the road up ahead. The sun was still setting, but underneath the thick canopy of pines, darkness had already fallen. The bright orange glowing lights cast a hazy fog, and as I rounded the bend, I pulled my truck off to the side of the road and took in the scene.
A young family in station wagon stood next to their disabled vehicle. The man and woman seemed to be arguing, his hands flailing around as she bounced a toddler on her hip. The hood of the car had been lifted yet I didn’t see any smoke or steam. I could hear the baby crying and his parents screaming as though that was a productive way to handle the situation.
Glancing at my phone, I quickly decided that I had enough time to be a good samaritan. After all, how much would the ISC love me for “reaching out to the public” like Danika constantly asked us to do. Rolling my eyes, I pulled on my jacket and stepped out of the truck. With my shifter senses in high alert, I slowly approached the couple.
“You okay?” I shouted, keeping my distance until they felt comfortable. I had no doubt they’d know who I was and I certainly didn’t want to cause any unnecessary fear.
They both snapped their heads in my direction and the woman smiled. “Oh, thank you for stopping.”
I moved closer, sensing something weird but not quite sure what it was. “Car trouble?”
She huffed and glared at her husband. “Life trouble. I mean who comes to Alaska in the winter and then who rents the cheapest car they can find? Huh? Well, I’ll tell you who,” she turned and pointed to the man, “my idiot husband.”
