CoyoteWhispers

by Rhian Cahill

  He crouched down and gripped her shoulder. “Hey, are you all right?”

  “C-c-cold.” Her voice was muffled by the beanie pulled down low on her forehead and the scarf wrapped around to cover what was left of her face, but neither could hide the chattering of her teeth.

  Steve pushed the cold, wet material aside. “Recognize her?” he asked Dale.

  His friend sucked in a breath as he squatted beside him. “Tatum. It’s Tatum Brant. William’s granddaughter. But she hasn’t been back in the mountain for years.”

  “Let’s get her inside out of the weather.” Steve slid his arm around her as best he could with the bulky jacket she wore. He lifted and Dale steadied them as they got to their feet.

  One on either side of her, they headed back to the house. She trembled against him and Steve could feel the damp and cold seeping from her clothes to his. It was awkward, she seemed to be wearing a wardrobe full of clothes beneath her thick coat. They reached the garage and crossed to the connecting door where Brogan and Quinn met them.

  “Who the hell is that?” Quinn asked.

  “Tatum Brant,” Dale answered.

  “Where’d she come from?” Brogan asked.

  “Bottom of the driveway, she was trying to make it to the house,” Steve said. “Can you go shut the garage door and turn off all the lights, Quinn?”

  “Sure.”

  “Oh, and Doc’s bag is on the ground near the light switches.”

  “Got it.”

  Her trembling had turned into bone-rattling shakes by the time Steve guided them into the living room where he and Dale lowered Tatum to the couch. He began removing her wet outerwear and quickly discovered the reason for her bulky mass. The women came in from the kitchen and immediately rushed over.

  “Jesus. Is that…” Kat asked.

  “Tatum Brant,” Steve said.

  “Is she…?” Doc’s sister seemed to be having problems forming complete sentences.

  “Pregnant?” Steve finished for her.

  “I haven’t seen her in years. How’d she get here?”

  “No idea and right now my priority is getting her warm,” Steve said.

  Tatum tried to curl up but her protruding belly hampered her efforts. Dale sat next to her and pulled her against his side. He wrapped his arms around her as best he could and ran his hands up and down her arms. “You got a blanket, Steve?”

  “Yeah, let me grab one. I’ll turn the heat up too.”

  Steve left the room. After pulling a couple of quilts from the linen cupboard and returning them to the living room, he detoured to his room to check on Doc. She was exactly where he’d left her, sound asleep with one hand tucked under her cheek. The dark circles under her eyes made her face look bruised and he vowed to spend the next week making sure she got plenty of rest so those black smudges disappeared completely. He pulled the covers up over her shoulders and bent down to drop a light kiss on her forehead. Breathing deep, he drew her scent into his lungs.

  Memories of earlier flashed through his mind. His cock hardened and a groan rumbled in his chest. There wouldn’t be a repeat performance any time soon. Not with everyone still here and Doc in need of sleep. With a sigh, he straightened and forced himself to turn and leave the room. Each step dragged and he wondered at the irony of the moment. He’d waited so long for her to acknowledge their attraction and when she did everything and everyone seemed to be getting in the way of them being together.

  As he approached the living room, he could hear raised voices. They got louder the closer he got and he quickened his pace, determined to stop them before it became a yelling match.

  “Hey, keep it down, you’ll wake Doc.”

  The sight before him amused and confused him. Dale stood with the pint-sized Tatum right up in his face. For someone who’d barely functioned a few minutes ago, she’d made a swift recovery. She’d backed the sheriff up against the wall and had a finger prodding him in the chest. Both turned toward him as he entered the room.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “Doc is here?” Tatum stepped away from Dale.

  Dale grabbed her by the arm. “I told you you weren’t seeing her tonight.”

  “And I told you to stop manhandling me.” She tried to pry his fingers from her skin. “I’d hate to see how you treat criminals if this is how law-abiding citizens are handled.”

  The sheriff dropped her arm like it was a hot rock. “Tatum.”

  “Sheriff.”

  Steve watched as they stared each other down and much to his surprise Dale broke away first. He watched the sheriff close his eyes and run a hand down his face. “Tatum, Doc is resting. She had a…scare earlier and isn’t up to seeing a patient.”

  “I’m not a patient. But you haven’t given me two seconds to explain myself so it’s no wonder you’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

  “Tatum, what were you doing out on the road?” Steve asked.

  “I came up here after I called in at the café. The woman behind the counter said Doc and Kat were here and she thought Doc might need me,” she explained.

  “Need you?”

  “I’m a nurse. Doc’s nurse, actually, but I’m not due to start until after the fifteenth of next month.” She walked over to the couch, one hand pressed to the small of her back making her pregnant belly stick out more. Slowly, she lowered to the cushions. “Damn, I must have pulled something trudging through the snow.”

  “You walked up here?” Dale barked.

  “No, stupid. I drove, but I slid on some ice about ten minutes down the road and ended up in a ditch. I walked the rest of the way but then it started to snow and I got colder by the second. I’d just popped the lock on the cop car out front when you two came to my rescue.”

  “You broke into my car?”

  Steve smiled. Tatum didn’t seem like such a law-abiding citizen right now. She ignored Dale and kept on with her story.

  “Look, I know this is strange but the woman at the café made it sound as if Doc had been hurt and I couldn’t just go on over to Gramps’ house without checking she was all right.” She slumped back against the couch with a sigh. “By the time I reached the end of the driveway my legs were shaking with exhaustion as well as the cold and I was worried I’d collapse in the snow. I thought if I could flip on the siren someone would hear.”

  “I’m sorry Wendy worried you and put you in danger, but Doc isn’t hurt,” Steve said.

  “Um…Steve?”

  “What?” He turned to look behind him at Kat.

  “How many bedrooms does this place have?” Kat asked.

  “Four. Why?” He glanced past Kat and through the windows running the length of the room. “Oh shit.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking,” Kat said.

  He walked over to join her. On the other side of the glass he could see the deck, along with the rapidly accumulating layer of snow covering it. More snow fell in a thick blanket that blocked out the view of the timber railing twenty feet away, never mind the forest beyond.

  “Damn. Doesn’t look good.” Brogan stepped up next to him. “Does anyone know what the weather’s supposed to be like?”

  “Yeah, we’re due for a storm tomorrow. Looks like it moved in early,” Dale answered.

  “Jesus. I guess I’ll go drag out the extra bedding.” Steve turned from the window. “How many of us are there?”

  “I can share with Kat if she’s all right with that and it makes things easier,” Tatum said.

  “I’m fine with that but don’t you dare have that baby in the bed next to me.” Kat glared at her.

  Tatum laughed. “It’s babies and they’re not due for another three months.”

  Dale made a choking sound next to him and Steve turned to see a red-faced sheriff.

  “Three months? You look like you’re ready to pop now.” Rowan sat on the couch next to Tatum. “So you’re about four months ahead of me then. And El’s pregnant too, but only just. Looks like there’ll b
e lots of new babies next year.”

  “Tatum, can I have a word please?” Dale walked over and reached for her hand. “In private.”

  Steve thought he saw her hesitate but then she placed her hand in Dale’s and allowed him to pull her to her feet, quickly disengaging their hands when she was steady. His friend seemed lost for a moment and Steve realized he had no idea where to go to have their talk.

  “Down the hall, first door on the left is my office. You can use that if you like,” Steve offered.

  “Thanks. I’ll bunk on the couch tonight. Just toss some blankets out and I’ll fix it up when I’m ready,” Dale said.

  “No need. The sofa in the office is a pull-out. Everyone else can take a bedroom.”

  “Oh, okay. We’ll be back in a minute.” Dale gripped Tatum’s elbow and all but dragged her out of the room.

  Steve couldn’t help think there was more going on with that pair but he couldn’t see how when Tatum hadn’t been in the mountains for years and was obviously pregnant with someone’s babies.

  “Hey, what’s up with those two?” Kat asked next to him.

  “Don’t know and right now I’ve got more pressing things to think about.” He turned to Brogan. “You and El can take the first room on the right down the hall. Quinn and Rowan take the next one and Kat, you and Tatum can share the one across from that. There’s extra bedding in the wardrobes. I think I might have spare toothbrushes somewhere too.”

  Rowan stood and stretched. “I’m beat. Anyone mind if I call it a night?”

  “I’m thinking the same thing. Kat, do you need any more help in the kitchen?” El asked.

  “No. I just have to load and start the dishwasher. Go on to bed. You’ve both got baby growing to do.”

  Steve tuned out the women’s conversation and walked back over to the window. He stared out beyond the glass at the wall of white. The snowfall had grown heavier in the last few minutes. If it kept up for long no one would be leaving tomorrow. As long as the storm blew over before morning he could get the plow out and lead them all down the mountain road back to town, but if it continued past sunrise he’d be stuck with his unwanted guests another night.

  * * * * *

  Warm arms slipped around her waist and Gordie snuggled back against the hard chest pressing in behind her. Soft lips traveled over her exposed neck, sending shivers down her spine.

  “Mmm… What time is it?”

  “Early. Everyone’s gone to bed.”

  “Everyone?”

  Steve sighed, his hot breath bathing her ear. “Yeah, tomorrow’s expected snowstorm blew in early. We’re stuck with them until morning.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don’t worry. The minute the snow stops I’ll get the plow out and clear the road into town. I guess all that food your sister brought with her will come in handy now.”

  “Good thing she did bring it, you don’t have much in your fridge.”

  “There’s plenty in the chest freezer downstairs.” Steve grazed his teeth along her shoulder. “But enough about food. I have a different appetite I want to satisfy.”

  He trailed his tongue along the shell of her ear before sucking the lobe between his lips and nipping with his teeth. She arched into him and her bottom cradled his erection, the hard length pressing into the crease between her cheeks. Heat pooled in her abdomen and moisture coated her folds. Gordie wriggled around until she faced him. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his hair.

  “Hi.”

  “Hi, yourself.”

  She smiled. “Did I miss anything important?”

  “Yeah. This.” Steve lowered his head and kissed her.

  At first he kept the kiss slow and easy but it soon wasn’t enough for either of them and he thrust his tongue between her lips to probe inside. She met him stroke for stroke, demand for demand. Sucking hard, Gordie pulled his tongue deeper, used her teeth to scrape the sides as she let go. Steve groaned into her mouth and angled his head for a better fit.

  Gordie splayed her fingers on his chest, the hot muscles rippled as she explored his body. Moving her hands lower, she toyed with the washboard abs he’d earned from honest work. She detoured farther south, to his narrow hips and the delicious valleys leading the way to the prize hidden between his legs.

  Steve’s mouth left hers to graze over her chin and down her throat. He nipped at her collarbone, licked to soothe the slight sting before moving to the other side and repeating his actions, making her gasp. Her fingers curled around his hips, her nails digging in and his pelvis bucked toward her. His cock rubbed over her clit, the material of her shirt abrading the sensitive nub setting off sparks of delight.

  She moaned and moved with him, rocked to find the friction she needed. Her pussy clenched and spasmed with longing and Gordie increased the pace. Steve tugged at her shirt with his teeth, pulled it off her shoulder to lick the skin beneath. Frustrated by the barrier between them, she shoved him away and turned to wiggle out of the top. He helped and in their haste the cloth tore apart at the seam.

  He wrenched her free and tossed the shirt over his shoulder. In a second he rolled her under him, slipped his knee between hers and spread her legs wide. His thighs brushed hers, the rough hair tickling her soft skin. Gordie lifted her pelvis to bring her sex in direct contact with his shaft. Hot and hard, the silky length slid along her slick folds, bumping her pulsing clit. She cried out and he covered her mouth with his hand.

  “Shh. They’ll hear you.”

  Gordie sucked her lips between her teeth, bit down to hold them in place and nodded. Steve removed his hand and gripped her chin.

  “I want to hear you scream. Want to hear my name on your lips when I make you come, but I don’t want anyone else hearing that cry of pleasure. That’s mine and mine alone.”

  Steve didn’t give her a chance to answer. His mouth covered hers in a punishing kiss meant to claim. He flexed his hips and brought his cock to her opening. Pressing forward, he entered her, breaching her body slowly. She wanted more—all of him. Gordie thrust up and drove his shaft deeper, wrenching a moan from each of them. They moved together, built a rhythm of give and take that quickly grew in speed and strength.

  She gnawed on her lips, held them tight between her teeth to muffle the cries of pleasure she couldn’t control. Steve’s hands circled her hips, his fingers spread over her ass cheeks. He held her still, pinned to the bed, and drove in hard, his length dragging over her swollen clit with every stroke. Her head tossed on the pillow and her nails dug into his shoulders as her orgasm built inside her, tightening with each plunge, every retreat of his cock.

  “Please.” Gordie hooked her legs over his hips. “Steve.”

  Her words spurred him on. He pounded into her, pushed them both to the edge as their bodies slammed together—strived for release.

  “Touch yourself.” His hoarse demand sent a bolt of fire into her core. “Do it.”

  Gordie slipped her hand between them, her fingers searching for the spot that would bring her relief. She encountered wet heat and probed farther. Cream coated her fingertips as she circled them over her clit, applied a little pressure and brought herself closer to the peak.

  Steve leaned on his elbows and lifted up to look at where their bodies were joined. “God, that’s so hot. Watching you get yourself off is a huge turn-on, Doc.”

  He pulled back and Gordie reached lower to graze her fingernails along his length as he withdrew.

  “Fuck!” He slammed forward, trapping her hand between them. “Do that again,” he growled.

  She twisted her hand slightly, used her fingers on his cock and her thumb on her clit, and drove them both insane. Steve jerked, his rhythm erratic for a couple of strokes before he returned to the beat, this time faster. Harder. The first contraction rolled into the second and onto the third, her whole body flowing with the waves of her orgasm as they took her under and dragged him with her.

  “Steve.”

  He continued to drive into her, push
ing deeper with each splash of warmth filling her core. Burying his face in the curve of her neck he called her name, the sound more groan than word. Gasping for breath, Gordie held onto him, his weight pressing her into the bedding. Her limbs tingled, whether from lack of circulation or oxygen it didn’t matter and she didn’t care.

  “Too heavy,” he murmured against her skin, sending ripples of goose bumps skittering down her neck.

  “No. I like feeling your weight crush me.”

  “Gee, Doc, you say the sweetest things.” He grinned against her throat.

  “You know what I mean,” she sighed.

  “Yes I do but you’re so fun to tease.”

  “Really? Well just as long as you can take it as well as dish it.”

  “Bring it, Doc. I’ll take all you’ve got.”

  He bucked his hips, his cock, still buried inside her, scraped over tender tissues. Her pussy throbbed, clamped around him.

  “Ooh.” Steve lifted his head and met her gaze. “Again?”

  She arched a brow. “Now?”

  His hips rocked, his hardening length pumping in and out. “Yeah. Now.”

  “Okay, but I’m on top this time.” Gordie tried to roll them but he held her beneath him easily.

  “You gonna ride me, Doc?”

  “Not from dow—”

  Her head spun and hair flopped in front of her face. She shoved the strands aside with one hand, gripped his biceps to steady herself with the other and stared down at him. “How the hell did you do that?”

  “Be a good girl and I might show you.”

  “I’m not being a good girl until you show me.”

  “Fine, be a bad one then.” Steve grabbed her waist and lifted her. “Ride me.” He brought her down.

  The new position altered the angle, allowed for deeper penetration. Sensations unfolded, floated out to cover every part of her. Gordie leaned forward, braced her hands on his shoulders and her knees on the bed beside him. She flexed her leg muscles, used them to raise and lower her body on his. On the downward plunge she rotated her hips and ground her clit on his pubic bone.