“Then it’s a good thing we’ve found this motel, isn’t it?” She gave him a tentative smile and tilted her head. “We can get a room and take care of all of that.”
“No.” Galen squeezed her fingers, and then released her hand, pulling his arm free of her touch. “It’s not something one night will cure, Kendra. My wolf needs yours, it craves yours just as my human side needs you and craves your company. One night will never do.” He shook his head. “Two nights won’t do. Hell,” he said, lifting his hand to rake his fingers through his hair. “A lifetime won’t do. We need forever or nothing. If we make love tonight, my wolf will imprint on yours and we’ll be mated forever.”
“Forever?” Kendra’s stomach did that weird little flop again and she swallowed. “What do you mean forever?”
“Werewolves are just like our full wolf counterparts, sweetheart. We mate for life. If I make love to you tonight, any night, my wolf will mate you and I will never look at another woman. I’ll never want another woman for the rest of my life.”
“And I’ll never want another man for the rest of mine?” She didn’t see how that was a bad thing. Her biological clock had been ticking for a few years now. She’d wanted to get married, but never found a man with whom she’d been willing to spend her life.
This man was honorable. She’d seen that side of him already. He would risk his life to save her. She’d seen that already and he didn’t even know she was the one he wanted then. Kendra looked at his buff body and handsome face. And he was very easy on the eyes. What swayed her the most, though, was that strange feeling she kept getting in the pit of her stomach.
All of the signs her grandmother had said she would feel when she met the one for her were there. Did she ignore them, or should she grab onto them and hold tight?
Galen did that do her every time she looked at him. The thought of kissing him nearly sent her into a swoon. He had to be what her grandmother called a soul mate. What else could he be?
“Wait here. I’ll go get the rooms,” Galen said as he got out of the truck and headed into the motel office. The doors to the SUV locked just as the door closed behind him and she smiled. Even in this remote location, he thought to keep her safe from harm. Would she ever find a human man who would do that for her? Did she want to?
The last hours that she spent with Galen helping her, showing her how to shift from human to wolf and back again showed her a side of him she might not have seen had they met under normal circumstances.
Kendra wasn’t sure if it was her wolf hormones driving her now, or if it was her human biological clock ticking away that urged her to move forward with Galen. Whatever it was, the thought of living her life without him seemed impossible. Could she really do it? Could she make love with him, let him mate her and stay happily with him for the rest of her days?
Something deep inside her screamed, Yes! Yes you can. Take him now! Kendra suspected it was her wolf. Did that strange new part of her know something she didn’t? Did it know that she and Galen were meant to be together? Yes! He is yours, claim him now.
Did the female wolves claim their males just as thoroughly as their males claimed them? Something, a strange sense of triumph told her they did. Kendra smiled. This may well be one of the craziest things she’d ever considered in her life, but it didn’t matter anymore. It seemed that she and Galen held the patent on crazy right now. Whatever happened between them after tonight, she knew that this was right. Her new animal sense that she decided to trust more than her rational thought told her this was right. Galen was right for her and she would claim him before another female took him from her.
Kendra smiled, her mind made up. That’s right, Kendra. You’re mama didn’t raise no dummies.
Chapter Sixteen
Galen walked up to the desk and rang the bell. He hoped he didn’t have long to wait. Otherwise he’d have to go get Kendra and bring her in with him. Part of him wanted to rent one room and tell her it was all they had, but his damnable honor wouldn’t let him. He didn’t want lies between them.
He almost sighed with relief when the clerk walked up behind the desk. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. I need two rooms. I need them to be adjoining and at the end of the building if possible.”
Galen didn’t want to be up by the office on the off chance that the men following them managed to find out where they were. They shouldn’t, but who knew how their luck would run?
“I don’t have adjoining rooms.”
Thank God! He wouldn’t have to lie to her. She knew the reason they needed adjoining rooms and she would understand why he couldn’t allow her a room of her own with no door to connect them on the inside.
The clerk punched a few keys on the keyboard. “The best I can do is the two rooms on the end, but they have separate entrances.”
“Then just give us one room. I can’t let the lady out of my sight.”
“Ah, a runner, huh?” The clerk grinned. “We get a lot of you bounty hunter types staying here.” He winked. “Usually, the guys are bringing in male ex-cons. You got lucky, huh?”
“Yeah.” Galen scowled at the man. He didn’t have to lean around the counter like that, trying to get a look at his mate sitting inside the truck. “She’s a handful. I need to keep her within eyesight, so a double room will have to do.”
“The rooms down at the end are king rooms. You’ll have to make do with that.” The guy winked again. “Make her sleep on the floor if she doesn’t want to share the bed with ya.”
“I’ll do that.” Galen signed the paperwork and picked up the key card. “Your diner says it’s open twenty-four hours. Is the food good?”
“Good enough,” the other man said with a shrug. “They won’t win any prizes, but no one’s gotten sick there since they got the new cook last year.”
“That’s good to know,” Galen said, dryly. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Galen left the office before he throttled the clerk. Who did the freak think he was making lewd comments about his mate?
Stepping outside, Galen took a deep breath and stretched his neck, moving his head from side to side. He had to do something to get his mind off that clerk and his remarks. Had he been with any woman but his mate, the remarks wouldn’t have bothered him and he knew it. That was the only reason he hadn’t beaten the shit out of the guy.
Walking around to the driver’s side of his truck, he unlocked it, opened the door and climbed in.
“They didn’t have adjoining rooms. I got a king room on the end.”
“A king room and not two doubles?” Kendra looked at him, her brows raised. “Any reason for that?”
Galen wasn’t sure, but he thought a saw a smile hovering near the corners of her lips. Was she teasing him?
“I wanted a room down toward the end of the set. The only rooms down there have king-sized beds, apparently.” He started the truck, put it in gear and pulled around to the end room and parked. “We can walk to the diner from here. We’ll get something to eat then come get some sleep.”
“Yeah, right,” she said, a half-smile on her face. “Sleep. Yeah, uh-huh.”
“Look. I asked for adjoining rooms. This place doesn’t have adjoining rooms. Get over it.” Jesus, what in the hell was he doing? Galen scrubbed his face with his hands. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“I know that.” She smiled, reached up and massaged the back of his neck. “You’re tired. I get it.”
“That’s no excuse for being rude to you.”
“Is frustration an excuse?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“No. Even that isn’t an excuse.” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck where she had massaged it. He could still feel the heat from her hand there.
“I think it’s a good one, as far as excuses go, especially since you haven’t been attracted to a woman in so long.”
“Let’s go get something to eat.”
“I don’t think food
is going to be much of a distraction. Once you take care of that appetite, the other is going to be that much more pronounced.”
“Then I’ll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.” Having had enough of the discussion, Galen grasped Kendra by the upper arm and half-dragged her to the diner.
“I’ll be right with you two,” a young woman called from the back. “Just seat yourselves anywhere.”
“We’ll sit in the corner,” Galen said as he led her to a corner booth and waited for her to sit in the seat facing the wall. “I’ll take this seat. I want to be able to see anyone who enters.”
“Whatever,” Kendra said easily as she sat. “I’m easy. I just want something to eat, a bath and some cuddle time.”
“Don’t tease me, woman. You won’t like the result.” Didn’t the woman realize she was playing with fire? She might think it was fun to tease him right up to the point where he lost control of the beast inside him that insisted he mate her immediately.
“Who says I’m teasing?” She rested her chin in her hand and held his gaze.
It didn’t look as though she was playing around, but Galen knew she’d been human up until two weeks ago and she had human values. Her thought processes wouldn’t be like that of a shifter who had searched for her mate for years.
“I just don’t want you to do something you’ll regret.” He glanced up as the waitress approached.
She was a pretty little thing as humans went. She wore her short blonde hair spiked on the top of her head. The pink highlights had a strange appeal, though he loved his mate’s beautiful red hair. Nothing could compare to the fire he saw shining in her coat when she shifted into her wolf.
“What can I do for you?” the waitress asked as she sidled up to him, pressing her hip against the back of his side of the booth.
“You can get us something to drink and a couple of menus.” Kendra looked like she was about to growl at the girl.
“What would ya like to drink, sweetheart?” She batted her eyes at Galen. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he did hear her growl at that.
“We’ll both take diet colas.” He glanced at her. “Is that okay? I didn’t think we needed the sugar this late. We need to get some rest.”
“Two diet colas, it is,” the waitress said as she turned to walk to the counter. “Just say the word, sweetheart, and I’ll get you a regular cola. I know what to do with late night energy, even if she doesn’t.”
“What a floozy,” Kendra said with another low growl. “I hope she doesn’t bring out my wolf. I might not be able to stop it from mauling her skanky ass.”
“Calm down, baby.” Galen grinned. “Do I scent jealousy?” He chuckled. “I don’t believe it. You actually sound jealous.”
“Don’t you laugh at me.” She scowled. “First you tell me that I’m your mate and you won’t look at another woman and the first thing you do is flirt with that—that, hussy!” She said the last in a whisper.
“I’m not flirting with her. I’m being courteous. Just because my human and wolf side agree you are our mate, doesn’t preclude good manners.”
He wanted to laugh out loud. Nothing could have prepared him for the utter happiness he felt at knowing his mate was jealous. Jealous! Of a human woman, no less. That she had been human only a few short days ago meant little. She was a shifter now and, if her reaction was any indication, her wolf had decided to claim him, whether she realized it or not.
Chapter Seventeen
“Here ya go. Two diet colas.” The waitress plopped two glasses down in front of them. Kendra’s looked as though it was half full of ice. That didn’t bother her. She loved her drinks cold and she didn’t drink a lot of cola, diet or otherwise.
She imagined the waitress thought it would upset her. Instead, it made her smile. It only proved that one person’s idea of misfortune could be another’s rapture. It all relied on perception.
She looked down at the table in front of her. The menus resembled a newspaper, which was probably a good idea. They were most likely inexpensive to make and easy to make menu changes with the seasons.
“What would ya like, sugar?” the waitress asked Galen as she leaned over the table, her cleavage in his face.
Kendra wanted nothing more than to growl at the woman and declare Galen hers, but he wasn’t hers. Not yet, at any rate. Biting her lip, she did her best to keep her attention on the menu.
When had she become so possessive? Not once in her other relationships had she ever felt the slightest jealousy. Why now and why with Galen? Was it her wolf causing her to feel such rage that another woman was after her man, or was it because deep down she knew they belonged together just as surely as her newly acquired wolf knew?
“I’ll let the lady order first,” he said with a smile as he pulled away from the hovering woman. “After all, I always let the ladies order first.”
“You’re such a gentleman.” The waitress simpered.
Kendra wanted to barf. How in the hell did the woman think anyone believed her blatant act? It was clear the woman was throwing herself at Galen, though she attempted to maintain an air of guileless innocence.
“I try to be, especially where my wife is concerned.”
The change was instant and obvious. The smile disappeared from the server’s face and she straightened. “It figures,” she mumbled. “Like I’ve been telling my mother for years, all the good ones are already taken.”
It was more than likely the waitress undermined her search for a good man by attracting the wrong kind with her slutty attitude. Kendra immediately felt bad for her unflattering thoughts and returned her attention to her menu.
“What can I get for you, ma’am?” the waitress asked with more respect. It was almost as though someone flipped a switch. As soon as she found out there was no competition for Galen’s attention because he was smitten with his wife, the woman turned almost nice.
“I’d like the country fried chicken, please.” She closed her menu and handed it to the waitress. She could kiss Galen for letting the woman know he wasn’t interested. Kendra wasn’t used to losing her temper and now that she was a werewolf, she didn’t know if she could control the fit of anger she’d felt building within her a few minutes ago.
“I think I’ll have the same. It sounds delicious.”
“Two country fried chicken dinners coming up,” the waitress said as she turned toward the kitchen.
“Thank you,” Kendra called after her. There was no sense in not being courteous now that she didn’t want to rip the other woman’s throat out for flirting with Galen.
Turning back to her companion, she leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Why did you tell her we were married?”
Galen shrugged and took a sip of his cola. “It looked as though you were ready to rip her head off. I thought I’d save you the trouble…and the mess.” He grinned.
“I don’t believe you.” She stared down at her hands and realized she’d shredded her napkin. “I’m going to need another.” She sighed.
“That’s easy,” Galen said as he stood and reached over to the next table for a full napkin holder. “Apparently, they missed our table when they set these out.”
“Apparently.” Kendra gave him a half-grin. “I’ll eventually get used to these new emotions, won’t I?”
“What new emotions?” Galen frowned slightly and leaned forward. “You shouldn’t feel anything you haven’t always felt as a human.” He lowered his voice when he said the last bit.
“I have never felt this sense of…antagonism toward another woman over a man in my life.” She lowered her voice further. “That woman was infuriating me. I wanted to rip her throat out and believe me when I say I have never felt anything like that before in my life. I’ve never been the least bit jealous, but with this woman, I could barely control the urge to kill her.”
She placed her hands flat on the table. “This…thing inside me makes me angry. It urges me to rip that woman to shreds.” She shook her head slowly. How
could she make him understand? He’d probably lived with the same emotions all of his life.
“I don’t think I can handle it. I wasn’t meant to be like this.” Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears. “I wasn’t born this way. I’ll never be able to control it like you can.”
“No one can control it like I can, just like no one can control it the way you can. We are different. We’re all individuals who take things in different ways.”
It couldn’t be that simple. Could it? Kendra stared down at the tabletop. Bits of shredded napkin littered the surface and she brushed them aside. The smell of hot grease permeated the air and she wrinkled her nose. “I hope dinner tastes better than is smells.”
“It usually does in restaurants like this,” Galen said with a smile. “I’ve eaten in diners across the country and they usually have good food no matter how they look or smell. There’s just something about the down-home country diner.”
“And this one is the best,” the waitress said as she set their plates down in front of them. “I’ll just get you both another glass of soda to go with that.” She smiled.
Kendra looked up and noticed her nametag for the first time. “Thank you, Samantha.”
“You’re welcome.”
She pulled two napkin-covered sets of utensils from her apron pocket and set them on the table. “I’ll be right back with those drinks, just let me know if you need anything.”
“Wow.” With eyes wide, Kendra watched Samantha enter the kitchen. “What’s up with that? One minute she’s got an attitude from hell and the next she’s being sweet as pie.”
“She’s not looking at you as competition. She’s accepted that I’ve made my choice.”
“But we aren’t married,” Kendra whispered.
Galen smiled and rested his hand on hers. “She doesn’t know that.” He gestured to her plate. “Enough talking,” he said as he lifted her hand and kissed it. “Eat before it gets cold.”
Chapter Eighteen
Galen Page 7
