Shifting Positions

by Jennifer Dellerman

  When she caught sight of Caleb, her pulse shot into high gear. He didn't just walk toward her, he stalked, his gait smooth and purposeful as the strong column of his thighs ate up the short distance. His dark eyes gleamed hot when they settled on her, then he glanced at Frank and back again, the dark depths questioning. Though she gave a barely noticeable shrug, she knew he saw the huge SOS in her own eyes because his jaw tightened and his eyes went cold and flat.

  “Kolter,” Caleb said in a way that made Tess think of broken glass, cool and sharp.

  “Sheriff,” Frank tilted his head back slightly in a pompous greeting.

  The lines drawn, Caleb sauntered up the porch steps to her side and then shifted to stand slightly in front of her, which in turn forced Frank back a few paces or risk being stepped on.

  Though he didn't touch her, Tess could feel Caleb's warmth and protection wrap around her like a velvety blanket, and she welcomed the sensation. This was more than the mating heat working its strange magic to overpower her fierce independence. This was trust. The last man she trusted had left when she needed him the most. Her father. Though as an adult she understood the reasons, logic didn't enter in the psychology of a broken home and the potential everlasting affects. The need for baby steps was paramount. Her wolf half, on the other hand, wanted to howl in satisfaction and pounce, clawing for a mile when Tess could only handle an inch.

  First things first. Every shifter knew the strength of Caleb's loyalty to Dean, which included Dean's righteous trouncing of Frank to become alpha of the pack. In his own right, Caleb could easily squash the older shifter like a bug, but Frank was crafty and never forgot a slight. Two wolves at odds, and obviously hating each other, could make the current situation turn into an explosion of temper and fur.

  “Sheriff,” Tess said, purposely softening her voice to create a calming effect. “I'm glad you stopped by. Something was brought to my attention earlier which requires your professional opinion.” She glanced at Frank, flashing the man a sheepish smile that didn't reach her eyes. “I do apologize, Mr. Kolter. I have a private matter to discuss with the sheriff. As a concerned citizen and wealthy business man, you'll understand how something that at first might seem a small glitch can quickly turn into a costly obstruction.”

  As expected, the purposely inflated and vague explanation confused the shifter if the way his forehead creased in a frown was any indication. However, the element regarding his status in the community played to his ego, as Tess knew it would. His shoulders straightened and his face smoothed into a look of pure benevolence. “Of course, my dear.” He reached for her hand, ignoring Caleb's subtle growl of warning. “Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.” Then, as if he had a death wish, Frank pressed his lips to her knuckle.

  Tess willed away the instinctive need to yank her hand away and scrub it on her jeans. “Thank you for stopping by.”

  “As if I could resist.” Frank nodded once to Caleb who responded likewise. The silence stretched while the two shifters stared each other down.

  Rolling her eyes, Tess said, “Sheriff, please come inside. I'd like to get this over with as quickly as possible.”

  Caleb's lips twisted in a feral grin as he answered her, his eyes never leaving Frank's. “I'm all yours… mate.”

  Groaning silently at the ring of possession in his words, Tess backed into the house and headed at a fast clip to the kitchen where she could make some soothing tea. She was freezing. Unlike the males whose body temperature ran at a canine's level, female shifters had a core temperature a few degrees below a normal human, and the cold affected them deeply. By not allowing Frank in the house she'd subjected her body to the icy night air. Not enough to do any serious damage, but enough that she had a numb nose and ached down to her bones.

  She pulled out a mug from the cabinet, filled it with water and popped it in the microwave to heat. Then she dug around for a teabag.

  “What the hell was Frank doing here?”

  Tess looked over her shoulder to see Caleb glowering at her, his mouth hard and angry. “Supposedly to apologize for his son's behavior.”

  “You need to stay away from him,” he bit off.

  She turned to face him, leaning against the counter. A since of deja vu crept over her. While Caleb was, once again, angry, this time she was only mildly annoyed. “I know that, Caleb. I do possess a strong sense of self-preservation, not to mention a black belt in karate.”

  He just stared at her as if she'd lost her mind. “He's a slippery SOB. You can't trust him.”

  “Well then I guess I'll just have to rescind my invitation to tea tomorrow, won't I?”

  As thunder brewed in his eyes, a noise that sounded like laughter tinkled up from her hip. They both looked at her waist for a moment before she remembered. “Kaylie.” How could she have forgotten her sister?

  She plucked up the phone, saying “All's well. Thanks and nighty-night.” Hanging up over her sister's protests, she turned the phone off and set it on the counter.

  “And that?’ Caleb asked, shoving his hands into his jean's pocket. His coat hung over a kitchen chair, revealing his change of clothing. Instead of the plaid flannel from earlier, he now wore a dark green, long-sleeve Henley that molded to his chest. Knowing what was under that shirt made her mouth water for a taste, and a nip or two.

  She fought to get back on track. “Kaylie. We were talking when Frank stopped by.” Caleb's lips turned down at the mention of the other shifter's name and Tess quickly concluded, “She wanted me to keep the line open to hear what he said.”

  He seemed stunned for a moment and the microwave beeped. She added the tea bag and some honey to the water. “Just as a precaution.”

  “You two do that often?”

  “Only in uncomfortable situations.” Or to cover their butts.

  “Smart.”

  “Necessary.”

  With her tea doctored, she returned her focus to Caleb. He stood across the kitchen from her, as far away as the room allowed. It was disconcerting, the distance, the lack of heat in his eyes. So at odds from the slow burn making her chest ache and her thighs quiver that she actually wanted to run away and hide. Did he no longer want her? She gave herself a mental smack in the head. This mate thing was making her crazy. Wading into new territory always played havoc with her confidence and this budding relationship, yep, she was going there, was as foreign to her as the Chinese language. Of course he still wanted her. He just hadn't stopped by to jump her bones. He'd come to talk with her about what she might have seen on the highway.

  She dropped her head back on her shoulders and sighed, unintentionally exposing her slender neck.

  Caleb made a harsh sound of raw frustration low in his throat and Tess raised her head. His brown eyes had bled to amber, his features shifting from professional detachment to furious hunger in the space of a heartbeat.

  “You're killing me,” he growled in a strained tone, one hand dragging roughly through his hair. “I want you so much my hands are shaking. I know the second I touch you I won't stop until I have you under me. Until I'm deep inside you, and I can't do that right now.”

  Her face flushed, pleasure zinging through her at his words. All her hormones could think was now, now, now. Right here and now nothing was more important than having this man between her thighs. The rush of moisture that gathered between said thighs was proof enough.

  Caleb's nostril's flared and he cursed. “Damn it, Tess. I'm barely holding on to my control here.”

  He looked anguished, his breathing rapid, the muscles in his jaw twitching. She couldn't help herself. She glanced down at his groin. A delicious bulge pushed against his fly with enough force that Tess could see each individual straining button. Her breathing quickened. The anticipation of releasing all that hard flesh had her blood heating faster than hot tea ever could. The remaining part of her brain that still functioned warned her to wait, get the police business over with and then go for broke. Her inner wolf snarled in fury.
Take now, work later. Here was a dilemma. Should she listen to the good girl or bad wolf? She licked her lips in consideration and Caleb pressed a hand to the very spot she ogled, groaning softly. Oh yeah. Bad wolf is taking charge. She took a step forward.

  Caleb held up a hand, palm out as if to ward her away. “You're not really having tea with Kolter tomorrow, are you?”

  She sighed, resigning to good girl mode. “No, Caleb. I was being sarcastic.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Did he touch you?”

  She shook her head. “Only the slobber on the hand and he only did that to piss you off.”

  “It worked. Did he… smell odd to you?”

  She wrinkled her nose in memory. “Actually, he did. Like coffee and watermelons. I didn't know if it was a funky cologne that combined with his natural scent or what.”

  Caleb grunted. “Shifters don't normally use perfumes. Strong scents can give us headaches. Besides, Frank doesn't normally smell like coffee and watermelons.” The last was little more than a murmur as he frowned in thought. “Did he say anything else?”

  “Just that he blamed himself for allowing his sons too much freedom. Oh, and of course how the loss of their mother made taking care of his family harder.”

  “Huh.” He seemed to process that information. “How long ago did she die?”

  Tess nearly choked on a snort of laughter. “Geez, Caleb. How long have you lived here? Melissa didn't die. She left them, as in packed her bags and skedaddled. About nine years ago. The boys were definitely old enough to take care of themselves, even if they did still live at home. Frank rarely talks about his wife and when he does, he uses roundabout words in a sad tone so people think she died. Maybe that's how he deals with her leaving.”

  “Maybe he's an ass.” He rested his hands on his hips.

  She grinned. “Most of the town agrees.”

  “Okay. Did he threaten you in anyway?”

  As their conversation had taken an easy albeit interrogational flow, she automatically responded. “Only by suggesting his hopes that Kyle and I…”

  Caleb's sudden roar obliterated her words. Yes, the man actually roared. He tilted his head back and let out a sound so loud and full of wrath that the windows shook. “Fucker!”

  Tess watched the loss of temper and subsequent swear words and death threats in silence, though she needed to smoosh her lips together to stop the giggle tickling the roof of her mouth.

  A minute went by. She took a sip of tea. Another minute passed. She finished her tea and set the mug in the sink. Finally Caleb reigned in his rage. “Sorry,” he said, his voice hoarse, face red from anger or embarrassment. Probably some of both.

  She nodded once, one side of her mouth curling up in an easy smile. “Accepted.”

  He held still, watching her carefully as if waiting for some kind of retaliation or criticism. When it became apparent that neither would occur, he let out a relieved sigh. “Tell me about your drive back from the hospital this afternoon.”

  Okay. Changing topics. “As in what I saw?”

  He pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket, a pen clipped to the inside. “Yes. Anything out of the ordinary happen or did something catch your attention?”

  She put a hand to her neck, twisting a lock of hair with her fingers. “Nothing out of the ordinary. On my way back I did notice a car on the side of the road just east of the ski resort sign. As I didn't see anyone and the hood wasn't up, I didn't stop.” At his blank look she added, “That's not all that unusual. People pull over along that stretch of road all the time. Most specifically the tourists. They like to wander through the woods or get a closer look at the wildflowers that bloom along the road”

  Caleb raised a brow, the skepticism clear on his face. “Hey,” she defended, . “I've stopped many times to pick flowers. Yes, I know it's winter and no flowers are blooming. I'm just saying what I saw wasn't that odd.”

  He scribbled a moment then looked up. “That it?”

  Tess closed her eyes, rewinding her memory and taking one more trip. “That's it.”

  “Good. And for the record, until we catch this killer, don't stop for anyone you don't know. In fact, don't stop for anyone at all. Call the police.”

  Before she could even glower at his mandate, Caleb dropped the book and pen on the table and, with a feral grin, he moved toward her. In one smooth swoop, she was lifted by her waist and hauled over his shoulder. Then he sprinted out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her bedroom.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Instead of feeling the mattress at her back when Caleb flipped her over his shoulder, Tess landed on her feet, and fell unsteadily against the door of her bedroom.

  “I think you bruised my ribcage,” she laughed, delighted and incredibly turned on by his urgency.

  “I'll kiss it all better.” He said holding her firmly, yet gently, in place with one large hand wrapped at her throat. Knowing she could easily break his grasp if she wanted, she relaxed and let the heat simmer through her body, the potent force making her knees weak. Grabbing his shoulders in an effort to steady herself, she dug her nails into his strong shoulders. He growled in approval, eyes burning to amber as his head descended in the next instant to ravage her mouth. His tongue thrust hard and deep with wild primal hunger, filling her mouth with his exotic taste.

  His other hand was everywhere: her hip, stomach, tunneling under her sweater to cup her breast, his thumb and forefinger lightly pinching the hardened nipples. Each stroke built a fire that threatened to turn her to ash. Her body became one huge throb of endless need from the touch of his lips alone, breasts heavy, stomach clenching as tension began to coil hard and unbearably thick. If this horrible ache was what Caleb lived with every day since they'd met, she didn't know how he could stand it. His control must be iron-clad. Her's shattered, leaving a longing so severe she thought if he didn't assuage the passion flooding every atom in her body, she'd spontaneously combust.

  “Caleb.” His name came out as a breathy plea. It didn't matter that foreplay was basically nonexistent. The juices spilling from her pussy dampened her panties as if they'd kissed and touched for hours, not seconds. “Please.” Unable to wait, she kicked off her shoes and undid her own pants, shoving them as far down as she could while still standing in his grasp.

  A groan rumbled in his chest as he tilted her head to nip her neck with careful teeth, using his rough tongue to sooth the pain. She arched, giving him access to anything he wanted.

  His hand flattened on her tummy, his fingers edging lower, brushing over the short, soft hair on her mound, straying further down to whisper over her wet slit. He teased a moment, destroying her control as he traced the seam of her pussy. Then he parted her folds and began working her clit in strong strokes, driving her insane. Her hips bucked wildly against his hand.

  “More.” She pulled at his shirt in desperation. “I want more.”

  “Everything.” He wrenched off his shirt and attacked his jeans, hers followed and both were kicked carelessly to the side. Tess could practically feel herself drooling at the unencumbered sight. His wide shoulders led to muscled arms that bunched enticingly with every movement. She glanced down at his erection, fixated on the huge shaft straining toward her. A bead of fluid dotted the fat head. The veins cording his cock pulsed hard and fast, trailing down to disappear in a soft patch of dark hair.

  How could she have forgotten how big he was? Not that having all that steely flesh inside daunted her. It inflamed her.

  Her hands itched to run over the smooth, contoured chest, to take one flat nipple between her teeth and nibble. She placed both hands on his six pack abs, feeling the muscles quiver as she slid her hands up his hot flesh. She wanted to pleasure him, needed to take him.

  His hands locked on her hips as he rubbed his erection along her pussy and through the juices collecting on her thighs. “Christ Tess, you make me insane.”

  “Yes.” The ability to think evaporated in a puff of intense lust. “Now.”


  He let out an agonized chuckle and pushed a knee between her thighs. The head of his cock grazed her swollen flesh, spreading her wetness to make his entry easier. She sucked in a breath when she felt him at the small opening of her body and when he froze; she wiggled impatiently to get him inside.

  “Fuck,” he snarled and stepped away from her.

  Panting, she popped her eyes open to see him pawing through his jeans. Condom. She closed her eyes and banged her head against the door. How could she be so stupid? She never forgot protection. And with Caleb, the need for it was imperative. She didn't want to be a broodmare.

  “No,” he kissed her forehead. “No thinking. I told you to trust me. You're more to me than a uterus. You're everything.”

  Not exactly a declaration of love, but scary enough to make her suck in a shocked breath. Before she could retort she felt him slide through her slick moisture, the friction sending pleasure through every nerve ending. She nearly cursed him when he stopped barely an inch inside her. Grabbing his ass, she tried to force him to move. All she could think was more, the word resounding in her head like an echo.

  “Easy, m'lupa” he pressed his lips to her temple, one hand wrapped around her back, the other holding her thigh open wide for his possession. He flexed his hips back and then forward, gaining another inch, stretching the delicate muscles that fluttered around every stroke of hard flesh. When he was lodged to the hilt, he let out a growl of satisfaction. “You feel so damn good, Tess. Better than I ever imagined. Like sweet, sinful heaven.”

  It wasn't just good, it was exquisite, wild and scorching and oh so perfect. Then he was moving again, hips rolling as his cock shafted in and out, his pelvis grinding against hers. Her clit was in agony, her body on fire, her orgasm just out of reach.

  Suddenly Caleb withdrew from her body and turned her around. He grabbed her hands and placed them palm open on the door. Then he tilted her hips back, her rear thrust in the air. “What…”