Hers (Snowy Mountain Wolves)

by Lovell, Christin

  My heart beat a little faster as warmth slid through me. “So are you,” I breathlessly replied.

  Her gaze locked on mine. My gaze locked on hers.

  She leaned in closer, her gaze momentarily slipping to my lips.

  My breathing grew shallow as I watched, unable to move. I knew what was coming; I impatiently waited with baited breath for what was coming.

  Ellie’s hand came to rest on my hip; using her strength, she turned me a little more towards her.

  I swallowed hard, watching as she closed the distance between us. I swore angels sang as her full lips gently swept across mine. She was an intense person, yet this kiss was anything but tense. Cautiously at first, she brushed her lips against mine, kindling my warmth; it was as if she knew I needed to be broken in.

  Slowly, I gained bravery. Her lips covered mine, patiently teasing me, but this time, I met her caresses with hesitant eagerness. She was so soft; her lips were pliable, yet dominant. She controlled the kiss. She controlled what she wanted me to feel with this kiss.

  All I felt was passion; she lit my flame and drew me into her. She lured me in deeper to this web of wonder. I’d never wanted a woman before, but I wanted Ellie right now. All of her.

  Feeling myself lose control, I began to pull back. She didn’t fight me. She allowed me to retreat with one final kiss. She pressed her lips to mine and drew her tongue along the edge of my mouth. Desire squeezed my womb, teasing my nipples hard. Dang, damn, wow. The woman knew what she was doing.

  This was proven when she chuckled against my lips, nipping my bottom lip gently before she withdrew. “Later, sweet cheeks,” she promised.

  As she resituated herself beside me, Jerry came into view. His expression was one of shock, awe, and something akin to rage or disbelief. The other patrons in the restaurant were silent, focused on me. I froze, my eyes widening as I registered all the eyes trained on me.

  Ellie placed a strong hand on my thigh, reassuring me.

  Catching himself, Jerry stuffed a bite of his food into his mouth, quickly chewed and swallowed. “Good steak.” He smiled, trying to act as if he saw nothing.

  I adored him for this. It was enough to cut through the tension, enough to let me smile and enjoy the moment.

  Ellie watched me, making sure I was alright before she reacted. “If this pack doesn’t mind its own business, I’m going to make each and every one of your wolves pay,” she declared. Her voice bellowed through the restaurant, but she didn’t really sound threatening. It was enough to restart conversations and get the attention off of us though.

  “Here you are.” The waitress set down two plates of food, followed by a saucer filled with small cups of every kind of dressing I could potentially want. “I’m so sorry about before. Is there anything else I can get you?”

  Feeling more comfortable, more self-confident, I shook my head negatively. “No, thank you.”

  My heart warmed as Ellie beamed at me with pride. I felt giddy, stupid happy beside the woman, because of this woman. I lightly shook my head in dismay, baffled by the revelation. A woman, not a man, was making me happy right now.

  I looked into her sparkling blue eyes, and in one breath, I saw a forever in her, with her. This wasn’t about gender or labels; this was about love and happiness, both of which never discriminate. I never imagined myself with someone like Ellie, but now, I didn’t see how I could be happy without someone like her.

  It happened so fast. I knew there were fears lurking beneath my surface, but right now, happiness smothered them.

  For now.

  — 9 —

  Ellie

  I felt high as a kite. Talk about a fucking adrenaline rush. I could kiss this girl all day any day. She tasted as sweet as she looked.

  My wolf purred in agreement. She was temporarily sated, knowing we were getting closer to claiming our mate.

  The whole vegetarian thing threw me. It was going to take some getting used to, but as long as she didn’t picket the house over it- Hell! Who was I kidding? I wanted her; the pull was strong enough that I would give up anything, including meat, to be with her.

  The sweetest of moments were those when I caught little glimpses of the amazing woman she was; her personality came through in patches, and each time she took a little more of my heart.

  I was beginning to feel sorry for Billy. By tonight, hell would freeze over before I would let go of this girl.

  Across the table, I met Jerry’s gaze. He nodded his head in approval. He was happy for me on the surface; I knew deep down there was a part of him that was sad. He was too macho to show it of course, but he was past his prime, past his time for claiming a mate. We both were. It was a deep-rooted layer of our bond.

  The truth was, as often as humans read fiction books about wolves getting mates, in reality, not every wolf got one. Kitty’s arrival erased most of my bitterness, but not my empathy. Jerry deserved a mate. All I could do now was hold out hope. I wasn’t morbid enough to let it sour my happiness though.

  — 10 —

  Kate

  Ellie insisted on paying for dinner. We went back and forth a few times until Jerry intervened.

  “Trust me, you’re better off to give in now.” He’d been extra quiet for most of the meal. His gaze passed between Ellie and me in turn.

  Glancing at Ellie, she looked happier than a pig in mud at his bit of advice.

  I released a breath. “Fine. I concede. Thank you.”

  “Anytime, sweet cheeks.”

  “Where can I find a hotel around here?” I asked. Thus far I hadn’t seen one.

  Ellie mashed her lips together, as if she was biting back what she wanted to say for a moment. “You’re not going to a hotel. If you need a place to stay, then you’ll stay with us.”

  “Us?” My heart beat a little harder.

  “Ellie and I are shacked up together.”

  “Not literally.” Ellie cut her eyes at him. “I wouldn’t touch a cock with a ten foot pole, Jerry’s included.” She turned her attention to me. “I’ve only got eyes for feminine curves like yours.” She winked.

  I know I blushed. I felt heat infuse my cheeks. She was so honest, so direct. It was an intimidatingly admirable quality. “I know you mean well, but I don’t want to impose.”

  “You aren’t.” I met Jerry’s gaze, checking for truth in his words. Damn if my heart didn’t speed up a little as I looked into his brown eyes.

  “You’re not.” Ellie pulled my focus back to her. “I’m not dumping you at some hotel, especially when the closest one is thirty minutes away in the next town over.” Her eyes momentarily glowed; each word was delivered with ferocity.

  I fumbled…again…unsure how to respond to her. She was so strong, so self-assured. I wasn’t quite there yet, at least not around her.

  “Feel free to put on another show at the house tonight.” Jerry smirked, leaning back in the booth. “Or better, let me join in.”

  His arrogance was short lived. I heard a thud then a growl. In the blink of an eye, Ellie had him by his shirt. “You do not get to see my mate like that. She’s for my eyes only, got it?”

  He snarled, throwing her hand away from him. Rising up, his eyes flared to life.

  I slid deeper into the seat as Ellie rose up, facing him straight on.

  “You didn’t mind before.” Jerry practically spat the words at her.

  “They weren’t my mate.”

  “Have fun with your mate then.” He seemed more than bitter as he threw down a wad of cash and a pair of keys before stalking off.

  “You’re acting like a pup!” Ellie yelled after him.

  If I didn’t want to disappear before, I did now. Was all that really about me?

  “Grr! Men!” She huffed plopping down beside me.

  The restaurant had gone quiet again. A look around showed all eyes on us again.

  She growled; the timber of it vibrated my flesh. I couldn’t stop my shudder. I wasn’t afraid per se, but the sound awakened f
right. It also sent the other patrons back to their own business.

  I knew my expression revealed my concern and discomfort.

  “Shit.” Ellie sighed. “I’m sorry, Kitty.”

  She gathered my hand in hers. Diverting her gaze, she blew out a soft breath. “I’m really fucking this up and I swear I don’t mean to.” Hesitantly she met my gaze. There were so many facets to this woman. “Why don’t we go home, shower and get comfy? We can talk then, okay?” She brushed a stray hair away from my face.

  She seemed overwhelmed. The confident woman I’d come to know and appreciate in such a short time proved a little less like Wonder Woman, and, yet, it made me like her a little more. It told me she could be vulnerable, and maybe, just maybe, we were a little more alike than I originally thought.

  Leaning in, I kissed her cheek. “Everything will be okay.” I didn’t know how with Donovan still lingering somewhere in the world, but I had to believe it when I told her.

  Looking into my eyes, she gave me a small smile. “I believe you.”

  I beamed, pleased to have built a little trust. “Good.”

  Her smile broadened. “Let’s go, sweet cheeks.”

  She slid from the booth and offered me her hand. I promptly accepted.

  Standing beside her, I watched Ellie pull some cash from her pocket, count it and set it on the table. She took the money Jerry had left and shoved it into her other pocket. Grabbing the keys, she grinned at me. “Let’s go, Kitty.”

  — 10 —

  Kate

  I didn’t know what I was expecting, but a log cabin the size of New York outside the main strip of town wasn’t it. Stepping inside was like walking into an upscale ski resort’s lobby. Browns and greens, wood and stone of varying hues greeted me, wrapping me in warmth. I easily pictured myself cuddling on the couch in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book on a cold, winter night.

  Moving down a short hallway, the end was a magnificent kitchen and dining room. A huge slab of honey granite atop a pine island dominated the kitchen. I thought for certain pine and honey were too close in color to pair, but it worked beautifully.

  “Who cooks?” I asked, studying the space.

  “My parents think they’re the next Ina and Bobby. I got none of their culinary skills.” She chuckled.

  “What about Jerry?”

  “Grilled cheese is the extent of his cooking know-how. His mom passed a couple years ago, and his daddy is about as useful as he is in the kitchen.”

  “Where do your parents live?”

  “A couple miles down the road.”

  “Do you have any brothers or sisters?” I circled the room, marveling at the attention to detail within the wood. Everything was uniform, exquisite; it looked more like custom work than a Home Depot buy.

  When she didn’t answer right away, I faced her. She was watching me closely.

  “Our pack struggles with fertility.”

  As a woman, I didn’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t have kids. It’s easy when you’re young to just assume any woman can bear children. It’s what we were created to do, right? Not so much. In my topic one week, I had to research if this was a new issue affecting women of this generation or if it was an issue throughout history only coming into public discussion now.

  It was the latter.

  I wasn’t running to get pregnant, but I hoped to be a mother one day.

  “Do you want kids?” I watched for her reaction.

  Ellie pursed her lips, considering me. “I think I need a hot shower and a shot of whiskey before I get into that one. Join me?”

  I bit my lower lip, looking at the blonde Barbie. We were both girls, we had the same things, but hers were packaged far better than mine.

  Noting my uncertainty, she took charge. She grabbed my hand, hefted my bag she’d retrieved last minute from my car back at the shop along with my purse, and led me upstairs.

  The staircase wound upwards and opened to a loft that acted as a second sitting room. A stone fireplace, like the one downstairs, made it cozier.

  She escorted me to the left. Opening the double doors, my jaw dropped at the massive master bedroom. The furniture matched the overall design; it was the rich accents that took it to an untouchable luxury level. A large bed of logs with four tall timber posts dominated the space. A thick, lush comforter with a muted palate of off-white against a pale caramel-colored, floral pattern added to the posh elegance. I wanted so bad to crawl into the center of the bed and snuggle beneath the covers. It was one of those beds you knew by looks alone it would be heaven to sleep on.

  Ellie dropped my overnight bag and purse by a nine-drawer dresser across from the bed. She reached for me and tugged me into her embrace.

  My heart took off again. My body tingled to life as she pressed herself flush to me. She was a few inches taller than me, minus heels; the difference gave her leverage, allowed her to touch me right where I needed to become putty in her hands…places that I never knew could be erogenous, like the simple grazing of my hips.

  Why am I letting this happen?

  With one swift jerk, Ellie freed my hair. Once cascading over my shoulders, she threaded her fingers through my strands.

  Pulling back a little, she tucked my hair behind my ears. “Your heart is racing,” she stated.

  Is it beating that loud or is her hearing that good?

  She met my gaze. “What are you afraid of, Kitty?” Gingerly, she trailed a finger over my bustling heart.

  “I’ve never done anything like this,” I whispered. The admission left my lips before I could overanalyze her question. The statement left me in awe of the idea that I was open to this.

  Her blue eyes softened, encouraging me to let down my guard. “I know.”

  “I…” I bit my bottom lip as I looked away from her. She shifted, prompting me to focus on her slim figure, the way it moved with purpose and grace. “I’m not built like you. I’m not a blonde bombshell with a immaculate body. I have flaws and fat and…” I frowned, searching for the right word.

  “Look at me.” Her command came as a growl. She cupped my cheeks, masterfully making me face her. “So someone put too much sand in your hourglass; I happen to love it. And if you can love my body just the way it is, why can’t I love yours just the way it is too?”

  I considered her, mulled over her words. They seemed too much like a fantasy turned reality, what you always dreamed someone would tell you and then they finally did. Beyond that though, how did she, as a stranger, know me so well to know what to say to shut me up?

  She implored me. “Trust me, Kitty.” At the last minute, she added, “Please.”

  I swallowed hard, trying not to cower. “Kate.”

  “Kate?” Her brows dipped slightly.

  I nodded once. “My name is Kate.”

  Her lips pursed their way into a smile. “I prefer Kate.” Her eyes twinkled as she leisurely took me in. “It suits you.” She took my hand and led me into the bathroom, a space no less opulent than the bedroom.

  Nickel fixtures appeared elegantly rustic against the slate floor, honey granite counters and pebbled shower. It was dark and light, feminine and masculine, strong, yet not overpowering. The one unexpected touch was the small clutter of vanity products on the left side of the counter. It made the room slightly less intimidating.

  Ellie left me to turn on the shower. Jets sprayed water in every direction. Steam quickly made the air sticky with humidity, reminding me of the thick Miami heat. Before me, she stripped off her shirt before sliding out of her jeans. Dainty curves filled her bra and panties.

  My body began to heat, anticipating her show.

  Reaching back, she released her bra and tossed it to the floor. Her breasts barely moved, standing beautifully high as soft peaks. Light pink rose buds perked as she watched me for a reaction.

  I could only stare breathlessly, bothered. My body was hyperaware of her. I’d always appreciated women’s bodies, but appreciating
was a world away from attraction. I was attracted to Ellie. Watching her made my mouth water. I clamped my lips together, fighting the urge to run my tongue over every part of her, tasting her entirely.

  My heart beat faster, my mind swam with ideas, intimate in nature. I swallowed, surprised to realize I was dangerously close to switching teams. It was too easy to picture myself over her. I craved the mesmerizing experience of watching her come. Damn. I suddenly wanted so badly to kiss her again, this time with my arms wrapped around her, pulling her to me.

  My pulse began to flutter as my body heated, tingled more, before her. I saw the flicker of darkness in her bright eyes, eyes that narrowed as I absorbed her beauty.

  She confidently sashayed towards me. A grin added to her devious disposition. Slowly, torturously, seductively, she slipped out of her panties. Had it been me, I would have been a fumbling mess, far from graceful or sexy like her.

  She closed the distance between us. “Do you trust me, Kate?” She stared into me, forcing me to admit the truth, to face what we were doing. She wasn’t going to let me run.

  I nodded a dazed ‘yes’.

  Leaning into me, she whispered, “Then trust me.”

  Her soft breath sent a shudder through me. My pussy clenched, desire drowning my conscience, my sensible, straight self.

  Suddenly, she was gone. I was left standing in the middle of the bathroom, my body yearning, craving a novel, unexpected experience. I bit my lip, biting back a whimper.

  My womb pulsated in rhythm with my pussy; my breasts ached merely from looking at the woman. When she was before me, I was distracted, blind to the true control she lassoed over me. She knew though. She had to know.

  I blinked and darkness surrounded me. The door closed, the lock clicked and my heart puttered even faster.

  Out of nowhere, she appeared. My heart skittered as two glowing honey eyes pierced the blackness, two haunting beacons.

  I swallowed hard as Ellie wrapped her arms around me. Her eyes were unsettling before me, proof that I was indeed with a paranormal creature, proof that I hadn’t imagined what happened in the auto shop earlier.