Changing Hearts

by Marilu Mann

  Slade realized his need had translated into growling. He’d never felt this way for any other female. She did something to him, something he didn’t know how to control, didn’t have a name for. Shit. It’s too fucking close to the full moon for this. He spun around, angry with himself for reacting to her and angry with her for…shit…just angry. “Cut my hair, Joie.”

  Joie approached him cautiously. Unsure of his current mood, she’d been ready to run from him just a moment ago. She thought he’d probably catch her before she got to the back door, but the flight reaction had been there. She remembered her feeling about the injured wolf, how she’d recognized him as a predator. That same reaction had been present a moment before.

  Taking a deep breath, she set the water bottle down beside the scissors on the table. Draping the towel she’d brought back from the bathroom over his shoulders, she was careful not to touch his bare skin. She could feel the heat emanating off him. Joie carefully gathered his hair in her hands, pulling it out from underneath the towel.

  Running her fingers through his hair, she sectioned it off. Before her parent’s death she’d lived near a horse farm. She remembered the days that she would approach the horses to stroke them just to feel their warmth. Malcolm’s hair reminded her of the mane of one of her favorite horses. She turned to pick up the scissors. When she turned back, she found him watching her over his shoulder.

  “Are you sure?” Her voice quavered slightly.

  “Cut it.” His voice sounded more like a growl than anything else.

  Joie swallowed hard then sprayed his still-damp hair with the water. She snipped off a long section. Holding it in her hand for a moment, she sighed and turned her attention to her task. Joie could hear her own breathing. She could hear the snip of the scissors. And she could feel his temperature rising.

  The scent of the generic shampoo she used came from his hair as she cut it. Under that she could smell him. Not the soap he’d used in the shower, him. He smelled like the woods, like the earth, like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

  Joie took her time mainly because she didn’t want to stop touching him. Malcolm had closed his eyes when she made the first cut, and he kept them closed. She wondered how long he’d been letting his hair grow. Once down to the middle of his back in length, it now barely touched his shoulders. She couldn’t bring herself to cut it any shorter.

  When she made the last cut she stood just to his side. He suddenly opened his eyes and stared straight at her as though he’d known where she was the entire time.

  Joie took a deep breath as his gaze dropped to her breasts again. She hated that. Having large breasts at her size was ridiculous. Most men never met her eyes, Malcolm had been the exception, and it irritated her that now he couldn’t keep his eyes off her breasts. She gasped when he pulled her against his body but before she could protest, his mouth covered hers.

  Heat. Intense, searing heat came off him in waves. One of his hands slid around her waist, the other held the back of her neck. Her hands fell to his shoulders even though she still held the scissors in one hand. Malcolm angled his head slightly as he licked across her bottom lip. Joie opened her mouth then groaned as his tongue slid across hers. She dropped the scissors and clutched at him. He shifted on the chair so that she straddled his legs.

  She felt him pulling her skirt up with the hand that had been around her waist. He eased her down so that she sat on his lap, never releasing her neck. Joie leaned toward him, pressing her breasts against his chest.

  Malcolm groaned now. He pulled her even closer, one hand now pressing against her lower back just above her buttocks. He moved his mouth to her chin then her neck. His goatee felt soft against her skin. Joie leaned back slightly as his mouth moved over her neck.

  She gasped and jerked when he gently bit her collarbone. Not because it hurt, but because it made every nerve in her body come to immediate attention. He still pressed her hips against his body now he shifted his own hips so that she could feel him—hot, hard and more than ready.

  The sound of a car pulling up outside caused both of them to jump. Slade met her eyes as he shifted her yet again, lifting his own hips under her, letting her know of his willingness to ignore the car if she would. Joie shook her head then shoved herself away from him. Slade stretched his legs out in front of him then ran his hand from the center of his chest down to the opening of his jeans. His eyes never left her face but her eyes followed his hand.

  Slade pushed his hand into the opening of his jeans and readjusted his straining erection. Joie couldn’t take her eyes off his hand and he knew he would make love to her before too much more time passed. The attraction between them felt too strong. The feel of her, the taste of her were both branded in his mind just like the tattoos on his body. She would be his.

  He got to his feet, keeping his gaze on her as he slowly eased the zipper of his jeans up then buttoned them. Joie took a deep breath as he moved to stand directly in front of her.

  They both heard footsteps on the front porch then the rap of knuckles on the doorframe. Slade leaned down to cup the back of her head with one hand. She put her hands on his chest and he felt the bite of her nails as she curled her hands against him.

  Slade grinned as he kissed her swiftly and soundly then released her. He strolled through the back door, snagging his shirt off the clothesline as he went through the yard. He glanced at the car in the drive then froze.

  A fucking sheriff’s car! Slade took off across the yard, heading for the shed. Shit! She called the sheriff? When had she done that? Damn human, I knew I couldn’t trust her.

  As soon as he gained the safety of the shed, he stared back at the house. He saw Joie and a deputy come out onto the back porch. The deputy carried a wire cage.

  Joie took the cage then laughed as the man stepped off the porch and headed for his car. Slade watched as Joie nodded to the deputy and continued to watch until the man left the yard. Joie looked down at the cage then started for the shed.

  Slade took a deep breath. Otter. The deputy had brought her an injured otter. He shook his newly shorn head with a chuckle. She hadn’t betrayed him. Apparently she hadn’t even mentioned him to the deputy.

  Shucking his jeans behind the woodshed, he left them and the clean t-shirt on the top of the low building as he shifted. With his transformation complete, he took off at an easy pace.

  Damn if the woman hadn’t left him hard and aching yet again. It must be time to check the perimeter, make sure no sign of the others existed anywhere around.

  Chapter Eight

  “He left. I can’t believe he left.” Her voice echoed in her ears. She’d talked to the deputy. She’d dealt with the poor otter. And Malcolm had left. A tear escaped but she batted it away with her hand. No man would ever make her cry again. There’d been enough of that in Atlanta. “I don’t know why it should hurt anyway. I should be used to being left.”

  But still, why had he left and where had he gone? What if he never came back? Joie sank down on the porch to lean back against the gray weathered railing. What on earth was she going to do about Malcolm if he did come back? Energy surged through her. Sit here on this porch like a lost little girl waiting for her mother? No way.

  Joie walked the yard. As she rounded the back of the house, she noticed his clothes adorning the shed. Relief washed over her. He would be coming back and he wanted to make love to her.

  “Oh God, what am I going to do?” He might leave tomorrow or the next day. Could she take her one shot at having a mad passionate affair before he permanently erased himself from her life? Tante Kay’s words came back to her then. “No better time than today.”

  “Could I?” Joie spoke again to the empty yard. Her gaze roamed restlessly from the edge of the bayou to the tree line and the road. Would he be back soon? What were the pros and cons of actually letting herself do what she wanted? Would he be as incredible a lover as she imagined? The way he kissed her, the feel of his hands on her body, all made her knees
weak. But what about when he fled the bayou? Would she be able to just have a brief physical relationship? Not give her heart to someone she shared intimacy with?

  Joie stopped in the middle of the yard. The heat of the day wrapped around her. Then Joie realized why she knew she could sleep with Malcolm. He already had a large part of her heart. When had that happened? Then it hit her. Yesterday he’d stretched out of Tante’s car into her world in human form. That had been “all she wrote” for Joie’s heart where Malcolm was concerned.

  Her ex hadn’t done that. Not even the night she’d conceived had he truly rocked her world. That had been an accident, a happy one for her but not for him. The arguments they’d had about whether or not she’d even have the baby, much less keep it. Tears welled in her eyes again. Shaking those memories aside, Joie paced back to the shed, forcing her thoughts back to Malcolm.

  This strong, gorgeous man wanted her, but he wouldn’t stay. He couldn’t stay because of the people…the Pack…chasing him. For a moment she let herself dream of a baby with Malcolm’s eyes and cinnamon hair curling against soft sweet-smelling baby skin. And Malcolm laughing down at both of them. Silly girl, stop dreaming about what can’t be.

  She almost laughed at the thought of a relationship based only on sex. That sort of thing happened to other people, not to her. She’d never been the type to even inspire such thoughts, much less be having them. But she realized now that it wasn’t just a physical attraction. At least not for her…

  Deep inside, she knew that he would never hurt her physically. The fact that he hadn’t forced himself on her at any time, that he’d stopped kissing her when she’d asked even though his very obvious arousal had pressed against her, weighed heavily in his favor.

  Somewhere, hidden under that tough, mean façade beat a good heart. Perhaps being here with her and Tante Kay would help him discover the goodness in his own heart.

  But what about her own heart? Would it be enough for her to love him without him truly loving her? Perhaps the healing she sought here would work for him as well. Joie knew she searched for healing of her heart. She wondered if Malcolm didn’t search, unknowingly, for healing of his soul.

  Joie watched a flock of birds fly over the bayou. Their freedom echoed Malcolm’s. The question of whether she could make love with him, even if they only had one night together, suddenly seemed less important. She couldn’t take a wild thing’s wildness away. Would sleeping with Malcolm do that? Would he feel obligated to stay? Suddenly she knew that she would never hold him against his will, even if she took what he offered. She gritted her teeth as she clenched her fists. It would take all of her strength to love him and let him go.

  “Can I do this?” The sound of her own voice jolted her slightly, but caused a great blue heron to squawk in dismay as it left its fishing perch. Joie glanced around but still no sign of Malcolm. It occurred to her that he might have left already. He didn’t need those clothes. He’d already proven that he could leave as a wolf and return fully clothed as a man. The hitch in her breathing told her how much she would regret that. Could she really let him leave without once, just once in her life tasting the passion?

  What would it take to seduce a man like Malcolm Slade? She knew he wanted her, knew his body, at least, craved hers, but could she do this? Her ex had always taken the lead in their relationship. He’d told her when and where he wanted her. Joie had always placidly gone along, never initiating contact between them. He’d once even called her a slut for reaching out to touch him.

  Even when she’d sought comfort after her miscarriage, Bill had turned his back on her, preferring to spend the night out at some bar with his friends while she recovered in the hospital.

  Joie shook her head. Those memories were the very ones she tried so hard to forget. But what if Malcolm responded that way? What if he took what she offered then called her names? Joie didn’t think she could bear it again. Could she even be the aggressor with Malcolm? Would he even let her? The idea of him lying back placidly while she had her way with him made her laugh.

  “Not likely,” Joie chuckled as she turned her back to the woods and started back to the cabin. She saw a fat red squirrel stretching out for an afternoon nap. She couldn’t resist asking him. “Could I really do this? I don’t even know where to start!”

  “Start what?”

  Joie shrieked as she whirled to face Malcolm. There he stood bigger than life and dressed again. “You have got to stop doing that!”

  “Doing what?”

  “Sneaking up on me!” Joie thumped him in the chest. The lout just grinned at her. So she hit him again but not as hard.

  “What are you having trouble starting, Joie?”

  Lord, even the way he said her name caressed her. Joie grabbed her courage with both hands and faced him. Tante’s admonition rang loud in her mind. “Figuring out how to seduce you.”

  She grinned as his eyes widened followed by his jaw dropping. For once, she’d snuck up on him. She only had a moment to savor her triumph before he moved in, sweeping her up in his arms. Joie wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight as he carried her toward the cabin. Laying her head against his chest, she heard his heart picking up speed. Cypress trees flew by until she heard the creak of the porch beneath his feet.

  Malcolm didn’t stop until he stood beside her bed with her still cradled in his arms. She looked up into his eyes to see them glowing down at her. He cleared his throat then spoke softly.

  “I want to take this slow, Joie, but I’m not sure I can.”

  In answer, she kissed his jaw then whispered, “Don’t go slow.”

  Malcolm groaned then set her gently in the middle of her bed. He quickly stripped his jeans off again. Joie laughed, bringing his gaze to her face. “How do you do that so fast?”

  “Practice,” he rumbled as he knelt on the bed. His big hands moved to her shoulders, pushing her gently onto her back as he lowered his naked body on top of her completely clothed one. He angled his head to kiss her and Joie sighed happily.

  Slade supported most of his weight on his arms though he let his hips nestle against hers. He fit perfectly against her body and when she moved slightly, he moved with her so that he nestled even more deeply between her legs. He kissed her eyes, her cheeks and her mouth before moving his mouth to her neck.

  Joie shuddered as his stubbled cheeks scraped against her neck. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she scratched gently at him, reveling in his tremors. She’d never felt this kind of power. She imagined she could conquer the world. A whimper escaped her as his hand roamed to her breast. With his hot sweet lips nipping at her neck, she thought she might rocket to the moon in that moment. She closed her eyes and lost herself to the wicked heat of his touch.

  Slade knew if he opened his mouth he would howl, moon or no moon. Her creamy skin pulled him in. He wanted to rip her clothes off and bury himself deep inside her. But he couldn’t do that. No shifter female writhed beneath him. Other Pack members had mentioned that human females needed some time to prepare for sex. Slade hadn’t paid much attention since he didn’t believe he’d ever have sex with a human. But here they were and he had to, wanted to, needed to focus on her pleasure.

  He wanted to make love to this human, to Joie.

  The smile on her face drew him. The feel of her soft hands moving over his shoulders and scratching, oh-so lightly down his back, made him shudder. How she managed to still have cool hands with the heat so nearly unbearable was a mystery. Slade drew in a deep breath when she trailed her fingers over his ass. He thrust against her to feel her clench at his back. She moaned softly as he nibbled at her neck.

  Slade suddenly wrapped his arms around her and rolled over. Her gasp as she found herself on top of him thrilled him, but before she could object, he sat up, pulling her skirt up and off. Her face flushed beautifully from arousal or embarrassment he wasn’t sure which.

  Slade pulled on her legs so that she straddled his body. He moved her closer as he ran
his hands up under her t-shirt. Placing soft kisses on her throat and jaw, he slid his hands up to her shoulders then down her body to cup her gorgeous rounded ass inside her panties. He wanted her on her knees in front of him so he could lick from her neck to the small of her back, but for now he’d settle for holding her ass and pulling her against his hard cock.

  She whimpered softly as he started a slow rocking motion. Slade had every intention of taking his time with her. For the first time in his life he was actually going to ignore his own body and make love to a woman slowly. He moved one hand down her body and one hand up slightly to the small of her back, holding her in place.

  He slid his fingers around her ass and pushed his middle finger into her. She gasped then moaned softly as he pulled his finger out then pushed it back in.

  “Soft, oh baby, you’re so fucking soft.” Slade practically growled against her neck, setting up a rhythm with his finger, forcing her body against his as she moved on him. Her body tightened around him as her excitement grew. His thumb caressed her core. Watching her climb toward her peak, Slade thought he might explode.

  He withdrew his finger but not his thumb and she arched her back as she came. He moved his hand to his mouth and sucked her essence off his fingers, never taking his eyes off hers. Her lashes framed her doe-like eyes that widened as he moved his hands back to cup her ass again.

  She braced herself on his shoulders then sat back slightly. He stared into her face as she reached for the hem of her shirt. Slade knew her breasts were an issue for her. She hid them in those freaking jumpers and t-shirts. He managed, barely, to keep his eyes on her face as she pulled her shirt off. He wanted to lean forward and smother himself between those beautiful orbs.