Surrounded By Fur [3xtasy Lake 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Corinne Davies

  He would’ve given up on her a while ago, except that a bear’s sense of smell was the best in the shifter world. River’s scent gave away a lot more than her actions. There was a dose of fear in her scent when he and her brothers neared her, but he also detected arousal. That gave him hope they might be able to convince the woman to spend some time with them.

  After Boyd called and described what happened earlier that day, he’d had to fight the urge to bundle her up and bring her back there to stay with them. They could keep her safer than a silly electrical alarm. What good did an alarm do if your enemy could circumvent the system and kill you before it ever went off?

  He didn’t have any idea what the threat was, and that bothered him more than anything. After what happened to Gordon’s family today, he felt more on edge than ever before. Leaving his office, he headed up onto the second-floor balcony of the brewery to look out over the forest. The common sounds soothed him, and he could feel the tension draining from his shoulders with each deep breath. The sun might be dropping down behind the trees, but the oppressive heat from the day hadn’t let up much at all. He took a deep breath of the fresh air, part of him scenting for smoke. This summer had been hot and dry and there’d been a fire ban throughout the entire area. It wasn’t safe with all the dry timber around. A fire had broken out on the other side of the lake the week before and had been blamed on a renegade group of troublemakers. He’d gotten in contact with Gordon Roberts, who assured him that they were gone. Hugh had a feeling there was more to the story than he was being told, but if Gordon wasn’t concerned, then he wouldn’t be.

  What concerned him was the number of attacks in the past month. Two shifters had been injured already, one fatally, and the other was able to get to the clinic in time, and now a threat against the Alpha’s family. He knew the park conservation officers were watching closely for poachers, but so far no bodies of animals had been found. Hugh was almost tempted to get himself shot if that meant he could get River’s hands on him. Thanks to current events, the possibility of attaining that without bodily injury was close to nil.

  Gavin rode up on his bike and pulled it up to the garage behind the brewery. They had a large storage building built that housed their vehicles as well as supplies for the brewery. Hugh took the stairs three at a time as he jogged down to meet his brother. Boyd must’ve heard Gavin pulling in as well because he came out of the back room covered in the aroma of roasted barley and chocolate.

  “What are you creating in there?” Hugh asked Boyd.

  “I’ve an idea for making a stout for this winter.” Boyd nodded toward the front of the building. “Was that Gavin coming back?”

  Hugh nodded. Boyd was always experimenting with different styles and flavors of beer. Their plan was to keep one constant ale and then rotate a second product for each season.

  “Okay, she knows,” Gavin announced as soon as he walked in the door and spotted his brothers waiting for him.

  “How did you tell her?”

  “I knew she was eavesdropping on the conversation I had with Lars, so I mentioned that we haven’t gotten an alarm system for the brewery yet and that I broke the back door.”

  “Did you remember—”

  “Yes, I mentioned that with all the different scents in here, it’s almost impossible to tell if someone broke in and that we had to put locks on the cooler doors to hopefully prevent any theft.”

  “So, all we have to do now is wait.”

  “I hate waiting.” Gavin moaned. “Why the hell don’t we just walk up to her and tell her we want her as a mate?”

  “Because she would take off in the opposite direction,” Boyd answered. “It would be harder to protect her if she’s running away from us.”

  “There’s been something going on in the past few weeks that I don’t like. I’ve spoken to Gordon about it, and he agreed. Everyone’s taking extra precautions and keeping their senses alert. If the Guardians are stupid enough to declare war on this town then we’ll send them home with their asses in a sling.”

  “The Guardian Council has turned into an elitist dictatorship. They and their followers are strong enough to cause a lot of problems if they focus on Ecstasy Lake.” Boyd ran his fingers through his hair, kicking up a dust cloud.

  “We moved here to get away from this purity crap,” Gavin commented. “How far do we have to go to get away from it?”

  “We’re here to stay.” Hugh paced along the damp concrete floor. “River won’t simply accept that she’s our Mate. We’re going to have to convince her.”

  “I don’t mind chasing her, but I’d rather keep it in the town limits.”

  “Agreed.” Gavin nodded and looked toward the back. “While I’m thinking of it I’ll have to break one of the panes in the back door.”

  “Don’t make it look too obvious. Break one pane away from the handle,” Boyd reminded him.

  “Make sure you get all the glass out of it so she doesn’t cut herself,” Hugh added.

  The three of them headed to the back door to make it look like a perfect accident and make it as easy as possible for River to break in.

  Chapter Five

  River crouched in the shadows of the forest watching the back of the Big Bear Brewery. She knew the brothers lived a mile away from here. They’d been living in one of the small cottages that were always available to rent. Cris told her that he’d heard their home was finished and they’d moved in a few days ago. Their focus had been on finishing the brewery first. She was amazed at how well it had turned out. The brewery almost looked like it’d grown into being instead of being built. There was lots of rough timber used and odd angles that allowed them to work around the established trees.

  Lars valued his privacy and she didn’t want to disturb him too much. River ended up staying at his place for two nights. She’d kept watch for the rusty silver car or the big, hairy shifter but hadn’t seen him since. She had convinced Lars it was safe to go back to her place, but as soon as she’d pulled up to her cottage she’d smelled the dirty shifter around her house. That spooked her enough that she had left and headed over to the brewery. She hadn’t expected to see anyone around, but a light in the warehouse stopped her from rushing in. She had been sitting here for the last thirty minutes, but there hadn’t been any movement in the building, and she hadn’t heard any signs of life inside. It must’ve simply been an oversight that one of the lights was left on.

  She crept along the grass to the building and then along the building’s wall to the door. Sure enough, the glass had been broken in one of the panes and a piece of cardboard taped over the hole. Carefully she peeled back the tape and reached through the hole to the handle. If she heard even a hint of an alarm, she would be out of here before they could make it back to investigate. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door an inch and then stopped.

  She held her breath, standing completely still as she waited to hear a peep, but nothing happened. Gavin had said they hadn’t finished the security system yet, but there had been a chance they rushed it in the last forty-eight hours. Creatures still scurried around the forest around her, but inside the brewery was quiet, other than the machines that were running in the brew room and the refrigeration units.

  She slipped through the door and closed it behind her. The small light allowed for a bit of illumination, and she was able to move around without being seen too much. She worked her way through the brewery and out into the bar area. Sure enough there was a sofa sitting up on a small dais to the side. This room was large and she could see all around her from this position.

  The leather creaked slightly as she sat down on it, but it wasn’t louder than her beating heart. This would do nicely. Like Gavin mentioned, there were lots of scents in here, from the ever-changing fermentations to the various lingering scents from the bar being open yesterday. No one would know she’d been here. She could catch a few hours of sleep and then sneak back to the clinic in time to open it up.

  Brenna and Carol would
n’t suspect a thing as she usually arrived before them. River would have enough time to get changed before her friends arrived. For now, this was a perfect place to hide. River spared a thought to looking for a blanket, but sleeping under it would cause her scent to infuse it, and she didn’t want that kind of evidence left around. She kicked off her sneakers and left them on the floor by her feet. If she heard something, she was sure she would wake up in enough time to grab them and hide or run if need be. The sofa was incredibly comfortable despite being infused with the scent of the brothers. She found the underlying bear scent comforting rather than terrifying.

  She tucked her arm under her head and felt her body relax into the butter-soft leather. She was safe here, she knew it. No one would think that someone would be sleeping in a brewery, and the person looking for her knew she wouldn’t voluntarily go near bears if her life depended on it. The unease flaked off her conscious thoughts and she relaxed in the surety she would be fine. The machinery around her gently hummed, lulling her into a blissful sleep.

  * * * *

  River dreamt of bears, not surprising given the circumstances, but instead of being terrified, anxiety-driven memories, her dreams were filled with soft cuddles and gentle kisses. She remembered the feel of Boyd’s lips on hers, so silky smooth, and Gavin coming so close to touching her but pulling away playfully. She wondered, if she’d touched him, would he have kissed her? She stood in front of an open window looking out and seeing herself in Hugh’s arms. He held her as carefully as he had baby Emily. Instead of silly faces and baby talk, he looked at her as if he loved her, stroking her cheek with one finger. She looked so small in his embrace, curled up against his chest.

  The sound of metal hitting the floor rocked River out of her dream. Was that a gunshot? She sat up and looked around, trying to make out what was going on around her. She heard a noise but couldn’t tell where it came from. Getting yanked out of such a deep sleep played havoc with her thoughts, and she had trouble discerning what was real and what was still dream. A thick blanket lay pooled in her lap. It must’ve been on top of her while she slept.

  But I didn’t get a blanket…oh, no.

  With her heart beating wildly in her chest, she leaned down, snagged her tennis shoes off the floor, and slipped her feet in them as she scanned the room. Any movement and she was running hell bent for leather in the opposite direction. To hell with any kind of subterfuge. She should’ve known better than to try to be sneaky. She sucked at it, which was why she always chose the hide-in-plain-view tactic.

  Leaving the blanket behind, she tiptoed across the dais and down the two stairs to the floor. So far there wasn’t a single movement to alert her to anyone’s presence. The single light was still on, and the machinery hummed along as it did before. The only sign she hadn’t been alone was the blanket on her, but who would cover her and then leave her alone?

  Not about to stick around and find out who might have found her, she made her way out the back hallway to the door. She slowly turned the handle and pushed, but the door didn’t budge. She put her weight against it, but there wasn’t a single millimeter of give to it. She looked out the glass and noticed something big had been braced against it. She was trying to figure out what the hell it was when it shifted and a beige-colored muzzle came into view. Holy shit! A fucking grizzly was stopping her from opening the door.

  She turned around and ran for all she was worth. She made it two whole steps when she slammed into an incredibly broad chest. Big arms wrapped around her and hauled her up against a muscular form. She looked up expecting to see teeth, but instead Hugh smiled down at her. “Hello, River.” He stroked one finger down her cheek and jaw until it ended at her chin. He kept it there, not allowing her to look down. “Breaking and entering is a new one for you, isn’t it?”

  “I might have entered, but I didn’t break anything that wasn’t already open.”

  “No, you’re right, and considering how deep you were asleep I’d say you haven’t slept well in a while.”

  “So,” she snapped and wriggled, trying to gain her freedom, which she knew was going to be impossible. Didn’t stop her from trying anyway.

  Hugh tightened his grip on her, enough to restrict her movements but not hurt her. “River, stop it and talk to me.”

  She could feel herself starting to panic. He must have sensed it because his grip loosened a touch, but the intensity in his gaze never wavered. Where Boyd made her think of cuddling and she dreamed of petting Gavin, Hugh’s dominant nature tempted her to push her own boundaries. His eyes were black in the dim light, but she could read his intentions as if he’d said them out loud. “Let me go.”

  “Never.” He tilted his head and kissed her. She felt as if the ground dropped out from underneath her. Instead of sinking into a pool of fear, desire rammed through her system. It was as if she’d no control over herself. She opened her mouth and allowed him to have as much as he wanted of her. He could’ve wished for her soul and she might have given it to him.

  He surrounded her senses, and she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, but they were still trapped by her sides. Hugh shifted slightly and broke off the kiss. Keeping his face close to hers, he cupped her jaw with his hand. “You’re so delicate, River.”

  She couldn’t help the unladylike snort that escaped. “Delicate? I’m not delicate.” The breathless sound to her voice ruined the strength she wanted to portray, and Hugh grinned. The hallway wall pressed against her back, and his arm shifted to lean against the wall above her head. Her feet touched the floor, but he towered over her, leaning in close. Despite the fact she was looking at the buttons on his shirt and he leaned closer, she didn’t feel trapped. His right hand lay on her hip and he seemed content to let her explore. Dammit. She didn’t realize until that moment her hands were stroking the ripples of muscles through his shirt. She snatched her hands back and wished she was wearing her boots right now. At least then she would be looking him in the eye.

  “Don’t stop.” He reached out and pulled her hands back to his chest, laying her fingers on the buttons of his shirt. “I want to feel your hands on me.”

  River traced a finger around one of the buttons. It was so tempting to slip it free and see if he had any hair on his chest. What am I thinking? Of course he does, he’s a bear. She liked the idea of him being built like a man and not a boy, but allowing her to cool down a bit gave her time to assess the situation, and she suspected the oldest McNamera knew she was going to be here tonight.

  “That’s why the light was left on,” she stated and watched a guarded look fold over Hugh’s features.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Yes, you do.” She pushed at his chest and he stepped back a bit. “You knew I would come here tonight. Did you break your alarm yourself? Why all the manipulations?”

  “Because I didn’t believe you would’ve come if we had asked.” River saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked over and saw Gavin coming in the back door. He only had a pair of faded blue jeans on, and the top button wasn’t even done up. He looked like he needed a shave, and his chest was covered with the dark hair she’d noticed poking out of his shirt the other day.

  She took a deep breath and breathed in the very masculine, ursine-flavored air. They smelled of strength and arousal, but there was a hint of trepidation. As if they weren’t one hundred percent certain they were going to get what they wanted. Her fingers curled into fists, and she crammed them into the pockets of her pants. “You’re in on this, too.” She glared at Gavin. “Let me guess, you knew I could hear your conversation and let all that shit about the alarm slip on purpose. Why the hell would you do that?”

  Hugh gripped her chin and turned her head in his direction. “Watch your language, River.”

  “Or what?” She jerked her chin from his fingers and realized her mistake a moment later. Hugh’s features locked into hard lines and his eyes became incredibly dark.

  “Or he’ll spank
your ass till it’s rosy red.” Boyd came down the hallway from the bar area. “I told them about what happened on Sunday.”

  “Looks like you three had all the escape routes blocked.” River commented and slid along the wall away from Hugh. There was no way they knew the real truth, and she planned to keep it that way.

  The oldest brother’s hand gripped her hip, not letting her move more than an inch or two. She tried to dislodge his hand, but he wasn’t moving. An ice-cold kernel of fear lodged in her stomach. She was here with three men…bears, and no one knew.

  “Why are you scared of us, River?” Gavin’s question pulled her attention, and she tried to push Hugh’s hand away again.

  “I’m not. Now let me go, and nothing bad is going to happen to you.” When in doubt go for bravado. She wanted to trust them and believe they would keep her safe. But bears were known to be unpredictable and had terrible tempers.

  Boyd barked out a laugh. “To us? Sweetheart, you were caught inside a building you broke into.”

  “Like I told him, I didn’t break anything. The door was open, and I thought I’d come in for a drink. When I realized you weren’t open, I was going to leave.”

  “And that’s why you were asleep on our sofa, my little vixen?” Hugh’s voice was deeper than normal, and River fought the urge to look at him. If she saw the animal behind his eyes she would lose it for sure.

  “Prove it,” River snapped at him. Maybe if she made Hugh angry enough, he would push her out of the brewery because she wasn’t worth the aggravation.