“I tried my best to put some quiet tendrils of information out there that we’re here if they need to escape. River was the first one to arrive, and her siblings made their way here shortly after. River chose to stay, but Stone and Feather moved on to different towns. They felt that separating was the best way to keep themselves safe.”
“You said she was the first?” Hugh sat forward. “How many more have there been?”
Gordon shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. There have been others, and we helped them to move on to new lives. River’s the only one that ever stayed.”
Boyd wasn’t certain about that. If River stayed, then it was logical others would’ve, too, but he wasn’t surprised Gordon kept that confidential. “River said a Keeper was after her. What’s a Keeper, and if he knows about River, then do you think he knows about others?”
“It’s becoming more and more obvious through the years that the Guardian system is corrupted. Originally, they were created as a system to keep all the shapeshifters safe from detection. As time has passed there are fractions that are becoming more bigoted and paranoid. The Keepers are purebred shifters who guard over the breeders and are often the ones who impregnate them.
“To be honest I don’t think this is a Keeper we’re dealing with. Or he used to be but isn’t any longer.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because if this man were a Keeper, he would’ve called in reinforcements by now. They would’ve swooped in here and taken River and then killed anyone she came in contact with in order to keep this a secret.”
Fuck, that made Boyd’s stomach cramp. No wonder River was so determined to separate herself from everyone. There was no way her soft heart could withstand knowing that anyone died because of her. It also explained her extreme reaction to Lars’s injury the other day.
“There have been a few attacks on this town lately, and we have quietly been trying to investigate them,” Gordon continued. “But after what happened the other day with my family I’m not willing to risk anything else. I want this bastard out of my town.”
“River stayed at Lars’s house the first night, and then he was shot at two days later. He’s watched her enough to know who she’s associated with.” Hugh reclined back in his chair but looked anything but relaxed. Boyd knew his brother was about to snap by the way his hands kept clenching and unclenching the arm of his chair.
“Anything strange going on around your place?” Gordon asked.
“A creepy feeling the other day but that might be because of everything that was going on. This Keeper hasn’t been near the house or the brewery yet, I know his scent. He comes near us, we’ll kill him,” Hugh answered.
“I’m wondering why he hasn’t come after her directly.”
“Maybe because he hasn’t been able to find her?” Gavin sat up, almost excited, and started to pace back and forth as he spoke. “Think about it. He might have thought she was still at Lars’s? We have carried her everywhere since. Her feet have never touched the ground outside. So while he has been able to track her scent, unless he has thought to start sniffing the inside of vehicles then he wouldn’t know where she’s hiding.”
“Except that she’s at the clinic today.” Boyd was ready to get up and run into town and get her.
“But she’s surrounded.” Hugh rested his hand on Boyd’s shoulder. If Hugh wasn’t panicking then he wasn’t going to, yet. “There’s no way he would be able to take her.”
“I don’t know what other plans he may have. All we have to do is catch him now and find out what the hell is going on.”
“Boys. He threatened my family.” Gordon stood up and the easygoing manner he always maintained drained away, leaving an Alpha wolf making plans. “This is not a catch-and-release sanctuary. I started Ecstasy Lake as a safe refuge for those who need to be here. I will not tolerate any threat to anyone living under my protection.”
And in that moment Boyd understood why Gordon was Alpha of this town. Whatever the man had done in a past life, there was a dead, cold killer behind those eyes. He knew that this Keeper wouldn’t be surviving if Gordon ever caught him, and he couldn’t muster up a smidgen of remorse.
“Thanks for coming by, Gordon.” Hugh stood up and shook Gordon’s hand. “You have our support with anything you need us for.”
“Thank you, boys. You all know you have the best noses in town, and I’m glad to know I have your support. River is going to fight you tooth and nail over this, but I want to keep her safe. No one deserves to be treated the way she was.”
“We have no intention of doing anything but worshiping the ground she walks on, sir,” Boyd added quickly.
“I can trust you to keep our conversation confidential?”
Hugh, Boyd, and Gavin added their agreement, and Gordon laughed. “Looks like our River has met her match, then. Good luck, gentlemen.”
Hugh walked Gordon out to his vehicle. He stood and listened to the forest around them, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Feeling a bit more reassured there wasn’t anyone staking out the brewery, he went back inside.
The nagging feeling that River might be in danger kept his bear on edge. “Fuck it,” he snapped as soon as he walked back into the bar area. “Let’s go get her. She can be pissed at us when she’s safe at home.”
“’s what we figured.” Boyd carried a few cases of beer over to the fridge and started filling it up.
Hugh looked around. “Where’s Gavin?
“He already left to get River while you were talking to Gordon. He took the box, too.” Boyd grinned at him over the bar edge. “I doubt we’ll see them before we open tonight.”
Chapter Thirteen
The only thing that stopped Gavin from making a complete ass of himself was the sight that greeted him when he arrived at the Shack. The entire drive over, his thoughts had circled around River and what he might have to say to get her to leave. From there they’d swirled down into what might happen and the worst-case scenario if he got there and this Keeper had already laid an attack against her.
The main street was filled with locals and tourists enjoying the hot summer day and milling around town. The weekend was here again and hopefully the bar would be hopping, too. He pulled around behind the Shack and breathed a sigh of relief that he could find a parking spot.
He scented her the moment he got out of the car. No matter how many people were around them, he would always be able to pick out her scent. It was like a shining beacon to his senses. There wasn’t the bitter tang of fear to it, which made him relax a tad. He jogged around to the front of the building. Even though his senses told him to relax, his inner self needed the reassurance that she was safe. Across the street sat the three McGuigan sisters outside their yarn shop. They all waved to him in unison and he returned the gesture. One of them pointed at the Shack, nodding her head. Gavin knew they’d made the right decision moving to a town where everyone watched out for each other.
After what happened the other morning he assumed that they were keeping an eye on things. He couldn’t see Cris up in his booth. But then he might be getting ready for tonight. The aroma of tea and fresh baked goods hit him as soon as he entered the Shack. River sat at a table in the rear, her back to the wall, while Brenna and Carol distracted her. Lars sat at the counter talking to Aiden O’Reilly. Gavin returned their nod as he walked past.
River grinned at him as if he carried her heart’s wish on a silver platter. His heart kicked hard in his chest at the sight of her. How did we get so lucky? She was fine and having a good time. He wandered over, and she moved to give him room on the bench next to her.
Carol looked at her watch and then over at him. “You know, I didn’t think you boys would last this long. It’s been a whole four hours since you dropped her off.”
“Were you arguing all this time over who was going to come and get her?” Brenna grinned at him over her cup.
Gavin frowned at Brenna. This was not painting him and his brothers in a good light. “No, of course n
ot. I left them behind because they were taking too long.”
Both Brenna and Carol started laughing, but River frowned at him. “Why are you here, Gavin?”
“Because we miss you already.” He picked up one of her hands and laced his fingers with hers. Feeling her hand in his did wonders for his stress level, and he could feel himself relaxing.
“It wouldn’t be because you felt some Neanderthal urge to be overprotective, right? Craig explained what happened to my home.” Her voice wavered ever so slightly, making Gavin want to beat this Keeper with his bare hands. He was impressed with her bravery, but whether she wanted it or not, they were going to keep her safe.
Gavin laughed and sat back next to her. “No, of course not. But I do have a surprise for you.”
“Surprise?” The sad look in her eyes dissipated, and River practically bounced in her seat. He loved the enthusiasm she showed when she approached everything in life. “What kind of surprise?”
“This had better be more interesting than the stories she was telling us about her weekend.” Carol propped her chin in her hands.
“Her weekend?” As far as he’d heard, River went to a concert and some piercing show afterward.
Gavin glanced over at Lars and Aiden, who had turned their backs to him and obviously didn’t want to get drawn into this. River’s eyes were wide and she darted looks from her friend to Gavin. Her ivory skin pinkened, and she avoided making eye contact with him.
“It wasn’t that big of a deal,” she muttered.
“She went to the Apocalyptica concert and almost got arrested for manhandling Paavo.” Brenna and Carol both bust out in laughter over this fact. He didn’t find it amusing.
“Really. I hadn’t heard anything about that.” Rationally, he knew he didn’t have the right to say anything about this. It was before they claimed her and before he sunk his cock into her luscious body. But the idea of her having her hands on another man pissed him off.
“Feather was worse than me.”
“But Feather isn’t here, and she isn’t my Mate. You are.”
River’s head snapped up and he wanted to smack himself in the face for not engaging his brain before his mouth. His brothers were going to kick his ass for blurting it out like this.
“Being your Mate doesn’t make you the boss of me, Gavin. So you and your bear-headed brothers can kiss my ass.”
Both Brenna and Carol fell silent, and Gavin leaned in very close to River. What he wanted to do was throw her over his thighs and spank her ass right here in the middle of the restaurant, but thankfully his upper brain was still in the driver’s seat. He could feel the soft tremble under her skin as he pressed his lips to the delicate area behind her earlobe. Good, she’s nervous.
“I have plans for your ass, and I might kiss it, too, but only after it’s as red as your cheeks.” He stroked his thumb over the back of her hand. “We’re leaving, River.”
“But I have to work.” River looked to her friends and her jaw dropped slightly.
Gavin followed River’s gaze to her friends. Carol’s gaze was bouncing back and forth between them from over the top of her fingers where she had her hand over her mouth. Brenna sat there grinning, and Aiden had moved behind Brenna. “It’s okay, River.” Aiden’s hands lay on both of Brenna’s shoulders, massaging the muscles. “Should be a quiet afternoon, and I think you two need to have some time together.”
“Thanks a lot, Brenna.” Gavin slid out of the booth and tugged on River’s hand. If she’d protested he wasn’t certain he’d have the strength to walk away, but thankfully his resolve was never tested. River followed him out of the building.
He didn’t speak to her right away. As they made their way to the car, he continued to scan the surrounding area, analyzing each scent that passed his senses and watching anyone that looked over at them. It wasn’t until he got her in the car and pulled out and down the road that he relaxed a bit. River sat quietly in the passenger seat for the trip. They reached the house, and Gavin pulled the box out of the backseat and motioned for her to lead the way.
She looked curiously at the box, but he wasn’t going to let her see it yet. As soon as the door closed behind them, he scooped her up over one shoulder and started walking to the bedroom.
“Gavin, really, I didn’t mean it.” River’s hands slid down his back and over his ass. She tucked her hands inside the waistband and stroked the top of his ass. It was the thought of what he would make her wear that kept him going.
“Now, why don’t I believe you, River?” With her hips right next to his face, he could easily scent the delicate aromas that were uniquely hers.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Her silky fingers slid over his ass like a caress. “I’ve no reason to lie.”
“Except that you want to avoid having my hand on your ass?”
“As long as I can keep my hands on your ass, you can do whatever you want.” She curled her fingers and lightly scored the skin along the top of his ass. His cock was hard so fast, he was astounded he didn’t pass out from blood loss to his head.
“Just you wait to see what I have for you.” He tossed the box down on their bed and then carefully rolled River off his shoulder. She flopped back on the bed and grinned up at him, propped up on her elbows.
“Is that my surprise?” She nodded to the box a few feet away. “Can I look in it?”
Gavin stretched out on the bed next to her and nodded. “Go ahead.”
She looked like a kid on Christmas morning as she pulled over the package and ripped the tape off the one side. Gavin was so happy he re-taped it so she could enjoy opening it. She opened the flaps and peered inside. The first thing she pulled out was a black corset. It laced up the sides with plaid ribbon and had small studs embedded in the front in the shape of a skull.
“Oh, wow.” She carefully ran her fingers over the silver studs. Tears filled her eyes, and Gavin feared he fucked up. He’d seen her in things like this before, and he specifically remembered her describing this to Carol one day while they walked down the street. He hadn’t been trying to eavesdrop, much, but loved the excitement in her voice when she talked about it. Did he make a massive mistake in getting it? Perhaps he only heard the wrong part of a conversation.
“River, you don’t have to keep it. I thought it would be something you would like, but you don’t have to wear it. You can pick out something different.”
River leaped on top of him, pressing little kisses all over his face. “Are you crazy? It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever gotten me. I can’t believe how perfect it is. Thank you so much.”
Relief washed over Gavin as he wrapped his arms around her and captured her lips with his own. He craved her taste more than anything now that he’d experienced it. He almost caved to the temptation and confessed to eavesdropping on her conversations but figured this time he would keep his mouth shut.
Her legs straddled his hips, and her pussy was pressing down against his cock. “Baby, there’s more in the box.”
River lifted her head from his. Her expression was a little glazed and unfocused. “More?”
“In the box. There’s more than the corset.”
Curious, she pulled the box over and looked inside again. This time her eyes widened. “How did you get all this already? How long have you known about my place?”
“We only found out about it at the same time you did. I ordered all of these for you beforehand. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the idea of you wearing what I picked out for you.”
River shifted and pulled a long black nightgown out of the box. “Oh, no! This one is ripped, and there’s a big hole in the back.” She held the gown up and then frowned at him. “It’s in a heart shape?”
Gavin stared at the gown and his cock twitched. “That heart will fit perfectly over your ass, leaving it bare for us.” And he couldn’t wait to see her cheeks blushing from his or his brothers’ hand through it.
River gasped. “Bad boy!” Then she laughed and kissed
him on the cheek before diving back into the box again. She pulled out item after item as Gavin stroked her thigh with one finger. He knew she would look incredible in everything, but there was one thing in there he couldn’t wait to see her in.
She pulled out a box and gave him a curious look before opening it. She screamed in delight as she lifted up the contents, and he was ready to fuck her right then. Inside the box were a pair of black patent platform heels, with spikes decorating the backs of the stiletto heels. In them River would still be shorter than him, but he had other things in mind, and he suspected they would put her at the perfect height.
She held the shoes, ran her fingers over the spikes on the back, and grinned at Gavin as she wiggled her hips. “Someone has a shoe fetish.”
The pressure of her body against his was maddening. He wanted it to go on forever as well as to plunge his cock inside of her and fuck her for the rest of the night. “I don’t know if it’s a shoe fetish, but I saw those and I knew I wanted to see them on you.”
“Really?” She hopped off him and threw everything back in the box before scooping it up. “Stay there!” she yelled over her shoulder and disappeared into the bathroom.
At first Gavin thought she was angry, but then the excited tone to her voice and the steady rise of arousal in her scent changed his mind. He paced the bedroom and quickly gathered up what he might need and tucked it under one of the pillows.
He heard the water running in the bathroom so he quietly raced to another bathroom and cleaned up a bit then got back in the room before she came out. When she did, Gavin was certain he’d died at some point and gone to heaven.
River came out of the bathroom in the corset, a tiny pair of red panties, and the shoes. She looked like a succubus ready to take everything he had to give her, and she could have it all. He dropped down onto the bed’s edge and motioned for her to come closer.
Her hips waved slightly as she strutted closer to him. She lifted one leg and put her foot on the bed next to his hip. Her fingers stroked through his hair and he couldn’t resist running his hand up the inside of her leg from ankle to pussy. He brushed the damp fabric with the backs of his fingers, feeling the heat against his skin.
Surrounded By Fur [3xtasy Lake 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12
