“Well, I called my modeling agency and it turns out the client didn’t like how the pictures turned out. He wasn’t happy with the location. To make a long story short, I ended up sending some photos of your cabin and the land around it to my agent. She sent them along to the client, who thinks your place would be perfect for what he wants. So Constance, my agent, would like your permission for the photographer to use it. He and the other models are still in Yellowstone and would drive here tomorrow. It’ll take about two or three days to complete the shoot. You’ll be paid for however long it ends up being.”
“Will you be modeling at the shoot?” he asked.
“Yes, since the client apparently had no problem with us as the models, just the location.”
Kiel didn’t even have to think about it. “Yes, they have my permission.” The shoot was the excuse he needed to keep Neha from leaving tomorrow evening. It was perfect.
“Great,” she said with a smile. “Constance will be so relieved. She’d been working with the photographer to find a new location that matched what the client wanted and hadn’t had much luck. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll call her. She wanted to know what your answer was as soon as possible.”
“Okay. No problem.”
Neha walked a short distance away, then made the call with her cell phone that she held in her hand. As she turned her back to them, Kiel faced his family. They all met his gaze.
“Well, aren’t any of you going to say anything?” he asked in a whispered tone.
“She’s human,” Memphis said in an equally quiet voice, stating what they all knew.
“Obviously. Her scent gives her away.”
“Are you sure she’s your mate?” Talon asked.
Kiel looked at him as if to ask if he were stupid. “Of course I am. I went to the two packs close to us and nothing happened. I stopped at a coffee shop for lunch before going to the Helena one and in walks Neha and,” he looked at his mother, “ah, you know what happened. Something started working again.”
“That’s a polite way of putting it,” his mom said with a laugh. “This is definitely a change in the usual mate dynamics. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”
“So you aren’t upset that Neha is human?” Kiel asked.
“Of course not,” his father replied. “Plus, it isn’t as if you have any control over it. If she wasn’t the one for you, she wouldn’t have gotten that part of you working, as you put it.”
At the sound of footsteps coming up behind Kiel, he turned and found Neha had finished her phone call and was headed toward the porch. She appeared to take careful steps. He was surprised she’d made it all the way to Gage’s cabin without breaking an ankle.
“You finished your call?” Kiel asked once Neha reached them.
“Yes. Constance was more than thrilled, and told me to tell you how grateful she is. You also don’t have to worry about putting up the photographer and the other models. I told her it was only a thirty-minute drive from Helena to here, so they’ll spend each night at a hotel. I hope you don’t mind, but I told her we’d meet them tomorrow morning so they can follow us to your place. It’s so remote I doubt any of them would be able to find it. They’re going leave Yellowstone shortly.”
“That’s fine with me.”
Kiel put his hand on the small of Neha’s back and directed her closer to where most of his family sat. He had to bite back a moan of need. Just this simple touch set him off. Talon coughed loudly as he stared at Kiel with laughter in his eyes. His youngest brother wouldn’t be laughing when it came to be his turn to be branded.
“Neha,” Kiel continued, “I might as well introduce you to my family. This is my mom, Selina, my dad, Brant, and my two brothers, Memphis and Talon. You, of course, already met Gage. The two who aren’t here are Cyrus and Rhett, but I’m sure you’ll meet them very soon.” He’d pointed to each person as he’d introduced them.
“Hi,” Neha said as she smiled. “I look forward to getting to know you all better.”
His mom and stood and came to stand in front of Neha. “And we you. I’ve never watched a photo shoot taking place before. Would it be all right if I came to watch once you get started?”
“I’m sure David, the photographer, won’t mind. He’s a great guy and is easygoing.”
“Good. I guess I’ll be seeing you in action soon.”
Kiel broke into the conversation. “I think I should take Neha back to my cabin. I doubt she had any time to relax.”
“All right,” his mom said. “And don’t worry about making dinner for the both of you, Kiel. I’ll bring around a couple plates of food for you so you can concentrate on getting Neha settled in.”
“Okay.”
“And I’ll give you and Neha a ride to your place,” Gage said. “There’s no way she can walk there.”
“Thanks,” Neha replied with relief in her voice. “I guess I’m going to have to break down and get some sneakers when we go to Helena tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Kiel said. “Let’s go.”
Kiel kept his hand on the small of Neha’s back as they walked toward Gage’s SUV. Once they reached it, he helped her into the passenger side, then climbed into the backseat. Inside the closed space, her scent became more concentrated. He dragged in a couple deep breaths to fill his lungs with it. His cock jerked as his blood heated.
After pulling away from their parent’s cabin, Gage cleared his throat. He met Kiel’s gaze in the rearview mirror and gave him a look that told Kiel he wasn’t impressed with the smell Kiel made.
As if she’d read their minds, Neha leaned toward Gage and sniffed him. She then pulled away and shook her head. “It definitely isn’t you. It must be the scent of Kiel’s cologne again.”
“You mean his stink,” Gage said with a laugh.
“He doesn’t smell bad,” Neha admonished. “I love it.” She turned her head to look at Kiel. “Did you put more on after you left me at the cabin? It’s stronger now.”
“No,” he replied quickly.
From the laughter in Gage’s eyes, Kiel was pretty damn sure the rest of his brothers would hear about this conversation. He wouldn’t be able to live it down. If Neha had been a wolf shifter, it wouldn’t’ have happened. She would have known why he smelled so good to her. And by now, he more than likely would have already had her in his bed under him as he claimed her as his. That thought of plunging his cock deep inside her, of course, caused another spike in his arousal.
The way Neha stared at him, her eyes heavy-lidded, it didn’t take a genius to figure out his scent affected her. Along with that, her arousal was a huge giveaway, which he could easily detect. As could his brother, no doubt.
“Thank god, we’re here,” Gage said as he brought the SUV to a stop in front of Kiel’s cabin. “I don’t think I could take any more.”
Kiel ignored his brother’s comment and hurriedly got out before opening the door for Neha. A questioning look had come over her face after Gage had spoken. There was no way Kiel was going to try to explain it. He led Neha a short distance away, then turned to wave at Gage. His brother returned the gesture before he drove away.
He kept a steadying hand on Neha’s back as he’d done at his parents’ and walked her up to his cabin’s entrance. Once inside, he reluctantly pulled away. She didn’t seem to notice as she headed over to where he’d left her luggage.
“I guess I should move my things into the bedroom,” Neha said after she picked up her carry-on and grabbed the handle on her wheeled suitcase.
“Since I’m here, I might as well show you where it is, not that I don’t think you’d be able to find it yourself.”
Kiel took her carry-on from Neha and led the way before she could say anything. She followed with the sound of her high heels clicking on the hardwood floor and the wheels of her luggage being pulled across it.
He placed her carry-on atop the upholstered bench at the end of his king-sized bed, then tuned in her direction. “I s
hould change the sheets for you.”
“I can do it,” Neha said as she came to stand in front of him. “Just leave me the fresh ones.”
Kiel nodded. He crossed the room to his closet and took out his second set of sheets from the top shelf. He returned to Neha and put them on the bed. “You can throw the dirty ones outside the door. I’ll gather them up and put them with the rest of my laundry that needs doing.”
Neha nodded. She seemed to think something over before she spoke again. “Ah, don’t take this the wrong way, but how do you actually do your laundry? You don’t have electricity. You’d never be able to run a washer and dryer.”
“The town of Canyon Creek has a Laundromat so I go there to do it.”
“Oh. Since you live so…rough…out here, I was worried you hand washed it with a washboard.”
Kiel bit back a smile. What Neha didn’t know was his mother to this day still did hers and his father’s laundry like that and hung it outside to dry. In the winter she stretched lines inside the cabin close to the fire and hung the clothes there. It took her hours. Using a washer and dryer at the Laundromat was one convenience he’d had no problem adapting to. There was no way in hell he’d do his washing as his mother did. His brothers had adopted his way as well.
“No, I don’t do the wash like that,” he said with a chuckle.
The silence stretched between them before Neha broke it. “Besides getting sneakers tomorrow, I’d better buy a pair of jeans. I only have shorts, dresses and skirts with me.”
“Yeah, skirts and dresses aren’t exactly the best things to wear around here. And heels.”
“Speaking of which, after my little hike to Gage’s cabin my feet are killing me. Plus, I just about twisted my ankle about fifty times. The shoes have to come off.”
Kiel stared at Neha’s feet and ran his gaze up her shapely legs. An image of them wrapped around his waist as he thrust in and out of her filled his mind. He followed her movements as she bent slightly to take off one of her high heels. It gave him a deeper view of the tops of her breasts as the material in the front of her dress gaped. That view of such tantalizing flesh caused the inevitable reaction in him.
As Neha reached for her other shoe, she wobbled, then stumbled. Right into Kiel. He automatically put his arms around her to steady her. Her body became pressed from chest to knee against his. Her arousal filled his head as he breathed it deep.
With the wild craving to claim his mate caused by the mating brand appearing on his skin, the simple embrace was too much for Kiel. He couldn’t hold her this close and not do anything more. Desire thrummed through him. He had to taste Neha’s lips, and from her scent he was sure she wouldn’t mind.
He made a sound between a growl and a groan, which caused her to lift her face toward him. Kiel slowly lowered his mouth to Neha’s and brushed his lips across her soft ones. As he settled his mouth fully over hers, she sighed and brought her arms up to wrap around his neck. That was all the permission he needed to deepen the kiss.
Kiel licked the seam of Neha’s lips until she opened for him, then pushed his tongue inside. He dueled with hers as he got his first taste of her. Having her in his arms like this ramped up his arousal even more. He hauled her closer, showing her exactly what she did to him. His cock jerked, and she moaned. She buried her hands in the sides of his hair and angled her mouth for a tighter fit, kissing him back. That pushed a wolf growl out of him.
He tightened his hold around her and lifted her off her feet to bring her even with his lips. Much to his pleasure, she raised her legs and put them around his hips. The bottom of her dress was loose enough to allow it and bunched at her upper thighs. It also had her pussy resting against his erection.
Kiel shifted his arms lower and held on to Neha’s bottom as he rocked into her. That felt damn good, and from the way she moaned into his mouth, he guessed she thought so too. He had to force himself not to take the steps that would bring them to his bed and lower her onto it. If he did, he’d be well on his way to claiming her as his mate.
Their kiss became more carnal as they ground against each other. Neha tugged on Kiel’s hair and sucked on his tongue. Another wolf’s growl pushed out of him before he could hold it back. He ached for her. His cock throbbed in time with his rapid heartbeat, and the bed became more of a temptation.
Before Kiel could act on his body’s demand to do what he craved, there was a loud pounding on his door, then it opened and two sets of heavy footsteps could be heard entering the cabin.
“Anyone home?” Rhett called.
Kiel groaned as he pulled away from Neha’s lips. He looked at her to find she had her eyes closed and her cheeks had taken on a rosy hue. Her lips were slightly swollen from his kisses, which made him want to take them once more, but he didn’t.
“Where are you?” Cyrus bellowed.
He bit back a growl. Both his brothers knew from his fresh scent that he was in the cabin, and that he had to be in the bedroom. Either they were being loud jerks to see if they could bug the piss out of him or they did it for Neha’s benefit. He hoped it was for the latter.
Neha blinked open her eyes. She stared into his, looking as if she had a hard time shaking off what had happened between them. She dropped her legs, and he slowly lowered her to stand in front of him.
“My brothers have rotten timing,” Kiel said in a low, husky voice. “Come on, I better introduce you before they decided to look for us. They must have heard you’re here and came to meet you.”
Neha silently nodded. Kiel took hold of her hand before he led her out of the bedroom. He would make the introductions, then kick Cyrus and Rhett out as soon as he could.
Chapter Five
Neha slowly came out of the haze of lust that had descended over her as Kiel had held her in his arms. That one light brush of his lips against hers and she’d been lost. His delicious scent had grown stronger, causing an ache deep inside her pussy. She’d been more than willing once he truly claimed her mouth, had even put her legs around him so she could have a more intimate feel of what the crotch of his jeans hid. Just thinking about how hard and big he’d been had her wishing for more.
If she was honest with herself, Neha wouldn’t have stopped Kiel from taking exactly what he wanted. The feel of him pressed along her, and his amazing scent, had had her so aroused she couldn’t think straight. Even now her body wept for his. Only his brothers showing up when they did had brought things to a standstill.
As she walked out into the main room, Neha was very much aware of the man who walked beside her, holding her hand. She’d dated some of the most well-known male models in the industry, but none of them compared to Kiel. It surprised her since she’d never thought she’d be attracted to someone like him. He wasn’t sophisticated, and she doubted he was the type of man who cared much about clothes.
Kiel was so unlike her last boyfriend, another model, who happened to be on his way to Helena right now from Yellowstone. That was the risk she took by dating someone she’d more than likely end up on a shoot with once their relationship was over. It was too bad Neha hadn’t known how possessive and demanding Vlad was until she’d wasted six months on him.
Neha brought her thoughts back to the present as Kiel stopped to stand in front of the two men who were just inside the doorway. Just like Kiel and his other siblings, these two had black hair and light green eyes. Actually, all the brothers shared similar looks, and anyone passing them on the street would have known they were related.
“These are the last of my brothers you haven’t met. The one on the right is Rhett and the other is Cyrus.”
Neha looked at each man as Kiel introduced them. “Hi.”
“I hope we weren’t interrupting,” Rhett said with a knowing grin as he looked at Kiel. He then turned his attention on Neha. “Once we heard you were staying here, and about the photo shoot, Cyrus and I had to come see you. We really don’t get visitors up here so it’s kind of a big deal.”
“It sure is,” C
yrus added. “I know I’ll be interested to see how everything turns out.” His gaze flicked over to Kiel.
Neha looked at Kiel to find him giving his brothers a hard stare, which they seemed to ignore. If anything, Rhett and Cyrus acted as if there were a joke hidden in what they’d said and only they understood it. On second thought, Kiel might as well, but he didn’t find it funny. He continued to glare at his brothers.
“All right,” Kiel said. “The two of you have met Neha. It’s time for you to go.”
Rhett shook his head. “Kicking us out already? That’s rude.”
“I’m sure you can live with it. You’ll have plenty of time to get to know Neha better since she’ll be here for a few days. And no doubt you’ll drive her crazy.”
“We’ll go,” Cyrus said. He turned to look at Rhett. “If we don’t, Kiel will more than likely kick our asses out of here, literally.” His gaze settled on Neha. “It was nice meeting you. Don’t worry. Kiel isn’t normally this rude. He just wants to have you all to himself.” He winked.
Kiel shook his head. “My foot will definitely be connecting to your asses if you don’t leave now.”
“Fine, we’re going,” Rhett said. “Do you want us to leave the door open to air the stink out?”
Kiel quietly made that animalistic growl he’d made in the bedroom, but this time she sensed it was a warning. That caused his brothers to laugh as they stepped out onto the porch, then the yard. It was Kiel who shut the door behind them.
“That was the second time one of your brothers has said you stink,” Neha said.
“They’re just being idiots. They think they’re funny.”
Neha smiled. “I can relate. My brother has his moments where I’d love to smack him a good one, or strangle him.”
Kiel chuckled. “At least you only have one brother. Try having five.”
“Yeah, you would have it worse than me.”
Their gazes met and Kiel took a step closer. “What happened before my brothers showed up, I want you to know I don’t make a practice of inviting women to stay over at my cabin and then expect them to sleep with me. Truthfully, you’re the first one I’ve brought here.”
Wild Craving Page 4
