“What are you saying?” She leaned toward Kann again. “I’m right here, and I don’t appreciate being cut out of the conversation.”
“We will keep you safe.” Saul’s voice was soft and filled with finality. No arguing with him. His blue eyes did the same gold flecking thing she’d seen Kann’s do. What the hell was going on with these guys?
“Well…I appreciate that. I think. I still feel like too many people know who I am and where I am, but I can appreciate that you are just trying to look out for me.” She leaned back in her chair. Between the strange language and the golden flecks that came and went in their eyes, these guys…there was something going on with them. She was missing something, and she hated that. There had to be a detail she was missing somewhere.
Saul shook his head. “Females should be protected by the tribe. It is good for us all to know.” He opened the back door of the truck and reached in for the grocery bags.
Female? Tribe? Penny’s mind scrambled for an explanation, but there wasn’t one anywhere close by.
“Those two are Naomi’s.” Kann pointed to the two bags closest to Saul. Then he shot another few lines at him in the unfamiliar language. Saul growled—like full-on animal growled—shook his head, took the bags, and walked off.
“What did you say?” Penny asked, suddenly worried about the large man with the ax being pissed off. That didn’t seem like the smart move.
“I told him he was weirding you out and to stop.”
“Actually, you both were being very rude speaking in front of me when I couldn’t understand.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. “What’s going on? Where are you guys from? I don’t know that language and I can recognize the origin of most, even if I can’t speak them.”
Kann’s eyes widened. He ran a hand through his hair.
Penny waited, watching his discomfort.
“Saul didn’t acclimate to English quite as quickly. He still struggles from time to time.”
Liar. The other man had spoken English just fine.
“I’ll be right back. I have to unload the snow machine.” Kann climbed out and disappeared around to the bed of the truck. A few clanks and bangs and the truck rocked as the weight of the sled was removed. He returned to the cabin a moment later.
“He didn’t sound like he was struggling.” Penny snapped at him. “It sounded like you were telling him something you didn’t want me to hear.”
Kann shifted the truck back into gear and they started along the not-so-plowed road again. “I did tell him something I wasn’t ready to say in front of you,” he said, a long moment later. “I told him you were mine and not to get any ideas.”
“Yours?” Penny exclaimed, her voice higher and more surprised than she would’ve preferred. “I am not yours. You really should give up on that whole soulmate line.”
Kann flashed her that grin that made all her insides turn to mush. “You are my soulmate. And I can smell how much you want me, Penny. You’ll only be able to hold out for so long.”
Smell me? “Th-that’s ridiculous!” she sputtered.
“You smell divine. Somewhere between the most fragrant flower and the sweetest honey. I can’t wait to taste every single inch of you with my tongue.”
Heat flooded Penny’s face. Her mouth went dry and she lost all ability to speak coherently. She’d always wished a guy would be direct, but this…this was more than she’d ever bargained for. What happened to the ‘I’m interested in you, we should date’ conversation?
Except. She wanted to skip all the bullshit small talk too. What was wrong with her? She didn’t act like this. She didn’t jump into bed with anyone. Ever. And yet, that was all she could think about with Kann. Seeing what he looked like naked. Feeling his hands all over her. And now, after his comment, she wanted to feel his tongue explore her body—her naked body.
Get a grip. Seriously.
The truck crested another hill and Penny’s attention turned to the little log cabin set off to the side, surrounded by tall spruce trees and a few naked birch trees. The path to the door looked completely snowed in. In fact, Kann stopped the truck on the road and didn’t try to pull any closer to the cabin.
“I’ll be right back.” He climbed out quickly. “Gotta check inside, and make sure no animals decided to burrow in.” He grabbed her bag of groceries from the back and started toward the door. She realized quickly that he was breaking a trail through the snow, from the open road to the door so she wouldn’t have to wade through waist deep snow to get inside.
She peered out the windshield at the cabin. It appeared to be a bit smaller than the previous cabin where Saul had been. This one had a single door on the front. Only one window she could see for now, and only one gable, where the previous cabin had had at least three good-sized sections and different gables.
But she didn’t need a lot of space. It was just her. And her purse. She didn’t even have luggage. Not even a change of clothes. She looked down at her coat and jeans and sweatshirt. Fuck. What was she going to do out here? How was she really going to survive alone?
A single tear rolled down her cheek. Soon she was going to be inside. Alone. Cold. Waiting. Always waiting and looking over her shoulder.
She sniffed and wiped her face. Suck it up. You’re alive. That’s really what mattered right now. Surviving. She could worry about her feelings later. Right now, she just needed to learn how to get along out here. And it was better that she was alone and isolated. She didn’t want anyone else dealing with her problems or getting caught up in her mess.
6
Kann turned on the overhead light in the kitchen and set Penny’s bag of groceries down on the counter. He unloaded and checked for things that needed to be chilled. Only a pint of ice cream. He grabbed it and popped it into the freezer behind him and left the rest of her stuff in an organized pile on the counter.
The cabin was icy cold. He couldn’t very well have his mate come in to a subzero cabin. He went out the back door to the woodpile, pulled up the snow-covered tarp, and grabbed a few small logs to get the woodstove on and warming the chilled air.
Once the flame was stoked and the old iron stove was starting to give off a bit of heat, he headed for the front door. Snow was starting to come down again. Giant flakes. Small flakes. Some were in clumps the size of his hand. If it kept this up, he wouldn’t be able to get out here with the truck again for a while. Or back to town. Which was good and bad. If he couldn’t get to town, no one else would be able to find their way out to the cabins without a guide.
He closed the cabin door firmly behind him and stepped down into the mostly broken trail, heading to the truck. The windows were fogged. He’d left the truck running so she wouldn’t get cold. There were several blankets in the cabin.
Kann went around to her door and opened it to find Penny sitting quietly. Her eyes were rimmed red like she’d been crying. His heart clenched in his chest and his lion roared, pissed that something had upset their mate. The soft glow of her skin was still the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He wanted to see her whole body, spread before him, glowing for him, calling his soul to mate with hers. She was everything he’d never realized he’d wanted.
“Shuarra—I mean,” he mentally cursed himself for the slip. “Penny, what’s wrong?” he asked quickly. Maybe she was too upset to notice. Maybe—”
Her wounded gaze snapped up to his. “Tell me what that word means.”
“Mine,” he answered without hesitation. “Mate. It means you are my soulmate,” he said slowly, waiting for the fallout. He knew better. He shouldn’t have said it, but he wouldn’t outright lie to his mate. Most humans he’d encountered so far didn’t believe in supernatural powers. Magick to them was a card trick or making a button disappear from beneath a cup. Smoke and mirrors. Nothing serious. Nothing real. Not like Reylea, where magick was as much a part of their world as the air they breathed. The magick-benders were the only ones who could harness the power, but everyone could see active magick. And the
power could always be felt.
Now magick was a part of Earth too. Fate was making herself known. Kann would win his mate. His family line would not end with him.
“That’s not a thing,” Penny said. “Soulmates don’t exist. It’s a romantic fairytale.”
“Are you attracted to me?” Kann asked, again without hesitation. He knew she was. He could smell her arousal now, even through her fear and anxiety. It was still present—slight—but still there.
“That’s just chemistry.”
He smiled. She hadn’t denied the attraction, just skirted around the claim.
“I believe it is Fate, not a trick of science or chance. I believe that you are mine. My heart belongs to you already. The moment you walked through the door of the Jenkins Grocery & Hardware store. My soul called out to yours.”
Penny blinked at him, disbelief and suspicion thick in her expression. “You sound crazy. People don’t talk like that. Why would you want me? I’m not even that pretty, while you’re—”
“Not pretty!” Kann coughed out in shock. How could a creature so exquisite think she wasn’t desirable? “You, Penny, are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Your skin is soft and pink and glows with life. Your hair begs me to bury my face in it. I want to pull it from the knot you have it wound in and run my fingers through its length. Your eyes are bright and full of life, and you have so much to offer. Even now when you are terrified of what chases you, life is more important. You don’t give up. You fight.”
“I’m hiding. Running. When I saw what I did…”
He shook his head and tapped the center of her chest with his finger. “You hide to protect yourself. If it comes for you, would you lie down and die? Would you let it steal your life?”
Penny’s mouth opened, but she didn’t speak. He could see the words were striking just right.
“You would fight. Even now, I can tell my beautiful mate has teeth and claws and isn’t afraid to use them. You have not given up. You came here to give yourself a better chance to win.”
“A better chance to win,” she whispered. She tightened her hold on the purse in her lap.
Kann wondered what she kept there that seemed to give her strength. Something personal? A piece of her family history? He wished sometimes that he had something of his family left. A piece of jewelry. A weapon. Anything. But he and Saul had been luckier than so many just to get through the portal with their lives.
“You’re right. I have a better chance of winning here in Mystery.”
Kann nodded. “Any smart warrior would’ve done the same.” He leaned into the truck past her and pulled the keys from the ignition. His face was so close to hers, he couldn’t help but take a deep breath of her scent, letting it completely fill his lungs. Then he scooped her up into his arms and kicked the door shut behind him.
“I can walk.” She flailed her arms and pushed at his chest.
“Stop woman,” he cooed softly. “You aren’t wearing snow pants. You’ll be soaked as soon as you try to walk through the snow.” Her body softened in his grasp and he tightened his hold on her. She felt so good. Soft and curvy. Her scent was sweet and floral, with a bite of something he couldn’t quite place.
“I still maintain that I could walk.”
“I am aware.” He glanced down at her. It took an enormous amount of willpower not to dip his head and claim her mouth right then and there. “I’m also aware that you don’t appear to have a change of clothes. So, if you’d like to get them wet and then strip out of them inside, I’ll gladly toss you into the snow right now, let you walk, and wait for you by the door.” He bit back a chuckle as her eyes widened with shock.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she whispered.
“Oh, my sweet Penny. The things I would dare if I thought you would allow me.” His voice dropped as his body reacted to the image in his mind of his mate naked.
The scent of her arousal filled his lungs. Her breathing had sped up. Her heart pounded against him, excited at the thought of more. His comment had stoked her inner fire. Kann smiled down at her and winked, enjoying the blush that crept up her cheeks. He set her down on the small square porch and opened the door for her. She still hadn’t spoken again, but he could tell she was just trying to decide if she was going to push him away or follow her instinct and Fate’s prodding and allow him a taste. He hoped for the second path.
The cabin was still cooler than he liked, but at least the woodstove was starting to take the icy chill out of the air. “I started the fire.” Kann pointed to the large cast iron stove. “There’s lots of wood stacked just outside the back door.” He gestured to the door on the back wall next to the fridge.
She stepped away from him and crossed the room. It wasn’t much. The stove was in the front to the left. A small love seat was in front of it. A round table was in the front to the right. The kitchen area took the back right corner and the bed was on the left. Out the back door, she could see through the window, was the decked walkway.
“I assume the outhouse is out the back?” she asked, turning to face him.
He nodded. “There should be a bucket of ash out there already for you to use. Helps with the smell.”
She nodded. At least she wouldn’t have to trudge through the snow just to use the toilet.
“It’s been a long time since I was in a dry cabin. It’ll be strange for a while.” She dug through the pile he’d made and lined up her boxes and bags on the counter. “Where’s the ice cream?”
“I put it in the freezer already.” Kann walked across the room and opened the top door to show her the lonely pint in the center of the freezer. Her face relaxed and she sighed.
“Thank you for all your help. I’m sorry I lost it back there.” Her tone was hesitant. “I—well—you probably—” Her tongue flicked out and wet her lips. She looked up at him again and then back at the floor.
Kann’s lion rumbled in his chest and he closed the short gap between them. He slid his hands behind her head, taking a firm hold of her hair. Then covered her mouth with his and plunged his tongue deep.
She stiffened for a half a second and clamped her fingers hard around his arms, and then she moaned and leaned into the kiss. She pressed her soft belly against the trapped hard ridge of his cock. He growled again, this time into her mouth.
Then, he moved along her jawline and down the side of her neck. She tasted sweet and he was going to enjoy every inch she’d give. Penny tilted her head back, giving him better access. He growled again and felt a shiver ripple through her body. Her white skin shone with the light of the soul call, pulling at him, urging him forward.
Claim mate. His lion rumbled again. He moved one of his hands from the back of her head and slid it down her back to cup her ass.
“You sound like you’re growling,” she panted between breaths. “Are you okay?”
“So good.” Kann’s voice was husky against her skin. He couldn’t stop. Kissing. Licking. Tasting. Her coat was in the way. His face was down as far as the collar of the coat and her shirt would allow. “Need more.” He reluctantly released her butt to tug at the zipper on the front of her coat. He met her gaze and waited for the fog to clear. Waited for her to agree that she wanted this…him. “Penny?”
She nodded and bit the edge of her bottom lip. He was jealous. He wanted to bite her lip.
“I—I’m not good at this.”
He slid his other hand out of her hair and cupped her face instead, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “You are perfect.”
“I mean. I don’t usually live up to expectations. Men don’t stick around very long. I’m boring, I guess. I work a lot. I’ve never really been good at flirting or understanding relationship stuff.”
“Penny,” Kann growled. “You are mine. I want you. Is that clear enough?”
“I—Uh—yes. I like you too, Kann, but—” Penny continued, the words pouring out. “this is just temporary, and I don’t expect you—”
Kann snarled and covered her mout
h again with his to drown out the words. She wasn’t temporary. She was his mate. And she’d said she liked him. That was a win. She squeaked a little beneath his aggressive advances, but she didn’t shy away. Penny yanked the zipper down on her coat and wriggled until it slipped off her body to the floor. She had a thick sweatshirt on underneath. No wonder he hadn’t been able to feel the outline of her breasts. So many layers.
“You’re not temporary.” He slipped his hands beneath the hem of the sweatshirt and pushed it up her body, memorizing every curve as he went. Her breasts round and dainty, perfect little globes that he could enclose with one hand. He released them for a moment. Released her mouth. He pulled away and tugged the sweatshirt up and over and off of her. Then dropped it to the floor next to her coat.
She was still wearing a shirt, but this one was a skin tight long sleeve thermal. And it was a bright teal blue that matched her eyes. “So beautiful.” He caressed her face again. Penny leaned her cheek into his hand and moaned softly. Her blue eyes closed, and she turned to kiss the palm of his hand.
It was like pure energy sparked against his skin. Everything about her made his lion wild. Made him wild. Hungry. He stepped forward, using his body to back her up until her ass hit the counter. He nipped at her bottom lip and sucked and trailed his mouth down her neck. The little whimpers coming from her throat made his dick harder than granite. He wanted more, but only if she did. She had to drive this. The first time, everything had to be her choice.
He kicked her clothes to the side, out of his way and turned his attention to the hem of the remaining shirt. Kann tugged at it, marveling at the softness of her skin. Her stomach was flat and smooth and glowed just as brightly as the rest of her. The magick called him toward her.
Mate. His lion paced, and his fangs ached to be released. But that wasn’t happening. Not yet.
His mate needed to invite, not be taken. Pushing her too far too fast would ruin the small amount of trust she’d placed in him so far.
“I want every part of you that you’re willing to let me have.” He kept his voice soft. Her blue eyes flew open, meeting his gaze. They were dark with arousal and need, but there was still hesitation in them as well.
I'm Not Lion To You: Soulmate Shifters World (Soulmate Shifters in Mystery, Alaska Book 2) Page 5
