“We barely know each other,” she whispered weakly, and a sudden wash of shame and awareness rolled through her. She was naked with a stranger, her child in the next room. She had let this man possess her body, still had the taste of him on the back of tongue and they hadn’t done much more than shake hands before she had let him fuck her with his mouth and his hands. A snarl erupted as he gripped her by the chin, forcing her to face him. The gold had disappeared, his eyes reverting to the color of wet slate.
“Don’t you do that, Hannah!” he snapped. “Don’t you dare make this something tawdry and cheap. We might not know the ins and outs of each other’s lives, but you’ve shown me who you are, shared your deepest secret with me, and I’ve done the same to you. This isn’t just a hot fuck, although you make me burn to possess you.” He rolled his hips and she shuddered as his cock slid through the slick heat of her pussy.
“Wolves are different. When we meet our mate, then that’s it for us. We don’t need coffee and idle conversation, don’t need dinner and a movie and twenty questions. We don’t dance around with those human constructs society has put in place to control us. We see, we take, we know.”
His voice softened as he spoke, the flash of anger fading as sincerity rang in every word. “I don’t just mean you either, P.R. Jessie is mine, now, too, my cub to protect and nurture. Will and Bridie, too. Your family is mine now, as mine is yours. Whatever comes next, we all do it together. That’s what I’m talking about. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what I’m asking you to give me.”
She gawped as she tried to absorb the truth of his words. She was so used to feeling ashamed, it had become her natural fallback position. It had started with those whispered insinuations of Robert’s that she wasn’t a nice girl, she was unnatural for enjoying her body and her first sexual experiences. That she was just like her mother, and somehow that was wrong; she was wrong. And now here was this beautiful, powerful man with his body pressed close to hers, who stirred a passion in her so strong. Who connected with her so naturally, telling her she was everything good, everything right, everything he wanted. All she had to do was take a chance.
“You fit me, Caleb,” she whispered, and a bright grin flashed across his delicious mouth.
“I don’t know how or why this has happened, but you fit me. Body and soul.” The last three words echoed into his mouth as he swooped down to claim hers in a ferocious kiss. Their tongues slid together, danced and writhed in a rhythm as old as time. He claimed her mouth, possessed it, and she gave herself over to him in complete surrender.
They broke apart, grinning and panting at each other, and a quick roll of gold flashed across his irises, letting her know the wolf was part of this, too.
He glanced around the room as though seeking something. His weight vanished from her as he climbed from the bed and moved toward the chair in the corner where she had placed his discarded clothes. She raised herself up on her elbows, confused as he pulled out his wallet and opened it up. With a quick smile of triumph, he withdrew a condom and dropped his wallet carelessly onto the chair. Returning to the bed, he tore the wrapper and removed the thin latex roll inside. He stood over her as he rolled the condom in place over the head of his thick cock. He held her gaze, making sure she was clear of his intent as he smoothed the thin membrane down to the base of his shaft.
She wet her lip nervously at the imposing sight of her lover, rampant and ready, towering over her. She gathered her courage and gave a swift nod of consent, which was rewarded with a sweet smile as he lowered his weight over her.
Warm hands cupped her head, stroking her hair from her forehead with long thumbs as he rocked his hips gently against her. She lifted in response and they each held their breath as the blunt tip of his cock eased into the entrance of her pussy. He paused, giving her a moment to adjust, but she wanted more. Spreading her hips wider, she pressed upward and sighed in utter contentment as he slid a little deeper. He took his cue from her and pushed forward, filling her slowly until he was seated to the hilt.
“You’re mine, Hannah,” Caleb growled and she clenched her inner muscles around his shaft in response. He bucked his hips, easing back before driving forward again, the stroke determined and possessive.
“Body and soul, Caleb.” She affirmed his possession, her surrender.
“Body and soul,” he agreed plowing deeply into her body, forcing a gasp from her mouth. She turned her face into his shoulder to muffle the noises he coaxed from her with each thrust of his powerful hips. His hands glided down the sides of her body and slipped beneath her to cup her ass and tilt her pelvis higher, giving him more access as he pressed her into the firm mattress. He rolled his hips grazing across her clit and her nails clawed at his back, flying higher than she believed possible. He growled in satisfaction at her wild response and his teeth nipped against her neck. She flew apart, knowing he would catch her, hold her together, and make her complete. Heat welled as he shuddered inside her, finding his own release, and they lay breathless and entwined. His face buried deep in the crook of her neck, his tongue playing endlessly over that same spot he seemed fascinated with.
She let her arms and legs drop away until she sprawled like a rag doll beneath his reassuring weight. With one last nip at her neck, he slid from her spent body and rose from the bed to dispose of the condom in the wastebasket beside the dressing table. One lid flicked up, about the only movement she was capable as he examined his back in the mirror with a feral grin on his face.
“I like your mark on me, P.R. Maybe I’ll go shirtless tomorrow, show the world how crazy I can make you.” He sounded so smug and satisfied she snorted a laugh.
“You are such a man, Caleb,” she said. Her laughter turned to a squeak of shock when he pounced on the bed and buried his face deep between her thighs. He slid his tongue languidly through her wet pussy and her body burst into flame for him again.
He raised his head, the lower half of his face glistening. He licked her juices from around his lips.
“I’m your man now, sweet thing. And don’t you forget it,” he growled.
Chapter Nine
The small convoy of vehicles bounced and rolled over the rutted road winding up between the trees. Potholes and switchbacks were the least of their worries, Caleb thought grimly as he glanced in his rearview mirror. His parents and sister had arrived at the diner just after Connor had returned with Bridie and Will. It was Sunday, so the diner was closed to customers and Will and Bridie had laid on a huge breakfast buffet for the Burrows family, ignoring all protestations. His mother had taken one look at Hannah hovering behind him and gathered her into a tight embrace. The contrast in height between the tall, willowy redhead and his mate should have made it awkward, but Marjorie Burrows was an expert at putting people at ease.
And at hugging.
She had spent most of breakfast with a chattering Jessie perched on her lap and her newest daughter tucked at her side. Her husband, Stefan, was big and built like his sons, and he had squeezed in on his wife’s other side, his hand resting across her shoulder, his attention fixed on the sweet little girl who effortlessly stole his heart.
Caitlyn had ended up sitting between Bridie and Will, and their sweet kindness had gone some way to drawing his older sister out of her shell. She may have taken after their mother with her red hair and soft green eyes, but their natures were nothing alike. Caitlyn was a true submissive, an Omega, and she preferred to stay at home with their parents. Her early encounters with Magnum still scarred her, and one of the reasons his parents were so keen to rejoin the pack was to try and help her heal. It was natural for dominant wolves to protect the submissives, and they hoped recent changes in pack structure would give their daughter the security she so desperately craved.
The truck jolted through a deep rut, making Jessie squeal and Hannah give a half laugh of surprise as the vehicle rocked violently for a moment. He gripped the steering wheel and turned his full focus to the road. Now
he had his own family to guard, the appeal of joining the pack bloomed strongly in his heart. The wolves of Los Lobos banded together and kept the vulnerable members of the pack safe. Human mates had been forbidden until Ryker, the Enforcer had fallen tail over muzzle for one and forced a change. A number of other members of the pack had brought in human mates and the new blood, together with the trickle of returning Wolves, was slowly breathing life into the Black Hills pack.
The tree line thinned and buildings started to appear more frequently. Tracks and trails curled off into the hills, leading to the settlements of those who preferred solitude but still wanted to belong to the pack. The buildings along Main Street came into view, many still in a sorry state but others a hive of activity and repairs. The few businesses that were open stood out in smart contrast and it pleased him to see signs of renewal springing up. There was plenty still to do and the Burrows family would be able to make a real difference, he could tell.
They rolled past another empty building with a torn awning and half of its plate-glass windows boarded up. He tapped his brakes and pulled up beside it, an idea bubbling in his brain. He turned off the engine and jumped out and hurried around the front of the truck to pull open the passenger door and help Hannah out.
He reached behind her and unfastened Jessie’s harness before scooping her up and onto his shoulders. She giggled and dug her little hands into his hair as she found her balance and he clamped his arm across her legs where they dangled over his shoulders, making sure she was held firmly in place.
He took his mate’s hand and waited for his brother to help Bridie and Will from the second truck. His parents and Caitlyn emerged from the rear vehicle. They looked like a traveling advertisement; the three vehicles were the four-wheel drives the family used for the business, the sides emblazoned with Burrows and Sons—Quality Contractors.
Turning toward the dilapidated building, he pulled Hannah along beside him until their noses almost touched the filthy window. He cupped his hand to the side of his face, blocking the light from the sun, and smiled at the shapes he could make out. Booths and benches lined the walls and a long counter ran against the window. A few broken stools littered the floor and he could also make out some tattered posters hanging in ribbons from the far wall. He turned to Hannah, excited to see her reaction as she pressed her nose closer, peering into the interior of the building.
Stepping back, he ushered Will and Bridie forward as he met the identical frowns of Connor and their father. His mother grinned from ear to ear. She folded her arms and nodded to him. She understood immediately what he was thinking and clearly approved. Caitlyn stood shyly to the side and his smile dimmed at her closed-in posture. She was so beautiful, inside and out, but she didn’t see it. Or maybe someone seeing it when she had been too young to understand had scared her so much she refused now to acknowledge it.
He sighed and then tilted his head up and back to acknowledge the gentle tug on his ear.
“What’s up, Buttercup?” he said and Jessie smiled and patted his cheek.
“Can you put me down, Caleb?” He dropped into a crouch and bent his head forward so she could clamber off his shoulders. He watched quietly as she trotted over to Caitlyn and leaned against her leg, one arm reaching up to wrap around his sister’s slender waist. He shook his head in amazement as Caitlyn unfurled herself and responded to the little girl’s touch. Marjorie stepped up beside him and rubbed his arm gently.
“Your little angel is a gift to us all, Caleb,” she said softly and he nodded in agreement before he put his arm around his mother and steered her over to where Hannah stood in one of the few scraps of shade offered by the torn awning flapping sadly in the breeze. Bridie and Will stood close by, peering through the windows and whispering to each other about the old soda fountain behind the main counter.
“So what do you think?” His big grin failed to impress so he waggled his eyebrows at her.
“What do I think? I think you are out of your ever-loving mind if you think I’m going to uproot my family and drag them to this shitty no-horse backwater, that’s what I think!” Her voice rose with each word until he was sure she hit an octave only dogs could hear.
And wolves, unfortunately.
“This may be a shitty no-horse backwater, ma’am, but it’s my shitty no-horse backwater, and I don’t remember extending an invitation to you.” A voice drawled and the entire group spun to face the speaker standing up-wind of them.
Drew fucking Tao, Caleb groaned silently to himself. Of course, it had to be.
He moved instinctively, stepping in front of his mate to shield her. If the Alpha was pissed, then he could take it out of Caleb’s hide. To the casual observer, Drew’s pose appeared relaxed, casual even. His hands were tucked into the front pockets of his jeans, one knee bent as he rested his foot on the tattered boardwalk in front of the dilapidated restaurant. The wolves in the group knew better, however, and the rest of the Burrows clan had drifted in front of their human companions without conscious thought.
Stefan stepped forward, Marjorie at his side, and he bowed his head to Drew, both a greeting and an acknowledgement of his Alpha status. Drew gave a slight nod in return before turning his attention to Caleb who rocked back on his heels at the full force of the Alpha’s gaze. Drew wasn’t a dick about his position. He was pretty laid-back for the most part and didn’t demand the kind of obsequious bowing and scraping Magnum had expected. That didn’t make him a pushover, though, and Drew was brutal in his determination to protect his pack from intruders.
“You had a little trouble yesterday, I understand?” Drew said mildly and a slight heat crept up Caleb’s face.
“I met my mate, Hannah.” He tucked her against his side, relieved when she leaned against him, her arm snaking around his waist. Drew studied them both impassively. Clearing his throat, he tried again.
“So, yeah, as I said, I met my mate and things got a little out of hand with my wolf.” He stopped speaking when Drew spoke across him.
“Out of hand, indeed if you speak of what you are so freely before these humans. Humans you have known for less than twenty-four hours and yet they know of your wolf and you have seen fit to bring them to our town. Without permission.” The last words were a fierce growl in the back of his throat and Caleb dropped his gaze to his feet. He heard a soft whimper behind him and then a sob and knew it was Caitlyn. His mother brushed past him as she went to comfort her daughter and he reluctantly released Hannah from his grasp as she pulled away to hurry to her own child.
Desperate to draw attention away from the women, he took a step forward and then paused as his father spoke up.
“Drew. Alpha. We have sought your permission to return to the pack. You know about my daughter’s difficulties with your father and your anger scares her beyond reason. With respect I would ask you to hear us out. I believe the sins of the Father should not taint his son; please do not give me reason to doubt this. I need to know my family will be safe here in Los Lobos.” Stefan gestured with his arms wide, indicating everyone arrayed before Drew as he continued to speak.
“All of my family. Caleb’s mate bears an ability that we must protect. She can be of great service to our pack, as can her parents by choice. The town needs something more than fried pickles and burgers as a dining option and Will and Bridie run a successful diner in their hometown. My son stopped here to show them what remains of Dottie’s. I believe he is hoping to persuade them they will have a place here in town, an opportunity to work and support themselves. I will stand for them, Drew.”
Caleb gasped and grabbed his father’s arm in protest. To stand for a human who went on to betray the pack or give up its secrets was tantamount to a death sentence.
“Dad, no. It’s my responsibility, not yours. I did this, not you.” Caleb met his father’s gaze and the love and support shining in it gut-shot him. Stefan placed a huge hand on the back of Caleb’s neck and drew him close to press a kiss on his cheek.
“You are my son, my child, and I am the head of this family. I know you are starting to build a family of your own, but you still belong to me. You will always belong to me, and I will do whatever is in my power to protect you.”
His head dropped to rest against his father’s broad shoulder for a moment before he stepped away and turned to face Drew. The Alpha stood taller now; a ghost of pain flicked across his face before he blinked and his expression slipped into cool neutrality. He regarded the father and son before him a moment longer then turned to regard the older couple who stood hand in hand before the restaurant’s front door.
“Stefan has spoken in your defense, has laid his life on the line for you. Are you prepared to keep our secrets, to live here amongst us? What do you have to offer us that will convince me I should admit you to my pack?” Drew’s voice was firm, but not unkind as he spoke to Will and Bridie.
Caleb was full of trepidation. If they said the wrong thing and rejected the offer before them, then his father’s life could be forfeit, theirs too potentially. Bridie turned to Will, who kissed her cheek and nodded. She turned her head and he knew she sought out Hannah, and a smile split her face when she saw her.
“Hannah and Jessie are our life, sir. Caleb, too, and, it seems, the rest of this wonderful family.” Bridie took a breath and smiled at Stefan who returned it and nodded in encouragement.
“We’re not afraid of hard work and the chance to watch over our girls is all we want. We’re no strangers to secrets, have protected Hannah from those who would use and exploit her if they knew what she can do. If you give us a little time to sell up, then we would have the money we need to turn this place around. We can give your pack somewhere to come where they will be fed and cared for. That’s what we offer. That and the best apple pie you are ever likely to taste.” Bridie folded her arms at her waist and Drew surprised them all when he threw back his head and let out a loud laugh.
A Mate's Healing Touch Page 6
