Then he understood. “Like Penny.” He stopped pacing and faced the kitchen area where she was working.
“It’s one thing when powerful Weres like Aidan and Roarke Wallace take human mates.” She scrubbed the platters vigorously, as if cleaning them would somehow help. “In that case, the Weres protect the humans, and the humans, surrounded by so many Weres, are less likely to betray the werewolf community. But Penny…” She stopped scrubbing and looked over at him. “Penny’s out there alone, Duncan. Instead of being surrounded by powerful Weres, she’s surrounded by humans.”
“You’re right. It’s different.”
“You bet it is.” Her expression was grim. “If they discovered her secret, I don’t know what would happen. Maybe Tom would try to protect her. I want to believe that he would. But he doesn’t know her secret, either, and he might feel betrayed and angry.” Kate swallowed. “I’ve had many nightmares about Penny.”
“I’m sure you have.” He liked to think he was an intelligent Were, but he’d been missing a key point. Were-human mating, if it became a common practice, wouldn’t be confined to powerful male Weres choosing human mates. And if female Weres chose a human mate and went to live among humans as Penny had, would it be safe to reveal their Were nature?
Not in the current environment, that was for sure. The culture still contained too many movies and books that depicted Weres as dangerous beasts who could “turn” a human into a werewolf with one bite. That had never been true, but it made a good story, and the myth had been repeated so many times most people believed it.
Duncan realized that his Utopian dream would take years of reeducation before it had a chance of being realized. And thanks to Kate and her sister, Penny, he had a perspective that hadn’t been included in his thinking until now. He’d had male myopia, and he felt a little foolish having to admit that.
“I suppose you’ve figured out by now that I founded HOWL because of Penny,” Kate said.
“Aye. I suspected that, at least on some level, but I hadn’t really thought it through. I assumed you were mostly upset because she’s no longer close to your family.”
“That’s part of it. But I’m scared for her. And I don’t want other female Weres running the risks she does, so I created my Were-only dating site and founded HOWL for that reason. On the other side of the coin, if male Weres insist on hooking up with humans, then that reduces the number of eligible and safe mates for us.”
Duncan massaged the back of his neck, where tension had taken up permanent residence. “I hate to admit that I read that in your book, but it didn’t really sink in.”
“You were focused on the sex tips.”
He nodded. “I fear so.”
“What about you?” She stacked the platters in a wire rack so they could drain. “What inspired you to found WOOF?”
The question startled him. He couldn’t remember being asked before. “The easy answer is that I want to help create more freedom for Weres in all areas of life.”
“But why?” She leaned her hips against the kitchen counter. “Did you lose the human love of your life because of Were prejudice?”
“No. At one time I told myself she was my soul mate, but when my brother, Colin, challenged me on that, I realized that she was only my way to make a statement.”
“And why—”
“I’m way ahead of you, lass. Why did I feel such a pressing need to make a statement? Because of the very thing you’ve accused me of—ego. My big brother is the laird with all sorts of responsibilities. Very important in the grand scheme of things.”
“I see.”
He was afraid she really did see, and he felt more exposed than ever in his life. But he trusted her in a way he didn’t trust most others, and it felt good to get this out in the open. “Plus he and my parents used to bitterly oppose Were-human mating, so of course I had to come out in favor of it.”
She smiled. “It takes a humble heart to admit such a motivation. I admire you for telling me, and I don’t think your ego is nearly the size I used to imagine it was.”
“Maybe you’ve helped me shrink it down to a reasonable size.” There was some truth in that. She was good for him. “Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the cause. Inevitably Weres and humans will fall in love, and then you have that Romeo and Juliet scenario. I think it’s past time that we figured out a way around that.”
“Does that mean you’re ready to tackle the mission statement again?”
He blew out a breath. “No.”
“You’re not giving up, are you?”
“I won’t do that unless we run out of time, and we still have some. I think we’ve been cooped up for too long and our brains are fried. If everyone else has gone inside, let’s go out and play in the snow.”
“Before we’ve finished?” She made it sound as if he’d suggested murder and mayhem.
“Howard told us to be creative, and I don’t know about you, but my creative well is bone-dry. Some fresh air and exercise is exactly what I need, and then I’ll come back in ready to tackle that mission statement.”
“As usual, you are a very convincing Were.”
“Does that mean you’ll go with me? Because even if you won’t, I’m set on it. You can sit up here and beat your brains out trying to write that statement if you insist, but I’m heading for the slopes.”
“Well, Howard did say we were supposed to work together.”
“So let’s play together for a little while and then we’ll be refreshed and renewed, ready for the task.”
“Okay.” She still sounded reluctant, though.
He’d coax her out of that reluctance soon enough. His pulse quickened as he imagined them out there together. He might be rationalizing this decision to take a break because he wanted her so desperately. But they wouldn’t stay out long, just long enough to play and…have a different kind of fun.
Then he’d put his nose to the grindstone. He had no choice. The clock was ticking.
Chapter 13
Sniffer Update: @newshound—Drinking hot toddies w/delegates in bar after romp in snow. Impressed w/wolf-friendly exit/entrance system. #admiresingenuity
Kate worried about getting the mission statement finished, but as Duncan had raved on about the wonders of playing in the snow, she’d had a thought. He’d said that shifting hadn’t been a priority for him recently. Encouraging him to do that now would remind him of the joys to be found as a wolf, joys he could share only with others of his kind.
She walked over to the desk and pressed the button to close the drapes. “I don’t know if anyone’s out there, but no reason to take a chance they’d see us taking our clothes off.”
“Good thinking.” Duncan pulled off his blue sweatshirt. “Before we shift, you should probably show me how we navigate from the third floor. I assume there’s some sort of passageway leading down there that we can access in wolf form.”
“The other rooms have sloping passageways and revolving doors at the bottom, but the exits from my suite and Grandma Elizabeth’s are a bit more sophisticated than that.” She loved showing this off and she didn’t get many chances.
Walking to the bookcase closest to the window wall, she pushed what looked like a knothole. A carefully matched rectangle of wood the size of a light switch slid back to reveal a control panel with a touch screen. Pressing her thumb to it, she heard the click of a latch. Then she placed her hand against the bookcase and it revolved slowly in response.
“I like it already. Like something out of a murder mystery.”
“Wait until you see the rest.” Inside was a small platform, and beyond that stood a magnificent glass elevator. The tall panels were etched with scenes of mountains, forests, and wolves. When Kate uttered the voice command of wolf, the elevator pulsed with a silvery light.
“That’s beautiful.” Still wearing his T-shirt and jeans, Duncan walked over to peer at the elevator. “I assume it has a touch pad inside the elevator we can operate after we’ve shifted.”
“I can operate it. It recognizes my thumb or paw print, and my grandmother’s, of course. It’s the smoothest ride you’ll ever have in an elevator. My grandfather had these built a couple of years before he died after Elizabeth complained about the drafty, poorly lit passageways. He had those redesigned, too, so they’re much nicer, but he wanted to do something special for his mate.”
“This is bloody damned special, all right.”
“Grandpa Mitchell told her that now she could descend from their suite like an angel from heaven. And he wasn’t being sarcastic, either. He adored her.”
“Obviously he did, judging from this elevator. But why build a second one down here?”
“This suite was Penny’s back then. She was being groomed to be the next alpha, so my grandfather thought she might as well get the royal treatment, too.”
“She gave up a lot to be with the man she loved, didn’t she?”
Kate met his gaze. “Yes, she did. I would say she gave up too much, but how do I know? I’ve never been in love like that. I keep thinking, though, that if she’d never met Tom, none of this would have happened.”
“You don’t think she was destined to meet him?”
She studied him, intrigued by his comment. “Do you believe in that? Lovers destined to be with each other?” She’d always thought males were more inclined to be practical in such matters. If one female didn’t work out, another would be along soon enough.
“Don’t you?”
“I asked you first.”
“Then, yes, I do, lass. But you have to remember that I’m a Scotsman. We tend to give a little more credit to fate than you might over here.”
“I think I like that about you. It’s very appealing.”
He laughed. “I’m glad, because it’s bred into me and I’d be hard-pressed to root it out. So, since you’re now in this suite, I take it that you are being groomed for the alpha job?”
“Nothing’s been said in so many words, because my grandmother, as you can tell, is still fully capable of leading the Stillman pack. But I believe I’m next in line, and this suite is meant for that purpose. Neil would love to move in, literally, but I don’t plan to let him.”
“Good. He’d make a terrible pack alpha, but you…” He gazed at her with warmth in his gray eyes. “You’d be terrific.”
“That’s nice of you to say, considering that we don’t agree on much of anything when it comes to the future of Weres. Neil seems to be leaning in your direction, though.”
“He doesn’t strike me as a Were with much integrity. You do, and I’d rather see someone honest be in power than someone who thinks like me, or at least pretends to.” He grinned at her. “But enough of that. Ready to shift and go? You still have all your clothes on, milady.”
“So I do.” Walking over to the red sofa, she started stripping down. She’d taken off everything but her bra and panties when he cleared his throat.
“On the other hand…”
She glanced over at Duncan. “You haven’t been undressing while I did. What’s the deal?”
He stood very still, his gaze hot. “Maybe there are other, easier ways to refill the well.”
“Don’t go changing the plan, Woofer. You said you wanted a run in the snow, and that’s what we’re going to have.” She was determined now. He probably spent far too much time as a human. He was losing touch with his roots. “Take the rest of your clothes off and be snappy about it.”
He shrugged. “I suppose I’ll have to do that, regardless.” Reaching over his shoulders with both hands, he grabbed fistfuls of his T-shirt, yanked it over his head, and tossed it aside. “You’ll soon see the condition you’ve put me in by taking off yours.”
Now it was her turn to stare. She wondered if she’d ever get used to the sight of that broad chest dusted with dark hair and those abs that rippled as he pulled off his T-shirt.
“Presenting Exhibit A.” He unfastened his jeans and shoved them down, along with his knit boxers. His cock sprang free, gloriously erect.
She swallowed. “I see what you mean.” And the sight of an aroused Duncan created an almost unbearable craving to join with him now, this very minute. But she reminded herself that he needed to rediscover the joys of being a wolf. He might have forgotten what he’d be giving up if he mated with a human who couldn’t share that pleasure with him.
“That red sofa looks cozy.” He started toward her.
“No.” She backed around it, putting the sofa between them. “We’re going to shift and ride that elevator down to the ground floor. That was the plan and we’re going to work the plan.”
“I don’t know what will happen if I shift when I’m like this.” He gestured toward his groin. “I’m not sure it’s safe.”
“You’ll be fine. Stay right there. I’m going to take off my bra and panties, and then we’ll shift together.”
“If you say so, but I think when you take off your underwear, I’ll be in even worse shape. I seem to have a Pavlovian response to seeing you naked.”
“That’s funny, considering Pavlov did his experiments with dogs.”
“Aye, it’s hilarious, isn’t it? I’m standing here getting harder by the second, and you think it’s funny.”
“I also think it’s flattering. And you’re not the only one who has a Pavlovian response, just so you know.”
“Ah.” He looked mollified. “Now that you mention it, I can tell by that delicious scent of yours. I was so preoccupied with my own lust that I failed to take note of yours.” His glance swept over her. “And your nipples are tight as little pencil erasers. That makes me feel better.”
She kicked away her panties. “That’s it. I’m ready.”
“Me, too. Let’s do it on the sofa.”
“We’re not shape-shifting on the sofa. We’d fall off.”
“My wee man has in mind a different activity.”
She ignored that comment. “When was the last time you shifted with a female Were, Duncan?”
“It’s been…a while.”
“Years?”
“Maybe. So putting it off for another year is no problem.” He held out his hand. “Lie with me on that red sofa, Kate. I promise to make it worth your while.”
“You’ve completely lost focus, Woofer.” She held out her hand, too. “Walk around the sofa and lie here on the carpet with me. We’re going to shift together. There’s something very special about sharing that moment with another Were. Or have you forgotten?”
He hesitated, and then he frowned. “Perhaps I have. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that.” He sighed and rounded the sofa. “So if you insist.”
“I do. I think it’s important.” Dropping to her hands and knees, she lay on her side and stretched out on the soft gray surface. Then she patted a spot beside her. “Lie here.”
“I’m still hard as a billiard cue. Harder, even.”
“I know. Trust me, you’ll be fine. And you’ll thank me later.”
He held her gaze as he came down to lie facing her. He was close enough to reach out and touch her, but he didn’t. “I just hope that shifting in this condition doesn’t cause me to break something important.”
She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. He wouldn’t appreciate that. “If I thought you were in danger of breaking something important, I wouldn’t be encouraging you. I do care what happens to you and your important parts.”
He smiled into her eyes. “Same here, lass.”
She felt a rush of tenderness for this Were. Although he’d given her an argument just now, at last he lay facing her, prepared as she was to be completely vulnerable for the next few seconds. During a shift a werewolf was defenseless.
Trusting each other now would forge a bond. It always did. And maybe that bond would help them bridge the gap between them when they returned to human form. Gazing into his eyes, she concentrated on bringing out the wolf that lived within her and waited patiently to be released.
Duncan
was a little rusty, but looking into Kate’s blue eyes helped him focus. He sensed the energy flowing through her, a luminous river of change. He felt the hum of it in his own body as her vibrations spread across the space between them and washed over him in a calming wave.
Yes, he’d forgotten the sensation of peace and wholeness that shifting with a Were female could bring. He’d missed the feeling without knowing he missed it, but now that he was here with Kate, he welcomed the shared warmth of moving together into another state of being. His breathing synchronized with hers.
As her body began to glow, he held his hand in front of his face and watched the light enter his fingers. She smiled and held her hand up, palm out. Slowly he aligned his palm with hers, leaving a centimeter of space between. They did not need to touch to be as one. That was the wonder of it.
He’d denied himself this for too long. He gazed in fascination as the transformation began in her, matched by the stretching and tugging that signaled he was shifting in time with her. Like partners in a dance whose bodies never met, they shimmered and slowly transformed, in unison.
He saw her eyes become the incredible blue of a wolf’s eyes, and he kept his gaze locked with hers, knowing her change mirrored his. At last, she rose to her feet, a blond wolf with eyes that were Kate’s, but different, wilder, shining with a primitive light that beckoned to him.
Rejoicing in the lithe strength of his body, he stood, stretched out his muzzle, and touched noses with her. Well done, lass. He’d also missed the telepathic communication possible only between Weres. There was an intimacy about it that couldn’t be duplicated with a human female.
Kate had probably meant for him to notice these things. He’d been the one to suggest this, but she’d pushed it once he had. Now he could see how this fit neatly into her plan to convince him her way was superior to his.
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