by Jane Jamison
If he had any sense at all, he’d get the hell out and leave her alone until the amber moon had passed. Instead, it seemed sense had gone out the window ten minutes after he’d met her. One night of going wild with her, so wild that it might blow their connection sky-high, wasn’t worth risking the rest of their lives together. Yet, judging from the stories he’d heard about the way werewolves went crazy during the amber moon, he wasn’t sure he could keep away knowing that she was in Forever. Even then he might have been able to control himself, but that was before he’d gotten a good whiff of the lust oozing out of her, lust that was directed squarely at his friends and him.
He stepped back, his body rigid as he tried to hang on to that thin thread of restraint. He kept his breathing shallow, trying not to pick up her alluring scent. She walked around the room, checking it out. If she was swaying her hips on purpose to make him want her, then she was succeeding. He wouldn’t claim any responsibility if she turned toward him again and did something so erotic as to lick her lips. Or arch an eyebrow. Or, hell, just take a breath big enough to make her chest rise.
Get your mind off her.
“Christy, how’d you end up in Forever?”
She did turn toward him then as Lance came to his side. He could smell Lance’s arousal. If Lance looked to him for help in holding back, he’d be shit out of luck.
She gave him a quizzical look. “My car died, remember?”
“Yeah. What I meant was, what made you start down the road leading into town? It’s not a main highway or anything.”
Her unique, silver-blue eyes clouded over in wonder. “I don’t really know. One minute, I’m on the highway headed west, then in the next minute I’m taking the exit. It was almost like something was pulling me here.”
She shook her head and gave a short laugh. “Wow. I must really be tired to talk like that. You’d think I believed in magic or…” She paused, searching for the right word.
“Fate?” He didn’t bother faking a smile. He was dead serious and wanted her to know it.
If anything was magical, it was her smile. “Yeah, sure. Why not? Not that I believe in such things.”
“What do you believe in?”
Lance tensed beside him, worried that Grant was taking the conversation in a direction they didn’t want to go. At least not yet.
“I don’t know what you mean.” She eased past them as though she was afraid to touch him.
Which means she must’ve felt the connection when we touched earlier.
“Do you believe in supernatural things?”
Lance shot him a glare, then darted his gaze to the doorway where Duncan stood, his jaw dropped in surprise. He held a suitcase in each hand.
Grant knew he shouldn’t talk about such things. Although he was certain she was their mate, it was too early to tell her about them. And yet, he found himself needing her to know. She’d find out soon enough. Maybe even tonight. Or tomorrow.
She made a show of rummaging through the kitchen, checking out the glasses, plates, and all the usual kitchen tools. No matter how hard she tried, though, he could tell that she was only doing so to hide her nervousness.
“I’m not getting you, Grant.”
“I’m talking about things like—”
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Duncan lifted her suitcases, both battered with duct tape crisscrossing the sides to hold them together, and jerked his head toward the bedroom. “I’ll just put these in there for you.”
“Thanks.” She blinked. “I’m sorry. What were we talking about?”
“You told us how you came here, that’s all.” Lance put his body between them.
Grant had to hold back the urge to take his friend by the neck and hurl him to the other side of the room. And out of his line of sight.
“Oh, yeah.” Her body visibly relaxed. “I guess I’ve always wanted to see the country and all, but I’d never taken the time to do it.” Her smile widened. “So I saved up my money, and once my lease on my apartment was up, I went for it. The next day I was packed and on the road. Crazy, huh?”
“Not at all. I like that you’re willing to take a risk.”
Duncan was back and moved closer to her. Too close for Grant’s liking. Sure, they’d share her, providing they’d all gotten the connection with her, but for now, until he could have his time with her, anyone getting that close, even his friends, was too much. He lifted a lip, knowing Duncan would see it and get the hint.
But Duncan wasn’t one to take hints. Instead, he got nearer, then wrapped his arm around her waist.
Watching Duncan and Christy react confirmed it. They felt the connection as soon as Duncan touched her. They both jolted, then straightened to their full heights. Once the surprise had passed, they leaned their bodies into each other, like magnets, perhaps without realizing what they were doing.
Duncan tilted his head toward Christy and closed his eyes. The ecstasy on his face was clear enough to see. His other arm slid around her, tugging a little closer, pressing the side of her breast against his chest.
“You smell really good,” whispered Duncan.
The sound she made, part whimper and part moan, was like a siren’s call. Grant edged a few inches nearer and fought his inner wolf clawing at the surface, ready to be set free to do what came naturally.
Duncan nuzzled her hair, again drawing in a long, slow breath. The fiery need inside Grant burned brighter, hotter, threatening to sweep over him like a forest fire over the dry Texas land.
She closed her eyes as Duncan tightened his hold on her. The jealousy that hit Grant caught him off guard with its renewed power. He wanted to be the first one to have her.
Duncan’s hand slid up from the swell of her stomach to the rise of one breast. He kept his hand open, hovering over her, tormenting Grant.
Go on, man. Find out how good she feels.
Grant prayed he’d pick up on the sensations Duncan would have when he cupped her full breast.
She moaned and let her head drop back, signaling her acceptance of Duncan’s touch. Lance growled and inched closer. Fisting his hands, Grant did the same, eager to fill his palm with her.
Duncan tossed him a smug look then put his mouth to hers. Her hand came up to clutch his arm as the other flattened against his chest. She shifted her body to face him as he tunneled his fingers into her hair and held her to him. Her luscious body melted against his, her pelvis pushing against the bulge in his jeans.
Grant’s wolf howled, protesting his hesitation to join in. It clawed at him, forcing him to shift enough to bring out his fangs. Hunger for her consumed him as he ground his teeth together and felt the tips of his claws bite into his palms.
If Duncan didn’t stop kissing her soon, he’d lose every ounce of control he had left.
“We have to stop him before he ruins everything.”
Lance’s voice was harsh, a low, barely whispered growl of sounds, the words garbled as he fought to keep his own wolf at bay.
If they didn’t stop Duncan, there’d be no return.
But she wants him. And she’ll want us, too.
“Damn it, Grant.”
Grant snarled, yet knew Lance was right. Still he waited, sure that as soon as she became aware of what was happening that she’d back off. If she became aware before it was too late.
It took a few more moments, then her body tensed and her hands pushed against Duncan. He resisted at first, as any man would, then jerked away from her. His lust for her was written in agonized lines across his face.
She sucked in a breath as awareness flashed across her face. Yet even as astonishment filled her, it was another moment longer before she moved away.
Duncan’s face fell and Grant’s sympathy went out to him. To have her in his arms, then to have her push him away, had to have hurt harder than anything he’d ever suffered.
“I, I, uh, don’t know what happened.” She smoothed down her shirt.
Duncan couldn’t speak. Instead, he
got away from her, putting as much distance between them as the small apartment would allow.
“It’s okay, Christy. We understand.” Yet it was obvious that his words didn’t help her. Grant tried again. “It was just a kiss.”
That’s the biggest load of bullcrap I’ve ever slung.
That kiss was the beginning of their lives together. She’d know that in time. Until then, however, he had to make her feel better.
“I guess I’m really tired.”
He saw the torture warring with her desire. “Sure. And Duncan should’ve never done that. Right, man?”
Duncan nodded once, and even that seemed to be an effort for him. “Yeah. It’s my fault. I’m sorry, Christy.”
Any other man would’ve followed that apology with a promise that it would never happen again. But Grant knew Duncan wasn’t about to lie that much.
Once more, like a nervous habit, she ran her hands over her shirt to smooth it. “Uh, okay. We’ll just chalk that up to a huge mistake.” She smiled, doing her best to put them at ease.
She could call it a mistake now, but she’d change her mind about that later, too. So much would happen later.
“Um, I don’t know if this is some kind of town secret, but no one’s yet told me about what’s going on.” Christy started toward the fridge, her movements no longer graceful, but jerky.
The three men exchanged a look, each knowing they couldn’t tell her the truth. Knowing about the amber moon and werewolves might keep her safer, but it could also scare her off. A frightened woman could do almost anything, including running off into the night when werewolves were on a wild streak.
“It’s kind of a celebration.” Grant struggled to go on, but Lance was ready to add his help.
“Yeah. Kind of like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but even wilder.”
“Wilder? How?”
Duncan cleared his throat. “Folks in our small town aren’t big partiers, so when they cut loose, they really cut loose.”
She wasn’t buying it. Doubt oozed from her like mist off a waterfall. “So how is it dangerous?”
“Because you’re a beautiful, single woman and we have a lot of macho men who might take advantage of that.”
They turned toward Milly as she swept into the apartment carrying a large take-out box and a six-pack of bottled water. She dropped the box and the water on top of the kitchen counter then confronted the men.
But no one, not even a strong female like Milly, could dissuade Grant.
“You are single, right?” Taking another man’s woman wasn’t allowed, whether that man was a shifter or not. Still, Grant couldn’t fathom the idea of another man’s hands on her. He didn’t even realize he was holding his breath until she answered.
“I’m single, all right.”
Their eyes met and the connection, even though they weren’t touching, scorched between them. The tightness in his chest, fighting against the knowledge that she might already be taken by another, lessened. His cock jerked to life, ready to claim her as his.
The air in the room thickened as the men moved closer, like the wolves they were. They’d surround her, placing her in the middle where she belonged. Her lips parted, a welcome if ever he’d seen one. Her chest rose higher with each breath and he sniffed, pulling in the scent of her breath. The stronger aroma of the heat between her legs had him dragging in even more air. He wondered if he could ever breathe the air again if it didn’t contain her fragrance.
“Okay, boys, it’s time for you to leave.”
He heard Milly, but he didn’t care. He zeroed in on Christy, his desire, his prey, his woman.
“Grant?” Milly came between him and his woman, blocking him from her. “Grant.” Milly had shifted enough to bring the warning tone of her inner wolf to her voice.
Lance and Duncan continued stepping toward her. He growled, ready to shove Milly aside if he had to. He’d do anything to get to his mate. The world around him disappeared, his lust putting blinders on his eyesight as Christy became everything to him.
Christy was breathing harder now, faster, her gaze darting from one man to the other, her chest heaving, spurring him on. Her pink tongue swept out to skim her lips, sending another shock of their mutual bond scorching into him. It would tear him apart not to touch her.
“Grant!”
He felt Milly grab his arm and jerk it hard. It broke his stride, giving his mind a second to clear. The amber in Milly’s eyes grew brighter, telling him that she was ready to fight him if she had to.
“Grant.” Her tone was softer, but no less insistent than before. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “You can’t do this. Get Lance and Duncan and get out of here before you totally lose it. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”
He could see what was happening now. Christy was frightened. Her body was stiff and her eyes sparkling with fear as she put her back against the refrigerator and crossed her arms in front of her. Lance and Duncan were almost on top of her. If they shifted and brought out their claws, they could take one swipe and bring her to her knees.
And yet, her eyes held another emotion.
She wants us.
Oh, hell, how he wanted to take her. But it was too early. She wasn’t ready for them.
“Duncan. Lance. No.” He didn’t need to speak in a loud voice. The strength behind his command was enough.
They stopped but didn’t back up and didn’t turn away from her.
“Now.”
They were equal partners in Crescent Moon Ranch and they were equals in life. He didn’t command them and they didn’t command him. Yet as equals, they respected each other and would decide things together.
Lance and Duncan backed up, going slowly and not taking their attention off Christy until they were several steps away from her. She let out a huge breath, and yet, he could sense her disappointment.
As much as his body ached for her, he couldn’t help but rejoice. She would be theirs soon. They didn’t need to force her. All they had to do was give her the time she needed.
He sensed Milly’s relief as well.
“If you three hounds will head on out, I’ll give Christy the five cent tour of the place. That and a little girl talk.” Milly shooed them out like a mother getting her teenage boys out of the den after they’d found their father’s porn magazines. “Get, you three. And don’t come back.”
* * * *
Duncan snagged Milly by the arm. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Do I have a choice?” Yet Milly didn’t let him pull her out of the apartment before Grant and Lance had gone outside.
“You know what’s going on here.” Milly had to know. And if she did, why was she interfering?
“You think she’s your mate.” Milly jerked her arm away and crossed them, then planted her feet apart and blocked their way back inside.
“I don’t think. I know.” He’d never felt anything like it. Attraction, hell, even lust was one thing. But the zap of power, of yearning that had hit him when he’d touched Christy had left no doubt in his mind. She was his mate.
He and Milly checked with Grant and Lance. They didn’t have to say a word. Their confirmation that she was their mate was written in the determination on their faces and in their body language.
“Fine. She’s your mate.” Milly’s stance softened along with her tone. “And don’t get me wrong, guys, I’m very happy for you. I know you’ve wanted this for a long time.”
“Then don’t get in our way,” grumbled the normally jovial Lance.
“I’m not.” She shrugged. “Okay, I am. But I’m doing it for your own good. And for hers, too.”
“How is keeping us away from our woman doing something for our own good?” He was faking it, of course. He could guess why she was standing in their way.
“Really? Come on, Duncan, you know as well as I do. I’m trying to keep you four apart until after the amber moon. The connection will still be there once the phase has passed.”
&nb
sp; “I don’t think it’s possible for us not to come back for her.”
“Yeah, I can see that.” She placed her palm on his chest. “You have to try, though. Lock yourselves up, chain each other to a tree, do whatever you have to do to keep away from her. If she’s your mate—”
“No if about it.”
“Since she’s your mate, are you willing to risk burning the bond out during the amber moon? I don’t think I could bear it if you did.”
Milly was always thinking about others and this was no exception. She was dead right. He and his friends knew it. But not coming to Christy when the lust was greater than at any other time? That was like asking him to change into a bat instead of a wolf.
“We have to try and stay away.” Lance’s hangdog expression was the perfect reflection of the sadness engulfing him.
Duncan didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t argue the point other than to say that he wanted her so badly his body felt like molten lava deep inside a volcano. And the eruption was near, far too near, to stay pent up much longer.
“I need to get back inside with her. I’ll try to smooth things over and make her feel more comfortable. Of course, I won’t tell her what’s really going on, but I’ll do my best to keep her inside for the next couple of days. Damned if I know how, but someone’s got to try. Until she can get back on the road, we have to keep her safe. Not only from you three, but from any other wolf that picks up her scent.”
“Back on the road? We can’t let her leave. Not ever.” He was stunned that Milly would even suggest that they let her drive out of their lives.
“Take it easy. You know you can’t force her to stay here forever. And you won’t have to. But she’s got to have the option. You get that, don’t you?”
He did. Not that he liked it any. Still, he had to believe she’d felt the connection and wouldn’t want to leave. Not in the next few days. Not ever.
Lance and Grant stared at the front door. Grant growled low, his inner wolf close to the surface. Lance clenched and unclenched his hands, the fight to stay outside showing.
“We have to stay nearby to make sure she doesn’t run off before we can make our case to her.” He was reaching for straws, but that was all he could do right now.
