Ashton Grove Werewolves (Boxed Set, Vol. 2)

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  He handed her the small netbook and smiled. “Why don’t you boot it up and email your publisher? Or you can use the phone if you need to call them. I’m going to be in the office making a few calls myself.”

  She nodded. “Thanks, Colin. I’ll just get it set up in the living room, if that’s okay?”

  “Wherever you’re most comfortable. If the office were bigger, I’d move a desk in there for you. But it’s pretty tiny. When I’m not using it, you’re more than welcome to set up in there.”

  She kissed him. “Thank you, but I’ll be quite comfy on the sofa or sitting at the kitchen table.”

  Colin gave her a light swat on the butt as she walked past him before he ducked into his office. Pulling up his computer, he went through his emails, looking for possible jobs. Several people wanted small remodeling jobs – a closet, a kitchen, a bathroom. But one caught his eye. Someone two towns over in Carter’s Bend had bought a 1940’s bungalow at auction and wanted to bring it back to its former glory. That sounded promising, not just because of the income it would bring in, but because it sounded like fun. He quickly responded to their email then moved down the list.

  It took an hour to return all of the emails and phone calls, but eventually he cleared his inbox and his voicemail and had set up several jobs for the upcoming weeks. Now he just had to stay alive to carry them out. He could hold his own against another wolf, probably could’ve taken the vamp that was after Kiera if he’d had to go one on one with him, but a demon? Hell, he just didn’t know about that. And that’s what had him scared. Yeah, he wasn’t afraid to admit it. He was scared. Scared of dying and leaving Kendall alone, scared of her dying and leaving him alone, scared of losing his brother or his cousins or any of their mates... this war just had him fucking scared shitless, and as far as he was concerned, that made him smart.

  He closed down the computer and stretched the kinks in his neck and shoulders before standing. He found Kendall in the living, with the netbook in her lap, a document open with lots of little comment bubbles down the side of the page and colorful words where she’d added something or taken something away. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

  “Hard at work?” he asked.

  “I’m at a stopping point. Did you need me?”

  He grinned. “I always need you.”

  “Besides for that.”

  He chuckled. “No, I just thought I’d see what you were up to. I wrapped up my business for the night. Did you want to go out to eat, order in, or what? I know you bought groceries, but after practice today I didn’t think you’d feel like cooking.”

  “Why don’t we order Chinese and have it delivered? I’m about ready for a bubble bath and a night by the fire.”

  “Darlin’, it’s a little warm outside for a fire.”

  “Then I guess you better crank the air conditioning, because I want a fire.”

  He smiled. “Anything for you.”

  She reached for the phone. “Kung pao chicken, lo mein and wanton soup?”

  “Yeah, that sounds good. Have them throw in some fortune cookies. Maybe they’ll impart good news.”

  Kendall smiled. “I’ll ask.”

  As she placed the order, he turned the thermostat on sixty-five and laid a fire in the fireplace. After opening the flue, he lit the logs. He couldn’t believe he was lighting a fire in the middle of summer, but if that’s what Kendall wanted, that’s what she’d get. When he’d said he’d do anything for his mate, he meant anything.

  It only took about half an hour for the Chinese to arrive. Colin paid for the order, tipped the driver, and set the sack on the kitchen counter. He took out the cartons and pulled plates down out of the cabinet. Pouring a generous amount of noodles and chicken on both plates, he grabbed utensils, his wanton soup and set everything on the kitchen table.

  “Kendall,” he called. “It’s ready.”

  She showed up wearing her robe, and if he had to guess, nothing else. How in the hell was he supposed to eat while she was dressed like that? All he’d be thinking about was her, naked. He watched as she slipped into her seat and pulled her plate closer. She picked up her fork and took a dainty bite of chicken before twirling some noodles around the tines.

  Kendall caught him watching her and wiped at her chin. “Do I have food on my face or something?”

  He grinned. “No, I just like watching you.”

  She made a face. “Less watching and more eating.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She shook her head and continued to eat.

  “If Kiera’s going to have that party tomorrow night, you’ll want to stop by the store in the morning to pick up enough plates and napkins for the whole pack. I’d imagine she’d like some help getting set up, too, if you have the time. I know you have some work to do, now that you have a computer to use,” Colin said.

  “I don’t mind helping. I’ll give her a call when I get up and moving in the morning.”

  “It may very well be the last time the pack is together. I imagine we’re going to lose some people.”

  She tapped her fork on the edge of her plate. “Does someone have a video camera? Maybe we should film part of the party, get everyone on tape.”

  “That’s a great idea! I’ll mention it to Connor tomorrow. I think Aislinn bought a new video camera just last month.”

  He looked at her empty plate. “If you’re done, what do you say we go relax in front of that fire you asked for?”

  She nodded and got up, taking both of their plates to the sink. When she started to run the water, he stopped her.

  “One of us can wash them tomorrow. Just leave them for now.”

  With a smile, she twined her fingers with his and he led her into the living room. He paused in front of the fire and studied her in the ember glow. She really was the loveliest woman he’d ever seen, and she was his. Colin wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, pressing their bodies together. He lowered his lips to hers, caressing them softly.

  His hands gripped her hips, then slowly unfastened her robe. As the material parted, he slid his palms up the soft, warm skin that was exposed. He licked her lower lip before delving inside for a taste. Their tongues collided, stroked, and then retreated, to do it all over again. Colin felt her pulling his shirt free of his jeans and then her soft hands were touching him, sliding over the hard planes of his chest.

  “You have on too many clothes,” she murmured against his lips.

  Wanting to keep his mate happy, he stepped back, jerked the shirt over his head, and quickly divested himself of the rest of his clothes. His hungry gaze tracked her every move as she slid the robe down her arms and let it drop to the floor. Kendall took a step towards him and lifted a hand, beckoning him closer. He grasped her fingers and sank to his knees, tugging her down in front of him. The rug in front of the fireplace was soft and tickled their skin.

  Her nails gently grazed his nipples as she pressed her lips to his throat. His hands slid up her ribs and cupped her breasts, kneading and stroking the soft mounds. He felt the hitch in her breath as his thumbs stroked over her nipples, making them pebble against his skin. He circled them again with this thumbs before lightly pinching the tips and felt her shudder in response. The cream slicking her pussy left a sweet, tangy scent in the air. The musky smell of her arousal had his cock hardening even more.

  Colin’s fingers skimmed down her stomach and slid between her legs. He groaned as he claimed her lips in another kiss as his fingers stroked her slit, then dipped inside to tease her clit. The nub was already hard and begging for attention as he gently stroked the bundle of nerves. A tremor raked her body as she spread her thighs wider, giving him better access. He felt his cock pulse in time with his heartbeat. He ached to feel that wet heat envelop him.

  Kendall’s fingers curled into his shoulders, her nails scoring his skin. His thumb danced over her clit in small, tormenting circles. Her lips parted and her eyes slid shut as her he
ad tipped back. Her body tensed and jerked as she cried out her release, her cream coating his fingers. He continued to stroke her, until her body relaxed and she opened her eyes once more.

  He leaned forward and traced the line of her jaw with his nose before placing his lips against her ear. “Hands and knees.”

  Kendall turned and dropped to her hands, lifting her ass in the air. Colin grabbed a condom from his pants pocket and quickly rolled it down his shaft. He gripped his cock and slid it up and down her slit, soaking him in her juices, before pressing forward, breaching her. Her pussy wrapped around his cock like hot, wet silk, grabbing him and pulling him in. He eased into her, stretching her, as he filled her completely. Buried to the hilt, he ground his hips against her before pulling back and plunging forward again. With each stroke of his cock, she got hotter and wetter. His cock slid with ease in and out of her pussy. She was so damn tight he wasn’t sure he could last. Already his balls were drawing up, preparing for him to come.

  Colin gripped her hips and thrust faster, harder, deeper. In. Out. In. Out. The sounds of their flesh slapping together filled the air. Sweat slicked their skin and his palms began to slide. He dug his fingers in deeper and tried to hold out. He refused to come before she did. He palmed a breast and tweaked her nipple, pinching and rolling the tip. She whimpered in need and he pinched harder. It was just enough to push her over the edge and her pussy squeezed him like a vise before convulsing around him. As she called out his name, he filled her with his seed, finally allowing himself to find his own release.

  His hips rocked against hers until they were both sated and panting for breath. He trailed a hand lovingly down her spine before lightly swatting her ass cheek. The front half of her body collapsed to the floor and he eased out of her. He gently nipped her hip, lightly marking her. He wished he could mark her with his scent, but there were too many issues that needed to be resolved before they thought about starting a family. It was definitely a discussion he wanted to have before too long, though.

  “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get cleaned up and head to bed. I have a feeling you’re going to have a busy day tomorrow.”

  Kendall held out a hand and he helped her stand. He stripped off his used condom and tossed it in the living room trash, with a mental note to empty the can later. Lifting her into his arms, he took the stairs two at a time. When he reached the landing, he set her down and herded her toward the master bath. The sooner they washed up, the sooner he could hold her in his arms.

  Chapter Nine

  Kendall rolled over the next morning and saw that Colin was already up and gone. She touched the pillow where his head had rested and smiled. He’d been incredible the night before, and had held her until she fell asleep. He really was something amazing. From what she’d gathered, his brother and cousins were the same way. The awesome gene must run in the family.

  Getting out of bed, she quickly pulled on a sundress and sandals. She hadn’t called Kiera yet, but she had no doubt the woman would accept her help. Planning and implementing a party all within twenty-four hours would take a lot out of you, especially for such a large crowd. Not that Kendall thought she’d be the only one lending a hand, but she wanted to participate and show she was ready to be part of the Ashton Grove pack.

  When she reached the kitchen, there was a note on the counter.

  Kiera will be expecting you by lunch. Relax this morning and I’ll see you tonight. Use the Mustang for your errands.

  She smiled and picked the keys up off the counter where he’d left them. Her purse was near the front door so she grabbed it on her way out. Before she went to Kiera’s, and she hoped she remembered the way, she first had to stop somewhere to get plates and such. She was slowly learning her way around Ashton Grove and felt fairly certain she remembered where the dollar store was.

  Kendall locked the house and popped the locks on the Mustang. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she had to scoot it almost all the way forward before she could reach the pedals. She turned the key and listened to the engine purr to life. She really loved this car. Carefully backing down the driveway, she headed in what she hoped was the right direction.

  It only took her ten minutes and one wrong turn to find the store. Parking was a breeze and she hurried inside. She didn’t know the exact number of the pack, but she was going to err on the side of caution and say forty-five. It would be better to have extras than not enough. Gathering enough plates, napkins, cutlery and cups for fifty people, she pushed her cart to the check out. The clerks eyes widened when she saw the amount of stuff Kendall was purchasing.

  “Big party?” the girl asked.

  “Something like that. It’s a last minute gathering for family and friends.”

  The girl finished scanning the items and told her the total. Kendall paid with the cash Colin had given her when they’d first reached Ashton Grove. He’d wanted to make sure she had a little spending money if the need should arise, and now she was grateful for it. If she had her wallet, then she’d have access to her checking account. She still needed to stop by the bank and see what could be done. She’d cancelled all of her cards, but now she had to wait on new ones. She hated being cut off from her finances.

  Gathering her sacks, she carried them out to the car and put everything in the trunk. She got in and started the car up, snapped her seatbelt into place and then backed out. If she had a cell phone, she could call Kiera to let her know she was on her way, but she hadn’t picked one up yet. She’d lost her when the demons had attacked her. It had been one of those month-to-month phones so it was no great loss, except that all of her contacts were in there. She hoped the demons didn’t have it. The last thing she wanted was for them to visit her friends.

  Kendall eventually found her way to the Victorian and pulled in the driveway behind Kiera’s SUV, a truck and another car. Colin had told her before not to knock, to just walk right in, so Kendall grabbed her sacks and bustled into the front entry of the large home.

  “Hello? Kiera?” she called out.

  Kiera poked her head around the corner. “You’re here sooner than I expected. Come on in! We’re gathered in the kitchen.”

  Kendall stepped around the corner and smiled at Chloe. She wasn’t sure who the wolf was, as she was still learning everyone’s names. He was familiar to her though, so she knew she’d been introduced to him at some point.

  “Do you remember Chloe and Levi?” Kiera asked, solving the mystery for her.

  “Yes, of course. It’s good to see you both.”

  Levi smiled and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I figured you ladies could use a hand with the heavy lifting.”

  “Kiera certainly has no business lifting anything,” Kendall said with a pointed look at Kiera’s expanding waistline.

  “I’m pregnant, not dying.” Kiera rolled her eyes. She motioned toward the sacks. “What did you bring?”

  “Plates and stuff. I wasn’t sure how many to get, so I probably went a little overboard.”

  Chloe laughed. “That’s always a good thing. We try to save any extras for the next time the pack gets together. Not that we have extras very often. The guys are horrible about throwing away their cups and then going back for a new glass, or needing more than one plate to hold all of their food.”

  Kendall frowned. “Maybe I didn’t get enough then.”

  Kiera waved away her concern. “What you have is plenty, considering I have about twenty place settings and a dozen or so cups stored from the last get together.”

  “We have about four hours before our babysitter returns the kids,” Chloe said. “That should give us plenty of time to get everything set up and get ourselves a drink. Kiera can pretend its wine when she drinks her grape juice.”

  Levi chuckled.

  “Oh it’s funny, is it?” Kiera asked with narrowed eyes. “Just for that, you can start setting up tables in the backyard. I want one long table near the grill station, and we’ll need at least two or three more for the rest of the food
and drinks. After that, you can pull out the round tables we used at my wedding, they’re stored in the shed out back, and place them around the backyard. There should be folding chairs in there, too.”

  Levi sighed and ambled out of the room, mumbling under his breath about slave drivers.

  Kiera laughed. “He’ll be okay. I really do wish someone else had come to help him though. That’s a lot of work.”

  “Deacon took some time off this week, because of the upcoming fight. I can always call him and see if he’d come by and give Levi a hand,” Chloe offered.

  “That would be wonderful! I’m sure Levi would appreciate it, even if he is a big tough manly man.”

  Kendall laughed. “I’d forgotten what it was like to be around family. Thanks for letting me come over.”

  Kiera patted her arm. “You’re always welcome here.”

  “So what do we do now?” Kendall asked.

  “Well, I prepared a fruit salad first thing this morning and Chloe brought over a cake. The food should start arriving around the time the guys are finished with the tables. There really isn’t a lot to do. Organizing everything is usually the hard part, but everyone here is great about volunteering.”

  The front door opened and shut. “Kiera?”

  Kendall looked over her shoulder.

  “We’re in the kitchen,” Kiera called back.

  A moment later, a tall muscular wolf entered the kitchen.

  “Deacon, it’s good of you to come help,” Kiera said with a smile. “I know Chloe just sent that text a minute ago. You must’ve been close by.”

  “I was visiting Gabriel across the street, actually. I’m free though, if you still need a hand.”

  “Levi is out back. He knows where I want everything set up, if you don’t mind giving him a hand.”