He frowns in concentration. “Only descendants can be alphas.”
Marion’s desire for a joint council makes sense now. If I hadn’t come along, her clan would have been left without a leader when she died.
No wonder the Veilleux aren’t happy. Without an alpha heir for the Le Roux and the Robichaux, power would have been all theirs. I swirl my soup, thinking about another bite. But I realize it’s cold and push my bowl away instead.
42
Chapter 12
Taylor
If someone had asked me five years ago what I wanted in life, I would have said my own auto-mechanic business and maybe a man to keep my bed warm. Well, I got both and thought my dreams had been realized. Little did I know I would sell everything, dump the perfect guy, and move to northern Maine, all because of a series of dreams and a pawprint tattoo.
A couple months ago, Carly and Sierra came through my town on their way here, and when I saw the tattoo from my dreams, they gave me one, too. It sealed the deal, and here I am.
Having been on a tour of the Bear Mountain Tree Farm with Sierra and Annie, I’m on my way to the Le Roux home. Tree cover darkens the windy drive up to Annie’s house. I’m staying here until I get settled and figure out what I want to do. It sounds like a houseful with Annie, her brother Brady, Carly, and Lily, another girl who just moved here.
Not much makes me nervous, but being around other women does. I spent most of my life under cars and can handle the crassest of men, but girly stuff makes me want to run. Denim is coarse under my damp palms when I rub them down my thighs.
Annie says, “Matt, the guy in your dreams, is coming for dinner. You’ll get a chance to meet and get to know each other. No pressure if you don’t like him. We’ll just send him on his way.” She chuckles, and I wonder if she has any idea how strong my attraction is for him.
I think that was the hardest part about leaving Christian. Really, he was who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. Smart, sexy as hell, and in love with the woman I am, he couldn’t have been more perfect. But when I started having dreams about this guy Matt, my feelings for Christian went from hot to cold like a flash—especially since I was cheating on him in those dreams.
Following Annie, we pull up to a large house, but it’s the landscaping that has me awestruck. The lawn seems to go on forever, and it makes me think the Le Roux own more acreage than the state of Rhode Island. As I step out of my truck, the scent of lilies floats toward me, and I notice a garden full of pink and white color.
Annie says, “The gardens are my favorite part of this house. Do you like flowers?”
I shrug because they aren’t my thing, but I do appreciate the beauty and say, “Your land is amazing. This is a wonderful home.” My feet thud behind Annie’s on the wooden steps.
Carly opens the front door to greet us, and the first thing I notice is she’s pregnant. She places her hands on her stomach, since I’m staring, and says, “Triplets. I’m going to be huge.”
“Wow, that was fast.” Blood rushes to my face, because it occurs to me she might have been pregnant before she came.
Before I can stick my foot further into my mouth, she says, “Yeah, Brady and I got pregnant before the wedding. C’mon in and meet him. We’re excited you’re finally here.”
Yet another person that makes me feel normal sized, a man stands when we enter the kitchen. He steps closer to take my hand. “I’m Brady Le Roux, and you must be Taylor. Welcome.”
His hand almost dwarfs mine, and I’m beginning to wonder what they feed people up here. “Thanks. I’m happy to be here. You have quite the family compound, and, from the looks of it, a darn successful business.”
“Carly tells me you ran a successful business, too. I look forward to putting your talents to good use. But we’ll talk later. Take some time to settle in.”
Annie opens the oven door on my right, and steam blasts out along with the scent of garlic. She says, “Dinner should be ready in about forty-five minutes. I hope you like lasagna, Taylor. It’s my go-to meal for guests.”
“I do, and it smells wonderful.”
Carly says, “Keith is bringing your bags up to your room for you. I’ll take you there.”
Keith? Is there a butler in this place?
Walking down a long hall, I almost gawk at how large the house is when we pass four bedroom doors before getting to the one I’ll stay in. A room decorated in light yellow with blue bedding welcomes me.
But it’s the overwhelming presence of Keith that grabs my attention. The faint scent of pine surrounds him, and the moment his brown eyes connect with mine, I’m lost. His voice penetrates all my barriers when he speaks.
“Taylor, nice to meet you.”
He takes my hands, and I just about swoon. Not only are they burning hot, but the heat races right to my core. Fuck me now, this guy’s got sexy covered.
I blink and try to focus, because this isn’t the man in my dreams, and he shouldn’t be affecting me so. “Same.”
Carly says, “We’ll leave you to get settled, and come on down when you’re done. Matt should be here any minute.”
“Thanks.”
Matt, right. The guy I’m supposed to be here for. One glance in the mirror makes me groan. While the rain has stopped, it’s humid, and my hair is a frizzy mess. Unfortunately, there isn’t much I can do, because brushing it will only make it puff up more. I finger-comb it into a twist and clip it. I rummage in my bag for my scant amount of makeup. Jesus, when did I start to care about how I look? I grab some mascara and lipstick. If Matt dreams the way I do, then I don’t know what I’m worried about.
Plush carpet under my feet makes my descent almost silent. When I’m at the bottom step, I hear the voice from my dreams.
My feet tap on the wood floor toward the kitchen and echo a bit in the large great room. I step into the kitchen and lock eyes with Matt. His twinkle with laughter, and his smile grows when I stop. He’s attractive in a long and lean way, but he’s far from small. I guess he’s close to seven feet tall. My stomach flips because the attraction is definitely there for him, too. What’s with this place?
A shiver of fear flicks through me, and I swallow my nerves. “Hi.”
Matt moves closer to me, making me tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. “Taylor. I’ve been dreaming about you.” He winks.
He says it like it’s not a line, but I banter right back. “Interesting, because you look like the guy in my dreams, too.” I look him up and down with a smirk to hide the fact that my body is trembling with the urge to throw him down and have my way.
When Matt returns the favor, his eyes move more slowly, and I will myself not to shudder with need. I force my gaze away and notice Annie. She tilts her head at me in question, and I smile as I nod. I won’t throw him out for eating crackers in bed.
Matt reaches for my hand and says, “Let’s take a walk around the gardens before dinner.”
I follow wordlessly, and Sierra gives me a thumbs-up as I walk by.
My sneakers move without sound across the slate walkway, while Matt’s boots clunk. He says, “So, I work at the lumber mill and do master carpentry in my spare time. I have two brothers and haven’t had a girlfriend for over a year. You?”
His straightforward approach makes me grin. “I used to run an auto repair shop, was an only child, and broke up with my boyfriend to come here.”
Matt stops walking and turns to face me. “Was it the call?”
My insides clench, because I’m honest to a fault, and this might not be a great way to start things. “It was. I probably would have married the guy.”
I watch as Matt steps away and puts his hands in his pockets. He kicks at a crack in the walkway. “This whole thing is so weird.” His blue eyes rise to stare at me. “I don’t want you to be with me because of some call. I mean, I want you to be mine because of who I am.”
His sincerity tugs at my heart. “I want the same thing. Yeah, the dreams were freaking hot. B
ut I need to know who you are on the inside before we do anything. I think we’re on the same page here.”
He lets out a big breath. “Okay, good.” We start walking again, and Matt asks, “You’re into cars, huh?”
We spend the next half hour learning about each other. I’m not sure if it’s natural or some strange magic, but I like Matt, and we’re laughing easily by the time we’re called for dinner. It’s a comfortable feeling when he sits next to me and places his arm on the back of my chair.
Laughter breaks out when Matt describes the first tree house he and his brothers attempted to build. Keith says, “I think it might be the curse of little boys. The one Brady and I started ended up as a great bonfire.”
He turns to Sierra and says, “You strike me as the type of girl that might have had a tree house. Did you?”
She scoffs in reply. “Hardly. I was busy dressing up my dolls.”
Wow, bitchy much?
Annie jumps in to smooth things over. “I could have used you, Sierra. Brady and Keith wouldn’t let me help.”
Keith strokes Sierra’s hair, and I swear she cringes when he says, “Fortunately, I’ve learned the value of a good woman.”
What an idiot. Keith is so sweet, and she’s blowing it. I’m tempted to shoot him a sympathetic look, but because of my earlier attraction, I try not to make eye contact and give myself away.
When it’s time for dessert, I help Annie clear the table, and Carly declares she and Sierra will be cleaning up so I can sit on the porch with Matt until he has to leave. Annie hands me a knife. “Cut that cake into eight pieces for me?”
“Sure.”
Plates clash as she pulls them down for the slices, and she calls out. “Anyone want coffee? I have regular and decaf.”
I take orders and pour steaming liquid into cups as the fragrant aroma wraps around me. As I turn to take mugs to the table, I bump into Keith. He steadies my hands and says, “Whoa.” The heat of his skin startles me, and I gaze into his eyes.
Holy shit. My desire has been ignited by his touch, and by the look on his face, so has his. I mumble “Sorry” and move quickly away.
When I set the cups down, a little coffee sloshes over the edge of the one I hand Matt. He grins at me and says, “You affect me the same way.”
I offer him a smile, but my dinner is heavy in my stomach, because Keith is the one making me flustered, and he’s not mine to have. I fall to my chair and let the hard wood slam against my bottom. Fuck me.
My angst is interrupted by Keith handing me a small pitcher. He asks, “Cream?”
I glance up at him and read the same emotion in his eyes. “Yes, thank you.” Only I’m answering more than he asked.
43
Chapter 13
Sierra
I shouldn’t be surprised, but I can’t help feeling hurt by Keith’s reaction to Taylor. I sigh as the Jeep window chills my cheek.
Keith reaches for my hand, “You okay, sweetie?”
I pull my hand away. “Not really.”
Things with Keith and me are beyond strained. He’s doing his best to be patient, but I’m testing it by being a raging bitch. Victor wakes me up at odd hours to talk, and the lack of sleep makes it so I can’t focus on my job. It’s also next to impossible for me to concentrate on a conversation with someone else when Victor is describing the sexual things he wants to do to me, and I’ve had to stop answering the phone at work. I imagine this must be what schizophrenia is like.
The worst part is that now Victor turns me on with his words, and I can’t be with Keith without picturing Victor. Keith and I haven’t slept together in weeks, and I finally moved to the guest bedroom so I wouldn’t wake him at night.
“Want to talk about it?” He pulls into the driveway, and gears clunk into park. Keith turns to me.
The tender tone in his voice pushes me over the edge. My tears flow, and I fall apart. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I feel like I’m going insane, and you shouldn’t have to deal with it.” I sniff and continue. “I saw how Taylor affected you tonight. You deserve to be with someone who isn’t losing her fucking mind.”
Silence takes over as Keith cuts the engine. “Damn it, Sierra. Yes, there is an attraction between Taylor and me. You know this happens, but it can be controlled. She belongs to Matt.” He pulls me against his chest and whispers, “And I belong to you. I’m not giving up on us.”
I snuggle into soft flannel and let it soak up the moisture from my face. The comforting warmth of Keith soothes me, and for a moment I believe it will all be okay.
“Good evening, precious, I hope you’re ready for me. My cock is hard and waiting for your touch. How should we do it tonight? Should I eat you out first?”
My core twinges as I imagine a tongue sliding along my slit. Fuck me! I’m getting hot for Victor while Keith is holding me.
Victor’s laugh echoes through my head before he begins to describe thrusting into me. I push away from Keith. “He’s in my head again. Let’s just go inside.”
I haven’t told Keith what Victor says, but he has an active imagination, and I wish I could tell him it’s not worse than he fears. I grab my phone and ear buds from my purse. Cranking up Pink, I do my best to block out Victor’s version of phone sex.
I wander around the house tying to hear the music only. Keith is used to this and leaves me alone, knowing I’ll come talk to him when Victor is done. When I’m sure the voice has stopped, I turn off my music and plod slowly up the stairs.
I’m mentally worn out and don’t even want to think, but the look on Keith’s face when he stared at Taylor is burned into my memory, haunting me. Even so, when I hear the bath running, I can’t help but smile at the sweet gesture. The scent of lavender bath salts floats through though the hall, and I enter the bathroom. Keith is sitting on a small bench, thumbing through a magazine.
I ask, “Hey, have I told you lately how amazing you are?”
Keith smiles as he stands. “I thought you might need this.”
“I do. Thank you.” I walk to him and wrap my arms around his waist as I lay my head against his chest. My eyes burn with tears as my heart tells me what I have to do.
Water almost too hot to touch stings my skin when I first get in, but moments after I immerse myself up to my chin, I begin to relax. Closing my eyes, I drift off and remember the excitement of the car trip with Carly to come to Maine. I replay the first time I met Keith and the hours we spent telling each other our stories, hopes, and dreams.
Catori’s words come back to me. She said I am a nurturer, and I’m destined to take care of those I love. And that’s what I need to do.
After my bath, I wrap up in a thick robe and pad down to Keith’s room. The sound of my knuckles rapping against the slightly open door makes him look up from his book and say, “Hey.” He pats the bed for me to sit beside him.
I take a deep breath to gain courage for the conversation we’re about to have. The bed bounces a bit, and the springs squeak, reminding me of the first few weeks of our relationship when we couldn’t stay clothed. My heart aches wishing I could have that again. “I think I need to move back to Brady and Carly’s house.”
Keith’s arm slips around my shoulders. “I don’t want you to go, but I had a feeling this was coming.”
I turn to him and trace along his temple with my finger. His skin is smooth, and he leans into my touch. “Victor’s bound to have sex again soon. And when he does, this will end.”
Keith jokes, “Maybe we should send him a hooker.”
I smile back. “Maybe we should.” But I know that’s not what needs to happen. “I love you, Keith.”
“I love you, Sierra. We’ll get through this and be stronger for it.”
“I know. Thank you so much for sticking by me.”
He whispers as he drops tender kisses on my face, “You’re my dream girl.”
He kisses my lips softly, and I tempt fate by returning the kiss with more. It’s familiar and comforti
ng at first, but we heat up to a fever pitch. Before I know it, we’re stripping clothes off each other. Our coupling is fast and furious, as if we’re racing to beat the clock, and in a way we are.
Victor’s presence licks at my mind, and I mentally describe the way I feel. I speak to Keith knowing my mental captor can and will hear. I can feel Victor and almost hear his panting as if I’m talking to him instead of Keith. The knowledge brings me closer to my orgasm. When I come, I scream out my lover’s name and hope it burns through Victor’s mind. And that he liked it, too.
Finding each other again, Keith and I lie together in a tangled mess, neither of us willing to move. With my head on his chest, I listen to the beat of his heart, a heart that is strong and true. When his breathing becomes slow and deep, I sit up and look at him. I whisper goodbye, and I do what I have to do.
“Victor, did I wear you out?”
“Not even close. What can I do for you, precious?”
I say what I should have said weeks ago. “I think it’s time for us to talk, face to face.”
Sign up for V. Vaughn’s newsletter to hear about her next shifter releases.
Called by the Bear is a trilogy and the first season of of V.’s bear world. Get the complete set and more Called by the Bear HERE.
Read more in V’s bear world:
Tempted by the Bear
Rocked by the Bear
Desired by the Bear
Releasing now! Bewitched by the Bear
Find out more about V. Vaughn and her other series at www.violetvaughn.com
Check out more V. Vaughn books at www.violetvaughn.com
About the Author
V. Vaughn lives on an island in Maine and spends as much time in the woods or on the beach as she can. She might have seen a bear, or two….
V. Vaughn also writes contemporary romance as Violet Vaughn and cozy mysteries with her bestie as Lucy Quinn.
www.violetvaughn.com
[email protected]
Follow her on Amazon!
About Shifters in Love
Summer Shifter Nights Page 76
