by M. A. Church
There were three levels, but each level looked like a long rectangular box that had been thrown haphazardly on top of the other. They jutted out in every direction and at insane angles. Parts of the house were basically glass boxes. Talk about living in a fishbowl. Other parts had those long funky rectangular windows. And the material on the outside reminded me of shiplap.
The front porch—I guess it was the front porch—was concrete with a wood railing. The second level stuck out over the front porch. It had steps going down to the ground, which were concrete too. Everywhere I looked there was an overabundance of glass, metal, and wood. The cabin, if it could be called that, was also built on stilts.
The whole thing looked like it had been thrown together by a child in the middle of a hissy fit. It confused the eye and left me bewildered. This monstrosity against nature was Carter’s pack house? There was no way I could comfortably live in that thing. It… it…. Everything about it screamed ultramodern design, and I hated, absolutely hated, modern.
I peeled my hands off the steering wheel and ran them through my hair. Maybe if I turned around right this second, no one would notice I’d arrived. I’d just nonchalantly drive my ass back to West Falls and… damn. The front door opened and somebody walked out. Damn, damn, damn. Even from here there was no mistaking that broad, tall body. Nor that hairless dome.
I licked my lips, and my cock hardened. My toes curled. Fuck, he was devastatingly sexy… and I was screwed. I rested my head against the steering wheel. Screwed. I tapped my head against it as I chanted silently about just how screwed I was. So, so screwed. The horn blared, and I damn near jumped through the cab of the truck. Kill me now.
A tap at the window had me raising my head to see Carter peering in the driver’s window. He tilted his head, staring intently at me. Well, I guess running for the hills was out of the question. I unlocked the truck door, and he moved so I could open it. As nonchalantly as I could, I got out and stood by the truck.
“Welcome to the Dark Lake Pack, Aidric.”
“Thank you.” I caught myself jiggling my keys and shoved them into my front pocket. I didn’t know what to do with my hands, so I decided to thrust them in there too.
“Did you have a good trip?” Carter asked, stepping a little closer.
I remembered the feeling I had and thought about telling him, but what was the point? It was just a feeling, nothing concrete. “I did, yes. The traffic wasn’t too bad.”
Carter reached down, hesitated, then rested his hand against my forearm. Even through the long sleeves and the coat I wore, the heat from his skin seeped through the material.
“Good. I’m glad. Do you have any luggage?”
“Huh?” Then I mentally cringed. I needed to get my head out of the clouds before Carter thought I was some sort of imbecile. Or more of one. “Luggage, yeah.” I opened the truck’s passenger door and retrieved my suitcase.
“Is that all you brought?”
“There’s more in here than you think, trust me. Besides, I’m only here for a few days.”
Carter reached for the suitcase, so, shrugging, I let him take it. That earned him points for acting like a gentleman.
“True,” said Carter. “I also have a washer and dryer, which you’re more than welcome to make use of.”
I caught the hint—if I wanted to stay longer, I had a way to clean my clothes—even though I didn’t acknowledge it. Still, points for thinking ahead. Holding my arm, Carter escorted me toward the pack house.
“This is the Dark Lake Pack house and my home. What do you think of it?”
“How old was the architect who designed this thing? Ten?” No sooner than the words were out, I would’ve given anything to stuff them back in my big mouth. Remi was right. I sucked at small talk. “Shit, I apologize. That was totally uncalled for.”
Under five minutes here, and I’d already insulted my host and future mate. That had to be a new record for even me.
Carter stopped and looked at me. I paid close attention to his eyes. The moment they turned werewolf yellow, I was getting in the truck and hauling ass. Instead his lips twitched, and he slowly smiled.
“Well, at least I know if I ask you something, I’ll get an honest answer.”
A slight tug got us walking again, which was a good thing since it felt like I was mired in quicksand. “Yes, well, I’ve been told honesty isn’t always the best policy.”
“That can be true in some cases, but I’d want my mate to be honest with me. I’ve been told I can be intimidating.”
I snorted. “I’ve been told I can be blunt. Since we’re trotting out our flaws, I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you I don’t do well with small talk. In fact, you could say I’m socially inept and somewhat awkward.”
“That’s okay,” Carter said as we neared his pack house. “I’ve been told I’m aggressive and somewhat of an asshole.”
I stuck my tongue in my cheek. “A werewolf who is a little aggressive and somewhat of an asshole? Imagine that.”
We were at the base of the front porch stairs when Carter pulled me to a stop. He leaned in and sniffed, scenting me. “Kitty’s got claws.” His warm breath whispered across my neck, and I shivered. He sniffed again and smiled. “I’ve always loved the smell of vanilla. Good thing, huh?”
That smile was just this edge of wicked and had an amazing effect on my cock. Two could play that game. I stepped closer, damn near eliminating any space between us. Since he was so much taller, I looked up and licked my lips. His eyes followed the movement, so I sank my teeth into my bottom lip.
“Carter,” I whispered. Even I could hear the slight purr in my voice.
“Yes?” Carter groaned and leaned closer, bending down.
Perfect. “Will you….” I ran my fingers across his scalp. His rolling growl climbed my spine and hit me square in the back of the head. If that wasn’t a hot spot for Carter, I’d eat my shoe. My cock sprang to attention.
“Will I… what?” Carter growled the last word.
“Show me around the pack house?” I asked sweetly.
His eyes lightened for a few seconds. Yellow threatened to take them, but the color bled away. Carter huffed out a laugh. “You’ve got spunk.”
Of all the words in the English vocabulary, he just had to use that one, did he?
Carter discreetly rearranged his cock and picked up my suitcase, which he’d dropped at some point. Funny how neither of us had noticed.
“One tour of the pack house coming up.” Carter escorted me up the porch stairs. “While you’re here, if you’re not with me, Shea or Temple will escort you. They’re both betas to me.”
Carter opened the door, and I stepped inside. “Thank you,” I said, glancing around the wide-open space. “Is it really necessary for me to have a babysitter?” That probably wasn’t as tactful as it could have been.
“Don’t think of it as a babysitter. Think of it more as… company.” Carter shut the door behind us.
“Company I don’t know.”
“Maybe so, but the only way to get to know people is, spend time with them, right?”
“If you say so.” Well, it looked like I was going to be making some new friends whether I wanted to or not.
“So.” Carter gestured at the open room where we were standing. “This is the pack house and my home. The middle level, where we are, is the main living area.”
I nodded. “Nice.”
This was the level that looked like it was covered in shiplap on the outside. There was a gray stone fireplace, several comfy seating areas, and a fancy pool table right in the middle of the room. I also noticed a dartboard and a TV set up with a gaming system. The middle level must be where they relaxed.
“Do you play pool?” Carter asked.
“No. Never had the urge to.”
“Would you be interested in learning?”
“I think I might.”
“Good. As you can probably tell, this is where the pack comes to relax and spe
nd time together. On the other end of this level, there are several conference rooms where I hold meetings. One area is for fun, the other area is for work.”
“That makes sense,” I said.
“The bottom level has the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is state-of-the-art and pretty big. The dining room is nothing elaborate or fancy. The werewolves who are mated don’t eat here normally, but the ones who are single do.”
This was so different from what we did, I didn’t know how to wrap my head around it. “Who does the cooking?”
“I have two cooks. They serve lunch and dinner every day and cook enough to feed at least thirty people. Believe it or not, it’s rare anything is left over.”
“So basically your bottom level acts like a cafeteria.”
Carter shrugged. “It works for us. My unmated wolves like to eat here and can eat a lot. It’s too much effort to cook for one person.”
“I’m assuming they don’t all live with you, right?” The thought was slightly horrifying.
“Absolutely not.” Carter set my suitcase down and tugged me closer. “That’d be too many people underfoot. Besides, they have their own homes.” Carter pointed at a staircase nearby. “The staircase leads to both the upper level—that’s where the guest bedrooms and master suite are located—and to the lower level where we eat. Want to have a look?”
“Sure.” I followed Carter downstairs. Once there, it dawned on me I hadn’t spoken to him about where I’d be sleeping. “Um, about the sleeping arrangements—”
“You have such an expressive face.” Carter grinned. “While I’d dearly love to have you in my bed, I had the guest room readied for you.”
“I think that would be better, don’t you?”
“I don’t know if ‘better’ is the word I’d use. ‘Safer’ might be a better bet.”
I glanced up at Carter through my lashes. Good goddess, was this me flirting? It appeared so.
“But if you change your mind, I’ll be more than happy to have you join me.”
“I… I think it’d be better not to.” I stepped back. Standing this close to Carter made it hard to think. He smelled so good. “Look, I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure I want to mate you. Hell, I’m not even sure I like you.” Good grief, did I really just say that? “Dammit, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t know you, so how do I know if I like you?” Seriously, someone make me stop talking. “Goddess, that wasn’t any better, was it?”
Carter stared intently, and I struggled not to squirm. Only when he hiked an eyebrow did it occur to me I’d held his gaze for a prolonged length of time—something that was incredibly hard to do with Alphas, especially for lower-ranked individuals. I didn’t seem to have a problem with it. Even more surprising was Carter didn’t seem to either.
Carter gestured at the hard-on tenting my pants, ending the stare-off. “Seems like you and your dick are having a difference of opinion about mating me.”
I rearranged myself into a more comfortable position. “I don’t think with my dick.”
Carter’s sharp bark of laughter eased the sudden tension. “Then you’re the only male in creation who doesn’t.”
I didn’t try to stop the scowl that crossed my face.
“Okay, okay. Sorry. Look, I understand what you were trying to say earlier. We don’t know each other, and there are most definitely issues we need to address. But regardless of the god or goddess we worship, the fact is, we’re mates. I’m not sure why this pairing has occurred, but I think we owe it to each other to find out. Don’t you?”
“Of course. I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are, and I’m glad for that. Don’t think I am unaware of how nerve-racking this is for you.”
“I seriously doubt you have a clue, but I appreciate you saying that just the same.” I ran my hand through my hair. Good thing I wasn’t as prissy about my hair as Heller, because I was pretty sure it was standing straight up in places. “You really thinking this mating will work?”
Carter gently trailed his knuckles down my cheek. “I think it will, but it won’t be easy. My wolf considers you our mate. I think that’s a good start.”
“How do you know your wolf feels that way?”
“Because I’m not physically attracted to anyone else,” Carter said.
“But what does that mean?”
“Let me put this as plain as I know how. I can’t get hard for anyone but you, and for you, I’m hard enough to poke holes through the mattress. My wolf has made it quite clear you’re the one.”
Well, that was pretty damn plain and left me speechless. It surprised me his wolf was that on board with this. I hadn’t said anything, but his wolf was something else I worried about. Eventually we’d be around each other in our shifted form, and I wasn’t sure how his animal would respond to my cat. Would he see me as prey since I was smaller? Given that I was the one in the equation who was the smaller shifter, it was a valid worry.
“Aidric?”
I started. “Oh, sorry. I was just… um. Sometimes I get lost in my head and…. Anyway, ah, I wasn’t expecting your wolf to take such a stance. I… um….”
Carter slipped his hand around behind my neck and urged me closer. “He knows what he wants, and so do I. I’m going to kiss you, Aidric.”
I blinked, several times, in fact. “O-okay.”
Carter’s hand was heavy on the back of my neck, but instead of bothering me, I liked the feeling. The warmth and his calluses sent chills down my spine. This was a man who wasn’t afraid to work with his hands.
My eyes drifted closed. The first tentative brush of his lips against mine surprised me. He was so big and brawny, I guess I equated that with rough. But the kiss was smooth and sweet, a tentative query.
I ran my hands up and down his muscular arms, then let them rest against his pecs. I opened my mouth, permission granted, and he swept his tongue inside. Sweet evaporated at the first touch of our tongues. He clutched my hair in his hand, holding my head still while he plastered his other hand against my ass.
What started off as smooth and sweet spiraled into hot and desperate. He slanted his mouth over mine. Tingles raced through my body, and I moaned as I clenched my hands in his shirt. The small spark between us ignited and flames erupted, burning out of control.
My head spun. Desire hammered me as I pressed closer, rubbing my hard cock against him. The woody notes of oak and sandalwood drifted on the air, the musky scent of his arousal. Senses inflamed, I let go of his shirt and curled my hands around his head, dragging a moan from him against my lips.
Suddenly he slid his hands around my ass, and he lifted me. I moaned into his mouth as I wrapped my legs around his waist. The kiss spiraled and raged as I battled him for control. He growled. I purred. How like a cat and dog.
Carter clutched my ass, and I ran my hands over the smooth skin of his head. I grinned against his lips at his strangled moan and teased my fingers over his skull again. We both struggled to breathe, and the next thing I knew, he slammed my back against a wall.
My cat yowled happily in my mind. Nothing made sense, but I wanted… I wanted him to take me, just like this—against the wall. My body craved to feel him pumping inside, hot and hard. I’d drive him mad caressing his skull as we fucked, and he wouldn’t be able to stop me. The world spun again, and suddenly Carter sat me on a long cafeteria-type table.
“Holy shit,” Carter whispered against my lips as he came up for air. “Love the smell of vanilla.”
“Vanilla?”
“Yes. That’s what you smell like to me… kind of like vanilla cupcakes, which, by the way, I love.”
I rested my forehead against his as I gasped for breath, the temptation to laugh almost irresistible. No exotic, enticing scent for me. I ended up smelling like food. Of course.
“Did I tell you to stop kissing me?” I demanded once I was able to draw enough air into my lungs to speak.
“I… no, you didn’t.”
“Well
, then?”
Carter blinked at me several times, then slammed his mouth over mine. I squirmed in his arms when I felt his claws pierce the denim of my jeans. Fuck, that was hot.
“Hey, was the guest room—oh gods.” Shea stumbled to a stop in the kitchen. “I—I, ah… I, ah… I’ll make myself scarce, that’s what I’ll do.”
Chapter Six
Carter
HOLY SHIT, what was I doing? I was minutes away from stripping Aidric and mating him on the kitchen table. My poor beta all but flattened himself trying to get out of the room too.
Aidric rested his head against my chest and sighed heavily. “Lovely. What a wonderful first impression that was.”
“Cheer up. It could’ve been worse.” I helped straighten Aidric’s shirt, then stepped back. If I didn’t put some distance between us, I was going to pick up where we’d left off. The heavenly scent of vanilla, the scent of Aidric’s arousal, was getting the better of me.
Aidric finished straightening his shirt and hopped off the table. “Pray tell me, how could it have been worse?”
“I could’ve been fucking you on the table instead of kissing you.”
Aidric gulped, then wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, that’s just slightly unsanitary.”
I shrugged. “That’s what bleach is for.”
Aidric’s mouth fell open, but he didn’t respond.
Since Aidric was still eyeballing me and the table, I took him by the elbow and gently escorted him from the kitchen. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room. Oh, are you getting hungry?”
“I could eat, yes. Not sure I want to, though, after what you said.”
“Relax. No one has fucked on the table.” That I knew of. “Fanny and Shirley should be here shortly to start lunch.”
We returned to the middle level, and I picked up Aidric’s suitcase again. Hopefully he didn’t have anything breakable in there, because I’d dropped this thing more times than I could count. I walked Aidric to the staircase that led to the upper level.
