“The best place, as we’ve heard you’ve already tried, is somewhere near a water source. Cash tells us you checked out all of the water troughs and came up dry, so to speak,” I rolled my eyes at his bad pun and he grinned. “Our best bet is to go along the creek that runs through your property.”
“Well, that’s great, but I only have two horses and a quad, so who’s going to get nice and cozy?” The wardens shared unreadable looks between themselves, except for Cash.
Bob continued. “I think we’ll take our truck as far as it will go and then we’ll hike the rest. No need to ‘get cozy’.” He finger quoted.
I nodded, ignoring the dig. Soothed by the man’s confidence, I finished my coffee and waited for the men to finish theirs. The whole time we sat and stood around my kitchen table one Newcomb brother never took his gunmetal grey eyes off of me while the other never took his baby blues off his coffee cup. Awkward.
I stood. “Well, are we going to get this show on the road or what?” I went back to my room and to my gun safe, taking my .45 and slipping it into my thigh holster and putting my 9mm in the holster in the small of my back.
A throat cleared behind me and I jumped. “I don’t think there is anything sexier than a fine woman holding a gun.” His voice was smooth and warm, but my hackles still stood up on the back of my neck.
I turned, keeping my face impassive I regarded James. “I appreciate you coming here today, James.” I said levelly. “But I’m dating your brother,” Maybe not anymore. “So I would appreciate if everything that comes out of your mouth isn’t suggestive and doesn’t drip with innuendo and double entendres.”
His lips quirked into a condescending smile and he inclined his head in acquiescence. “As far as I’ve heard, it’s just a date, not dating, so you’re still fair game.” He gave me one of his patented steamy looks. “I still don’t know why he hasn’t finished it with you, but until he does...”
Grey eyes raked me over hot coals. He held out a hand and the bulletproof vest that Cash had thrown at me dangled from it. I cleared my throat and ignored his... threats?
“Ah, I forgot about that. Shouldn’t Cash be wearing it, since he’ll actually be in the line of fire?” Again with the condescension, my inner voice griped as James shook his head like he spoke to a toddler.
“He’s wearing his backup vest. You should hurry.” He jiggled the vest, still in his hand. “The wardens were pretty eager to get going, and with Cash’s current dark mood he’s likely to leave you here.”
I let him slide on the vest over my shoulders, not missing the fact that his fingers lingered a little longer on the nape of my neck than necessary. It felt like those lead vests they made you wear at the dentist when they took X-rays. It felt like it weighed a ton.
I strode past James. All of the men had gone outside, all except Cash who waited by the door. He lounged against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest and stared at the floor. When I approached he finally looked at me. His eyes were the color of the sky at twilight, a deep blue that made my heart skip a couple beats.
I couldn’t tell if he was still angry with me, but I took a gamble and stepped close to him, pressing my whole body against his. I knew I was okay when I saw the emerald glint in the back of his eyes, prompting me to up the ante. I feathered a light kiss against his lips. In an instant it was me up against the wall. Cash’s upper body pressed into me as he ran his hands through my hair, his lips questing over mine until I allowed him entrance into my mouth. When I did, a growl rippled from deep in his chest and lit a fire in my groin.
“I don’t like you going to my brother behind my back.” He bit my bottom lip a little harder than I expected to get his point across. I shuddered with pleasure. “You should be coming to me.”
“I just wanted answers. I tried asking you, but you avoided my questions like the plague. What did you expect me to do?” I saw his love bite and raised him a hip wiggle.
He groaned into my mouth as his hands started voyaging south of the equator. His fingers slipped under the waistband of my jeans sliding in between the fabric of my panties and my skin. My breath started coming out in short pants as he got closer to where I’d wanted him to go for a month.
“Shall we join the officers outside?” James’ wry tone worked like a bucket of ice water down my shirt, effectively killing the moment. It was a good thing that looks couldn’t kill, because if they did, Cash’s glare would have had James convulsing on the floor. Even so, his hands were vices on my arms and beginning to become painful.
“Baby, you’re starting to hurt me—” I whispered to him and he immediately loosened his grip. His eyes softened as he looked down at me.
“Mmm…I like it when you call me that, but this discussion isn’t over.”
Cash leaned in and gave me a quick kiss before wrapping a possessive arm around my waist and escorting me outside. He threw James another scathing glare. James followed a few steps behind us and I swam in warring testosterone. The other wardens were all geared up and waiting in the truck, so we hopped into the back.
Bob Smith, if that was even his real name, was behind the wheel. He slid open the small opening in the back window and asked for directions. After setting him on the right course, I leaned back against the truck and looked at the brothers Newcomb. They had adopted a similar pose as they sat on opposite sides of the truck bed; arms crossed, shoulders tense and shooting daggers at one another.
“Okay boys, can’t we all just get along?” Neither man batted an eyelash at my teasing tone, so I stepped it up a notch. “Seriously? You two are brothers! You’ve survived this long without tearing each other to shreds, why start now?” I looked back and forth between them. James casually answered, not removing his glare an inch.
“We’ve never had anything worth tearing each other apart before.” The loud snort I made wasn’t very ladylike, but it served its purpose as each man broke off their staring death match to look at me, eyebrows raised. I laughed at their identical expressions of incredulity. It was easy to see at that moment that these men, as different as they seemed to be, were related.
“James, I’m grateful that you came today and are playing my chaperone, and hopefully will still answer my questions, but I have to say…you’ve got no shot with me.” He looked at me with disbelief rampant on his face. Such a cocky bastard, that outta take him down a peg…
“I’d like to think if I were given the same amount of time Cash has had with you, you might change your mind—”
“James, you’re kind of a douche.”
Cash threw his head back and guffawed. The look on James face almost made me laugh too. Anger, irritation and embarrassment flitted in his eyes, and his jaw clenched so tightly I could hear his teeth squeak.
I turned to Cash. “And if you,” I smacked him in the arm because he was still laughing and starting to wheeze, “would just answer my questions we wouldn’t be in this situation!”
He stopped laughing long enough to catch his breath and pull me into his lap. He took my chin in his hands and looked deep in my eyes, his wide smile splitting his face. “Have I told you that I’m completely in love with you, Shelby Flint?”
My heart felt like it would explode. My breath caught in my throat, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t summon any words in reply. No man had ever told me that. He flicked my nose with a finger. “Plus, I’ve never seen any good looking woman put him in his place so well before.”
James glowered. Cash punched his brother in the shoulder and finally a rueful grin appeared magically across James’ face. He gave his older brother a sock in the arm in return and they started laughing again. Bob and the other wardens were looking bemusedly back at us through the rear window.
Cash reclaimed my attention by pinching my butt, and when I squawked in protest he kissed me thoroughly. When he finally let me come up for air I was dizzy and breathing hard. He looked at me with a seriousness that belied the fact we had just been making out like crazy in fron
t of his colleagues.
“I promise as soon as this is over I’ll sit down and you can ask me any questions you want.” I smiled broadly at him and settled into his lap, kissing the crook of his neck.
“You know what, big bro? You can keep her. She’s way too mean.” I felt Cash’s chuckle as I stayed snug against his chest. I flashed my teeth at James in a not very nice smile. Even though he tried to hide it, I didn’t miss the pain and regret I saw floating behind his silver eyes.
“James, you just like women who buy your bullshit hook, line and sinker,” Cash chuckled. “She’s just too smart for you.”
I kissed the column of Cash’s neck again in appreciation of his chivalrous comment. I stayed curled up in his lap, relishing the sensation of his warm hands massaging the knots out of my back and shoulders as we drove through my property.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The land closed into a gully that ran the rest of the way through my land and the truck could go no further. The stream twisted and turned through there until it emerged on the edge of my property where it continued on through the Green belt, a strip of land the local government set aside as a preserve. The men piled out of the truck and started gearing up for what might be a dangerous confrontation.
They pulled out Springfield M 14 and M1-A1 rifles and loaded themselves down with magazines, checking their side arms, and all-around bustling about. Cash double checked the vest I wore before he put on his own. I noticed his wasn’t as heavy as the one I was wearing. Sure, give the girl the lead weight…
James leaned against the side of the truck, watching the commotion with a look of profound boredom. I looked away and rolled my eyes. He really is a douche, but a good looking one.
I glanced back and watched Cash ready himself, admiring his subtle grace as he loaded his weapons and double checked them with smooth movements that spoke of years of practice. There was a glint of excitement in his eyes I hadn’t seen before and attributed it to the impending confrontation.
Once the equipment was sorted, very nice equipment I might add, Cash glanced down at his two HK forty caliber pistols that were so not Government Issue.
He stopped for a kiss. “This is where you’re going to stay with James. If you move more than ten feet from this truck...” He let the menace in is voice speak the rest.
I raised my hands in surrender and he nodded. He gave me another quick kiss. Too soon he broke away and grabbed his rifle, leading the other wardens through the gully and out of sight.
“So,” I said, trying to make friendly conversation, “shouldn’t your brother’s girl be off limits? Isn’t there a bro-code about that somewhere?” I snuck a glance at James out of the corner of my eye and caught his dark expression.
“There aren’t many women who can put up with the type of men my brothers and I are, so when I see one not being taken care of like she should, I have to throw in.” He shrugged casually. “It’s instinct more than anything. Cash knows that.” He glanced at me and gave a sad smile. It was the first expression he’d given me that wasn’t predatory since I’d met him. “He’s just a little sensitive because I’ve gotten more chances with women than he has, but I couldn’t allow him to let you get away.”
“So, what do you do for a living?” I changed the subject.
He shot me a knowing half-smile before answering. “I’m a prosecuting attorney back home. All of my brothers and I have a career in civil service, one way or another.” He shrugged and flashed me a self-depreciating grin. “I have two other brothers. One’s a homicide detective, the other a firefighter.” I mentally pictured the two remaining Newcomb brothers in a police and firefighter uniforms. If they’re half as good looking as the two brothers I’ve seen…woof!
A knowing smile played out on his face. A hot flush ran up my neck and settled in my cheeks. I opened my mouth to speak when I heard the crack of gunshots and the return fire of automatic rifles. My head snapped around to face the direction where the men had left. I scanned the area, hoping to see any sign of what was going on.
My heart dropped to my stomach as I heard James let out the most primal sound of rage I’d ever heard in my life. With another roar of fury he took off sprinting several steps before he exploded. I screamed as a black wolf emerged from the shreds of denim and black cotton. It took off down the gully with unnatural speed.
My mind scrambled to explain what I had just seen. I felt a pain in my rear before realizing that I had sat down heavily on the ground, my legs no longer able to hold me. What the hell was that? The wolf that had appeared at my house the other morning had just been James. James was the wolf that was at my house…
I’m going insane, but I can deal with that later, I told myself as I struggled to stand. I had to use the side of the truck to pull myself to my feet. Shots were still being fired and I needed to get my shit together.
I pulled out my .45 and started walking with wobbly legs toward the gunfire. I didn’t get more than a few feet before a completely naked James jogged out of the gully with Cash in his arms. I took a brief moment to gawk and holler Aooooogah! in my head before taking in the situation.
Cash was unconscious, his head lolling over his brother’s arm. As James came closer I realized blood was running off of his forearms. Five bullet holes were evident on Cash’s chest and were oozing through the remains of his vest. I had to shove my fist in my mouth to keep myself from screaming. No one could survive that…
“Shelby!” James barked. I wrenched my eyes from Cash’s wounds and looked at him. “Put the tailgate down.” His voice was low and commanding, and I found myself mechanically doing what he asked. He lifted Cash like he was a small child and not the 6’4”, 225 pound man that he was and laid him gently down in the truck bed.
“Why didn’t the vest work?!” I shreiked over and over again until James slapped me. Blinking the stars from my eyes and appreciating the sting on my cheek. Okay, I deserved that. “We have to get him to my house and call 911! Go now, dammit! James, drive!”
Tears streamed down my face while my hands fluttered over Cash’s chest. His face was pale, and his breathing became increasingly shallow as each heartbeat passed.
“You can’t die!” I sobbed, wondering why James wasn’t doing anything. “I love you, Cash. You can’t die now!” James wrenched my shoulders around until I looked into his stormy grey eyes.
“Listen to me, Shelby.” My mind was splintering. I couldn’t match up the pieces that saw him turn into a wolf, or Cash dying in front of me, or the second time in my life I felt like I actually belonged with someone and they were going to leave me. “You have to bite him.” Hold on a sec...
“What the hell, James? That’s not funny, he’s going to die!” I screamed. He just shook his head and gripped my arms until they hurt.
“Shelby, I’m completely serious. If you want to save his life, bite his neck hard enough to draw blood.” I knew I gaped at him like he’d gone crazy, judging by his growing irritation.
“He’s already bleeding!” I screeched. “He’s bleeding out right now.” James shook me, hard.
“If you don’t do this he will die. Bite him, Shelby. Do it now, dammit!” I finally saw the panic flash in his eyes and slowly started to believe him. Since you’re already nuttier than squirrel poo... I had just seen this man turn into a wolf. Maybe he knew something I didn’t about Cash. “Now, Shelby. If you do love him, bite him!”
He pushed my head down by the back of my neck until I my nose brushed Cash’s jugular vein. Well, I rationalized with what turned out to be my crazy brain, it couldn’t make him much worse. I sank down, breathing in his scent of forest campfire. Finally, that niggling memory floating in the back of my head slammed home. He smelled like my wolf and, seeing what his brother had done, I finally understood that maybe he was my wolf. Flashes of the past month flitted through my consciousness, the wolf going on rides with me, sleeping in my bed, saving my life, watching me change clothes.
“If you make it out of this,
I am so going to kill you,” I muttered before pressing my teeth to his neck and biting down hard. I tasted salt and copper a moment before the lights went out.
The blackness was complete. I felt surrounded in dark, warm velvet that muffled every sound, scent and sensation and left me floating in a void. Time lost all meaning as I drifted unaware of anything going on around me for what could have been minutes or centuries. It was odd, this place. The things that had seemed so important before now were pale and trivial.
I wasn’t worried that the man I loved was also a wolf. It wasn’t at all frightening or strange. More than that, I was happy. I’d grown so attached to the creature, it now made so much sense why I had felt comfortable around him. The one thing that did remain important was Cash, if he’s still alive.
I noticed that something was new in my darkness. Lights flickered dimly, two dozen or so, seemingly battling the blackness in efforts to keep it at bay. Two glowing lights appeared larger than the others. I reached out mentally to touch the smaller of the pair and instantly became aware of another person: James. I didn’t know how I knew, but I was certain it was him.
He slept but he was very close to me, and even through his unconsciousness I could discern that he was barely holding his anger and panic in check. When I felt him stir awake I backed away from his light not wanting to advertise the connection I’d made with him. It felt intimate, like I was intruding, and I couldn’t even believe what I felt was real. I put more of the inky blackness between myself and James’ light and the void overtook me again.
I became aware of a golden glow. It emanated from the larger orb of light next to James’ and I could tell it was Cash before I reached for it. It seemed that everything Cash was, his very essence, was encapsulated in that sphere of light. My heart soared. He’s alive! When I did touch his light I was assaulted with a landslide of emotions. Pain, fear, rage, love…
Hunter Moon (Lupine Moon Series) Page 18
