by Vivian Arend
Well, he was. But that was beside the point. He was also tickled that she’d proven to be far more than a princess in lilywhite gloves.
He crouched in front of Gem, his tail doing all kinds of doglike things. Letting it pound into the dirt was undignified, but he simply couldn’t help it. And when she nosed the carcass in his direction, gifting him with the bunny, he sang again with satisfaction.
While the whole mystical wolf-mate thing might be out of his hands, it was good to discover that his wolf was one hundred and fifty percent in love.
And his human side? Not that far behind.
The Moonshine Pub remained crowded, minutes away from closing. Caroline knew all of them were wolves. They would simply take the party over to the pack house, and keep drinking and fooling around until the wee hours of the night.
One of Evan’s more persistent admirers was hanging all over him again. The outfit covering the woman was strategically arranged to ensure maximum legal exposure. A sour taste slicked Caroline’s tongue—the bitch was one of the pack who enjoyed making trouble and watching others clean it up.
The perfect opportunity had finally arrived. Evan wanted to know if she could handle being linked with him? Sex, along with the rest of it?
She’d start with the rest of it—and it appeared a little violence was on the agenda. Fine. All those years of training hadn’t been for nothing. She might lack wolf reflexes, but a third-level black belt and her stepfather’s instruction counted for a lot when facing someone who only had being a wolf on her side.
Caroline removed her jacket to cut down on loose objects for the other woman to grab. She tossed it over a nearby chair and shook her hands to loosen up.
It took a minute to weave her way through the crowd to the main bar. Evan sat on a tall stool, his back to the counter. He spotted her, his gaze following her approach. There was a bit of a challenge on his face. A dare. He was looking forward to her attempt, was he?
He’d better be damn well prepared for what she had on the agenda for later.
She lost sight of him as Ms. Trouble crawled between them, pressing her overflowing bosom tight to Evan’s chest. Caroline shouldered past the groupies clustered around Evan and the bar. The fact she was totally surrounded by people who could change into wolves barely made her pause.
This had to be done.
She reached out and tapped the woman’s bare shoulder. “You mind getting your paws off him?”
The heavy dye job in front of her—covering blonde, perhaps?—rotated oh-so-slowly as the brunette eased off Evan’s lap. Caroline caught a quick glimpse of Evan’s face, then he was blocked from sight again.
Bastard was enjoying this.
The theatrical posturing of the woman was for effect—only the intimidation factor was short-circuited by her rapid glances around the room to see if anyone was paying attention.
Buzzzz. Mistake number one. Don’t take your eyes off the enemy.
Caroline considered giving a second warning, but since her opponent was a wolf, having the upper hand could be the deciding factor in the fight. She snatched a thick handful of the woman’s hair and yanked. At the same time, Caroline slammed an arm forward, smacking the other woman’s shoulder.
The brunette spun in a half-circle before throwing out her hands to catch her balance. The bar cleared around them. Caroline used her free hand to catch hold of one wrist and shove it behind the wolf’s back. Using her full body weight, Caroline smashed them both forward against the suddenly empty counter.
Her opponent was pinned in one place, crying out in pain.
“I don’t think you heard me. I would very much appreciate if you’d not drool all over Evan in the future.” Caroline tightened her hold, all her attention on the woman. Waiting for her response.
When it came, she was ready. The brunette rocked her head back, attempting a head butt. Caroline ducked to the side and pushed the other woman’s arm as high as possible without breaking it.
If Caroline had been watching the wolves circling them, she would have been knocked unconscious. Mistake number two on dye-job’s part—Caroline knew protocol. No one would dream of interrupting this kind of dominance fight without backlash from the entire pack. Until the brunette was incapacitated on the floor, or Caroline was, this was between the two of them.
When her head failed to connect, the brunette snarled in frustration. “Pitiful little human. You can’t be serious. He needs a wolf like me to be satisfied.”
Caroline mock gasped. “Oh, you’re a wolf? Sorry, I totally missed that. You being so weak and all.”
A sudden burst of energy freed the woman, and Caroline found herself facing a very pissed-off opponent. The brunette flipped her hair back, seemingly ignorant her breasts were one millimeter away from bursting free from her low-slung top. “Don’t make me laugh. You can’t expect to win a fight against me. You’re ugly too.”
Caroline snorted her disbelief. “Ugly? That’s as good as you can give? Chemically enhanced, silicon-stuffed, socially inept Luddite.”
The brunette’s jaw hung open. Then she moved.
It was scary exactly how quick wolves were. Caroline was ready, but not fast enough, and the woman’s first blow landed. Wincing in pain, Caroline ducked, swinging out her leg to kick the other woman’s knees. As she fell, Caroline rose to come crashing down on top, adding her weight to the full-body slam. The woman went wild, elbows flailing, hands moving constantly. One blow smacked into Caroline’s eye, one landed on her chest just below her neck.
If the fight went on too long, Caroline knew she’d be out of luck. She had to end it quickly or all her plans would be shot.
So she fought dirty. Grabbed the woman’s hair and slammed her head against the ground. When the body under her bucked hard enough to nearly throw her off, Caroline hooked her legs around the brunette’s waist and wrestled that arm back up again.
She didn’t stop pushing this time until she heard a sharp crack.
A sudden scream of pain cut through the noise and the entire bar went silent. The cheers and catcalls of encouragement faded as a pair of dusty-coloured shoes appeared in Caroline’s peripheral vision.
Evan.
His hand touched her shoulder. “Let her go.”
The woman sniffled softly as her friends helped her up. There were no heated glances backward, no veiled threats. Instead, the brunette shuffled away, cradling her injured arm. Caroline had won the fight fair and square, and there was only one thing left to do.
Evan held her elbow and lifted her to her feet. She kept her head high, making eye contact with as many of the pack as she could. Some faces showed admiration, some confusion. Curiosity grew by the second as Caroline finished her slow pivot to come face to face with their Alpha.
His dark eyes twinkled. “Don’t like her touching me?”
Final test. “I don’t share.”
Her words triggered an explosion of sound as all the voices swelled again with questions. Shouts. Then the noise disappeared, drowned in the rush of blood in her ears as Evan tugged her against him and took her lips. Right there in front of the entire pack, his warmer-than-human body pressed tight to hers. He lifted one hand to support her head, the other planted in the scoop of her back to control her.
It wasn’t just the heat, it was his kiss. The kiss she’d dreamed about ever since setting eyes on the shifter. There was only physical attraction between them, but only was pretty damn incredible. With their mouths fused together, his tongue explored and teased. Demanded a response, and, oh man, she gave it. She clung to his shoulders, buried both hands in his hair. Things grew a little foggy, but she might have lifted one leg and wrapped it around the back of his thigh. The reaction of his body was very clear, and very solid, and she canted her hips to make sure she stayed in contact with the bit of solid because it felt So. Damn. Good.
That’s about when she remembered they were still in the bar. Surrounded by the pack. Who had once again fallen silent.
Sh
e was really messing with their wolfie minds tonight, wasn’t she?
Evan eased off the kiss, his left hand smoothing over her leg, her ass, then back to cradle her thigh. He slowly lowered the limb, keeping them in close contact until she stood before him again. Only now her lips were swollen, her heart racing more than when she’d been in the midst of the fight.
He stared at her, approval the clearest emotion. Desire right behind it. He dug in his back pocket for keys, tossing them to someone without losing eye contact with her.
“Bar is closed. Everyone, have a great evening. I know I’m going to.”
Then he scooped her into his arms and carried her out.
12
“Think you’ll be finished today?”
Gem laid the final vial in the padded carrying case and closed it carefully. “Definitely. I’ve taken my last set of samples, and if you give me a little more time for a few more pictures, we’re done.”
“Think you’ll be finished today?”
Shaun nodded, squeezed her shoulder and headed back toward their campsite.
She turned to watch him.
The past week had been incredible. Three easy days of hiking had brought them to the birthing grounds, and every step of the way Shaun had taught her something new. Dealing with experiences in the wilds had been night and day different than her practice runs back in the lab, but he’d been patient and playful all at the same time.
Gem packed away the last of her supplies and tucked them into the small bag that attached to her main pack. Wandering back to the campsite, she took pictures. Not ones for her studies, more to help her remember the time she’d spent with Shaun. A shot of where he’d taught her how to light the tiny white gas stove. They’d cooked supper using a dehydrated meal pack, and it had actually been edible. Another of the once-again pristine spot where he’d demonstrated how to build a small fire and leave no trace.
Where she’d made a primitive latrine—okay, that one she didn’t take a picture of. Some things were better left to the imagination.
She made the final approach to their campsite to discover him lying flat out in the tent, his feet sticking through the open flaps of the door.
“Lazybones.” Gem gave his ankle a gentle kick. She lowered her bag to the ground as she squatted to peek in at him.
“Hmm, you called?” His boots rotated, and she squeaked as he shot out a hand and pulled her on top of him. “You want to be lazy with me?”
Gem wiggled, widening her knees to get comfortable. “I’m ready to break camp when you are.”
“That’s not relaxing.”
She placed her hands on top of his chest and arranged herself so she could stare into his eyes. He was laughing again, but she didn’t feel as if she were being insulted anymore. “I’m sorry, Mr. Stevens, were you saying that you’d like to stay out here longer? Did you miss the part of the contract that said you were required to not only get me into the wilderness, but out?”
He raised a brow. “That wasn’t in the contract I read.”
Gem punched him lightly. “You.”
“But just think about the possibilities.” Shaun crossed his arms behind his head and let out a huge sigh. Contentment rolled off him. “I think we should go back to the land. Go bush. You want to give up civilization and just move into the wilderness? I know this great—”
She slapped a hand over his mouth, blocking the words. “Thank you, no. I’ve enjoyed the trip, but I’m not quite ready for this as a permanent state of affairs.”
Shaun licked her palm, and she sat up with a grimace. He smiled. “You make the best faces. And I mean that as a compliment. I know exactly if I’m in shit or deep shit when I look at you.”
Fighting to keep from smiling, Gem folded her arms and considered how incredible she felt—far more relaxed than expected. Even his swearing seemed normal and nothing to fuss over.
She wasn’t sure that was a good thing or not.
“Then what does my face tell you right now?” She imagined sitting in the Jacuzzi tub on the balcony of her bedroom back home, with Shaun at her side. Warm water surrounding them, icy cold drinks in their hands—the sound of the river as it swept against the shore a rumble in the background.
Shaun froze, lifting one finger against her lips. He whispered, “Do you hear that?”
Impossible. Had he really connected with her vision? “You heard the river?”
He shook his head, the words a hint above a whisper. “More like a waterfall.”
Shaun twisted, pointing toward the side of the tent and Gem cocked her head to listen better. Oh my, he was right. There was a steady ribbon of water pouring out to the north. Only, there were no water sources that direction, and there was the distinct smell of…urine?
Ugh. What?
A snort sounded from the east, and Shaun swore. “This is not good. This is so not good.”
It took a minute to untangle themselves, both trying to remain as silent as possible. Gem wiggled as he sat up until finally they faced the front of the tent.
“Do you see anything?” she asked. Talking in hushed tones just seemed proper.
“Smell.”
Gem took a deep breath through her nose and recognition hit. While the first and strongest scent was her and Shaun, the biggest one after that was something she hadn’t expected. Through the narrow gap in the unzipped fly, she watched in horror as the hairy but slender legs of a caribou wandered past.
They were here? Already?
“Shaun. Oh…drat.” Gem shuffled forward to take a cautious peek. The herd had arrived. “They aren’t supposed to be here. And they shouldn’t be anywhere near this far north for a week.”
“Something sped them up?”
She blew out a long slow breath. “We have to leave, now.”
Shaun touched her arm lightly. “If you didn’t notice, we’re trapped. You really think leaving is a good idea?”
Gem held out a hand toward him. “Let me take a better look, okay? If this is the leading edge, we might have a chance.”
“What—?”
Ignoring his grip on her arm, Gem slipped through the tent fly and stood as slowly as she could.
Caribou surrounded them as far as the eye could see. The pregnant females, the yearling calves following their dames. An ear twitched in her direction, a couple of heads swiveled. Silence hung in the air for a moment until it was broken by the buzz of a fly and the call of a bird.
Then the entire herd ignored her as the animals went back to nibbling on the sparse June growth.
There was a gentle tug on her pant leg. “I swore I wouldn’t use the word insane again, but I’m very, very tempted.”
Gem twisted slowly to smile down at him. “Trust me, it’s okay. Are you hungry?”
His grimace was hilarious. “Um, Gem, protected animal. You want to go hunting again, I’ll take you out for more bunnies later, okay?”
“Silly. Are you hungry, as in—if you’re not, we can get out of this. We’ll have to abandon the tent.”
Complete concentration replaced his earlier concern. “You’re talking about shifting?”
Gem nodded. “We can walk amongst the caribou in our wolf forms. As long as we’re not hunting, they won’t care. It will spook them less than if we make the attempt as humans.”
“Even with the pregnant cows?”
There was a risk. “They’re a lot more skittish right now, yes, but I still think our wolves would be the best.”
He was already removing his boots. “Then get naked, woman.”
She took another slow glance around as she lowered herself back into the protection of the tent. The herd had come in on a more northern route than she’d expected. Shaun was right. Something must have spooked them to make them go off course this far, but then animals’ movements never were completely predictable. It wasn’t as if the yearly migration followed a set road.
As she shrugged off her coat, Shaun reached to help her. His touch distracted her more than si
mple assistance required. She wiggled in protest. “Timing is everything.”
Warmth crowded against her back as he snuck her shirt from her shoulders and cuddled up close, their naked torsos in contact. “I agree. We don’t really have to leave this exact moment, do we?”
Tempting, but no. Gem mustered her meager reserves and twisted away. “We do. Because the goal is to not rile up the herd any more than necessary. If we start fooling around, they’ll be traumatized for sure by your screaming.”
She tugged off her pants and folded them out of habit before she realized he’d gone dead quiet. Turned to stare into a very wide smile.
“Why, Ms. Jacobs, I do believe you just suggested offering me sex scandalous enough to cause me to scream.”
She kept her gaze fixed on his. “I believe, sir, what I insinuated is that was the status quo…”
Their whole conversation was held at a mere whisper, but the sense of joy spilling through her was powerful enough to make her feel as if they’d been shouting at the top of their voices. They grinned at each, and satisfaction rose higher.
“Thank you.”
He lifted a brow. “For screaming?”
“For believing me. For trusting me about the caribou.”
Even naked, when Shaun tipped his head, he was as elegant as any of the suitors she’d had back home during formal regattas and society dinners. “Your lead, my lady.”
Shifting was always miraculous. Erotic sensations trickled through her, powerful and strong. Not only her limbs changed, but her thoughts, as her wolf rose closer to the surface. She was still Gem, but more. The wolf was real, and honest. Painfully honest—her other half wondered when they were going to get around to the marking business. She wanted permanent proof of her mate.
Gem ignored the canine hussy’s questions and rolled to her feet. She bumped against Shaun’s larger body as he completed his shift. They stroked each other with chin and cheeks for a moment, enjoying the contact between their furry forms.
Then she stuck her nose out the tent flaps again, sniffing lightly. She wanted to let her new, more wolfish scent slowly carry on the air as a warning. That would be the least intrusive method to announce their presence.
