Diamond Dust

by Vivian Arend

  Her slow nod made Tyler smile from ear to ear.

  She tugged him to the couch with her, curling up at his side and closing her eyes as she leaned against him. “Part of me wants a do-over of this week. Heck, this summer, even.”

  “It’s been stressful?”

  “Understatement.” She sighed. “Not your fault. Don’t think I’m blaming you or anything.”

  Of course she wouldn’t blame him. From what he’d seen, she didn’t let anyone else do anything without her having time to rescue them.

  “Come on.” He pulled her into his arms, pleased she rested her head on his chest and allowed him to carry her into his room. “You want to relax in the hot tub for a while?”

  She chuckled. “No thanks. Think I’ll stay away from the thing. I’ll just have a quick shower.”

  “Why not indulge yourself?” Tyler set her on the edge of the bed, working on her laces until he could remove her hiking shoes. “If you don’t want to go outside, I spotted this awesome soaker tub in the bathroom. Nice and deep.”

  “Big enough for two?” Their hands brushed momentarily.

  “If you’d like. No pressure.” He kept undressing her, attempting to make it as nonsexual as possible in case she wanted time alone.

  When she tugged his T-shirt free from his jeans, scraping her nails over his abdomen, he shivered.

  They both ended up in the tub that, thankfully, was made for shifter-sized dudes. Her ass rested in his lap. His cock must have been an uncomfortable rock pressed to her ass cheek, but she melted back against him as the water rose to chest level.

  It would have been a crime not to fondle the delicate skin within his grasp.

  They stayed there, silent for the longest time. Just touching her. Thinking. Trying to listen to what she wasn’t saying. Remembering what he’d seen of her actions and what he’d seen on her face while talking with her sister, because yes, he’d been staring unashamedly the entire time.

  “Caroline?”

  “Uh-huh?” Another long exhale, this time accompanied by a small stretch of her back as she pressed her breast more firmly into his hand.

  Tyler caressed her nipple with the pad of his thumb. “We never talked about what we did on the trail this morning.”

  “Did we need to talk? It was hot. I enjoyed it.”

  The sincerity in her words reassured him, as did the flush on her skin and the softening of her body.

  “I had fun as well.” He twisted until he could lift her mouth to his, connecting their lips and kissing her deeply. She hummed, a satisfied sound that pleased him as much as her fingers on his chest. When she dug her nails in harder, a growl escaped before he could stop it.

  She shivered, her nipple tightening under his palm.

  He slowed, lips still moving against hers, but his touch becoming more and more subtle until the tension in her body changed. It seemed she was aroused, but feeling delicate in spite of the cut of her nails into his flesh.

  “What do you want, Caroline? What do you need? Let me be the one to give to you for a change.”

  He whispered the words against her temple. This woman who couldn’t shift forms had more layers to her than he’d suspected, and something urged him on. Not to wrap her in gauze and protect, but to really listen.

  Caroline’s breathing picked up.

  She cautiously crawled out of his lap and bolted from the bathroom without a word.

  Shit.

  Tyler followed, holding on to the doorway as he searched her out in the darkened room.

  She stood at the window, staring over the mountains. Her blonde hair shone in the streetlights, her spine straight and strong. A thin line of moisture ran down her cheek, and he strode across the room and gathered her in his arms, cradling her against him.

  He didn’t ask why. Didn’t demand a reason. Simply held her and waited, and wondered exactly what he’d entwined himself in.

  Because it was true. He was hopelessly entangled. With wanting her to be happy, and to be safe. But most importantly, with wanting her to be herself.

  He’d done exactly what he’d figured. He’d gone and fallen in love, at least with the parts of herself she was honest about sharing.

  Caroline pulled him toward the bed, wiping her eyes with her fingers. “Sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry for.” He lay beside her and let her pet him, her gaze burning his skin. Fingertips like miniature blowtorches scalding identifying marks into his soul as she eased over his hip. As she took his cock into her hand and caressed his length.

  Harder than he ever remembered, Tyler let her stay in control. He couldn’t stop his hands from crossing the distance between them, though. Massaging her hips, lightly brushing her clit.

  When she straddled him then surrounded him in one smooth motion, Tyler nearly swallowed his tongue. His cock was fully sheathed in her body, heat and moisture driving him mad as she undulated with a sinful rhythm meant to break him.

  Her eyes, wild.

  He couldn’t look away. Didn’t want to. Didn’t want to miss a single second of her bringing him into her core then languidly sliding up until his cock clung to the lips of her sex.

  Tyler wet his fingers in his mouth then went back to her clit, circling with a firm touch. Caroline missed a beat, sexual tension rising on her face as her climax drew near.

  He increased the tempo of his fingers, tilted his hips and helped her with the final push into orgasm, her eyes closing as she pulsed hard around him.

  He kept watching, although to be honest the view went a touch blurry. When she opened her eyes, he caught her cheeks in his hands, ecstasy taking him as he lost control and came.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Caroline adjusted her bikini, took a deep breath and headed out the door of the change room. Not a super time to develop nerves regarding the wisdom of the ladies’ get-together, but there was no denying the fear skittering along her spine. It didn’t help that with this much skin on display she had no place for a hidden knife.

  Bowling. Why hadn’t she suggested bowling as an activity?

  A soft whistle caught her attention, and she looked up to discover Tyler scrutinizing her over the low edge of the viewing gallery wall.

  Fear vanished in a blazing swoop of lust. The expression on his face was one step away from ravishment, and she liked it far too much. There was also an additional touch—that something extra that had been there when he’d poured her into the tub. The focused attention that had gotten stronger when he’d whispered so carefully, asking what she wanted.

  The part that had sounded as if he really wanted to hear the answer.

  And the lovemaking that followed? Caroline had hesitantly taken what she wanted, fully expecting at some point he’d resume control like all shifters did in the bedroom. She loved dominance games, as evidenced by the frenzied lust of the morning’s chase-and-capture fantasy, but…

  He’d actually made love to her. Not just sexual pleasure, but a very real, very undeniable emotional connection rocking her as his body set fireworks off.

  They’d slept for a while, woken up and done it all over for most of the night. She still wasn’t sure what it meant.

  Other than there could be no doubt she and Tyler were an item. She might not have shifter senses to smell him on her, but the bite marks on her neck and limbs were hard to hide. Especially in a bikini.

  It was time to put the uncertainty of their relationship aside, though. Time to get back into the head of Caroline Bradley who, until recently, was the Alpha bitch of the Takhini wolves. The tough, shifter-savvy woman was the one Tyler needed.

  Strolling toward him gave her plenty of time to pull on her armour, to get back into teasing, adding an extra swing to her hips as she moved into position. “Practicing to be a soccer ref?”

  His knuckles on the top of the wall were white, he gripped the railing so hard. “You want a sports analogy? I’m looking forward to stripping you out of that outfit with my teeth and scoring as often as you�
�ll let me.”

  “Isn’t that what we did last night?”

  Her tease came out far more throaty than she’d intended.

  Cars were pulling into the parking lot, and while there had to be wolves watching them from their positions in the trees, the beasts either wouldn’t care or, more likely, were hoping for a show.

  Ignoring the divider separating their lower bodies, Caroline patted his suit pocket, reassuring herself he still carried her cell phone. Then she walked her fingers up his broad chest. “After we’re done the political song and dance today, I think you and I should relax until the next shindig. No other people, no shifters—let’s hide for at least twelve hours and not come up for air unless the world explodes.”

  “The world seems to have a way of doing that around you. Exploding, I mean.” He seemed mesmerized by her chest. The huge breath he let out like a balloon losing steam made her lips twitch. He pressed his hand over hers, trapping her fingers over his heart. The pounding registered against her palm. “Alone sounds amazing.”

  They stared at each other, his eyes shining with more than lust.

  “Tell me we’ll be okay,” Caroline whispered.

  “We’re going to be great. And you’ll be brilliant, as usual.”

  The compliment slid up and tied her in a big bow. “Pretty words.”

  “That I mean. You are very talented, Caroline. Smart, insightful. My bear says you kick ass, by the way. I told him to watch it, or the ass you’ll be kicking will be his.”

  So many urges shot through her. She wanted to smile at his attempts to bolster her nerves. Wanted to appreciate his honesty and his out-spoken bear. She wanted reassurances the lust racing through her was normal.

  Then again, simply looking him over explained that one far too easily.

  It was the note of caring in his voice that made her the most afraid. It seemed he was trying so hard to listen and understand her human side, not taking for granted the influence her chutzpah had granted her in the shifter world over the years.

  He was unlocking secrets others who’d known her for years had never suspected she had. Not even her family.

  Being stripped bare of all protective layers was a frightening thing. Far more frightening than knowing she was the only one in the area who couldn’t turn furry and sprout claws and razor-sharp teeth.

  A lady waved at her from near the change-room door and Caroline sighed. “Time for fun and games.”

  Tyler jerked a thumb over his shoulder, pointing out the male partner headed his way. “At least you get to soak and relax while you play. I’m in a damn suit and tie.”

  She leaned in and offered her lips, and he kissed her. Slightly more tongue was involved than was probably considered polite in public, but as if she cared.

  She headed to greet her guests. Women joined her on poolside before slipping into the naturally heated waters and sighing happily. Little clusters gathered, ladies talking contentedly as Tyler kept the menfolk occupied and away from the water. The low wall between the pool and picnic tables created two separate oases. There was enough distance between the spaces that at least the illusion of privacy was provided.

  Caroline waded through the chest-deep water to where Lillie was waving. She settled onto the seat beside the redhead who leaned back on the low concrete lip behind her.

  “I love the idea of a fun activity for us ladies. You’re a wonderful person, Caroline. I like you.”

  Caroline laughed. “I like you as well. But don’t get too excited, it’s not as if the guys aren’t just around the corner.”

  Lillie played with the water surface, allowing trickles to run off her fingers into the pool. “It’s as good as a win in my books. I can’t imagine holding an event under these circumstances without some kind of backup. Sorry about the dinner at my place. Once conclave is over, you’ll have to come over for a proper meal.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, but thank you. We’d like that.” Automatically including Tyler in her response felt right. And weird.

  Lillie sat up and looked around, her voice going lower. “So, while it’s relatively quiet, I want to ask you something.”

  “Go ahead.”

  Her new friend wiggled her nose. “This might sound strange, but I already know my husband won’t win conclave, so I’m trying to figure out who is best to support. Tyler appears the way to go.”

  Caroline wasn’t sure there was a question in there. “He seems pretty amazing to me.”

  Lillie leaned her mouth next to Caroline’s ear. “Does he hurt you?”

  Caroline sputtered. “Hello?”

  Lillie slid a finger over one of the bruises on Caroline’s neck, her gaze meeting Caroline’s with an unspoken query.

  “Oh, sweetie.” Damn it for bad timing in enjoying some rough sex. Caroline took a deep breath and reminded herself she was talking to a shifter. “I can honestly say there isn’t a mark on me that I didn’t want him to put there. He’s got a few love bites as well.”

  Her face must have been beet red, but Lillie nodded. “Good, that’s what I thought, but I had to be sure. So, how can we convince Lynn Nakusp she wants her husband hanging out with Tyler and not that jackass, Todd Ainsworth? Because while I love Jim to pieces, if he ever lays a hand on me—other than in fun—I swear I will slip his balls into a blender on high speed. While they’re still attached.”

  Nice imagery.

  Caroline peeked over Lillie’s shoulder, searching out a glimpse of Tyler. She caught sight of his head and shoulders, his back to her as he strolled the far corners of the observation area. “I haven’t known Tyler long, but I trust him completely. He’s a good man. I mean, good bear.”

  Lillie laughed. “I know what you meant, and I agree. I saw the smile on your face while you were talking to him earlier. You can’t keep your eyes off him, either.”

  Oops? “Really?”

  Her friend nodded. “Nothing wrong with that. I can’t get enough of my Sugarbear either. But your human/bear comment is a big part of the problem we face. I’m a smart woman.” She gestured around the pool at the others gathered together, enjoying the afternoon sunshine. “We all are. We’ve got jobs and responsibilities in the human world that carry power and influence. It’s the damn bear side that makes things difficult at times, especially when someone like Todd takes control.”

  “He doesn’t respect your abilities, does he? I noticed that the other night at your party.”

  Lillie growled in disgust. “He steamrolls over the human side and reduces our accomplishments to nothing more than we own a vagina. It’s not fair. It’s no use being a strong individual when at best you’re tied to clichés and limitations or at worst, abused. Amanda Ainsworth is proof of that.”

  Oh hell. Lillie’s tirade confirmed what Caroline had feared the most. “She’s in danger?”

  Lillie gave her the look.

  Damn. Caroline glanced around the pool. “She’s not here yet, is she?”

  A snort of disbelief rose from Lillie. “Chances of her showing up are slim to none. He’d never allow her to be somewhere without him monitoring her every move.”

  Caroline didn’t get it. There was something major missing from her considerations.

  “If you see the problem clearly, and I had it pretty much called after less than an hour at that first party, why would it be difficult to convince Lynn and the other ladies their only hope is having someone like Tyler elected in the first place?” Caroline made a face. “And I just clued in how stupid and chauvinistic that sounds as well. Why are only the guys getting elected to head conclave?”

  “No, you’re mistaken.” Lillie shook her head as she pressed a hand to her chest. “It’s not the guy, I mean, we say that, but really it’s the clan being elected. If Halcyon won, Jim and I would both have the right to guide changes in the other clans’ structure. If he let me. Which”—she rolled her eyes—“right there proves that if Ainsworth is elected, no way would Amanda have any clout. It would be all power-hungry-je
rk in charge calling the shots.”

  “Which is why Tyler wasn’t as good a representative as a bachelor, right?”

  Lillie nodded slowly. “He’s a fair man, from what I know of his business practices, but do I want him suggesting changes in my life? I have no reason to trust him. You, on the other hand, I trust.”

  Never had Caroline imagined her little outing to shed such light on the potential outcomes of conclave. “Thank you for that. It means a lot to me, Lillie.”

  The redhead nodded, a smile dancing on her lips. “I’m not just going on womanly instinct. I did a search on you. There’s quite a file built up when you know where to look.”

  Caroline laughed. “What do you do in this outside job of yours? Computer hacker?”

  Lillie grinned. “Secret service. I’d tell you more, but then I’d have to kill you.”

  Caroline pulled Lillie toward one of the small groups. “Help me chat for a while. Let’s persuade the group they all desperately need to go home and convince their men to vote for Tyler.”

  “Deal.”

  It was not Tyler’s idea of a good time. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

  He lifted the glass in his hand, though, and concentrated on listening to one of the older bears who he respected. The man knew his father, and sharing stories about life in the north made it easier to pass the time.

  The entire gathering was an enormous stockpile of coals ready to be fanned into flames. Feminine voices and laughter carried on the air, the gentlemen around him glancing restlessly toward the pool every time it happened, as if itching to go and join their women.

  He didn’t blame them. He had the same damn reaction every time Caroline’s bright laugh hit him. Even from a distance it was like shooting one-hundred-eighty-proof liquor.

  Still, looking on the bright side, Ainsworth hadn’t shown up, and the couple of clans that had offered support for Clan Harrison were working their magic on the others. The lone resisters seemed to be Lucerne, but they didn’t stand much chance of impacting the events other than causing violence.