HOTSHOT BROTHERS: Coyote Shifters

by Hunt, Sabrina

  Wes’s face relaxed into a happy smile. It was his usual one, but there was something both softer and more mischievous about it. “I’m not you,” he teased, then got back up, rummaging through his backpack again. When he came back, he handed me a breakfast bar. “Here. Eat.”

  Stomach swooping with butterflies, I glanced away, tugging the sleeping bag and blankets around me. Then I glanced around the cave. My sleeping bag was draped over a rock near the fire, puddles of water still dripping from it. All of my possessions and clothes were spread out as well.

  I looked back at Wes.

  He didn’t just look fine, he was fine.

  “Wes, how did you…?” I stopped myself. He’d asked me not to pry. But I had to make sure he was okay. “You…you went into the river, too. And you were in those wet clothes for so much longer. Are you feeling okay? I mean, I thought you’d be sick…”

  Wes shook his head. “I’m tougher than I look.”

  “Well you must be pretty damn tough!” I exclaimed, rubbing my arms. Now that I was awake, I was conscious of how much I’d been through. My body was aching, bruises hot and swelling from head to toe. Wiggling my toes and fingers, I could feel them all. At least the frostbite danger had long passed. “Are you sure…? Your feet are okay, everything?”

  “Yeah,” Wes said, poking my chin and giving me an indulgent look. “I’m fine, Kalin. You can even check later if you’d like. I mean, I had some chest pains for a hot minute, but I’m okay now.”

  “What?” I gasped. “Wes…”

  He laughed. “I was kidding. I just meant thanks for almost giving me another heart attack. You certainly keep me on my toes.”

  Pulling the blanket around my shoulders more firmly, I stared at him. “How did you do all of that yesterday, Wes? You were amazing. I mean that could have been–”

  “That was bad,” he finished for me, rubbing his jaw and avoiding my gaze. “You could have died. You would have died if it wasn’t–” Wes stopped abruptly.

  “If it wasn’t for you,” I said, finishing for him this time. Sliding an arm out, I squeezed his forearm. “I know, thank you.” I forced out a laugh. “We have to stop meeting like this.”

  My joke didn’t work; Wes continued to look away. “You know Kalin, I expected after the last week you’d at least be honest with me.” His voice was low and I heard a note of sudden fury in it. “If you were tired, then say something, dammit.” Finally his eyes met mine.

  He wasn’t furious. He was pissed.

  Everything from last night and this morning seemed to crumble into ashes.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, looking down and trying to hide how badly I was shaking. “I didn’t want to slow us down.”

  “Yeah, well, good job.” Wes muttered.

  I flinched, stung, and bit my lip as tears flooded my eyes. I had no comeback for that.

  “Hey, I’m sorry,” Wes said after a minute or so had passed. I couldn’t respond. “Like I said, you scared the shit out of me. I was like, jeez, girl survived the Crooked Man only to die on my watch.” He was trying to joke, but I could hear something raw in in his voice.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Wes,” I murmured. “It was mine.”

  “Okay, well, here, eat your breakfast, okay? You’ll feel better, I’ll feel better.” Wes said.

  I shook my head. “I’m not very hungry,” I said softly.

  “What?” Wes sounded surprised. “You should be ravenous… Kalin? I’m sorry.” He slung an arm around my shoulders. “Listen, I can be an idiot. Sometimes when I get worried or upset, I’m too harsh. I don’t mean to.” He let out a long breath. “It’s a holdover from being a kid. I used anger to hide my pain and keep people away.”

  Surprised, I looked up at him. There was a grayness to his hazel eyes that was filled with old heartache. “Why? What happened?” I asked.

  “I lost my parents when I was ten. Car accident.” Wes’s grip tightened on me. “But I didn’t want people to worry. My father had always impressed on me that a man should be self-sufficient. I don’t think he meant for me to take it so deeply to heart, though. It took my grandparents a long time to crack through it. And even still, sometimes I fall back on it. It’s a defense mechanism.”

  My lips parted. “Oh, Wes. I get it,” I said. Do I ever. Damn, we were similar in so many ways. We both got hostile, shoving the world away when we needed someone to lean on the most, afraid that we would be asking for too much.

  “I know,” Wes said, his cheek settling against my hair. “It took me a few days to recognize you wore the same armor, but then after yesterday, I saw. I knew. So I’m sorry for anything I’ve put you through.”

  “Same,” I said, feeling a strange mix of bliss and heartache. Some part of me was treasuring this, but I also grieved for him. “I’m sorry about your parents.”

  “Thank you,” he said, his fingers sliding inside the blanket and finding my bare shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, too, about yesterday. I did mess up, Wes, it was all my fault.” I blurted out.

  “No, it wasn’t,” he replied, almost absently. “It was an accident. I should have realized I was pushing too hard. That was a breakneck pace, even for me. You’re somethin’ else.”

  “No, I should have said something,” I sighed. “Now we’re probably behind and my stuff is soaked, along with the sleeping bag.”

  “Well, your bag is mostly dry, along with your clothes. But that sleeping bag is like a sponge. I don’t know if it’s the cold or what, but it won’t dry.”

  Leaning forward, I turned to look at him. “You’re really okay, Wes?”

  His eyes lidded as he tilted his head to the side and smiled. “I’m really okay.”

  I held the blanket tightly around me as I tentatively asked, “You said some of my clothes were dry?”

  Wes’s eyebrows shot up and a smirk flashed across his face. But he got up, walking over, and brought back a warm pile of clothes. “All dry. Your coat got destroyed, though.” Walking over to his bag, he pulled out a rolled-up gray hoodie. “Here.” He tossed it onto the sleeping bag.

  Under the blankets, I awkwardly pulled on flannel leggings, Wes’s hat, warm socks, a sports bra, and a long shirt. Everything was wrinkled and smelled faintly of the coppery tang of the river. I sighed as I stood up, my head spinning for a moment, and then I regained my balance.

  Picking up Wes’s hoodie, I slipped it on and inhaled his scent.

  After I managed to get on my boots, which took a lot longer than I anticipated, I helped Wes pick up the cave. Then, when he wasn’t looking, I reached into the tatters of my coat, and retrieved the white stone, stashing it away in my backpack. For a second, I felt ugly guilt, but I shoved it away.

  We both have secrets.

  I was moving so slowly, though. My back, legs, and arms ached sharply. That tumble into the river had beat me up. Glancing over at Wes, I noted again how he seemed unfazed by it. Even his bad shoulder seemed to not really bother him anymore.

  Maybe he just has a really high pain threshold, I thought with a tired, exasperated kind of fondness.

  We met by my sleeping bag and a dubious look pulled onto Wes’s face. It was soaking wet still, puddles of water under it. Shaking his head, Wes sighed and picked it up. Sagging limply, it sprayed out water as he moved it.

  “This thing is a nightmare,” he muttered. “I have never littered in the wilderness, but we may have to leave this behind. It’s too heavy to lug around and too wet.”

  Electricity spiraled through my chest. “Um, what about…?” He looked at me and I lost the rest of the words.

  “It’s an old sleeping bag, that’s why it’s not drying. They make the newer ones far more waterproof.” He tucked it behind a rock and then heaved another rock on top of it. “Well, if we get the chance, I’ll come back and get it.” He made to walk away, then hesitated, chewing his lip. “It’ll be fine,” he finally muttered, almost forcing himself to walk out of the shallow cave.

  I followed him
out, my question hanging in the air as limp as my soggy sleeping bag.

  What about sleeping? What will I sleep in?

  Last night flashed into my head. Wes’s breath caressing my skin, his big hands cupping my face, and the heat from his body. Pulling his hoodie closer around me, I glanced up at the owner, whose broad back was to me. A map of muscle I could now almost feel under my fingertips.

  Now I could feel my toes curling up in my boots and I lightly slapped my cheeks. I couldn’t get distracted right now. Wes was my friend and we still had a long trek ahead of us.

  “Where to now?” I asked, trying to sound brightly awake.

  Wes cocked a hazel eye over his shoulder at me. “There’s a big marina about five miles up. I was going to suggest crossing the river and avoiding it, but now I think we should head there. Rest.”

  “Rest?” I blurted out. “But Wes, we lost so much time yesterday because of me.”

  He turned all the way around, glancing behind me at the cave, then his eyes landed on my face. “You’re okay.” Then he paused and I watched as he tried not to smile. “And I have no complaints about last night.” There was a huskiness to his voice that made my heart beat wildly. He stepped closer, the morning light dusting his shoulders, and tugged my hands free of the hoodie. “Not in the least.”

  The electricity in my chest began to spark in a frenzy, numbing the sinews and bones of my body, and my body went even weaker.

  “Is there something you wanted to say?” Wes asked in a polite tone, but there was an amused, almost devilish look in his eyes that rendered me speechless. “No?” Our breath mingled and then he swung around. “Then let’s get going.”

  A sense of disappointment filled me. For a brief moment, I’d thought he was going to – then I shook my head. No, Kalin, get it together. You’re friends. Friends. FRIENDS.

  “They’ve got hot showers,” Wes called back and I looked up at him. He was waiting for me and then smiled when I rushed towards him. Laughing, he said, “I thought you might like that.”

  And with that, we began clambering down the mountain, and my thoughts were filled with the blissful knowledge of a warm shower waiting for me at the end of this path.

  Chapter 12

  Three hours later and I was reveling in a hot blast of water cascading over me, the smell of soap, and the feeling of being clean. Silently, I once again thanked whoever decided to set up this campground and boat marina in this particular spot along the Colorado River.

  I’d been in the shower for almost forty-five minutes, but I didn’t want to leave. I’d been saying “five more minutes” for the past twenty. Holding up my fingers, I noted they were pruning, and sighed.

  Shutting off the water, I dried off and got dressed. We’d bought me some new clothes at the gift shop, a shirt and sweatpants. Then I donned Wes’s sweatshirt and hat again.

  Wes told me we were staying here for the night, although I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Padding out of the shower area, I swept the parking lot for him. After being in the wilderness for so long, the sight of cars and other people was almost jarring. Even my own reflection seemed strange to me at first – my skin a darker brown, lips chapped, and hair wild.

  After another second, I found Wes, and he smiled. He’d already seen me, I could tell. There was something about the way his gaze wandered over me that pulled at something deep inside.

  “I found us a place,” he told me, then gestured with his head. At that moment I realized he wasn’t wearing the backpack. It was kind of strange to see him without it.

  Striding along easily, he led me into a copse of gnarled pines, then struck out down a trail that wound along the river. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the marina and campground had vanished from sight.

  After about twenty minutes, we clambered up a hill, and Wes gestured. “Nice, huh?”

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. It was a quaint cottage, looking like a place where a grandmother might greet you with cookies at the door. White siding and bright pine-green trim, it was straight out of a fairy tale.

  Nor did it look big enough for Wes to enter, let alone stand up in.

  However, upon walking in, I was pleasantly surprised. It was one big room, its squatness made up for by its greater length. Exceedingly tidy, it had a green couch overflowing with pillows, and a huge bed with a quilt embroidered all over with hearts.

  I raised my eyebrows at that as I dropped my bag. Then my eyes fell on the two wooden doves holding up a banner between them. “Honeymoon suite?” I spluttered. Turning, I saw Wes lift a shoulder. He was sitting on the floor, unpacking his bag, meticulously sorting through it. “What – how – was this expensive?”

  Wes let out a bark of laughter. “For this wee elf house? No, Kay, not even a little.”

  “Well, still, I’ll help you pay for it, just remind me,” I responded, wandering around the place, and wondering who would honeymoon here.

  “Sure thing,” he said, his tone absent.

  “I guess people don’t care to honeymoon in October,” I remarked dryly, walking back over to my bag, grabbing it, and then joining Wes on the floor. I knew I should probably wash this stuff, as well as the bag. Along with river smell, it had a funny, mildew-and-wood-smoke odor.

  “Actually, we lucked out,” Wes looked up at me. “Lady in the office said it was a miracle it wasn’t booked. She also assured me it was well out of earshot of any of the other residences.” Wes shot me a cheeky grin. “Nice and secluded.”

  I stared at him, nonplussed, then I sucked in a huge breath, looking down as I realized what he was implying. Tingles and heat suffused my entire body. The pull between us was getting unbearable. But was it just me? Did he notice it too?

  “Got any laundry?” Wes asked after a minute. “There’s a little washroom out back.” He stood up with a pile in his arms and went out the rear door.

  Flustered, I snatched up my dirty clothes and followed him. To my surprise, on the back porch, which was lined with windows on every side, there was a small, smart-looking washing machine and dryer.

  “I’m starting to think this little place is more than meets the eye,” I commented.

  “As are most things,” Wes said, as I dumped my clothes in after his. “We have it today, tomorrow, and then check out the day after that.”

  Turning, I gaped at him, and gestured like I was doggy paddling. “Wes. No. We have to make up all the time we lost. Time we lost because of me. I messed up your whole schedule.”

  “Schedule?” He laughed and shook his head. “That was never a thing. Anything else?”

  “I-I don’t want you to have to… You know.” I couldn’t look at him. I had no idea what I was going to say. Besides things I’d blurted out last night.

  “You need rest and recuperation, Kay,” Wes said in a kind, but firm voice. I’d noticed he’d started calling me Kay and it made my stomach swoop every time. I’d never had a cute, bite-sized nickname like that before. “This is a necessary stop on the trip. Think of it that way if you’d like.”

  “What about everything else? Getting to Lake Mead as quickly as possible?” I asked, now looking at my fuzzy-socked feet. “Stopping those creatures?”

  “That’s still important of course. But as of right now, to me, none of that matters.” Something in his voice made me look up. “You do. Don’t you get it? I thought I lost you, Kalin.”

  It was the way he said my name that did it. Like it was the most precious thing in the world. All of the stress and terror of the previous days hit me. Tears bubbled up and I shook my head, trying to paw them away. “Shit,” I muttered, looking away.

  But I couldn’t escape Wes. “Why are you crying?” he asked, his thumbs brushing away my tears. “Again?” His voice was teasing, but gentle.

  I had no idea. I’d chalked up last night’s tears to exhaustion and hypothermia. Now what was my excuse? “I guess I’m more tired than I thought,” I murmured.

  But unable to look away for a millisecond
longer, I met Wes’s eyes. For a second he looked confused, then his gaze went magnetic and a triumphant smile spread across his face.

  “You don’t seem all that tired,” he said. “But, let’s see.” Suddenly he seized me around the waist and placed me on the dryer. It shivered with vibrations from the washing machine and I shook my head at him. Even up here, we still weren’t eye to eye.

  “Nice, you Neanderthal,” I said. “Now, move, I’m getting down.”

  His hands landed on either side of me, muscular arms caging me in, and he leaned down towards me. “What’s the hurry? We’ve got nowhere to go.”

  Unable to help myself, I giggled, and then pushed on his shoulders. “Come on, Wes. Let me down. You win.”

  “What do I win, exactly?” Wes was smirking now.

  Suddenly I realized I didn’t want to be let down. I wanted to be right here. My nervous center seemed to be sending out warm rays of light. And, almost feeling as though I were in a dream, I lifted a hand to Wes’s face, my fingers trailing through the scruff of his jaw. He turned his head and kissed the center of my palm. I pulled in a breath.

  When those hazel eyes locked on me again, it was like the universe spun in a whirl of stardust and moonlight, whispering a long-forgotten song in my ears.

  His face was serious now, eyes intense, and my heart was pounding so loudly, I couldn’t even breathe. Suddenly I remembered how last night, lying with my cheek against his hard chest, I’d heard the hard drumming of his heart.

  “Wes,” I breathed, as I realized what he’d clearly known all along.

  His fingers laced around the back of my neck and he kissed me.

  A fierce, mind-numbing, white-hot kiss.

  Time stopped. Blood roared. And my body sang with pleasure.

  Then everything except Wes faded away.

  Chapter 13

  Kalin tasted just as decadent as I’d imagined she would.

  While I wasn’t sure if I’d meant for this to happen, now. In the back of my mind, I’d always intended to go slowly if it did. Create a subtle build up and have her begging for more.