Javier could sense her inner conflict, in fact he prayed for it. Things had gone so well until the disastrous dinner of the night before. While he expected it of Ethan, Javier should have known better than to arouse Naomi in front of her brothers-until he'd marked her. However, the lure of her presence and worse, her interest, blinded him to their location with disastrous consequences. Overprotective brothers had the right to defend their sister's honor, but Javier and Ethan grossly miscalculated on how a regular rumble, common in shifter households, would send Naomi running. It had only taken Meredith's quietly announced, "She left," for the fight to deflate. And that's when Javier discovered that despite her feisty nature, Naomi thought she wanted a life completely absent of violence. Probably not one hundred percent feasible given the hotheaded nature of shapeshifters-herself included-but he and Ethan came to an understanding with her family, her brothers especially. If they
Bored. So bloody bored. Naomi tried to listen to Phil as he droned on and on about his successful practice. She tried to focus on his face, but his weak chin, which she'd never really noticed before, and pasty white skin made her wish for tanned and muscled? Nope. I don't miss or want those two testosterone laden idiots. She tried to imagine kissing Phil, letting him touch her with his soft hands and couldn't stop a shudder. Okay, so he's not the man for me. It didn't mean Sexy and Sexier were. But wanting to screw their brains out and chaining myself to them for life are two totally opposite things. And if she didn't fear the former would lead to the latter, she would have probably just scratched her carnal itch. She still might if she could only assure herself they wouldn't try and trick her in a moment of weakness. A prickling sensation tickled the back of her neck and she turned to see what had caught her attention. Her jaw dropped as Javier and Ethan strode into the re
Ethan shook mostly in lust, but also shock. "Did she just say what I think she did?" Javier's lips quirked into a grin as he nodded his head. "She is something isn't she? Come on. I know where she's parked. It wouldn't do for her to end her date without a kiss." Ethan followed his friend as they weaved through the tables following the delectable ass of their woman. She wore a slim fitting, ruby colored sheath that clung to her curves and made Ethan gnash his teeth and strive for control as he couldn't help notice the appreciative glances thrown her way. When he'd walked in and seen her sitting with that puny human, he'd almost lost his cool. His bear had roared in his mind, ready to charge over and tear the daring human into itty bitty pieces. However, the icy glare Naomi had tossed their way at the sight of their pretend dates did much to restore his calm and kept him following Javier's plan. A brilliant plan actually that didn't require any violence-on their part a
Grumpy didn't come close to describing Naomi's state of mind the next day. Hornier than hell. Tired. Annoyed. Those came close and yet none of those terms completely explained the turmoil boiling inside her. The previous evening, still shaking from her unexpected parking lot climax, she'd barely made it home. Her body-and wolf-howled at her to go back and take what they offered. However, that stank too much of submission. And I hate not being in control. Slamming into her house after flipping the causes of her displeasure off, she'd actually waited with almost bated breath for them to come pounding on her door. Begging her to kiss them goodnight. To resume what they'd started. She'd even partially fantasized about them, overcome with lust, pushing their way into her home, and taking her, right up against the wall. Instead, they'd left. The jerks. And she'd gone upstairs to a big, lonely bed with an aching pussy that still quivered faintly in remembrance at Ethan
Javier cursed as he hung up his phone. "No fucking way." Ethan, riding their home exercise bike, glanced over at him. "Are you swearing? Must be bad. What's up?" "Somebody trashed Naomi's car at work." Quicker than a blink, Ethan's bear took over and a roar echoed from his mouth as his teeth elongated, his body reshaped and fur sprouted. In seconds, a pissed Kodiak, wearing only shreds of clothing, lumbered toward the apartment door and Javier sprinted to throw himself in front of Ethan. "Stop! You can't go out there like that. Are you out of your fucking mind?" A growl was the reply as Ethan butted Javier with his big shaggy head, tossing him aside. Javier landed on his hands and flipped to a standing position. "If you get shot or picked up by animal control, you won't be able to protect her, dumbass." Javier's cool logic stopped Ethan from clawing the door off. It didn't save it, though. The inch deep gouges would probably never sand out, but at le
While she would never admit out loud, Naomi actually found herself glad of Javier's support. The process of getting her broken car on the flatbed tow truck proved hard to watch as bits and pieces fell off, clanging to the floor, or in the case of the broken glass, in a tinkling shower. Naomi alternated between rage and melancholy, her emotions in such a fluctuating state, she didn't object when he draped an arm around her shoulders and kept her hugged tight to his body. Even more surprising was Javier's calmness. If her dad or brothers had shown up and seen the mess the thug made of her car, a copious amount of yelling and punching of things would have occurred. With Javier, while she could see ire in the flashing of his dark eyes and the rigidity of his jaw, those were the only outward signs. She appreciated it, but a teensy tiny part of her kind of wanted him to rant and rave, to show vocally and physically how much he cared. I'm such an indecisive ninny. It took a
Javier closed the bedroom door to give Naomi privacy while she spoke to her mother. He grabbed his cock and shifted it in his pants, a move aped by Ethan. "Dammit, how much longer are we going to suffer, Javier? You heard her downstairs, she wanted us." "She wanted out cocks. We need her to want our hearts and souls." What a change from a few days ago when all Javier thought he'd ever need was a warm pussy to sink into. "I still don't see how torturing ourselves is helping," Ethan grumbled as they headed back downstairs. "By showing her that her needs are more important than ours, we are laying the foundation for trust, my friend." "Whatever. Trust won't matter if our dicks fall off first." "If that happens, then we'll become oral experts. I wouldn't worry though. I don't think it will be much longer. Haven't you noticed? She's not threatening us or cussing us out as often. I think she's starting to like us." Ethan chuckled. "But I like it whe
Curled on her bed, Naomi cradled the glass butterfly in the palm of her hand. It was absolutely gorgeous, and even worse, thoughtful. The idea that Ethan had actually gone into a novelty store selling such girly items as glass butterflies warmed her. It seemed so incongruous given his size and athletic profession. And yet, both he and Javier kept showing her other sides to themselves, gentler sides imbued with intelligence and respect. A respect for her and her wishes she'd never imagined with her own kind. Instead of acting like cavemen and slinging her over their shoulder to have their wicked way with her-which admittedly would probably be lots of fun-they listened to her and followed her-sometimes irrational-dictates. They were turning out to be better than human options, the jerks. Her resolve to never settle down with another shifter was melting rapidly beneath their determined assault. And after this evening's wicked orgasms, she found herself more tempted than ever.
Nothing ever felt more right than the first time Derrick sank balls deep into Janine. Unless he counted the second time and then the third. Over and over, he claimed her that night, the next day, all that week as she took some time off work for them to explore their new relationship. And yes, they were in a relationship. She's my mate now. And soon, she'd be his wife. He'd already asked for and received permission from Orson and Janine's mother. A conversation that went along the lines of? "I'm going to marry your daughter." "I get to plan the wedding." "I'll have you cremated if you hurt her." Derrick could already tell they'd fit in well with his family. Snap.*Epilogue An exaggerated groan left Derrick as he heaved Janine out of the car. The sound totally deserved a laser-hot glare. "Are you implying something?" No denying she was a little more rotund these days. He pulled her close, not caring that her big belly got in the way. A smile tugged
With Derrick buried in the bosom of his family, Janine slipped away before the tears blurring her gaze were noticed. Derrick had survived the surgery and seemed about to beat the odds. He would recover, which meant it was time for her to go. Even if I love him. And she did love him. Loved him so much that she couldn't be with him. She knew Derrick thought himself in love with her, that she was his mate. Much as she wanted to believe that, she couldn't. He'd fallen for her only because, at the time, he depended on her. Acting as his therapist meant their close involvement brought them together and imbued him with a false sense of intimacy. I think the intimacy came from you letting him touch you. Acts that shouldn't have happened, and yet, she didn't regret. It made leaving so much harder, but she did it now while she could. Now while he had his family and the promise of a bright future ahead of him. Let him get on with his life. Find a woman to settle dow
The hot satisfaction at having brought down the enemy paled before the panicked realization that Derrick couldn't move. Not a single damned muscle. The cold reality sent his wolf into hiding, pulling back from the dead weight of his body and leaving only human flesh. Flesh that felt nothing but the tips of her fingers on his cheeks as she cradled his head. "Derrick. Oh God, why did you do that?" She hugged his head, and if the moment weren't so dire, he might have enjoyed being buried against her plush tits. But all he could think was, This is the last time. The last time he'd smell her or feel her touch because he'd fucked up majorly in skipping the surgery and now paid the price. Since he didn't expect he'd get another chance, he whispered, "I love you," which only caused her to rock and hug tighter. In a voice thick with tears, she retorted, "This better not be one of those goodbye speeches. You're going to be fine. We'll get you in for that surgery, and ever
Doctor's Pet. She read the title in gleaming silver letters on the back of Derrick's chair as he whipped by with a whoop, well ahead of his brothers in their own colorful chariots. When she'd come across some orderlies watching something out the window, she'd not expected to see the Grayson clan gathered out front, clapping and hollering at the participants in the wheelchair races. It wasn't even just Derrick and his brothers playing. They'd gotten several other patients to join in too. Given the speed at which they raced, a fear for their safety made her want to march out that door and tell them to stop, but an old adage came to mind-boys will be boys. And men would do stupid things that resulted in stitches for, as Stu said upon meeting her, "Shits and giggles." The main surgeon for the rehab center came to stand beside her. "Looks like fun," he noted. "Yes. Dangerous, though," she added. "These men have been to hell and back. Do you really want to
The feel of her on his fingers proved exhilarating, but it couldn't compare to her intoxicating taste. A man parched, Derrick lapped at her, savoring her womanly cream and humming with pure male satisfaction at how she clenched and pushed against him, her body craving more of his touch. He couldn't have stopped if he wanted to. Too long he'd craved her. Too long he'd denied the unmistakable truth. Janine is mine. And for this moment at least, he couldn't find the strength to push her away. I'm tired of fighting what I want. Time for a little selfishness. He lapped at her sweet button, feeling it swell at his flicks. He pumped his fingers in and out of the moistness of her sex, loving how she gripped him tight. Her excitement built, reaching a crescendo, and he felt just as coiled as her, poised on the edge. He pistoned his fingers in her as his lips pinched her swollen button. A low cry began to keen from her lips. She smashed a pillow over her face as her body arched
Something woke Janine from a light slumber. She lay in bed, one half of her face squashed against her pillow, listening. Not even the creak of joists shifting broke the heavy silence. Holding her breath a moment longer, she tested the ambiance of the room. Is anyone here? Am I alone? Her senses craned, seeking that sense of vitality that only another person could emit. She sought another presence, a reason for waking, and felt nothing. She exhaled with relief. No bogeyman tonight. For those who might mock her, she had no problem admitting a fear of the dark, especially the particular shade it achieved in the middle of the night. Dark deeds often happened under night's shadow. And sometimes a little girl wakes and opens her eyes to see bloodshot ones staring right at her. The shriek she uttered proved piercing. The scarier thing? Daddy screamed at an even higher pitch. But that had happened a long time ago. Only the one time, but it left an impression. She'
The tingling awareness of her presence faded as Janine moved from the doorway of the game room. He'd known she watched him. Felt her eyes on him the moment she appeared and missed her gaze when she left. It took him gripping the wheels of his chair not to chase after her. Having her out of his line of sight didn't sit well, and not just because of all the people roaming around. Earlier, when they'd first arrived, he'd also hated sending her off into the kitchen with her mother. Then again, it was probably a good thing Red didn't stay because the first thing Derrick tried to do was get her out of his life. "I want a new shrink." On his way to a bar, fetching a drink of something with a fiery kick, Orson paused. "Is there a problem with my daughter?" "No." "Then why the request?" The council member uncorked a decanter and poured some amber liquid into glasses. He handed one to Derrick before taking a seat on the couch. "Do you want her removed because she's
Despite the mishap in locating Derrick-I really thought I'd have to hunt him down and force him-the road trip passed rather peacefully. Despite the sexual tension between them, there was also a genuine like for one another, and when he wasn't barbing her or trying to push Janine away, they could have the most interesting conversations. It passed the long trip. While Derrick started out driving, the highway part of the route being the longest, she took over once they hit an exit. She made sure to give him a pit stop so he could use a washroom, and she said not a word about the fact that he took a few minutes longer than other people to do his business and glared at those who dared to complain outside the locked door. As she took the familiar twists and turns to her parents' house, she couldn't help a touch of anxiousness. How would her stepdad react? With her, Orson was the most lovable teddy bear a girl could ask for, but with anyone he thought threatened her? Poor Jeremy w
Red stalked into his room, swinging the door open in a familiarity that apparently didn't see a need to knock. "Derrick, we need to-Uh. Oh." Her outburst ended on a gasp. Probably because she got more of a glimpse than she expected Splayed on top of covers still drawn tight, one hundred percent naked, and bound-the height of emasculation-he glared. "Were you raised in a barn?" Something his mother used to accuse him of when he lacked manners. His Aunt Joni took great offense at that expression and claimed it was those raised as ci-diots that were the problem with morality nowadays. A shame they feuded for years on end. Aunt Joni's pie was worth the occasional brawl between sisters. Janine's head ducked. He could only imagine the pinkness of her expressive cheeks. "Sorry. I didn't think. I'll come back later when you're not so, um, er, tied up," she stammered. The things she could do to me right now? For a moment, he almost imagined a spark, enough that he said t