Me, impossible? Joel wanted to respond with something along the lines of, 'No, I'm most definitely doable.' Given her confused and annoyed expression, very annoyed, he decided against it. "This is not working," he sighed to Kendrick as Ruth stomped off yet again, her damned humanity in no way affected by the fever consuming him alive. "You mean your corny bar pick-up lines aren't." "Corny? I'll have you know, my lines work great, usually." "On drunk girls." Kendrick snickered. And therein lay the problem. Unused to relationships because he'd spurned long-term human ones, and unmated shape-shifters tended to more transient affairs, he didn't know how to woo Ruth. "I'm going to die of blue balls," he moaned. "You just need to change your method of operation." "But cheesy come-on lines are my thing. If I can't use that, what can I do?" "Do what your instinct says." "I've been doing that for days and I don't think I'm any closer t
Stay away. Stay away. Ruth kept telling herself that, especially after the way the guys previously cornered her into a manwich. But dammit, like a stupid moth, she wanted to get burned, or so she assumed when she took the spot between them on a log ? at their behest and despite their matching grins ? the lure of the crackling fire they'd built to ward off an unusual chill too much for her to resist. Thighs pressing against hers, making her much too aware of them on either side, she held her hands out to the dancing flames. "If only we had some marshmallows," she joked. "Mmm, something soft and sweet to bite into. Sounds yummy." Sounding so innocent on the surface, she couldn't help a curl of heat from forming at the implied innuendo. Or was she imagining the sexual overtone? By now, she surely wasn't the only one craving real food. The others in the group, with feeble excuses, wandered off, Peter to sleep, Liam and Fernando for a stroll ? which, given they walke
Kendrick noted Ruth wandering around the ruins, and while he kept her within sight for the most part, he also gave her space. More for his peace of mind as he tried to figure out how to deal with her. He couldn't just do as his mother suggested. This was his mate. A delicate human girl who gently rebuffed his advances even as her body betrayed her interest. While his wolf seemed to think he should swoop in and claim her, knowing the bond didn't affect her, he feared frightening her off, especially since he wasn't the only one working to gain her affection. Snapping off a bough, Ruth a speck of motion at the corner of his eye, Kendrick had to turn his back on her a moment as he hefted the pieces he'd harvested and brought them back to the center of camp. Joel, his own arms laden, followed him. "I think she really doesn't get it," Joel admitted as he dumped his load with a noisy number of thumps. "Get what?" Kendrick asked, tossing a quick glance at Ruth to see her bend
"You shouldn't wander off alone. It's dangerous." Kendrick's words startled her from her contemplation of the grooves on the wall. Whirling, Ruth clasped a hand to her chest. "Must you sneak?" Lost in the marvel of her discovery, she never heard him arrive. But she should have expected it, given his new goal in life involved sticking to her like glue. "I don't sneak. I skulk. I am a professional skulker, best in my family." A wild boast that made her smile and giggle. It was then he hit her with it. His first genuine smile. Not just any smile, but an intimate grin, just for her. Hear that? The silence. It was the sound of her heart stopping in shock. God, she'd thought him cute before, but a truly happy Kendrick, wearing a sexy, teasing grin, was enough to make her knees weak. It took all of her control not to throw herself at him. "Skulking is for animals." "Yeah. That sounds about right." He inched closer, his lips still curved so sexily. Flu
What had been a near disaster when the tunnel collapsed turned into utter glory. Or so Kendrick thought as Ruth's channel convulsed around his fingers, her climax strong, lusty, and sweet, just like her. Oh good God, he wanted inside her so bad. He pumped her with his fingers, torturing himself with the sweetness of her release, watching her face as pleasure took her. His free hand went to the buckle of his pants, his cock dying for its turn. But it seemed he wasn't going to get his wish. "There you are," Joel exclaimed in a patently false, cheerful tone. "So glad to see you're all right. We were so worried when we felt the earth shaking." Kendrick knew his best friend saw his middle finger extended, which is why the prick flashed him a pair. But Kendrick still won the round when a rudely interrupted Ruth squeaked as she scrambled to cover up. He wanted to tell her not to bother, however, he didn't sense that would go over well. Human females, especially shy one
At the first ominous rumble, Joel dropped everything and ran for the ruins. He didn't need to see the cloud of dust puffing out to know part of it collapsed. With Ruth inside! Darting into the tunnel, blinking furiously at the cloud silting in the air, he tried not to panic. Kendrick's with her. He'll keep her safe. Unless they got flattened by a rock. Not impossible given the size of some of the chunks he found obliterating their passage. What eased his mind somewhat was he didn't scent blood or hear any cries for help or of pain. He took this to mean they managed to escape the architectural disaster and took refuge or searched for an exit in an intact portion. Joel loped along the debris-strewn corridors, sniffing for a sign, ignoring those that didn't pertain. In the end, he heard them before he saw them. Heard her cries and moans of pleasure as Kendrick touched Ruth. My woman. His wolf growled. Demanded they stop their pack mate from claiming what was theirs
Oh my God. What did I do? Coming down off her orgasmic high, Ruth let the insanity of what she'd done overwhelm her. She'd just slept with two guys. No, that wasn't accurate. Slept sounded too tame. She'd fucked two guys, at the same time. Never mind she'd enjoyed it ? had she completely lost her mind? It was one thing to fantasize about getting naughty with two men, another to act on it ? and so totally enjoy it. Enjoyment aside, euphoria fading, reality set in, along with a good dose of shame at her behavior. How could she have done it? Embarrassed and needing some space ? and some clothes ? she went to move off of Joel only to have him wrap his arms around her and draw her down to his bare chest. "Let me go." She pushed at his chest to no avail. "What's wrong?" "Nothing." Her tight voice gave her away. "Why are you so upset? Did we hurt you?" Kendrick asked, his hand stroking her back, his voice laced with concern. "I'm not upset or h
Ruth's shriek saw Kendrick sprinting the last few yards to the exit. Forget talking to Joel about her rejection and disbelief in their affection. His mate needed him. With no heed to possible danger, he dove through the opening, Joel right behind him. They sprang to their feet behind Ruth who stood face to face with a tanned male. Immediately, his body bristled and his wolf snarled at the stranger. Sniffing, he took in the aroma of the man eyeing them with a hint of mockery. A cat, or so his wolf claimed with head-tossed disdain. "Who are you and what do you want?" Kendrick boldly asked. The golden eyes perusing him didn't even blink, and the stranger did not reply. Did he even speak English? "I think we've found the Jaguar clan," Joel muttered in a low voice. "Duh," Kendrick replied, his eyes never leaving those of the warrior before him. But it wasn't the single cat standing benignly with his hands at his side that had his wolf's hackles up. It was the s
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