Only a few days since the Thanksgiving dinner, and just over twenty four hours since Gina had driven her Asian pussycat to the edge of his control, Gina was no closer to forgetting him, no matter how many C batteries she went through riding her plastic substitute. Where did the insane attraction stem from? Sure, Jack was freakn' hot with his short hair, smooth skin, and tight little bod, but she'd screwed better looking men than Jack. She'd walked away from cuter ones too. None ever had her masturbating like she'd die if she didn't come. None ever took up residence in her mind, got comfortable and refused to budge. And none, not even hot to trot, Frank Miller, ever got her wolf panting and drooling. She really didn't like what she thought it meant. Not my mate. A dozen, a hundred, more times than she could count, she repeated that to herself. It ran through her head like a melody. Unfortunately, she found it harder and harder to believe. Not my mate. Oh yes he is. No he's
Kaleb hung up with the constable and leaned back in his chair, tenting his fingers over his stomach. Well, well. The cat has resurfaced. What an unexpected turn of events. Of course, Kaleb didn't know yet under what name Sheng hid, or if Jiao was still with him, nor did he have an address, but now he at least had a general area. Ottawa. Stupid cop. In her search for answers to someone she obviously suspected, she'd given Kaleb enough information for him to reorganize his search for the missing pair. And to think he'd just about given up. Leaning forward, Kaleb punched a button on his phone, activating the intercom. "Did you require something, sir?" his secretary queried. "Have my private jet fueled and brought via small jumps to Edmonton tonight." Because he liked to keep those watching him guessing. "Destination for the flight plan?" she asked over the sound of her fingers tapping. "Our nation's capital. Ottawa, but make the route erratic." "O
Despite the mini fight she had with Sheng about leaving the house, a fight she won, Jiao spent a fun evening with Naomi and Francine, who also ended up coming over for a girl's night. They talked a lot, well the she-wolves did, Jiao kind of listened, absorbing their stories, and envying their easy friendship. She didn't understand the name calling ? bitch, wench, skank ? but obviously, Naomi and Francine didn't take offense at the often derogatory terms uttered with affection and laughter. Best of all, they acted like Jiao was already an accepted part of their group and family. A foregone affair. Now if only she didn't have to lie to her new friends. Jiao did her best not to divulge too much; the less lies she told, the better. But evasions and misdirects didn't mean she completely escaped some uncomfortable moments such as when Naomi asked flat out how she and Jack got together. Jiao stuck to a partial truth. "We knew each other as children." "How do you think
Excuse me? Chris's mind tangled into a great big knot as he tried to follow her hints covered in subterfuge. How exactly had a moment of ecstasy ? and yes it counted as such even if he'd not yet spilled ? turned into a discussion of trust? And secrets. "We're mates." He declared it as a proven fact. In his eyes, she was in every way except for the bite, the exchange of blood and fluid that would link them on a level higher than that of marriage or spoken words of affection. "We are. But, because you're my mate, I must do everything I can to make sure I don't bring harm upon you." "You think Jack might hurt me?" His lip curled at the suggestion. "Jack is the least of your worries. He might shout and yell, but ultimately, he'll abide by my choice." "Then what danger are you talking about? I don't understand and I'm tired of your allusions. I want you to trust me, dammit." "I ?" Whatever she might have said next got lost in the ring of the phone.
Meeting Patricia at the restaurant, Sheng stuffed his damp hands in his pockets. Nervous? Him. About what? Surely he didn't care that much about the outcome of their talk. Jiao was the one who wanted things to change. Sheng didn't have a problem with the status quo. Or so he tried to convince himself while he ignored how Gina's face kept popping into his head ? wearing nothing but her cop hat and boots while swinging her cuffs. If Patricia thinks it's safe to drop the ruse, I could technically take the she-wolf up on her erotic offer. Sate himself with her body so that she ended up evicted from his fantasies. However, Gina wasn't his only reason for wanting to end the fake marriage. His sister needed a chance to find happiness, whether Sheng approved of her choice or not. He suspected Jiao snuck around behind his back and saw the wolf despite his orders. As if he couldn't smell the dog all over her. With fate intervening, Sheng knew he didn't have long before the inevitable
After Jiao hung up with her brother, and Chris agreed to stay, she wondered what to do with him. Her body still throbbed, but not with the hungry insistence of before. She also knew Chris didn't take his pleasure. Innocent perhaps in some ways, she still understood the basic mechanics of sex. Would he want to resume where they left off? Was she about to become a woman in all senses of the word? The thought both excited her and roused her nervousness. Once they made love, there was no turning back. And no hiding her virgin state which would lead to more questions, valid questions she wasn't sure she could answer without betraying her brother's trust. "Is your cat feeling frisky?" His odd question took her by surprise. "My cat?" "Yes, your inner kitty. Is it spinning right now? My wolf certainly is." "Yes. My feline found our, um ?" A blush heated her cheeks. "? activities quite invigorating. Why?" "It's a beautiful evening. What do you say we take our
Need burned deep inside Chris. If he didn't sink into his woman and mark her soon, he'd probably go insane ? or burst. Or both. He'd thought himself blue balled after making her come on his tongue. Yeah, then she partially fulfilled one of his fantasies, shifting into a beautiful, sleek spotted cat, similar to a leopard, but like none he'd ever seen. Best part? She wanted him to catch her. He chased her. Oh the fun he had, trailing her through the woods. He would have enjoyed making love to her by the water, but he could see her trembling from the chill air. A protective need consumed him. If she required warmth, he'd give it to her because he definitely had heat to spare. His body fairly burned, but even ensconced in his arms, she shivered, although he would almost wager some of that had to do with desire, not just the cold. Not conceit, just plain fact. It didn't take them long to return to the house, their wild dash through the forest close to a full circuit. Not being
Dinner and social catching up done, Sheng left Patricia and exited the diner. It was then he finally allowed himself to dwell on Patricia's news that Gina pried into his private affairs. And he got angry. How dare the she-wolf threaten his existence? It was one thing to taunt him with her body and for her to steal a kiss. But Gina went too far when she began digging in to his and Jill's life. What if she'd accidentally notified Kaleb? She could have brought their tenuous existence down with just one misplaced phone call. Luckily, Patricia noticed the searches and now, Sheng would deal with it. I'll teach her to put her canine nose in other people's business. What better time to confront her than now? He had access to her home address because of her recent car purchase. He swung by the car dealership under the guise of checking his schedule, but in reality, he scribbled her location down. On his way over, it occurred to him to call his sister and let her know he'd arri
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