Chapter Seventeen
Ross scrambled around, trying his best to cover the tire tracks. He pulled at grass to straighten it and shoved a couple of large rocks in front of where they'd gone. Planting his feet, he took in a few long breaths before finding yet more rocks and effectively building a small wall in front of where they'd driven. He didn't want to make it easy for Davidson and the Damson siblings to find them. Stepping onto the road, Ross surveyed his handiwork with a critical eye, eventually deciding that it was as good as he could get it. Trudging across the grass, he followed the tire tracks into a small copse of trees about half a mile away from the road, managing to catch sight of Jenny and Connor who appeared to be having some kind of argument.
Breaking into a run, he grinned as he saw Jenny gesture at something, her voice growing louder.
“What’s happened?”
Jenny turned to him, her face glowing red with a sudden embarrassment. “Uh, nothing. I just thought this maybe wasn’t the best place.”
He glanced at Connor, who rolled his eyes. “Why not?”
“Because of that!” Jenny exclaimed, pointing through the trees toward what appeared to be an old tumbledown shack. “We don’t know who owns that or whether they’re planning to come back.”
“And I’ve said it’s fine,” Connor replied, huffing. “It’s obvious no one’s been in there for a while. We’re not going to leave the truck here for long, and this was the best place I could think of putting it. I don’t think I could drive it any farther in even if I wanted to. The trees get too thick.”
Ross grinned, thinking that he quite liked seeing Jenny like this, strong and determined. She’d never been part of a pack before, and she was already trying to find her place in it. That was good. He didn’t want her to be a quiet little mouse, just doing what he—or what anyone else—said. Her opinion was valued and important.
"Have you looked in it?" he asked, seeing Connor shake his head. "Let's go."
Walking over to Jenny, he flung an arm around her shoulders, leaning forward to look into her face. “You’ve got a point, Jenny, but let’s go see what it’s like inside before we make a decision, OK?”
“OK,” she replied, throwing a dark look at Connor. As they walked, raindrops began to fall through the leaves.
“I’ll stay here,” Connor called. “We’ll need to get something to eat before we move.”
“Sounds good,” Ross replied before turning back toward the shack.
Jenny glanced up at him. “When are we going to start walking?”
“We’ll shift as soon as it gets dark,” he answered, moving his hand from her shoulder to her waist. “Then we’ll try to find that river. It shouldn’t be far away. It’s only around five miles to the East River pack.” He smiled at her. “Do you think you’ll manage it? I know we didn’t get the greatest amount of sleep last night.”
A slight tremor went through her as she dropped her head. “I’ll be fine,” she mumbled. “I slept for a bit in the truck.”
He grinned, as a raindrop splashed onto her nose. Wiping it away, he opened his mouth to say something, only for another one to dampen her cheek. Ross heard raindrops hit the forest leaves, and before he knew it, he was already soaked to the skin. He could barely even see the truck or Connor.
“Come on!” Grabbing Jenny by the hand, he ran toward the cabin, hoping it would give them some shelter from the rain.
Tugging at the door, he heard it splinter. Pulling it with all his strength, it eventually gave way and he slipped in with Jenny following him.
“Where did that come from?” she gasped, wiping her face with her hands. Her hair was damp, and she attempted to pull it back into a ponytail.
"It's a good thing," Ross replied, looking around the tiny room. "It means the tire tracks and any of our scents will disappear completely." Dropping her hand, he walked a little further in, taking in all the sights and smells. The room had a small electric heater, a thin-looking rug, and a couch. There was a long table and a rickety chair, but that was all. No crockery or any homey touches to indicate that someone came here regularly.
“Looks like you’re right, though,” he said, walking over to the heater and flicking the switch. To his surprise, it came on at once. “This isn’t as run down as it looks.”
“Then we’d better move, hadn’t we?” Jenny asked, sounding anxious. “What if they come back?”
He shrugged. “I doubt anyone’s going to come back right now. No one’s been here for a while. See how stale it smells?”
Jenny sniffed then wrinkled her nose. “So, you think we’ll be OK?”
Turning back to face her, Ross grinned. “We’ll be fine for half an hour or so. This heater’s working, so he must have got some kind of electricity supply somewhere.” His sharp eyes caught a drip running down the side of her forehead. “Come over here and get warm!”
“I’m fine,” Jenny sniffed, looking entirely miserable.
“You’re soaked.”
She wiped the dampness from her face, giving him a wry smile. “Yeah, I am.” Walking over toward him, she peeled off her top and hung it up on the rickety old chair. “Just as well we’ll be shifting soon. I could do with my fur to warm me up!”
Without thinking, Ross wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tugging her close. “I’ll warm you up if you like.” He couldn’t quite keep the suggestive tone from his voice as a sudden spark of heat rushed straight through him. Jenny relaxed against him.
“Sounds good,” she murmured, lifting her head so she could look into his eyes.
Even with her scrunched hair and damp face, Ross still thought Jenny was beautiful. She gave him a soft smile and without even thinking, Ross bent his head and kissed her.
Ross felt Jenny soften, her own arms slowly twining around his neck. His wolf yipped, urging him on, but Ross needed no encouragement. The memories of the last time they had been together surged into his mind, making his body jump to attention. He deepened the kiss, his arms beginning to explore her body. The damp vest she wore clung to her body, making her curves all the more obvious. Lifting the material, his fingers traced over her skin.
Jenny gave into Ross’s kisses immediately, her need for him growing by the second. Dropping her hands from around his neck, she slowly ran her hands down his shoulders and across his chest, feeling the rock-hard muscles beneath. When his fingers touched her skin, she gasped against his mouth before tugging at his own shirt.
Everything she’d been worried about—the state of the cabin, whether someone would come back, even Connor— left her mind the moment she put her hands on his skin. Heat filled her, coiling in her core, as his tongue slowly twined with hers.
“This maybe isn’t the best time,” Ross murmured against her mouth, his hands dropping from her waist.
“Don’t even think about stopping now,” Jenny gasped, her eyes searching his face. “Please, Ross. Not again.”
He studied her for another moment his breath coming quick and hard. He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes still on her face. “I want you, Jenny,” he confessed, quietly. “I think I need you.” Slowly, so slowly, he put his hands on her shoulders, letting them run down the front of her body, his eyes never leaving hers.
Jenny was consumed with need. She wanted to finish what they’d started, even if it was in a stale old shed with the rain falling heavily outside. She wanted Ross too, needed him in a way that was almost overwhelming. Her wolf wanted him. This was going to be more than just sex. This was a promise, a branding, a joining of souls.
“I—I think I’m falling in love with you, Ross,” she breathed, her eyes fluttering closed. She wanted to say more but couldn’t. He was sparking too many sensations in her, dragging her breath from her body.
“I feel the same, Jenny,” he breathed, as his hands cupped her breasts, kneading them gently through the thin material. Jenny arched her back, pressing herself against him, feeling his desire for her press against her body.
With a low growl, Ross stepped back and pulled his shirt over his head, before reaching for Jenny and practically tearing her damp vest from her body. Their mouths clashed together in fury and desire, their tongues battling for control. His arms snaked around her waist, pulling her body more firmly against his as his hands dug into the waistband of her jeans. Jenny grew warm, her own trembling fingers running down the length of his body, stopping at his waist.
For a moment they stood together, looking into each other's eyes. Ross moved her slowly back toward the long table, his eyes aflame with desire. Jenny saw the question in his eyes, as though he wanted to make sure she wanted this as much as he did.
“Don’t stop now, Ross,” she whispered, softly. “I need this. I need you.”
With a groan, Ross pushed her back against the table, his fingers working at the buttons on her jeans. She struggled to do the same to him, but he was there in seconds, helping her. He stood a step back, his eyes roving over her body. Jenny struggled not to hide herself, feeling suddenly exposed, as her own gaze covered his body. His strength was evident in every muscle of his body, her breath catching as she saw just how much he wanted her. Holding her arms out to him, he stepped closer as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.
"You're so beautiful," Ross breathed, running his hands down her shoulders to gently caress her breasts. He was slow and gentle with her with a tenderness she hadn't expected from such a powerful shifter. His lips found hers again as one hand moved lower, his fingers reaching her core. His touch sent shockwaves through her, making her gasp and arch against him. As his fingers moved, she couldn't help but begin to rock her hips against him, a quiet moan escaping her lips.
With a growl, he scooped her up in his arms, depositing her on the table. It groaned beneath her weight, but she lay back anyway, exposing herself to him completely. Heat built as he ran one hand down the length of her body, then the other, as he settled himself between her legs. His length pressed against her, teasing her as she drew in frantic breaths, desperate for him.
“Please, Ross,” she breathed, letting out a long, slow breath as he finally slid into her. Looking into his eyes, Jenny saw the fire inside them, matching the heat she felt growing in her own body. He paused, letting her body become used to him. A muscle in his cheek jumped as he held himself back, waiting for her to make sure she was ready.
His fingers lightly touched her center, making her moan as he slowly began to move inside her. Throwing her head back, Jenny pushed her hips up, arching her back against the table, urging him on. Ross didn't need any more encouragement, moving faster as his fingers worked, pushing her toward the brink.
Jenny squeezed her eyes shut, her entire body tightening. She felt Ross’s hand move from her core to her breasts, squeezing each one lightly as he groaned aloud. She knew he was close, her own body growing hotter and hotter, her need reaching its peak.
He thrust into her again, his hand running down the length of her body again, reaching her core. At his touch, Jenny shattered into a thousand pieces, letting out a long, intense cry of pleasure. Unable to stop, Ross pushed into her one more time, before his own body jerked, his hands grasping her hips tightly as he pushed his own hips forward. His eyes squeezed closed, throwing his head back as a wave of heat rushed through him, ending him completely. Slowly, he stepped back, as Jenny pushed herself up on her elbows, her eyes still hazy. Seeing the look of heat cross his face as he watched her, Jenny gave a small smile, not feeling embarrassed in the least.
“Not the most romantic setting,” he mumbled, stepping back toward her and pulling her against his chest as she sat on the edge of the table.
Jenny chuckled, her entire body filled with satisfaction. “Next time, we’ll get a nice hotel room or something.”
He looked down at her with a small smile on his face. “Definitely. Next time.”