After breakfast, Darnell and Evan picked up her car and she followed him back to the resort. A while later, Evan took off for his meeting with Trak while she sat out on the deck in front of his cabin with a book in her lap. One she hadn’t even opened yet.
There was just too much to think about. She’d never tried to imagine where Evan actually lived, but this place was unbelievable, and he said he’d built it himself. Well, with help from the other guys, but still …
It sat in a small clearing with forest all around. The deck wrapped across the front with a view of the most magnificent mountains ever, and while the cabin wasn’t huge, it didn’t feel at all small. There was a neat kitchen downstairs that opened into one big room with a stone fireplace against the wall at the opposite end. He had a bar with tall stools instead of a kitchen table, though there was room for one. Two rooms downstairs shared a bathroom between them.
“Kids’ rooms,” he’d said when he gave her a tour. Which, of course, had her thinking of what his kids would look like if they were hers, too. For some reason she imagined sons, not daughters. Strong sons with their father’s beautiful body and quiet disposition. He was such an easy man to be around, and he’d make a wonderful father. She didn’t doubt that at all. Yeah, she could imagine filling those kids’ rooms with their sons. Upstairs was a big loft—the master bedroom with a nice bathroom and a shower that she’d discovered had plenty of room for two. It was open to the rest of the house, now, but he showed her how easy it would be to close it off and make it more private should she ever want to do that.
And that was how he’d said it—if she ever wanted to close it off. He still hadn’t said he loved her or asked her to be his, but he talked about them as if that was a given. Obviously, it was too soon to make any commitments, but Evan was definitely talking long term.
She glanced toward the driveway. His truck was still parked next to the cabin and now her little red car was right there beside it, but Evan was still gone. She wished he’d come back. Trak had called some sort of meeting at the lodge, probably about those big guys after Chelo, and Evan left.
She’d have to ask him about the guys here. They weren’t related except for Trak and his brother, but they all seemed as close as brothers. It was obvious that Trak was the one in charge. She could see why—he was smart and certainly had an air of authority about him. She’d been around actors like that, usually men who, when they walked into a room, owned it. Trak was like that without ever actually doing anything to reinforce the image. His charisma was part of him. He epitomized the concept of a natural leader, but leader of what? She could ask Evan, but there was always so much more to talk about when they were together.
And just what did Evan do? Did he have a job somewhere away from the resort, or was this it? When she thought about it, there really were a lot of questions about him. About everyone here. Except every time she and Evan started talking about stuff, they ended up making love. That beat just about anything they could possibly need to discuss.
She glanced up as a big gray wolf with reddish highlights glimmering under the sun trotted toward the cabin. She remembered this one! He’d spent a lot of time with her last time she was here. “Hey, big guy! Do you remember me?”
The wolf stopped and watched her.
She set her book aside, walked down the steps, and sat on the bottom one. She knew better than to approach a wild wolf, though this one should remember her. Shouldn’t he? She waited while he stood there. “Ya know, fella, my feelings are really going to be hurt if you’ve forgotten who I am. I haven’t forgotten you. Don’t tell Evan, but I actually dreamed about you after I left, even more than I dreamed about him.”
The wolf’s ears pricked forward and he took a couple of steps closer. “The dreams about Evan were sexier, though.” She laughed. “Oh, yeah. A whole lot sexier. You I just wanted to pet.”
He yipped and trotted close enough for her to reach out her hand and almost touch his nose. He stepped closer and licked her fingers, wrapping that long tongue around her palm. Then he moved even closer. Close enough to butt her chest with his head before trotting up the steps. Darnell followed him, well aware she hadn’t stopped grinning since the moment he’d arrived. A wolf had come to see her. This was just too cool for words. She sat down on the deck with her back against the cabin logs and the wolf lay beside her on the warm planks. After a moment, his head was in her lap and she sat there, stroking his ears, wishing Evan were here to share this.
Of course, it wouldn’t be special to him. He saw wolves all the time. Still, she wished he’d come back. It had only been a couple of hours, but she missed him.
* * *
Evan quietly climbed the steps to the deck. Darnell still slept. She’d dozed off while petting him, totally unaware he was the big wolf she thought was so beautiful. He still wasn’t sure how to tell her. He’d talked to Trak about it this afternoon, almost certain Darnell loved him, and while he expected her to be shocked, he didn’t think it would make her fear him, fear what she would become when they mated.
The men still weren’t comfortable telling their women in advance. Cherry had figured them out and told her sister and Stephanie, but that had worked out okay because they’d loved their guys. Same with Darian and Lawz, and Jules and her two guys. She’d figured them out and no one knew how she’d done it, but it was similar to Darian. Somehow they just knew.
Elle and Tuck had been a unique situation—Elle had her own magic, the ability to heal, and she’d saved Trak’s life when he’d been shot while in his wolf form. But Darnell? So far there was no sign at all that she’d figured them out, which meant he had to be sure. Completely sure, before he told her.
Then Trak had told him more about the mess with Chelo’s brother-in-law, that he could show up here on the preserve with three other shifters, all of them determined to take Chelo. That wasn’t going to happen, but it could get ugly. It was too risky to say anything to Darnell now, not until he could safely turn her. If she were in that deep sleep after he bit her, the one that women fell into while going through the change, there’d be no waking her until the change was complete. It would make her vulnerable should the rogue pack make it onto the preserve.
Should they somehow overpower the guys, maybe even kill him … If that happened, he wouldn’t be here to protect her. No way could he let that happen. Trak had agreed.
Which meant they waited. Waited until the threat was neutralized. In other words, until they killed the rogues before the bastards managed to steal anyone away from the Trinity Alps pack. After seeing those four this morning, he was sure the pack could handle them, but it was never a good idea to take anything for granted.
He knelt beside Darnell, leaned close, and kissed her. She made a soft humming sound, stretched her arms overhead, and the moment her fingers touched the rough logs behind her her eyes flew open.
“Evan! When did you get here? Where’s the…?” She glanced at the spot where he’d been dozing beside her with his head in her lap. “Oh, damn. He’s gone.” She wrapped her arms around Evan’s neck and he pulled her to her feet.
“Who’s gone?” He nuzzled beneath her ear and ran the tip of his tongue over the ticklish spot he’d found.
She scrunched her shoulder against the side of her head and giggled. “Stop that. The wolf is gone. The same wolf I remember from my week here in May. He came to see me and I guess I fell asleep while I was petting him. He put his head in my lap. It was just so cool!”
“Hmmm. Hope you don’t have fleas…”
“Evan!”
She gave him such a look of utter disgust that he bit the insides of his cheeks to keep from laughing. It was so much fun to get a rise out of his Nellie. She seemed to get a kick out of the nickname, though he was more often than not Ferdinand now.
“He wouldn’t dare have fleas. He’s much too beautiful, and he didn’t scratch once.”
“That’s because he leaves them with the unsuspecting women he visits.”
“Yeah. Right. Where’ve you been? I missed you.”
“The meeting went longer than planned.” He opened the door and they went inside. “He wanted to tell us more about Chelo’s old boyfriend. I guess they totally trashed her apartment yesterday, which is why she’s staying here at Trak’s. He’s afraid they might try and come out here after her if they find out where she’s staying. If you see them anywhere close to the preserve, you need to call and raise the alarm.”
“How? There’s no cell service out here.”
“There is, now. We added a tower after Cherry moved in with the guys. She’s telecommuting to her job in San Francisco along with the work she’s taken on here. I want your phone so I can add all our numbers. You see anything, send a text and it will go to…” He coughed, cleared his throat. “Everyone here.”
Crap, he’d almost said “to the pack.” This was going to be so damned confusing until he could make her his mate. Darnell got her phone and Evan created a group for her with all the pack names and numbers. “Okay. You’re all set. Brad’s cooking dinner at the lodge tonight, so we’ll eat down there, if that’s okay with you.”
“What time?”
“About an hour.”
She set the phone aside and slipped her hands under his shirt. “I have a really good idea how to fill some of that time.”
“Oh, really?” He arched an eyebrow as she ran her hands along his ribs. “How much time?”
She tilted her chin and gave him a seductive grin. “How much time ya got?”
“Plenty.” He reached for the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head.
She shrieked and covered her naked breasts with her crossed arms. “Evan! We’re outside. Anyone could see us.”
“No one out there but critters.” He went to his knees and tugged her shorts down her legs, pleased to note that her tiny scrap of bikini panties went with them.
She was still grumbling, but she lifted her feet out of the shorts, one at a time. When she tried to cover the dark triangle at the juncture of her thighs, he picked her up and set her on the railing with her back to the forest.
“Hang on,” he said. Nellie wrapped both arms around the upright beam attaching the porch railing to the roof. Evan grabbed a footstool, positioned it between her dangling feet, and planted his butt on the cushion. He adjusted her position, pulled her forward on the broad railing, spread her legs, and then smiled at her from his spot between her legs.
“You look like my gynecologist, except he’s about sixty.”
“I’m not your gynecologist, though I am planning to check things out.”
“Oh. Really?” She scooted her butt around a bit, obviously getting more comfortable. “What are you looking for?”
“Sensitivity.” He grinned. “Comparing feminine erogenous zones to find the most sensitive.”
“I see. Where do you plan to begin?”
“Here.” He reached for her right breast and rubbed his thumb over her soft nipple. It tightened immediately into a taut peak. “Mmmmm. That one works.” He repeated the same test on her left. “So does that one.”
“That’s good, right?”
Her voice sounded breathy. He bit back a grin. She was so responsive. Already his sensitive nose caught the scent of her arousal.
Running both hands down her sides, Evan noted the involuntary tremors as he passed over her ribs and then grasped her thighs. He spread her legs wider, leaned close, inhaled, and then used his tongue to gently separate her folds. The muscles in her thighs clenched and the moisture of her arousal dampened her dark curls.
He swept his tongue between buttery folds, drawing a soft whimper from her. Swirling the tip of his tongue even higher, he found the sensitive bud swelling out of its protective hood, circled it, and backed away. Not yet. He wasn’t about to rush, even though Nellie obviously wanted to fly. Instead, he took his time, licking, nipping, and tasting, keeping her just this side of the edge. Her body jerked. He wrapped his arm around her hips, holding her safely on the railing, lifting and resting her legs on his shoulders. Then, certain she was safe in his arms, he continued his very thorough investigation of all her feminine charms.
* * *
She’d never felt so exposed in her life, stark naked with her bare ass planted firmly on a smooth pine railing, safely held by a wonderful man with his tongue between her legs—a tongue that should probably be outlawed. Her entire body throbbed to the beat of her pounding heart and she was certain she’d bitten into her lower lip, doing whatever she could to keep from screaming.
She was there, so frickin’ close to coming that her entire body shivered and trembled, and his tongue … oh damn! His tongue was everywhere except where she wanted it!
She wasn’t going to beg; she wasn’t. “Evan!”
He glanced up when she screamed his name. His lips and tongue covered her clit, and he sucked, hard. Lights flashed behind her eyes, and maybe a screaming rocket or two. She vaguely remembered rolling into a ball as her body flew. She didn’t remember moving, but the next lucid thought was that they’d somehow reached Evan’s bed, so he must have carried her. He was sheathing himself and filling her, so long and hard and hot that she knew they’d go up in flames.
But she knew something else even more important. She loved this man.
* * *
Darnell was actually surprised she wasn’t walking funny when they finally headed down to the lodge. She’d never had so much good sex in her life, and impossible as it seemed, it just kept getting better. Maybe that’s what love did—made everything better.
She glanced at their clasped hands, hers so much smaller than his, her skin a honey shade to his ruddy tan. Evan was the most powerful man she’d ever known. He made her feel safe when life hadn’t always been that way. No father, a mom into drugs, growing up biracial in a poor white neighborhood after her aunt took her in and raised her. She’d always felt like the odd one out, like everyone else was in a special club, but the doors were closed to her.
Evan didn’t make her feel that way. He accepted all of her—her silly sense of humor, the fact that she’d chased him down and moved right in on him. She’d never tell him how much she loved him calling her Nellie. Stupid name, but it was special to Evan and that made it special to her. Of course, Ferdinand worked, too. Evan was a guy she could easily imagine sitting under a tree, smelling the flowers while bad stuff went on all around him.
He made her feel special, like the dress-up princess she’d loved to play when she was little, before the drugs took her mom. Darnell had loved the fancy makeup, the brushes and glitter, and intricate princess hairstyles.
Was that what she was doing here with this amazing man who seemed to love her enough to want her forever? Was she projecting him into the role of prince to her princess? She wanted to believe that forever part. That’s what he kept saying, but she hoped she wasn’t a fool for believing in the magic. Except Cherry had found it. So had every other woman here. It was obvious in the way they looked at their men, the way they seemed to feel about themselves.
Was it wrong to want that for herself?
No, she thought. No, it wasn’t wrong at all.
* * *
Trak and Chelo were among the last to arrive at the lodge for dinner. Her nose practically twitched with the scents of rosemary and garlic and roasting meat. Whatever Brad was cooking was going to be wonderful.
This was the first time Chelo had seen the entire pack in one place. Counting herself, there were eighteen of them, two more than usual according to Trak because Darian and Lawz had come over to spend the week ahead of the wedding. It should have been overwhelming, but it wasn’t. Instead, it felt how Chelo’d always thought a big family would feel. The guys teased one another the way siblings might, and the women all seemed to get along like sisters.
Even Darnell, the one human in the group—a human who had no idea she was surrounded by werewolves—fit right in. There was so much love in this room. Love and friendship and respect. Chelo had never experienced anything even remotely like it in her life.
Not even before her change.
“Hey, Trak. Can you give us a hand?”
Trak led her to a chair next to Elle and across from Tuck. “Sure,” he said. “If it gets me out of dishes.”
“Dream on.” Cain’s snarky retort had everyone laughing.
“A guy can try, right?” Trak leaned close and kissed her cheek before following Cain into the kitchen.
Chelo smiled at Elle. “They never stop trying, do they?”
“That’s for sure.” Elle rolled her eyes at Tuck.
“I think that’s my cue.” He kissed Elle and followed the guys in to help bring the trays of food out.
Elle leaned close to Chelo. “Trak installed a security system this afternoon so we’ll know if anyone comes in through the gate. There’s no practical way to monitor the entire property, but at least it’s a start.”
“I hate that I’ve brought this to your home. I’m sorry.”
Elle shook her head. “Don’t be. It sounds as if Rube and his band of idiots would need to be dealt with no matter where they decided to cause trouble, because you know that’s what they’re going to be doing. It’s just as well they’re coming here, because our guys can deal with them.” She glanced about the room. “And so can our women.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. The women in the Rainy Lake pack are treated no better than chattel. Here you are better than equals.”
Elle frowned. “Better than equals? How so?”
Chelo glanced around the room, so aware of the laughter and overall sense of contentment. “Because your men treat you like queens. They wait on you, they love you, and yet they still respect and treat you as equals. They expect you to carry your weight because they trust you to do a good job. They defer to you when there’s something they don’t understand, and appreciate your suggestions, trust your decisions. It really doesn’t get any better.”
“I never thought of that, but you’re right. Oh … looks like dinner’s on.” Trak, Tuck, and Cain had set up a bucket brigade from the kitchen, moving platters of all types of food. Pork and beef roasts, a tray of baked chicken, and half a salmon. Salads and vegetables, a casserole of some sort. So many different foods that Chelo’s head was spinning.
Finally Brad walked out and surveyed the way Cain had organized everything on the buffet table. “Looks like we’re good to go. Thank you, gentlemen.”
Everyone lined up, filled plates, and found their seats. Cherry and Cain made Brad sit while they waited on him before serving themselves. Brad, who was sitting across from Chelo, leaned across the table and said, “Don’t be impressed, Chelo. They’re just trying to make themselves look good.”
“I think they’re trying to get out of the dishes,” Trak said. He took a bite and savored it. “Brad, even if it’s all for appearances, you deserve the attention. This is delicious.”
“Thank you. I’m trying out some of the recipes I’m planning to fix for the wedding. Have you got a head count from Meg yet?”
“Looks like they’re just inviting Zach’s employees. Neither of them has family—well, Meg does, but they’re not invited and she’s got good cause. Looks like about twenty extras will be here, counting spouses. No children. Not with the threat of wolves roaming the place.”
Chelo touched his arm. “Because of Rube? Is Meg not able to have the wedding she wanted because of…”
His finger over her lips stopped her. She thought about biting it. How could he so easily dismiss the threat? The problems because of her?
“I’m talking about the wild wolves. They roam in and out of the area and we’ve never had a problem with them bothering guests at the lodge, but a small child running in the woods? It’s too great a risk to take. Besides, Meg’s fine with it, and so are the employees. It’s an excuse to spend time with a significant other without the kids around. It’s not because of you, okay?”
She nodded, but still she worried. Where was Rube? She didn’t think he was stupid enough to come here, which meant she was in more danger at her shop. But maybe he was just that stupid. If so, everyone could be in danger.
Her life wasn’t worth a single person here. She gazed around the room, at the people who had welcomed her into their world as if she belonged. They’d brought a viper into their nest. They were too good, too welcoming. They were everything she’d always yearned for and she wanted to stay more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life.
“I need to make a couple of announcements.” Trak leaned close, kissed her lips, and pulled her out of her dark thoughts. While she was still savoring the taste of his kiss, he stood and walked to the front of the room, which happened to be in front of the dessert table.
“I figure this will get you to look my way, even if it’s only because you’re checking out the amazing desserts Brad’s putting on the table behind me.” He smiled and Chelo’s heart melted.
“Okay, we’re going to have a busy week. Meg and Zach will be here tomorrow afternoon, and we’re planning the bachelor and bachelorette parties Thursday night. That way, if Zach … or Meg … gets shit-faced, they’ll have time to recover before the wedding Sunday morning. Guests will begin arriving Saturday and we have all six cabins rented for both Saturday and Sunday nights, though I’m not sure how many, if any, will stay over Sunday. Meg wasn’t sure, either. It’s going to be a morning ceremony and they’re planning to leave Sunday after the reception. Meg and Zach will have one cabin, and five couples will take the others. The rest of the guests will be staying in town, which earns points with the local businesses.”
Cain raised his arm. “What do you think of my setting up a security checkpoint at the front gate? I’ll need a guest list and maybe the kinds of vehicles they’re arriving in. That way we can lock it once all the guests are here and make it a little more difficult for any unwanted visitors to drive in.”
“I think it’s an excellent idea, Cain. Thank you. Make sure you get some help so you’re not stuck out there for the entire party.”
“Will do.”
“That’s about it. Evan? Can you grab someone to help you check the cabins, make sure they’re freshly made up and well stocked?”
“Not a problem.” He glanced at Darnell and she said something that made him laugh. Even with all the worry about the wedding and guests, they worked together. They laughed.
Chelo glanced up as Trak walked back to their table. He was smiling at her. Smiling at the ones who stopped him to ask a question, make a suggestion. They loved Trak, their alpha, without fear. Without reservation. It was everywhere in this room, that love.
They loved. She hardly knew Trak, but the way he watched her, the way his eyes lit up when he looked her way …
She sighed. She could so easily love him, but not with Rube out there. Not with the threat that he could come after her at any time. He knew where she was, and if anything happened to these good people because of her she’d never forgive herself.
She had to leave. Not yet, though. Not until after the wedding. She’d promised to do the flowers for Meg, a woman she’d never met but one she already felt she owed so much. Please, she thought. Please just let us have this celebration.
And then I’ll go.