Chapter Sixteen

Wyatt was alone in his office at the brewery when his phone buzzed with the call he’d been expecting for the last fifteen minutes. When someone put a call in to the Arcadian Council, they could expect a return promptly. He touched the screen to take the call. “This is Wyatt Arthur.”

“Wyatt. Lawrence here. I got your message.”

Wyatt rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes, hating the fact that he needed to speak this atrocity out loud. “I’ve met someone else who was molested by Antoine Tarben. Raped, actually. I thought you should know.”

Lawrence sighed. “I’m sorry to hear that. But you’re right. We do want to keep records of anyone who comes forward. Can you give me a name?”

“Paige Osborn. She’s…my mate. Well, not yet. But she will be.”

“Ah. Congratulations, and I’m sorry for her pain. Can you give me a few details? I’ll want to speak to her personally when she’s ready, but we can at least open a file now.”

“It was ten years ago while Antoine was a student in Calgary. She was fourteen.”

Lawrence inhaled sharply. After a moment, he spoke again. “Her parents are Stanton and Oleta Osborn, right? Professors at the University of Calgary?”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “So young.”

Wyatt swallowed the pain, fighting the bile that rose up in his throat.

“Is there anything else you think I need to know right now?”

“No. Except that few people know about this. Just me, you, and a close friend of hers. She never turned it in to anyone, nor did she tell her family.”

“Hate to hear that. Is she getting help?”

“She will when the time is right.”

“Okay. Call me if you think of anything else. I’ll wait awhile and give you a heads up before I contact her.”

“Thank you. Appreciate it.”

“Bye now.” Lawrence ended the call, leaving Wyatt staring at the phone taking deep breaths to control his emotions.

He didn’t know how much time went by, but he was still holding his cell when the screen lit up with a message from Paige.

Turns out I need a place to stay. Do you know anyone who needs a roommate?

He almost dropped the phone, fumbling it so badly that he wasn’t sure he’d even read her text correctly.

Finally, he managed to get his thumbs to cooperate enough to type back.

I’ll ask around. I’m sure someone has a spare bedroom. What happened?

God, he hoped she realized he was kidding.

Broke up with my boyfriend of two years. It would be awkward living with him for the summer.

Wyatt pushed back from his desk, shrugged into his jacket, and typed a return text on the way down the hall to his dad’s office.

Damn. I’m sorry. You must be pretty upset.

Was it weird to continue this strange farce?

Sigh. I’ll get over it. I’m more worried about my boyfriend. He needs the space to figure some things out.

Now that was serious. She wasn’t kidding anymore. He realized why she was moving out of the apartment so quickly. She could have continued to live with Gavin for as long as she wanted. Wyatt might have been jealous, but only of the other man’s time with her. Nothing sexual. No one in the shifter community would ever question her loyalty to Wyatt.

Gavin on the other hand was pretending to be straight. And he was human. Carrying on this charade that he was in a relationship with a woman was giving the entire world the wrong impression.

Of course, if Wyatt was reading things correctly and Gavin was interested in Dale, Dale wouldn’t have issue with Paige living with Gavin, either.

In the long run, however, Wyatt knew Dale well. They were in the same grade in school. Dale had never been in a closet. So, although he wouldn’t care if he had a boyfriend who lived with a woman, he would certainly care if his boyfriend was pretending to be in love with that woman in order to fool society.

None of this was any of Wyatt’s business, nor was it his priority at the moment. He grabbed the frame of his father’s office door and stuck his head inside. “Gotta go. Not coming back.”

Bernard chuckled. “Ever?”

Wyatt grinned. “We’ll see.” He could hear the continued laughter as he fled the building.

He sent a return text.

You need help packing or want to meet me at home?

He started to type “my place” and then changed it to “home.”

I don’t have that much. I’ll meet you at…home.

A chill raced down his spine, and he fumbled his car keys, dropping them on the ground next to his truck.

By the time he was seated inside, forcing himself to calm down and breathe, he knew he was grinning like a loon. He knew he would eventually wear her down and get her to spend more and more time with him, but he honestly hadn’t expected her to pack up her shit and move into his house this quickly. Wyatt was pretty sure he needed to thank Dale Gerben for his role in this new development.

Thirty minutes later Wyatt was standing on his front porch, leaning against the column at the top of the steps when Paige pulled up in her hatchback. He forced himself to take the steps casually instead of jumping down from the porch and rushing to her side.

She looked a bit chagrined when she stepped out. “You sure this is okay?” She tipped her head back. “I convinced myself on the way over here that I’d overstepped my bounds and been too forward.”

He frowned, not touching her, but grabbing the car door to lean closer. “Paige, I told you this was your home. I would never have brought up the idea of you actually moving in with me so fast for fear you’d turn around and run, but I’ve never been so happy about anything in my life.” He hadn’t raced toward her, nor had he touched her, but he wasn’t about to make light of this situation verbally.

Her face softened, and her shoulders relaxed. “You’re sure?”

He shut her car door and met her gaze while he slowly set his hands on her shoulders, still careful to make sure she always saw him approaching and didn’t flinch. He realized it would happen sometimes, probably for the rest of her life, but he would prefer not to experience her cringing from him any more than necessary.

He backed her against the car and held her gaze. “You’re mine. You were mine three months ago and yesterday and tomorrow. I’ll move at any pace you need, but it won’t change the facts. So, yes. I want you here. I want you as close to me as possible as often as possible for the rest of my life. I nearly dropped my phone when I got your text.”

She lifted onto her tiptoes and gave him a quick lip touch. “I’m nervous,” she said as she lowered to her heels. “I didn’t plan on this happening, but I had lunch with Gavin, and I realized I was cramping his style more than he was mine. It just seemed logical.”

“Remind me to thank Gavin.”

“I’m not sure Gavin’s the one who needs thanking.”

“I already put Dale on my thank-you list.”

She giggled. It went to his cock. He ignored it and forced himself to release her and round to the trunk of her car.

When she popped it open, he grabbed her suitcases. “This is all you brought?”

“I have a few more things, but this is most of it. I didn’t bring much. I stored most of my stuff at my mom and dad’s house when I broke my lease in Calgary. Well, your sister’s house right now. Alton’s apartment was already furnished. All I needed was clothes.”

He headed for the house with one suitcase in each hand. “If this is your idea of three months’ worth of clothing, I’m indeed the luckiest man alive.”

She opened the front door for him and held it. “I’ve never been a very complicated person. All I need is some spandex pants and skin-tight tanks, and I’m good to go to the grocery store.”

He hesitated, realized she was kidding, and then laughed. “Woman.”

She giggled as she followed him down the hall. “Seriously, I’ve spent my entire adult life hiding. I own thick sweaters and jeans. Not much else.”

He dropped her bags inside the master bedroom and turned toward her. “Then I’d say it’s time you came out of your shell.” He lifted a finger and pointed it directly at her, though. “Not so far out that other men feel the need to stare, but far enough that you find what suits you and get to know yourself.”

“I’m good for now. One step at a time.” She set her hands on his chest, fingers spread. “In less than a week, I moved, found out I had a mate, started a research project, broke up with my gay boyfriend, and moved in with a man I haven’t even slept with. I’m so unglued it’s a wonder I’m still standing.”

He set his hands over her smaller ones on his chest and squeezed them.

She kept going, her words coming out in rapid succession, only marginally directed at him, as if she were simply making a list to herself. “I have no idea if I’ll ever be able to let my guard down enough to consummate my current relationship. If I can, there’s no guarantee I’ll be any good at it. I have to worry about disappointing my new boyfriend. I haven’t even met his extended family or even his brother before I so presumptuously moved into his house. And, if all that isn’t enough, a strange woman is following me around everywhere I go taking notes and driving me crazy. So, yeah, I’m having a busy week. I don’t think I need a wardrobe change nor can I fit in a trip to the mall.” She smiled up at him.

He couldn’t keep from laughing as he smoothed his hands up her arms and over her shoulders until he could pull her closer. “That is a lot. Maybe you could hit a department store on Saturday. I think Alton’s sister Adriana is good at fashion. She could take you?”

She rolled her eyes.

At least she understood his humor. But it was time to get serious. “As for consummating your relationship, I’d rather you not refer to it as your quote current relationship. It’s your last one. Trust me when I say you can’t possibly be bad at anything related to sex. So check that off your list of concerns. And like I said, I will not ever be pressuring you or rushing you in any way, so check that off also.

“I’m so glad you’re here, it’s enough to last me a month. Just having you here makes me the happiest man alive. I don’t need anything else.” He lowered his face slowly, gauging her reaction and ensuring she realized his intent before he took her lips.

She leaned into him and tipped her head to one side. All the encouragement he needed to deepen the kiss.

He slid his hands into her hair and held her head where he wanted it to continue devouring her. She tasted like heaven. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed to keep things simple. She’d been in his house all of five minutes. The last thing he wanted to do was scare the hell out of her by insinuating they should immediately get naked and start the rest of their lives.

When his cock was so hard it hurt, he finally broke the kiss slowly, his fingers still threaded in her hair. He set his forehead against hers, holding her gaze at that close distance. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving us a chance. For making my day.”

“Anytime.”

Wyatt felt his father reaching out to him. He pulled back a few inches. “Hang on.” He knew she would realize he was communicating with someone when she saw his face turn blank. It was the most telltale sign a shifter was exchanging information telepathically. It was subtle enough regular humans wouldn’t necessarily notice, but a grizzly always knew.

“Dad?”

“Hey, sorry to bug you. Wanted to give you a heads up.”

“It’s okay. What’s up?”

“That reporter you told me about, Kelly Smith?”

“Yeah?” He already didn’t like this conversation.

“She’s spying on people.”

“Seriously? Who?” He had hoped Paige was right and Kelly had been in his backyard yesterday to see if Paige was there and rat her out. He hadn’t honestly believed that. The woman gave him a bad vibe, but he had hoped.

“She’s been several places this afternoon. Our brewery. Mountain Peak Brewery. Isaiah’s house. And even Austin’s house.”

“Shit.”

“That’s all I know, but the woman has a fine camera. She snaps pictures constantly, and she has no idea in the world everyone can easily scent her.”

“What the hell does she want?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think it has anything to do with Paige.”

“You’re right. Let me know if you hear of anything else. I’ll break this insanity to Paige.”

“Everything okay with her?”

“Better than. I’ll explain later.”

“Happy for you, son.”

“Thanks, Dad. Later.” He broke the connection and tipped his head back down to Paige.

“Everything okay?”

“No.”

»»•««

Paige paced Wyatt’s kitchen, running her hands through her hair as he cooked. “I still don’t understand. I can’t think of a single reason why that woman is spying on everyone.”

“It’s a mystery. That’s for sure. But now you have a new problem. You have to shake her.” He twisted his upper body around to send Paige a look that meant he was so totally not going to accept less than compliance on this issue.

“You’re probably right.”

“I don’t need to be right. I hope I’m wrong. I’m just saying I don’t want you alone with her. Ever.”

“That’s going to be hard. Especially if we don’t want her to think we’re aware of her activity.”

He lifted a brow. “I’ll think of something. Just promise me you won’t meet with her alone.”

She wandered over to him and patted his arm. “Don’t get your panties in a wad, big guy. I’m more freaked out by her than you are. Trust me. She’s very strange, and her moods switch so often I have whiplash.”

“Did you get ahold of your professor? I’m curious what he thinks.”

“I called twice. There was no answer. So I sent him another email, but unfortunately, all I got was an out-of-the-office response. He must be on vacation.”

“That’s not helpful. Who is her professor?”

“I don’t know. She didn’t say. And now I’m afraid to ask and cause her to get suspicious.” Paige leaned over the stove and inhaled the scent of tomato sauce. “I love that you cook.”

He angled his head toward her, met her gaze, and then lowered his face to kiss her lips briefly. She noticed that he never made a single move without checking with her first, verbally or often non-verbally, and it melted her heart that he worked so hard to be careful about her feelings about being touched.

He was spot on too. He totally understood that she needed forewarning before he touched her. It made all the difference, giving her those few seconds to set her mind straight about who was touching her and what he meant to her. If he snuck up behind her and touched her, she would most likely scream loud enough to wake the dead and then rear back and kick him in the balls.

When he intended to kiss her, he met her gaze first. When he intended to touch her, he showed his hands first. It was so damn sweet. And he had no idea how fast her body was acclimating to his touch and craving more.

Could she sleep with him? Like take all her clothes off and open up to that level of vulnerability? She wasn’t sure. But she was inching closer to wanting to try.

No, she was totally there emotionally. The thing holding her back was fear of scaring the hell out of him and ruining things between them if she totally lost it and panicked.

“You’re thinking too hard,” he whispered against her temple.

She turned toward his side and flattened her palm on his chest. She did that a lot. It was soothing to have her hand over his heart, feel it beating, knowing it sped up because of her.

He set his lips on the top of her head and kissed her hair. “You smell fantastic.”

“This guy I know bought me this raspberry-vanilla shampoo. It’s nice.”

“He sounds like a great guy. You should hang on to him.”

“I fully intend to. Assuming he doesn’t think I’m possessed by aliens when I wake up screaming in the night because I had a nightmare or he inadvertently touched me.”

Wyatt moaned softly. “The only thing I care about concerning that statement is that you intend to be in my bed. We’ll deal with the rest as it happens. One step at a time.”

She trembled against him, leaning closer, closing her eyes to absorb the moment fully. Every time she was with him, she was able to get closer, losing another piece of her phobia about being touched. And every moment with him was a new best moment in her life.

“Hey,” he whispered, releasing the spoon he was stirring with to lift his arm around her and draw her closer to his side. “You okay?”

“So happy,” she told his chest.

He squeezed her tight. Yeah, another best moment.

He was so in tune with her that he always knew exactly when and how to comfort her. She quivered, wondering if the feeling would increase after they completed the binding.

Half of her wanted to ask him to do it and get it over with because she assumed the scarier parts of being in a bound pair would come easier after the fact. The other half of her thought that would be selfish and unfair because if the scarier parts turned out to be way too scary for her to handle, she would have trapped him in a lifetime of frustration.

Wyatt interrupted her wandering mind with gentle words. “Go sit down, babe. I’ll bring everything to the table.” And there he was, taking care of her again. Another best moment. She would start crying if he got any sweeter.

As soon as he had the pasta, a salad, bread warm from the oven, and the steaming bowl of sauce on the table, he sat next to her and set his hand, palm up, on the table in front of her. “Give me your hand.”

She set hers in his.

The moment he engulfed her fingers in his warm ones and lifted their combined hands to his face, she calmed. “Relax. Your emotions are all over the place. There’s no need to be worried. I’m right here. Not going anywhere. Not going to pressure you. Not going to rush you. Not going to do anything you aren’t ready for.

“I’m so honored you’ve given me this chance, trusted me enough to move in. I’m nervous too because I don’t want you to have any negative experiences. But I also realize sometimes you will. Sometimes things will happen that cause you unintentional stress. I’ll apologize in advance and do my best to always keep your comfort in mind. I’m not perfect. I’ll fuck this up occasionally. But hopefully, we can get past each hurdle and grow stronger from them.”

She swallowed back emotional overload, unable to speak in the face of another best moment. They were coming at her rapidly now. Too many to count. “We should eat before it gets cold,” she murmured.

He smiled. “Yeah.” One last squeeze of her hand and he set it on the table and picked up his fork.