by Terry Spear
“You don’t really think he’s going to move to another country, do you?” Natalie asked.
“I doubt it.”
“Could you send a picture of your cousin Shawn to my mother? That way, she’ll know who he is when he arrives,” Natalie said.
“I’ll send a picture of him and of Brock, in case the two of you get separated,” Vaughn said.
Natalie gave him her mother’s email address. “Thanks, Vaughn. My dad will probably still give Shawn the third degree when he arrives, what with all that’s been going on.”
“Shawn can handle it,” Brock said.
Brock and Vaughn smiled conspiratorially. Brock noted Natalie didn’t tell Vaughn she had already sent Brock’s picture to her mom at her request.
Chapter 9
“Is everyone up for some hamburgers for an early dinner?” Brock asked.
Natalie was thinking about how growly he had been with Lettie. Would he be that way with her, too, if she annoyed him?
Normally, she wouldn’t be thinking along those lines, but she couldn’t help it where he was concerned. He was one hot and sexy wolf. “Sounds good to me. And a run as a wolf afterward, if it’s safe while it’s still light out?”
“Yeah, we can do that.”
“Do you want to do this on the grill?” Vaughn asked, already getting the hamburger meat out to make patties.
“Yeah, sure,” Brock said.
“We’ll supervise,” Jillian said, escorting Natalie out to the back deck.
“It’s beautiful here.” Natalie enjoyed the view of the mountains.
“Yeah, and watching the sun set and then seeing the millions of stars sprinkled across the inky sky is really spectacular.”
“You’re fairly new to the pack. What do you think about them?” Natalie asked Jillian.
“Devlyn and Bella are good pack leaders, fair and impartial. Devlyn has a lot of cousins in the pack, including my mate, but he doesn’t treat Vaughn any different from anyone else in the pack. Both Devlyn and Bella are fighters and will protect the pack with their lives. They want only the best for all of us. They were thrilled when Vaughn and I decided to mate and my family moved closer. Everyone keeps teasing me about having babies soon, but we want to hold off a while, get to know each other better, and continue to fight against the rogues who threaten our security.”
“I don’t blame you. It’s a big responsibility to have children and still do a job you love.” Natalie overheard Brock telling his brother he needed to make the burgers thicker. She smiled.
“They’re always like that when they get together,” Jillian said. “I have a brother, too, and he and Vaughn and Brock are like brothers now.”
“That’s great. I have Angie, who’s so much like a sister. I’m not used to seeing brothers hassling each other. They’re cute. You and Vaughn aren’t here a lot of the time though, are you?”
“In our jobs, we travel all over, but we also have a lot of downtime after a mission. We end up here when we need time with the pack. We come back for special celebrations, too, and holidays. There’s nothing more fun than having a wolf pack to celebrate with. All the little ones dressed up for the holidays, the feasting, games, dances.”
“I bet that’s nice.”
“It is. Before that, it was just my parents and my brother and me. But I was off doing my own job after I left the service, and I didn’t have a pack.”
Natalie was thinking it would really be fun to do all the things the wolves did in this pack. To be with lupus garous more her age. To be part of a wolf community. “I guess we should help the guys out a little bit. Looks like we’re about ready to eat.”
She and Jillian went inside and gathered the condiments, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and buns for the burgers, along with paper plates. Then they each began to fix the burgers the way they liked them. Brock went back to the house for a bottle of Bordeaux and wineglasses.
They all sat down to eat at a big picnic table on the deck, and Brock poured glasses of red wine for each of them.
“Now this is great,” Vaughn said, lifting his wineglass in a salute. “Family and friends. Just perfect.” He wrapped his arm around Jillian’s shoulders. “Absolutely perfect.”
Natalie was thinking the same. It was really fun being with Brock and his brother and sister-in-law.
“Yeah, I couldn’t agree with you more, Brother,” Brock said, touching his wineglass to Natalie’s.
She could certainly see the allure of being here with this pack, with this wolf and his family.
After they finished eating, they cleaned up.
“Wanna run?” Brock asked, helping to put away the condiments in the fridge.
“Yeah,” Vaughn said.
“Sure do,” Natalie and Jillian said in unison.
Natalie noticed everyone’s hesitation, waiting for her to retire to the guest room she was staying in, but it was just the four of them, and she didn’t want it to look like she was a she-wolf prude.
She began pulling off her boots, and Brock whooped, making them all laugh.
They all hurried to strip, though Natalie thought it was cute when Vaughn helped Jillian with her boots and kissed her knees. They were definitely newlyweds.
Natalie glanced at Brock as he pulled off his shirt. He was sooo hot, every muscle toned to perfection. She smiled at the gloriously beautiful hunk, then pulled off her bra and panties. She shifted, the others all following suit.
It was so incredible out here, so peaceful as they left the ranch house and ran through the woods and down to a creek. They all swam, then left the water, shaking off on one another. Jillian nipped at Vaughn’s ear, and Brock rubbed up against Natalie affectionately. She licked his nose, and he licked hers back.
Brock nuzzled her again, and after an hour of running, smelling scents, and enjoying nature as wolves, they stopped to see the sun setting over the mountains. They sat and enjoyed the yellows and pinks reflecting off drifting clouds. And then as the sun set, the sky turned a darker blue—the blue hour—before darkness settled around them and the stars began to appear.
It was magical, lying down on the ground with the other wolves, looking up at the twinkling stars. And then Natalie saw a shooting star and wished with all her heart they’d be able to get rid of the bad guys without anyone from the Greystoke wolf pack being hurt.
Brock licked her muzzle and she licked him back, and then they headed to the ranch house. No matter what else happened, Natalie would always remember this special time she’d had with Brock and his pack.
* * *
Back at the house, everyone shifted and dressed, and then Vaughn and Jillian said their goodbyes, wishing them a safe trip and the best of luck in dealing with Marek and whoever else they had to confront. They wished Jillian and Vaughn the same in running down any wolves in the counterfeiting business in Denver. And then the couple went home, and Brock and Natalie were left on their own.
“That was so nice,” Natalie told Brock.
He pulled her into his arms. “Yeah.” He sighed deeply. “I sure could get used to this.” He drew her hand up and moved his mouth over her wrist, her skin soft and warm. He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, and she moved her mouth over his—the feeling intense and real.
Their pheromones hummed as their tongues tangled. She tasted of fresh raspberries and blackberries, the bouquet of the Bordeaux adding to her own delicious scent and taste. Brock wanted this closeness for the rest of the night. If Natalie wanted the same.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. All her soft curves fit against his body, and he relished the contact. He didn’t want to let go of her, sure she’d want to go to bed alone as soon as he suggested getting some sleep. He couldn’t believe the way he was thinking, wishing she was thinking the same. Their lips were locked, and he wanted to carry her to bed and join her there.
Before he could say anything, she pulled away from him, but she was still holding on to his hips in a way that made him think she was having trouble letting him go. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Your bed?” He smiled, hoping he didn’t look as wolfish as he was feeling.
“Of course, unless you want to sleep on the couch again.”
“Hell no.”
She laughed, pulled away, and ran up the stairs. He chased after her. She squealed when he touched her back as if he was getting ready to tackle her.
As soon as he reached the landing, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.
“We don’t tell anyone about this,” Natalie warned, frowning and looking damned serious.
“Scout’s honor.”
She laughed, and he set her down on the floor. Then he began to remove her clothes, and she helped him with his.
Natalie grabbed her pj’s from her bag, slipped them on—telling him she wasn’t ready to go very far—and climbed into bed. “Coming?”
He’d love to. He smiled, and she blushed. Then he climbed into bed wearing his boxer briefs and gathered her in his arms. “I think I like this new job.”
She kissed his naked chest. “I hope this doesn’t cost me anything more.” She snuggled against him, her silky hair falling over his chest.
“Just think of it as one of the perks you get from my bodyguard service: a bed warmer on chilly Colorado nights.”
She licked his nipple, and he sucked in his breath. She slipped her hand over his stomach. “I’m glad you’re not looking for a girlfriend or a mate.”
“I might be rethinking that.” He couldn’t believe he might be, but Natalie had him thinking of real possibilities. He groaned when she nuzzled his chest with her mouth.
“This is strictly temporary. We live too far away from each other to do anything about it.”
“Uh-huh.” He didn’t figure she was any more immune to him than he was to her.
She kissed his mouth, then settled against his chest. “Right, Brock. Thanks for helping me out.”
That was it? All right. He didn’t want to push things and force her to tell him to get lost. Not when things were going so well for them.
He kissed the top of her head. “My pleasure.” And he meant every bit of it.
“I hope I don’t…shock you if…I tell you I want a bit more than just your protection tonight.” She traced her finger around his nipple.
“This isn’t a test to see if I can make all the right moves, is it?”
She smiled. “You’re not worried, are you?”
“Hell yeah. I have a reputation to uphold.”
Smiling, she raised a brow.
“I don’t mean sexual exploits. I mean proving to you that… Well, hell, enough talking before I ruin a good thing.” He moved her onto her back and began kissing her.
And she began sliding her fingers all over his naked back, then lower until she was pressing her hands against his buttocks. They couldn’t have consummated sex or they’d be mated wolves, but he was more than willing to pleasure her. Sitting astride her, he ran his hands over her pajama-top-covered breasts, feeling her nipples peak beneath the soft fabric.
She slid her fingers underneath the back of his waistband, and he felt his arousal jump. He wasn’t sure if she wanted to get naked and do a whole lot more, but she could always say no and he’d back off. He wanted a whole lot more. He slid his hands up her shirt and caressed her breasts—beautiful, soft, malleable, the nipples pebbled beneath the palms of his hands as he massaged.
The scent of her pheromones swept over him, triggering his own to answer the call of duty. He eased her top up and over her head and tossed it to the floor. He couldn’t believe they were doing this, yet from the moment she’d had contact with him, he’d been intrigued, just from the way she’d interacted with him on the phone while lost in Denver.
She’d needed his aid, and he liked feeling needed. Even now. To fulfill some sexual craving.
She slipped her hands down his boxer briefs further, and he loved the way her touch was spurring him on. Groaning, he leaned down to suckle a breast. She moaned and tightened her hold on his ass.
He licked and suckled the other breast, running the palm of his hand over the first. Arching against him, she sucked in her breath. He kissed her mouth, and she tackled his back, full of passion, her hands wrapped around his neck, holding him, wanting him. Sliding his body against hers, he was claiming her for now, his scent mixing with hers, telling anyone else she was his.
Their tongues tasted and teased each other’s, again sharing their scents. She reached down to remove his boxer briefs, tugging at them. He was past ready to deal with the throbbing desire he had for her and was sure she was feeling the same craving.
He moved off her and slid his boxer briefs off and threw them aside. Then he kissed her soft, flat tummy and was reminded of her comment about being pregnant and wallpapering a room for the baby or babies. Not that he wanted to think about that now, but it did come to mind and it amused him. Then he ran his fingers over her blue silk panties, his thumb sliding down the center of her.
Her dark hair splayed across the pillow, her lips curving up slightly. She looked pleased, and that pleased him. He slipped her panties off and moved against her again, their bodies sliding against each other, rubbing, exploring. Being with her like this felt like nothing he’d ever experienced before with a woman, a mixture of wolf need and human desire, the feel, taste, and scent of her ratcheting up his hunger for her. His blood was on fire, their pulses racing.
Not wanting to delay this further, he moved aside so he could stroke her, his hand sliding down to the juncture of her thighs. Then he began rubbing her clit, drawing the wetness from her center and encircling her sensitive tissue. She melted against the mattress, her blue eyes smoky with desire, a small moan escaping her lips. Then he began to stroke, her dark curly hairs drenched with anticipation.
It was hard to hold back, to keep this from being a consummated sexual experience, as much as he wanted to push his pulsing cock into her. He leaned down to kiss her mouth again, his fingers stroking her clit hard and fast. She parted her lips and cried out, his mouth covering hers, kissing her, loving this with her. He didn’t want to go there, but he couldn’t quit thinking about how much he wanted to do this with her again. Pleasure her. See her come apart under his ministrations. Feel the exquisite friction between them. He pushed a finger between her feminine folds, felt her ripples of climax gripping him, and smiled.
But she quickly pushed him down against the mattress and began to stroke his cock standing at attention, waiting for her touch, and he was in heaven.
* * *
Brock was some hot wolf. Natalie loved how gentle and focused he had been in pleasuring her. Now it was her turn to bring him to completion. She couldn’t help thinking she wanted more of this. All of this. That was the problem with being wolves. And the good thing too. They had to be so sure that it was forever between them.
For now, this was all they could have, and she put her heart and soul into it. She began stroking his cock, watching his lustful expression—the pleasure, the torture—at what she was doing to him. Wringing him out. Drawing out the expectation, the rising need for climax, his body straining, just as he’d done to her. Payback of the most pleasurable sort.
He started running his hand over her thigh, and she swore if he didn’t quit, he was going to make her come again. Yet she wanted to. She spread her legs so he could touch her again, and while she was stroking his cock, he began inserting a finger between her feminine folds…and then he growled as if his own release was near. His body tensed with need, and then he threw his head back and howled, spilling his seed at the same time. But he wasn’t giving up on her—for which she was profoundly grateful—and rolled her over on her back so he could finish her off. Their pheromon
es were on fire as he brought her to the top again, and she cried out, something she never did, feeling pure joy wash over her like a blazing-hot shower.
He rolled onto his back and pulled her into his arms and just held her close, as if touching her further satiated more of his need for intimacy. She felt so relaxed, filled with contentment, but she had been thinking that after this beautiful encounter, they’d better put the brakes on. She fully intended to stay on her side of the bed the rest of the night—to get a good night’s sleep, not cling to him as if she’d never had such an unbelievably wonderful sexual experience and wanted to prolong the intimacy.
With humans, it could be nice, but she couldn’t ever have a lasting relationship with one, so she’d been careful not to give the guy the wrong impression. It hadn’t been hard because most had just wanted to sate their own needs. With wolves, she had never gone this far. But with Brock? She was feeling so much more. She didn’t want to end it here.
“Want to shower?” Brock finally asked, his hand sliding in gentle caresses down her bare back.
“Yeah,” she said softly, tired and gratified, still feeling the white-hot glow of climax filling her to the marrow of her bones. But then she raised her head and smiled at him. “But no more hanky-panky.”
He chuckled darkly, like a hungry wolf would. “I’m making no promises I can’t keep.”
She smiled back just as wickedly. He knew all the right things to say. Then they were climbing off the bed and racing to the shower.
Chapter 10
Natalie and Brock were just crawling out of bed early the next morning when she heard Vaughn, Jillian, and Shawn arrive at the ranch house. Her first thought was that they’d know Brock hadn’t slept on the couch last night. Oh sure, maybe she was overthinking it, knowing the truth and believing they would too. He could have already been up, put away the linens he had on the couch, and be getting ready in the bathroom. Only he wasn’t. He was in the bedroom with her, smiling and waggling his brows at her as he pulled on his clothes. The wolf.