Black Mesa Wolves Complete Series Boxset Bks 1-7

by J. K Harper

  Caleb easily loped to catch up to her. He bumped her hip with his. She shoulder checked him, then cackled with wolfish glee as he stumbled a bit in surprise.

  “Gotcha!” The triumph in her voice held such giddy joy in the moment he felt it spreading over to him as well.

  “Oh, yeah? Catch me now if you can!”

  He barreled past her, hearing his own paws thud on the ground as he banked hard right to shoot past her. They raced through ferns, played tag around the base of a huge ponderosa pine tree, and practiced stalking and pouncing.

  “Ha!” Rielle barked with laughter when she managed to get Caleb to trip over his own tail as he twisted in mad circles trying to catch her. She grinned at him, teeth gleaming. Her thrilled attitude was contagious.

  She was light and quick on her paws, bubbling over with giddy excitement. Caleb felt himself loosen and relax with every passing moment he spent in the company of this playful, almost silly wolf. She was and wasn't Rielle—which was confusing. The indecisive, cautious Rielle he knew as a human was still there, but this Rielle as a wolf was her and so much more. It was as if in wolf form, Rielle was more herself than he'd seen in a long time.

  She's happy like this. His human's voice was thoughtful. She's letting her true self out.

  Caleb liked it. A lot.

  * * *

  Three, two, one...pounce. Rielle giggled again as she leapt out at Caleb from behind a fragrant mountain mahogany. As if propelled by pogo sticks instead of legs, he leapt straight up in the air, yipping with mock alarm. He zagged to her zigs, then pounced back.

  She took off again, loping clean and easy through the trees, weaving around them with a grace and ease she'd nearly forgotten she possessed. The feel of the breeze ruffling through her coat stirred all her senses as it flung the mountain scents to her sensitive nose. The rich earth combined with the summer-happy smells of green growing things reminded her she was a part of it: she, too, was wild. Wild was good. This was her home, this was where she belonged.

  They raced and rolled and tumbled and mock battled throughout the sprawling property. Rielle's human stayed mostly quiet in her mind, but it was a peaceful, appreciative quiet. Woman and wolf ran together in a harmony she'd forced away for some silly, unknown human reason. This was so much better. She had to remember this. She must.

  Eventually, they tired out and padded slowly back to their clothes. Rielle breathed in the deep scents of the forest as they walked, committing each exquisite individual odor to memory. She would not allow her human to forget this again so easily. Running without care, without burden, was part of her.

  I know, her human whispered. I do remember. This is me.

  Rielle slipped back into her human form with some regret. She pulled the simple sundress she'd worn earlier back over her head, tugging it down into place. However, she left off her bra and panties. Who really cared? No one at the den cared about her underclothes. Her skin felt deliciously sensitive as the satiny fabric of the dress whispered against it.

  Turning to watch Caleb shift from his brawny huge wolf back to his brawny huge human was a calmer experience than the opposite shift had been earlier. After he gained his human form again, she admired it for a long moment, feeling the mix of human/wolf appreciation of him without feeling any uneasiness about how close her wolf still stayed near the surface. Feeling light and effortless, she stood in the lengthening sunlight, head thrown back. Letting her eyes close, she allowed the smells of her home to drift to her vastly inferior human nose. Although all her senses were sharper than a mere human's, they still fell far short of the mark when compared to her awareness in wolf form. Despite that, she sniffed at the air and remembered everything she'd scented moments before.

  “Oh, that felt luxurious.” Did her voice sound like it was purring? Which would be so wrong for a wolf. But she definitely heard a silky, relaxed drawl in her tone. “I can't believe I went so long without a run. I think it's been over three months. Maybe more.”

  Caleb made a noncommittal noise in his throat. She heard the faint rustling sounds as he pulled his jeans back on. The zipper snicked up. She imagined the denim sliding along his skin, riding up the golden hairs dusting his legs. Her tongue slipped out to touch her upper lip, then gently slid along it. Her entire body felt suffused in the relaxed glow that came only from time spent as a wolf. Living purely in her body.

  A sharp inhalation from Caleb had her opening her eyes to look at him.

  The expression on his face made the blood roar through her head, then seem to pool down her body, landing directly in the suddenly aching spot between her legs.

  * * *

  For a world-tilting-on-its-axis moment, Caleb honestly thought he might be about to pass out. Rielle's tongue, sliding out to slowly drift over her soft lips, completely short-circuited his brain.

  Mine, his wolf/he thought.

  Deliberately, quickly before he could begin to question his actions, he strode across the small space of wild grasses to her side. Her eyes tracked his every movement, but she made no sign to stop him. Her face stayed calm and open. She actually seemed to be admiring him in a purely female manner, with none of the hesitation she'd been offering before.

  It had been so good for Rielle to run as her wolf. She was now more relaxed, more present, more grounded.

  And damn, was she even more sexy than ever before.

  Caleb came to within a few inches of her before he stopped. Standing that close, he could smell her sweet sweat, see the perspiration that glowed on her body, giving it a healthy sheen. Her hair tumbled down, wild over her shoulders, the dark locks carelessly free. She smelled like woods, and wildflowers, and fascinating wolf, and soft, approachable woman.

  “Rielle.” He more breathed than spoke her name, letting its feminine sound flow gently from his mouth to caress her. She shivered the tiniest bit.

  He reached a hand out to her, sliding his fingers along her chin and neck, then cupping it very softly behind her head. Their mouths were literally about an inch apart. All he had to do was tilt his head toward her, just...like...this.

  Rielle's lips opened naturally under his. Soft and pliant, they moved against him with growing eagerness. Caleb felt his breath get faster, and he pulled her body against his until not even air could pass between their skin. She moaned very slightly, and in a split second he was harder than steel against her. She could feel it, she had to, but she didn't move away.

  Caleb lightly pushed her head against his, claiming her mouth with a fierce but still gentle possessiveness he hadn't known he could feel. With his other hand, he explored her back, her sides, that beautiful swell of hip that flared out and made him want to bury himself inside her, filling her until she could think of no one else but him. Her dress was slippery soft against his hand, and her every luscious body part underneath was there for his touch.

  The fact she had left off her panties when she pulled that dress over head turned him on more than the fact she'd been stark naked in front of him just seconds before that. He'd never thought clothes could be erotic—he usually preferred to get clothes out of the way as soon as possible—but knowing she'd deliberately kept herself naked beneath the tiny scrap of cloth was such a rush it sucker punched him to the point of dizziness.

  Pulling back just enough to whisper her name again, Caleb looked into her eyes. She'd closed them when his lips met hers, but opened them again, fearless in the face of his completely unguarded desire for her. Their usual russet-brown shade had deepened to dark chocolate. Fascinated, he realized it was because she was as aroused as he.

  “Ree,” he said again. He feather brushed her lips with his, teasing her with that bare touch until she suddenly reached up to grab his head with her hands and firmly pull it down to hers. Their lips met then almost fiercely, stroking and moving and tasting.

  Caleb was no stranger to women. But right now, every single woman he'd ever kissed before held all the memory of flat, dull dirt compared to Rielle. She tasted like cinnamon,
soft spices laced with a saucy kick when she lightly nibbled his lower lip with her teeth. He gasped at that, which made a small, knowing “hmm” sound gently rumble from her lips to his. The vibration pulsed pleasurably against his mouth. He almost lost it when he thought of where else she could make that vibrating sound against him.

  A long, heady moment later, Caleb finally pulled back just a bit. She made as if to surge forward and claim his lips again, but he held her slightly away from him.

  “Shh,” he said, very slightly shaking his head at her. “I just want to look at you for a minute. Rielle,” he said again, and this time it was a question mixed with a statement mixed with a wonder he hadn't felt for a long time.

  The only words he could think of saying as he just stared at her heart-shaped face were trite but completely true: “You are so beautiful.”

  The curve of a smile started to lift her lips. Her eyes seemed lit by an inner fire. He wondered if it was possible to actually lose himself in them, because they seemed to be swallowing him up whole. “Finally kissed you. What kind of an idiot have I been?” He shook his head again, this time at himself.

  “The kind I wanted, it seems.” Her voice came low and liquid, like the voice of a woman who's just been kissed long and hard. However, there was definitely an uncertain tone in it as well. A slight furrow appeared in her forehead.

  “Hey.” He reached out to tip up her chin with one gentle finger. “That was okay, right?”

  She nodded. Her eyes, though, darted away from his for a second. His wolf whined, wanting to comfort her. Mine.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  She shook her head, suddenly seeming almost embarrassed. The relaxed acceptance she'd gained from her wolf side seemed to be fading beneath her more uptight human side again.

  “Ree.” His voice held nothing but patience, which was pretty much a miracle for him. “No judging, right? We agreed. And I meant that.”

  Those soft chocolate eyes looked searchingly at him. He held her gaze, pouring every bit of sincerity he could into it. It was ridiculously important that she believe in him, trust him. He wasn't sure why it mattered so much, but it did.

  “Just tell me. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

  During the very long pause in which apparently he held his breath because his lungs started to burn, Rielle's face turned interesting shades of pink. Finally, she whispered, in a halting voice, “Um. Well. I'm just not really – um, experienced. With things like this, I mean.” She waved one hand around, further confusing Caleb.

  Letting his breath out and taking in a deep one, he said, “I don't get it. What things?”

  Rielle closed her eyes and appeared to be gathering her strength. Caleb kept her chin in his fingertips, marveling at how soft her skin was there even as he wondered what the heck she was so nervous about.

  When she finally answered, he almost had to draw on his wolf hearing to catch her words, even though her face was only inches from his. “I've never been with anyone before. I mean, with a guy. Ever.”

  Lost at first, understanding dawned on Caleb as Rielle watched his face, her own as fearful as a rabbit cornered by a hawk. “Whoa,” he said. “Wait. You're a virgin?”

  Rielle's nod came quickly, as though she was afraid he was about to burst out laughing or something.

  “Wow,” was all he could come up with as his brain suddenly filled with images of Rielle, shy and naked, waiting for him to touch her for the first time ever, waiting for him to show her how incredible it could be. His wolf thought fiercely, Mine! Protect her.

  “I know this is just a kiss, but I thought I should tell you,” she said, her voice still tiny. But did she sound a little hopeful, too? “In case we ever do anything more.” Caleb's heart stuttered in his chest as he imagined doing a hell of a lot more with Rielle. “Not that—I mean, I'm not trying to get ahead of myself—I mean—”

  “Shh,” he said, drawing his finger across her soft, soft lips. “It's okay. Come here.”

  He pulled her close so he could seal his lips over hers again. This was Rielle he was kissing! He still couldn't figure out how he'd never really seen her before, but right now he didn't care. All he cared about was the slide of her silken tongue against his, her pliant lips opening with warmth and trust, the sweet honey taste of her in his mouth. She relaxed beneath his kiss, just as he meant her to.

  His head still swam with the knowledge she was a virgin. No way could he screw this up with her. He had to take it carefully, gently. But this cemented the deal as far as he was concerned. No other guy would ever touch Rielle. His wolf growled in agreement as he claimed her mouth, tender yet unyielding, until he felt her breathing quicken along with the eagerness of her kiss. Finally, he gently pulled back.

  The moment held them in some sort of glow, one that had Caleb thinking about exploring every square inch of Rielle's slender little body and holding her close and never letting anyone else even look at her ever again, let alone touch her. Mine, he/his wolf thought.

  Yeah. As long as he didn't mess it all up again. She was so little and delicate, so soft and gentle. All he knew about was fighting and defending. She was right. He did like to steamroll over everyone in his way. He would have to take it really, really slowly with her. She was too damn amazing. He couldn't screw it up.

  Of course, he managed to ruin it all in a heartbeat just by letting his mouth blurt out words nobody had sanctioned, least of all himself.

  “Where the hell did you learn to kiss like that, Ree? Have you been taking lessons or something? Because I never thought you would be able to kiss a guy like you just did.”

  “What?” Rielle snapped her head and body back away from him so fast he accidentally pulled her hair where his hand had still been tangled up in it. She yelped in genuine pain.

  He flinched, then of course made things only worse by trying to smooth her head where he'd apparently yanked out a few strands by the root. Unfortunately, she was turning her head to the side at the same moment as she looked down to watch her stumbling steps. He ended up smacking her skull. Kind of hard.

  Rielle uttered a curse word that echoed through the trees surrounding them. As soon as she said it she looked as shocked as he felt. He'd never have thought such a dirty word could fall out of her sweet lips.

  Standing there in her pretty dress, her stunned expression slowly changed to hurt to as angry as he'd ever seen her. Worse, she seemed—disappointed. Glaring at him, those soft lips that moments before had been pretty much feasting on his tightened into a frown deadly enough to turn a wolf to stone.

  “You—you,” she stuttered out. “I knew you would mess this up.” Tears hovered behind her words, choking up her voice. “I knew it. You used me to feel better after getting so angry about the rogues—”

  “What? Ree, that's not—”

  “Yes, you did!” Her ragged voice busted out in the tiny clearing, making him snap his own mouth shut. “I'm not someone you can use and then just walk away from, like I'm some sort of Japanese comfort woman.”

  “Huh?”

  “Never mind.” With an angry swipe, she grabbed her bra and panties and started off for the den. “Just never mind, Caleb.”

  He went after her, head spinning from massive amounts of confusion as well as serious irritation at his own stupid self. She whirled around so suddenly he almost ran into her.

  “Do not follow me. I can find my own way.” A telltale shine in her eyes matched her thick voice. With that, she spun back around on her heel and marched toward the den.

  Furious at himself for making her cry, for being a total dumbass idiot with her right after those mind-blowing kisses, he waited until she was just barely in sight before trailing her back. His wolf lay with head on paws in his mind, the pure picture of sorrow and self-annoyance.

  Apparently, he was never going to learn.

  11

  The door opened again, ushering in sultry summer air and a gaggle of teen girls and their mothers, all of whom immediat
ely began browsing the racks with the excited squeals of a pack of treasure hunters who'd just stumbled across the motherlode.

  Rielle had brightened with anticipation, then sighed when she saw they were just regular customers. She glanced toward the closing door, which revealed no one else entering or even walking past the storefront.

  “Are you waiting for someone to come in?”

  The friendly, curious voice came from behind Rielle. She turned, shaking her head as she began to busy herself with straightening some paperwork on the shelf beneath the cash register. “No. Just looking.”

  Lily Bardou cocked her head at Rielle and raised an eyebrow. Her fiery hair was caught in a low ponytail, and she wore a very pretty sky-blue dress Rielle had picked out for her before they came into town. As one of Rielle's escorts for the day, Lily had actually been eager to come to the shop and see what Rielle did. She especially liked the part about dressing girly, since she usually tended to be clad in jeans. Ree had been surprised, as she'd chalked up Lily's style to tough-although-still-cute cowgirl who didn't want to appear overly feminine and therefore maybe not as strong as a Guardian should be. But when Lily had almost shyly asked what she should wear that day, and could she actually help Rielle out in the store a bit because she was curious what it was like, Rielle had felt an unexpected wash of pleasure that someone from her Pack actually showed an interest in her life outside.

  Her other Pack escort was across the street in the coffeeshop, probably chatting up the baristas before putting the moves on them, then asking them where they'd learned to kiss like that.

  Rielle felt an instant's sheer vexation combined with her body's traitorous longing as she pictured Caleb squished into one of the cutesy little chairs at the Steaming Bean, smiling that heartbreaker smile at every female who walked in as he avoided working on the report Alpha had instructed him to write up while he spent the day guarding Rielle. His big fingers would probably fumble a bit on the keyboard, mis-clicking and creating all sorts of typos before he gave up to ogle every pretty girl who walked in and imagine what sort of skills she had in the sack.