by Terry Spear
They began loading the bags and boxes into the car, and when the trunk and back seat were filled to capacity, they said good night to Maverick. “I’ll send you a list of signs I’d like made.”
“Sounds good to me. Congratulations, you two. We’ll have to have a celebration for your mating. The other was really for your selling the vases.”
“I was thinking we could do it with you and Adam one night. I’ll fix a prime-rib dinner for all of you,” Brooke said.
“That’s a deal,” Maverick said. “Let me know if I need to do anything to help out, either with the business or with the protection.”
“We sure will,” Josh said. “Hopefully, we’ll be okay. Adam’s going to continue to stay with us at night, sleeping at the shop until we know for sure who’s behind the men trying to rob her.”
They each gave Maverick a hug, then got into the loaded-down car.
* * *
They finally reached home and drove into the garage. They thanked the police officer for watching the place. He was the same cop who had hung up on Brooke when she’d called about the reindeer calf, so she figured he was trying to make it up to her.
“’Night, folks,” he said. “It’s been quiet.”
“Thanks so much,” Brooke said. “I really appreciate it.”
Then they said good night to the officer, and when he drove off, Josh lifted Brooke in his arms and carried her across the threshold into the house, locked the door, and hurried to the security alarm to turn it off.
A knock on the back door sounded. “It must be Adam,” Josh said, sighing. He deposited Brooke on the bed in the master bedroom. “I’ll be right back.” Josh was certain it had to be important, or Adam wouldn’t be bothering them.
“Take your gun, just in case.”
“I’ve got it.” Josh headed for the back door, peeked out, and shook his head. He opened the door. “You know what you’re interrupting, right?”
“Sorry. I talked with the patrol officer who was watching the shop on his rounds, and he said everything was fine. I’m retiring for the night, but I want to interrogate the robbers at the station in the morning,” Adam said.
“I agree. ’Night, Adam, and thanks.”
“No problem. See you in the morning.”
Josh went into the house and locked the door, then strode to the bedroom. Brooke was reading text messages on her phone, sitting on the bed, waiting for him. She smiled at him.
He was ready to finish the moves they’d started while dancing at the Christmas party.
“What did Adam want?” She set her phone on the bedside table.
Josh crouched down to pull off her black boots. “He wants me to help him interrogate the armed robbers who threatened you again in the morning.”
“Good idea. But for now…”
“This is all that’s important to us.” He ran his hands up her legs covered in pantyhose. She was such a dream come true. He kissed her legs, pushing her sweater dress up. “Hmm.”
He reached up to pull off her pantyhose, peeling her out of them, kissing down each leg, one at a time, until he had removed the hose and tossed them aside. Then he helped her to stand and wrapped his arms around her, loving the feel of her soft curves enveloped in the soft sweater dress. “I didn’t want to let you go when I saw you wearing this dress before the party.”
She smiled and hugged him close. “I know. If you’d had your way, we would have stayed here and been naked in bed again.”
He chuckled. “Yeah.”
She pulled his red sweater up and over his head and tossed it aside. Underneath, he had a soft, black knit shirt, and she ran her hands over his chest. “This is like opening a Christmas present, only I have to keep peeling away the wrapping paper.”
He laughed. “At least you don’t rip away the wrapping paper.”
“Wait until I see my presents.” She made him sit down on the bed so she could remove his boots and socks. Then she pulled the bottom edge of his shirt up, kissing his abdomen, his chest, his nipples, neck, jaw, and finally his mouth as she continued to draw his shirt up. He lifted his arms, and she removed his shirt the rest of the way. She placed her warm hands on his waist and nuzzled her face against his chest. “Hmm, you smell so good—all wolf and mine.”
He nuzzled his face in her hair. “Your fragrance is a turn-on for me.” He swept his hands over her breasts, then down her dress until he reached the hemline and tugged the dress up to dispense with it, enjoying the sight of her in her white bikini panties and bra. “So beautiful.”
“So in love with you.”
“Uh, me too with you.” He kissed her breasts while she tackled his belt and was soon pulling his zipper down and yanking his jeans down his hips. He finished removing them.
“You are ready for me,” she said, kissing his straining arousal in his boxer briefs.
His cock jumped. “Always.” He unfastened her bra and pulled the straps down her arms and dropped the bra on the carpeted floor. He kissed her soft shoulders, cupping her breasts in his hands. He still couldn’t believe the treasure he had in her, glad she was his mate.
She kissed his neck and jaw, then licked his mouth. “You taste so good.”
“So do you.” Then he removed her panties, and she pulled his boxer briefs down, freeing him. He was so ready to finish off the night in the best possible way, making love to his mate.
He climbed into bed with her, then kissed her eager mouth and lost himself in the sweet taste of her. She combed her fingers through his hair, the sensual assault stirring his cock. She gently bit his lip, making him so hot with need. He wanted to infuse himself with her strength, beauty, kindness, and cleverness.
Brooke was his fantasy mate—the woman and wolf who was making his dreams come true.
As her hands moved to his nipples and stroked, he felt his groin tighten. He moved his mouth from hers to her jaw, pressing light kisses to her cheek, her throat, her collarbone. Working his way down, he took a nipple in his mouth and tongued it, then switched to the other breast and lathed it too.
Heat coursed through his veins, and she said his name in a sensuous way, telling him she needed this just as much as he did. She slid her hand down his buttocks and squeezed. A rush of arousal raced through his body. Her pheromones were enticing him to mate.
He turned her over on her side, her back to him, moving her leg so he could access her slick sheath, and stroked her nub. He kissed her shoulder and her spine. She tensed under his strokes, and he pulled her hair away from her cheek and kissed her neck. She sighed.
She was barely breathing, tense again, and he licked her shoulder. She pressed her mound against his questing fingers, demanding more.
He inserted a finger into her, swirling it as deep as he could go, then pulling out, and she moaned in protest. Smiling, he inserted two fingers this time and eased into her, using his thumb to stroke her feminine nub at the same time. She was wet for him, writhing with his touch, begging for more.
Eager to make her come, he intensified the pressure until she cried out. He kissed her neck. “Are you ready for me?”
“Oh yeah,” she said, her voice sexy and sultry.
Glad to bring her pleasure, he pushed his cock into her, seating deeply.
He ran his hand over her thigh, his body throbbing with unspent need, and thrust.
* * *
Brooke had never imagined that being with a wolf, her mate, would be this hot, this fulfilling, this magical. Josh was everything to her and more, the way he touched her, made her feel exquisitely sexy and needy. Until he had mated with her, she couldn’t know how good it could get. In the position they were in, his hand was free to roam all over her body with whisper-soft touches. He massaged her breast, the palm of his hand rubbing against the nipple while he kissed her neck with tenderness and continued to thrust.
She relis
hed the way he touched her with his hands, his mouth, his cock. She absorbed the rugged feel of him, the spicy scent of him, the sweet taste of him.
He rocked into her, his hand sliding down her hip, moving to where they were joined. He began stroking her again, but she didn’t think she could come again that soon. He was relentless and stirred primal needs that were buried deep, bringing them to the surface and making her want to howl.
Her adrenaline surged, his pheromones tantalizing hers as he drew her up in a swirl of sexual pleasure.
She was caught up in the maelstrom of emotions from raw joy to deep need. The second climax stole her breath, rocketing her to the moon in an explosion of fireworks that lit her world on fire.
This time, she howled, and he exploded in her, thrusting and kissing her shoulder before he finally finished. He wrapped his arms around her, still connected, not disengaging.
“God, I love you,” he said breathlessly against her hair and kissed her ear.
“No more than I love you, you wickedly sexy wolf.” She thought he would pull out and snuggle with her until they fell asleep, but he was semihard, and he wasn’t going anywhere. She smiled. He was one hot wolf.
Chapter 25
The next morning after Brooke and Josh made love in the shower—she’d never thought she could get that much pleasure out of cleaning up—and dressed, Adam and Lucas arrived at the house right before they all had breakfast. Brooke was amused Lucas had made it just in time to eat. Boy, did he eat! A double serving of hash browns, five sausage patties, two servings of scrambled eggs, and four slices of toast.
“You’re sure you’re all right to stay here with just two of the guys from the pack?” Josh asked Brooke.
“She’s got me too.” Lucas spread butter and blackberry jam on another piece of white toast.
Brooke reached over and squeezed Josh’s hand. “I’ll be fine. One of the guys will stay mostly in the shop and the other here. No matter where I am, I’ll be protected. The same with Lucas.”
“Hey, I’ve taken martial arts. If push comes to shove, I can shift,” Lucas said.
“No shifting to bite anyone,” Brooke said.
“If someone will give me a gun, I can shoot. My foster dad taught me. It was the only thing he wanted to do with me. Take me to the gun range.”
“No guns,” Brooke said. “Maverick and Sierra’s brother offered to help sort out stuff from the boxes, too, so we’ll all keep busy.”
“Okay.” Josh picked up his mug of coffee and pointed it at Lucas. “You do what everyone says if anyone should break into the house or shop.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Brooke suspected Lucas would try to protect her or take out the bad guys if they showed up.
They finished breakfast, and then Josh hugged and kissed Brooke as Brad and Maverick arrived. Brooke hadn’t been surprised when Josh had asked a mated wolf to watch over her, even though the bachelor males wouldn’t have hit on her now that she was mated. She thanked both for coming.
“We’ll keep her and Lucas safe,” Maverick promised Josh. “Go, learn what you can about the men who broke into her shop and who orchestrated it. We need to stop these guys.”
“We will. Then we’ll return here.” Josh hugged her again, and she loved the heat of his body pressed against hers in the chilly outdoors, and then he kissed her soundly. “See you in a bit.”
“Don’t worry about us.” But she knew his worried expression meant he would.
Then he and Adam drove to the police bureau.
“Okay,” Brooke said to the others when she returned to the house, eager to begin working. “I’ll show Lucas my website, and then we’ll get started on the boxes.” She showed Lucas what she wanted for the website and online store.
He offered her some options for taking money on her website, and she picked the one she wanted. Then he began to work his magic. She was glad he could focus his attention on something positive instead of getting himself into trouble.
“What do you want me to do?” Brad asked.
“Josh usually checks the security videos in the morning to see if anyone was hanging around observing the house or shop, if you wouldn’t mind checking the one in the house.” She figured that was a good job for a Navy SEAL. “I can give you a box of vintage replica merchandise to tag. Lucas can add them to the online store too. I usually don’t have time to add faux vintage items, just the real thing.”
“I can do that,” Lucas said.
“Okay. I’ll check the video while you’re over at the shop,” Brad said.
“Thanks, Brad. I so appreciate it. Maverick can haul over a couple of boxes so you don’t get too bored. And I can get caught up.” By the time the new year rolled around, she should have the shop in tip-top shape.
Then she and Maverick headed over to the shop.
“You know, it’s my fault you saw Josh first,” he said.
“How’s that?” She went inside and turned off the security alarm.
Maverick followed her inside. “I saw the news about the reindeer calf showing up at your shop. It was on Twitter and other social network sites. I’d been watching for any news about a reindeer calf in Oregon, somewhere close by. When I saw the calf, I knew it was Jingles from the collar he was wearing, and I told Josh. He said he was on his way to check it out.”
“So if you had come to see for yourself instead?”
“Teaches me to send my brother instead of going myself. He was just closer, and being a police detective, he knew he had to do the investigation. I knew for sure he was hooked on you when he wanted me to bring the reindeer to your place again.”
Smiling, she took him upstairs to one of the storage rooms. “That was so much fun. I really appreciated both of you for doing that.” She motioned to some of the boxes. “These are new merchandise. I have their original prices on an invoice inside the boxes. If Brad can mark it up by 100 percent, that would be good. If they don’t sell, I can put a discounted sale price on them later.”
“All right.” Maverick carried the first of the boxes over to the house.
Brooke put on Christmas music to enjoy while they worked. Then she looked for another safe in her great-aunt’s shop, something she’d been meaning to do.
The very annoying sound of a smoke detector suddenly went off in the shop’s kitchen, telling her it needed a new battery. She headed for the kitchen just as Maverick returned to get the other box for Brad.
“Brad said the security video didn’t show any trouble. I’ll look at the one for the—” Maverick paused as the smoke detector beeped again. “I’ll change that if you have a battery, once I drop off another box of merchandise at the house for Brad.”
“I do. And thanks. Great on the security video. I imagine it’s too much to hope that whoever is in charge of the attempted thefts has given up.”
“I doubt it, if that thumb drive is worth enough.” Maverick carried the other box over to the house while Brooke found the batteries and a stepladder. When he returned, he changed out the battery on the smoke detector.
“Smoke detectors are a necessary evil. I hate when they go off. Ivy has about ten of them, five in the shop and five in the house, and they all keep going off periodically, letting me know to change their batteries. She must have had them installed all around the same time. With our enhanced hearing? The shrieking nearly kills me.”
“Now you have a smoke-detector battery changer at your disposal. If one goes off in the middle of the night, you can get Josh to change it.”
She laughed. “I will. I need my beauty sleep.”
“I’m going to check out the video security.”
“Great. I’m on a safe hunt.”
“I’ll help you look once I’m done with this.”
She started in the office where Maverick was looking at the security video. “I see a couple of pickup truck
s driving by when everything is closed.”
“But they’re not stopping?” She looked behind a painting of a mother and her child sitting on her lap. There was nothing but a wall behind it.
“No. I’m watching to make sure no one’s sneaking around the place.” Maverick continued to scan for anything that looked like trouble.
Brooke looked behind three other oil paintings, one of them a vintage painting of a pack of wolves playing with little ones. It was one of her favorites, and she wanted to move it to the house to showcase. She wondered if the painter was one of their kind, since his name was Graythorn.
She looked behind furniture, then checked the floor to see if there was a floor safe, but no luck. “If someone is watching the shop, it will probably be when postal deliveries arrive. What about the bakery? They have tables inside where people can eat baked goods: pies, breads, cakes, sandwiches. Someone could sit there and watch the shop around the time the mail carrier comes.”
“I’ll check the video to see who’s coming in and out of the shop then. When does the mail carrier usually come?”
“Between half past eight and ten. He usually gets here before I open the shop. Sometimes he comes later, depending on the number of packages he’s delivering, especially during the holidays. Sometimes I have an afternoon delivery.”
“I’ll look at those time periods. Josh could ask at the bakery to see if they have noticed anyone who has frequented their shop more regularly lately.”
“Right.”
“No luck finding the safe?” Maverick asked.
“Not in here. I would think my great-aunt would have placed it in the office where she could watch things while the shop was open or somewhere in the house.”
“You haven’t checked the house yet?”
“Off and on. I’ve been busy. Every time it seems I have a moment, something else goes wrong, and I have to fix it.” Or she and Josh were making time for each other.
“We’ll find it. Did you want me to help you look for that now? Or unpack boxes?”
“I really need to work on the boxes with you at the same time so I can learn how much the items are worth. So why don’t you help me find a safe, if there’s one in the shop.”