by Lucy Farago
Confident the cottage was as they’d left it, he re-stapled the tarp and was about to take his first step off the porch when an almost imperceptible growl stopped him. Given the weather, any animal who called the Rocky Mountains their home would’ve taken shelter, but none of them would put his hackles on alert. He scanned the trees, certain whatever, or whoever, had made the sound came from there. Funny, he hadn’t been here long enough to piss anyone off. He inhaled through his mouth, trying to catch a scent. But the rain made it difficult. He would need to shift. And leave Winter in harm’s way? A cold, unadulterated rage ripped through him, and before he knew it, he was in arm’s reach of the woods.
“Sirius, where are you going?”
He was going to kill whoever had threatened his woman. Fists clenched, he prepared for battle.
“I know you can hear me. Where are you going?”
Sirius shook his head, wondering how the hell he’d gotten from her porch to here.
“Sirius? You all right?”
He swiveled his head to see Winter standing in his front door, wrapped in the plaid throw and only the plaid throw, the light in the hallway illuminating her from behind. The power had come back on.
“What are doing?” she asked, as if she expected him to know the answer.
What the fuck was he doing? Where was he going, and why was his heart racing? He stared back at the woods, remembering he’d picked up a sound, an animal maybe. “I heard something.”
“We’re in the Rockies. We have a lot of wildlife up here.”
More sarcasm. But she was right. Any animal could have made that sound. He had heard a sound, right? Perhaps his hearing wasn’t as good as he boasted.
Light oozed from his front door, spilling onto the frozen snow, and he could see better than his night vision had afforded him. Ice, thick and polished to a high sheen, coated everything.
“Come back inside.” She beckoned, her tone suggesting he wouldn’t regret it.
He gingerly made his way back to her then noticed footprints coming from her place. His. Crushing through the ice, they didn’t look like they’d been made by a man afraid to break his neck, and it was a wonder he hadn’t broken something…like his head. But at least a cracked skull would help explain his behavior. He promised himself to figure out what had just happened…later. Now, he had a beautiful woman waiting for him.
5
Winter checked the clock on the bedside table. In the last forty-eight hours, excluding bathroom breaks, she’d left Sirius’s bedroom four times, and all of those occasions involved food, although not necessarily eating. She couldn’t wait to tell Loki exactly how they’d gotten chocolate ice cream on his kitchen ceiling. She smiled, figuring it was payback for having to endure sickly, lovey-dovey moments between Mia and Loki. She glanced over at the sleeping dog next to her. How long could she keep them here? And would it be long enough to get rid of him.
She’d continued to pick up his stench in the woods. It wasn’t that she was afraid of him but of the questions people would ask. Her one advantage was he wouldn’t dare risk being seen by extracting her from Sirius’s home. She smiled again, amused at how much her playing house with a dog would royally piss in his cornflakes. On more than one occasion she’d been extra loud, hoping he was skulking nearby, close enough that he’d heard. Not that it had been especially difficult to be vocal. Sirius was an amazing lover, an amazing shifter actually. This had begun as a way to protect herself, but the joke was on her. It was her heart that might need protecting.
Flipping onto her side to face him, she laid a hand on his arm, weirdly comforted by the touch. Everything felt right in the world. Her life was…normal, complete, and all because he was in it. She shook the feeling off, convinced a weekend of great sex was messing with her mind. Had she been around these shifters too long? Was she turning into a sap? Her sisters would have a seal if they ever found out. This morning was becoming a day for smiles, because the idea of her sisters—two brats who’d give Drizella and Anastasia a run for their money— thinking she’d gone soft made her want to laugh. If those two snowflakes thought she was the same fish-food she was when she’d left home, they had another think coming. A part of her welcomed the challenge. Not only would she not take their abuse, she’d show them a thing or two about respect. Her years as a FUC agent, and her freedom, had taught her more than their unwanted so-called help.
Beneath her hand, the dog stirred. She buried her guilt under the ever-growing mound of things she should be ashamed of. He was a guy. Would he really care that she’d been using him? If anything, she was the one who was suffering. She’d never slept with anyone she didn’t have feelings for. And by the end of this, she was fairly certain her record would stay intact. Sirius was very hard, if not impossible, not to like. He was funny, charming, and attentive in and out of bed. A girl could seriously get used to this if she wasn’t careful. And she had to be careful.
Up until her birthday, they’d left her alone. She should’ve seen it coming. But the lovely crack when she’d busted his nose…. She’d hoped she’d proven her point. If they wanted her, they’d have to send more than one fuckwad. And they wouldn’t do that. Going undetected was what allowed them to thrive. To risk revealing themselves, simply to take her, would be foolish. Wouldn’t it?
The idea of having to remain armed, day in and day out, wasn’t something she looked forward to. Weapons were cumbersome. And while she’d never be able to kill him, nothing said “leave me alone” like sending him back with a hole…or two. So they’d better just give the fuck up.
She had one hour to shower, grab breakfast and hit up Loki’s secret armory—that he didn’t know she knew about—before her ten o’clock class. He really needed to stop telling Mia everything. Winter granted herself one last caress, running her fingertips over his sleeve tattoo. She herself had no tattoos, but his wasn’t just art. Almost as if a part of him, the intricate detail emphasized the lines of his muscles, reminding her of the arm armor gladiators once used. Was Sirius her knight in shining armor? Here to whisk her away from the drama in her life? She smiled at own ridiculousness. She didn’t need anyone to rescue her. She could do it herself.
Sorry this amazing weekend had to end, she slipped out of bed and carefully kissed his weird-ass birthmark at the bottom of his sleeve before heading for the bathroom. Knight in shining armor, indeed. She turned on the shower and then cracked open the window, sticking her nose right against the screen. She inhaled, never more grateful when she caught nothing but the scents of melting snow and wet earth. He’d finally given up…for now.
Winter stepped into the shower. The warm spray was a relief to muscles she hadn’t realized were sore. She chuckled, amazed at how brazen she’d been. While her sex life wasn’t exactly vanilla, it sure as hell hadn’t been covered in caramel sauce with heaps of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles—until it had been, literally, last night.
Eyes closed, she let the water pelt her face, a luxury she was never going to give up. When cold air touched her bottom, she held her breath, releasing it as strong arms encircled her waist. With a soft exhalation, she leaned her head back onto his shoulders.
“I have a class.”
“And?” Sirius said, lips pressed against her neck with an appreciative groan. “I could seriously get used to this.”
Truer words were never spoken. Oh well, she could think of worse things to eat than a hot dog for breakfast.
“Who was on the phone?” Sirius asked, standing as she came into the living room.
“The dog. He wanted to thank me for the chicken soup he’s taking credit for. Mia is a little under the weather, and his cooking skills involve a can opener and a microwave.”
“I thought you hated Loki.”
She shrugged, more interested in how hot Sirius looked in his gray suit. “They’re in love and sickly happy,” she said after she’d taken him in. “Who am I to mess with that?” A few weeks ago, she’d have derived great pleasure in setting the
fool up, only to rat him out. But the last few weeks her mood had improved, and she didn’t want to jinx it by arguing with Loki.
“This is nice.” Winter pointed to the extravagant meal Sirius had prepared as he pulled out her chair. He’d told her to arrive dressed for dinner, but she’d assumed they’d be going out. She was happy she’d gotten it wrong.
“It’s my way of saying thank you. I thought I’d give you a little romance.”
“Whatever floats your boat, and I’m not sure what you’re thanking me for.” She glanced at the chair. “But nothing says gratitude like a naked dog, wagging his tail.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “If ya know what I mean.”
Sirius laughed. Oh, how she loved his laugh. It warmed her, enveloped her like a cocoon she never wanted to be free of. She really was turning into a sap. Either that or, for the first time in her life, she was free to be herself, no standards to live up to but her own. Could be she was nothing but a softy at heart. Maybe she and Sirius weren’t that different?
“This is for helping me with my classes. I know a lot about explosives but shit about teaching. I had no idea where to begin. Now sit,” he said, nodding toward the chair.
“That’s funny.” She gave him her best cocky grin.
“Really? Another dog joke?”
“You didn’t have any problems last night when I told you to roll over.”
“Are you done?” He pretended to look at his nails, trying to hide a smile behind fake indignation. “I can wait.”
“I thought you liked my dog jokes.”
He leaned in and kissed her. “Only when you make me beg. Now put your sweet ass in the chair.”
Doing as he asked, she hid her own smile as she kicked off her shoes under the table. No man wanted a stiletto in his crotch, and if he was going to insist they eat, she was going to remind him what awaited him for dessert.
“How did you learn to teach?” He poured them both a glass of white wine before pulling out his own chair.
“I had a lot of…private tutors growing up.” She’d had an army of teachers, none of whom she liked. “I picked up a few things.”
“Well,” he held up his wine, “here’s to being rich and affording tutors.”
She clinked his glass, wondering what he’d think of her childhood if he knew the truth. “I’m sorry. You didn’t have it easy as a kid.” Neither did she, but she’d never have to want for anything…except perhaps her freedom.
“Oh, don’t do that. Don’t apologize for growing up with money. To tell you the truth, I was more envious of those who had families. Money buys you nice things, but you can’t spend holidays with money.”
She debated telling him money didn’t try and hurt you just for shits and giggles, but she refrained. “Don’t believe that bullshit about blood being thicker than water. Families can be toxic. Sharing genes doesn’t mean a get-out-of-jail-free card. Respect, loyalty, all that stuff family takes for granted, should be earned. Look, I’ll deny this if you tell him, but you’ve got a brother in Loki. That mutt is loyal when it counts. He respects you, and from what you’ve told me about your army days, he’s earned it, as have you. Who needs family when you have that kind of friendship?” She had that friendship with Mia, and she wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Sirius sliced the roast beef he’d prepared, a perfect medium rare, and placed it onto her empty plate. She spooned a large portion of brussels sprouts onto Sirius’s plate. He scowled. The reaction she’d expected.
“I made those for you,” he said, indicating the vegetable he had, on more than one occasion, referred to as stink bombs.
“They’re good for you.” Siberians were carnivores, unlike her kind, who preferred anything green.
“You’re good for me,” he said, catching her off guard.
Recovering, she smiled, her chest flooded with warmth. “You’re good for me.” Was it wise to admit such a thing? And yet it was the truth. For the first time in a long time, she was happy. And the cadets were really happy she was happy. She never realized just how hard she’d been on them.
“If you mean it, that’s nice of you to say.”
What, he didn’t believe her? “I don’t say things I don’t mean. And it’s just I never realized what a bitch I was, until I met you. Okay, that’s not true,” she joked. “I knew.” Old habits were hard to break, especially when they’d been learned as a matter of survival.
Grabbing the napkin off the beautiful china, she wondered why someone as crass as Loki owned, she set it across her lap. And managed to find the courage to look Sirius straight in the eye and say, “But ever since you and I started seeing each other, I don’t have it in me to be…difficult.”
“Really? ’Cause the other day you called me… How did you put it?” He feigned trying to remember.
She cut him off before he spewed more sarcasm. “A Neanderthal.”
“A Neanderthal too dumb to know the tail end of a saber-toothed tiger.”
“You were making coffee with no water in the reservoir.”
“You could have just said, ‘Hey, Sirius, the machine needs water.’”
In fairness to him, he was right. But watching him try and figure out why he wasn’t getting his morning coffee had been far too amusing. “Okay, but a few weeks ago, I’d have just busted it over your head and bought a new one.”
“Then I guess I should be grateful you’re becoming a better person.”
Every day she was with FUC, she learned more and more that her life back home wasn’t the norm. “You should know the cadets are planning on baking you a cake. Their way of saying thank you. But,” she said, “I don’t see how I’m good for you. You’re the same nice person you were when I met you. Maybe even nicer.”
“You,” he said, covering her hand with his, “aren’t nice to me.”
“Wow, okay. But you should know, I’m not into that kinky stuff. I don’t mind whooping your ass on the mat, but in the bedroom…”
“See, that’s what I mean. I know you’re not using me because I’m too nice,” he said, using air quotes. He poured gravy over her meat and didn’t complain when she did the same, pouring a sweet vinaigrette over the sprouts.
If there was a way to tell him what really happened the night of the storm, she would. But she couldn’t, so feeling guilty about hiding out in his cottage was pointless. “I’m just joking around. Anyone who didn’t know Loki or Mia would say they hate each other. Although I think she’s using him for the sex. Because those two never stop.”
He smiled at her, one of those smiles that said he knew something and she didn’t. “Can I tell you something? Without freaking you out?”
“Why would it freak me out?” she asked, a little freaked out.
“You and Loki are a lot alike.”
“Take that back,” she said, threatening him with a steak knife.
He ever so carefully lowered her arm. “Last year, if someone had told me Loki would be getting married, and to a cat no less, I’d never have believed it. He likes his independence, and he’s headstrong.”
“More like stubborn as a mule…with a burr up his ass.”
Sirius grinned and spooned a large helping of sweet potatoes onto her plate, another of her favorites. “He is that, but he’s always known what he wants, and his fierce independence and unwillingness to fail got him what he wanted. You share that quality. You’re both leaders.”
She knew several people who would argue she was no leader. “I would hardly say I’m a leader.”
“’Cause you like being told what to do, right?”
“Sarcasm is so unbecoming.”
“The truth hurts. So eat your dinner so I can take that dress off. I made an ice cream cake, and we ain’t using bowls.”
Could her day get any longer? She glanced at her watch for what must have been the millionth time. All morning, one thought and one thought alone raced through her head, hooking up with Sirius. So much so she kept mucking up her lesson. The cadets must have thought she
’d lost it. The past couple of months had been filled with planned—and impromptu—wild rendezvous that would make Loki blush. Horny teenagers had nothing on them. Once she instructed her class to prep for the Houdini lesson—being tied and hung upside down—she flew out of there.
After stopping at the cafeteria, she went to the supply sheds. Being faster than the golf carts everyone preferred, she would normally run home. But the dining room chef had prepared a cold picnic basket, and Winter’s hands were full. She’d reminded Sirius she’d be a little late and wasn’t too concerned about the time. They’d been putting in long hours in preparation for final exams, so their us-time had suffered. She planned a great lunch and then sex, or sex and then a great lunch, or maybe sex, a great lunch, and sex again.
Either way, she thought smugly, that dog will be limping back to his cadets. She shivered, delighted at the thought.
Who needed to go to the gym with a Siberian in her bed? He’d put her in the best shape of her life. But more than that, he made her laugh, and that was a rarity. When she’d been a kid, laughter, if it wasn’t at the expense of someone else, was a sign of weakness. Shit, happiness of any kind was barely tolerated.
She strapped in her goodies and hit the ignition.
The warm May day was a welcome change compared to all the rain they’d been getting, but she still had to skirt around a large mud puddle of yuck. She was halfway home when the aroma of springtime flora turned acrid. Smoke? She braked and inhaled, cursing her lousy sense of smell. But there was no mistaking the pungent scent…or the sooty sky above the cottages. She floored it, nearly tipping over on a sharp corner. She dumped the cart and ran the rest of the way. Clearing the trees, she realized it was her cottage.
“Winter,” Sirius shouted, visibly relieved to see her. He passed off the fire extinguisher to Loki and snagged her waist as she flew by him, caging her in his embrace. “No.” He tightened his hold. “There’s no saving it.”