"Mate? What are you talking about like as in animal mates? Or mates like Ryleigh and Jacks? You called them that before what exactly are you saying, Wyatt?" Peyton was afraid of the answer he might give but hoping for the answer she wanted. She knew that bears in the wild only mated for procreation the rest of the time they were pretty much loners, that was never going to work for her having Wyatt once and then him leaving would destroy a part of her, she wanted more. But Ryleigh and Jacks they were mates or at least that was what Wyatt had called them, and they seemed like a happy, loving couple. The problem with that scenario was they were also married. Peyton didn’t believe in marriage. Judy had killed that institute for her a long time ago.
"You’ll see honey, and when the time is right I will explain it all to you but that time isn’t right now you’re not ready." Peyton wanted to protest his statement but she couldn’t he was right she wasn’t ready, but she needed to let him know one thing. " I’m not the one-night-stand kind of girl, Wyatt you need to know that. I don’t open myself up easily, and I won’t do it just to fill a need or serve a purpose."
Wyatt kissed her temple," I know baby but you need to learn to trust me, and these feelings we have for each other or we are both going to be sorely disappointed." When he released his hold on her Peyton didn’t hesitate to move away. The last couple of days were moving in fast, and they had a lot of work to get done before they could even consider exploring anything else.
She went to the kitchen to grab some drinks while Wyatt stayed behind and sat down on the couch. Wyatt called from the other room," Peyton, how do you know your mother or Judy isn’t going to pay him another visit and find out you went to see him?"
"I have no doubt Judy will go back and see Frank, she is desperate. She needs to find Bastian, and she is willing to get that information anyway possible, but I really don’t think Frank will tell her about my little visits. He might like to get his rocks off, but he hates Judy. She fucked him over all those years ago, and even though he was kind of crude I don’t think he wants to see me hurt."
After getting the drinks, she came back into the common room and took a seat next to Wyatt. She loved this couch it was old and second hand, but the leather was buttery soft, and the cushions creased her body like a big warm blanket. Getting to sit next to Wyatt only increased its appeal. Curling herself into the arm and facing him she continued the conversation, “Frank Frost is out for himself and no one else.”
" As long as Judy keeps her contacts away from him he doesn’t gain anything from any of this. He would sell Bastian or me out if a heartbeat for his own gain but not for hers. My visit with him doesn’t really change anything he and Judy still only have a general location of where your base and Bastian are, what we need to figure out is how Frank even knew that much information I know Bastian didn’t tell him."
"Yeah, we can put that on the list. Is your network watching Judy?" Wyatt asked.
"Yep, I put them on it right before I came here. It cost me, though."
"What do you mean it cost you?"
Well, I had to supply each person with something to make this a priority. I can’t believe the cliché is really true. One wanted a year’s supply of Twizzlers, one a year’s supply of red bull and the other one has a skittles fetish. When did hackers become so predictable and unhealthy? I mean I like to indulge every once in a while, but I want to live past my thirties, and a diet of junk food is not where it’s at, don’t you agree. You’re in great shape you must work out and eat a very healthy diet?"
Wyatt looked a little embarrassed," well sure but baby the shifter gene kind of ensures that I am in top physical condition." When he started preening like Jacks had in the meeting Peyton laughed, he was so cute. " Here is what is really going to catch your goat I can eat whatever I want, and if it weren't for Dalton’s insistence, I would totally miss the gym."
"No way that is so unfair if I even think about cheesecake I gain ten pounds all in my butt."
"Hmm looks like I need to learn how to make a cheesecake," Wyatt said, leaning over and trying to grope said butt. Peyton pushed his hands away laughing" you are such a dork and your right I am totally jealous. Maybe if I stick around you long enough some of those magical genes will rub off, and I can be the size zero model I had always hoped to be."
"Oh, no fucking way I like your curves right where they are, and it would be a crime against humanity if that ass got even a little smaller, baby you are stacked." Peyton wasn’t used to this type of conversation, but she liked it. When Wyatt stuck his tongue out and started panting like a dog, she began laughing so hard her eyes watered. Wyatt pulled her closer, and she rested against his chest she was so tired, everything that had happened today was pulling her under, but there was one thing that she couldn’t get off her mind.
So, she asked", I can’t believe my brother never once told me about him being a Shifter," here in Wyatt’s arms she felt like she could ask anything and he would answer, and he didn’t disappoint.
"Honey we aren’t allowed to tell anyone but our mates and children. Its law and that law is governed tightly, again that is why I told you. You are my mate, I feel it but that discussion is for another time and place. I’m sure Bastian wanted to tell you, though."
Chapter 19
Peyton was still on the fence about the whole mating thing, she didn’t have any idea what it all entailed, but she liked the idea of being with this man. She just didn’t think she could do anything short term he had the ability to break her when she had never once allowed anyone else to get close enough to have that happen before.
"Yeah maybe." Peyton didn’t really want to think about her brother right now. She wanted to live in the moment and suck up everything Wyatt had to offer. When he put his finger under her chin and directed her face up towards to his, the look in his hooded eyes almost burned her. His aqua green eyes were sparkling again, and this time it most definitely was not from anger.
When he dropped his lips to hers, Peyton was more than ready for the kiss. It was no little peck. This kiss was long and deep with tongues dueling creating an erotic slide. Peyton moaned this was the best kiss she had ever gotten in her life. The man knew what he was doing. He had placed his hands on her cheeks pulling her closer. He placed small kisses on either side of her lips before he licked her plump bottom lip asking for permission to enter her mouth again without words. Peyton sighed, and he dove in with zeal exploring every crevice of her mouth. After several minutes, he twined his tongue with her pulling hers into his mouth giving her a little power.
Peyton took full advantage and explored the recesses of his mouth as well. His hands moved sensually down her arms and then to her sides creating, even more, warmth in Peyton’s middle. Wyatt then pulled her onto his lap and for the first time. With her thighs on either side of his hip, Peyton’s most sensitive skin was pressed firmly against Wyatt’s arousal. Moving just a fraction of an inch created the most wonderful feeling she couldn’t help but move more to recreate that feeling over and over again.
Her panties were wet, and her clit was gloriously engorged. When Wyatt started fucking her mouth with his tongue bringing his hands down her hips and adding in her little dance applying more pressure to her already heated core. Peyton, felt it coming and knew there was no stopping what was happening next. One more slow hard grind and she was gone. The explosion was unlike anything she had every felt before, her eyes rolled back into her head, and she saw lights flashing in her brain, panting just as heavily as before Peyton slumped into his body.
Damn, now that is a sight I would like to see several times a day for the rest of my life. My mate breathless, fully stated by my hand. You better prepare yourself, baby, I am already addicted to you, but once I get a real taste, I might never let you out of bed again.
Peyton was unable to move or respond to what Wyatt had just said small tremors still raked her body, and she relished every single one. She didn’t know how she felt about the whole mate thing, but right now at this
moment, everything was right in her world. Maybe she could just sit here for a while safe in Wyatt’s lap where hacking and bad people didn’t exist.
She wanted, probably the first time, a life where she could train her dogs and not have to give them away. Where she could help out NAC and The Holly Group when and only if she wanted to. But most of all she wanted, no needed Wyatt. She wanted to get Judy out of her life once and for all and concentrate on more important things. This big bear could come to mean everything to her. The question was could she let herself go there or did she run away like she had trained herself to do? She didn’t want to run even though staying might be the scariest thing she ever did in her life.
That was until she heard the loud grumble coming from Wyatt’s stomach. Peyton snickered "either you’re hungry, or your bear is making his presence known." "Sorry honey but all that talk of the three major food groups earlier and the little work out we just did, I just can’t help myself." God, the man, was such a ham.
"Okay, big guy I guess you have earned it, Peyton said as saucily as possible. We both missed breakfast and lunch, and it is about dinner time how about I go and make us something quick, and we can get back to work. Sounds good to me but how about I help."
Wyatt stood and pulling Peyton up with him. Peyton looked up at him and said," You don’t have to I don’t have anything all that great here, MRIs and sandwich fixings it will only take a couple of minutes to prepare. Why don’t you start setting up the computer so we can work while we eat? Two birds one stone." Wyatt kissed her on the forehead, and she stepped away to head for the kitchen. The loud smack reached her ears before the pain in her backside registered. The shock and indignation of what had just happened had to show on her face. As she turned to look at him saying "You Didn't!" Wyatt just smirked, "Damn right I did baby," he said with a Cheshire grin on his face. " Damn, I do so love that ass," he gave her a little push and said," now off with you, your man is hungry."
Peyton still a little shocked at what had just happened she started walking toward the kitchen. Damn it didn’t matter how caveman that little statement sounded she liked Wyatt calling himself her man.
This one time she really wanted to see what her life could be with this man, so she made up her mind that if what Wyatt said was the truth, she was all in and willing to mate with a bear shifter, surprise, surprise.
Several hours later Peyton was so engrossed in her work she didn’t notice Wyatt coming into the room or even if he had left the room in the first place. He set a bottle of water and an apple on the desk and said eat. She didn’t even acknowledge him waving her hand to indicate he should just leave.
"Baby I need you to give me everything you have so far, I want to look over the surveillance on you Judy and the information you found out about the suits,” Peyton grunted pointed to the laptop to her left and gave Wyatt her password. He just laughed and left her alone. Sometime after that Peyton smelled something delicious jolting her attention away from her work.
She was hungry, and whatever was cooking smelled magnificent. Good enough to divert her attention from the computer screen. She had made them sandwiches earlier and hadn’t even thought to offer him anything else. Lucky for her he was a take charge kind of man.
For the first time in hours, Peyton looked around to see where the smell was coming from. Seeing Wyatt in the kitchen stirring something at the stove warmed her heart. She had never had someone cook for her before it was nice, well except for Bastian when she was a child, this was different. Deciding she needed a break, she made her way to Wyatt and to thank him she hugged him from behind placing a small kiss on his back. After a relished moment, she asked, “What are you cooking it smells delicious?”
Wyatt moved his hand to hers and squeezed, “Nothing much just soup and grilled cheese. You have been at it for hours I figured it was time for you to take a break and get something warm in your belly."
"Thank you, Wyatt," Peyton said laying her head between his shoulder blades. Damn, she might just have to stay like this, it felt so good. Rubbing her hands up his stomach, she was entranced with all the hills and valleys she found. " If you keep this up I might just have to keep you."
Stopping her hands from her impromptu exploration which was really disappointing to Peyton Wyatt said," well we can talk about that later but right now brace yourself for the absolute best grilled cheese on the planet. Go have a seat I’ll bring it out." Peyton reluctantly left, pouting and stomping a little on the way. She liked grilled cheese, but she liked what she had been doing just a second ago even more.
Wyatt came out of the kitchen and placed a plate in front of her taking the seat next to her at the table. When she didn’t make a move to take what he offered, he said," come on baby dig in you need to keep up your strength. After this, you need to go and lay down for a while." Peyton went to complain, but Wyatt had turned and placed his finger over her mouth. "No baby you need some sleep even if it is just for a couple of hours don’t fight me on this okay."
She couldn’t fight him she knew they both needed to sleep, so she conceded, "Okay Wyatt, but first you need to impress me with your culinary skills I have my standards after all," Peyton laughed. Wyatt gave her a quick kiss and said," well then prepare to be amazed my grilled cheese is legendary."
Peyton had to admit he wasn’t that far off. Wyatt’s grilled cheese sandwiches had just the right amount of gooey, crunchy cheesy goodness. Peyton was in heaven Wyatt wouldn’t have to worry about her losing any of her curves if he made her this every day that was for sure and Peyton wasn’t ashamed to admit that she wanted them every single day.
When she finally decided to take a breath from the Hoover act she had just played with the food. The pained expression on Wyatt’s face stunned her, what surprised her, even more, was the arousal she had seen in his eyes before was back. She thought about teasing him briefly but really who could make eating a sandwich arousing. Dessert sure, even other foods that involved the use of silverware had a shot but a sandwich no such luck. She hadn’t even tasted the soup he gave her yet, and she really didn’t want to tease the gorgeous man oh well.
Wyatt shook his head shaking himself loose from some thought and then asked, “Baby I read all the files you have on Judy. She’s a real piece of work, I’m sorry, but I have to ask how the hell did you come out so good with that person as an influence in your life? "
Peyton didn’t really know what to say she was just who she was so instead of answer she just shrugged her shoulder.
"That is not enough baby, but I’ll let it pass for now. Just so you know I also read the file you have on Butch Smith, that man needs to be erased why hasn’t Bas ever said anything about him I can’t believe the guys is still breathing. If I had a sister and some guy tried to molest her I know for a fact, he would be six feet under. Shit, you aren't my sister, and I’m having a hard time not running out and murdering him myself."
"Bastian doesn’t know about Butch. I never told him, and since Judy had changed our names before she hooked up with him there is no record of what happened to me using my real name, and I want it kept that way. Butch James is not worth going to jail over. I have him watched if he gets close to a woman with a little girl and an automatic anonymous email is sent out with a link to the news articles related to what happened to me. So far, every woman has run the other way. He has only been out of jail for a couple of years. He was only sentenced to 7 years can you believe that?"
"Yeah, I can. Unfortunately, drug offenses sometimes get tougher sentences it not right in my book."
"Anyways I learned really early not to trust what Judy did or said, there was a time I tried to think of her as a mother, but the few times I got to go to school regularly I knew she was nothing like the other mothers. Bastian asked me to promise that I would never let her influence the person I became, to keep the good he saw inside of me and just survive."
"We were so young, and we had so many plans. He was going to go into the military and then get me away fr
om her. That never happened but I clung to that dream for a really long time. When the state took over my care, I was placed with an older couple. They had never had children and really wanted them. I expected the worst, but they proved me wrong every step of the way. Their names were Jim and Dorothy, and I cared for them deeply."
"Jim had hunting dogs, and when he noticed how drawn I was to them he started letting me help with their training, and I loved it. Dorothy was great too she always had food on the table, help me with my homework and encouraged me to have dreams. I never let myself have dreams of the future before them. Unfortunately, my time with them was short lived. Dorothy suffered a heart attack and the state thought leaving a 14-year girl alone with a single elderly man was a bad idea."
"Their solution was to send me to a group home." Peyton laughed. Bastian had just turned 18 and joined the Navy. He wanted me to come and stay with him, but he was not a blood relation, so his claim was denied. They said the situation would be inappropriate. Before I left Jim, he gave me one last piece of advice. Keep your head down, do right by yourself and learn something to help yourself along the way every day. But most importantly don’t ever let someone take advantage of you again."
"I loved that advice and lived by it religiously. I improved my skills with the computer and got deeper into hacking at the group home. Along with several other handy if not illegal things, I’m kind of ashamed to admit even now. But Jim’s words always stuck. I graduated early from high school and found out through a social worker that Jim had set up a scholarship fund for me. It was bittersweet because I also learned that Jim had died earlier that year and no one had told me."
"Judy had never actually left my life she just wasn’t a physical presence. When I turned 18, and the state could no longer intervene she changed that. I didn’t have much, but what I did have she wanted. I was able to placate her with the promise of monthly money. So, between hacking, starting my service dog program and school I was somehow able to come up with the money every month, and she stayed away."
Wyatt: NAC & The Holly Group (Alpha Team Book 3) Page 17