Or less.
While Jackie should be overjoyed at finding a mate, because it was damn near impossible, recognizing that emblem etched into his flesh and what it stood for made her want to scream in frustration.
“Doctor Chavez?”
Jackie jerked when Zan called her. “Yes?” She walked back to him and checked his wounds and bandages with deliberate professionalism.
She felt his eyes on her. “I know a General Chavez back in Virginia. Don’t suppose you’re related?”
Jackie barely kept from flinching. Ignoring his direct question, she responded, “It’s a common last name. You have three bruised ribs and one cracked one. The wound across your shoulder blades was superficial and nearly healed after you shifted.”
He made a noncommittal response, and continued to watch her with a focus that made her body hum. She adjusted the sheet to check the gash on his hips, keeping his groin covered not for his modesty but for her own rising libido. “Do you remember what caused this?” She caressed the heated flesh around the wound before she remembered the man was not only her patient and off-limits, but was so very wrong for her.
Her body didn’t agree. And when his body reacted to her touch, easily seen by the rising sheet that lay over his lap and his harsh indrawn breath, her own responded embarrassingly quick. Instantly her nipples tightened and a rush of liquid warmth swirled low in her belly, making her feel light-headed.
Hastily she straightened the sheet and took a step back.
One powerful shoulder lifted in a half shrug and Jackie nearly sighed. To her, Zan was prime-one perfection with his dark skin tone and muscled physique. Total eye candy as far as she could see.
And that’s all you’re doing. Seeing. No touching. And stop ogling!
“How I received that particular wound, no, I don’t recall. After I heard gunshots I took off running. They must have been downwind from me, otherwise I would have smelled the gun oil.”
Jackie had been watching his mouth as he spoke. His bottom lip was a tad fuller than his top and she wanted to bite them both. Then she wondered how they would feel wrapped around her....
Ogling again!
She roughly shook her head, pretending the action was for him rather then to rid herself of naughty thoughts. “You were searching for clues about your brother. I think maybe you were a little distracted.”
“Which can get a wolf killed.”
Both men replied at the same time with the same comment, causing her to blink in rapid secession. “Well. All righty then.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you.” Jackie peered back into Zan’s face, seeing the remorse in his eyes, and nearly melted. She waved it off.
“You didn’t do any permanent damage,” none that she’d admit to at any rate, “and were only acting on instinct. I’d probably bite too if I were shot.”
Zan reached down to place the empty glass between his legs. Helpless to refrain, Jackie followed the innocent motion. The wedged glass caused the sheet to tighten over his groin, every inch of him now outlined and thrusting against the thin material. Her thighs clenched as need made itself known by the throbbing between her own legs. In the next second her left hand was grasped in an unbreakable grip, her glove shifted up and off.
Before she could make a sound of protest, Zan’s lips were pressed to her bare hand. A zing of lust shot through her, startling in its intensity.
“What are you doing?” She squeaked.
“Apologizing. Hmmm.” He licked the barely there mark left by his tooth. The way his eyes glittered as he watched her reaction, she had the sneaking suspicion that the glass placement had been a deliberate move. A distraction of the most seductive kind. He turned her hand over and nuzzled her palm. “You smell so sweet.”
Jackie’s knees weakened. Zan’s tongue was rough and moist against her flesh and her brain fogged with desire. Then she caught a glimpse of Dean out of the corner of her eye, a thoughtful expression as he measured and assessed each action and response. The last thing she needed was to give away her thoughts or feelings to either man. They were shifters. They would use it to their advantage to get what they wanted. It wasn’t because they were bad men, it was just the way of dominant shifter males. It was the females that had the thankless job of keeping them in line.
Jackie yanked her hand away and felt her own beast snarl in protest. Oh, this was so not good. One shaking hand wrapped around her ponytail and stroked. A nervous habit she’d never been able to break and one that hadn’t appeared in a very long time. That it did so now only terrified her even more.
“Yes, well.” Nice comeback, Jackie. Where’s your professionalism now? “You appear to be recovering well. I’ll leave you two alone and check back in the morning.”
Dean’s eyes narrowed on her face and his nostrils flared. Mortified, she glared back at him as if everything was all his fault before sailing out of the makeshift clinic.
In a huff, she stormed into her room, belatedly remembering that Kaylie was asleep on her bed. Jackie barely caught the door before it slammed shut. Hoping her near snit hadn’t woken the younger woman, Jackie eased the door shut and held still, taking several deep, calming breaths. Then she toed of her sneakers, rounded the bed and inched on top of the covers. After a minute of silence she was still breathing deeply. Not because she was angry, but because something smelled...off. Not wrong or bad. Just...different.
Jackie turned her head to the right and nearly jumped out of her skin. Kaylie was wide awake and watching her with narrowed eyes.
“Everything okay?” Kaylie whispered.
“Just dandy.” Though Jackie bit back the words she really wanted to say, sarcasm was heavy in her tone.
“Too much testosterone wearing you down?”
And then some. Had Kaylie heard what happened in the other room? The woman might not have super sensitive hearing but the walls in this house were far from soundproof.
“I love men, I really do. But sometimes I want to bash their heads together,” Jackie rolled on her side, flipping her pillow longways so she could hug it to her chest, mirroring Kaylie’s position, and getting ready for some female commiserating. “Especially dominate male shifters. When they want something, everyone else has to fall in line and accept it, whether we want to or not. They’re stubborn and arrogant enough to think they can solve any problem, handle any situation. Even if it could kill them.” She let out a frustrated growl, knowing her irritation stemmed from more than just the last few hours. She’d been raised by dominant male shifters after all. And while she loved her father and grandfather with her whole heart, she couldn’t understand how her mom remained sane. And out of jail.
“They do test your patience. I’ve been practically begging Dean to lighten his work load for weeks. His priority lies as pack alpha and I understand and support that fully. But I did tell him he couldn’t run for a second term as town mayor this fall. His plate is already full with the lumber-yard and bar. We barely have any alone time together and as a newly mated couple, it’s really frustrating.” Jackie bit her lip at what Kaylie was hinting at. Newly mated pairs had a hard time keeping their hands off each other and any excessive separation made for one highly charged and sexually frustrated couple.
“He’s so concerned about the pack, the town, and well, everything, Jackie. He thinks it’s his responsibility to keep everyone happy, healthy, and employed and he feels like he’s failing.”
Jackie shook her head. “Whatever for? It’s not his fault the economy tanked.”
“I know and you know, but Dean just can’t accept it. Phil Davis put in his resignation,” Kaylie surprised Jackie with that bit of news, referring to one of Woodcliff’s deputies and one of the juvenile tutors of the pack. “He wants to roam, and he has every right to do so, but it’s going to leave a hole in the police department and an even bigger one in the pack. Dean’s also being petitioned by shifters who want to join the pack, but he doesn’t know where the jobs will come from to keep the newcomers here
. In the last five months, four human families and six single shifters have moved away in hopes of obtaining jobs in larger cities.”
While the six singles weren’t that much of a concern since looking for a job was often an euphemism for looking for a mate, the loss of whole families was disturbing. “I thought things were going better at the lumber-yard once Dean branched out into specialized furniture.”
Kaylie shrugged. “It has, yes, but it’s not enough to keep everyone in town employed. So now he’s trying to figure out a way to increase tourism, hoping that might cover any economical gaps.” Which was smart since tourism was as vital to the town’s survival as was the lumber company.
Jackie smoothed a hand over the cotton pillowcase. “You know we see a lot of tourists in the clinic.” At Kaylie’s nod, Jackie continued. “Well. We also hear a lot of compliments and complaints. One of the most repeated complaints I’ve heard is the desire for some fairly large cottages for rent. Right now we just have the hotel, and as rustic and nice as it is, it can’t accommodate a family or group of people who want to vacation together in relative privacy.”
It was Kaylie’s turn to frown. “There are several homes available for rent around town whenever the owners aren’t using them.”
“True, but I know I’m not comfortable doing that sort of thing. Our family did it once when we took a trip to Mexico. My parents kept telling us kids not to touch anything, not to put our feet on the furniture and so on because it was someone’s home. I felt like I was trespassing and had just about zero fun. I couldn’t wait to get home.”
Kaylie was silent so long that Jackie began to wish she hadn’t said a word. Finally Kaylie said, “That’s actually a great idea. Maybe we could do two things. Set up a few rental cabins totally secluded from one another, but yet in the same general area, and then put up three or four in closer capacity. That way multiple families that want to vacation together yet still keep their privacy can do so.”
“Oh. That’s perfect!”
Kaylie flashed a wide grin. “Of course it is. We women thought it up! I’ll talk with Dean about it. See what he thinks. And if he’s not keen on the idea, I’ll just push until he is.” Her eyes sparkled with delight. “I can be as dominating as he can, though it’s more fun to be sneaky.”
The women high-fived each other, though it was more on the low down as they were laying on their sides in the bed. Just as Kaylie pulled her hand away, Jackie caught that elusive scent again. Without thinking, Jackie snatched Kaylie’s hand and stuck her nose in Kaylie’s right wrist, sniffing for confirmation.
“Ah, Jackie?” Kaylie asked sounding confused.
Oh. Wow. Kaylie was pregnant!
“Oh. My. God.”
Kaylie quickly hushed her, looking frantically over her shoulder. “Dean doesn’t know yet.”
Jackie gaped. “How could he not know?”
Kaylie shrugged her shoulders. “Remember, he’s been super busy. He’s got a lot on his mind and when we do get together. Well.”
Jackie grinned, so happy she wanted to burst. Her Alpha was going to be a dad. “When you do get together, you have wild monkey sex.”
Behind the blush, Jackie saw the dreamy look in Kaylie’s face and sighed. But still. “You need to tell him soon. If I can scent it on you, and my nose isn’t nearly as sensitive as the males, half the town will know before he does.”
“I know. It’s just.” Kaylie looked disgruntled. “He’ll tell me I have to cut back my hours at work and stop playing softball and then I’ll get fat.”
Jackie smirked. “Honey. You’re pregnant. You’re supposed to get fat.”
Kaylie flopped on her back and put her hands on her tummy. “Maybe some fat, but my metabolism isn’t the same as his. I’m afraid I’ll gain too much and everyone will wonder what a hot guy like Dean is doing with a slob like me.”
Now that was a shocker. “I may not be an expert on relationships, but maybe he’d stay because he adores the ground you walk on. The man loves you so much that it’s near nauseating to see, and yet so sweet at the same time. You’re his mate and now you’re carrying his child. He’ll stay with you because you know all his flaws and love him anyway. Because you’re smart and funny and beautiful. Because he couldn’t live without you. Because—”
Chuckling, Kaylie raised her hand. “All right, I get it.”
Jackie rolled on her back and closed her eyes. “Here’s something else to think about, Doctor Dolittle. That baby in your belly carries Dean’s DNA. You might very well be able to eat like a pig and gain little more than baby weight.”
“Really?” The gasp of wonderment brought a sense of joy to Jackie. Not only was she thrilled at the baby news, this brief time spent alone with Kaylie was what she needed. Female companionship.
Jackie wasn’t sure how long they lay silent, their thoughts their own, when Kaylie asked a question. “You want to tell me just how often you treat shifters in your home?”
Jackie’s eyes popped open. “Not really.”
“Oh come on, Jackie. I may be human, but I’m not blind. Nobody goes to that much trouble and expense to furnish an exam room unless it’s going to be used, and often.”
While Jackie might evade most people, and had, she couldn’t ignore a direct question from her Lupa. Besides, she didn’t want to alienate a friend. “A couple.”
Blatant disbelief spilled over Kaylie’s face. “A couple?”
Jackie cleared her throat. “Or more. It’s just that many of the shifters, especially the older ones, are uncomfortable going to the clinic. If they didn’t come to my home they wouldn’t see a doctor at all. And while shifters are resilient creatures, they still get colds, rashes, bug bites and now evidently, bullet wounds. Besides, the clinic knows what I’m doing. Services I do at home are appropriately recorded and monies are paid to the clinic.”
Kaylie’s lip curled. “I’m not passing judgment on your ethics, Jackie. I’m making a complaint about the size of your exam room.”
Not at all what Jackie expected. “Huh?”
Kaylie sighed. “Since shifters have a pack mentality, they tend to go places in groups. After you stuff everything you need in that bedroom, you might be able to squeeze in four people, and that’s if you don’t want anyone to move. Ergo...”
“Ergo?” Jackie’s lips twitched.
“Ergo, you probably have more shifters milling about your home. What you need is a bigger room, and maybe even a designated waiting area.”
Jackie sighed out her agreement. “That’s actually my goal. I figure a few more years and I might be able to rent something bigger.”
Kaylie’s hand slapped on the mattress. “I already know the perfect place. The Kolter House.”
The former Alpha’s two-story mansion that had been up for sale for over six months and probably cost five times more a month than what Jackie was currently paying? Kaylie was insane. “You’re insane.”
“And you’re a pessimist. Listen. Not only is it secluded, it’s custom made so each room is oversized. We could easily revamp the front two rooms on the first floor into an examination and waiting room. The den even has a monster sized wet bar so we wouldn’t have to worry about installing plumbing. We could block off the hallway at midpoint, since the stairs are towards the rear of the house, and keep your living quarters separate from your working quarters.”
Jackie rolled back on her side and propped her head on her hand. “You’re saying I should live there?”
Kaylie slanted her a confused look. “Of course. That’s the whole reason for having an at-home office. It’s at-home.” She punctuated her words with air quotes. “Geez, Jackie. I thought you were smarter than this.”
Jackie wrinkled her nose at Kaylie’s obvious teasing. “Apart from your disparagement of my intelligence, what you depicted would be optimal for diagnoses of medical ailments.” Jackie ignored Kaylie’s grin. “However, I’m still paying off student loans. Ergo,” Kaylie slapped her hands over her mouth when she snor
ted with amusement. “I don’t have the kind of money available for that type of investment.”
Before Kaylie could respond, the bedroom door opened. “Is this a private slumber party or can anyone join?”
Dean strode forward to take Kaylie’s outstretched hand and lift it to his lips. “Hmmm. Are you wearing perfume?”
When the women shot each other startled glances and broke out into giggles, Dean bounced his gaze from one to the other. “Something I said?”
“No. We were just spending some quality girl time together.”
Dean looked uncertain. “That’s good. I think.” He turned his gaze full on Kaylie, the desire obvious in his eyes. Jackie heard Kaylie’s soft gasp just before the energy in the room started to thicken.
“I’m going to get Zan’s belongings from his rental car.” Dean said. “You want me to take you home?”
“No, but, ah,” Kaylie sat up after a brief glance at Jackie. “I’ll go with you. I need to talk to you.”
Dean quirked one dark brow, “That’s never good.”
“Idiot,” Kaylie laughingly shoved Dean back to put on her shoes. “You should never assume. Besides. We’ve come up with some fantastic ideas to boost tourism.”
“Uh-huh. You’re female bonding time was spent talking about business?”
Jackie sat up and shrugged. “Maybe a little male bashing.”
“Speaking of which,” Dean took the comment in stride. “Try not to kill my brother before I return.”
“Hey. I’m a doctor. I don’t kill people.”
“Right. Honey, the look you had in your eyes before you left the room made me glad females don’t have claws.”
“What?” Kaylie asked. “Wait. What happened? What didn’t you tell me, Jackie?”
In that instance Jackie could have easily throttled her Alpha. “I’m sure Dean will tell you. Just remember, it’ll be from his dominant male point of view.”
What This Wolf Wants Page 3