A Lady's Heart (Takhini Shifters Book 3)

by Vivian Arend

  A dark-skinned man rounded the front of the camper, walking toward them wearing nothing but a smile.

  He was obviously the person Justin was waiting for, because instead of pouncing on the fellow, or shouting, Justin just let out an enormous sigh.

  “Are you really planning on driving like that?”

  The other man shrugged. “Clothes make me itch.”

  “Fine, your choice, but I’m not bailing you out if you get arrested.” Justin turned to Mandy to offer introductions. “This is Dale. That’s his Land Rover we were just in.”

  Dale offered a fancy bow, hand waving before him as he bent low toward her. “And ’tis my camper you’ll be enjoying, as well. If there’s anything else you need, you be sure to let me or my kin know. We’re at your disposal, milady.”

  “Umm, thank you. If there’s anything I can do in return…”

  Dale’s gaze jumped between her and Justin before settling on her again. “No favours required,” he insisted.

  He walked past them and climbed into the Land Rover.

  “If you get pulled over, the RCMP are going to go ballistic on your bare bear ass,” Justin warned.

  Dale closed the door before rolling down the window and leaning out. “There’s a pretty young lass on the department in these parts. If she pulls me over, I’m sure we can come to some better arrangement than me spending the night behind cold metal bars.”

  He offered a cheeky wink before backing the vehicle up and turning it around. A low layer of dust rose from under the tires as he drove slowly to disappear around the corner.

  Justin guided Mandy to the camper and got her buckled in. “You can look around later. I want to get on the highway.”

  Mandy had a million questions buzzing in her brain, and burning curiosity seemed to be her go-to new status. “Dale is a very— Oh no! He’s got our suitcases.”

  Instead of panicking or grabbing for his phone to call the other bear shifter back, Justin put the camper in gear and manoeuvered out of the trees, heading to the highway.

  Where he turned east, returning to Whitehorse.

  Justin glanced at her. “Dale will drop our bags off as soon as he’s had a chance to run them under a bug scanner, just to make sure no one’s left any surprises for either of us.”

  Wow. This was getting way more twisted and complicated than she’d expected. “So…are we camping in Whitehorse?”

  “No. Too close to unknown factors. I’ve got a safe house for us where we can hide and have fun working on your list.”

  With everything that had been going on over the past hour, her list seemed unimportant, and yet it was clear Justin was determined to stick to his commitment.

  Which made it easier for Mandy to relax and go with the flow. “You really do know what you’re doing.”

  “I really do.”

  She adjusted the seat slightly so she could lean back farther, looking out the window as the lights of Whitehorse drew nearer.

  Chapter Six

  Mandy tried her best to stay awake, but the smooth ride after the full day slowly toppled her into dreamland.

  She felt wonderfully rested when sleep finally let her go. She woke up in a comfortable shifter-sized bed—i.e. big enough to hold her and an entire family of bears.

  For one moment she held her breath in hopeful anticipation before rolling over to discover an empty space at her side. Disappointment that Justin wasn’t with her made her think hard about what she wanted.

  Their little excursion out of Whitehorse had been unplanned, but Justin was right. Even though she needed to stay safe that didn’t mean she should be willing to give up on the next steps in her life.

  Mandy rolled again. Satiny smoothness teased her skin as she slipped her legs over the edge of the bed. She glanced down at a familiar nightgown, then over at the side table where her suitcase sat open.

  Faint memories returned. Justin bringing her into the apartment, laughing softly at her sleepy clumsiness before leaving the room to let her slip into her night clothes and under the covers.

  Her clothes from the previous day were neatly folded on a nearby chair. She got dressed quickly, glancing around the comfortably established room with curiosity before making her way toward the door behind which a soft, repetitive noise trickled.

  The floorboards were warm underfoot, and beautiful pictures of wild mountain scenery hung on the walls as she stepped quietly into the living space.

  Justin stood behind the island counter, whisk in hand as he rapidly beat batter in an oversized bowl.

  He offered a smile. “Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

  Mandy glanced at the clock on the wall oven. “Wow. It’s nearly good afternoon.”

  “Ten o’clock isn’t that late, and we’ve got no agenda. I figured you should sleep until you were done.”

  She settled onto the stool on the side opposite him. “What time did we get here?”

  “About four in the morning.”

  Whoa. “I hope you slept.”

  “Enough. I can nap later if necessary. Let me finish this and get it in the oven, then I can show you around.”

  He poured the batter into muffin tins, expertly filling each one to the exact same level without pausing or spilling on the countertop.

  His competence at so many things, big and small, astounded her, and reminded her all over again that there was so much she didn’t know. So many basic life skills along with the recreational activities, and she was like a little child wandering into the big, wide world for the first time.

  She considered the sensation in her gut carefully, pleased to discover it wasn’t a lack of confidence or hopelessness that had settled in hard, but more a sense of anticipation for what she had to look forward to learning.

  All in all, that was a far better realization than returning to the fear and separation from community that had been part of her life for so long.

  Mandy found herself smiling happily as she waited for him to finish and put the tin in the oven.

  Justin dusted the flour from his big hands. “Twenty-five minutes until breakfast, and after, we can go explore.”

  “You want to tell me where we are?”

  He blinked. “My bad. We’re in Chicken.”

  Mandy opened her mouth to answer him, but nothing seemed to come in answer to such a weird proclamation. “Okay…”

  Justin laughed softly. “Let me clean up. Take a peek—there should be a great view of Main Street from there.”

  She followed his pointing finger to the edge of a floor–to-ceiling window, which with the lofted ceiling meant the curtain she pushed aside revealed a massive sheet of glass. The second-floor vantage gave her an unobstructed view, and she stared down excitedly.

  It was like looking at a set for an old western movie. False fronted buildings sat along a rustic wooden boardwalk. The road was snow-covered dirt, or fine gravel, and glancing along the entire length of roadway, she didn’t spot a single set of street lights.

  The vehicles on the street were the only giveaway that they hadn’t traveled back in time. Although the first truck she spotted was circa 1920s, the next was a sleek, modern Hummer that pulled up to the curb behind it.

  The grocery store behind the vehicles had rows of produce displayed on wooden racks outside the door, and a man in overalls was clearing the boardwalk of snow with a pushbroom. A woman in skirts that brushed the bare boards strolled up with a parasol over her shoulder to examine the apples.

  Mandy had never heard of the town, but this was beyond anything she’d expected. “Is there a reenactment society in town—?”

  Her question died off in the middle as the doors of the Hummer opened, and two humans got out followed by a huge number of what at first glance looked like dogs. Mandy examined them closer, gasping in surprise as a couple in the group shifted to human form, standing naked on the street as they pointed in different directions, obviously debating which way to go first.

  “Whoa.”

  J
ustin stood beside her, amusement in his voice as he answered. “Yes, it’s a shifter town.”

  “Only shifters?”

  He leaned forward, pointing to the opposite side of the street where a pair of wolverines marched shoulder to shoulder. “The rare human shows up, but they mostly pass straight through. We’re in a very remote part of Alaska right now, and at this time of year especially, the only people here are the ones who belong.”

  Mandy gave in to temptation, leaning against the warmth of his body. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Most countries have a few shifter towns. Chicken is unusual in that it’s got all sorts of types of shifters instead of only wolves, or cats, or whatever.”

  “And they don’t fight?”

  “Of course they fight.” He stroked a hand down her arm. “They just make up faster than usual, and they tend not to tear the place apart, which is helpful.”

  “I don’t like fighting.”

  He twisted her, and it was the most natural thing to slip into his arms. “Princess.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t like violence or the political games. And I don’t fight.”

  One brow rose, but he seemed completely focused on stroking her hair behind her ear. A quiet and intimate movement.

  Suddenly, he stepped his feet wider and tugged her tightly against his body. “You fight yourself.” He pointed between them. “You fight what comes naturally, like the heat between us.”

  True—until now. “Who said anything about fighting it any longer?”

  Mandy melted against him as she tilted her head back to accept the kiss he offered. She pressed her palms to his chest and let the heat of his body wrap around her.

  His touch remained gentle as he enticed all her senses, and she became more alert. As if she’d woken up, not just her body, but her entire self.

  It was time for this. It was time to enjoy the attraction they felt, and she slid her hands higher until she could grasp behind his neck and pull him even closer.

  Justin growled his approval, hands dropping to her hips before he easily lifted her in the air, not breaking contact between their mouths. He walked blindly away from the window, and she wasn’t exactly sure where they were going because she was concentrating on how good it was to have him stroke their tongues together. How light and delicate she felt in his possessive grasp on her hips.

  Heat rose in her body as he worked her over, playing. Teasing.

  He settled her on a hard surface, and the next thing she knew his hands were pressing her legs farther apart.

  “I want to taste you everywhere,” he growled, need and desire powerfully clear in his voice.

  She nipped at his lips, kissing lightly before withdrawing. Taunting him, taunting them both.

  She’d have continued to play for a lot longer but he clearly had a different agenda in mind, because the next thing she knew she was naked from the waist down and Justin was on his knees before her. He dragged her hips forward to the edge of the counter and put his mouth to Ground Zero.

  “Oh, yes.”

  He licked and stroked, fingertips sinking into her butt cheeks as he shifted her ever so slightly, changing pressure to direct the torment perfectly. Softer now as he eased up one side of her folds then down the other before gently tugging her clit. Small motions that increased in tempo and pressure until she was one second away from exploding.

  And—he pulled back.

  Her body stuttered to a stop.

  “Justin,” she complained.

  He glanced up, a glint of amusement mixed with the fire in his eyes. “I’m not done. That was the appetizer. Now I’m ready to enjoy myself.”

  He slid a hand over her belly and upward, pressing on her torso until she was forced to lie flat on the countertop. Feet on the edge, her head resting on solid granite. She stared at the ceiling above her where a delicate chandelier of sparkling glass hung. Some of the jewel-like pieces were made of stained glass…

  That’s about when her vision began to blur, because now that he had her in the position he wanted, Justin went back to work, driving his tongue deep and sending her senses reeling.

  Pressure increased as he slipped a finger into her sex, her aching flesh welcoming him as a shiver shot over her skin. He eased back then thrust again, over and over until she reached out and buried her fingers in his hair.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” she ordered, desperately hoping he’d obey her, because if he didn’t want to, there wasn’t much she could do to stop him from moving.

  Justin answered by licking more firmly, a second finger easing in with the first.

  It’d been so long since she’d felt anyone’s touch except her own, it was no wonder she was seconds away from climax. A few more strokes, a few more caresses and she’d be there.

  But he didn’t play fair, easing off the pressure just enough to make her complain vehemently.

  He lifted over her, leaning one elbow on the island beside her as he gazed into her eyes, his fingers buried in her body. “I hate to rush, but sometimes we just need to get the job done. I bet you’re pretty when you come.”

  It had to be his thumb circling over and over with slowly increasing pressure to her clit as he rubbed his fingertips inside her sex. The tension timed perfectly to drive her anticipation to the edge and then beyond, welcoming the orgasm as it shook her entire body. Her sex clamped down on his fingers, and she fought desperately to keep her eyes open, staring back as he hummed in approval as she lost control.

  Justin truly was good at everything he put his hand to.

  Every time she thought her body was done, he adjusted his fingers and drove her on. Waves struck like the ocean during a storm, each one breaking and crashing into the next until she collapsed bonelessly, unable to take anymore.

  Justin eased his hand free as he leaned over her, the hard length of his erection pressing against her leg. He didn’t seem unhappy, though. Quite the contrary. He smiled before lifting his hand to his mouth and licking his fingers clean.

  Mandy opened her mouth to say something, although she wasn’t sure quite what was appropriate. A simple thank you seemed inadequate, but then the timer on the stove went off, and Justin pulled her to a sitting position before pressing a brief kiss to her lips.

  “Stay right there,” he ordered.

  She was dazed enough to not care she was bare-assed naked, legs wide as she watched him be all-domestic and pull their breakfast from the oven.

  There was no shame in what they’d done, although she really hoped she’d be able to do something for him in return soon.

  Justin didn’t consider himself good martyr material. He knew exactly what he liked, and he mostly managed to live in a way that pleased him. Comfortable surroundings were the norm, his time in the wolf pack house not withstanding. He rarely had to forgo creature comforts even in his role as bodyguard for Tyler.

  But when it came down to it, he was willing to make whatever sacrifices were needed to meet his goals and complete the challenges of his day.

  Only current and ongoing goal: keep Mandy safe and make her happy. In that order. If he could do both at the same time, all the better. The fact making her happy would involve sex as well as excursions?

  Justin Cullinan was one contented bear.

  Point in case—that morning bringing her pleasure had been the highlight of his past few days. He had no intention of rushing her, and if she needed more time, he’d give it to her. Yup, he was willing to provide all the oral sex she could handle.

  Meanwhile he was focusing on the first part of the task, keeping her safe as she wandered town checking everything out, her fingers tangled in his. All talk of her to-do list had seemingly been forgotten, which was fine. Although he hoped she’d come back to it eventually, because he was looking forward to the more physical requirements, like when she decided it was time to move forward and finally put her hands on him intimately.

  His cock rose at the thought, and he adjusted himself casuall
y to a less painful position.

  Mandy stood in front of the plaque that explained how the town got its name, laughing out loud when she reached the end. “That is something I would have done. My family used to tease me unmercifully for how poor my spelling was.”

  Justin shifted his body slightly to protect her from a group walking past in the opposite direction. “Face it, Ptarmigan would have made a great name for the town, but it isn’t the easiest word to spell. But you think they would have picked something else completely.”

  “No, Chicken works perfectly—it’s funny. Like…ptarmigans are arctic chickens, right?” Her nose wrinkled adorably. “Wait. Are there any ptarmigan shifters?”

  “Probably,” he said with a smile. “Only the gentler shifters tend to stay a little more isolated.”

  “For good reason, I suppose.”

  Justin shrugged. “Shifters are shifters. We’re all tougher than humans, even those who don’t have fur or sharp teeth. And don’t discount any of the wild kingdom—you ever been on the wrong side of an ordinary red-winged blackbird? Dangerous and territorial, even though they’re small.”

  She shook her head then got distracted and pulled him into another shop where he waited for her to finish wandering the aisles, exclaiming over the pretty clothes and intricate knickknacks.

  Utterly patient. Aching for more.

  It was nearly two p.m. before her stomach grumbled loudly enough they both heard it. Mandy glanced down at her bare wrist before grabbing his to check his watch.

  She twitched in surprise before turning to punch him playfully on the arm. “You’re so bad. Why didn’t you say it was so late? You must be starving.”

  “We ate a late breakfast,” he told her. “I’m a big boy. I won’t cry if I miss a meal.”

  Her gaze drifted over him, and her smile shifted to something far more along the lines of what he was hoping for.

  “You are a big boy.” She stepped closer, licking her lips as she leaned against him, her head barely to the middle of his chest. “Got any ideas of somewhere tasty you’d like to go?”

  Back to the apartment and into bed?