Noah skimmed kisses over her back and shoulder, along the side of her neck. Without warning, he sank his teeth into the curve where her neck and shoulder joined. That was all she needed. The knot snapped and spun frantically. The release that had shimmered just out of reach burst and pulled her under.
She was vaguely aware of both Noah and Lucas powering through her clenching, rippling muscles, riding her through the orgasm. Lucas grabbed her ass and held her tight to him as he stiffened, coming hard. Noah followed him several seconds later with a few more wild thrusts into her ass.
The only sound in the room was the crackle of the dying embers and the rasp of heavy breathing as they all collapsed on the bed in a tangle of limbs like sleepy puppies. Or cubs, she supposed with a muffled laugh.
Noah kissed the damp skin of her back. “Something funny?”
She shook her head. “Not really.”
He’d give anything to know what she was thinking, but he suspected she wasn’t ready to talk right now. “Are you okay?”
“Oh yeah. That was…amazing.”
Lucas and Quinn mumbled their agreement.
Noah stared at where Lucas was still lodged inside his woman and felt a twinge of jealousy. More like a stab, really. He buried his face in Gwen’s hair, wondering when he’d started thinking of her as his. He supposed the question of when didn’t really matter. He couldn’t deny the overwhelming feeling of connection he experienced with her.
“Hey Lucas, will you go grab a warm washcloth? And Quinn will you get a glass of water?”
Quinn brushed a soft kiss across her forehead before pushing off the bed and stumbling for the door. Lucas groaned, but carefully withdrew from her body. Noah didn’t miss her shiver of enjoyment as his cousin’s piercings teased her swollen flesh and he wondered how much getting them would hurt.
Lucas pressed a tender kiss to her lips before heading toward the bathroom, and Noah felt another stab of jealousy. Gently, he eased from her body to her sleepy murmur of protest. He tightened his arms around Gwen’s waist and nuzzled her neck. He’d never experienced this kind of intensity before. She roused feelings in him he would have sworn he wasn’t capable of. He’d known from the moment he’d met her that she was different. If he was honest with himself, that had been part of the reason he’d avoided her for so long. But now that he knew how accepting, how giving she was, he had no intention of letting her go. The question was, would she be interested in only him?
Though Lucas and Quinn had shared plenty of women, he never had. But he’d sensed it would bring her pleasure, so he’d initiated it. He never would have believed how arousing it would be to see another man plunging his cock into Gwen. Even now, his dick rose slightly at the thought. Although, he had to admit, he couldn’t imagine sharing her with anyone but his cousins. Not that he foresaw it being an everyday occurrence. The instincts she stirred in him were far too possessive for that. She was his.
Gwen stifled a yawn as Quinn returned with the glass of water. She covered her breasts as if suddenly shy after everything they’d just shared and reached for the cup with her other hand.
“Thanks,” she murmured before downing the liquid in several swallows. With another yawn, she snuggled against Noah as the other man left the room.
It wasn’t difficult to imagine keeping her close to his side indefinitely. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for something permanent, but he knew he had no intention of letting things return to the way they had been before last night. Was it only last night? It seemed as if a far greater length of time had passed.
Lucas entered the room with a wet washcloth and moved toward Gwen, but Noah held out his hand. As much as he’d enjoyed their time together, he wanted to be alone with her now. A small smirk lifted the corner of Lucas’ mouth and he tossed the damp fabric to Noah before exiting.
Urging her to her back, he gently swiped the warm cloth over her pussy.
Her cheeks flushed with color. “You don’t have to—I can do that.”
He dropped a tender kiss on her lips. “I want to.”
Her blush deepened and she closed her eyes.
After he finished seeing to her needs, he urged her toward the middle of the bed and dragged the covers over them. She drifted off almost immediately—not that he was surprised. After everything she’d experienced, she had to be exhausted. He knew he was.
Lucas and Quinn hovered near the doorway. “We’re going out,” Quinn whispered.
“To shift?” he asked.
Both men nodded.
“Not by yourselves—not after last night.” They needed to work on their communication techniques. While in shifted form, they didn’t have the luxury of spoken language, and grunts and growls only expressed so much—as evidenced by Quinn running out in front of Gwen’s car.
“We’ll wait for you out front.”
Over time and prolonged exposure to the natural bears, they might learn a portion of the language. For now, they’d need to rely on the other forms of communication. Gestures were helpful, but more often than not, they turned into an inept game of charades. Sending thoughts to one another was far more useful. Their bear brains couldn’t process their human words, but by projecting images, they could at least engage in a basic communication process. Unfortunately, the practice of sending and receiving images took time to master, and neither Lucas nor Quinn was very far along in the process.
Not wanting to leave the warmth of Gwen’s lush body, he lingered a few moments more. He knew he needed to get out there soon. Quinn would wait for him, but Lucas had the patience of an overtired toddler. Sighing, he slipped from the bed. Gwen frowned in her sleep and reached for him. He smoothed her hair from her face and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. He’d make it up to her later.
* * * *
Gwen wasn’t sure what woke her, but stark winter sunlight shown through the curtains in Noah’s bedroom and the bed was cold beside her. He’d left her now dry clothes folded in a pile at the foot of the bed. He couldn’t have given her a clearer message about overstaying her welcome. An empty bed and folded clothes was guy shorthand for ‘don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.’
Taking the pile, she scooted into the bathroom across the hall and took a quick shower. Hot water sluiced over her body and she got a good look at the bruises marring her skin. There were a few she was sure were from the accident. Then there were those other marks—fingertip shaped bruises on her hips and whisker burn over her breasts and on the insides of her thighs. She leaned her head against the shower wall in mortification as the memories came rushing back.
Had she actually done that—had sex with three men? Even if the marks on her body hadn’t been proof enough, her pleasantly aching muscles certainly were. Quickly, she soaped her body, wanting to dress and hide the evidence of what she’d done. She didn’t regret it—not really. It had been an amazing experience, but it was probably the end of any chance she’d had with Noah.
Even if he had been interested in her, he couldn’t be now. Not after she’d fucked two other men right in front of him. Granted, they’d all been in it together, but who wanted to date someone who would do everybody in the room? Shame slithered through her. No wonder he hadn’t been there when she’d woken up. Any interest he might have had in her had likely lessened with every cock she’d taken.
Rinsing and drying, she dressed as fast as she could. Her underwear were missing, but she didn’t waste time looking for them. She needed to get out of here and put as much distance as possible between her and her biggest mistake ever. Though she was embarrassed to face them, she couldn’t call for a tow truck from the bathroom. Brushing and braiding her hair, she made her way to the kitchen. The room was empty. She was pretty sure the entire cabin was empty. The only sounds she heard anywhere in the house were the crackling of the fire in the living room and the hum of the refrigerator.
Looking around for a phone book, she caught sight of the kitchen table. Embarrassment flooded through her at th
e memory of what had taken place on it a few hours earlier. She really needed to get out of here before the guys came back. She wasn’t sure she could manage to be in the same room with them—and the table. Besides, the fact that they’d all taken off was a clear indication that it was time to move on.
Gwen spotted an ancient rotary dial phone mounted to the wall next to the pine wood cabinet. She pulled open the drawer beneath the phone to find a familiar yellow and white phonebook. Flipping through it, she dialed the number for the garage that was down the road from the motel where she was staying.
After giving the driver the approximate location of her Jeep, she scratched a quick note to Noah and stuck it on the fridge with a magnet. Putting on her winter gear and gathering her belongings, she set out through the lightly falling snow. Bear tracks were visible in the snow surrounding the house. Luckily, they headed off in the opposite direction that she needed to go.
A pang of regret stabbed at her as she turned to look at the cozy cabin. As much as she was beginning to care for Noah, she couldn’t stay. It was too complicated. The sex had been fantastic—both one on one and with the other guys. Even now, her body tightened eagerly at the memory of their hands and mouths on her, their cocks inside her. She’d enjoyed it, but it was Noah she truly wanted. She couldn’t see that happening now. Her heart sank a little further. No matter what, she’d made the choice to have that experience, and now she’d need to live with the consequences of that choice.
She nearly groaned when she thought of returning to work Monday. Awkward wouldn’t begin to cover their working relationship. Perhaps she’d be best off requesting that transfer after all. It would be easier than working day to day with Noah, wondering what a relationship with him would have been like. She already knew what falling in love with him would be like. She’d been well on her way there for a while now.
* * * *
As soon as Noah had entered the house, he’d known she was gone. A damp towel had been hung on the rack in the bathroom and his bed had been neatly made. The lingering scent of her skin had faded and a single sheet of paper hung on the fridge. He glanced at the note that lay crumpled on the seat of his truck.
See you Monday. Gwen
That was it? After everything they’d shared, he couldn’t believe she’d take off without saying goodbye. He thought they’d made a connection. He certainly felt one, anyway. Foolishly, he thought she had, too.
He’d called her cell and left numerous messages on her voice mail. She hadn’t called back. He supposed it could be that her battery was dead, or she just had a bad signal, but more likely, she was avoiding him.
Now he drove the slick curves of highway forty-one in the snowy darkness. The roads weren’t as bad as they had been the night before, but they weren’t good. He assumed Gwen had hitched a ride with whatever driver she’d hired to pull her vehicle from the ditch.
He knew that she was staying in a little mom and pop place somewhere along Lake Superior, about twenty miles from the field office, but that was all he had to go on. He’d considered driving back to the office, but the secretary kept the personnel files on her computer. Her passworded computer.
With no other options, he stopped by the office of every motel he could find. Either she wasn’t staying at any of them, or the managers were trying to protect her from unwanted company. It made sense, he grudgingly admitted to himself. She was a woman staying alone—he could be an ax murderer for all these people knew.
Having checked every motel between his place and the next three towns, he admitted defeat and headed home. He looked at his phone. She hadn’t called.
* * * *
The rest of the weekend had been hellishly long. He’d left another message, but as he’d expected, she hadn’t returned his call. When he arrived at work that morning, she was already there. A sliver of light in her office shown under her closed door. Not wasting any time, he bypassed his own office and knocked on the door. All sounds within the room ceased.
“C’mon, Goldilocks, I know you’re in there. Let me in”
A shadow interrupted the light shining under the door and he heard a distinct thud.
“Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin,” she said softly.
“Wrong story.” He tossed her panties in his hand. “I’ve got some stuff that belongs to you.” Like my heart.
“Just leave whatever it is outside the door. I’ll get it later.”
“For a woman who’s brave enough to face down a full sized black bear to save a stranger, you’re a chickenshit. Besides, I don’t think you’re going to want me to leave this in the hallway.”
“Fuck you,” she muttered.
“Maybe later. I need to talk to you.”
After what seemed like an endless pause, she asked, “Are you alone?”
Anger flared low in his gut. “Yes. Is that a problem?” Lucas and Quinn were both worried about her—that they’d pushed her too far, but he wasn’t about to mention that right now.
The thunking of the lock tumbling over tightened the knot of frustration in his gut. Finally, the door opened, and she stood there staring at him, the glow from the overhead light haloing her head.
“No.” She scowled. “It’s not a problem.” Her expression faltered, but she met his gaze. Dark circles marred the pale skin beneath her eyes. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. She glanced furtively down the hallway before looking back to him. “Look, the other night was an aberration. Just because I did what I did—and enjoyed it—doesn’t mean that you can drop in any old time and expect that I’m going to bend over backwards for you.”
His lips twitched and he tried not to chuckle. “I prefer it when you bend over forward.”
Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest.
The laugh escaped. “That’s not why I’m here, Gwen.”
“Then why?”
“Can I come in?”
She stepped aside, and he placed her underwear in her hand.
With seeming reluctance, she shut the door behind him. “Thanks. I was wondering where these had gone.”
“Actually, the panties are just a convenient excuse.” He tossed her the wadded up note. “This is the real reason I’m here.”
She caught it and smoothed out the paper, frowning. “What about it?”
“Why did you leave so suddenly—without even saying goodbye?”
Her eyes darted to the note in her hand, uncertainty in her gaze. “I thought this was goodbye. Besides, it was pretty clear you guys were ready for me to move on.”
“What are you talking about?”
Color brightened her cheeks. “Usually a guy doesn’t let you know he wants you to stay by leaving you in an empty bed with your clothes folded and ready to go.”
He tugged on her braid, urging her closer. “Did it ever occur to you that I didn’t want you to have to wander around the house naked to search for your clothes?”
“Not so much.”
“And you didn’t return my calls, because…?”
She sighed and looked away. “Because I was afraid it would be awkward.”
“More awkward than us having to work together today when all I can think about is how good you taste and how beautiful you are when you come?”
She swallowed. “I was hoping we could do the adult thing and carry on like nothing happened.”
He snorted. “Not likely.”
“And I was afraid that if I talked to you, you’d do something like apologize for what happened.”
“Apologize for being with the most fascinating woman I’ve ever met? I don’t think so.”
She rolled her eyes and started to turn away, but he held tight to her braid and cupped her cheek with his free hand.
“About the other night,” he began.
“It was great. Amazing, even.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she still raised her clear green eyes to meet his gaze.
“Do you regret it?” Waiting for her answer was like teetering on the edg
e of a cliff.
“No,” she finally said, her voice quiet. “But I don’t want you to think that fucking you and your cousins left, right and sideways is going happen all the time.”
He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “I don’t care if you never fuck them again.”
Her eyes widened.
“I’m not going to lie,” he continued. “It was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen, but I’m much more interested in you fucking me.”
Her breath caught and her nipples peaked against the knit shirt she wore.
Her lips pursed in annoyance, and it was all he could do not to kiss her. “Just because we had fantastic sex doesn’t mean I’m your designated fuck buddy.”
The urge overwhelmed him and he lowered his mouth to hers, capturing her lips. She stiffened for a moment, then parted beneath him, inviting him in. Slipping his arms around her body, he drew her to him, reveling in her sweet warmth. Breathless, she melted against him, lifting her arms to lock around his neck. Eventually, he broke the kiss.
“I don’t want a fuck buddy.” He stared into her eyes. “I want you.”
Her mouth opened and closed again just as suddenly. The surprise in her eyes was unmistakable.
“Can we start again? You? Me? Maybe a dinner date?” She glanced at the clock on the wall. He shrugged. “Or breakfast?”
“Or…” She looked meaningfully toward the couch in the corner of her office. “We could order in.”
Laughing, he tightened his arms around her. “I like the way you think, Goldilocks.”
She dragged her fingers through his hair at the nape of his neck, a smile curving her soft pink lips. “It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I don’t think the story is supposed to end this way.”
“What way?”
“With Goldilocks well on her way to falling in love with one of the three bears.”
His heart lightened at her admission.
She unzipped his coat and shoved it off his body onto the floor before trailing kisses along the side of his neck. “But,” she continued. “She’s pretty clever about figuring out which one is just right.”
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