by Rayna Tyler
When I pulled away panting, I stared at her lips again, now swollen from my ministrations. “I like this much better, but I’ll need another taste.”
“You will, huh?” she murmured.
“Absolutely.” After dipping my finger in the icing on the Danish, I dabbed it on her lip, then swiped my tongue across the soft surface, moving side to side and wiping away the layer and tasting the sweetness below. She moaned, opening for me, allowing me to delve deeper to show her the extent of my passion. What I really wanted was to shift her so she was straddling me and I could grind my erection between her legs. The more we played our tasting game, the more we kissed, the more my cock strained uncomfortably inside my pants.
Mandy was the first to pull out of our kiss, worry creasing her brow. She tilted her head to the side. “Did you hear that?”
I hadn’t heard anything, not until she’d brought it to my attention. I’d been too focused on the scent of her arousal and the soft moans she’d been making during our kisses to pay attention to anything happening around us. I jerked my head in the direction she was staring and detected an animal’s whimper.
She scooted off my lap and walked to the end of the porch where the ground sloped toward the crawlspace underneath. “There’s something under here.”
“Mandy, wait. Don’t go under there,” I ordered when she crouched and disappeared from view. A heavy weight pressed against my chest. My wolf snarled, and I was off the porch and around the corner in seconds. She was on her hands and knees, the front half of her body already slipping into the space created by two of the supporting beams.
“Hey, there,” she cooed softly and inched ahead slowly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
I knelt behind her and sniffed the air, unable to relax when I caught a dog’s scent. Her slender form filled the narrow space, and I couldn’t see past her to get a glimpse of what was hiding in the shadows. Images of something big and furry with teeth as sharp as my wolf’s sifted through my mind, increasing my anxiety. The thought of anything tearing into her soft flesh had my wolf snarling, pushing to shift, prepared to attack.
I gripped her ankle protectively, ready to drag her out at the first sign of trouble. “Mandy, come back out of there and leave it alone before it bites you.”
“Nick, it’s fine. Just give me a minute.” There was a hint of irritation in her determined tone. “Come here, baby.” Mandy was talking to the animal again, and I heard her pat the ground several times. “It’s okay. Come on.” The whimpers grew steadily stronger and closer.
“Got ya,” she exclaimed happily, then wiggled her rear and slowly backed toward me.
“Don’t ever do that again. Do you know how dangerous it is to mess with...” The admonishment died on my lips when she sat back on her haunches, clutching a small dog that barely covered the front of her chest.
“Poor little thing. Someone probably didn’t want him and dumped him out here.” Anger flared in her gaze, changing the crystal to a deep blue.
“Does that happen a lot?” I gripped her elbow and helped her stand. I didn’t know a lot about dogs but was pretty sure this one would be classified as a mutt. With all the dirt and mud covering its furry coat, it was hard to tell its natural color. The animal had its head tucked against her neck, its whole body shaking. The lack of nourishment was easily evident by the defined ribs beneath the thin layer of fur and skin. Even I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for the cowering creature.
“More than you’d think, though their survival rate isn’t very high. It’s a good thing we found this little guy when we did; otherwise...” She shuddered, then ran her hand soothingly along the animal’s spine. “Come on, killer, let’s get you fixed up before the big bad wolf decides to make a snack out of you,” Mandy teased, shooting me a reproachful glare, then moving around the porch and heading for her truck.
“Wait, where are you going?” I quickly closed the distance between us and placed my hand on her arm to stop her.
“Up to the lodge. Look at the poor thing, he’s starving, and Berkley might have some scraps we can feed him.”
I stared at the pathetic little bundle that nuzzled against her neck while keeping one of its eyes warily focused on me. I remembered hearing or reading somewhere that animals were a sure way to a woman’s heart. Selfishly, I wanted my wolf to be that animal, but was resigned to giving this four-legged interloper some attention if it meant I’d be able to score some points with Mandy. “Let’s take him to my cabin. It’s closer.”
After ushering Mandy and her bundle into the passenger seat of her truck, it didn’t take us long to make the short trip to my place. I followed her onto the porch, then paused with my hand on the door handle. “Just so we’re clear, if he or she makes a mess, you’re cleaning it up.”
“Deal.” Mandy sighed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head as she walked inside ahead of me. “We’ll need to give him a bath too, but it can wait until after we’ve fed him.”
I dug through the newly stocked food in my refrigerator and found a package of sliced beef I’d used to make sandwiches. Surprisingly, I found myself relating to the dog and what we had in common. I’d been a stray most of my adult life, moving from one job to the next, never staying in one place long, and never having a place I could call home.
Mandy had witnessed the feral nature of my wolf, at least a partial version, and had unconditionally accepted us. I had no doubt the dog’s life had just changed for the better, that she would do everything she could to protect it. Was it possible that, like the furry creature she cradled in her arms, I’d finally found a place where I could belong?
I set the plastic baggie on the counter, and before I could argue, Mandy was shoving the animal into my arms. “Here, why don’t you feed him while I run a bath for him?” She headed down the hall and smiled over her shoulder. “There’s towels in the closet, right?”
All the cabins had been set up for guests and were stocked with towels and linens. I snagged the pouch and followed her. “You’re going to use my bath towels for the dog.”
She pulled two towels off the shelf and walked into the bathroom. “Yes, unless you want me to use one of your T-shirts to dry him off.” She tugged on the side of her tank top. “Mine doesn’t have enough material.”
“You’re going to be more trouble than your worth, aren’t you?” I muttered to the dog and sat on the toilet. I pulled open the plastic and held out a piece of meat for the animal squirming anxiously on my lap. He eagerly took it from my hand, then barked for more.
Mandy giggled, then leaned over to run some water in the tub, presenting me with a nice view of her ass.
I fed the dog a few more slices and received several licks on my chin for the effort.
“He’s had enough,” she said, taking the bag from my hand and securing the seal before setting it on the counter next to the sink.
The dog was prancing on my thighs and whimpering again. “He doesn’t seem to think so.”
“Maybe not, but you might change your mind if he decides to throw up all over you from eating too much, too fast.”
I conceded that she made a good point. “Now what?” Mandy seemed to know what she was doing, so I decided to follow her lead.
“Now we see if we can get all that mud off him.” She held out her hands for the dog, then lifted him in the air to expose his underbelly. “He’s definitely a male.” She turned him to show me his equipment. “We’re going to have to come up with a name for you, aren’t we, little guy?”
“Trouble” and “pain in the ass” were the names that popped into my head. I didn’t believe Mandy would find them amusing, so I kept them to myself.
She cuddled the dog in her arms. “You aren’t going to whine if I use some of your shampoo to clean him, are you?”
“No, but I will expect a payment for use of my supplies.”
“What kind of payment are we talking about?” She innocently bit her lower lip, reminding me how soft and pliable it was, and
how much I wanted to sample it some more.
“A kiss...or three will be sufficient.”
“It sounds pretty steep, but I should be able to manage.”
I relinquished my spot on the toilet and removed the dog from her arms. After shutting the door, I set him on the floor, then placed my hands on her hips and tugged her closer. “I would have said four, but I didn’t want to push it.” I leaned forward and captured her lips, taking my time, reveling in the soft texture before working my tongue into her mouth and boldly sampling.
When I pulled away, she breathlessly asked, “And the other two?”
“You can owe me, collection due at my leisure.”
“Okay, then.” She glanced at the dog. “Let’s see about getting you cleaned up.” She knelt next to the tub and set him in the water. “Do you have a plastic cup or something I can use to pour water over him to get the shampoo out?”
“Sure, I’ll be right back.” By the time I returned, the dog’s fur was coated in a muddy lather and the water in the tub had changed to a murky brown.
While Mandy held the dog, I ran water into the plastic pitcher I’d found in the kitchen and poured it over his fur.
“Aren’t you handsome now that the dirt is gone,” she said, swiping her hand across the animal’s back and wiping some of the excess water off his coat of sandy-blond, no longer a dark brown fur.
The dog slipped out of her grip, splashing and jumping, trying to get out of the water. For a little guy, he made a huge mess. Water ended up on the floor, on Mandy’s face, and the front of her overalls and shirt were completely soaked. The animal clawed his way out of the tub, shaking and spraying more water the minute his paws touched the floor. She squealed and jumped to her feet, reaching for the dog and missing.
“No, you don’t.” I grabbed one of the towels and scooped him up before he could escape down the hall. Getting him dry was no easy feat. The little critter whimpered and squirmed, getting my shirt wet in the process.
Mandy took the other dry towel and used it to wipe her face and dab some of the moisture from her clothes. “That didn’t go as well as I’d expected.” She lifted the drain and rinsed out the tub, then draped the wet towels on the rim.
“Come on, you.” She took the dog from my arms and headed to the living room. As soon as she set him on the floor, he walked over to the door, lifted one paw, and scratched.
“What is he doing?” I asked, baffled by the animal’s behavior.
“He’s telling us he needs to go outside.” Mandy unlatched the screen, then pushed the door open and stepped onto the porch. “Maybe you won’t have to worry about your floors after all.” The dog slipped between her legs and ran straight to a nearby tree. A couple of sniffs later and he was lifting his leg. Once he’d completed his business, he scampered up the steps and back into the cabin.
Mandy smiled and turned her attention to me. “Would you mind if he stayed here?”
Was she crazy? “What? No... I...” Feeding and giving the animal a bath was one thing. Expecting me to take care of it was another. I had a hard enough time keeping myself out of trouble. What was I supposed to do with a dog? I stubbornly crossed my arms, ready to argue.
It was as if the dog understood what Mandy was asking. The little guy showed his support by dropping his rear end on the floor and swishing his tail back and forth. He stared up at me with expectant black eyes, then, to play on my sympathies, the damned thing threw in a few whimpers. I could’ve held out against the dog’s persistent attempts to win me over. Mandy, not so much.
She moved closer to me and placed her hands on my arms. “Please. If I take him to the animal shelter, he’ll end up getting put to sleep.” She bit the side of her lip and glanced down at the dog. “I’d take him to my house, but I’m working all day. My dad can’t take care of him, not with his broken leg.”
I could feel my resolve wavering and narrowed my gaze, trying to hold strong against those pleading blue eyes.
“It would only be temporary, just until my dad recovers.” She rubbed her fingers gently along my arm. “If it’ll help keep him out of your way, I’ll stop by every morning and take him with me while I work.”
The warm glide of her skin against mine soothed the tension radiating through me but didn’t alleviate the growing tightness in my pants. The prospect of having Mandy in my home every day had my wolf prancing. Keeping the dog, no matter how inconvenient, suddenly seemed appealing.
I lowered my arms and wrapped them around her waist, then pulled her against my chest. “I suppose I can deal with temporary.” Yeah, I had plenty of experience with temporary. Permanent was still a struggle, but I was willing to work on it.
“Thank you.” She smiled, placing her hands on my shoulders and giving me a kiss.
Never one to pass up an opportunity, I took control, turning what started out chaste into something passionate that left us panting. Since I wasn’t ready to let her go, I pressed my forehead to hers and held her tight.
Once Mandy’s breathing returned to normal, she said, “I should get back to work. That was a longer break than I normally take.” She pulled out of my arms and headed for the door. “You two have fun. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I glanced at the dog, wondering how one small female had managed to turn my life upside down.
Chapter Ten
NICK
The furry critter was starting to grow on me, not that I’d admit it to Mandy. Having Bear around, the name I’d attached to the dog, hadn’t been as bad as I’d imagined. He looked nothing like a bear. He was small, had stumpy legs, and his tail was longer than the entire length of his body. The name seemed to fit, and since the dog responded whenever I called him, I didn’t bother to change it.
For the next few days, the three of us got into a routine. Every morning as promised, Mandy would stop by my home to pick up Bear before going to the next cabin in her schedule. And like most days, when she tried calling him to her truck, the dog would ignore her and make himself comfortable on my porch.
She’d even resorted to bringing him treats, and he still wouldn’t budge. Bear didn’t have a problem snatching the snacks out of her hand, then scurrying off to hide under the bench I’d placed on the porch in front of my living room window.
Today, the air was cool, and a mild breeze laced with the scent of pine skimmed across my skin. After Mandy’s visit shortly after sunrise, I’d headed to one of the other cabins and climbed onto the roof, intent on replacing the old and worn shingles. By early afternoon, the heat from the sun would be beating down on the roof, making it less bearable to work. I slid another shingle into place and picked up my hammer.
I enjoyed working with my hands and had ever since I’d worked on construction sites. Even if my grandfather hadn’t left a portion of the resort to me, I’d still want to help my siblings, to feel useful. Handling some of the renovations was one of the ways I was contributing. It kept us from having to contract someone else to do it and saved us quite a bit of money.
“Nick.”
I hadn’t expected to see Mandy for a couple more hours and was surprised to hear her voice. “Yeah,” I eagerly replied, then laid down the hammer and got to my feet. I walked to the edge of the roof and peered down at her. “Are you calling it quits already?” I smiled, something I found myself doing more and more since I’d met her.
She leveled her hand next to her forehead, shielding her eyes from the sun’s glare. “No, I’ve run into some problems. I need to...”
I didn’t give her time to finish before jumping from the roof’s edge, landing two feet in front of her. Startled, she squeaked and fell backward. Damn, I hadn’t meant to scare her. Luckily, I had enhanced reflexes and was able to stop her from falling by grabbing her hips and steadying her.
She gripped the front of my shirt. “You, you... I didn’t know shifters could do that.” She didn’t pull away, seemingly too fascinated with my abilities to leap off a building without being hurt. “Is that how
you got up there?”
I splayed my hands along her lower back, enjoying how good she felt pressed up against my chest. Lately, I couldn’t get enough of her. There was a subtle hint of strawberry in her scent again, and it was driving my wolf crazy. I decided to keep her close a little longer. “Nah, I used the ladder.” I glanced toward the side of the cabin where I’d braced the aluminum piece of equipment against the wall earlier. “Only cats can jump that high.”
A grin tugged at the corners of Mandy’s lips. She smoothed the fabric on my shoulders, then slid her hands around my neck. “You’re not talking about house cats, are you?”
I winked. “Nope.”
“Just how many kinds of shifters are there?”
“A few.” I tightened my grip and nuzzled the side of her neck, nipping her earlobe. “So what did you need?” She’d mentioned running into a problem and I hoped it was something that required my assistance.
“Stop that. I have work to do.” She squirmed, though her limited effort wasn’t enough to get away from me. “I don’t have all the parts I need to finish the repair on cabin 405. I tried to reach Reese to let him know, but he’s not answering his phone. If you see him, would you tell him I had to drive over to the supply store in Hanford?”
Landlines worked fine in the area, but I knew there were times when cell phone coverage was intermittent. It might be the reason she was having trouble reaching my brother. Either that or he wasn’t answering because he was tied up in interviews with candidates for the new security team. A task that was taking longer than expected. With the problems Bishop presented, Reese and Berkley had agreed to my idea of hiring more shifters versus using humans. If things turned ugly, they’d be better equipped to deal with Bishop’s men.
Not many locals were willing to get involved with someone as powerful as Bishop, which limited our prospects to candidates from other cities or out-of-state—a time-consuming process.
Admittedly, I didn’t want to let her go to Hanford by herself. Not because she wasn’t capable, but because I was finding it harder and harder to be away from her. My wolf was even worse, prancing around restlessly every minute she wasn’t near us.