Laughing, Tess caught her sister in a welcoming hug. “What are you doing here?”
“I was almost home when I got Caleb's call. Shit. Let me go. I can't breathe.” Panting, Kaylie dropped her bag and rested her hands on her thighs. “First, is anyone hurt? No? God! I waited forever at the foot of the driveway and then snuck up with Dean to show him the hollowed tree where the secret entrance was. Then I ran back to my car to get my medical bag just in case. I was hoofing it back up the drive when I heard the gunshot and then bolted the rest of the way. Could our driveway be any longer?”
Caleb walked over and lifted Kaylie's shorter frame completely off the floor in a huge hug. “Thank you.”
A soft growl had him glancing over Kaylie's shoulder to see Dean glaring at them, his green eyes glittering with amber. Surprised, wondering, Caleb mouthed the same words to Dean. His alpha seemed to shake himself free of his irritation and gave Caleb a tight nod before escaping silently down the stairs.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Within the hour, Jack Hodgins, who owned the local hardware store, not only installed a new front door to replace the one Caleb had smashed through, he'd replaced the kitchen door as well, both heavy-duty steel-core no less.
Phil, who'd hung around until the women were considered secure, took off with a plastic baggie full of fresh chocolate chip cookies and a smitten wave. Men sure loved her mother's baking.
Finally the house was restored to order and cleaned, which took three times as long as it should have because people from all over town kept coming by with casseroles and desserts to assure themselves the Gentry women were safe and sound. By five o'clock, the house was full and Tess, assured her mom and sister were in good hands with Jackie, Martin and Dolen keeping sharp eyes on everyone, took off with one of the many casseroles to Caleb's house. He'd stripped the key off his ring before leaving earlier, asking Tess to meet him at his place.. She was more than happy to comply.
So here she was, in Caleb's beautiful house complete with four bedrooms, a huge gourmet kitchen, a living room, a den, plus two full bathrooms and one powder room. The Jacuzzi tub in the master bath was too tempting to leave alone, so after her tour, Tess undressed and took a nice, quiet, long soak.
Which was how Caleb found her.
Eyes at half-mast with appreciation, he leaned against the door frame, slowly perusing every visible creamy inch of her skin. “Now that's what I call the perfect way to welcome me home,” he said in a tone full of lazy appreciation.
Tess smiled, eyes closed. “I can think of a better way to welcome you home.”
“Oh?” Curious, hopeful, he raised a brow, eyes glinting hot.
“Mmm.” Tess opened one eyes and cocked a come-hither finger.
Far from stupid, Caleb undressed in record time and lowered himself behind Tess, flanking her legs with his, her ass resting against his erection. He wrapped both hands around her, one curving up to cup a breast, the other snaking between her thighs. After what seemed like eons of abstinence Tess was beyond aroused and his fingers moved like silk over the seam of her pussy, slipping with practiced eased through her soft folds.
She arched into his touch, sighing with pleasure. “I love you.”
He froze. “What?”
She twisted around until she straddled his legs and took his slack jawed face in her hands. “I love you, Caleb Bennett. I planned on telling you tonight and, well,” she glanced out the window over the tub. The obscure glass patterned with rain droplets reflected their image so that tiny Tess-and-Calebs looked back at them. “It's tonight.”
“I…you…”
When he couldn't form any words, she kissed him. “I love you,” she repeated.
Slowly understanding dawned. First his eyes lit with a wondrous glow and then his mouth curved into a huge grin. “I love you, Tess.” He straightened, holding her head still as he slanted his mouth over hers with a ravenous kiss. “I love you, I love you.” He chanted between kisses, easing down her neck until he suckled on his mark.
Her womb contracted sharply at the first touch of his tongue and her insides turned to jelly. Even as he continued to nuzzle her, she reached to position him and eased down, taking his rigid cock into her aching core. He groaned and nipped at her flesh, his hands running all over her body.
She rose up, oblivious to the water sloshing over the tub edge, sliding over his engorged flesh. Inner muscles rippling impatiently as she took more of him inside. The friction was incredible, rubbing as he stretched her, forging through sensitive tissue until she had him fully sheathed. Something more than physical pleasure rushed through her.
His hand flexed on her back. “God, Tess. You have no idea how incredible you feel. I want to be gentle, but I can't. Not this time. I've waited too long..”
“So be gentle later,” she said.
Caleb laughed and then he was kissing her again, feeding her his growls, his passion, his love. His arms were like steel bands around her body as he leaned back, the tub wall giving him leverage to take charge and dive into her clenched sex. She lay against his searing heat, her hands flat on the shockingly cool tub by his head. He pumped into her hard and deep, each thrust touching places that jerked hoarse cries from her throat.
He fisted his hand in her hair, pulling her head back so he could alternately devour the sweet arch of her neck and then flick his tongue over the rapid flutter of her pulse. “Mine,” he growled against her flesh, his breath loud and uneven as it tickled her ear. “Say it.”
His hips rose faster, plunging every inch of his thick cock deep inside her, grinding against her clit. “Damn it, Tess. Say it!”
“Yours,” she gasped out, her eyes dark and heavy with passion. “And you belong to me.”
“Forever,” he promised. “Forever, Tess.”
Sharp convulsions of ecstasy swept through her and she screamed his name, coming in great waves of blinding joy, her tender muscles clenching around his cock, milking him like a tight, wet fist. He cursed and shuddered as she dragged him with her, his hips rising in hard, heavy lunges as he shoved deep, filling her with his seed as his orgasm went on and on.
When their ragged breathing slowed, he asked, “When will you move in?”
Tess carefully rose to a sitting position, her muscles fluttering around his still hard cock, making him groan in renewed pleasure. “Move in?”
He traced fingers over her cheek. “I know you want to go slow, m'lupa.”
She looked at him through sated eyes. “And me moving in here is going slow?”
Caleb grinned. “Compared to me hauling you to the nearest judge to get married, yes. Besides,” he lifted his hips in short, quick movements, easily slipping through her drenched sex. “Think of the fringe benefits.”
Her breath hitched as his cock danced inside her, making her dizzy with desire. Damn wolf knew just how to get to her. “Sex?’
He stood in the tub and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist. “Love and sex,” he growled against her lips. “Never ever forget. I will always love you, witch.”
She crinkled her nose as he maneuvered them over the tub and walked out of the bathroom, dripping water with every step. “Well then,” she sighed out as he laid her on the bed and settled his large body over hers. “How does tomorrow sound?”
Caleb grinned, his eyes doing that crinkling thing she loved so much. “I think it's perfect.”
THE END
Shifting Positions Page 18