by V. Vaughn
When he sat, she curled a leg beneath her to face him. “I’m thinking of coming home. The city is okay, but I miss the fresh air and my family. I have enough experience that I can do freelance work or even find a company who would hire me to work remotely.”
Dereck reached for his mug, gripping it tight. “Your parents would love that.” I would, too.
Jenna nibbled on her bottom lip, then opened her mouth to say something before shutting it again and reaching for her own coffee. If he had to guess, he’d say she was nervous.
“Am I making you uncomfortable?” Most humans reacted to his presence with some degree of anxiety. It had to do with his being Alpha and the inherent power coursing through his veins.
She sucked in a quick breath and set her cup on the table again without having taken a sip. “No, not at all. Listen, I’m just going to lay this out there… I know what you are.” The words came out in a rush, and when she was done, she held her breath.
Dereck placed his cup next to hers with a soft clink. Well, that took care of that.
“I saw you turn into a wolf when we were kids. Don’t bother denying it,” she added before he could say a word.
“I see.” He scratched his jaw. Her big doe eyes all but begged for him to believe her as though maybe she was doubting what she’d obviously seen. He had to figure out how to handle this new development. It wasn’t that humans weren’t allowed to know of their existence—it had more to do with knowing whom to trust. “Who else knows?”
“I tried telling my sister at the time, but she didn’t believe me. She laughed so hard she nearly peed herself. I haven’t told another soul.”
“That’s good. I’m sure you can understand this isn’t something we advertise. It’s not that you can’t know, but we’d rather not bring the scientific community down on us if we can help it. They’d want to learn all our secrets, and there’s no way that would end well.”
Jenna’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “I hadn’t even thought of that. Your secret is safe with me, I promise,” she said, her hand coming up to cover her heart.
It was cute. And honest. She wouldn’t willingly expose them.
“I can’t believe you knew all this time,” he said, more to himself than to her.
He’d fantasized about her coming back to Parrish Pointe and falling for him, but the one thing that had always stopped his fantasies in their tracks was the idea that he’d have to tell her what he was. In his mind, breaking the news to her ended in disaster, not in a calm conversation on her parents’ couch.
“I can’t believe you never figured it out. I had such a crush on you and followed you around like a pathetic puppy.” She shook her head and tugged her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You had a crush on me?” How the hell had he been so blind? Had he known…
She released her lip, now a deeper shade of red from the torture she’d put it through and smiled. “A huge one. For years,” she admitted.
His heart pounded. Did he want to know? “And now?”
She leaned closer and met his gaze head on. “Now, I’m single, and I’m back in Parrish Pointe.”
Dereck swallowed hard. This wasn’t the shy girl he’d known back in high school. She looked at him like she was ready to eat him up for dinner, and he’d be damned if he said he didn’t want her to.
4
Jenna took a slow breath in and released it through her parted lips. She’d all but propositioned Dereck, and he had yet to say anything at all. Maybe she’d read the situation wrong. She waited a moment, her cheeks warming more with each passing second.
Crud. Should have kept your mouth shut, Jenna. Too late to take it back. She opened her mouth to break the silence, but before she could utter a sound, he was there.
Dereck’s eyes shone a little brighter, the brown more amber, his pupils wide open. He brought his hands up, cupping her cheeks in his palms, then his mouth was on hers. Soft, tentative—no, reverent, like he needed to sip her flavor like a fine wine, rather than gulp it down.
With a sound that was part growl and part whimper, he deepened the kiss. His tongue teased along the seam of her lips, begging admittance.
Jenna leaned closer, wrapping her arms around his neck as she opened for him. Too long had she fantasized about kissing this man. She was vaguely aware when he tugged her closer and the soft cushions of the couch against her bottom were replaced by hard, muscular thighs.
His palm warmed her through her jeans where he rested it on her hip beneath the hem of her sweater. Swiping back and forth, in slow, easy caresses, he skated his thumb across her skin. Goose bumps erupted from the area, spreading over her torso, making her nipples pucker under her bra.
The sound Dereck had restrained a short while before rumbled again, this time filling the silence around them.
Jenna pulled her lips from his. “That’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard,” she whispered before diving in again.
Dereck moaned into the kiss, gripping her tighter. Under her, it wasn’t just his thighs that were as hard as steel. His shaft pressed against her like an iron rod, and it was all she could do to keep from wiggling into a better position to feel it more firmly between her legs.
He brought one hand up, sliding it to her belly, resting it beneath the swell of her breast. When he stopped his exploration, she almost groaned.
He smiled, his lips tightening against hers. Okay. Maybe she did groan. Whatever. He needed to keep his hands moving. But rather than do that, he slowly pulled away with soft kisses before disengaging entirely.
“We have to stop,” he said, but the words didn’t match the hungry tone in his voice or the lust shining in his eyes.
She shook her head. “No, we don’t. I’m on the pill, and I’m clean.” The first thing she’d done when she’d found out her ex had been sleeping around was get tested for everything under the sun.
Dereck closed his eyes and his jaw tensed. When he opened them again, resolve had taken up residence. “As much as I want to, we can’t.”
At least he didn’t deny his desire. Not that he could, really. His shaft still pressed into her. “Do you need to get tested? We could use condoms until the results come back.”
The bulge under her twitched. “No, I’m clean.”
Oh, God. He hadn’t denied having a girlfriend. Had she even asked? She couldn’t remember. She wiggled off him, a little disappointed when he let her go without a hint of resistance.
“So, no wife. A girlfriend, then?” As much as she wanted him, there was no way she was crossing that line.
Dereck tipped his head back on the couch cushion and groaned. “No, no girlfriend. We can’t… I can’t because right now, I’m fighting my wolf too hard. It wants me to mate with you, Jenna. It’s pounding at me, demanding that I do it now, and I’m barely holding on to my control.”
So, what was the problem? She was totally onboard with taking him to her bedroom. She’d be thrilled to mate him all night long. “I fail to see the problem. I want you. You want me. I’m not asking for forever, but tonight sounds pretty amazing to me.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, he straightened and looked her in the eye. “That’s just it. Mating isn’t about sex to a wolf shifter. It’s not one night, or even a month’s worth of nights. It’s forever.”
“Oh.”
Dereck took a breath through his nose and let it out slowly. “I better go.”
Was she ready for a lifetime? She wasn’t sure. She’d known him forever and had been in love with him since junior high. But they’d both grown in the time since. They’d changed. Sure, she’d always fantasized about being with him, but that wasn’t reality. Putting the brakes on was the smart thing to do, right? Her brain screamed yes, but her body and her heart ached at the thought.
She watched in silence as he went to the door and tugged his boots on, then his coat. She might not be ready for forever, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to see where it could lead. Before he could open the d
oor, she closed the distance between them.
“Maybe we can get to know one another again?” she suggested as she gripped his jacket in both fists.
Dereck’s eyebrows lifted, as did the corners of his mouth. “I’d like that.”
She gave him a tug, and he came closer without a fight. She pressed her lips to his in a firm but chaste kiss.
When he straightened, she pointed to the spot above their heads. “Mistletoe,” she said. She’d been in a silly mood the night before and had tacked it up.
Before she knew it, Dereck took over. There was nothing chaste about the one he planted on her. He devoured her like a starving man at a feast. He invaded her mouth with his tongue and stole all her resistance before finally stepping away, leaving her boneless.
“Will you help me decorate my tree tomorrow?” she asked when he reached for the doorknob. “I’ll make dinner.”
He was nodding before she was finished talking, and from the glowing amber of his eyes, she wasn’t sure if it was the man or the wolf agreeing. Hopefully, both.
“I’ll see you then,” he said before heading back into the cold and closing the door behind him. A moment later, the sound of his snow machine roared to life.
Right. Dinner. Crud. What had she been thinking? Maybe mom has something in the freezer I can thaw.
5
Dereck’s wolf howled into his mind, ending it on a wicked snarl. She’s right there. She wants us. Go back. You have to. We didn’t even pile wood for her. What if she gets cold? What if she needs us? Who will protect her if others come around?
On any other subject, he and his wolf had a symbiotic relationship. They agreed on most, and when they didn’t, they resolved whatever issue they had with little effort. Some give from one or the other smoothed things over, but he wouldn’t budge this time. Not when it came to Jenna. They’d been without her for too long. He was desperate to keep his mate near. Hell, they both were.
There’s enough wood inside the house to last a few days. She’s safe here. We’ll see her again tomorrow.
Why not now? I can still smell her. We left her aching. This time, the beast all but whimpered, and in this, Dereck felt the same. He hated leaving her wanting, but the wolf had been too close to the surface. Given the opportunity, it would have pushed for the mating bite, and Dereck wasn’t sure he could have resisted.
“It will be better this way,” he said aloud as he put his sled into motion back toward his property.
Not better for me, the wolf grumbled.
Better for all of us, Dereck corrected, but who was he trying to convince—himself or the wolf? He wasn’t even off her land yet, and the urge to turn around was pounding through him. Knowing the possibility of a future with Jenna was edging on reality, it was all he could do not to plow forward, damn the consequences. But she’d just broken up with her long-term boyfriend, and he refused to be her rebound.
He waited for the wolf to voice another objection, but his mind remained blessedly silent. Good. He had until tomorrow afternoon to come up with a plan. She’d already said she was thinking of staying in Parrish Pointe. Now, he had to make sure she didn’t change her mind. He’d give her time, but after having had a taste of her lips—of being near her—he wasn’t giving her up.
He’d barely made it onto his own land when he spotted tracks in the fresh snow. Three sets going in all directions. A short distance ahead, a flurry of white warned him to slow down. He brought the sled to a stop twenty feet away from the grown-ass wolves frolicking around as though they were pups.
All three of them circled, panting, their goofy looks telling him how much fun they’d been having without him. He wondered if it was at one of those moments when he and his brothers were kids and had let loose close to the Blaine property line that Jenna had spotted him shifting.
Trotting around him, they waited until he cut the engine and pulled the helmet off.
“What are you goofballs doing?” he asked, not expecting an answer. They’d come to greet him, but they weren’t taking their human skin. Jordan, the youngest Harrington brother, cocked his head to the side and yipped, begging him to play.
He shook his head. Why the hell not? He wasn’t seeing Jenna again until the following day, and he had more energy to burn off than ever. Besides, when was the last time he’d gone off on a good run with his brothers anyway? Way too long, that was for sure.
Inside, his wolf perked up. We’re going running?
We are as long as you behave.
The wolf howled its agreement inside his mind—like there was ever going to be a different answer from his beast.
You have to promise not to sulk when I stop you from trying to make it back to Jenna’s place. Dereck wasn’t an idiot. The wolf would bolt at the first opportunity, given the chance. Of course, Dereck would hold it back, but it would pout all night at being restrained like that. It probably still would, even with the warning.
The wolf’s deep growl rumbled from his throat, and Jordan, who’d come sidling up next to him, stepped back. Fine, it finally conceded.
“All’s good. Just having a discussion with my wolf. He’s not happy with me today,” he told Jordan as way of explanation.
Jordan approached, his nose twitching. A second later, he shifted. “Who’s that?”
Of course, this only brought Avery and Kyle closer. Each of them did as Jordan had.
If he wanted to go for a run, he’d have to give them something. Otherwise, they’d stay right where they were, bare-assed and freezing their balls off, until he said something. “I went to check on the Blaine place. Jenna’s in town.”
Avery, always too astute for his own good, sniffed him again with his human nose. “And you thought the appropriate way to greet our neighbor’s daughter was to suck face with her? What the hell were you thinking? Mom was ranting a few weeks ago that she’s engaged, for fuck’s sake.”
“She’s not. They broke up. Let’s go for that run before your balls fall off,” he said but then sighed when none of them went wolf again. “She’s thinking of coming home for good.”
“Again, this is a good reason to make out with her? Her dad will be back from Italy soon. You wanna deal with that shit?” Avery piped in again.
“She’s my mate, okay? I’ve known since the first time she came back after leaving for college, but she was already dating that asshole by then. She’s mine. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win her over.”
Mouths gaping open, all three brothers stared until, finally, Jordan’s face broke into a grin. He whooped like a crazy man, then popped him on the shoulder. “Congrats, man.”
Dereck smiled back. “You idiots are turning blue. Either we run, or you get dressed. Mom will be pissed if you come home with frostbite on your dicks.”
“For real, D?” Avery scratched his jaw, then ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s your mate? Knowing that all these years must have been rough, man.”
Kyle finally moved, but it was only to smack Avery in the back of the head. “He wouldn’t lie about something like that, dipshit.” Even from where he stood, Dereck could tell it had been a tap more than anything, but Avery growled anyway.
Right. Time to run. Otherwise, he’d have to break those two up and then explain to his mother why her two middle boys had scrapped it out. He wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. First, he had to win his mate.
“For real, Ave. And I’m going to make her mine. I just need to give her a bit of time.” He was pulling off his jacket and shirt as he spoke. His boots, pants, and underwear came next.
Before anyone could ask more questions, Dereck released his wolf, then took off for deeper snow. Seconds later, he heard the yips and barks chasing after him.
By the time he made it back to his side of the property and into his kitchen, his house phone was already ringing. He didn’t have to guess at who it would be.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Why is it, Mr-big-shot-Alpha, that your poor, old mother has to learn that you�
��ve found your mate from your brothers?” she asked. She might have been trying for harsh or stern, but the excitement in her voice overrode it.
“I just got home. I was going to call you,” he said, hoping she wouldn’t hear the lie. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t have told her, but until things were more certain, he hadn’t wanted to get her hopes up.
“So, Jenna Blaine, huh? I always knew there was a spark of something between you two. I even told Claire I thought you’d end up together some day.”
Dereck choked on the sip of water he’d just taken. “You spoke to Jenna’s mom about this?”
“Of course, dear. She and I are old friends. Just last week she was saying how she wished it was you giving her daughter a ring instead of that overinflated excuse for a man she’d been shacked up with all this time.”
The last thing Dereck needed was to think about his mate carrying on with anyone other than him. “Mom.”
“I’ll drop it. For now. But you’re bringing her for Christmas dinner.” It wasn’t a request.
He may be Alpha of the pack, but in the Harrington house, no one ruled over his mother. “I’ll ask her.”
“Good. I’ll see you both then. Love you, baby,” she said, then disconnected the call.
“Love you, too, Mom,” he said with a chuckle, even though she was already gone. Heaven help them. He’d be lucky if she didn’t have baby booties already knitted and ready to box up and wrap.
6
Jenna hummed along to the modern rendition of “Silver Bells” playing on the kitchen radio as she put the apple pie she’d found in the freezer into the oven. If he likes it, I’ll have to get mom to show me how to make it again. The thought of being closer to home so that her mom could give her a baking refresher course had her smiling.
Maybe she should start looking at apartments in the area. Even though she loved being in her old room for a visit, she wasn’t inclined to move in with her parents. Being in the same town would be great, though.