by Bianca D'Arc
“Sit for a moment while I do this for you, sweetheart.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
He shrugged, trying to keep things casual while the protective beast inside him roared to life. “Let’s just say I don’t like to see a pretty lady treated so shabbily.” The beast wanted to stand between her and all harm, though he could not understand what it was about this woman that brought out his primitive side so strongly.
She smiled, but it was still a shaky smile. The threat of violence and confrontation had shaken her to the core, but even as he watched, she firmed her spine and a resolute light entered her pretty eyes. He put some space between them as he dumped the remains of the plate and what food he could scrape off the floor into the large waste bin behind the counter.
Snagging a towel, he handed it to her as he walked back, sitting on the opposite side of the booth. With a pointed glance, he indicated the food stains on her voluptuous breasts, charmed when she flushed from neck to forehead.
She used the towel to try to wipe some of it off and he did his best not to watch as the damp towel pressed over her breasts, desperate not to picture his hands taking the same path without any layers of cloth between them. As it was, his jeans already fit a bit too snug, just from the delicious scent of her. He had to focus.
“So do you want to tell me what that was all about?”
She shrugged, keeping her attention on her stained blouse. The way that towel and her hands were rubbing over her generous curves was making him painfully hard, but there were more important matters to settle first.
He decided in that moment, that he would have her—at least once before the wolves ran her off. The cat in him purred at the thought, but he had to be realistic. The wolf Pack ran this territory. There were way more of them than he could counter alone and he was new to the area to boot. By rights, this territory was theirs and if they didn’t want this pretty human female in it, they would probably succeed in getting rid of her.
But not before he got in her pants. He hadn’t had a woman since moving into the cabin, and even before that, he’d never bedded a human. He knew nothing could come of it, which was good in a way. He didn’t need any more complications in his life at the moment—especially of the female variety, but just the idea of a good romp with this woman stirred his senses in a way nothing ever had before. He vowed he’d have at least one night with her in his arms before he let her slip away.
“It’s an old dispute,” she said finally, shrugging, drawing him back to the matter at hand. It was obvious she didn’t want to tell him why the wolves wanted her gone, but he would find out, he assured himself.
He changed tacks. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” He offered her a friendly smile and noted when she relaxed a bit with the seeming change of topic.
“My grandfather lived here most of his life. He died recently and left me his place. I just moved in.”
“So you live here in town?” He tried for a casual tone and apparently succeeded.
“No, I live out on the edge of the res.”
“You’re at least part Native, then?” His eyes roamed hungrily over her fine features, noting the proud Native American genetics in her strong cheekbones and dark eyes. But her eyes weren’t brown. No, they were a deep, dark, foresty green. Instantly, he was fascinated by their hue and sparkle.
“I’m only a quarter Northern Arapaho, but grandpa made sure of my status with the tribe when I was born. They’re not exactly welcoming me with open arms, but they know grandpa’s wishes and I’m so far out from the center of the res, they easily forget I’m there.”
“I live in the mountains too.” Volunteering information about his life wasn’t something he did often, but this woman brought out all kinds of new behaviors in him, he was fast learning. “I don’t get into town much except when I need supplies or work.”
“What do you do?” Her question was tentative but friendly. He sensed she wanted to talk about anything and everything but the confrontation that had just taken place.
He shrugged, understanding her need to push aside the ugliness of the past few minutes.
“I do odd jobs, mostly. I know carpentry, plumbing, electric, that sort of thing.” He didn’t mention the scale on which he’d done those jobs before the tragedy that drove him and his little sister into the mountains. That life was behind him now, at least for the time being, but the knowledge remained with him
“Boy, I wish I knew that stuff. Grandpa’s house is just about falling down around me.” She laughed and a trickle of sensation danced along his spine. “It’s all I can do to keep the generator going.”
His brows lowered, concern stirring hot and hard. “That’s not good with winter coming on.” All his protective instincts came to bear as he thought of her all alone out in the freezing cold woods with no heat or light.
She shrugged. “I’m not rich. I don’t have much money to put into fixing things up.”
He saw his opportunity and dove for it. “How about I come out to check your generator tomorrow. I don’t like the idea of a woman alone in the snow with no power.”
She looked cautious for a moment and stood from the table. “That’s very kind of you but…” she laughed with a hint of nervousness, “…I don’t even know your name.”
He remained sitting, not wanting to loom over her, needing to put her at ease. Holding up his hands palms outward, he smiled his most innocent smile. If a predator like him could ever look truly innocent.
“I understand. A woman can’t be too careful these days. I think Ed might vouch for me, though. I’ve done odd jobs for him a time or two since I came to town. And for some of the other shop keepers. I could give you a list of references, if you like.”
It was all true, too. He stayed in his fur as long as he could, but when he was human, he had to keep busy. Doing odd jobs gave him some sense of satisfaction and kept his mind from the pain that haunted him—at least for short stretches of time. He’d fixed Ed’s kitchen wiring a time or two and done carpentry jobs for some of the shopkeepers and homeowners in the area. He was popular, partially because he charged so little for his services, and partly because he did such a good job. He’d earned a decent reputation with the townsfolk and knew she’d find that out easily enough if she asked around.
“All right, I’ll ask Ed what he thinks.” She moved back behind the counter, almost defensively.
Standing from the booth, he resumed his seat at the counter. “It’s good to be cautious.” He nodded as she topped off his coffee. “And my name is Griffon Redstone. You can call me Grif.”
She smiled then, wiping her hands for a final time on the towel. “I’m Lindsey Tate.” She held one petite hand out over the counter for him to shake.
He took it with barely suppressed eagerness. Her skin was so soft. Her neatly manicured fingernails were short and attractive in a way he hadn’t expected. His palm tingled against hers for the moment out of time she allowed him to hold her captive. Not wanting to scare her off, he released her much sooner than his inner beast would have wished.
“I’m going to be in town for the rest of the day.” He rose slowly, unwilling to scare off his prey before the chase had begun in earnest. “Talk to Ed and maybe Wilma over at the dress shop, or Pete the barber. I’ve done work for all of them. I’ll be back in for a late dinner before heading back up the mountain. You can let me know if you want my help then. Or just leave a message with Ed.” Settling his beat up Stetson hat on his head, he dug in his pocket for his wallet.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “For before.” She came around the edge of the counter to stand in front of him.
He touched her soft cheek with one long finger, unable to resist. Her eyes dilated in a way that told him she enjoyed his touch, but it was too soon to push her, so he pulled back with a smile. “I hate to see anyone hassle a lady.”
She nodded tightly at the reminder. “And thanks for the offer to come look at the generator. I’ll let you kno
w, but—” She seemed to blush a bit as she hesitated. “Um, how much would it cost me?”
She’d already told him she wasn’t rolling in dough, and something inside him softened. “To get your generator running? Consider it my public service for the week. You can pay for parts, if you like, if any are needed. But if you need any other work done on the place, I can give you an estimate after I see what’s what. Ask Ed and the others what I charged them. I think you’ll find I’m fair.”
“Why would you do that for me?” she asked in wonder, her thoughts slipping out apparently uncensored.
He tipped his hat as he left payment for the meal plus a generous tip on the counter by his plate. “You remind me a little of my sister.” Pain lanced through him as he thought of the young woman whose life had been cut brutally short. “I think you’ve got some of the same spirit she had. If she were in your shoes, I would’ve liked someone to have helped her if they could.”
She stared after him as he left, he knew, though he didn’t turn around. His senses were bathed in her scent, and her conflicting emotions. He knew she was intrigued and he hoped she would talk to Ed and the others as soon as possible. All in all, the day had just turned interesting.
Lindsey cleaned up the rest of the mess and had everything shining once again when Ed returned from his errand. She’d had time to think about the tall, handsome, gold-haired stranger as she worked, realizing that she hadn’t been so captivated by a man’s mere presence in her entire life. His smile affected her breathing and his sparkling golden eyes seemed to see into her very soul.
When he’d touched her hand, she had felt a tingle down deep in her tummy that she’d never experienced before. He had practically made love to her with his eyes, and she’d been secretly thrilled by his unceasing scrutiny. His gaze followed her, devoured her, and promised hot, wicked delight.
She’d been aware of him from the moment he came through the door. His striking looks, lean hipped frame and strange, vigilant watchfulness, caused her to catch her breath. Those locals she knew were different had nodded in respectful greeting, but none offered him a place to sit, and he didn’t seem to expect it
So either he was some kind of lone wolf, or he was something else all together. He was definitely an enigma, and could be trouble for her mission, but she really did need to fix up the house if she planned to stay long enough to complete her task.
And complete it she would. She’d made a promise to her grandfather she intended to keep. They could threaten her all they wanted, but she wouldn’t back down. Things had to be made right and she was the only one left to do it. She wouldn’t let her grandfather’s spirit down. She would complete the task he’d given her—the sacred duty he’d entrusted to her alone—and put right what he’d made wrong.
With that thought firmly in mind, she went back to talk to Ed while the place was empty.
“Do you know a man named Griffon Redstone?”
Ed wiped his hands as he retied his apron. “Grif? Yeah, he’s a good guy. Was he in for lunch? It was so busy I didn’t get to see who all came and went.”
“Yeah, he was here earlier.” She hesitated only a moment, but Ed looked up from his work with a questioning smile. “He says he’s a handyman.”
Ed nodded with a wide grin. “Best damn handyman I’ve ever had. He rewired the fryer and then rigged a new line for that fancy oven I got a few months back. Installed it too, clean as a whistle.”
She looked around at the equipment and noted the neat installation job. “So he’s reliable then?”
Ed nodded. “I reckon so. Why do you ask?”
She smiled as he offered her a stool in his private domain. “My generator is acting up and he offered to come by to take a look at it. I need a lot of work done on the place actually, but I don’t know if I can afford him.”
“He doesn’t overcharge for his work. In fact, if anything, I think he cut me some slack on the labor costs. He didn’t charge much over the parts and he spent a good amount of time on the job. Did it up right.”
“Do you think he’s…well, um…safe?” She hated the hesitancy in her voice but knew she needed to be careful with things the way they were.
“You mean to go out to your place?” Ed seemed to consider his answer. “Can’t say as I’ve ever heard a bad thing about him. He’s been respectful of my waitresses and never put the moves on any girl I heard tell about. I’d say he’s on the up and up, but if you’re uncomfortable, why don’t you give me a call when he gets to your place. If you don’t call me back in a reasonable time, I’ll send the sheriff.”
She laughed as he’d probably intended, somewhat reassured. She used her afternoon break to go talk to the other shop owners Grif had mentioned. They all gave him glowing reviews too. Wilma especially seemed to think he was trustworthy, which meant a lot to Lindsey. It was always good to have a woman’s opinion.
The fact that Wilma thought he was “H-O-T, HOT” too was just reassurance that the woman wasn’t blind.
So it was with some eagerness that Lindsey awaited his return to the diner. She only worked at Ed’s two days a week, but they were long days. She made decent money in tips and wages, and the part-time job helped keep her solvent.
When Grif returned, it was at the height of the dinner rush, so Lindsey had little time to talk to him. Still they managed to set a time for him to look at the generator and she gave him directions. He ate the rest of his meal, lingering a bit over desert, but the crowd was demanding and eventually he left without much further conversation.
Chapter Two
Grif knew where she lived now, the intriguing human female with the soft hands and a scent that made him think instantly of sex and passion. Her home wasn’t all that far from his cabin as the crow flies—or the cougar runs.
He couldn’t seem to keep away, and found himself in his fur, stalking the perimeter of her yard. He was clawing trees and putting his mark on the boundaries of her property to warn others of his kind that she was under his protection. He didn’t know what good that might do if he ran up against the whole werewolf Pack, but it was something. Maybe it would buy her some time at least.
At most, it would buy him some time to get into her pants. He made a running leap and landed on the lower roof of the slightly sagging back porch. The entire house was dark except for two rooms near the front on the second floor. Stalking quietly upward, he noted the roof was in really bad shape. There were gaps and even two larger holes that allowed him to see right inside the lit rooms. Apparently she hadn’t bothered trying to plug them up yet, but the array of buckets and pans located on the floor directly beneath, indicated she was well aware of her roof problem.
Grif, in his werecougar form, sat gently on the cross beams, making sure no noise would alert her to his presence as he waited to see if he could catch a glimpse of her. His supple ears swiveled and twitched, hearing her soft humming growing nearer in the room below his rooftop perch. She was chanting some ancient Native song, her voice rising melodically through the house, wafting up into the starry night. The sound grew louder as he realized he was looking down into her bedroom. He could just make out about half of the large bed if he craned his neck.
She toweled her damp hair as she entered from what must be the bathroom, in a white terry cloth robe that came to mid-thigh. His mouth watered, even in his altered state. His feline senses exploded as the soft scent of her skin wafted up through the rafters. She must’ve just come from her bath and Grif felt his libido kick into high gear.
Switching on her hair dryer, he noted the dimming of the old light fixtures. The wiring in the decrepit house wasn't up to dealing with all the modern appliances she used. The old place needed some major work, and he was just the man to do it, but first he had to convince her.
He thought over their earlier encounter. He could tell she was a proud woman, though he sensed a soft, feminine side to her that called out to every protective instinct in him. It made his inner beast roar. And when he was in his fu
r, it made him want to bloody anyone who might dare threaten her.
Odd, he realized somewhere in the back of his brain, the fear that he would fail to protect her, as he had failed to protect his mother and older sister, didn’t fight past the overwhelming need to claim this small human.
She was so vulnerable. Human—and therefore frail—when compared to a woman of his own species, she was in much more danger from the everyday dangers of the world than he could even contemplate. But that didn’t seem to matter. He wanted her in a way he had never wanted another female, and he would have her.
It didn’t matter that she was human. It didn’t matter that he was a proven failure as a protector. Nothing mattered but getting inside her and staying there until she was well and truly out of his system.
She dried her lustrous light brown hair, then absently stroked some cream onto her face. He purred deep in his throat, watching her delicate hands smooth over her soft skin. He imagined the way she would feel against him, her softness stroking over his hardness.
Then she took off the robe.
His breath caught, his whiskers twitched and his senses tingled as she smoothed what smelled like baby oil over her arms, legs, breasts and shapely rear. The soft scent was the sexiest thing he had ever smelled.
Grif suddenly realized that the innocent scent had lingered on her skin ever so slightly when he had first scented her in the diner. He hadn't been able to place it then because it had mingled with her own musk in the hours since she'd put it on, becoming uniquely her own.
Her body was magnificent. Lush curves were topped by bountiful breasts that he longed to lick. She was built like the pinups of old—not too skinny to fuck hard—with toned muscles and inviting thighs. He wanted between those thighs. He wanted those shapely thighs cradling him as he mounted her high, hard and fast. He wanted to mold those curvy hips with his hands as he took her from behind, tunneling into her wet passage with a fury she would echo.