Coyote Home

by Rhian Cahill

  He reached between them, used his fingers to locate the bundle of nerves at the top of her slit. The bud, already popped from its protective hood, was covered in slick cream. Circling the nub, he kept his tempo in time with hers. If she sped up so did he. When she slowed down, he did too. Rowan soon worked out his actions and took advantage. With a skill that came from her sensual nature, she used him to take her over the edge. She bucked and rolled her pelvis, drawing him with her on her way to the top.

  It started with tiny quivers and turned into clasping spasms. Her climax rushed through her. Her muscles convulsed in a rolling motion, from the base of his cock to the tip, they surrounded him. He felt the burn in his balls as he hit the peak and went over. His sac pulled up tight and shot cum through his shaft like a bullet from a gun, the recoil jolting his hips. A grunt escaped around the breast in his mouth and he let it go to pull Rowan’s face to his, claiming her lips in a breath stealing kiss as the last of his seed spilled deep inside her.

  Quinn cupped her head in his hands and staring into her eyes, he said the words he’d waited what seemed like a lifetime to say.

  “Welcome home, Rowan.”

  Chapter Five

  Home.

  Rowan’s exhausted body sprang to life. She could go home to Whispering Creek.

  Now.

  A smile stretched her lips and laughter bubbled in her chest. Excitement fizzed in her veins and her head spun with the thrill of finally getting her most precious wish. Home. She was going home.

  She smacked her lips to Quinn’s, kissed him hard before raising her hips and letting his spent cock slip from her folds. The friction sent a delicious shiver along her pussy walls, adding to the happiness bombarding her. Bounding off the bed, she danced around the room, laughing and cheering. And crying. Tears streamed down her face and dripped from her chin but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered right now. She could leave the cabin. They could leave.

  Rowan spun around and rummaged in a drawer for something to wear. She threw on the first sweatshirt she found. Quinn’s scent surrounded her and her libido jumped. Damn it was good to be with him. Smiling, she dragged on a pair of shorts. Pulling another set of pants and shirt from the drawer she tossed them over her shoulder and toward the bed. A muffled curse met her ears. Twirling in circles, she continued to laugh and cry, only stopping when she got too dizzy to spin anymore.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I can go home!” Her words came out as a high-pitched squeal.

  “What, now?” He arched an eyebrow.

  “Yes, now!” Arms out wide, she whirled around once more.

  “God, Rowan, can’t we wait until morning?”

  “No. I’ve waited six years, Quinn. With every breath, every thought, I’ve wished for this moment and now it’s here.” Breathless with excitement, she jumped on the bed beside him. Grabbing his hand, she wove her fingers with his. “Don’t you see? We can go home. Together.”

  Quinn brought their joined hands to his lips. He feathered light kisses on each knuckle before turning her hand over and kissing her palm. Tiny shockwaves of electricity fired up her wrist and into her arm. The tingle of arousal darted off in all directions when the sensation met her shoulder. She trembled.

  “If that’s what you want, we’ll go.” He squeezed her hand and let it go. “But we better hurry up. If we’re going I don’t want to leave too late. We’re supposed to get a snow storm overnight.”

  “Really? I love snow storms. I can’t remember the last one I saw.” Rowan’s mind ticked back through the years, all the way back to her last winter in the mountains. For a moment, sadness descended but she soon snapped out of it when Quinn rolled off the bed. She’d vowed to not let the past cloud her future and she was damn well going to be sure she didn’t.

  “I’ll grab our dirty laundry while you dress, it won’t take a second and we’ll be ready to leave.”

  Rowan left the bedroom and picked up the clothes hamper in the bathroom before making her way to the living area. Quinn was already pulling on his boots. A shiver traveled up her spine at the sight of muscle flexing in his arms as he tugged the work boots over bare feet. Her skin prickled with awareness and her heart rate increased. You’d think they hadn’t gone at it like animals ten minutes ago. The man turned her on just being in the room. She tried to swallow, her mouth and throat suddenly dry as dirt made it difficult.

  “Ready?” she croaked.

  He reached for the laundry as he stood. “Yep, let’s get going.”

  They made their way out to Rowan’s rental car. It was a good thing they were leaving now. There was no way the little hatchback would make it down the mountain if the predicted snowfall was a heavy one. Quinn pulled the keys from his pocket and she wondered when he collected them. For that matter she couldn’t remember when she’d last had them, lucky he was on the ball. Early evening chill surrounded them and they quickly got in the car, Quinn starting it and cranking the heater up. Rowan shuddered as the first blast of air came out cold.

  “Give it a second and it’ll warm up. It won’t take long to get to the house and Brogan will have the furnace going.”

  The ride along the mountain road took about fifteen minutes. With each passing second Rowan became more and more excited and by the time they turned up the drive to the house she was bouncing on her seat. She soon stopped when the log structure came into view. The long sweeping front porch, the wide double-entry doors, the second-floor windows and the shingled roof looked exactly how she remembered them. She held her breath, afraid it was all a dream and she’d wake up to find it all a lie.

  “Fuck.”

  Quinn’s curse jarred her out of her thoughts. Turning to look at him, she found his fingers gripped the wheel so tight his knuckles had turned white. A muscle ticked in his jaw and he stared at the house with anger. Rowan looked back at the house but couldn’t work out what was wrong other than the big four-wheel drive parked right in the middle of the driveway.

  “Does Brogan have visitors?”

  “An unwelcome one, yes,” Quinn forced out between clenched teeth.

  “Well that’s okay, we can just leave him—”

  “No. It’s not okay.” He turned to face her and Rowan’s heart pounded. “The owner of that truck is someone I don’t want you near. Ever. We’ll drive around for a while and come back.”

  “Don’t be silly, Quinn. Why can’t we go inside and what do you mean by you don’t want me near them?” Sweat broke out on her skin and she wished with all she was he didn’t say the one name she knew would come out of his mouth.

  “Marcus.”

  She sucked in a breath, held it tight and tried to calm her galloping heart. He couldn’t hurt her. Not like last time. She wouldn’t let him get close enough ever again. With effort, she willed her muscles to relax, her pulse to slow. Each labored draw of air into her lungs eased as she looked at Quinn.

  “I won’t let him touch you. I’ll kill him if he does.”

  His vow was one she could see in his eyes. Without doubt she knew he’d back up his words with actions. As they sat in the dark of the car, the motor vibrating under the hood and the heater blasting warm air onto their faces, Rowan made a personal vow. She would not allow Marcus to take any more from her. Wouldn’t let him destroy what had taken years to rebuild. She was stronger now, no longer a scared teenager but a grown woman prepared to fight for what was hers. Quinn, her home. Her destiny.

  Rowan reached over and cupped his cheek. “You won’t need to kill anyone, Quinn. He wouldn’t hurt me again. I wouldn’t let him.” She stroked her fingers along his stubble covered jaw. “As much as I don’t want to see him, I’m going in. That’s my home and I have a right to be there. He won’t keep me from it, or you, ever again.”

  Taking a deep breath, she wrapped her fingers around the door handle and waited for Quinn to turn off the engine. This was where it really began. Coming home and gaining control of her coyote had been the easy part. Facing her demons
would take everything she’d learned over the past six years. It would also take courage and strength. She’d had neither as a teenager, both attributes had developed over time and she was more than ready to use them to claim what was hers.

  Quinn couldn’t believe their luck. Of all the bad timing, he had to go and pick this one to drive into. Rowan had to face Marcus at some point but he’d hoped to put it off as long as possible. The reality was they were getting the first meeting over with now. He hated to see the happiness fade from her eyes and be replaced by fear. She’d been so excited before they pulled into the driveway. With spine straight, shoulders back and chin thrust forward she sat waiting for him to turn the car off and get out.

  The fear had been replaced by a stubborn, determined glint. He knew that look, it was the one she had when she was prepared to get what she wanted. And right now she wanted to go home and he would make sure she got her wish with the least amount of trouble. Even if it meant he had to toss Marcus out of the house on his ear.

  A flick of his wrist and the engine died. Sudden silence filled the car. Quinn hopped out and jogged around to help Rowan get her footing. The sight of her bare feet had him laughing.

  “Forget something?” he asked as he slid one arm behind her back and the other under her knees.

  “Put me down, Quinn. I can walk.”

  “You’ll freeze your toes off on the snow. I’ll put you down on the porch.”

  Why hadn’t he noticed she’d left the cabin without shoes? His long strides ate up the ground, he took the steps two at a time and had just put her on her feet when the front door flew open and Brogan charged out to pull her into a hug, her toes dangling off the ground. He was about to suggest going inside when a voice broke the quiet.

  “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the return of the prodigal bitch, alive and well.”

  The snarl he issued through his teeth was matched by Brogan. Taking a step forward, Quinn was stopped by a gentle touch on his arm.

  “Hello, Marcus, I didn’t see you there.” Rowan’s voice held no trace of animosity toward the man who’d destroyed so much of her life.

  Marcus ignored her, turned his attention to Quinn. “Finally managed to leash the bitch I see.”

  Quinn saw red. He’d rip the man’s throat out for referring to her in such a derogatory manner. The hand on his arm gripped harder, fingers and nails digging in to stop him. Rowan was right to stop him. He couldn’t afford to do anything stupid, not before or after she made herself known to the council and the pack members. Reining in his anger, Quinn tried to remember who the better man was but with his coyote howling to take down the threat to his mate, it proved a difficult task. The sneer that curled Marcus’s lips was almost his undoing.

  “Or is it the big bad regal who’s been leashed?”

  Marcus didn’t know when his life was in jeopardy but then Quinn had never believed the man had more than one active brain cell. And right now his mouth was using it.

  “Weren’t you leaving?” Brogan asked.

  “Yes, I have better places to be than at a sickly sweet family reunion.” Marcus pushed past, shouldering Quinn in the chest as he went.

  Rowan’s nails dug into his skin. “Don’t,” she whispered. “He’s not worth it.”

  She was right of course but damn if he wouldn’t enjoy taking the bastard out. No one said a word as they watched Marcus jump in his truck and rev the engine. He peeled out of there, sprayed the drive and the far end of the porch with snow and slush as he swung the back end around and headed down the drive. Quinn breathed easy when the truck was out of sight. He didn’t for one minute think that would be the end of it but for now Rowan was safe.

  He draped his arm over Rowan’s shoulders and turned them back to the door. “Come on, let’s get in out of the cold and welcome you home properly.”

  Brogan closed the door behind them, taking his time to lock all the deadbolts. Something they didn’t do very often. That alone told Quinn how concerned for Rowan’s safety her brother was. Catching Brogan’s eye, they let Rowan go ahead of them. When Quinn felt she was out of earshot he asked the question he’d wanted to ask the second he’d seen Marcus’s truck.

  “What did Marcus want?”

  “He came to inform me of an official complaint he filed with the council.”

  “What the hell has he cooked up against you this time?” Quinn kept an eye on the door Rowan had disappeared through.

  “Actually this time he’s gone for you.”

  His gaze jerked back to Brogan. “What?”

  “He’s claiming you killed Rowan in a lovers rage and buried her in the mountains somewhere.”

  Quinn’s jaw dropped—his mind blank. This latest challenge to their positions as sovereign and regal left him speechless.

  “You know I’m just going to make you two repeat whatever it is you’re saying once you get in here so you may as well come in and start over now before you get too far into it,” Rowan yelled from the living room.

  Brogan rolled his eyes. “Damn, it’s good to have her back.” He slapped Quinn on the back. “Come on, let’s go satisfy her curiosity.”

  Rowan knew whatever Marcus was here for hadn’t been good. Brogan had worry lines creasing his brow and Quinn looked like he’d been punched in the stomach. Apprehension skittered down her spine and she waited for one of them to start speaking.

  In the end, she had to ask. Neither of them was forthcoming with the information and the longer they delayed the less time they had to work out how to deal with the problem.

  “Okay, enough with the silent treatment. One of you needs to start talking now.” She gave them both her best intimidating stare.

  “Marcus has gone to the council with the accusation that Quinn killed you in a lover’s argument and buried your remains in the mountains.” Brogan looked from her to Quinn and back again. “He says he knows where you’re buried too.”

  The quaking started low in her belly, vibrated up into her chest until it forced its way up her throat and burst from her mouth. Arms wrapped around her waist, Rowan doubled over and laughed herself stupid.

  “Why the hell are you laughing? He’s accused Quinn of murder.” Brogan’s voice rose above her hilarity.

  When she couldn’t catch her breath to form a word she gave up and flopped back on the couch to let the mirth die a natural death. Unlike her, she hadn’t died at all. More giggles spilled out and Quinn sat next to her patting her on the back as if she was choking. By the time she’d calmed down, Brogan had sat in the seat opposite.

  “Can’t either of you see how funny this is?” Her head swiveled back and forth, taking both their troubled expressions. “For a start he’d have to produce a body and he’s gonna look pretty stupid when that body shows up breathing.”

  Her revelation didn’t appease them. Sighing, she slumped back into the cushion. Rowan really couldn’t see why they were so concerned. All she had to do was turn up in town tomorrow morning and prove Marcus wrong.

  Quinn’s quiet words broke the silence. “You showing up only proves I didn’t kill you, it doesn’t prove we didn’t fight or that I didn’t hurt you seriously enough to warrant your disappearance. The council will still want to investigate the allegations fully and while they’re doing that and occupying my time and energy, Marcus will be trying something else.”

  “If we’ve learned one thing about Marcus in the last few years, it’s that he’s predictable. He always starts something and uses it as a smoke screen for what he’s really after,” Brogan said.

  “But why would he accuse Quinn now, after all this time?”

  “I don’t know, but the more I think about it the more I realize Marcus wasn’t at all surprised to see you. Which makes me think he knew you were here.”

  “He could have picked up her scent in the forest the same as I did,” Quinn said.

  “Hmm. You might be right. He was looking around like he expected someone else to come into the room the whole time he was here.�
� Brogan rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, a sign Rowan remembered well from her youth. He was frustrated at not knowing all the answers.

  She stifled a yawn. The warmth of the room seeped into her bones and muscles and made her drowsy. Cuddling into Quinn’s side, she relaxed and let her eyelids drift shut. Continuing their discussion on Marcus, Rowan listened with half an ear, only adding the odd word here or there. Her knowledge of Marcus was limited by the time she’d spent away from the pack and before that she’d had very little to do with him.

  Quinn had pulled her in under his arm and gave her a squeeze when she yawned for about the tenth time.

  “I think we should call it a night and start fresh in the morning. Rowan’s tired and needs to rest,” Quinn said.

  “There isn’t really that much we can do anyway. We’ve been talking in circles for a while and still haven’t come up with a decent idea.” Brogan pushed from his chair. “I’ll check everything is locked up tight before going to bed.”

  He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “It’s great to have you home, Sis. Sleep well and I’ll see you both in the morning.”

  Rowan watched him leave the room. Another yawn split her mouth wide and Quinn chuckled.

  “Come on sleepyhead, let’s get you into bed.” Like he had out at the car, Quinn picked her up and carried her. He stopped near the door. “Flick the light off for me, my hands are full.”

  Doing his bidding, Rowan snuggled in to enjoy the ride up to her room. Only they didn’t go to her old room, they went to the bigger one at the back of the house. Depositing her on the king-size bed, Quinn switched on a bedside lamp, illuminating the room. It was clearly stamped with his personality and hers. All the mementos she’d left behind had been moved in here.