“Yes, ma’am.” He answered her unspoken question. “I’ll do my best.”
“You do that. There’s something wrong around here this summer, and it’s worrying me.” She patted Hugh’s arm. “Now that they’re taken care of, I need to clean up the mess and get the shop opened for breakfast.”
Aiden O’Reilly came in at that moment with a large first-aid box and placed it on the floor next to Brenna. River popped it open, and with a steady, efficient manner she didn’t have in the car, she pulled out everything Brenna requested.
“What happened?” Hugh asked Aiden when the man came to stand next to him. Aiden’s face was tight with a thinly veiled fury about it.
“Someone’s hunting, and I no longer think we’re dealing with some dumb-ass poacher getting too close to town lines.”
“This is the third?”
“Third hit, but fourth attempt. Brenna’s sister scented gun oil in the woods around their house.”
Hugh nodded. He was with Gordon when he got the call. “Do you think someone’s hunting shifters?”
“I don’t know what to think, but I do know I’m going to push Gordon to get to the bottom of this. Someone knows more than what they’re saying, and I’m going to find out who.”
If Hugh hadn’t been watching so closely he would’ve missed the way River’s hand trembled as she handed Steri-Strips to Brenna. At that moment, she darted a look over her shoulder at the two of them but didn’t meet his gaze. I know it’s you, River, and you’re going to tell me everything, my little Mate. “Have you spoken to Gordon yet?” he asked Aiden.
“I’m heading over there as soon as I know Brenna is settled at the clinic for the day.” Aiden checked his watch and then looked at his phone. “I’m waiting for a call back from Gordon. I think for the time being we need to keep a closer eye on each other. We’re going to set up a search of the area and see if we can find any clues as to whom we’re dealing with.”
“All right, that will have to do for now.” Brenna wrapped white gauze around Lars’s torso, protecting the sealed gash. “If you won’t tell me anything more about your physiology, then I can’t do anything else for you.”
“I appreciate this, Brenna. I’m a fast healer, don’t worry.”
“I want you back in the clinic tomorrow, Lars, so I can have a look at them.”
Lars nodded, keeping a hand over the injured area as Cris helped him get to his feet.
“Cris, if he pulls any of those and starts bleeding again, I want him at the clinic right away.”
“I promise I’ll keep an eye on him,” Cris replied.
Aiden wrapped an arm around his Mate. “He’ll be fine, Brenna.”
Hugh envied the way Brenna sank against him. He wanted that as well, but knew he had a ways to go until he earned that kind of trust from River. Catherine and River made quick work of the mess around the table and floor. He and Gavin and the others helped, as well.
“Keep a close eye on her,” Lars commented. “I’m not completely certain she isn’t a target.”
“What makes you think that?”
“You’ll have to earn her secrets as I did. Good luck with that.” Lars nodded to Hugh before heading for the door Cris held open for him.
“Come on, Lars. I’ll tuck you in and read you a story to take your mind off your owie.” Lars flipped Cris the bird, but before he could retort, River intercepted him and gave him a hug. The big man held her gently with one arm, but Hugh could tell it wasn’t romantic in nature. Lars really did see River as a little sister, and that went a long way to assuaging his temper. They whispered a couple of things to each other in Danish, and then Lars left with Cris and River went back to helping Catherine set up for the morning.
Five minutes later, after he finished mopping the floor, Hugh spotted River heading for the front door. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I have a job to do, and I need to get ready.”
Looks like the brat is back. She managed to rebuild those defensive walls he and his brothers made a crack in earlier today. His cock stirred, reminding him that he promised himself the exquisite feel of her lips on his cock.
“It’s her day off,” Brenna commented as she walked past.
“I can’t believe you ratted me out like that.”
“I won’t relax knowing you might be in danger, River. We don’t know if that shot was meant for Lars or Catherine. After what happened to Alec, Craig, and at my dad’s, we can’t take any chances. Carol is coming in today, Sloan will be down the street keeping an eye on everything from the arcade, and Kaden is going to hang out with us while Jaxon is on patrol and then they’re going to switch.”
“We’ll help out as well,” Gavin said.
“Good. You and your brothers might have the best sense of smell, being that you’re bears.”
“So you guys can put yourselves in danger, while wrapping me in Bubble Wrap?” River stood there and poked him in the chest as she spoke.
Hugh tried his best to keep his expression neutral and not give away exactly what he was thinking. Instead he reached down and grabbed her hand in his. “Where I’m going, you’re going. I don’t think any of us got a good night’s sleep last night, so we’re going to bed.”
Brenna snorted. “Like you’ll get any sleep then.”
“Brenna!” River’s cheeks flamed red, and she refused to look at Hugh when he tugged on her hand.
He wasn’t about to let her get away with that, so he stepped between her and Brenna and clasped her cheeks in his hands. “Look at me, River.” Her eyes flicked up to his and he grinned at the defiance he saw there. “I really did take it too easy on you.”
He could feel the heat from her red cheeks under his hands, and they flushed as prettily as her ass after a few swats. “Stop arguing and come with me before I decide to reeducate you in the middle of the breakfast rush.”
She opened her mouth, and Hugh thought for sure she was going to pop off at him again, but she wisely closed her mouth.
“Damn, I was hoping you’d call his bluff.” Gavin strolled up behind them and wrapped his arm around River’s waist, his hand casually resting on her hip.
Hugh half expected River to pull away from the both of them, but when she stood her ground he felt a surge of pride in her. “Is everything organized outside?”
Gavin nodded. “Craig has moved his cruiser, and the little old ladies are sitting out in front of their store knitting. When I first went out there, it looked like they were trying to teach the growing crowd how to line dance. They didn’t have a clue what they were doing.”
“What happened?”
“I taught them how to do it right. It distracted the few people that started to gather out front.” Gavin grinned. “Miss Lily said she’s going to knit me something to keep me warm this winter.”
“Oh, Jesus. She’ll probably knit you a cock warmer.”
“Really? There is such a thing?” Gavin looked far too intrigued by that prospect, and River was giving him a strange look as well.
“It looks like everything here is under control. Let’s head over to River’s place.”
He could feel the tension that started to radiate off her at his comment. “You don’t have to come. I can make it there on my own. I’ll call when I get home so you know I made it there safe.”
“Hell will freeze over first, River,” Gavin commented.
Hugh heard Boyd start up the truck out back and honk once, letting them know he was ready when they were. River looked exhausted. He blinked at her, suddenly seeing her for the first time without any makeup on. It was like her armor was gone and underneath was a young woman who needed to be protected.
“Oh, no. Don’t look at me like that.” River poked him in the chest. “You’re not the boss of me.”
“I most certainly am, and I truly hope you keep fighting me on that.” He tugged her hand and started toward the back of the store. Gavin kept his hand around River’s waist but nodded thanks to the few peo
ple who had come in and complimented him on his dancing skills.
His brother’s quick thinking managed to divert any attention from what was going on in the shop and why Catherine opened later than normal. At least they managed to keep it all off the humans’ radar. The last thing they needed was an additional complication.
Chapter Eight
“Okay, let’s get you packed.” Boyd looked around River’s tiny cabin. It looked like a bachelor apartment, one big room with a small room to the side for what he assumed would be the bathroom and another large closet next to it. Opening the closet, he nosed around inside.
“What are you doing? This is my home. You can’t open whatever you want and snoop around.” He felt her tug on his arm, but he’d found what he was looking for.
“Here, fill this.” He handed her the small suitcase he found inside.
“I’m not leaving my home.” River stood her ground and crossed her arms, refusing to take the bag he held out. Boyd tossed the bag onto her bed and pointed at it.
“Pack or I’m going to pack for you, River.”
“This is completely ridiculous. There’s no reason for me to leave, and I’m not going anywhere with the three of you. Don’t get me wrong, last night was great and all, but you don’t need to get involved in all of this.”
“We’re already involved.”
“No, you’re not.” Her chin came up again, and he couldn’t stop from grinning at her. Was she familiar enough with them to know that he wasn’t the brother who would spank her for being defiant? She hadn’t stopped to consider that he had his own ways of convincing her, and then he’d tell his brothers about her behavior. He stepped closer to her and let her scent fill his senses. There were lots of layers to her unique scent, much like the woman herself. Under it all she smelled like honey made in the Scottish Highlands, and that told him what he already knew. She was meant to be his, and his brothers felt the same way.
“Whatever it is that’s threatening you, River, we’re going to take care of it.” There was a flash of vulnerability in her eyes, and for a moment he thought she might confide in him.
“You’ve been looking at the pictures in Cosmo, because if you read any of the articles you would know that high-handed, bossy bullshit like this is not going to get you into a woman’s pants.”
I love her feistiness. “I don’t plan on getting into your pants, River. I plan to tear them off you.” He scooped her up and tossed her on the bed, following her down so she couldn’t scramble off. The suitcase bounced off the other side when he landed on the mattress and he immediately pulled River into his arms. Wrapping a leg over hers ensured she couldn’t wriggle away.
“What are you doing? I thought you wanted me to pack.”
“I changed my mind. You’re tired and grumpy, and I think you can do with a nap.”
“I’m not grumpy. I’m never grumpy, unless I’m manhandled and forced out of my home.” She tried to cross her arms over her chest, but he snuggled her closer to his body and felt her relent a small amount.
Holding her this close, he could sense the elevated energy in her, quivering in her core. This wasn’t the trembling of a woman in ecstasy. River had been holding in everything that bothered her, and he knew that wasn’t healthy. He desperately wanted her to trust him enough to let him and his brothers take care of her worries. Good thing I’m patient.
“I’m sure Lars will be fine.”
She stiffened and then nodded. “I know he will. He’s been through worse.”
“What about you, River? Have you been through worse?” Slowly Boyd stroked her back in long brushes of his hand from her nape to her hip. He kept the stroking firm but not hard. He wanted to lull her a bit, help her relax and maybe start to trust him a bit.
“Why did you kiss me at the clinic?”
He blinked. Of all the things she thought of, it was that simple kiss. She wasn’t ready to talk, so he promised himself not to push her anymore. “Because I had to know how your lips felt, and I couldn’t wait a moment more.”
“And last night?”
“I think I can safely speak for my brothers when I say we didn’t want to wait any longer for you. Every moment for the last few months has been about setting up the brewery and getting it up and running smoothly, and then the grand opening. All that time we have talked about you and watched for you.”
“So, last night wasn’t punishment for brea…being there when you weren’t.”
Boyd smiled against her hair at her slip. “River, what we did last night was fun and spontaneous and far too quick, as far as I’m concerned. The spanking you got from Hugh was for breaking in. The rest was for fun.”
She wriggled slightly and the subtle scent of arousal teased his senses. That was okay, because thinking of last night had his cock shifting in his pants. “River, I realize this might seem a bit fast, but we’ve been talking about you for so long. We had every intention of telling you at the grand opening.”
“But I went to Toronto that night.” Her voice quiet, she relaxed against his chest.
“So when the opportunity arose, we didn’t want to miss out.”
River lay in his arms, and he wondered if she was slipping into sleep or thinking about what he said. “What happens now?”
That answered his question. “You’re coming home with us. I thought we told you that already.”
“Boyd, I can’t go home with you all. It’s a bad idea.”
“I disagree. I think it’s a great idea.” He wanted to wake up with her in his arms or have her between him and one of his brothers.
“You don’t understand.”
She sounded so frustrated that he almost relented. But they were playing for keeps, and until they understood what was going on with River, they didn’t want to take any chances with her safety.
“You’re right, we don’t understand, and we never will unless you tell us what’s going on with you.” River shook her head against his chest and tried to push away, but Boyd kept her there and continued to stroke her back. “Trust has to be earned, River. We need to earn yours, as much as you need to earn ours. I don’t trust that you’ll keep your best interests at heart right now. In fact, I’d be willing to bet if we took our eyes off you, you would try to fix whatever this is on your own.”
River nudged him in the chest. “You don’t know me well enough to make a comment like that.”
“Really?” He shifted River up so her ear lay on the pillow next to him. “Then let’s say I’m not willing to take that chance with you.” He leaned closer and pressed his lips against hers. A gentle tease. He traced her lower lip with his tongue and she tried to capture it with her teeth.
His cock pounded in time with his heart, which was starting to race. He remembered how incredible it felt to be deep inside of her and he wanted that again. Hugh and Gavin might like to play their games and build the anticipation, but he wanted to savor every moment with her. He wanted to bury his cock inside her again and tell her how much he loved her already. Now wasn’t the time for that confession, but he’d tell her soon.
The teasing grew in intensity almost as fast as it had last night, and Boyd rolled over onto his back and pulled River over top of him. He slowed down their kisses a bit and rested his hands on the round curve of her bum. “As much as I love this, if you keep tempting me like this, we’re never going to get you packed, and then Hugh and Gavin will interrupt us.”
He took some pride in the dazed look she wore when she lifted her face from his and blinked. “I think I need a shower,” she muttered and lifted herself off him.
“Now that sounds like a good idea.”
She shot a frown at him, obviously taking his comment the wrong way, which he ignored. She’d understand quickly enough what he meant. “Does your bathroom door have a lock on it?”
“Yes—”
“Good.” He sat up and scooped her up off the bed. As much as he wanted to have her straddle his hips while he fucked her senseless, he didn’t w
ant her to start thinking that’s all they wanted from her. She’d been under stress and needed to relax. This was a great time to pamper her.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to have a shower, and I’m going to get you dirty again, and then we can have another shower.”
“I thought you wanted me to pack.”
That’s not a no! “I did, but this is much more fun.”
He carried her into the bathroom and stopped. Shit. “You don’t have a tub.”
River looked at him funny and pointed to the small white thing that held her shower. “What do you call that? A foot bath?”
Boyd nodded, quickly changing plans in his head. “That’s not a tub. Wait till I run you a bath at our house. Then you’ll understand.” He put her on the floor and bent down, pulling off her shoes and then reaching for the top of her pants, relieved that they were stretchy.
“Boyd, I can undress myself.” She tried batting his hands away, but he wouldn’t have anything to do with that. This wasn’t what he had in mind when he first brought her in here, but he was going to work with what he had. River needed to be pampered and understand they wanted to take care of her in every way.
“I know, but this is more fun.” He slowly peeled her pants down her long legs, revealing all her creamy pale skin. She was flawless, her body curved in all the right places. He pressed a kiss to the soft skin below her belly button.
River laughed and he felt her muscles clench under his lips. I’ll have to remember this spot. Standing up, he caught the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. River was a tall woman but he was used to seeing her in platform boots or heels like she had on the other day. In bare feet, she just came up to his shoulder.
He reached over and turned on the faucets and pulled the tab that sent the water to the shower head. It was already warm in there, so he was careful not to make the water too hot. “Okay, in you go.” He held open the shower curtain and held out his hand.
“Afraid I’m going to slip?” she asked as she stepped under the spray.
Surrounded By Fur [3xtasy Lake 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7