by Crissy Smith
Dawson pulled him to a stop. “Just be honest with her. Like I said, Beth is smart. I have to believe it will work out. One way or the other. Just take things slow and see. I don’t want her hurt. It would kill me.” Dawson glared. “Remember that. But I want her happy.”
Gray patted his shoulder. “We have time to figure it out.”
“Good.” Dawson motioned ahead. “Then let’s hit the road. I think you have a date tonight. With two chaperones.”
Gray groaned good-naturedly but trailed after the other man.
Chapter Six
Beth watched Toby as he played in the front yard. She’d seen her brother and Gray pull up earlier. The wolf shifter had waved before heading into the den. She’d asked how it had gone when Dawson had passed her going into the house, but he’d shaken his head and told her it was complicated.
She wasn’t sure what that meant but she hoped the two men had got along. She’d spent the day thinking about what had happened the night before. She could admit that the strong feelings she’d had for Gray from the beginning meant something. And she was determined to see where they might lead. Gray might only be there for a little while, but they owed it to themselves to explore what was going on between them.
“Don’t climb on the dog house,” she called to Toby.
The little boy grinned and waved, heading towards the swing set Dawson had built.
“I swear, he’s a monkey instead of a bobcat,” Dawson voiced behind her.
She chuckled. “I agree.” She felt him come up beside her and leaned a little into him.
“There is something I need to talk to you about,” her brother announced softly.
Beth turned to give him her attention.
He motioned to the porch and they both sat on the swing. “We found more today than we thought.”
“About the Prince?”
Dawson took her hand in his. “We found the Prince.”
Beth gasped. “That’s wonderful!”
“Yes and no. He’d already been rescued. The trail they left was supposed to bring the kidnappers into a trap. Gray just beat them there.”
“You don’t think Gray’s involved, do you?” She didn’t want to think that way about the other man.
“No, no way,” Dawson said adamantly. “But, with them hiding in the canyon, I’m worried about the repercussions for the town.”
Beth could see where he was coming from.
“But more. You and Toby are in danger.”
“Us? I doubt anyone will bother us,” Beth tried to assure her brother.
“They might if they know a member of the rescue team is your brother,” Dawson told her quietly.
Beth frowned. “How would…?”
“Crap, Beth! Casey was there!” he finally blurted out.
She inhaled sharply. “Casey is here?”
“Yeah.” Dawson wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “He said he’s been keeping an eye on us.”
Beth bit her lip, not sure exactly what she was feeling. “Maybe you should start from the beginning.”
* * * *
Thirty minutes later Beth stepped into the inn dining room ahead of Dawson and Toby, still reeling from what her brother had told her. Military units, kidnapping, mates… It was all so much to take in.
She spotted Gray already seated at a table set for four. He noticed her and stood, smiling. She gulped. Wow, he was an attractive man.
Everything she had learnt about him spoke to how dedicated he’d been to finding the Prince. Not many people would have done that for a stranger. She didn’t know any other shifters who would have sacrificed so much for another species.
“Wolf!” Toby cried and raced around her.
Gray laughed as he hefted Toby up in the air.
Dawson was shaking his head as they reached Gray and Toby. “Toby, what have I told you about not calling people by their name?”
Toby stuck his lip out. “Sorry, Dad.”
All the adults were smiling as they sat at the table. Beth found her gaze trapped in Gray’s as he took his seat next to her. He leaned in and her breath caught.
“I’m glad you came,” he whispered.
Her head bobbed up and down.
“Maybe after dinner we can take that walk,” he offered.
“Su…sure.”
“Why are you whispering?” Toby asked loudly from Gray’s other side.
He straightened and winked at her. “I’m sorry, Toby. Whispering is rude. And what did you do today, young man?”
Toby grinned widely and launched into a story about how he and his best buddy Jimmy had wanted to learn how to fly. But Aunt Beth wouldn’t let them borrow sheets for a parachute.
Dorothy came over to take their orders and everyone chose the night’s special of meat loaf and mashed potatoes, except for Toby, who wanted Claude’s chicken fingers—the ‘best chicken fingers in the world’.
“Did you call your Alpha?” Dawson enquired across the table.
Gray cut his eyes to Beth and Toby.
Dawson just nodded.
“Yeah, Tyler agreed to keep it under wraps but wants to call in a couple more wolves for protection. He doesn’t want it to come down on the community here.”
Beth smiled. She liked that everyone was worried about the residents. She still couldn’t believe that her older brother was so close after all the years.
“I told him I wanted to stay here and see this through.” Gray glanced at her. “That I had a few things I needed to see to.” Gray blushed as he said it.
Beth bit back a giggle. It was quite cute. “Good,” she approved, nudging his foot under the table.
Gray beamed and leant back in his chair.
The rest of dinner went smoothly. Beth found herself leaning in and losing herself in the conversation about Gray’s Pack and friends. But even though he laughed and told stories, she could catch the impression that Gray wasn’t one hundred per cent happy.
The stories were always about others in his Pack. What he had witnessed. And a longing in his voice told her he was missing something. She wondered if he even realised it.
The dinner dishes were cleared away and Toby got a plate full of cookies with a glass of milk while the adults decided on coffee. Claude walked into the dining room and waved at them.
“Will you excuse me for a minute?” Dawson asked, pushing away from the table.
Dawson motioned to the outer room and Claude nodded.
“I wonder what that’s about?” Beth wondered out loud.
Gray didn’t answer, just picked up his coffee. She got the feeling he knew, though. She would ask Dawson later.
“You haven’t been downtown, have you? We have a beautiful pond and garden,” she mentioned to Gray, wanting to share it with him.
“No, not yet.”
Dawson interrupted, coming back to the table. “Toby, you ready to go home? It’s almost bedtime.”
Toby groaned dramatically but jumped up into his dad’s arms when offered.
Dawson looked over to her. “Coming, Beth?” He smirked at her.
She didn’t know how her brother knew, but the look on his face said he didn’t expect her to follow. “Actually, I’m going to show Gray around a little.”
Gray stood and held out a hand. “I’ll call you later.”
They shook and her brother peeked over at her. “Be careful.”
She watched her brother and nephew leave the dining room before turning back to Gray. “You ready?”
They walked silently through the inn until they were outside. Beth took a deep breath once outside in the warm air. She loved the Texas nights. Still warm enough to do anything without having to worry about a lot of rain or bad weather. Even in winter the lowest lows were only forty degrees.
“You love it here,” Gray observed from beside her.
Beth hadn’t realised she’d closed her eyes but opened them and looked up. “I really do. Let me show you why.”
They walked side by side do
wn the drive onto the main road. “The canyons give us the privacy to shift and with so many different species we have enough space to keep everyone happy.”
“I’ve almost always shifted in forests,” Gray admitted. “Since I’ve been on the road it’s been hard to find places, but I have to admit the canyon holds its own beauty.”
She sighed happily and wrapped her arm around his, glad that he saw a little of what she did.
She pointed out all the attractions the community had to offer as she led him to the middle of town. Gray asked questions and commented as they slowly made their way.
When they were just outside the gardens, Gray paused. “Wow!”
Beth had to agree. She loved this area. You could smell the flowers for miles with shifter-heightened senses. On a night like this with the soft breeze it was probably even further.
She took Gray’s hand and pulled him under the arch into the circle. His eyes were everywhere and he continued to take deep breaths. She let him just enjoy the sight and smells for a while.
Finally he rotated around and cupped her face. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”
He leaned in slowly as if to give her time to pull away. She didn’t want to, though. Instead, she rose to her toes and closed the distance.
Gray’s lips were moist and the kiss strong without being forceful. She tilted her head and opened to give him access. He moved his hands from her face and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She moaned at the solid embrace, loving the way he surrounded her.
“Beth,” he panted out as they paused to catch their breath.
“Yes,” she hissed, taking his mouth again.
Pure heat this time. While the first kiss had been sweet and romantic, now she attacked his mouth, pouring all the passion she felt into him. He groaned and she swallowed the sound. Wrapping her legs around his waist when he lifted her up, she pressed intimately against him.
“God, Beth,” he murmured against her skin, mouthing down her neck. She arched, pressing her pussy harder into his cock.
He was rock hard and she wanted to feel him. “I want you,” she told him, starting to rock. It felt so good. He was solid against her and if she didn’t get him inside her, she felt like she would explode.
“Can’t… We can’t here,” he disputed even as he continued to explore her, his hand under her shirt kneading her breast.
Oh, they could and would. “This way! Come here.” She dropped her legs to the ground and grabbed his hand.
She tugged him further into the garden around where she knew was a private stretch of grass. Once she knew they were hidden by the bushes, she pushed him back.
He dropped to the ground, pulling her with him to sit on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. Both of his hands were under her shirt now, pushing it up and off. The warm night air still caused goosebumps to break out on her.
“From the moment I saw you I couldn’t believe how beautiful you are.” Gray spoke while cupping her breasts. She arched her back, pushing into his hands. “I need to taste you.”
“Yes…” she moaned while he laid her back. The grass was damp but she didn’t mind. Especially when he pushed aside the cotton bra she wore and closed his lips over her taut nipple.
She whimpered, it felt so good. Too good.
“God, your skin,” he marvelled, moving to her other breast and nipple. He teased, tormented and lavished attention upon her while she cried out in ecstasy.
“Please… Please,” she begged, needing more.
His fingers caught the opening of her jeans while he stimulated her with his mouth as he moved down her body. She grabbed at the back of his head, holding onto him as best she could.
He unsnapped her jeans and lowered the zipper, and she lifted her hips to help push them down.
His eyes met hers and she could see the heat and passion. “Tell me you want this, Beth. That it’s okay. I’ll stop now but I want to taste you.”
She had to take deep breaths to calm herself.
“Tell me this is more than just lust. That you won’t regret that I’m a wolf in the morning.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tease him but, when she saw the flash of insecurity in his eyes, she stopped in time. She caressed his head before cupping his jaw. “I know who you are, Grayson. I want you.”
He nodded. “Thank God!”
She shrieked when he yanked her pants the rest of the way down and closed his mouth over the thin cotton of her panties. Even with the thin barrier, his mouth was hot. She dug her heels into the dirt under her.
“Your smell…” He groaned. “Got to taste.”
He snapped the edges of her panties easily and inhaled deeply. The first lick was just a tease.
“Gray… Gray…”
He growled and held her hips. “Mine.”
She actually screamed when he opened her and started to feast. “Oh my…”
He used his tongue to push inside her, his lips to suck her clit, and his fingers to tease everywhere.
“More… Please more,” she pleaded.
He gave it to her, slurping and nibbling as he brought her closer to the edge. Hands under her ass, he tilted her hips and ate at her. Finally it grew to be too much. She wanted to hold out, to wait until he was buried inside her, but she couldn’t. She raked her nails into the ground and shook as she finally climaxed.
Gray licked her clean even as she started to pull at his shoulders to move him up. He lifted his head and grinned the perfect big-bad-wolf grin.
She drew him up into her arms so they could kiss. She could taste herself on his tongue, but more, she felt his erection bulging. She cupped him through his jeans and he bucked while moaning.
She worked his jeans open and down before wrapping a hand around his hard shaft. She pumped him a few times while he rocked against her hold. As good as he felt in her hand, she wanted to feel him stretching her.
“Make love to me,” she demanded, giving him some rough pulls.
He grunted and kissed her hard. She knew she had him.
“I want to see you,” he commanded, settling between her legs. “Keep your eyes open, watch me, and feel me.”
She tried her best as he gently began to push in. He’d already used his tongue and fingers to open her so, while he fitted snugly, she had to close her eyes on just how right it felt.
“Beth,” he coaxed, pulling out and sliding back inside.
She lifted her head and their eyes locked. He thrust back in harder and deeper. She remained entranced, until he let go of his control. Breaking eye contact, he threw his head back and started to plough into her, each masterful stroke deep and claiming, letting her know that he owned every inch of her. She lifted her hips and met each frenzied plunge as they drove to the edge of desire.
Before she even realised she was ready, she felt the tingle inside. Her back bowed and she called his name as he pushed her into her second orgasm of the night. She clutched at him as he rode her through her climax until he finally cried out and pumped his seed inside her.
Ragged breaths mixed as he leaned his forehead against hers.
That was no question the best sexual encounter she’d had in her life. She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him to her. He mumbled something so she loosened her grip. “What?”
He laughed breathlessly, still not fully recovered. “I said you have to come back to my room with me. We have to do that again.”
Dropping her head back, she snickered. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard in years.”
Chapter Seven
Gray didn’t want to leave Beth—she felt so good tucked close to his side, her hair fanned out against the white pillowcase. He pressed a soft kiss to the side of her neck. He hadn’t planned for the night to go quite like it had.
He’d been hoping for a nice quiet walk and maybe to be able to sneak a kiss or two. He wanted to woo Beth like she deserved. The walk had been wonderful but when he’d seen her
in the garden, moonlight behind her, he just hadn’t been able to control himself. The first kiss had done him in.
He had no doubt he wasn’t reading deeper into his feelings. Beth Williams was the woman for him.
Now the real issues would start.
He didn’t care that she was a feline. He’d questioned her earlier, making sure she understood what he was. But now would come the backlash of what everyone else thought. He’d never heard of mating across species.
He slipped out of bed as quietly as he could. He had just enough time to shift and meet the other wolf. He pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt before grabbing his shoes. The door clicked softly as he closed it behind him, and he had to fight the feeling to go back and kiss her one more time.
Shaking his head at himself, he made his way through the inn, remaining silent so he wouldn’t wake anyone else up. He used the back door to leave and immediately caught the feline scent. He crouched, dropped his shoes, a growl rumbling in his throat. Danger too close to his future mate had his wolf disturbed.
“Easy, wolf.” Casey Williams stepped out of the shadows.
Gray straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “What are you doing here?”
Casey shrugged and walked up the steps. “I wanted to… I had to see for myself they were okay. I didn’t want to bring trouble to them.”
Gray relaxed. He could smell the sincerity from the bobcat.
Casey nodded to the porch furniture. Gray took a seat first. Casey passed by him to lean against the rail before stiffening. He took a deep breath and hissed. “You’ve been with my sister,” he accused.
Shit, he really should have showered but he hadn’t wanted to leave Beth. Besides, he’d thought he was meeting RJ and hadn’t thought Beth’s scent would be an issue. Gray held up both hands. “It’s not what you think.”
But Casey wasn’t listening. He snarled and took a step towards Gray. Gray had jumped to his feet to defend himself when the back door slammed closed.
“Casey Williams, don’t you touch him!”
Both men froze as Beth stepped away from the door.