Runaway Mate

by Cecilia Lane

  She giggled and wiped away the wetness. When she looked up, she found Gray staring at her with a dumbfounded look on his face. She didn’t say anything. She knew she looked the same. Everything in her life had been so wrong before she stepped foot into Bearden. It was like a switch had gone off.

  The change came the moment a snarling bear barreled towards her attackers and she handed a naked man outside her door a towel. It’d continued until she was covered in filth and had a tiny calf resting against in her lap. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes. As insane as it all sounded, it was perfect.

  He was perfect.

  Callum slapped the side of the truck twice. “Load up!”

  Gray vaulted over the side and settled in the back with her, then tossed his keys to his alpha. “Let’s get these little ones back. Then it’s time for real fun.”

  “There’s more?”

  “You don’t think we volunteered to work for nothing, do you?” Gray grinned. “You ever been mudding, Hollywood?”

  “Does a mud mask count?”

  Gray snorted. “Shit you put on your face? No. Not even close.”

  Meghan’s eyes were huge when Gray jerked the wheel between the first set of trees. A small squeal escaped as they slid over the slippery ground. She reached both hands for the bar next to the window just before they straightened on a muddy road with a thousand hidden holes and uneven surfaces.

  Gray whooped and gunned it over the next hill. The truck landed with a hard bounce and the back wheels spun out as soon as they leveled. Arcs of mud rose up behind them whenever he made a sharp turn, which was as often as possible.

  “This is why your truck is so dirty,” she said on a breath.

  “Isn’t it great?” He turned to her and flashed a big grin.

  It was, actually. She knew the activity existed in a vague sense. But actually loading up into a truck and willingly driving through huge patches of mud for the heck of it was something else entirely. Her mother certainly would never have allowed it and Bentley wouldn’t have lowered himself to such an activity.

  But there she was, still covered in muddy clothes, stinking of farm animals, and sitting next to a shifter in the same state. No one could predict the plot twists in life.

  Gray took another sharp turn and they both jerked against their seatbelts when the truck suddenly refused to move. The others raced forward, splattering them with even more mud. Cole stuck his head out of the window as they passed and howled an odd mixture of insults and joy.

  “Here’s your chance, Hollywood. I need to get out and push. When I tell you, hit the gas.” He leaned over and pressed his lips to her cheek and then shot out the door before she could object. She was beginning to suspect he did that so she wouldn’t have time to question.

  Meghan scooted to the driver’s side. She peeked in the rearview mirror and was surprised to see a happy girl reflected back at her. “I’m ready,” she called out the open window.

  Gray braced his hand on the back of the truck. She watched his muscles bulge as he leaned into his push. Even without her help, the truck slid forward an inch. She could almost forget sometimes how strong he was and the power packed away inside his body.

  “Do it,” he yelled.

  Slowly, she eased her foot down on the gas. The engine complained and then, with a wet pop, back wheels broke free.

  The door creaked as Gray tugged it open. Muddy hands came down on her knees and hauled her to the edge of the seat. She caught a brief glimpse of his eyes before he crashed his hungry mouth down on hers. Gold, pure gold, replaced his human blue. Their tongues clashed and his teeth caught her lower lip. The tiny, sexy sounds he made any time he tasted her fluttered awareness through her limbs.

  His thumbs traced slow circles on her knees and slowly slid up her thighs. Her breath came in gasps by the time he released her.

  She wasn’t the only one affected. Gray dragged her hand over his heart and she could feel the beat racing under her palm. “Scoot over before…” His low, husky words cut off with a growl.

  “Before what?” She couldn’t take her eyes off him. Straight nose, strong jaw, scruff-covered cheeks… everything about him screamed male in his prime. Heat coiled in her middle and she resisted the urge to wrap her legs around his waist and pull him back.

  The growl changed pitch, sounding like something closer to a purr or a hum. “Before I do something we’ll both regret.”

  It didn’t seem likely. If she had regrets she would have felt them already. There were none. She felt like she’d finally found the path she needed to take. She’d been flung together with Gray and every moment she craved more.

  Meghan was silent as she belted herself back in on the other side of the truck. When she looked at her reflection in the side mirror, her smile had grown even larger. A streak of mud marked her nose and cheek from Gray’s hand. She never wanted to wipe it off.

  Chapter 15

  “Your move, Hollywood. Where am I taking you?”

  Gray’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel and he turned to her. The taillights of the other trucks rolled away from the stop sign. The road split and he looked to her for an answer.

  Something had changed after he kissed her. Something big inhabited the cab with them. Meghan wasn’t sure what to call it or even how to address it. Her happiness hadn’t faded, but quiet held Gray in its grasp. She’d stayed silent, too. She didn’t know what to say or how to process the jumble of emotions that warred in her head. The tightness of Gray’s shoulders suggested he felt the same.

  They both struggled in what they meant to the other. He was being a gentleman and not stepping a toe out of line. But the more time she spent with him, the less certain she knew where that line was. They teased at the edge of kissing, but after the muddy adventure, she wanted more. She wanted him.

  And while he physically showed signs of agreement that made her press her thighs together at the memory, he still held back. She didn’t know if it was because he was looking after her or he didn’t want all of her complications.

  She pasted on a bright smile. “I was promised dinner.”

  That broke through some of the tension. Gray swirled a finger in her direction. “No one is going to let you in looking like that.”

  She scoffed but looked down. Her legs were smeared with mud and flakes of it had dried on her shorts and tank top. She knew from her reflection there was more in her hair and on her face. She looked no different than him, and she said as much. “Because you’re such a role model for cleanliness.”

  He snorted and plucked at his t-shirt. Bits of mud sprinkled on the seat next to him. “I might need a change of clothes.” He slid his eyes to the side. “I could drop you off at your car or,” his throat bobbed with a hard swallow, “I have some steaks in the fridge.”

  “Well, I’m not smearing mud all over the leather, so steaks it is.” She sandwiched her hands between her thighs to hide her trembling. She didn’t know why he affected her so much. She’d been through countless auditions without a hint of nerves, but the bear shifter pulled at her emotions and thousands of butterflies filled her stomach.

  A tiny growl rolled out of Gray. “Steaks it is,” he said almost too softly for her to hear.

  She stared out the window as he drove. They passed ranches and the dark forms of cattle in the distance slowly edged into hills and trees. They climbed back into the mountains and then the first buildings of the town appeared. The air grew heavier with every passing minute. Something needed to happen or be said. She needed his voice and his touch.

  Meghan dropped her hand to the space between them. Her fingers crawled forward and she brushed a knuckle against Gray’s jeans. Another small growl filled the cab. She closed her eyes and embrace the noise. She could almost imagine it right next to her ear and his breath hitting her skin.

  After a moment, Gray dropped his hand to hers. His thumb brushed over her skin, then slipped under so their palms lined up. They drove on in silence.

&
nbsp; There was activity in the clearing he pulled into. She recognized the dirty trucks parked next to cabins not so different than the one she rented. Renovations were underway on one, and the frame of the addition looked haunting in the night. “Do you all live here?”

  He nodded and his voice was thick when he answered. “It helps our animals to stay together.”

  A grill was being prepped by Leah, Becca, and another woman she didn’t recognize. Rylee, she thought, from what she’d gleaned of the others and their lives. Becca spotted them first, but it was Leah that cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, “Hey, Gray, you cooking out with us tonight?”

  “Not a chance. And you better wait for Nolan to start or he’ll kill you all.”

  A smattering of cheers rose in the air as soon as Gray hooked an arm around her middle. Gray ignored them all and ushered her up steps and across a small porch range with strands of light that weren’t powered on.

  A quick jiggle of the lock and a flip of a switch, and Meghan entered Gray’s home.

  He stayed behind her while she took her first steps forward. She found him watching her when she glanced over her shoulder. Worry pulled at his lips.

  She didn’t know what she expected. Nude posters and beer cans, maybe. Inside was clean and neat. Oh, there was a small stack of dishes left by the sink, but he was up and out the door earlier then she was awake most days. A pillow had been propped against the arm of his couch and the indent suggested it was his regular place to lounge. It wasn’t a home that would be featured in a magazine, but it was lived in and comfortable.

  “I like it.”

  “It’s probably not what you’re used to, huh? It’s small. No maids or chefs. Only one bedroom and bathroom.”

  She reached for him. She understood his worry. Her laughing bear didn’t think he was good enough. He couldn’t be any more wrong. “I love it. I love,” she tripped on the word that came too easily to her lips and replaced it with something less crazy, “this town.”

  Something flickered in Gray’s eyes. His voice dropped an octave. “You probably want to get cleaned up. Bathroom is this way. I can wash your clothes.”

  He twined his fingers with hers and led her toward a darkened door. Soft light from a lamp showed his bedroom as equally comfortable as his living room. A dark green comforter had been kicked to the edge of the bed and lighter green sheets were thrown to the side from when he last left.

  Her whirlwind tour of his private space ended as she stepped into his bathroom. A large walk-in shower dominated the space. The curtain pulled roughly to one side showed earth colored tile lining the wall and floor.

  She turned in a circle and faced him again. She felt on display under the bright lights. Gray certainly didn’t hide his perusal of her body. He ate her up in a single glance, then savored her from her head to her toes. A shiver whipped down her spine.

  He cleared his throat and looked away. “Towels are in the cabinet. I’ll put a shirt out for you on the bed and get dinner started while you wash.”

  He started to take a step out of the bathroom. Her stomach flipped over and over. She didn’t want him to leave. She hadn’t wanted him to pull away earlier, either.

  “Gray, don’t go.” She could feel her cheeks reddening. She looked down at the floor and then dared peek up at him. His eyes were on her. The dark blue pools had flecks of gold running through them. His lips parted slightly and she could see the shutdown.

  “Stay.”

  “Meghan…,” He licked his lips. Then his nostrils flared. Scenting her, she knew. He stepped closer, then closer still. “Are you sure?”

  She pressed her lips together to keep them from trembling. A simple nod was her answer.

  Gray moved slowly, not taking his eyes from her face, almost as if afraid she’d run or change her mind. She wasn’t going anywhere. She made her choice and she wouldn’t regret it.

  His fingertips curled under the hem of her shirt and exposed inch after inch of her stomach. The tiny brushes of his skin against hers sent shocks through her nerves and raised the fine hairs all over her body. Her core tightened as she lifted her arms and he stripped off the first of her clothes.

  Her shirt hit the floor with a crack of caked mud. It was a jolt to them both. He brought his mouth down on hers and she shoved at his shirt. Their hands were everywhere, touching and grabbing and trying to pull each other just a little closer.

  Gray popped the button on her shorts and ripped the zipper down. He shoved them over her hips and bottom. His jeans clung to his thighs when he pulled back long enough to reach into the shower and turned the knob. Then with a deeply masculine chuckle, he kissed her again.

  She didn’t know how long it took for them to strip down naked. Long enough for the bathroom to steam up. Gray forced her back a step and growled as he drank her in.

  She should’ve felt vulnerable. The first time was always awkward. But not with Gray. He felt right. He looked right. Meghan roamed her eyes over the broad expanse of his shoulders and down his chest. Muscles flexed with it each breath he drew. Powerful calves merged into thick thighs, which led to a cock very hard for her.

  Gray tilted his head. His eyes slid shut and his nostrils flared. Another growl vibrated out of him and he drew her into the shower.

  He leaned into the stream of water and scrubbed a hand over his face, then did the same to his hair. Mud washed away from the strands and he stood under the water second more to clean off his arms and legs.

  He shook the water from his hair and cleared the water from his eyes. Bright gold opened to her. He held out his palms and when she placed her hands in his, twisted so she could take his spot under the water.

  She thought his kisses had been pure fire, but they were nothing compared to the feeling of his hands on her body. There was no demand for action, just a slow seduction. He cared for her. Worshiped her. Each stroke in her hair or down her arms washed away the mud and bathed her in desire.

  Gray drew her hair to the side. His solid chest brushed against her back. Meghan tilted her head and gave him her neck. Biting, sucking kisses were planted along her shoulder and up her neck to her ear. His teeth caught the lobe and she squirmed. A rumbling growl tickled her ear and he pulled her hard against him.

  Meghan hooked an arm behind her and over his shoulders. She rolled her hips against his cock. He was big. Longer and thicker than any man she’d been with. He’d fill her completely. Her mouth went dry in anticipation.

  When the water ran clear, they stood naked before each other. One breath, then another, and she reached for him. She wanted to touch him and give him the same treatment. She pressed her palms to his stomach and felt each sharp inhale and exhale. He was hot to the touch, even hotter than simply showering. His skin felt almost feverish. She wanted to wrap that warmth around herself.

  She raked her nails down the light dusting of hair from his navel to his groin. His breath caught the moment her fingers ringed his shaft. His head fell back and his eyes closed as she drew her hand up his full length. Cords of muscle tightened in his neck and a pleased sound escaped his throat.

  Then he was moving. He batted away the shower head so the water splashed down a wall. She was pulled flush against his hard body. His lips slashed across hers, tongue sliding over her lower lip and demanding entry. Instinct took over as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with everything she had. His teeth nibbled at her lips and his tongue claimed hers as they both dared each other higher and higher.

  He pushed her back until she slammed into the wall. The heat of his body contrasted with the cold of the tile. Gray didn’t stop to let her adjust and she would have killed him if he had. He wrapped a hand in her hair and gently tugged to expose her neck, dipping his head to her jaw and down her neck. His lips pressed against her skin and his teeth nibbled at her flesh.

  His hands skimmed up from her hips to cup her breasts. He’d avoided teasing her until that moment. Her nipples ached for his touch and he didn’t disappo
int. His fingers kneaded her, the tight peaks of her nipples caught between his thumbs and forefingers and he devoured her moans. His demanding kisses continued on her chest, blazing a new trail of fire over her already heated skin. When he reached her breast, he sucked a nipple between his soft lips.

  Meghan groaned, fingers tightening in his hair. Everything about the night worked to bring her pleasure. The rain and saving trapped animals, the dirty fun in his truck, and his naked seduction, it was all too perfect. She tried to contain the growing feeling in her heart and failed. He wasn’t what she expected when she first stepped into town. All of Bentley’s comments, all the rumors, they were wrong. They were just people. And Gray was important.

  He was selfless. He was a man who risked his life in fires and volunteered to rescue calves. He did it all with a smirk in his tone that said otherwise, but she’d seen the depth of his love for the town. She liked everything about him. She liked him. She knew she needed to be careful, but he felt like anything but a rebound. He felt like the real thing.

  Gray sank to his knees and fixed his eyes on her. The gold had eaten away the lust-darkened blue. He nuzzled his cheek against her stomach and a tiny growl escaped him. “You smell so good.”

  Meghan sucked in a breath. Gray focused on the exact point where her stomach hollowed and she watched his gaze dropped to the apex of her thighs. Then he lifted her leg over his shoulder and stroked his thumbs up her slit.

  She whimpered with the first long draw of his tongue. His deep groan of satisfaction forced her eyes open. She didn’t think it was possible for him to look any sexier, but the proof was right in front of her. His lids dropped to half-mast as he closed his mouth over her clit. His tongue lashed against her clit. And one of his hands dropped to his cock and stroked himself.

  Holy hell.

  Her hips bucked against the next flick of his tongue. Harder, he pressed. Faster. Meghan moaned when he pushed two fingers deep inside her without stopping. She writhed against his intrusion and mouth. Pleasure didn’t just rise up and roll through her. He summoned it for perfect destruction.