by Alicia White
Shutting off the engine, Cole got out of the truck and stretched. His back cracked loudly and he shook himself, taking a deep breath of the cool mountain air. The familiar smells filled his head. Damn, it’s good to be home. Walking to the front of the truck, Cole looked over his shoulder at Emily.
She was climbing out, looking at her new home. Still, there was no real expression to let him know what she was thinking. At that moment, Cole felt disappointment, and a hard knot formed in his throat. It’s not good enough for her. That reality was hard to accept. Here he’d been looking forward to showing her, hoping that she might like the small house tucked deep in the woods. He’d stupidly believed that her face would light up. He thought that she’d smile and want to explore.
Thomas slammed the door and groaned as he stretched his back, a huge smile on his face. Great, her brother likes it. Definitely not the sibling I was trying to impress.
“This is a beautiful place, Cole, Charlie. The town seems real quaint. I’m looking forward to checking it out. I saw a small motel. I’ll head over there in a bit.” Thomas strode over and slapped him on the shoulder. He looked at his sister, and Cole held his breath. “Emily, what do you think? Isn’t this great?”
What is she going to say?
She shrugged. The woman’s only response was a shrug. Cole took a deep breath and shook his head. Wooing this particular woman might be harder than he thought. He went to the house then, stepping up the two small steps that lead to the front door. He knew that everyone was following him, could hear their footsteps. Cole twisted the knob and opened the door. Maybe she would respond to the inside. It was in a lot better shape. He and Charlie had done all the woodwork themselves and he was quite proud.
“Your pack has some good builders. This is quality work, best I’ve seen.” Thomas walked around touching and inspecting everything.
“Thanks, Charlie and I did all the work.”
“Really? Wow. All this intricate carving must’ve taken months.” Thomas grinned happily as he moved around the small house, checking everything out.
Why can’t Emily take an active interest?
* * * *
Emily stared at the house and admired all the woodwork. She had to admit that this place was cute. The property was snuggled in between large pine trees that reminded her of home in Alaska. Actually, it was quite similar, small, quaint, and homey. The place boasted masculinity and she could see Cole and Charlie everywhere she looked. Brown leather couches, large fireplace, old hardwood floors with a variety of rugs placed throughout the space.
Emily watched as Thomas walked around touching the carvings that graced almost every surface and her fingers itched to do the same. It was obvious that the work was unique and it probably took them months, if not years, to accomplish. Hearing that both Cole and Charlie did the work made her realize how talented they were.
Cole spoke with such pride. That’s exactly how she felt about the home she’d left behind. It hadn’t been much, but it belonged to her and Thomas. She wanted to tell them exactly what she thought, but the stubborn side of her wouldn’t allow her to open her mouth to say one word. Her bear roamed near the surface, whining and begging to go to them, to let her be claimed, but she ignored her, pushing her back with all her might. She was still irritated with both of them for the little spanking incident. The truth was, it was hard to break the silence and she didn’t know what to say.
The whole drive she’d played that spanking through her mind. Damn it, I liked it. Pursing her lips, Emily tried once more to banish the thought. Every time she thought about it, she could swear she felt Charlie’s hand on her ass. The slight pain sent a tingle of sensation rushing through her body, exciting her. Luckily, they both hadn’t caught the scent of her arousal, but it was just a matter of time.
The men stopped talking then and turned toward her. Her eyes widened slightly, and she cringed inside. Oh, God, they can smell my arousal. They all wore knowing smirks, and she wanted to slap that look off their faces. She hated the fact that they were all shifters. It wasn’t fair that they had great noses. She needed to take care of this little problem quickly. Thank goodness she’d packed her favorite toy and extra batteries. She wouldn’t be a slave to her needs.
“Well, I think I’ll head out and let the three of you get settled.” Thomas winked at her.
Emily squinted her eyes, shooting him a dirty look. She wasn’t at all impressed with his cocky attitude. Jerk.
“Y’all have fun now.” He laughed and headed out the front door.
Part of her wanted to run after him and ask to be taken to the motel, but she didn’t. She stayed frozen in place and listened as he started his truck and drove away. She was alone again, except this time they weren’t driving. This time they were inside their home, a few feet away from a bedroom. Emily stiffened and locked her legs together, saying a silent prayer. She didn’t think she would be able to have much willpower if they even brushed by her at this point.
“I’ll show you to the master bedroom. You can unpack, shower, and take a nap. If you want.” Cole shrugged and started down the hall.
She followed him, scooting past Charlie and avoiding contact. Even walking past him, she could feel the heat radiating off his skin and ruffling the fine hairs on her arms. The bear pushed at her, trying to take control, wanting her mate. Stop, stop, stop. You’re acting like we’re in heat. Get control of yourself. She shook her head and gritted her teeth. Yep, she needed to relieve this god-awful pressure and make herself orgasm. Maybe then she could think straight when she was around these potent men.
Emily stepped into the master bedroom and did a double take. She even shook her head a bit. The room was huge, bigger than anything she’d ever seen, and for a polar bear that was saying something. The bed was absolutely gigantic. In fact, she was pretty certain she might get lost once lying down. Call out a search party. I’ll never be found again. The pillows surprised her and she wanted to laugh, but she stopped herself. There were at least a dozen, and it made her wonder who the hell decorated this particular room. It was almost girly, and that hadn’t been what she expected, especially since the rest of the place was quite masculine.
Taking a deep breath, she inhaled and knew immediately that neither man spent any real time in this particular room. Maybe they didn’t decorate it after all.
“Charlie and I both have our own rooms further down the hall. This room was built and decorated with our future mate in mind. I hope you like it.” His voice was monotone, as if he expected her to hate it.
“It’s lovely,” she croaked before clearing her throat.
“I’m glad you like it.” His grin lit up the entire room, and Emily couldn’t resist. She smiled back.
“I’ll go and get your bags right now. Why don’t you consider taking a shower…or uh…a bath?” He stumbled out before quickly leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
Walking around the room, Emily brushed her hand over a wide wooden dresser. There were various shelves set up along the wall that stood empty. She started to imagine her little knickknacks sitting there, her artwork on the walls, and pictures lining the dresser. Was she really thinking that this could actually be her home? Her mind, heart, and body were all pulling her in different directions. The bear wanted her mates, period. The woman only wanted to be loved and accepted.
Shoulders dropping, Emily started stripping off her clothes, throwing them onto the floor. She needed a nice, hot bath. Hell, she needed her bag and toy. Maybe once her body was properly sated, she could start thinking. Once she was gloriously naked, she stretched out her back. She was really looking forward to investigating the bathroom. If it was anything like the surprise she found here, it would be quite impressive.
“Holy shit,” a voice behind her whispered right before something hard hit the floor.
Emily whirled around, crossing her right arm over her breasts and covering her pussy with her left hand. She bent her body over and started sidestepping to
the bathroom. Cole stood in the doorway, his mouth slightly open, staring at her. Charlie was peeking over his shoulder. Both of them weren’t moving to leave. In fact, they were following her every move. Men, they see a naked women and they turn into fools. She moved toward the open door, relieved she didn’t have much farther to go.
“What is wrong with you two? Will you turn around?” she gritted out.
They both tracked her moves, never saying a word, just looking like two stunned men. Growling at them, Emily didn’t notice how close she actually was to the bathroom until it was too late. Her foot caught on a small step and she shrieked, throwing her arms out to catch herself as she fell on her ass. Physically she wasn’t hurt. Mentally she was going to be scarred.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked, coming toward her, and Emily held up her hand, stopping him.
“Fine. Thanks. Can I go take a bath in peace now?” She was embarrassed. She had no idea that Cole would bring her bags into the room so fast. She’d just assumed that she had some time to relax and take that bath he suggested.
For a minute there she’d had the upper hand. Now, she was on her ass in between the bedroom and bathroom, feeling vulnerable. Cole and Charlie were both checking her out as if she were a raw steak. She could see their wolves close to the surface, their eyes slightly changing color, nostrils flared. It looked as if they wanted to charge into the room, but they held back. She received a slight nod from Cole before he backed out of the room and slowly closed the door.
Exhaling loudly, Emily stood up and hoped she’d be able to relax. Things were moving way too fast. She had just met her mates and now, she was moving in. Things didn’t work this way in the human world. Nope, people were encouraged to get to know one another, date, and then get married or commit to a long-term relationship. Shifters did things at an accelerated pace. Once you scented the one meant for you…fuck, mark, claim, forever.
Emily walked through the bathroom, inspecting the modern fixtures. There was a huge tub that seemed to stretch across one wall. It was connected to a separate shower with glass walls. It looked as if it could easily fit six shifters. She glided her hand across the cool marble countertop. The place had a cozy feel to it, and she planned on spending most of her time in this very room. She would be the cleanest woman in the area.
A cramp squeezed her insides, causing her to bend over from the sheer force of it. Emily started to pant, trying to breathe through the sudden onset of pain. Her body felt warm, sweat coating her skin that felt too tight all of the sudden. Her heart was pounding so fast that she became dizzy. Moving, she leaned against the wall, trying to gain some control, but she started shaking. Sinking down to the ground, Emily invited the chill from the air to cool her down.
Oh, no…no, this can’t be. Not right now! Emily wrapped her arms around her chest and started rocking herself back and forth. Every month female shifters went through their heat, or “needing” as some called it. It didn’t start until the human and animal were both craving their mate. The scent of a female’s arousal called to most unmated males, but specifically it sent out a beacon to the man or men that were destined for you. And here she was in her mate’s home, just down the hall from them.
Emily pushed herself up off the floor. On shaky legs, she climbed into the shower and turned the cold water on. The blast helped to cool her down, although the power of the spray made her skin feel sensitive. She grabbed the soap and as gently as she could, rubbed it over her body, moaning at the contact. Shit…this isn’t good.
Her vision became clearer, the scent of her males stronger to her nose. She knew exactly where they were. Her teeth elongated, and Emily leaned against the tiles, fisting her hands. The bear was pushing its way to the surface, demanding satisfaction, and she wasn’t sure if she had the strength to stop her. At least she had her toy. Tonight, she would spend hours fantasizing and taking care of her needs. Before when she had faced her heat, it didn’t last longer than a day. That was when her mates were in another state though. Now, they were here and the feelings she was having were more intense than anything she’d ever felt.
Emily was panting by the time she shut off the water, and her whole body was shaking uncontrollably. She stalked naked out of the shower and started checking cabinets, looking for a towel. When she finally found one, she patted the moisture from her skin. With each swipe of the soft material, nerve endings seemed to come to life. Her pussy was dripping, her inner muscles flexing. She didn’t have much time. She could barely think any longer. Dropping the towel on the ground, she practically ran to her suitcase.
When the zipper wouldn’t cooperate, she started tearing the bag apart with her claws. Where is the fucking toy? She dumped the contents on the ground and wanted to shriek in agony. Her favorite toy, BOB, was nowhere in sight.
Chapter 7
Good lord, Cole thought he might actually die from a heart attack. He’d seen her naked, had seen her shift, but this was a totally different experience. Up close like he’d been, every soft curve only a few steps away turned his brain to mush. Her creamy ass, he’d envisioned going to his knees and sinking his teeth in her then and there. He didn’t want to mark her neck. No, he wanted to mark her entire body. He wanted every other male to know that she belonged to him. All the blood pumping through his body shot down to his cock in that moment, making it impossible to think at all.
Cole knew he needed to be a gentleman, knew that in any other circumstance he would’ve turned and left, apologizing for not knocking. Leaning against the closed door, he took a few deep breaths while staring at Charlie. It was as if they both had been stunned stupid by the sight of her. It was just because she was Emily. It was because she was their mate. Her arousal had been calling to him since he’d seen her, and his wolf was ready to mark and claim her.
In fact, he knew that her bear was calling to him. He had seen her eyes slightly shift, and when that happened, she looked at him with such longing and need. That look only lasted moments, though, and then the woman would be back, scowling at him.
“We need a plan,” Cole said and Charlie nodded in agreement.
Together they headed back down the short hallway and into the kitchen. He sat in one of the chairs, stretching out his long legs. He should probably be standing after all the sitting during the drive, but he needed to get his body under control. He’d heard a lot of stories and had even seen firsthand what meeting one’s mate did to the other shifter. Most of those couples or ménages spent days behind closed doors, marking not only with their teeth, but also their scent.
Now, here he sat in the kitchen with his brother instead of back there in the bedroom with Emily. It was all too strange. Her reactions weren’t what he’d consider normal. He had hoped that when they did finally find their mate, she would demand to be taken and claimed right away. This was all so new and he had no idea how to respond. A plan was a good enough place as any at this point.
“Do you have any ideas?” He raised a brow and stared at Charlie.
“Not sure.” Charlie opened the fridge and handed him a beer before sitting across from his at the table.
“Do you think that it was a good idea to spank her before driving here?” Cole twisted the cap off and took a sip, leaning back in the chair.
“You told her not to curse, and she did. I reacted.” He shrugged. “She didn’t seem too pissed.”
“Seriously? She didn’t talk for fifty hours. The whole drive here in complete silence, even when we stopped for food or at a hotel for the night. She didn’t speak to us. I think that pretty much says…I’m pissed.” His brother had to be dense if he couldn’t tell that their woman was in fact more than just a little upset.
“I didn’t talk much either.” Again, he shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“You do realize that women talk. They like to talk if you hadn’t noticed. Nicole, Addison, Harper, and every other woman in our pack talk constantly. They share their thoughts and feelings. It isn’t normal for her to sit silently.”
Cole growled at Charlie and put his beer on the table. “And would you stop shrugging. This matters. She’s our mate.”
“I know that,” Charlie told him.
If he shrugs again, I’m going to jump over this table and kick his ass. Cole couldn’t stand the indifference Charlie had. He knew it wasn’t real, but still he just wanted his brother to at least act like he gave a damn about their current situation. Why did Cole always have to be the planner? Why couldn’t Charlie step up and think of a way for them to win their mate over?
* * * *
Charlie stared at his brother. He couldn’t figure out why he was getting so upset. Emily was here. It wasn’t as if that little spanking prevented her from getting in the damn truck. Besides, she’d enjoyed it, even if she didn’t want to admit it. He had smelled her desire the moment he opened the door and climbed into the cab. Shit, he wanted to do it again. He wanted to pull her over his lap. Except this time, he would spank her naked, plump ass. Licking his lips, he thought about her in that exact position and his cock hardened immediately.
It hadn’t mattered to him that she’d stayed silent. He wasn’t much of a talker himself. He preferred actions over words.
The look on his brother’s face was all business, and although Charlie understood the seriousness of situation, he wasn’t worried. They had plenty of time. Soon enough, she wouldn’t be able to keep her hands to herself. The cute little polar bear was already at the surface begging for attention. She was a shifter and knew the importance of finding her mates. It was lifelong, and they lived longer than humans.