by Jane Jamison
“Naw. You said I was sweet and romantic. You didn’t say anything about him.”
“That doesn’t mean she isn’t thinking it.” Case pouted, joking. “Say something nice about me, Nic.”
“You’re sexy as hell.”
Case thrust out his chest. If he had beaten both fists against it, she would’ve loved it. Or, better yet, if he’d howled.
“Yeah. Being sexy is better than being sweet any day of the week.”
Brennan fell back. “I’m crushed, baby. He’s sexy? Then what the hell am I?”
“Like she said. You’re sweet and romantic.” Case chuckled as he lay back down, too.
“You’re both sweet and romantic. And you’re both the sexiest guys I’ve ever seen. Are you happy now?”
Their moods changed, growing more serious than she’d meant with her question. Surprisingly, they both took one hand. Case squeezed the one he held.
“We’re the happiest we’ve ever been.”
His words, simple and truthful, made her blush with joy. “Me, too.”
They stayed that way for a while, lost to their own thoughts, yet together.
“I have an admission to make.”
She kept her attention on the ceiling, ready for whatever Case had to say. “Yes?”
“Now who’s getting sweet?” joked Brennan.
“Be quiet.”
“Shut up, man.”
She and Case grinned at each other since they’d spoken at the same time.
“Anyway, I was about to say…” Case shot his brother a look, daring him to interrupt again. “I was never sure the connection was real. Even after meeting you at the bonfire.” He shifted to look at her. “But when I saw you the other day, walking around town, I knew I’d been a fool to doubt it.”
“Yeah, bro. You were a—”
Both she and Case growled at Brennan, shutting him up again.
Brennan snarled, but kept quiet.
“I never doubted it for a minute.” She skimmed her fingers along Case’s cheek then rolled onto her back so she could see both of them.
Brennan ended his playfulness. “The connection brought us together, but we’ll have to work hard to keep us that way. It won’t be easy considering you’re a werebear.”
“And you’re werewolves.” She sighed, hearing her father’s voice in her head. “But no matter what, I know you’re worth it.”
“How do you know, Nic?”
“Easy, Brennan. You stood up to the other werewolves. And to my father. You showed you were already two good men way back then.”
“But we left you behind.”
She hurried to ease Case’s worry. “You left so you wouldn’t get me into trouble. Nothing could’ve happened anyway. And when you saw the need to stay and help out your uncle, you were willing to do it no matter what it cost you. You both have big hearts and you’re willing to put family before all else. I not only respect you for doing so, but I’m proud of you, too.”
“The feeling’s mutual, baby.” Case played his fingers over her breast, circling her nipple to send shivers of desire through her.
“Why would you say that? I didn’t do anything.”
“The hell you didn’t.” Brennan started teasing her other nipple. “We did some asking around after we ran into you on the street.”
“You checked up on me? What’d you do? Hire a detective?”
“Didn’t have to. We have human friends who know people in both Forever and Shatland.”
She wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or annoyed.
“Don’t get upset, baby.” Case nipped at her shoulder. “We had to find out if you were already married or had kids. If so, then we would’ve gone away.”
“Okay. I understand. Go on.”
“Anyway,” added Brennan, “we know you still live at home. Partly to help save money for the salon you want to open and partly because you know your mom likes having you there.”
“Yes. True on both counts. I guess your friends know more than I would’ve thought anyone did. Other than Jasmine, that is.”
“Plus, we heard that you’re ready to help anyone who needs it. And that you and Jasmine sometimes go into Forever to shop.”
“Wow. I’m not sure whether to be impressed or a little frightened.”
“It wasn’t hard.” Brennan gently tugged on her hair. “I know it sounds a little like we’re stalking you, but we didn’t have time to talk. Besides, talking about you with others made us feel closer to you.
She could understand. Jasmine often complained about her wanting to talk about them. And that was before they’d seen each other again.
“We already knew you were brave when you came to the bonfire,” said Brennan.
“Or stupid.”
“Naw. Brave. Once you were there, you were worried about your friend enough to search for her in a pack of wolves.”
“Only so I could get her and get the hell out of there. It didn’t have much to do with bravery.”
“The way you stood up to Marty was brave.” Case eased onto his elbow. “We can size people up pretty well. I think all shifters can to some degree. And we can sense you’re a good person. Everyone who told us about you was quick to point out that you’re well-liked. Even some werewolves like you. Like Kate and Stormy.”
“Really? I don’t know them well, but they seem very nice.”
“Look, Nic.” Brennan was on his elbow now. “The connection will be a large part of our relationship, but all shifter mates know it’ll take a while to get to know each other well. But what we already do know, we love. It’s an instinctual thing. You know that as well as we do. Are you willing to go on faith and believe in the connection? Because we sure as hell are.”
She swallowed, realizing her answer would set the tone for the rest of her life. Are far as she knew, the basic bond that brought shifters together had never failed. Marriages were still work, maybe due to their human sides, but the connection itself was never wrong. “Yes.”
The sound of the door opening startled her. She gasped and grabbed for the bedspread, but it was underneath them. Case and Brennan yanked on the sides, bringing some of the cover over them while shielding as much of her with their bodies as they could.
“I’ll take a wild guess and say you three are happy.” Jasmine stood in the doorway, her arms crossed and a big grin on her face. “Very happy.”
“Do you know her, Nic?”
Nicole relaxed a little, but still stayed as covered as she could. “Case and Brennan Cagle, this is my friend, Jasmine Wishner. Say hello, boys.”
“Hello,” echoed both of them at the same time.
“Hi, guys. I’m happy to finally meet you.” Her appraising gaze took them in. “Nicole didn’t exaggerate one thing. You two are hot.”
“Thanks.” Brennan shrugged at his brother. “I’m sure she included you just to be nice.”
Jasmine moseyed over, getting closer to the bed. “Hey, while I’ve got you here, I don’t suppose one of you would like to bite me and change me into a werewolf?”
“Damn it, Jasmine. Not cool.” Nicole scowled at her friend. Asking her mates was taking her yearning to become a shifter too far. “Besides, I thought you wanted to be a bear.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, I do. But since I can’t get you to bite me, then being a werewolf would be good, too. How about it, guys?” She leaned her head to the side, lengthening her neck.
“No thanks. We don’t go around biting humans because they ask us to.” Brennan jumped off the bed, exposing himself, then grabbed up all their clothes and tossed them on the bed. Case and he tugged on their jeans as fast as they could while Jasmine didn’t bother hiding her enjoyment in watching them. As he was putting on his shirt, Brennan leaned over and whispered in Nicole’s ear.
“Meet us tomorrow where the bonfire was. You remember the place, right?”
She nodded, trying to hold back a giggle. “I do and I will. When?” she whispered back.
“Sund
own.” He motioned toward the door. “Let’s give these two some girl time.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to change me?” Jasmine skimmed her fingertips along her neck, inviting them to sink their teeth into her.
“Sorry.” Chase eased past her. “It was nice to meet you, Jasmine.”
“You, too. Really nice to meet you. Call me if you change your mind.” Her focus shifted to Nicole. “At least now I understand why you keep hanging up on me. And I forgive you.” If Jasmine grinned any bigger, she’d break her face.
Waiting until the men were gone, Nicole pulled on her dress.
“Nice going. They are beyond amazing.”
“They are. Both inside and out. But do me a favor, will you? Stop trying to get someone to bite you. Especially them.”
“Sorry, no can do. Except for asking them again. That much I’ll promise.”
“Fine.” She hurried out the door and back into the bar area of The Underground.
Chapter Five
“Nicole, you’re a grown-ass woman. You shouldn’t have to tell your father where you’re going.”
“I know. You’re right.”
Nicole rested her back against a tree. The area where the werewolf bonfire had been years earlier hadn’t changed much. The big pit for the bonfire was still there along with the charred remains of a recent fire. The tradition had continued with other werewolves. That alone made her anxious about hanging around the place by herself. But she hadn’t been able to resist getting there early. Not when her father had started giving her the suspicious eye. Had someone told him she’d been with the Cagle werewolf brothers? She’d finally had to stand up to him and tell him in no uncertain terms that she was going out. He’d looked shocked when she’d told him it was none of his business where she was going.
Being her age and still living at home was difficult. She was an adult and, yet, at the same time, living there made her feel like his “little girl.” She’d been taught, as all werebears were, to respect her parents and older shifters. Standing up to him, making him feel disrespected was more difficult than she’d ever imagined. Like a lot of werebear fathers, he wasn’t about to loosen his hold over his daughter easily. Yet she had to start asserting herself.
Although she should’ve moved out earlier, she’d stayed at her mother’s request. Besides, living at home helped save money so that one day she could open her own hair salon, one catering to a younger clientele than Ethel’s Beauty Box.
Then there was the fact that staying at the family home in Shatland was the best way for the Cagle men to locate her. If they’d wanted to. As it turned out, she’d been right. They’d come back to Shatland and they would’ve eventually found her still living at home even if they hadn’t run into each other on the street.
“At least you got away tonight.”
“Yeah. It took some doing, but I did.” She was proud of herself for standing up to her father, but hated seeing the angry and hurt look he’d had when she’d closed the front door behind her.
“I guess they aren’t there yet, huh?”
“Nope. I’m early.” She glanced up at the full moon. Was she being foolish meeting them? Like werebears, they could shift at any time. But did the full moon have any effect on them at all? Or was that just another baseless lie werebears told?
“Have you thought about this, Nicole? Can you three be together? I’m talking about more than just sex. I’m talking about having a life together. You’re a werebear and they’re werewolves. How can it ever work?”
Stunned, she answered back the only way she knew how. “You’re kidding. You’ve heard me talk about them for years. You know how I feel about them and I’ve told you about the connection. Why are you saying this now?” She couldn’t believe it. Jasmine didn’t think they could be together.
“I never said anything before because I really didn’t think they’d ever come back. But now…”
Anger flared. “But now what? Now that they are back, it’s impossible? Or is it just because you can’t get anyone to change you? Is that it? You can’t be a shifter so you don’t want to see me happy?” As soon as she’d said it, guilt swamped her. Jasmine had never been the jealous type.
She could sense Jasmine’s hurt. “Damn it. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. You know I didn’t.”
The rustle of leaves had her turning toward the other side of the clearing. If she shifted partway, she might catch their scent. Or realize it was only an animal making the noise. Yet she wasn’t ready to shift yet. What if they saw her in her full bear form and finally realized what and who they were dealing with? Was she ready to see them in their wolf bodies?
As though in answer to her questions, two huge wolves pushed through the underbrush and into the clearing. She sucked in a breath and stared. Was it them?
“Nicole, are you there? Aw, come on. Don’t hang up on me again.”
Her thumb hovered over the top of the End button, ready to click off as she’d done twice before. Instead, she spoke softly, but clearly into the phone. “They’re here. As wolves.”
“As wolves? Holy crap. Did you know that’s how they were coming? Are you ready for this?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
Several moments of silence hung in the air.
“Are you still there?”
“Yes.” She’d promised she wouldn’t hang up on her friend and she’d keep her promise.
“Nicole, you’re going to come over tomorrow and tell me every last detail. Got it?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t stop staring at them. They were just as magnificent as wolves as they were as men. Of course, she didn’t find them sexy in their animal forms, but there was no denying the regal nature of their stances. Their coloring was dark fur mixed with streaks of gray. Their amber eyes glistened in the moonlight. Massive paws, almost as large as her own, dug into the hard ground. If they wanted, they could attack her and kill her.
But she trusted them. They’d know her in their animal forms and she knew they’d never harm her.
“Nicole?”
She’d kept the call going but had forgotten that she held the phone to her ear. “I’m still here.”
“You can hang up now.”
“Okay. Bye.” She ended the call, shoving the phone into her pocket. Was it them? If not, she was in a deep pile of trouble. She pushed away from the tree and lifted her hand.
Then froze.
They crouched then, pushing off with their steel-like muscles, they leapt over the fire pit and landed in front of her. She swallowed, again aware of how vulnerable she was. Staying as still as she could, she waited for them to come closer.
They did, padding over to her, then sniffing her. And she knew. Whether it was by the connection or instinct alone, she was sure it was Case and Brennan.
She sucked in air when one of them brushed his body along her leg. They were bigger than most werewolves she’d seen. Granted, she hadn’t seen many in their animal bodies, but it was enough to think she was right. Their heads came up just past her waist. Their shoulder widths spanned at least two feet. Not as wide as a bear’s, but both real bears and werebears were generally bigger than their counterparts.
As they did as humans, they put her in between them. Each of them leaned against her, their fur rubbing on her skin. She answered their silent message and began stroking them. Like a bear’s, their fur was coarse. Tunneling her fingers into their thick coats, she petted them, thrilling at the chance to touch a real werewolf. How many female werebears could say they’d done that?
Her anxiety was gone, swept away by the wonder of them. Crouching down, she wrapped her arms around their necks and hugged them.
Holy shit, I’m hugging two werewolves.
Oh, wow. I’m hugging the men I love.
They hadn’t said the L word yet and neither had she, but it didn’t matter. What had started long ago had blossomed during their years apart. She loved them and, if the connection was as real as she believed it was, they l
oved her.
“You guys are incredible.” She laughed as the one she thought was Brennan raked his tongue along her cheek. The texture of his tongue was soft. It was long, thick toward his throat and grew thinner at the end. She wiped the wetness from her cheek and stood up.
As much as she’d worried about what they’d think about her in her bear form, she knew it was time. She tugged off her shirt, then dropped her jeans as they circled her. Getting rid of her panties, bra, and boots, she took a moment to drag in a steadying breath. Their amber gazes fixed on her naked body. “My turn.”
Closing her eyes, she let her inner bear take control. The pain that always came from a shift whipped into her, stiffening her limbs and making it harder to move her joints. Fur quickly skimmed over flesh as the sound of her bones breaking and reforming struck. For a moment, she was dizzy as the amber filled her eyes. Her body sizzled as the fire of the shift took over, traveling from the tips of her toes to her fingernails. A low growl escaped her as she dropped to the ground on all fours. She opened her eyes and found Case and Brennan in their human forms, studying her.
She made a sound as close to her human moan as she could, then plastered on what she hoped they’d see as a smile. Suddenly, she felt huge and clumsy. That feeling had never come over her before while in her bear body. But how could they look at her and like what they saw? She was a big, hairy, and not at all sexy.
“Damn, girl. How could such a little girl turn into such a big animal?”
Shame struck her and she spun around, pounding her way toward the tree line. Even her paws seemed too large for her body.
“Hey, Nic, stop!”
They raced in front of her and held out their hands to stop her. Brennan placed a palm on top of her furry head. “I swear I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”
“Just remember the source, baby. He doesn’t always think before he opens his big mouth.” Case bent lower and tracked a hand over her fur. “You’re beautiful. Even as a bear.”
She moaned again, loving the feel of his stroke. Did she feel as soft as they had?