by Vivian Arend
“You’re not clumsy.”
He laughed out loud. “Okay, there’s another topic for discussion. Umm, yes, I am. For some reason I’m not nearly as bad when I’m around you.” He nuzzled her neck. “That ‘you complete me’ thing.”
She slapped him lightly. “Get out. I think you’re like a puppy coming into his growth. You should have seen the trouble my first dog had—”
He groaned. “Can we make a deal now that you don’t compare me to your previous dogs. Please?”
A snort slipped out. “We’ll see.”
She twisted to stare at him. His earnest expression stole her heart.
“Pam, can you give me a clue here? Have I persuaded you at all what I said is true? That we’re mates?”
Her fears and doubts scrambled to stay above the undeniable bond between them that grew stronger every moment she spent with him.
“Can’t you tell what I’m thinking with that wolf connection of yours?” She couldn’t speak over a whisper, the effort of pushing the words out enormous. She wanted to believe, wanted it so very much.
He surprised her by lifting her into his lap and tucking her head against his chest before setting the porch swing rocking. He surrounded her with his arms as if pulling a shield of protection around them. “I sense all kinds of things from you, and yet your emotions are so jumbled I can’t understand. Fear, longing, sexual need. At times I feel as if you’re about to announce you love me. The next minute you’re planning to tell me goodbye and expect I’ll drop you at the airport and let you go without a word of protest.”
Umm, yup, that would about cover the gamut of chaos running through her brain the past couple days.
“Do you really pick up all those things, or are you guessing?”
It was his turn to sigh. “I can’t literally read your mind, and we can’t speak to each other mentally. But as far as I can tell, I’m just about as linked to you in terms of a mate connection as I could dream of.”
“I feel like I’ve known you all my life.” The whispered confession eased the tightness inside a little.
He squeezed her gently and kissed the top of her head. His heart thumped solidly under her ear, and she snuck her arms around his torso to draw as close as possible.
TJ sang to her a capella, his rich voice tickling her ears. Filling her with hope and a deep longing.
My love will never fade, it lingers like the light.
Fills all the mountaintops, burning ever bright.
My love is like the tide, fresh and clean each day.
It’s pure and strong, and all that I can say—
You fill my days, you fill my nights, you’re everything, all I need,
Forever
My love is like the spring, it lingers like the snow.
It only melts away, to bring new growth.
My love is like the wind, running wild and free.
Together now, won’t you come with me—
You fill my days, you fill my nights, you’re everything, all I need,
Forever
He let the words trail off, the intensity of his song wrapped up with all the things she felt from him. His tender heart. His humour. Plain spoken and blunt, but never cruel, he was all the things she admired in a friend. All the things she wanted in a lover.
Her final doubts dissolved. Logic had a place in this, and he’d done his best to show her the mate list existed and examples of each item. But at some point, the heart had to take over from the head and that moment was now.
She pressed her palm against his cheek and kissed him softly before crawling off his lap and holding out her hand.
“What—?”
She shook her head. One finger held to her lips, she poured her energy into sharing what she felt inside. The deep satisfaction at his company. The passion she held for him.
The love.
They walked together, hand in hand, into the cabin where she led him to the bedroom. She stripped off her clothes quickly and turned to help him. With every touch of her hands, she thought of a moment he’d made her smile the past week. Of an expression she’d seen on his face. Of the love she’d seen in his eyes. She didn’t need any more words—he’d been saying it to her all week long with every gesture, every touch.
Every time he’d shifted into his wolf and wandered at her side, or curled up against her, soft and warm. He was completely comfortable in both his skins, and there was no deceit in him.
She tugged him to the bed and they connected, skin on skin, hands brushing, exploring. Their lips met in a breathless kiss that began soft and gentle before turning ravenous. Greedy and passionate, they rolled together until she managed to maneuver into position, his legs trapped under her. His cock breached the folds of her body and they slid together in one perfect moment. His breath released with a gasp and she felt his muscles tense as he realized they were making love without any barrier between them.
TJ gathered her in his arms and peered into her eyes. He didn’t ask if she was sure, didn’t do anything to break the beauty of her gift. He didn’t even speak, not with words.
But his eyes said I love you.
His body said it. So did all the emotion she sensed from him, whether a figment of her imagination or not. All signs said he was hers, completely.
They moved together, hips rocking, tension building. The aching need to be filled by him, not only physically, but in every way, being answered. Kisses upon kisses fell while TJ’s hands roamed her body. He slid into her again and again, drawing her thigh high over his hip as they lay side by side on the mattress. She teetered on the edge of release. He buried his face in her neck, rising slightly to press deeper into her core, the angle change pressing harder against her clit. The tickly sensation preceding her climax had never built this high before, and every nerve screamed for satisfaction. She had no idea how intense her body’s response would be when he put his teeth to her neck and bit down, burying himself deep as they both went off together.
Bright white pleasure raced over her, every bit of skin sensitive and tingling. Every breath of air tasted like him, every thought wrapped up in his love. Their bodies meshed, intimate and close, as waves of bliss pulsed repeatedly. The bundle of dreams she’d tied up and put aside as impossible unwound.
Forever was not a myth, no more than werewolves.
They lay tangled together for the longest time, their breathing slowly returning to normal. TJ kissed her—her neck, her cheek, her forehead. One soft lingering kiss to her mouth.
He spoke, their lips brushing together. “I can feel your heart in my soul.”
Chapter Ten
TJ closed the door to the cabin with reluctance. Neither of them was ready to leave.
He turned to see Pam grinning at him, her pack already on her back as they prepared to meet the helicopter. It still seemed impossible she’d taken that final step and accepted him. One day to celebrate being fully mated—it wasn’t enough.
“I should have taken a two-week excursion. Then we could have stayed for another week.”
She held out her hand and he joined her, strolling to the meadow with their fingers linked together.
TJ lifted her fingers to his mouth and kissed her knuckles lightly. “While I’d love more time alone, at some point we need to face the real world.”
Oh hell, and there would be some facing to do. Funny though, now that he and Pam were fully mated, he wasn’t nearly as worried to see what the fallout from his actions would be. They truly were together—there was no denying it—and no one could tear them apart.
They dropped their packs at the side of the clearing and Pam returned to his arms, resting her head on his chest. She drew a deep breath. “Can we come back here sometime?”
“Definitely.”
He played with her hair as they silently stood together. Ever since they’d completed their mating, he had a solid line on what she was feeling. Compared to how it had been before, the richness and depth was incredible. Like having watched a
n old-fashioned black-and-white movie on a five-inch screen and now getting Blu-ray, hi-def flashing across a wall-sized monitor.
Right now she was content, and he was going to do everything he could to keep her that way.
“You know we’ve got a bunch of ‘meet the family’ to do, right?” he warned her.
Pam lifted her arms to drape them around his neck. “I think I can handle it. Maggie and Erik won’t be back yet, but I’m not afraid to meet your brother, or his wife, more formally. Or anyone else I need to see.”
TJ kissed her, unable to resist one more dose of her taste to bolster him. It was going to be an interesting day, if nothing else.
The sound of the chopper reached them long before they spotted it in the distance, and she clung to him for a second, squeezing him tight. “I know we’ve got a ton to figure out, but, honestly? It’ll all work out. I’m sure it will.”
“Of course it will.” Her faith became his faith, and together, there was nothing they couldn’t do.
Shaun landed, his grinning face peering out the window. They tossed their packs into the passenger area and scrambled after them, strapping themselves in and quickly donning headsets.
They lifted off, and Pam hung over him to gaze back at the cabin and lake as they swung around to return to Haines. Her body was warm and soft against him, and he wrapped an arm around her to keep her close.
“Well, I don’t have to ask if you had a good time.” Shaun’s voice cut in over the headset. “Congratulations, both of you.”
Pam glanced at TJ in surprise. He pressed the talk button to explain. “The wolf sense of smell. Shaun can tell we’re mates.”
“He can tell…” She flushed. “Okay, maybe I’m not so ready to meet your pack as I thought.”
TJ grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Shaun spoke again. “I need to give you the scoop. I managed to stay off your big brother’s radar for the past week, but I got a direct order from my Alpha in Whitehorse to report to him as soon as I get you two home safe. Which is fine, since that means I won’t have to face Keil.”
TJ swore. “I didn’t intend to get you in trouble when I asked for help.”
“Hey, no worries. You would have done the same thing for me if you could. You’re a good friend, TJ, and it’s nice to have been able to assist you two lovebirds. I don’t think my Alpha will give me shit—he’s a romantic at heart. Makes us watch bad chick flicks during pack meetings, yada yada.”
“Still, let me know if you need me to come and talk to your Alpha. I have a feeling I’ll be explaining myself constantly for the next while.”
Shaun held a thumbs-up. “Anyway, I contacted your pack via email to let them know I’d drop you at the airstrip. Someone should be there to pick you up. I’m afraid you’re on your own after that.”
Pam’s hand in his was all the reminder he needed. “I’m never going to be alone again.”
She leaned against him and used the headset. “So, the shit is about to hit the fan, is it?”
“Don’t know why it should. You’re not going to call the cops and have me arrested, right?”
“I am the cops.”
They grinned at each other.
A beige minivan stood at the side of the airstrip—Tad and Missy’s vehicle—and TJ breathed a sigh of relief. The pack Omegas would be the perfect people to talk to first.
TJ passed down the packs to Pam then squeezed Shaun on the shoulder. “Thanks again for everything.”
“Hey, give me a second.” Shaun twisted in his seat to face TJ. “You know what? I think they’re going to be very surprised when they meet you—your brother and the rest of them. You’ve changed. Something happened to you and you’re more than the wolf I dropped off a week ago.”
TJ frowned. “What do you mean?”
Shaun shook his head. “Not sure, but let’s put it this way, I doubt I could order you to do anything for me anymore.”
Fuck. “Really?”
“Really.” Shaun winked at him and turned back to his instrument panel. “Now get out of here, your mate is waiting for you.”
TJ joined Pam on the tarmac and they shouldered their packs, heading toward the van.
His mind spun. Shaun couldn’t order him around? Shaun had always outranked him—heck most wolves seemed to outrank him. Not that they made a big deal of it, but usually he was “the younger brother of the Alpha” and otherwise not very interesting to most of the pack.
Tad stepped from the van and popped the hatch. Then he stood back and looked them up and down while they piled their backpacks into the vehicle. His wry smile was somewhat reassuring.
“Welcome back. And welcome to the pack, Pam. Congratulations on your mating.”
Pam tugged on TJ’s sleeve. “Everyone knows on sight we’re together. This is going to take some serious getting used to.”
TJ opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. “I said there were things that were hard to explain—you kind of have to experience them to understand.” He scooted into the backseat.
She turned to answer Tad who had crawled behind the wheel. “Thanks. You’ll have to warn me if I do something wrong. You’re the pack…Omega, right?”
Tad nodded. “TJ explained a little about how wolves operate?”
“Yeah, he explained a lot. That doesn’t mean much until I see it in motion. Bottom line, I didn’t plan on joining any country clubs, I just…”
“We just want to be together.” TJ eased forward between the seats, laying a hand on Pam’s arm.
“Well, together is great and all that, but I hope you’re ready to face the music. Robyn’s been walking around all week like a thunderstorm ready to happen, and Keil got back half an hour ago and he’s brewing up a storm as well. Missy is trying to settle them both down before we arrive, but we’ll see how well it works.”
“They’ll have to get over it.” The words were braver spoken than the pit in his stomach acknowledged.
Pam glanced over her shoulder and a breeze-like sensation brushed him. She pictured them sitting together, him making music, her admiring the scenery. She gave her calm to him and he pulled her fingers to his lips.
He kissed them softly then whispered, “Cool trick.”
She grinned. “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”
Tad hummed. “This is interesting. I can read you, TJ, like I normally can, but Pam—it’s like she’s wolf and yet not. I had no idea you were able to share emotions in a mating between humans and wolves.”
“But you haven’t been a full wolf for long, have you?” Pam asked.
“No. Still, at the core, what I do sense is that you two belong together, and you’re good for each other. But that’s my interpretation, and it’s not my place to make decisions about your life for you.”
“Damn straight,” Pam muttered.
TJ laughed. “Speak up now, Pam, tell us how you really feel.”
Tad smiled. “So, what have you decided?”
She dragged aside the collar of her T-shirt to reveal the mark TJ had left when he bit her. The wound had healed way faster than they’d expected—some kind of wolfie magic.
Tad nodded. “Well, that’s pretty cut and dried. You know, it’s kind of interesting not being able to read you the same way I can read the rest of the pack. I think you’re going to be good for us all.”
He turned down the long, narrow driveway that led to the cluster of homes built against the trees on the outskirts of Haines. He pulled up in front of an older log house, a wide veranda running the length of the building. TJ scrambled out to join Pam. A tricycle with pink streamers sat in the middle of the walkway, and Tad pushed it to the side as they approached the front doors.
TJ grasped Pam’s hand in his, locking fingers.
“I feel like we should be offered a last meal or something.” Pam hummed part of the funeral dirge, and TJ laughed.
Tad frowned at them. “What song was that?”
Pam rolled her eyes and glared at TJ
. “See, I told you I couldn’t sing. So much for your lessons that night at the cabin.”
TJ shrugged. “I’m your mate, I’m not a miracle worker.”
She growled and swung at him.
He caught the blow and pulled her against him, capturing her lips. She tasted like sunshine and sex, and if he didn’t need to go see what Keil and Robyn had planned as retribution, he would pick her up and go hide in the woods for a few hours.
Or a few days. He was easy.
She kissed him back, her fingers lacing through his hair. He loved the way her tongue took control, exploring and teasing until all his body heard the wake-up call. She moved closer, her soft skin and strong muscles matching him perfectly. Especially when he reached down and cupped her butt, dragging her tighter against him and—
“TJ, Pam. So glad you could drop in.” Keil’s deep voice cut through the sexual fog and they wrenched apart. His brother spun on his heel and entered the house, leaving the door open behind him.
Pam’s cheeks were flushed, but she lifted her chin high and stepped forward by his side.
“He’s not really a jerk. I mean, sometimes he is, but usually he’s a pretty good guy. Really.” Although it appeared this might be one of the “jerk” days.
Pam snorted. “Don’t worry about me, I have a feeling it’s your ass he wants in a sling.”
TJ nodded slowly. “Well, there is that.”
They entered the main room and TJ counted heads. Keil and Robyn, Tad and Missy. A number of other high-level wolves were in attendance, but on the whole it seemed like a pretty friendly gathering.
Well, friendly except for Robyn, who gave him the evil eye as she leaned against the far wall. Keil stood at the foot of the staircase, arms crossed in front of his chest like a freaking bulldozer, ready to crush him underfoot.
Complete confidence held TJ up. Beside him stood his mate, her amusement at the situation flowing to him and calming his concerns. Heck, if she wasn’t worried, why should he be? These were his family and friends. There was nothing they would do to him that wasn’t done out of love.