When they finished the song, Clyde called for a break. I walked over and gave him a hug.
“Hey, how are you? I didn’t know you could play other instruments besides the xylophone.”
He winked at me, and then at Ari, his blue eyes twinkling against his rich, brown skin. “Girl, I play a multitude of instruments. I’m a musician at heart, and I tell my stories through my music. Now, how are those kittens of yours?”
I pulled out my phone and showed him pictures. “They’ve grown into beautiful adults but they’re still babies to me. Xi’s my familiar.”
He touched the side of his nose. “I thought she had a shine to her, and the minute you came along, I knew that she was yours. So, are you ready for the holidays?”
“No, but getting there. I’ve been back in Moonshadow Bay almost a year now, and I’m settling in. Well, we should get moving, but tell your daughter I said hi and happy holidays.”
“Monique would send you a hello and happy holidays back,” he said. He gave me another hug and I pulled out a five and tucked it into the donations box that was sitting beside the drummer. Ari did the same as we headed past them, aiming for the hot dog vendor who was on the other side of the fountain. We bought hot dogs and settled on a bench to eat.
“This has been a nice afternoon,” Ari said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve had a chance to hang out together. Is there anyplace else you need to go today?”
“I thought I’d stop and get a present for Teran at Bigelow’s Garden Center. I’m buying her a gift certificate because there are a dozen things she wants for the upcoming spring and she is on a fixed income, for the most part.”
“Really? I didn’t realize she was on Social Security.”
“She has some savings, and she teaches a community class here and there and reads the cards for a few clients, but I didn’t realize until I moved back that she’s on a tight budget. She goes out of her way to donate to the soup kitchens and to help everyone out, so I want to give her the chance to buy something she loves for herself.”
“Your aunt is one of those people who always puts other people first. I’ll get her a gift certificate too, so she can splurge,” Ari said.
“I’m making mine for a hundred and fifty,” I said.
“I’ll add another fifty so—two hundred? Nice round number?”
“Wonderful! She’ll love it.” I searched in my purse for my keys, though by the time we were at the car, we were soaked. But that didn’t matter. We climbed in, I turned on the heat, and we headed for Bigelow’s.
After buying the gift certificates, we stopped by an espresso stand, then headed for the grocery store. “Did you need any groceries while we’re here?”
Ari thought about it for a moment. “We don’t need a lot, but that will save having to do it tomorrow.”
We gathered our carts and started working our way through the store. I stared at my list, which was a mile long. “Who knew it took so much food to make a Thanksgiving dinner?” I asked. “I have some stuff already, too. I’m going to fill the cart and have overflow.”
“You can put it in my cart. All I need are the fixings for spaghetti,” Ari said.
I stopped by the stand to order the turkey—fresh, not frozen—and they gave me the receipt for it. I’d pick it up Wednesday afternoon, so I’d only have to store it for one night. After that, I started dumping foodstuffs in my basket. Butter, flour, cans of pumpkin, celery, bread and veggies for stuffing, a bag of potatoes, spiral-cut ham, two bags of Hawaiian rolls, milk, eggs, green beans—I wasn’t fond of green bean casserole but Ari loved it—mushroom soup mix and dried onion slices, a brownie mix, a bag of apples for apple pie, white wine, and bouillon paste.
Ari pointed to the cereal aisle. “Didn’t you say you were out of cereal?”
“Oh, right,” I said. I added oatmeal and boxed cereal to my cart. Then I remembered I had to have food for the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Ari’s spaghetti sounded good, so I added spaghetti noodles, ground beef, and a couple jars of spaghetti sauce to the cart. I also added a package of pork chops, a cut-up fryer, and several frozen sides, then decided on oranges, bananas, and apples for the fruit bowl.
“I dread seeing the final total,” I said, grimacing. “I can’t imagine having kids and buying food for them on a daily basis. It’s expensive enough to buy for occasional guests—and I’m not complaining. Just…prices keep going up.”
“Don’t forget your coffee beans,” Ari said, adding a box of bakery doughnuts to her cart, along with two loaves of bread.
We made our way through every aisle and I decided to throw a couple bouquets of flowers on top of the mound of food. As we were waiting to check out, Ari handed me her phone.
“Look at that.”
I glanced at the picture. Meagan was there, kneeling on the bed, wearing a bikini with a pink sheer overblouse on. She looked amazing. She was a personal trainer, tall, blonde, and with legs that went on forever. She was every playboy’s dream, but all her attention was focused on Ari.
Their wedding plans had been upended by a big fight with Meagan’s mother—who had disowned her—so they had gotten married in a small ceremony at the courthouse in September. They hadn’t had an official reception yet, and Meagan had texted me a week ago, asking me to help her plan a surprise party for Ari. I had agreed, because—well, my best friend and her wife? I’d do anything for them.
Whistling, I winked at Ari. “You’re a lucky woman. She’s gorgeous.”
“She’s entering the Ms. Otherkin Fitness Contest. She works out five times a week at the gym, plus teaching two aerobics classes, four yoga classes, and the personal training she does. If she doesn’t win, there’s a problem,” Ari said. She shook her head. “Sometimes I feel like a couch potato next to her.”
“You have a wonderful figure. You’re just petite.”
“I hate exercising,” Ari said with a laugh.
“I do too, but I’m trying to make it to the gym a couple times a week. I feel better when I go, even though I don’t like it. I’m working with some trainer named Antoine. He’s a French stag shifter. Killian’s jealous,” I added, laughing. “Luckily, I’m not in the gym enough for him to worry. Plus…Antoine is—”
“Gay?”
“No, I was going to say, Antoine is very picky. He’s never insulted me directly, but it’s obvious he doesn’t care for plus-sized women—at least not as a love interest. He makes that clear every time he ogles some gym bunny who walks by. I’m thinking of asking for a female trainer because I’m getting tired of being reminded that I don’t fit society’s standards.” I looked over at Ari. “It’s not that I want him ogling me—not at all. But the difference in how he treats his thin female clients and how he treats those of us who have more padding is night and day.”
“Could it be because you’re his client? Maybe he’s got rules to follow.”
“No, because he jokes around with his thinner clients. He treats the rest of us like we’re a chore to get through with as quickly as possible. Regardless, I wish he’d rein it in. It’s insulting to the women he’s ogling, because he’s not subtle, and insulting to the rest of us…all around…”
“All around, you’re insulted?” Ari asked. “Why don’t you ask Meagan to train you? She’ll go at your speed—she’s not one of those trainers who pummels their clients into submission.”
I thought about it for a moment. “If it wouldn’t be awkward, I think I might.”
By that point, Ari had checked through and she stepped in to help bag my groceries, since she had to wait for me anyway. “I can’t speak for her, but I bet if you ask her, Meagan would be happy to take over your training. And you should report him to the gym. That’s so unprofessional.”
“They’re all independent contractors, you know that. The gym isn’t going to care unless he starts making passes or harassing them in other ways.” I placed the last of my groceries on the conveyor belt and the cashier looked relieved. I smiled at her. “I’m sorr
y I had such a big order.”
“Oh, it’s that time of year. Everybody does. I had a customer come through yesterday with three full carts. I asked her how many people she was expecting for Thanksgiving and she said thirty-five—apparently all her kids have children, and then there were cousins coming, and out-of-town guests.” She finished ringing me up and I grimaced, waiting for the final tally.
“That comes to four hundred, fifty-eight dollars and thirty-two cents.”
With a gulp, I swiped my credit card through.
By the time we arrived home it was almost six and Killian texted me. He had finished the gate and was headed to a football game with a friend who was also a vet. Killian wasn’t a fanatic about sports, for which I was grateful, but he did like college football. I encouraged him to take Doug because I had little interest in the game and it would be more fun for both of us if he went with someone who cared.
Ari and I put away the groceries, and then she left for home. I was still waiting for a call from Rowan, so I made myself a grilled cheese sandwich and heated up some tomato soup and settled in to watch a movie.
I was halfway through Little Women when I received a text from Sheryl. i know you need to think about it, but please do join us. you’d make a great addition to my team.
Staring at the text, I felt a shiver run down my back. There was something grasping about the energy of her text, again like a predator eyeing prey. I was about to ignore it when I realized that we wanted to keep her on the line. The Court Magika couldn’t investigate if it didn’t have reasonable cause.
I paused, then texted back. oh, i’m interested, but need to find the startup money first. i’ll text you soon!
Then, because I didn’t want to hear from her again, I went into my settings and set up my Do Not Disturb, allowing Ari’s, Killian’s, Teran’s, and Rowan’s calls and texts to get through the block. Notifications from Sheryl wouldn’t come through until morning. And with that, I went back to my movie, but in the back of my mind, my alarm bells were very quietly chiming away.
Chapter Thirteen
Come morning, I woke up on the sofa. Yawning and sitting up, I turned off the television—I had fallen asleep in the middle of an old romance—The Ghost & Mrs. Muir. It was six a.m. and I was surprisingly awake. Killian had texted me during the night and I hadn’t even heard the chime. I smiled as I read his message.
i thought about coming over, but it’s after midnight. i want to tear the covers off of you and ravish you, but i figure, after the past few days, you might need your sleep. so i’m going to bed alone, attention-starved and hungry for you. i’ll see you tomorrow. xoxo—k.
I stared at the message, then at the clock. He never got up till seven and he was home this week, too. I could sneak over and surprise him. Smiling—I seldom got the chance to give him a good surprise—I grabbed my keys and headed out the kitchen door. I’d sneak in from the back way, through the gate dividing our properties. As I padded across the lawn in my bare feet, the wet grass and the mist woke me up.
Quietly unlocking Killian’s back door, I slipped into the kitchen, then quickly turned off the alarm system. I dashed up the stairs, then paused outside his door. I’d give him the surprise of his life. I slipped out of my clothes and—nekkid and chilly—reached for the doorknob.
“January?” A woman’s voice startled the hell out of me.
I shrieked, whirling around in time to see Tally—Killian’s sister—step out of the guest room in her bathrobe. At that moment, Killian yanked open his bedroom door, a look of alarm on his face.
“January?” He stared at me, his gaze taking in my naked body, my look of alarm, and his sister, who was leaning against the doorframe to her room, trying to stifle a laugh.
“Oh good gods, I forgot you were coming into town yesterday!” The sudden realization that I was bare-ass naked rushed over me and I shrieked again and dashed past Killian, into his room. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!” I blurted out from behind the door. “Can you hand me my clothes?”
“Maybe,” Killian said, and I could hear the laughter in his voice. “What’s the magic word?”
“It’s going to be ‘No nookie for you’ unless you give me my clothes now!”
Tally’s voice rang out, loud and clear. “I’d do what she says, or you’ll have the bluest balls this side of the mountains.”
A moment later, Killian slipped around the door, my clothes in his hands. He cleared his throat and shut the door behind him. “So, I take it you got my text?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, give me my clothes.”
“Not so fast,” he said, sauntering toward me. “You came over here on a mission, and I don’t think you should give up that easily.” He tossed my clothes over on an arm chair that was in the corner of his room and then untied the belt on his robe, letting it fall open. He was naked beneath the robe, hard as a rock, and his eyes gleamed devilishly. “Come here, beautiful.”
“But Tally—” I protested weakly, unable to take my eyes off his gorgeous body, especially his cock, which was fully awake and ready to rumble.
“She went back to bed. Now, come here, wench.” Killian jumped, his eyes gleaming. He landed directly in front of me—the man was nimble for his size—and he swept me up in his arms, carrying me over to his bed where he tumbled me into the blankets.
I gasped as he slid his hand down my shoulder, over my breast, cupping it gently as he leaned down to tongue the nipple, catching it between his teeth and lightly pulling.
“Oh, don’t stop,” I whispered, draping my arms around his neck. My body hungered for him, and I adjusted my position, rolling onto my back so he could have better access. He greedily sucked on my nipple, his hand sliding down over my stomach, down toward that V between my thighs. I spread my legs enough for him to slide his fingers between them as he began to stroke me—at first with gentle circles, then he worked me faster and faster.
“Oh, please don’t stop,” I begged, realizing how much I needed him, needed this release. My body felt like a live wire, sizzling and ready to burn. His touch heightened my desire, and I reached out and grasped hold of him, firmly squeezing his shaft. Killian groaned, his gaze promising danger and passion and all those things we fantasize about in the dark of the night.
“Take me now, please.” I tried to pull him atop me, but he wouldn’t yet. Instead, he slid down, ducking his head between my legs, and began to tongue-bathe me, sending me into yet another spiral of need. Everything pulsed on my body, resonating at a high pitch as the world spun. I came hard, once, and then before the first climax was over, again. The beating of my heart pounded in my head as I let out a loud cry, tensing again and again as the waves of orgasm rippled over me.
Then, before I could catch my breath, he was bearing down on me, thrusting deep to meet my core. I rose to his pace, driving myself up to match his passion. He growled, low and sexy, pressing against my breasts and that drove me on even more.
I put my hands on his shoulders. “I want on top.”
He grabbed hold of my waist, rolling over so that I was laying on top of him. I pushed myself up, balancing on my knees as I straddled him, and he held up his hands. I took them, leveraging myself against them, and began to ride him hard, rocking against him.
Killian let go of one of my hands so I could take hold of the headboard as he slid his fingers beneath me, once again stroking me into a fury. I dropped my head back, moaning, and then, he took hold of my waist again and growled, driving himself in so deep that I could feel him to my center. He held me tight, thrust upward, and let out a loud snarl as he came. Once again, I fell off the edge, diving into the orgasm as it rippled through me.
A moment later, he collapsed and I went limp, lying down against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and we lay there, entangled, glistening with perspiration, until the last rocket had exploded, leaving us satisfied and thoroughly wrung out.
After a shower, I put on fresh clothes—I always left a few things at Killian’s, and h
e left clothing at my house too—and we padded downstairs. Tally had made her own breakfast and was finishing up her toast and eggs at the kitchen while she watched the news on her tablet.
Killian opened the fridge. “Bacon, eggs, and toast okay for you?”
“Ooo, yummy. I’m hungry.” My stomach rumbled.
“I’ll bet you both worked up a sweat,” Tally said with a laugh. “Have fun?”
“Always,” Killian said, grinning at her.
One thing I had discovered about shifter culture: while they tended to be more patriarchal—although the Rainier Pack was more progressive, and Killian’s family belonged to them—most of the wolf shifter Packs discussed sex openly, without any shame. They had more sensitive hearing, and so very little was private when shifters shared the same house. And at times, I had the feeling that the Packs shared a sixth sense that was hard to explain. It was some form of hive-mind mentality, but it didn’t extend to controlling the members, like bees did. And each Pack was its own unit.
“So,” Tally said, putting down her tablet. “What plans, if any, do we have today?”
“I’m trying to get hold of my grandmother. Ari and I need to ask her some questions for a project we’re doing for her. Other than that, I dunno. I think I want to put up my Yule tree today, which means a trip up into the attic. I feel like I can face my parents’ ornaments this year without being too weepy.”
“Want some help?” Killian asked.
“I’d love it. Ari’s booked solid today—the next four days are slammed with women getting ready for Thanksgiving. So she can’t come over. Teran would probably lend a hand, but it’s her busy season too, with making up winter protection charms and the like. And I doubt if Rowan is enthusiastic about decorating for the holidays.”
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