by Crissy Smith
Mike glanced over his shoulder at the crowd, which was growing more rowdy. “I’ll see you soon, then.”
Mike left her where she was standing and strolled back to the courthouse. He walked around the shouting people and knew that someone needed to do something to keep things calm but he didn’t know what.
He glanced at his watch. He needed to hurry and get inside before he was late.
“Listen up,” Clint Price yelled to the pro-shifter group. At his back, a uniformed cop was facing the anti-shifter protesters.
“For those of you who don’t know who I am,” Clint shouted, “I work directly for the Wolf Council and we will not allow a riot. We need to let the lawyers do their jobs and if you stay here, you will remain in control.”
Mike nodded to himself as he jogged up the steps of the courthouse. The Council had been smart to send representatives. The shifters knew the Council didn’t mess around and no one, whether they were wolf shifters or another species, would go against the Council word without knowing that trouble would follow.
“I need to speak to you.”
Mike looked up to see the opposing attorney. “I don’t have time for you.” He continued walking, already planning how to tell Jody the good news.
“Make time. We need to talk about a deal to end the trial.”
“He’ll admit wrongdoing?” Mike did stop.
“My client does not see the advantage of this trial going on any longer. Since this is a civil case instead of criminal, we can make an agreement to end all this.”
“We could,” Mike said. “If my client agrees and our terms are met.”
“Like I said, we need to talk.”
Chapter Six
Mike stepped inside Cooper’s kitchen through the back door, holding takeout boxes from the local Italian restaurant. He’d figured that would be the best option since he wasn’t one hundred percent sure how many would be there. The family-style pans would feed them all.
The kitchen was warm, and as he closed the door behind him, he saw that there weren’t as many there as he’d thought.
Shelby leaned against the counter talking to Clint and another woman who he guessed was Nikki Stratton. Kurt sat with two men at the table as they all drank from beer bottles.
“Hey,” Shelby greeted as he walked over.
Mike set the boxes on the island, then kissed her cheek. “Hi.”
“You’re later than I thought you’d be,” she said.
He nodded. “For some reason things were really hopping this afternoon.”
Shelby just beamed. “I wonder why.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him over to the table. “This is Nikki Stratton and her mate, RJ Cross.”
Mike nodded at Nikki then RJ. “Hello.”
“And this is Bryan,” Shelby finished with a flourish.
The youngest man at the table looked up and winced slightly. He stood, then rubbed his palms against his jeans before he held out his hand.
“I’m very pleased to meet you,” Mike said. “You’ve been a huge help and we really appreciate you being willing to come forward.”
“I have been?” Bryan asked as he darted a look to Shelby. “But I haven’t told you anything, yet. I still don’t want to get involved but I have to try to help Jody.”
Mike peered around the room and saw that everyone was listening. He intertwined his fingers with Shelby’s before he brought them to his lips. “Thanks to this lovely woman, you don’t have to,” Mike said. “The trial is over.”
“Over?” Shelby and the female shifter repeated together.
He grinned. “It seems the defense decided to accept our terms, including the new ones I added today, and settled out of court with Jody.”
“It’s over? I don’t have to talk to a judge or anything?” Bryan asked, hope tinting his tone.
“They’ve admitted to violating Jody’s civil rights, will pay him an amount I can’t share, and must put in a human resource policy and training so this doesn’t happen in the future. They’ve also agreed to donate to a charity of our choosing. Plus, work with shifter policy makers for equal rights in the workplace,” Mike announced.
No one in the room said anything for several moments. Bryan dropped down in his seat. “I actually helped, right?”
“Yes,” Mike assured him. “And I believe Jody wants to talk to you about going into business with him. It seems he has enough for a small startup company and is getting flooded with requests from shifters for their IT needs.”
“Wow,” Shelby whispered. “This almost feels anticlimactic.”
Mike leaned closer to her. “I can probably help with that feeling later.”
“Shit!” Kurt barked out a laugh as RJ choked on his beer. “I heard that.”
“What can I say?” Mike commented. “I’m a happy guy who is ready to celebrate.”
“We need wine!” Shelby said, waving Nikki over.
“Nice to meet you.” Mike dipped his head to both of them.
“I have the alcohol,” Nikki said as she joined them around the table. “You need to tell us everything.”
“Well, there is a press conference scheduled at eight-fifteen tomorrow morning,” Mike shared. He glanced over at Shelby. “That way, if a talented reporter wanted to break the news they could get a jump start.”
“Really?” Shelby shouted as she launched herself into his arms.
Mike caught her and whirled her around in a circle, then he kissed her deeply. He could hear the others in the room laughing and cheering. Once he’d put all his feelings into the lip lock, Mike set her back down on her feet. “How about that drink?”
“Yes,” she agreed as she wrapped her arm around his waist and snuggled into him.
Since he liked her there, he decided to keep her close. He took one of the free chairs before he pulled her into his lap. Clint had grabbed more beers, and Nikki was pouring wine. He accepted a bottle from Clint.
“Nikki,” RJ said.
She laughed. “Sparkling juice.” She showed him the bottle. “I found it in the cabinet.”
RJ nodded.
So the couple was expecting a child. That was something that Mike had actually never thought about for himself. He could admit that he was considering a future with Shelby, and that maybe down the road they would mate, but no way was he ready for children. He shuddered.
“You okay?” Shelby whispered, leaning close.
Mike draped his arm over her shoulder. “I’m good.”
Still, it was nice the way that Nikki sat on RJ’s lap and he rubbed her stomach.
“We should probably call in to the Council,” Kurt mentioned.
“Ah,” Clint whined, making them laugh. “We’re drinking. If we call when we’re drinking they’ll know.”
Kurt shook his head. “How?”
“I don’t know. They’ll use their creepy Council powers,” Clint said.
“I’m pretty sure those don’t exist,” Kurt replied.
“You say that,” Clint argued, “but last time I had a drink inside the mansion they totally knew.”
“You stole their brandy then tripped over your own feet,” Kurt said.
“I had to sit in a meeting for four hours. Four hours, man! It was drink or slit my wrists,” Clint bitched as he slouched in his chair. “I’m not calling them.”
“I’ll do it,” Kurt said as he stood.
Bryan’s phone rang and he jumped before he blushed. Mike thought the kid was cute and hoped everything turned out well for him. “It’s Jody,” Bryan said before he hopped up and went to the other room.
Mike took a drink as he looked around the kitchen. He wished Cooper and Julie were there but maybe they could get together before everyone left.
“We should have a barbecue,” Shelby said.
Once again, their thoughts were aligned, and Mike just stared at her.
“What? Is that a bad idea?” she asked. “I just thought that Cooper, Julie, Garrett and everyone we hang out with would like to meet
these guys.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” he admitted.
“Cool,” Shelby said. “What do you think, Nikki?”
“That’d be great. I think we’re leaving tomorrow night, though.”
“How about a late lunch? You can leave when you want to and everyone else can hang out. I can host it at my house,” Shelby said.
“We’ll be there.” Clint lifted his beer.
“I’ll invite Austin and his friends and see if Gage and Cain want to stop by,” Mike said.
“I’ll take care of everything,” Shelby told him. “I haven’t hosted a party in a while.”
* * * *
Shelby waited until Mike had returned from taking the trash out before she jumped him. He chuckled as she knocked him against the wall.
“As much as I like our new friends, I couldn’t wait for them to leave,” she told him.
“I think they got that when you started to nibble on my neck,” he teased.
She giggled. “I might have had too much to drink.”
“Never,” he said. “You deserved it.”
“So did you,” she said as she ran her hands over his chest. Shelby didn’t think she’d ever get tired of touching him.
“It was a good day,” he admitted.
“A great day and an even better night,” she corrected.
“What do you have planned for the rest of our evening?” he asked.
Instead of answering with words, Shelby reached for the button on his pants and tugged.
He covered her hand with his. “As much as I like your idea, I can just imagine Cooper or Julie coming home early.”
“Damn.” She backed off. “That would suck and not in the good way. Let’s get into the bedroom.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said then lifted her off her feet and threw her over his shoulder.
“Mike!”
“Just hang on,” he said. “This will be fast.”
“I can’t wait until we can go back to our houses. Hell, we could have stayed at mine.”
“We’ll think of it as a little vacation,” Mike told her as he stepped into the room and closed the door behind them.
He set her on her feet, and Shelby started to pull off her clothes.
“In a hurry?” he teased.
“I’ve been wanting you for hours. It’s all I could think about,” she told him.
“Damn,” he groaned then undressed as quickly as she was.
Shelby was naked first and went to him. She pressed her breasts against his chest. “Hurry,” she urged.
He kicked off his shoes then yanked his socks away, and finally dropped his slacks and underwear to the ground. Shelby took his hand in hers and brought his fingers to her pussy.
“Feel me,” she said quietly. “I’m so ready for you.”
“Yes, you are.”
Mike turned quickly, and Shelby found herself pressed against the wall. His mouth came down on hers and she let him take control. All she needed was her hands on his body and Mike could take care of the rest.
When he lifted her leg, she wrapped around him.
“Hurry,” she demanded, pulling back for air.
He positioned his cock at her entrance and pushed inside with one long thrust. Shelby dropped her head back on the wall. She loved being filled by his thick cock.
Mike grabbed her other leg, holding her against the wall. If he wasn’t a shifter she’d probably never trust him to be able to hold her up. But with Mike, she knew he’d never let her fall.
“Harder,” she cried as he plunged in deep before withdrawing and slamming back inside. Her entire body trembled as he took her there against the wall and passion ignited throughout her body.
It felt like her blood was boiling and it was way too hot in the room. She clung to him while locking her ankles together behind his back.
His eyes were closed as he thrust over and over and his breathing grew more rapid.
They’d both had a lot to drink so their movements were a little wild and out of control. Did it get much better than this?
She could feel her climax approaching and moaned loudly, letting him know that she was close. Mike picked up the pace even more and was slamming into her. She’d probably have bruises on her back later but she would be proud of them.
“Mike,” she panted.
“Mine!” he growled before his mouth came down on her neck and he sucked hard.
Her orgasm hit fast and she couldn’t breathe for a second. Then her breath whooshed out as he started to come. Mike plunged into her one last time then stopped moving while buried deep.
“We’ve got to do that again,” she murmured.
“I agree,” he said. “It should be a law or something. When we have a good day we must make love like that.”
Shelby lifted her head. “Hear, hear.”
They laughed as Mike carried her over to the bed, and they fell into it together.
“We will have more good days like this,” Shelby told him. “You’re going to be a sought-after attorney after this.”
“What about you?” he asked. “I bet the offers start pouring in for news anchor jobs all over the country.”
Shelby frowned. “I don’t think so.”
“I do.” He rolled her onto her back and lay across her lower body. “And wherever the road takes you, I know you’ll be the best.”
It was what she had always wanted, what Mike was telling her, but now the thought of leaving Clear Creek made her sad. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“What is it?” he asked.
She shrugged.
“Okay.” He backed off and lifted her until they were sitting across from each other on the bed. “Talk to me.”
“I’m not sure if I even want to get noticed,” she confessed.
Mike smiled. Shelby frowned at him. “What?” she asked.
“You’re scared,” he told her.
“I am not!” she exclaimed.
“All your dreams are on the verge of coming true and it frightens you,” he said. “But you don’t need to be.”
“I just don’t know if what I wanted is still what I need,” Shelby told him.
“You’ll know when it’s time.” He bent forward to kiss her gently. When he pulled back Shelby reached for him. He captured her hands in his and brought them up to his lips. “You can turn every offer you get away or accept the best one.”
“And move away?” she asked.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” he questioned.
“It’s on my mind,” she admitted.
“I may not know what’s going to happen but whatever does, we’ll be okay. I’ll be good, and you’ll be great,” Mike said. “It may be early in our relationship but I have no doubt we’ll find a way to be together.”
“Promise?” she asked. Shelby wasn’t used to putting her heart on the line but she needed Mike to tell her everything was going to be okay.
“I promise,” Mike said. “I’ll be taking some time to wrap things up for Jody, then working with the Council on writing some of the Shifter laws they want to try to pass. I don’t know what’s going to be happening with me either but we’ll figure it out.”
“Sounds good to me,” Shelby said as she crawled into his lap.
“Besides,” he said with a laugh, “I’m going to be working with the Shifter Coalition. Just think of all the different shifters you’re going to meet.”
“There’s only one shifter I’m interested in right now,” she told him before he pressed his lips to hers. They had some celebrating to do after all.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Shifter Chronicles: Wolf Pack
Crissy Smith
Excerpt
Chapter One
Loud, echoing footsteps bounced off the small stairway as Kendra Brown’s adrenaline pulsed through her body. Sweat dripped down her neck as the tactical vest overheated her. She gripped her weapon tighter and smiled. It w
as time. Kendra followed behind the Lake Worth SWAT team as they led the way up the back stairway to the fifth floor of the old, run-down motel. Uniformed police were watching the front as well as surrounding the outside completely.
Her office had gotten a tip that the missing witness she’d been searching for was holed up in room five-eleven.
That was her mission today. She needed to bring in Trent Compton and protect him, even if it was against himself. Trent’s life had changed forever when he’d seen his boss kill two men. He’d done the right thing and called the police after he’d gotten away. An investigation had followed and the Marshals had set Trent up in a safe house with protection.
The plan had worked until two days ago, when the two Marshals assigned to Trent had been killed and Trent had disappeared. One of the agents had managed to send an emergency text to their superiors asking for help, but by the time local officers had arrived at the safe house it had been too late for them.
She gripped her weapon harder as she paused behind the officer who had stopped on the stair above her. The SWAT leader was at the door to the hall, holding up five fingers. Silently he counted down, one finger falling at a time, until he held up only a fist. At that, another officer threw open the door and they filed in, fast and efficient.
Kendra followed at their heels but made sure to remain out of the way. She braced her shoulders against the far wall. One officer held up a battering ram and with his feet braced apart he swung it back then hit the door to the motel room. It broke open, splintering, and wood flew in all different directions. She flinched away as the SWAT team rushed forward into the room. They moved quietly, and Kendra felt disappointment course through her when she didn’t hear any orders to get down.
Since the Marshal’s office didn’t run the same way that most law-enforcement agencies did, Kendra had learned early in her career to work with others. When something like breaching an entrance was needed, she had to join a joint task force. She didn’t mind—unlike some federal and local badges. Most other agencies treated the Marshals like they were less but for the most part Kendra had teamed with really good agents and officers who wanted to catch the bad guys. And that was what Kendra did best—witness protection and finding people on the run.