by Lynn Howard
“And I’d still think you were the hottest woman I’ve ever seen and would continue to want you as bad as I do now,” he said without missing a beat.
He knew all the right things to say, always knew how to make her blush, knew how to rev her up and how to calm her down. They might not have been together as long as their friends were with their mates, but they knew each other. Maybe not the simple things like favorite colors or movies, but the things that counted, the things that were in their hearts.
“I love you,” Hollyn said.
Noah glanced over his shoulder, a sweet smile showing his pretty white teeth. “I know. I can feel it.”
She sighed a girly sound and released her hold on him, moving back to the table while Noah plated the food and carried it over, setting a plate in front of her and one in front of the seat directly across from her.
They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally glancing up at each other. But she knew he could feel her happiness at the simple gesture. Hollyn finished first, pushing her plate away and leaning back in her seat. “I’m stuffed,” she said, then giggled when Noah shoved enough food in his mouth to make his cheeks puff out. “Dork.”
Hollyn sucked her lips into her mouth to hide the smile when Noah cocked a brow at her. They played at the bar and were sometimes silly in the bedroom. But this was the first time they had nowhere to go, nothing pressing to do. They could be themselves, cut up, tease each other and do whatever the hell they wanted for the rest of the day.
She couldn’t help but wonder after getting to spend a whole day alone with Noah if she’d be able to go back to work. Who was she kidding? She was just as much a workaholic as Noah. She loved that he’d intentionally shut the bar down so neither of them had to work. But they’d both be back behind that bar tomorrow morning.
But not today. Today, her man was all hers.
Chapter Thirteen
Noah thought he’d planned their day alone well. He’d known Saturday night, watching Hollyn busting her ass for fourteen hours straight that she needed a day off. And as much as he didn’t like her out in the open the way she was when she worked at Moe’s, he really didn’t like the thought of her home alone. Even if Shawnee stayed behind, it would be just the two of them. And since Aron had no idea how many of those fuckers were out there, none of them wanted to take the chance.
After he’d sent Shawnee home for the night, he’d given her a bunch of money and tipped her an extra hundred to run out and grab him some food for meals and a bunch of junk so they wouldn’t have to leave the couch unless they wanted to. She’d bought just about anything Noah would have. The problem with his plan to veg all day was that he didn’t have cable, and only had a couple of old ass, out of date DVDs.
He tried to be smooth and hid in the bathroom while he typed out a text to Shawnee, begging her to borrow a few movies. He knew she and Colton liked to snuggle on the couch and watch different crap when she was off work.
Shawnee sent back a thumbs up. Noah flushed the unused toilet and ran the faucet so it looked like he’d used the bathroom. By the time he stepped out, he heard light foot steps on his front porch. Hollyn pulled the door open before she even knocked.
“I’m sorry. I totally forgot to leave these last night when I brought the food over,” Shawnee said, waiting until Hollyn glanced down at the stack of Blu Ray discs in her hand before winking at Noah.
One problem with her story – Noah had an older DVD player, not a Blu Ray. Shit. “Are any of those regular DVDs?” Noah asked, looking over Hollyn’s shoulder to see what movies Shawnee had brought them.
Shawnee frowned and flipped through them. “Um…these two are,” she said, her brows pulled together and up as she gave him an uh oh face.
“Those are fine. I love both of those movies,” Hollyn said, taking the only two DVDs probably in existence other than his weak collection.
Noah checked out the titles: Friday the 13th and Stephen King’s It, the original version. His girl was a horror fan? Something else he didn’t know before. Today might just have been his best idea ever.
Hollyn thanked Shawnee as Shawnee pulled the door closed, but not before winking once more at Noah. Could the woman be any more obvious?
“Forgot the movies, huh?” Hollyn said, smirking with a raised brow. She’d seen right through all that. Of course she did. They didn’t know the menial things about each other, but she knew him better than anyone ever had in his life.
Noah smacked her on the ass as she passed to pop the first movie in. “You want any junk food yet?” he asked.
“Ugh. No. I’m still too full,” she said.
She’d chosen It for their first movie. Noah sat on the couch, his arm thrown over the back cushions, his ankle crossed over his knee. Hollyn turned to sit on the couch and kind of froze, her eyes slowly moving over his body. And he felt that rush of heat she got when she was turned on.
“You are so gorgeous,” she breathed out. “I mean, who has arms that big?” she asked, kneeling on the couch and attempting to wrap both hands around one of his biceps. “They’re like freaking bowling balls.”
“You just have small hands,” Noah said and tried to ignore the blood rushing to his groin.
She released his arm and turned, plopping down on her butt with one of her legs tucked under her. The movie began to play and she snuggled into his side, her head on his chest, her arm wrapping around his middle. He took the opportunity and inhaled deeply. Her scent was addictive. So sweet and fresh. The frilly shit she used in the shower, the frilly shit she used in the laundry, and then there was her, that clean, fresh scent beneath it all. She’d switched shampoos since the last time she went shopping. This one smelled like apples.
“Are you sniffing my hair?” she asked, tilting her head back to look up at him.
“I like the way you smell,” he admitted.
“Stop sniffing me and watch the movie, big boy.”
He fucking loved when she called him that. It had started out almost sarcastic at first, but now it came out as more of a term of endearment.
Noah wrapped both arms around her and hugged her tight, pressing his lips to the top of her head. Damn, he loved this woman. He had no idea all those years what he’d been missing. He’d just figured he hadn’t been built to be a mate since it hadn’t happened yet. Hell, Colton was in his twenties and already found the woman of his dreams. Luke was still young enough it could happen for him. But Noah and Carter were older. Hell, Carter was already forty and Noah wasn’t far behind.
If he’d known how good this shit could’ve been, he might just have been out actively searching for his mate, for Hollyn. That didn’t make sense, though. How the hell could he search for someone he didn’t even know existed? This love shit sure did mess with his thoughts.
Eventually, they were both engrossed in the movie. Hollyn would start a little in certain scenes and cuddle closer into his side. He loved the way she felt against him like that.
“Hey, Noah?” she said softly.
“Yeah?”
She pulled away just enough to look up at him. “How long have you owned Moe’s?”
He had to think about that. How long had his parents been gone? “About twelve years. I inherited after my parents were killed in a car accident. My sister wanted nothing to do with it, so it became mine.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said, putting her fingertips to her lips. “They died in the same accident? You lost them both at the same time?”
“Yeah,” he said, a little sadness hitting him with the memory of finding out he was orphaned. “It sucked. And I still miss them. But that’s how they’d have wanted to go. I mean, not in a car accident, but together. They were crazy in love, even after thirty years of marriage.”
“How old is your sister?”
“She’s five years older than me. She lives in Illinois with her mate and cubs.”
“You have nieces and nephews?”
“Nieces. Four of them. And they’re spoiled rotten
,” he said, a wide grin accompanying the thought of those little girls. He hadn’t seen them in almost a year and missed them like crazy. But both his and his sister’s lives were busy and Katie knew Noah worked a crap ton since he’d take over dad’s bar.
“Was your dad’s name Moe?” Hollyn asked, laying her head in his lap and she looked up at him.
“Nope. Moe was his dog.”
That had Hollyn sitting up. “Okay, I’m not sure which part to address first. Your dad named a bar after a dog and he owned a dog. I’ve never met a Shifter who had pets.”
“Peyton has a cat, but she had him when she was still human. And that thing hates everyone but her. He barely tolerated Tristan.”
Hollyn smiled at him with slightly wide eyes. “I wonder what would happen if we tried to get a dog,” she said, her eyes moving to the side as if she were picturing it.
“Moe was an exception. Most animals can tell we’re predators and stay away from us. But that dog was nuts. He tried to bite everyone, including my dad. When he’d had enough of it, he Shifted and roared at the dog. And Moe? Didn’t run. Didn’t whine. Didn’t even cower. He just showed his teeth and growled. When Dad Shifted back to his human form, Moe approached him slowly, sniffing him all over. Then he licked his face. It was like Dad had to show the damn dog who was the Alpha. But that didn’t stop him from snapping at anyone who tried to pet him. Dad took that dog to the bar every fucking day, even when he got warned for breaking the health code.”
“I love when businesses have pets. It makes it feel so…I don’t know, homey or something.”
She took a piece of hair and twirled it around her finger. “We could try to get a dog. Or cat. Or something. I mean, I’m not a predator. Surely, a dog would love me.”
“And piss all over the house when he felt threatened by me.”
She tossed the hair back over her shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Noah. “Fine. But don’t be surprised if you come home some day and there’s a litter of puppies running around the house.”
Noah tried his hardest to appear stern and shook his head. But she just batted her lashes up at him and smiled sweetly. Fuck. He’d go adopt every dog from the kennel if it made her happy. But he had to at least appear to be putting up a fight.
The first movie ended and Hollyn stretched before standing to put the second in. This had been the longest he’d sat still in years and his ass was going to sleep.
“Let’s go outside for a while,” he said, needing some air and a little movement.
“Getting restless?” she asked, pushing the button to insert the disc but she didn’t hit play.
Noah walked out ahead of her, immediately lifting his head to scent the air. The more time passed with Aron unable to locate the jackoffs probably looking for Hollyn, the more anxious and overprotective Noah grew.
When he was sure they were alone, except his Clan who were all inside their own cabins, Noah moved so Hollyn could step out behind him. He took her hand and guided her toward the woods lining their property. She’d yet to roam their property with him. For some reason, her seeing all the property, her seeing where his bear ran, made their connection all that much more perfect.
“You want to Shift, don’t you?” she asked as they stepped past the tree line.
“I’m good,” he lied. He really, really wanted to Shift and walk with her as Bear. And Bear wanted to walk with her, too. But his animal was still too unpredictable when it came to their mate. And none of the others were around to step in if Bear got out of control. Nope. Strolling in his human form was just fine.
Her hand was so warm and small in his. The top of her head reached his shoulder. He’d known she was smaller but walking beside her like this reminded him of how fragile she really was. She didn’t have Shifter healing. She didn’t have claws and teeth to fight with. She had her magic, her fire, but how powerful was it? Could she defend herself or just fry one or two people? What if she was outnumbered? Then what?
“What’s wrong?” Hollyn asked, glancing up at him as they walked. No doubt she felt the spike in his anxiety. But when she squeezed his hand, he realized he was crushing hers.
Easing up on the pressure, he looked down at her and slowed to a stop. “Just…everything,” he admitted. “I hate not knowing where those fuckers are and if they’re heading this way. I hate not knowing how the fuck Melinda found you. I hate not being able to be on the offensive when I don’t even know what I’m trying to protect you from.”
Hollyn raised her hand and cupped the side of his face. “Stop worrying about me all the time. We have no idea what tomorrow holds. Other than another long day at the bar,” she said with a wink. “Let’s just enjoy our day. ‘Kay?”
Noah turned fully to face her. He wrapped one hand around the back of her neck and wrapped his arm around her waist, dragging her closer so he could taste her lips. He did promise her several orgasms and uninterrupted sexy time.
She tasted like heaven, just like she always did. Her hand spread on his chest and a hum of approval worked up her throat. He loved her sounds, loved to be able to pull those sounds from her. He loved that he could feel her arousal along with her emotions and loved that she reacted so strongly to his touch.
Hollyn broke the kiss the second he felt a spike in fear through their connection. Her eyes were wide and she looked around, looked in the direction they came, looked behind her.
“What’s wrong?” he said, his body already beginning to tremble with his need to Shift to protect his mate.
“I feel her,” Hollyn said, staying close to Noah as if she were trying to climb inside of him to hide.
“Melinda?” he asked, unable to suppress the deep growl that reverberated through his chest.
“Yeah,” she said, a tiny tremble in her voice. “I feel her, but where the hell is she?” She was still looking around.
Noah lifted his face, like he had at the cabin, and tried to find her location. But he smelled nothing out of the ordinary. The constant breeze wasn’t helping. She would be down wind and he wouldn’t know it. Her scent would be blowing away from him.
For some reason, her fear wasn’t affecting him as strongly as his own anger. One fucking day. That’s all he’d wanted. He just wanted one day where he could spend some time with his mate. Why the hell couldn’t that be possible?
“Why is she back?” Hollyn whispered as she continued to search for her.
“Your magic won’t reach her?”
Hollyn shook her head. “She must be too far. Maybe she’s not in the territory, just nearby. I don’t know.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “But why is she here.”
Hollyn had told Melinda in no uncertain terms she wanted nothing to do with her. The woman obviously held a hatred for Shifters. He’d seen her plain as day in her eyes and the way she wrinkled her nose at Noah when she’d found out Hollyn and he were mated.
“Let’s head back,” Noah said, constantly scenting the air just in case Melinda decided to ambush Hollyn and try to beg her once again to follow her in her quest in finding more Fae.
Hollyn nodded, but her eyes were still on the trees around them, squinting as if that would help her see more clearly.
Carter and Luke were in front of Carter’s cabin when Noah and Hollyn emerged. Luke’s eyes were blazing bright amber, but it wasn’t uncommon for him to be pissed. Ever since his perceived failure to protect Emory a couple of years ago, the dude had become a ticking time bomb.
The closer he got to his Clan brothers, the more uneasy she grew. It wasn’t their glowing eyes or the fear rolling from Hollyn. It was something in the air, some kind of pressure that pressed down on his chest and made his heart beat a little faster. Or maybe that was Hollyn’s heart.
Regardless, he sure as fuck didn’t like it.
“You feel that?” Carter asked, his eyes doing like Hollyn’s had in the woods and scanning the area. “What the fuck is that?”
“It’s Melinda,” Hollyn said, her voice more scared than she’d ever he
ard and it made his bear scratch at Noah’s insides to be released. He wanted to kill whatever was scaring their mate.
“Where is she?” Luke growled. His teeth had Shifted and his words came out muffled from his mouth being overcrowded.
“I don’t know. I can feel her, but I have no idea where she is and my magic can’t reach her.”
Noah guided Hollyn closer to Luke and Colton and let his bear have his body. There was no use fighting it. At least this way, the pain would reside quicker and his bear would be a lot less volatile if Noah didn’t struggle to keep his skin.
Plus, Bear’s sense of smell was a lot more acute than Noah’s. He’d be able to pick something up that Noah might miss.
A series of pops sounded behind him, then Luke’s massive bear was standing beside Noah. Their big bodies blocked any access to Hollyn, even if they didn’t know who or what they were blocking. Even in his animal form, he couldn’t pick up shit.
“Do you still feel her?” Carter asked as he rubbed a hand down his arm.
“Well, if you can, so can I,” Hollyn said. She’d felt it in the woods before Noah had. Did that mean if they were feeling it, she had to be close.
“Are Fae able to cloak their presence?”
“What do you mean?” Hollyn asked, stepping closer to Bear until she laid a hand on his back.
“Can you mask your scent?” Carter asked.
“I’m not sure. If we can, I was never taught.”
Of course, she wasn’t. She hadn’t had enough time with her parents to be taught all about her kind and her gifts.
Luke raised his snout into the air, then a deep, long growl rattled from his mouth as he bared his teeth in a snarl. Noah caught it about a half second later. He looked over his shoulder at Carter and tried to warn him they had incoming. And the scents weren’t familiar.
****
Hollyn hid between Noah and Luke with Carter right behind her as she watched both bears lift their snouts in the air, then growl almost in unison. Did they smell Melinda? Why she was so scared after she’d already met the woman, she couldn’t explain. There was just…something about the sensation in the air and rubbing against her skin.