a stove. A roof. A few places to sleep.”
Shelley fell silent again. He wasn’t sure if he was wearing her out or if she was naturally reticent. It was nice listening to her, but not having her chatter constantly—man, he’d been damn glad when she’d kept herself pretty much occupied the entire car trip.
She’d been distracted enough to not notice he had to adjust position a number of times to release the pressure on his dick.
He needed relief, and it didn’t seem likely that he was going to get any. Now he couldn’t figure out if he wanted the cabin to be empty or full. Empty would mean less trouble in terms of defending Shelley, but would also mean they would be alone. Overnight. With beds.
Sometimes he figured he was being punished, but damn if he knew what for.
The scent of wood smoke answered one question while they were still at least thirty minutes out.
“We’ll have company tonight.”
“I figured,” Shelley answered. “Anything…well, you seem a little tense. Anything I need to know?”
Great opening. Perfect chance for him to share his concerns.
Right .
Like that was going to happen. You might want to stick close to my side. If you pretend I’m fucking your brains out that would also make life easier. Sure, he was totally going to say that to her.
Still, she couldn’t be stupid. “I don’t know who’s there. Stay close. Most of them aren’t going to be trouble at Rachel’s. It’s considered neutral territory in some ways. But don’t assume.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
She would—which was the only reason he wasn’t ready to completely panic. He did have more influence back here than most, even with the men who didn’t take to authority well.
The cabin came into sight, halfway around the edge of a tiny lake, and Chase decided that he must be a touch crazy to be looking forward to finally facing the first of the challenges of his wonderful home territory.
Ahh, shifters. Death threats, potential dismemberment… So entertaining, in so many ways.
Chapter Nine
There was a bear sitting on the front porch. Or more correctly, a bear sprawled in the rocking chair on the front porch. The oversized rocker that had been reinforced to hold shifter weight barely contained the grizzly’s massive bulk.
A wolf uncurled from his position in the sun at the base of the wide stairs. Another trotted up from the lake, and Chase slowed until Shelley was directly behind him, close enough to touch.
“Come on.”
To anyone not versed in shifter protocol, his actions would have appeared suicidal. He grabbed her hand and boldly led her to the front door, the wolves brushing past their knees to enter at their side, the bear lumbering to his feet. Chase suspected the man would shift before joining them.
The layers of dust on the glass panes dimmed the light beating against the windows. Lanterns hung in two spots, but even their warm yellow glow wasn’t enough to make things truly visible inside the dark cavern-like room. The wood-burning stove was lit, the shades of red, gold and orange reflecting through the glass front on the door lending a flickering Hades-like touch to the ambiance.
Inside four more pairs of eyes took him in, swung to spot Shelley, and remained fixed in place.
She pressed against his back, her fingers in his tightening.
He recognized three of the men, and both the wolves who’d shifted and rose to their feet. Six against one, seven counting the naked and very hairy male in the doorway who had to be the grizzly coming in to check out the situation.
Great, this got better and better. But if he’d stopped outside that would have lost him the advantage in the first place.
“Boys.” Chase nodded toward the familiar faces. “Good to see you again.”
He pulled off his pack and dropped it on the bench by the table. Shelley copied him before slipping against his side, torso pressed tight, those perfect breasts nudging his chest.
He didn’t plan it. The growl of lust
Shelley fell silent again. He wasn’t sure if he was wearing her out or if she was naturally reticent. It was nice listening to her, but not having her chatter constantly—man, he’d been damn glad when she’d kept herself pretty much occupied the entire car trip.
She’d been distracted enough to not notice he had to adjust position a number of times to release the pressure on his dick.
He needed relief, and it didn’t seem likely that he was going to get any. Now he couldn’t figure out if he wanted the cabin to be empty or full. Empty would mean less trouble in terms of defending Shelley, but would also mean they would be alone. Overnight. With beds.
Sometimes he figured he was being punished, but damn if he knew what for.
The scent of wood smoke answered one question while they were still at least thirty minutes out.
“We’ll have company tonight.”
“I figured,” Shelley answered. “Anything…well, you seem a little tense. Anything I need to know?”
Great opening. Perfect chance for him to share his concerns.
Right .
Like that was going to happen. You might want to stick close to my side. If you pretend I’m fucking your brains out that would also make life easier. Sure, he was totally going to say that to her.
Still, she couldn’t be stupid. “I don’t know who’s there. Stay close. Most of them aren’t going to be trouble at Rachel’s. It’s considered neutral territory in some ways. But don’t assume.”
“I’ll follow your lead.”
She would—which was the only reason he wasn’t ready to completely panic. He did have more influence back here than most, even with the men who didn’t take to authority well.
The cabin came into sight, halfway around the edge of a tiny lake, and Chase decided that he must be a touch crazy to be looking forward to finally facing the first of the challenges of his wonderful home territory.
Ahh, shifters. Death threats, potential dismemberment… So entertaining, in so many ways.
Chapter Nine
There was a bear sitting on the front porch. Or more correctly, a bear sprawled in the rocking chair on the front porch. The oversized rocker that had been reinforced to hold shifter weight barely contained the grizzly’s massive bulk.
A wolf uncurled from his position in the sun at the base of the wide stairs. Another trotted up from the lake, and Chase slowed until Shelley was directly behind him, close enough to touch.
“Come on.”
To anyone not versed in shifter protocol, his actions would have appeared suicidal. He grabbed her hand and boldly led her to the front door, the wolves brushing past their knees to enter at their side, the bear lumbering to his feet. Chase suspected the man would shift before joining them.
The layers of dust on the glass panes dimmed the light beating against the windows. Lanterns hung in two spots, but even their warm yellow glow wasn’t enough to make things truly visible inside the dark cavern-like room. The wood-burning stove was lit, the shades of red, gold and orange reflecting through the glass front on the door lending a flickering Hades-like touch to the ambiance.
Inside four more pairs of eyes took him in, swung to spot Shelley, and remained fixed in place.
She pressed against his back, her fingers in his tightening.
He recognized three of the men, and both the wolves who’d shifted and rose to their feet. Six against one, seven counting the naked and very hairy male in the doorway who had to be the grizzly coming in to check out the situation.
Great, this got better and better. But if he’d stopped outside that would have lost him the advantage in the first place.
“Boys.” Chase nodded toward the familiar faces. “Good to see you again.”
He pulled off his pack and dropped it on the bench by the table. Shelley copied him before slipping against his side, torso pressed tight, those perfect breasts nudging his chest.
He didn’t plan it. The growl of lust
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