Claiming the She Wolf (4 page)

“Clemet, she’s not worth it.” A scrawny boy who looked about fifteen tugged on his friend’s shirt.

I have to file away that name for the future.

“I wouldn’t say that,” the ringleader replied. He leaned in close to Tala and made a show of inhaling loudly. “She smells like you.”

He shoved Tala at Yas, who gracefully caught her, and moved her behind him in a safety position.

“You will leave her alone,” Yas confronted the teen.

The boy’s mouth turned up in a snarl. He didn’t like being told what to do. He probably didn’t have a father at home.
I know that feeling
.

Clemet held up his hands, as if making peace. “Hey, it’s all good. We were just saying hello, isn’t that true Tala?” He stroked her name over his tongue in a manner that put Yas on edge.

Gripping his fists until his nails cut into his palms, Yas addressed the situation again. “Get out of here, and I don’t want to hear of you giving Ms. Graystone any more trouble. Do you hear me?”

“Perfectly clear, old man. Does that mean you’ll be sticking around to watch over her?”

The implied threat hung in the air, and the hairs on Yas’s neck stood up. He fought his Wolf. He didn’t want to shift. Right now, it would just get him into trouble. Controlling his temper in human form was bad enough. As a Wolf? He may tear these kids to shreds. They were assholes, but they didn’t deserve that.

The skin along his forehead rippled, and Clemet’s gaze drifted up before his pupils grew wider, and he knocked his friend in the shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.”

In unison, they moved to leave. They’d obviously been together, carving out their own pecking order.

All soft curves, Tala embraced him. Such a contrast to his tense muscles. The feeling of her body against his ratcheted his desire higher. He wanted her. If he couldn’t kick the shit out of someone—and that someone now retreated—then he wanted to fuck someone. All this extra adrenaline and nowhere to put it, nothing to do with it. He needed to break free. Instead, he did what he could to taper it down.

“My hero,” she said in a soft tone. Her body shook. “Thanks for saving me. How can I possibly thank you?”

“It was nothing, ma’am.” Yas affected a country-western drawl.

“Hey, Tala.” From the top of the ridge, Clemet called out. “How’s that kitchen bay window doing? Sure lets in some beautiful light in the morning. Kinda drafty though.”

In his arms, Tala stilled and turned toward the laughing teens. They were far enough away that if he chased after them, they had a good head start. But not too far that he couldn’t catch ’em.

“Notice how they sound more like hyenas than wolves?” she said against his chest. “Just let them go. I don’t want any more trouble.”

“If that’s what you want.” She might not have gotten it, but the “more” in her request clued him in that more had been happening then she’d let on. If that was the case, how could her brother have left her all alone?

Up ahead was Los Lobos Lumber. The smell of freshly cut wood caused a bit of a homecoming for Yas. For as long as he could remember, he’d liked crafting stuff with his hands, the art of making something out of nothing. An empty field replaced by a home, filled with a family and love. Idealistic for a construction worker? Maybe, but he was more of a craftsman.

“Hey there, how can I help you?” a tanned man, who probably spent a lot of time in the sun working, greeted them.

“Afternoon, Ogden,” Tala said, “how’s Lara doing?”

“Just fine. Thanks for asking. I didn’t expect to see you so soon after your brother left.” He shifted his gaze over to Yas before glancing at Tala.

“Yeah, well, just because he left doesn’t mean my plans for the house went with him. This here is Yas. He happened to come along at the right time. Ogden owns the lumberyard.”

That was his cue to hold out his hand to shake. The other man gripped his hand firmly and looked him directly in the eyes. At first glance, Yas might take him for being a bit more relaxed with his silver-streaked temples and easy smile, but something told him he should not underestimate Ogden.

“Good to meet you,” the man said. “What can I help you with today?”

While Yas handed over the list of supplies to purchase and items he hoped to borrow, he divided his attention to the others in the vicinity. Tala attracted attention. Being out with him, a stranger, probably added to the curiosity factor. As they moved through the yard, checking out the stock, he caught hidden glimpses and outright stares.

“With all this stuff, do you plan on adding on a third floor or something?” Ogden let out a low whistle.

“Not much has been done,” Tala said. “The house needs a major overhaul before I can start bringing in other guests.”

Ogden made eye contact with Yas, as if to receive a visual confirmation. “Sad but true. It gives me a place to stay for a while and a way to keep busy.”

“What’s your background in building?”

“I worked pretty regular jobs for the last five years. Started in elementary school with woodworking. Growing up with a single mother and sister, anything went wrong in the house, the repair usually fell to me.”

The owner nodded his approval and made some figures on the sheet. He handed it over to Tala, and ever so slightly her eyes widened.

“It’s a bit higher than I expected,” she said.

“That’s a good deal. With all the construction happening, supplies are getting scarce. Sure, we’ve got the forest, but getting the raw material into shape to build with takes time. And we only have so big of a workforce.”

Yas peered over her shoulder to check out the figure. It didn’t seem unreasonable. Much less than on the outside world. “When can you deliver?”

Tala inhaled as if to protest and then thought better of it. What was the alternative? Her cutting the trees and prepping them for building?

“Tomorrow.”

***

After paying a deposit, they returned home without incident. Tala lifted the edge of the curtain and watched Yas sand the deck. At the moment, he was down on hands and knees, giving her a perfect view of his ass in his tight jeans. In the late-afternoon heat, he’d stripped off his shirt and his back glistened. The musculature along his arms tempted her to go out there and offer to help—just to be close to him.

His skin would taste salty, and she imagined herself as the reason for his exertion—his strong body raised over hers while he ravaged her. She pushed her hair from her face and let the curtain fall. Look at her all horny. No escaping she found him attractive. Hell, she wanted to jump him. It had been too long since she’d been with a lover. Living under the same roof as a protective older brother tended to squash her sex life. As a shifter, he should understand the carnal urges. That probably was the problem. Her brother understood too well and had kept her libido locked up.

Now that he was gone, though, she possessed the freedom to do what—and who—she chose. Some type of decision made, she headed to the kitchen. If he was so hot out there, he’d be thirsty. She’d make a refreshing glass of lemonade to pick him up.

Before heading out, Tala brushed out her hair and put on some lip gloss. Since she’d been working inside, she didn’t want to look too put together. Still, she wanted him to notice her.

The front door creaked as she opened it, and Yas looked in her direction. His gaze zeroed in on the glass in her hand, and he sat on his heels.

“I’m hoping that’s for me,” he said with a smile that did all sorts of things to her heart.

“Thought you might need to cool off.” She walked closer to him and couldn’t help but catch how he checked her out, starting at her feet then sliding up her bare legs and over her body. She handed him the drink, and his fingers brushed against hers.

“Thanks for thinking of me.”

If he only knew.

“How’s it going out here?” She surveyed the work he’d done so far.

“Faster than I thought. When you work on a project, it can be easy or slow. With a newer covering, it might take longer to remove. This paint’s so old, it’s coming off like dust.”

The speckles on his arms and face reinforced his statement, and she stifled a laugh. “I can see that. Have you been frolicking through all that ‘dust’?”

“What?” He checked out his spotted arms. “Just what I need, to be even whiter than I already am. It should all come off in the shower.”

“Mmmm-hmmm, and you better get cleaned up first thing. I don’t want all that getting in the house.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted and took a long draw of lemonade. His mouth puckered up, and his eyes crossed. “Wow. Sour.”

“I hope you’re exaggerating. It’s better than being too sweet.”

“Here, taste.” He stood, took another sip, and then pulled her tight to his body. The heat radiated off his skin, and he pressed his cool lips against hers.

Shocked by his actions, Tala didn’t react. She took in all the elements. The feel of his body. The enticing scent coming off his skin, appropriately like smoldering wood. Soon, she grew more aware of the weight of Yas’s arm on her waist and the insistence of his kiss.

She parted her mouth, tentatively touching her tongue along his bottom lip. He tasted tangy and refreshing. He deepened the kiss, drawing out her tongue, until they breathed the same air.

Everything changed with this one liplock. It was as if she’d never been kissed before, and never would feel this same way again. He, they, this moment became the center of her being. Everything else fell away.

The air between them made her realize the kiss had ended.

“So?” he asked, prodding her with more than his words.

She opened her eyes, recognizing a bit of mirth in his.

“How does it taste?”

She smacked her lips together. “Exactly how I like it.”

Soft tendrils of her hair brushed across his face, and he breathed in her scent. The fine lines at the corner of her eyes crinkled and smoothed as they widened. She glanced down at his lips, and he knew they both wanted more.

Yas wove his arm around her back, relishing the surprised “oh” escaping from her mouth and the slight parting of her lips. Her breath brushed his lips. The curves of her body pressed against the hard planes of his.
To feel her naked. To take her
. His desire raged, and he tamped it down. First, this step and then maybe….

Before he could internally argue further, she took the choice away. She moved closer, placed her leg between his and her lips on his. His blood surged, and his Wolf wanted to run wild and rip off all her clothes. What the hell was he thinking?

He wasn’t.

Pure pleasure ripped through his body. The tip of Tala’s tongue lashed his lower lip, stroking, and Yas delved in. She tasted of honey, sweet with a hint of underlying spice. He tunneled his fingers into her hair, tugging slightly and holding her in place. She moaned against his mouth, encouraging him, enticing him.

The loss of control scared the hell out of him. He dropped his arms and stepped away, breaking the physical connection.

“What was that for?” She held the fingertips of one hand to her lips.

The memory of her kiss continued to tingle. “I’ve been thinking of kissing that sassy mouth of yours for days now,” Yas said. “Figured if I did, maybe I’d get it out of my system.”

“Did it work?”

“Nope. Only want more.”

Shivers of anticipation alerted his body. When she didn’t respond further, he cleared his throat. He didn’t want to push it too much. “Thanks for the refreshment. Did you need me for anything else?”

“Want to check out the competition?” Tala’s question piqued his interest.

They hadn’t talked as much while they worked. So far that morning, she’d avoided him, or at least that was how Yas had interpreted her distance.

“What competition would you be talking about?” He wiped the sweat from his brow, rested his hands on his waist, and stretched out his tense muscles.

“Gee’s Bar. Along with grub and beer, he rents out rooms on the second floor. Up until now, it’s the only business for lodging.”

On the way into town, he’d passed the bar. Right then, he was damn thankful he’d kept on until reaching this place. “You don’t think he has anything to do with what’s been happening here, do you? Would he feel threatened by you?”

Lightness brightened her eyes, along with a smile. A pang in his heart mirrored the twitching of his cock.
Can I please get the physical responses under control?

“Aww, Gee’s just a cuddly old bear. He wouldn’t hurt anyone, unless they threatened those he loves. No, just thought it would be good to investigate what he’s offering specifically in comparison to my B&B.”

Interesting choice of words
. “Sure, what time you want to head out?”

“I was thinking dinnertime. This way we can get out the evening crowd and grab supper at the same time.”

He did the mental math of the rest of the project that needed to be finished and pushed it off. “I’ll be ready.”

With a nod, Tala went into the house, and Yas picked up the hammer to patch the wall.

***

At the appointed time, Yas showered, dressed, and waited for his dinner date in the living room. A creak on the stairs alerted him to Tala’s approach. She stepped into the foyer, and the light streaming in from the fixed window gave her hair shimmer.

Dude, get yourself under control. You don’t have plans to stay here. Remember, this was only supposed to be a quick trip to discover your roots. You’re already too involved
.

He cocked his elbow, and she placed her hand on the crook. As they stepped outside, she locked the door.

“It’s been a long time since that worked properly,” she said. “I swear, some days it refused to lock at all. That’s why I started to use the chains on the inside. Other days, it boycotted opening.” She squeezed his arm in jest. “Are you tired of me thanking you yet?”

“Honey, I don’t think I could ever grow tired of you.”

They walked the road to Gee’s Bar. As they grew near, the titter of laughter and glasses clinking resounded from inside. As they stepped near the entrance, Tala gave him a strained smile. She crinkled her eyes, as if worried about something she’d forgotten or pushed aside.