CoyoteWhispers (14 page)

Her delicate fingers trailed over his abs and he sucked in a
breath, his cock pulsing with interest. “Jesus. We need to get some clothes
on.”

He stepped back out of temptation’s touch and finished
scrubbing himself down. Doc took the hint and did the same. Steve ignored the
knowing smile on her lips and blanked out the wet, naked body in front of him.
They really did need to head on back to his place where they’d have no
interruptions and certainly no reason other than fatigue to keep their hands
off each other.

Steve waited for Doc to step out and grab a towel. He
couldn’t stop his gaze from dropping to watch her sexy ass as she walked away
from him. Mesmerized by the sight it took him a moment to realize she’d turned
to offer him a towel and was in the process of covering up. With a sigh of
disappointment he pulled it together and joined her on the bathmat.

“Why’d you ask about me shifting?” Doc had wrapped a second
towel around her head and was vigorously rubbing the water from her hair.

“Because just now my coyote was closer to the surface than
any other time we’ve had sex and it got me thinking about how quiet that side
of me has been.” Dry, he reached for his clothes.

“I don’t shift very much.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “It’s hard to explain, but after Anthony I
kind of shut that side of myself down. And I guess because I was so newly
turned I hadn’t made that big of a connection with my coyote.”

“Understandable. And now?”

“Around you or because we’re together?”

“Both.”

“Being around you always stirs me up, human and coyote,
that’s why I stayed away for so long. But after you moved away my coyote
wouldn’t let me stay too far. Hence the walks up in the forest near your place.
Just being close to you calms her.”

“So your coyote side is making its presence known.” He
slipped into his pants. “When we get home I’d like to shift together. I think
we need to do that.”

Gordie stumbled as she stepped into the borrowed sweats, she
couldn’t wait to be given the all clear to get into her room so she could grab
some of her own clothes to wear. “Why?”

“Because it’s part of who we are and I want to see you in
coyote form. I’ve never seen you.” Steve reached over and cupped her face in
his hands. “And because I think you need to fully connect with your coyote
side. I don’t think you ever really have and the more we’re together, the more
our coyotes are going to want to bond.”

She stared at him, her gaze searching his. He could feel her
pulse beating against the heels of his hands. Steve waited, breath held, until
she nodded. Releasing his breath in a slow stream, he bent forward and planted
his mouth on hers. The kiss was nothing more than skin on skin, but he felt it
to his bones and knew she did too. Her eyelids lowered and he took them deeper.

Her arms slid around his neck and her body pressed to his.
Steve ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, pushed until she opened and let
him inside. He explored the moist depths, licked and stroked and tasted every
part of her. Breathless, he backed off, slowed his caresses and eased them out
of the lush mating of their mouths.

Pulling back, he laid his forehead on hers and breathed
deep. Her breathing came as harsh as his and her eyes remained closed. When her
lids lifted to reveal her brown eyes he could see she’d fortified her emotions.

“No. No holding back, Doc. We agreed, no more arm’s length.
Talk to me.” He moved back, gave her room to breathe.

“I’m scared.”

“Why? What could possibly be frightening about shifting
together?”

“I’ve never done it before.”

“What? Shifted in front of another coyote?” That couldn’t be
right, surely she and Anthony had run together.

“I’m not good at it. It takes me ages to make the change.
And I haven’t run with anyone since Anthony turned me and I ran with the
coming-of-age coyotes.”

“You never shifted and ran with him?”

She bit her lip and shook her head.

“Ah, Doc.” He tugged her close, nestled her face against his
chest and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s not hard and I don’t care if it
takes all day for you to shift into coyote form. Don’t worry about it now.
We’ll deal with that side of us when we don’t have any distractions.”

He smoothed his hands up and down her spine, waited until he
felt her tense muscles soften under his touch. A shuddery breath rattled her
chest and her arms gave his waist one hard squeeze before she slipped from his
embrace.

“I know I’m being irrational. I’m an educated woman, probably
too educated, but I can’t help the feelings inside me. I’ve felt like an
outcast in this town my whole life. I always knew I was different even when I
didn’t understand why.” She held up her hand to stop the protest he would have
made. “I get that no one tried to make me feel that way, even those against
half-bloods and non-bloods didn’t single me out any more than anyone else, but
that clawing desperation to be like everyone around me is what led me to accept
a proposal I had no right to. I can’t help thinking every decision I’ve made in
these mountains has been a bad one.”

“You never did anything wrong, Doc.”

“I know that, really I do, but it’ll play on my mind forever
regardless of what I or anyone else thinks and I can’t stop that from affecting
the way I relate to my coyote. I hated that side of myself for years when I was
away from here. It took me a long time to come to terms with who and what I am.
Neither of us can expect me to come to terms with us and what that means
quickly, Steve.” She gripped his hand, curled her fingers between his. “I guess
I’m asking you to be patient and in return I promise to try harder to connect
to both you and myself.”

Steve brushed a fingertip down her cheek. “Gordie, I think
once you come to accept yourself there’ll be no stopping us. And I think that
will be the easy part of all of this.”

“Hey.” Dale banged on the bathroom door. “You two coming out
anytime soon? Tatum’s here with our lunch.”

Doc smiled at him. “This seems to be turning into a habit.”

“Yeah, it looks that way,” he spoke softly. “We’ll be out in
a second,” he called out to Dale.

“We’ll be in the dining room. Kat sent over a feast and I’m
starving so we’re starting without you in five minutes,” Tatum yelled.

Holding Doc’s hand, Steve stepped over to the door and
pulled her with him. “Come on or they’ll eat all the good stuff before we get
downstairs.”

She laughed. “This is Kat’s food, it’s
all
good
stuff.”

Steve had to agree. Kat might grate on his nerves but she
could cook better than anyone he’d ever known and that made up for every other
flaw the woman had. Plus she was Doc’s sister and he’d put up with anything and
anyone to be with her.

They found Tatum and Dale already seated and loading their
plates. He pulled out a chair for Doc and sat next to her as he grabbed the
first bowl of food. It only took a few minutes to fill their plates and start
eating. Nobody spoke until most of the food was polished off and their hunger
abated.

Tatum pushed her chair back and laid a hand on her huge
belly. “Damn that was good.”

“You sure you’ve had enough?” Dale asked.

“Yep. I already ate a piece of chicken pie with potato and
gravy while I waited for Kat to put the food together.”

“You ate twice what I ate just now. Where the hell do you
put it all? Other than that beach ball under your sweater there’s nothing to
you,” Doc said.

Tatum grinned. “I know. I’m hoping that means I’ll be back
to my normal size once these two are born.”

“Here. Drink some more tea.” Dale refilled Tatum’s cup. “You
need fluids as well as food.”

“Thanks.”

Steve eyed his friend and wondered what he’d missed. Not
twenty-four hours ago Dale and Tatum had been at each other’s throats and now
here they were getting on like the best of friends. He glanced at Doc but she
only shrugged and kept on eating.

“I finished upstairs, Gordie. You can clean it up whenever
you’re ready,” Dale said.

“Oh. Okay, thanks.” She reached for her drink and took a
sip. “Find anything?”

“No, nothing more than I expected to anyway. Both rooms had
prints all over them but they could belong to anyone who’s been in here over
the last few months. I’ll need to wait for the lab results before I can tell
you anything else.”

“I’ve bundled up the dresses. I’ll take them out to Gramps’
and see if Grammy can do anything about the stains. If anyone can fix them,
it’s Grammy,” Tatum said.

“Thank you, Tatum. I’ll let Rowan and El know.” Doc leaned
back in her chair with a sigh. “I’ll have to ring Mom and tell her too.”

“You don’t have to ring her. Wait until she gets here,”
Steve offered.

“I guess it won’t matter either way, will it? It’s still
going to hurt.”

Steve placed his hand on her thigh. “Yeah, it will and I’m
sure she’d rather hear it in person than over the phone.”

“You’re right. I’ll wait until she gets here.” Doc stood and
began stacking plates. “Tatum, are you staying out at your grandparent’s now
that you’ve moved back home?”

“Um, no, I can’t exactly expect Grammy and Gramps to put me
and the babies up. Besides, I’ll need to be closer to the clinic for work. I’m
living in town.”

Dale stood suddenly. “I’ll give you a lift to the garage so
you can pick up your car, Tatum.”

“Oh. Okay. Do you mind if we leave you with the dishes, Doc?
It’s just that Harry said he’d be closing up right after lunch and I don’t want
to be without my car or my bags.”

“Sure, go on. Steve will help clean up.”

He swallowed the bite he’d just taken. “Do I have a choice?”

“Not really, but go ahead and finish eating. I’ll wait.” Doc
grinned at him.

“Very polite of you,” he grumbled.

“I know. My manners are impeccable.” She left the plates on
the table, patted him on the shoulder and walked toward the front of the house.
“Don’t worry about getting up, Steve, I’ll see our guests out.”

Steve could hear the laughter in her voice but had no
intention of calling her on her cheek because she’d called them
our
guests. She probably didn’t realize what she’d done. Without thought Gordie had
tied them together in front of their friends. As far as he was concerned it was
one huge step in the right direction.

Gordie helped Tatum button up her coat and slip on her snow
boots. “Did you want to start at the clinic after New Year? I know we said
mid-to-late January but if you want to come in and get a feel for the place
I’ll be opening the doors again on the second.”

“That would be great. I know a lot of the older generation
but I’d like to meet everyone before I start taking over some of their care.”
Tatum took her handbag from Dale. “I’ve got your phone number so I’ll ring you
after Christmas and we can talk more about what it is you want and don’t want.”

“No need for that. We’ll just get it all sorted when you
start.” She gave the other woman a hug. “Be sure to ring me if you have any
concerns about your pregnancy. I worried about you changing doctors this far
along but I’m thrilled that you feel safe enough to have these babies under my
care.”

“I’ll be in touch if I get any lab results back but I doubt
we’ll hear anything before the New Year. There’ll only be a skeleton staff on
over the holidays.” Dale opened the door and gestured for Tatum to precede him.
“If anything else happens you know how to get hold of me.”

“I do and thank you for everything you’ve done so far.”

“It’s my job, Gordie, but I’d be here even if it wasn’t.” He
saluted and pulled the door closed as he stepped over the threshold.

“Alone at last.”

Gordie jumped when Steve sneaked up behind her. “Jeez, don’t
do that.”

“Sorry.” He slid his arms around her waist. “We’re not
expecting any visitors for the rest of the day. It’s a nice feeling having you
all to myself.”

She leaned back. “Yeah, but we’ll be too busy cleaning to
notice.” Gordie sighed. “I don’t know where to start.”

“Kitchen. We’ll tidy up the lunch dishes, check out what Kat
sent over for dinner and breakfast before we tackle upstairs.” Steve spun her
to face him. “It won’t take the two of us long and then we can start packing up
some of your things.”

“Are we still staying here tonight?”

“Did you not look outside when the others left? It’s snowing
again. The storm is supposed to be short lived but I doubt we’ll be finished
before dark so I thought we’d stick around here, have breakfast in the morning
and then head over to The Den for lunch and then on home after that. Sound
good?”

“Kat’s expecting us to be at the dinner table on Christmas
day.”

“Not going to happen. The storm they’re predicting for
Christmas morning will keep everyone inside for a couple of days. That’s why I
thought we could appease her with lunch tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I guess we should get
this over with.”

Steve let her go. “Lead the way.”

It didn’t take them long in the kitchen and all too soon she
had to deal with the mess upstairs. They started in Kat’s room and Gordie cried
the whole time she put piece after piece of her sister’s doll collection into
the garbage bags they were using. The wall would need repainting after she’d
used a good paint stripper on it, although it might be worth ripping the
drywall down and having new boards fitted.

She took a bag out of the room and went to get the vacuum.
There were thousands of shards from the shattered porcelain embedded in the
carpet. Gordie wasn’t sure, but she wouldn’t be surprised if the carpet would
need to be replaced. Steve took the cord and plugged it in before shooing her
out of the room.

“I’ll do this. You go get clean sheets so you can make the
bed when I’m done.”