Grif (Tales of the Were - Redstone Clan) (4 page)

“Munchkin.” Grif’s voice snapped with authority, but not anger. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay at the cabin.” He turned his gaze skyward to pin the juvenile cougar cub staring down at him from the shelter of a stout evergreen. The cat lowered her head, well and truly caught, as Grif prayed for patience.

“All right.” He sighed heavily. “You can play in the woods behind me, but don’t let anyone see you and don’t stray far. I’ll be ready to go in about an hour and I want you in the truck when I pull away.”

The little cougar nodded its head, scratching against the bark of the tree as she yawned, her topaz eyes glowing slightly as they met his.

Grif lifted his head, scenting the wind. He thought for a moment he’d caught a whiff of something...sinister. Something he hadn’t scented since that dreadful night his happy family had started to fall to ruins, but then it was gone. He must have imagined it, yet his inner cat told him to be cautious.

“Stay close, kitten.”

Grif rapped on the backdoor, noting the surprise in Lindsey’s eyes as she came to the doorway. He’d seen her watching him, but he’d still managed to catch her off guard. He licked his lips as her small hand flew to cover her pounding heart. He wanted his hands there, and lower. He wanted his hands all over her, but that would come later.

“You startled me. You’re as silent as a cat!” She laughed, trying to still her nerves as he moved closer.

“You have no idea.” He paused, enjoying the flush on her beautiful skin. “The good news is I can fix your generator. I think I have all the parts in my truck. Simple stuff, O-rings and oil is about all it needs.”

“That’s a relief. It was making such strange noises.”

“Metal grinding on metal,” he agreed. “Not a pretty sound.”

She motioned him into the small kitchen. “Want some lemonade? I just made it fresh.”

He prowled into the small space, willing to crowd her a bit now that he was sure she was interested. All those heated glances out the window weren’t just curiosity. This woman was interested in him as a man. He could smell her arousal.

“Most folks don’t take the time to make it from real lemons anymore. My own mother used to buy the frozen stuff, or worse, the powder stuff.” He smacked his lips as he took a long, appreciative swallow from the tall glass she handed him. “This is good.”

“Thanks. I like it fresh, so I buy a few lemons now and again.”

He swallowed down more of the tart brew as she watched him with those wide, sparkling eyes. They followed the movements of his mouth and arms, even the way his throat worked as he swallowed, so he deliberately licked his lips, pleased with the increase of her arousal as she followed the swishing movements of his tongue. He’d plunge that tongue in all her secret places, he swore silently. As soon as he possibly could. And damn the fact that she wasn’t
were
.

The thought pissed him off royally.

No law of his kind said he couldn’t fuck a human. He’d just never wanted a human woman like this before. Not the way he wanted Lindsey Tate. He knew would have her. Soon. He just couldn’t keep her. That was the bitch of it.

He had to get his inner beast under control. This woman needed finessing. She wasn’t
were
to submit to his Alpha dominance, and he couldn’t pounce on her the way he so desperately wanted to. He had to do this the hard way—the human way.

“So did you want to show me the worst parts of the roof?”

Her lack of concentration amused him, but he had a driving need to see her bedroom from the inside this time. He concentrated on the idea of fucking her and then putting her aside, much as it angered him. But he couldn’t let his fickle heart get involved. There was no way he could mate with a human. He needed a strong Alpha female to be his partner, the co-ruler of his extensive Clan. Pretty little Lindsey Tate was a temporary bed partner at most, but he’d be damned if he didn’t already want to keep her for much longer.

Lindsey moved toward the doorway that led to the rest of the house, escorting him up the stairs. Just where he wanted to go.

She showed him all the holes in the roof she knew about, but Grif knew from his own nocturnal inspection that there were others she couldn’t see from inside. When they got to her bedroom, she tried to hide her embarrassment with laughter. She lived poor, but she was proud and he could respect that.

Shifters were proud folk too, but even though many of his kind had worldly success, they knew what it was to live wild. Hell, he had chosen the cabin in the woods over his family’s spacious homestead as a place for his sister to heal. He knew the rest of the family understood. All the luxury in the world couldn’t make up for the feel of the wind on your face or the soft loam of the forest under your paws.

His soft heart went out to Lindsey, trying to ease her embarrassment. She thought him a drifter and yet the pots on the floor of her bedroom still obviously embarrassed her. It was clear they were there to catch the rain.

“Any
pot
in a storm, eh?” She groaned at the pun and he was glad to see the tension in her shoulders ease a bit as she laughed with him.

“I try to think of the holes in the roof as skylights. Doesn’t seem so bad that way.”

Her smile was magic. His breath caught and held as he watched her gaze up at the clearly defined holes above them. The stretch of her graceful neck made him want to nip and suck.

“Well, I can understand wanting to be close to nature, but I guess when nature comes inside, things can get a little difficult.” He glanced pointedly at the pots strategically placed under the various holes. “The good news is, I can fix this. No problem.”

She turned to him then, a light of challenge on her smiling face.

“Maybe so, but what is it going to cost me?”

He paused theatrically as if to consider, though he knew already what he’d say. He liked the flirtatious tone of her question and he decided to push her a little further on the path that he wanted so desperately to take with her.

“How about two tall glasses of lemonade, about twenty bucks for supplies and…” He moved in close, his breath rasping across her cheek as he bent low, “…a kiss.”

He didn’t wait for her answer, but laid his lips against hers, claiming her gently, not wanting to scare her off. He put his arms around her waist loosely, lifting his head for just a moment to check her eyes. He didn’t want to see fear there and thankfully, he didn’t.

She was with him. A partner in their kiss. Neither afraid nor appalled. Her warm gaze said she welcomed his overture and was as caught up in it as he was.

“Actually, I’d do it all just for your kiss.”

His voice sounded low and dangerous as his gaze held hers at close range. He didn’t see any fear at all reflected there, only a stunned sort of submission that brought out the beast in him. The cougar within raised its mighty head and snarled in triumph as he swept downward to take her lips again, seeking with his tongue this time to taste her tender mouth.

She tasted of sweetness and light, along with a wildness that had his inner cat screeching in delight. She was perfect in every way, though he didn’t stop to think about how that could be. His cougar had found its mate and it wanted to possess and claim without regard for anything else.

He stepped back.

Whoa, tiger.
She was human.

She
couldn’t
be his mate. He knew that as sure as he breathed, but his cougar soul was saying otherwise, confounding him, and his feline instincts had never been wrong before.

It was something he’d have to think about. Hard.

He saw his own confusion reflected in her forest green eyes before she turned briskly away from him.

“Don’t take this the wrong way…” Her voice was hesitant as she walked to the window, wrapping her arms around herself, “…but I don’t want to get involved with you, Grif. Not with you or any man. Not now.”

He wanted to go to her, to wrap her in his arms and never let go, but he was feeling some turmoil of his own. His head swam with thoughts he didn’t have time or capacity, at the moment, to analyze.

“I’m sorry.” He wanted desperately to go to her, even as he pulled back. “I didn’t mean to push you, but you have to know how much I’m attracted to you. Won’t you give us a chance?”

If he’d whined or begged she could have handled it better, but the stoic, deep tones of his sexy voice made her want to jump into his arms and never let go. Things had been set in motion though, things that she couldn’t stop, and she couldn’t get involved with anyone until it was over. But how to explain that to him? She had no idea where to start.

“Please, Grif. I just can’t right now, but it’s not because I don’t like you. I
do
like you. Too much, it seems.” She chuckled sadly and turned to face him. She didn’t like the look on his face. His amazing golden eyes held confusion, tempered by a strong resolution that she feared would mean doom for her plans.

“I don’t just like you, Lindsey. I want you.”

The bald statement turned what was left of her insides after those hot kisses, to mush. She had to be strong, she reminded herself. Her task was too important.

“I’m flattered. Really.” Somehow the smoldering look in his eyes made her mouth go dry. “But I just can’t do this now. Please respect my decision.”

He stared her down for what felt like an eternity, his gaze watchful but not condemning, questioning but not accusatory. Then his gaze shifted away and the fire in them died down.

“Okay then…” He looked away and a rueful grin stretched his sexy mouth. “Do we have a deal for the lemonade at least?”

She laughed outright. Tension gone for the moment, he was back to the lighthearted rogue she was coming to really enjoy.

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll provide a whole pitcher of lemonade and the money for supplies, but I think you’re letting me off easy.”

She moved to walk through the door past him, but his words slowed her steps.

“Well, you could always throw in a kiss or two to sweeten the deal.” His tone was back to light and teasing, making her feel safe once more with him.

She decided not to rise to the bait as she made herself walk past him.

“I meant the money. Surely you should get something for your labor? I’m not a rich woman, but I can afford to pay you a little something for your time, you know.”

She knew she sounded a little indignant, but she figured that was better than melting into a puddle at his feet. She swept down the stairs to the first floor, glad when he followed her into the kitchen. Putting the table between them, she poured more lemonade for them both and placed the glasses on the table.

He downed half of his in one long, sexy working of his muscular throat, then smacked his lips with a smile. Oh, how she wanted more of his hot kisses, but she just couldn’t give in to his all-too-potent temptation. Not until her task was through… if she lived that long.

“Now don’t take this the wrong way.” He laid his big hands on the table, sitting across from her. “But I can see the condition of this place and I suspect you don’t make too much at the diner.” He held up his hands to forestall her indignant reply. “There’s no shame in that, Lindsey. Just as there’s no shame in me putting my time to good use helping you.” He paused though his eyes warned against arguing. “You pay for the supplies and I’ll do the labor. I expect nothing in return but that you let me hang around, bang on your roof and maybe spend a little time with you during the day as the work progresses. If I can’t have your kisses, spending a quiet moment or two with you will have to be enough.” The words
for now
, seemed unspoken, but definitely there.

A shiver coursed down her spine at the look in his eyes. It was possessive, sure, and dominating. Her mouth went dry at the intent she saw in his expression but there was also a noble kind of honesty there that warmed and puzzled her. Why would this drop dead gorgeous man want to spend time with her? She was just a drab little waitress with way too many complications in her life right now.

But she believed the look in his golden eyes. She believed in
him
. Somehow, this beautiful man really did want to spend time with her, even when she’d made it plain that he wasn’t going to be getting into her pants anytime soon, if at all. It was amazing really, and what girl could refuse a sexy hunk like Griffon Redstone when all he was asking for was a little of her time and companionship?

She nodded without further argument and was pleased, though a little confused, by the triumph that washed over his face.

He moved back outside after draining his glass, resuming work on the generator, and she went back to her household chores. Okay, so her eyes drifted out the window to watch him more than they should have, but she figured he’d never know and she certainly wasn’t telling.

Chapter Three

Grif found her in the kitchen about an hour later, after finishing with the generator. She was bustling around, clearly a little nervous around him now. He regretted that, but knew it was for the best.

He’d had time to cool down and think through the haze of desire that surrounded him whenever she was near. He knew in his head it could never work between them. She was human. He wasn’t. There was no sense at all in this unreasonable attraction he felt. It’d be better to just not get involved any further than he already was, no matter how his cock screamed for release.

But his
were
side had other ideas. His inner cat wanted to stalk her and pounce, pound into her until she never forgot him and mark her as his own. Never before had the two sides of his soul been so in conflict, and never before had he ever known a woman who could tie him in knots like this. Lindsey was special, and utterly confusing.

“When I come back tomorrow, is it okay if I bring my little sister with me?” He figured Belinda would just follow him anyway, so he might as well bring her along from the start. He didn’t like her roaming alone in the woods, even way out here. She was too precious to risk. Plus, a little chaperonage wouldn’t hurt. “Belinda doesn’t talk much and I like to spend time with her when I can. She won’t be any trouble to you. She can play in the yard while I work, if it’s all right with you.”