Hers (Snowy Mountain Wolves) (6 page)

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12
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Kate

Shaken, I blindly stumbled out of the shower. I felt my way to the door, cracking it. I used the sliver of light to illuminate the light switch. Flipping it, I located a towel. Right away, I wrapped myself in it.

I felt the bandage at my temple hanging down, long forgotten in the heat of things. Reaching up, I ripped it the rest of the way off. Despite still being in tact, I did the same with the Band-Aid on my forearm. The cut was still red and angry, but had stopped bleeding a while ago. I set the bandages on the counter and strolled over to the shower.
I was just about to reach in to turn off the sprayers when I heard my name in the distance. Less than a breath later, Jerry barged into the bathroom, his breathing heavy.

His eyes traveled over me before noting the shredded clothing on the floor. His expression hardened as he switched his focus.
“Are you okay?” he demanded.

I knew my cheeks were red as
I clung tightly to the towel. “Um, yeah.”

His gaze fell to the floor where the clothes were again before he made a move to help me, as if there worried him somehow. He jumped in and turned off the water, wetting his naked body in the process. Damn if they didn’t make some hot people in these parts too. The water helped illuminate the smooth valleys between each muscle.

Realizing I was ogling the poor guy, I spun around. “Right. Sorry.” He reached around me and snagged a towel.

My heart beat a little louder, a little faster. Uncertainty washed through me. “Is Ellie okay?” I glanced back over my shoulder, checking that he was covered before I turned. He’d secured the towel around his waist.

His brows drew together as he studied the clothes yet again. I wanted to burn the dang things. I might as well have been wearing a sign that read, ‘I had sex with Ellie.’ …well, not technically.

“She will be,” he stated, finally meeting my gaze.

I fidgeted, unsure what to say or do. I stood staring at him like an idiot, feeling so uncertain of my fate in the moment.

I about sang ‘Hallelujah’ when he broke the tension.

“Why don’t we get dressed, separately, and meet in the kitchen? I haven’t done it before, but I’m sure I can figure out how to make a few cups of coffee.” He sounded distracted, but optimistic.

I relaxed into a smile. “I’ll wait for you to fail before I come to your
rescue.”

“Ouch.” He clutched his hands to his chest.

I chuckled, my body letting go of its trepidation at a time that I really needed to. Because if I wasn’t laughing, I would probably be crying.

The way Ellie took off… I couldn’t help but feel like I did something wrong. Her eyes glowing in the darkness as she ran away from me was engrained in my mind.

My humor quieted. I found myself staring at Jerry once again, unable to silence my heart, my confusion.

He considered me. Cautiously, he approached.
Looking down at me, he brushed my hair back over my shoulders. “Ellie will be back. She can’t stay away from you.”

“Is that part of the whole mate thing?” I gazed up into his brown eyes. There were rich and dark in the moment, like chocolate
. I didn’t know why, but I felt safe and comfortable with Jerry. As Ellie’s best friend, it was important that we got along. As a werewolf, it was important that I felt like I could trust him, and he protected me at the shop, so I knew I could.

“Yeah. That’s a mate thing.” He averted his gaze as he took a step back. He expelled a breath. “I’ll meet you downstairs.” He gave me no time to respond. Much like Ellie, he was gone in a flash.

In a way, I felt bad for Jerry. From what I gathered, he was single. It seemed as if he and Ellie had been a dynamic duo; their common bond of singlehood had added to their friendship if I had to guess. Maybe he needed some reassurance that I wasn’t going to steal her away from him…

Dang! What is wrong with me? I’m talking like I plan to stick around, like Donovan doesn’t exist and my brother isn’t sending someone tomorrow.

Oh, God. My brother.

His political views leaned more red than blue. I didn’t even consider how he would react to me being with a woman.

I took in and blew out a deep breath. Knowing I shouldn’t worry about what I couldn’t change, I grabbed my clothes, what was left of them anyways, and the bandages, flipped off the bathroom light and returned to Ellie’s room to get dressed.

Uncertain if I could stay, if I should stay, now that Elli
e was gone, I kept everything in my suitcase, including my shredded clothes. Additionally I dressed in clothes I could leave in or sleep in. Due to the year round Miami heat, most of my clothes were airy, breathable and, well, not pants.

I wore a pair of dark, solid grey
capri leggings with a long, high-low cream tank that flowed away from my body rather than clinging. The front kissed my crotch, and the back fell two inches below my ass. The sheer decorative panel in the back made the shirt less frumpy and more dressy while the antique style etch on the front broke up the palate, preventing me from looking like a bloated cream puff.

I debated shoes, but decided to remain barefoot. I had flip-flops I could quickly don, should the need arise.

I found Jerry in the kitchen, dressed in a pair of athletic shorts and a basic white tee. He was flipping the lid of the coffee maker, staring in where the coffee filter and water went. His confused expression was amusing, and ever-so-slightly endearing.

He pulled the pot out and
analyzed where it would kiss the machine. He scrubbed the back of his neck. “How about tea?” he asked, officially giving up.

I laughed, moving towards him. “Make room for the coffee pro.”

He set the pot on the counter and stepped away with his hands up.

“Is the tap water safe here?” I asked, moving towards the kitchen gadget.

“It’s not where you live?” He crossed his arms over his chest, accentuating his build as he leaned his back against the island.

“Not really. We get a lot
of ‘boil your water’ alerts. I’ve gotten use to using filtered water for everything, even brushing my teeth.” I shrugged. Carrying the pot, I filled it to six cups from the tap.

As I turned, I saw Jerry scowling. “Why do you live there then?”

I poured the water into the machine and set the pot back in its proper place. “My brother. My job. I grew up there and don’t know any place else. A bunch of little reasons really.”

“Would you ever move?” He stood a little taller as he spoke, but averted his gaze from me.

“Coffee and filters?” I quirked a brow.

He seemed
puzzled as he scanned the kitchen.

Together we began searching cabinets for the supplies. Absently, distractedly, I replied,” I would have to have a really good reason to. I would essentially be leaving everything behind to do that.” I lazily chuckled. “Billy would probably have a hissy fit, as much as a man can anyways.” My laughter grew at the thought. “He would probably have security stalking me twenty-four-seven.”

“He wouldn’t move with you?”

“No.” Just then I spotted what I needed. I returned to the brewer and finished the prep before starting the machine.

Jerry was silent for a minute, watching me work. “Does he love you?”

“Without a doubt. Billy’s done a lot for me, more than I deserve probably.” I couldn’t help but remember all those sleepy mornings with him before school. I would make the coffee and he would make the food. Usually we were so tired we didn’t speak much, but it was still quality time with each other. Years later, I still cherish
ed those quiet mornings with him. These days, I was lucky to get five minutes at a Starbucks with him. Of course if I needed anything, he was there. But regularly, in the day-to-day rigor, I rarely saw him.

“Then why wouldn’t he move with you?” Jerry seemed genuinely perplexed, determined to solve the puzzle.

“He owns his own business down there. He’s mega successful and while he could probably move it and achieve the same results quickly, Billy believes ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it.’ He wouldn’t rock the boat unless he had to. The fact that Miami’s real estate market, commercial and residential, have been dead for years after the market crashed and he’s still exceeding profit margins and quotas says he has a great thing going.”

Jerry stood quietly for a long while.

“Cups?” I prompted as the machine began to gurgle its final bits of water through the filter.

“I’ll get it.” He retrieved two mugs, located a bag of sugar and a carton of cream from the fridge before grabbing two spoons from a nearby drawer.

“Your kitchen is well stocked considering you and Ellie don’t cook.”

“Her parents shop for us.”

“Do you work a lot of hours at the station?”

“Rarely. Not much police work in a small town. The occasional domestic issue or bar brawl; that’s about it.”

“I’d consider that a good thing. It’s a slow day to hear sirens five times a day in some areas of Miami.”

We each customized our coffee. I awkwardly leaned against the counter after, unsure where to go and what to do. After a long five minutes of fidgeting and dainty, self-conscious sips of my coffee, I broke. “I don’t have to stay, Jerry. You and Ellie have-“

“Stop.” He glared at me, killing my words.

I knew my eyes were open wide; I felt my brows
crinkling.

“Shit.” He set his cup on the counter. “You can stay as long as you’d like, Kitty.”

That dang name. I wish I had just told them my real name from the start.

“Kate. My name is Kate.”

He met my gaze, studying me briefly before he nodded once. “Kate.” He picked up his mug again. “Stay as long as you’d like, whether Ellie is here or not. We take care of our own. You’re a mate, so you’re part of our family now.” He gave me a small smile. “You’ll always be welcome here.”

I’d only ever had Billy it seemed. Jerry was offering me more than I’d ever had, more than I thought I’d ever have. Emotions gathered in my chest, compressing it. “Thanks.” My voice was thick, inf
lecting what I felt.

He took another sip of his coffee. Both of us heard the front door open and close. “In the kitchen,” Jerry called, watching me as he spoke.

My heart beat a little faster as she rounded the corner. She stood unabashedly naked before us. Her hair was disheveled, as if she’d been driving down a highway in a convertible with the top down.

We stared at each other. Her concern was palpable; it felt as tangible as my own.

“I’m gonna shower. Meet you in bed in ten?” Her brows rose as she posed the offer.

I shook my head lightly in agreement.

She glanced sideways at Jerry. “Thanks, Jer.”

He didn’t look at her, despite shaking his head in acknowledgement.

I waited for Ellie to leave the room before speaking. “I’m not trying to take your place or steal her away from you. I hope you know that.”

He lifted his head towards me. “I do.” He shoved off the island.
His mug clinked against the metal as he set the now-empty cup in the sink. “Thanks for the coffee, Kate.” He left me standing in the middle of the big kitchen, staring after him like an idiot.

Jesus. I felt so off-kilter. Everything had happened so fast, changed so rapidly. It seemed there was very little I was certain of these days, including my own sexual preference.

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13
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Ellie

I could tell Jerry was still pissed at me. I was glad he didn’t punish Kate for our shit though. Seeing them together in the kitchen was a relief.

My wolf snarled; I punched her down. She’d royally pissed me off. She may have ruined the very thing she wanted most, all because she couldn’t wait five more fucking minutes. We shared a body, but we each had a mind of our own.

I rushed through my shower, hoping to find Kate in bed waiting for me.

She wasn’t.

I heard the water turn on downstairs and headed that way. I found Kate, body sidled up against the sink as she washed dishes.

Dammit.

Reaching around her, I turned off the water.

“Somehow, I sensed you were there,” she said. She turned the water back on and proceeded to rinse the cup in her hands.

That was a good sign. It meant that pull was working. I slipped my hands around her waist and pressed my body against hers. My pussy heated immediately. Instinctively, I ground my womb against the swell of her ass.

She turned the faucet off. Her heart skittered a tad faster, each beat a little closer together. “Jerry’s here,” she stated.

Her concern told me she wanted to do something, but was afraid of sensitive ears. “Trust me, he’s heard it all before. Probably seen it too.” I slid her hair aside and fixed my mouth to the side of her neck. She leaned into me right away.

“Ellie?” Her breathing stuttered.

I smiled against her, knowing I had her where I wanted her.

Yanking up her shirt, I slipped a hand down her panties. She stiffened, holding her breath as I dipped my fingers between her folds, into her warmth.

“What are you doing to me, Ellie?” She sounded weary.

I chuckled lightly
against her. “What does it feel like I’m doin’, sweet cheeks?” Moving fleetingly, I drew my fingers in a steady circle over her clit.

She clamped her lips together, bowing over the counter, shoving me back, but a whine still escaped.

Needing to be in control, I spanned a hand over her upper stomach and jerked her back into me. She squeezed my forearms as I continued my assault, much to my wolf’s delight.

“Oh, God, Ellie,” she moaned, flexing her hips into my touch. My wolf sat up, stalking upwards, watching with interest. She was a temporarily distracted predator.

I nibbled her ear lobe. “You better fall apart in my arms like a good girl.”

Her reply was a breathless, “Fuck, Ellie.”

Her chest rose and fell in a reckless rhythm, much like my fingers over her sensitive bud. She continually bit her lips, trying to hold back her whimpers and moans.

Her nails began to bite into the flesh of my arms. Her head dipped back, resting on my shoulder as her body arched.

“Fall apart, Kate.”

She finally cried out as her pussy pulsated beneath my touch. I kept pace until she pressed a staying hand over mine. She stood, gasping for air, her gaze fixated on the sink
. Her pulse sang a rapid, thumping melody.

A soft growl in the distance gave away Jerry’s presence. Looking back, I caught him in the doorway. He glared at me. I swore fire blazed in his eyes, the flickers of honey warning that h
is wolf was close.

We’d always shared. It was the only way I got any action in this
small town. He’d always convinced the woman it would please him to watch us together. I suppose him wanting the same courtesy in return wasn’t something I should have held against him. But I did. Because it was different with Kate. She was my mate, not a one-night stand plucked up from the local bar. And, had my mate not been in my arms, in a vulnerable state, I would have charged him.

My vision blurred momentarily as my wolf warned him off. I could tell Kate was inexperienced with sex, and as uncomfortable as she was initially with me, she would clam up the moment she saw Jerry there.

His expression said this wasn’t over, that he would probably push the issue again. Thankfully, with one final look at Kate, he stormed off.

I nuzzled her neck. “Let’s take this to bed.”

She spun in my arms. Her eyes glittered with warmth. Her lips curled into a shy smile. “Okay.”

My wolf damn near purred as I led our mate upstairs.