My Estranged Lover (Middlemarch Shifters Book 5) (17 page)

Chapter Ten

Caroline’s mind reeled with the new knowledge, jumping one way and then the other like a disoriented person in a maze. The one constant she kept returning to was her love for Marsh and their children. None of them were monsters, even with their otherness. Yes, everything else was secondary, and she’d settle her thoughts in the coming days. Just one day at a time.

Instead of stressing, she gave herself over to loving Marsh. She stroked. She sucked. She licked until his big body trembled and his balls tightened and lifted. Judging he was almost ready to come, she pulled her mouth off him and straddled his legs. In seconds, she lifted over him and impaled herself, taking him easily. She rode him at a lazy pace, pleasing herself and watching his face the entire time.

Handsome. Striking. His green eyes blazed with passion, his too-long black hair spread over the pillow. His hands gripped her hips as he encouraged her to move faster. Since it was what she wanted, she allowed the increase in pace. Something pierced her hip, and she realized he’d grown claws, which fascinated her.

She saw he was struggling for control, yet trying to be gentle with her, and this knowledge made her go mushy inside. She used one hand to stroke her clit while she continued her rapid rise and fall. Then, she was hurtling into ecstasy, white-hot pleasure rippling down her legs and blazing upward to her chest. The spasms took over, and Marsh moved with speed. He flipped her over and plunged deep. One stroke. Two. Then he stilled, balls-deep in her, a shudder speeding through his entire body. He fingered her mark and her pussy pulsed around his girth, squeezing another spasm of pleasure free.

For an instant, he rested his weight on her, his forehead touching hers.

“Thank you, Caroline,” he whispered, and she knew he was thanking her for way more than the passionate loving. She stroked her hand over his back, enjoying the closeness, both mentally and physically.

“I forgot to bite you.”

“We have plenty of time, kitten.”

“I always wondered why you called me that. Now it makes sense.”

“You’re everything I need, everything my feline needs. To us you’re our kitten.”

Damn. She dragged in a breath, aware of the shift between them. Damn if he didn’t make her want to purr.

* * * * *

A new openness sprang to life with the employees of Glenshee during the next week, and part of Caroline wondered how she’d been so blind. Now that she knew, she could see the small clues she should have noticed, but had swept aside as quirky or odd. She often came across men in half dress, with no clothes or in feline form.

Marsh had caught her gaping at two of the men and gone all alpha. She kneaded her batch of bread and grinned at the memory of her husband, her mate, ordering the men not to come into the kitchen unless they had their pants on or wore fur. His mate didn’t need to see their nudity, just his.

“Hey, Knife Lady.” Caroline turned at the teasing shout from the door. “Is it safe to come in? I’ve come to collect the lunches.”

Saul spluttered from where he stood at the stove, stirring a white sauce for the fish pie they’d decided on for part of the dinner.

Caroline rolled her eyes. “The lunches are over there on the counter in that box. Come inside and take your chances.”

Saul cocked his head. “We have a visitor.”

“I’ll check.” Maxwell, the guy who picked up the lunches, strode away.

“I’m envious of your hearing,” Caroline said. “I can’t hear a thing.”

“At least you don’t have to smell half of what we can. Ladies who overdo the perfume are hideous. I sneeze and pretend to have allergies. Some guys with aftershave too.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

“Visitors for you,” Maxwell said, striding into the kitchen.

“Me?” Caroline noticed he scanned her for a knife, and she cackled. “Knife. Just over there.”

Maxwell froze, the color leaving his face.

Saul chuckled. “She’s teasing you, man.”

Maxwell blushed, the tips of his ears turning pink as he picked up the chiller-bag of lunches and left.

Caroline heard him speak and the next minute, Emily, Tomasine and Isabella crowded into the kitchen.

“Saul,” Emily said. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I arrived without warning, and stayed to help Caroline.”

“It was his fault I learned about feline shapeshifters before Marsh told me,” Caroline said.

Saul winked at Caroline. “She pulled a knife, prepared to gut me to save her kids from the big mean leopard.”

Emily slapped her hand over her mouth to cut off her laugh. Above her hand, her eyes danced with merriment.

“You didn’t?” Tomasine asked, and Caroline could tell she was trying not to laugh too.

Caroline nodded. “I did. Let me put this bread in the oven and I’ll make us a morning tea.”

“I’m glad you stayed,” Isabella said. “I thought you would. You’re strong.”

Caroline glanced at her. “Your bluntness regarding my options pulled me up and made me think about what I wanted and everything I’d have to give up.”

“How are the boys taking it?” Tomasine asked.

Caroline placed six loaves of bread into the big oven and set the timer. She washed her hands and filled the jug to make tea and coffee. “With scarcely a blink. They’d seen and learned things since they’d been here. They never mentioned anything, but I’d noticed their fascination with leopards. Ricky keeps asking when he will turn into a cat. He’s obsessed with leopards and loves to play with the men when they’re in leopard form.”

“Grab a seat at the table,” Saul said. “I’ll make tea and coffee for you. We’re way ahead. Spend time with your friends.”

“Thanks.” She turned to Isabella. “Since Saul has been helping in the kitchen I’ve had the afternoons to sew. Your dress is almost finished, apart from the hem. Normally, I’d do two fittings, but I didn’t know when I’d see you, so I kept going. Tomasine, your dress is done too, and Emily’s is underway.”

“Did Isabella tell you about the market?” Emily asked.

“A little.”

“It was brilliant.” Tomasine’s eyes sparkled. “People crowded the hall, and since it was a warm day, we had a few stalls selling food and drinks, set up outside. Most of the stallholders sold out, and the Feline council is thrilled with the funds we raised.”

“When is the next one?” Caroline asked. “Maria and Cam are back soon. Once Maria is back, I’ll have more time since I’ll only be helping her a few hours each day.”

Saul placed the teapot on the table and returned with mugs, milk and sugar, and a plate of cheese scones, not long out of the oven He set a pot of coffee in front of her.

“Yum,” Isabella said. “Cheese scones are my favorite.”

“You’ve lost weight,” Emily said. “Have they been working you hard?”

“It hasn’t been so bad since Saul arrived to help. After cooking food all day, I haven’t wanted to eat.”

“I get that.” Emily reached for a scone. “It’s nice to eat food other people have cooked.”

“You look great, Caroline.” Tomasine cocked her head and studied her. “There is a sparkle to you that wasn’t there before.”

“I am happy,” Caroline said. “We haven’t been here long, but it has been the right move for all of us. Marsh is happier too, and for once, we have money in the bank.”

“I heard that Charles and Dawn lost their new farmhand yesterday.” Isabella sipped her black tea. “He’s have trouble getting replacement workers.”

Caroline sighed. “He always found fault with anything Marsh did. It’s easy to see the difference in Marsh now, and we’re able to spend more time together as a family.”

A yeasty fresh-bread aroma mingled with the onions Saul was browning as he made a quiche.

“It’s lovely to see you,” Caroline said. “Are you staying the night? It’s a long drive here and back to Middlemarch.”

“We’ll drive part of the way back and stay at a bed and breakfast,” Emily said. “It’s nice to have a break.”

“Who is looking after the café?” Caroline buttered a scone and took a bite.

“My two local ladies,” Emily said.

“Dara, one of the women here, wondered if she could sell her knitting. She says that during the winter, when Glenshee is cut off, she spends her time knitting and her family doesn’t need any more jumpers or scarves. She said the other women knit and crochet. What do you think?” Caroline smiled. “I could even design a Glenshee label for us to use.”

Emily and Tomasine glanced at each other, excitement in their grins.

“Any other sewers?” Isabella asked.

“No. One of the ladies spins wool. Dara uses the wool to knit her projects.”

“I think that is a fantastic idea,” Emily said.

Tomasine nodded. “Especially the label.”

“I don’t mind selling the stuff for you,” Isabella offered. “It was fun. I can buy supplies for any of you. Actually, that was part of my idea. I know you don’t have spare cash at present, but I wondered if you’d let me buy fabric, cotton, buttons and zippers for you, so you’ll have plenty to keep you busy during the winter. You could give me a small cut for selling after we take out the price of the supplies.”

Caroline nodded. “I love sewing and designing, but I don’t want to become a production line.”

“I thought of that,” Isabella said. “If you give me a general guide as to what you want, then when the stuff arrives at Glenshee, you can make whatever you want. Buyers snapped up the dresses and children’s shirts. I didn’t get to try my sales pitch.”

“She didn’t,” Tomasine said with a grin. “She’d practiced it on me.”

“I agree with Isabella.” Emily chuckled when Isabella pulled a face at Tomasine. “You could use your design skills. We had a crowd of varied ages, thrilled to have something like this in the country. Once the word gets around we’ll have even more people attending.”

“The part that slows me is sewing on buttons and hemming. I can do hems with my machine but some need to be done by hand.”

“Teach me,” Isabella said. “If I can sew a wound shut, I can sew on a button. I’ll check with Leo, but I could stay a few days. Leo was saying he’d love to visit Glenshee since Felix has told him so much about the station. He’ll be thrilled at the opportunity. What do you say?”

“You can stay in the main house,” Saul said from the other side of the kitchen. “Cam and Maria won’t mind.”

The women stared at her. Emily and Tomasine both wore smiles while Isabella’s expression remained blank.

Caroline liked Isabella. She liked all three women who had befriended her. “I love the idea.”

“I don’t mind helping with buttons and things,” Tomasine said. “Isabella can show me.”

“What wounds have you treated?” Caroline demanded.

Isabella gave a sly smile. “I’ll tell you while you teach me.”

“Don’t scare her,” Tomasine ordered.

“I’d never do that to a friend,” Isabella said, and when she smiled, Caroline noted her teeth appeared pointier. “Only enemies should fear me.”

Emily spluttered while Caroline just gaped at her.

“Isabella,” Tomasine said, and a chiding note colored the petite woman’s voice.

Isabella tossed her head. “I purchased fabric just in case you said yes. Do you want to see?” A diffidence appeared in her then, and Caroline realized she wasn’t as confident as she projected.

“I’d love it. It will be just like Christmas.”

Isabella beamed.

“After lunch,” Saul announced. “The men will be here soon.”

Caroline stood. “I’d better set the table. Dara will arrive with the boys any minute.”

“I’ll show Emily and Isabella around,” Tomasine said. “I’d love to see Dara and the others while we’re here. We can bring your boys back for you.”

Caroline agreed, and the women left while she and Saul prepared for the six hungry men who would arrive any minute.

“They like you,” Saul said.

“I haven’t known them long. Not properly. Marsh and I didn’t go out much, so most of the Middlemarch residents were only nodding acquaintances.”

“They’re good women. They’ll be good friends you can trust.”

“I’m figuring that out. Are you sure it will be okay for Isabella to stay at the homestead?”

“Sure. Maria and Cam are easygoing.”

“Does she have a knife?” someone called.

Saul snorted. “Sounds as if the comedians have arrived for lunch. Let’s both pick up a knife.”

Caroline grinned and turned to find her weapon of choice.

* * * * *

“Come to bed, kitten,” Marsh said.

“There’s not enough room for this fabric.” She planted her hands on her hips as she surveyed the mess.

“When Cam and Maria arrive home I’ll ask if there is a place you can set up your machine and organize your sewing. They might have an empty cottage or an idea we haven’t considered.”

“You’d do that?”

“Kitten. Of course, I’d do that for you. I want you to be happy and sewing pleases you. I know you regretted giving up your course at varsity, and I love seeing you so animated about a project. I watched you at dinner tonight, discussing sewing and knitting and the market. This idea excites you. It’s good for you and all the funds that pour into the Feline council help the shapeshifter community. I can’t see any downside.”