Seal Wolf Hunting (9781402293832) (13 page)

“You couldn't call for a helicopter to come pick them up right there at the campsite?” she asked.

“We had to assume that their captors were still in the area. We needed to get the students as far away from there as possible and to a better extraction point where a helicopter could reach us. We freed the students, gave them water and nutrition bars, and then hiked for nearly three hours, barely resting, despite their condition. Not one of the students complained about it, knowing all our lives depended on it. The woman was having the worst time of it. Both Allan and I had taken turns carrying her.”

Paul put the saw down, grabbed a smaller clipper, and cut away at the twigs, but he realized Lori wasn't working any longer. Either she was done, or she was too engrossed in what he had to say. He didn't want to look at her, didn't want to see how she would view his failure. He realized then how hard that was for him to deal with—Lori seeing him as less of a hero and less of a man.

“We had safely crossed several streams, but after the last one, we heard men shouting in the distance. Their shouts were coming from every direction. Except for up above the cliffs. We had one choice. After climbing the cliffs, one of us would lead the students out, while the other pinned down the kidnappers with a barrage of gunfire.

“At that point, neither Allan nor I could carry the woman up the cliff. The male students could barely make it on their own. We had a rope harness attached to her, and I was guiding her up. Allan had climbed the rest of the way to the top with the others. I left her, hurried to the top, and between Allan and me, we were pulling her up. I grabbed one of her hands and then the other while Allan continued to tug her the rest of the way up using the harness.”

Paul took a ragged breath. “The bastards began shooting from across the stream. Allan had to stop pulling her up by the rope harness to return fire. I continued to draw her the rest of the way as quickly as I could. But I was too late.”

Lori touched his arm, and he realized she'd crossed the deck without him even being aware of it. She took his clippers and set them aside, and then pulled him into her arms.

He swallowed hard. “She didn't make it,” he said, barely able to get the words out. “I couldn't let her go, Lori. I had to get her home to her family.”

“I know you, Paul. You would have done all that was humanly possible. Just think of the men you saved who might have perished along with her! You've always been there for us when things were so bad. We were broken. The whole pack. Yet you organized us and made sure we had shelter and could fend off the rabid wolf pack until you, Allan, and Catherine killed them. And then when we were starting over, you were the one who took charge and got us back on our feet. You've always taken care of us. But sometimes we need to take care of you.”

He looked down at her and saw she was dead serious.

She tilted her chin up stubbornly. “You're always concerned about everyone else, Paul. You've always felt you should carry everyone else's burden. And…well, you should.”

He hadn't expected her to say that. Somehow, she always knew the right thing to say to make him feel better. “Oh, I should, should I?”

“Yes. You should. Your pack needs you. More than ever before.”

“What if Allan took over and—”

“Not only does he not want the job, but you're the one who always took charge. Everyone expects you to take it over and be here for us.” Lori let her breath out on a heavy sigh. “I know you don't want to give up what you do. When you do, we'll be waiting for you.”

“What about you? Will you be waiting for me the next time I come home? Not disappearing to avoid me?”

“Who says—”

“I do. You can deny it all you want, but it's the truth. I can live with it for now, as long as you're not avoiding me because you hate me or something.”

“Yeah, right. I wouldn't want you to lead our pack if I hated you.”

“Then it's because you get upset that I'm leaving again.”

“Like I don't have anything better to do than think about you every minute you're gone?”

“Every minute?” He smiled a little.

Lori was glad she'd made him feel better. He'd make her feel better if he stuck around. She noticed the sun was beginning to set, so she led him over to the outdoor chairs. She was beginning to think she'd made an awful mistake in leaving every time he'd come home before. But she knew he hadn't been ready to settle down, and every time he'd left, she'd felt bad.

He didn't let go of her hand when he sat down. She wasn't sure what he was up to until he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. They sat there like that, watching the sun set in silence.

He still hadn't once said he wanted to stay here for them. Not yet. And she didn't want to push him on it. Which was why she hadn't said anything more about her concern for Rose.

Lori sat in Paul's lap, leaning back against him. She felt his arousal take on a life of its own, his hand gently caressing her arm while they were supposed to be watching the sunset. She decided he was sleeping with her tonight. Wolves mated for life, so she couldn't have sex with him, but she wanted him in her bed and wanted to share the closeness. She did not want to mate him though, not if he was so determined to stay away from the pack for months on end.

She had no qualms about being his mate and sharing in the responsibilities of leading the pack that, unbeknownst to him, would be growing by leaps and bounds once he declared he was their leader. There was time enough later to share that news. But she wouldn't be his mate if he was going to leave all the time, possibly getting himself killed in the Amazon jungle and leaving her to run the pack alone.

She took a deep breath and let it out, loving this side of him, the sexy tenderness that was Paul. She was so sorry for what he'd been through—for the woman they'd lost and for the woman's family. Yet Lori sensed he was somewhat relieved to have shared the story with her.

Something clicked with her at that moment, and she wondered if he needed someone to convince him to stay. She'd always thought he should make the decision on his own. But she was coming to the conclusion that he didn't believe they truly needed him. That maybe he thought he'd step on toes because they had managed for themselves ever since he joined Hunter's SEAL team.

It was late and she normally would have felt tired, but the way he was stroking her arm, the way she felt his arousal pressed against her back, she couldn't help but think of him in bed, and any tiredness that might have claimed her slipped away.

The sun had long ago disappeared behind the distant mountains, and yet they still sat there together, neither of them calling it a night. Was he thinking of asking her to come to his bed? Or was he hoping she'd ask him?

She couldn't believe how nervous she felt about it. What if he said no? That he didn't want to compromise her? What if he really didn't want to go to bed with her?

“Do you want to go to bed?” he asked, breaking through her muddled thoughts.

Maybe she
was
a worrywart.

“Yeah, the sun has already set.” As if he didn't realize it had. She didn't make a move to disengage herself from him, loving the closeness they shared. It was the first time when he'd been home that they'd been really close like this.

The night air grew cooler while the warmth of his body heated hers. He continued to run his hand over her arm in a soothing manner. Well, more than soothing. She was already getting turned on.

And he could smell it. Just like she could smell his arousal and his piney scent from the run through the woods.

He leaned down and nuzzled her cheek with his face. She smiled at the scratchiness of the hint of stubble on his cheek. “You're scratchy.”

His lips swept over her cheek and they were soft and masculine. She turned to look at him, to see his expression. His eyes were dark with interest. He leaned down and kissed her mouth, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to press her breasts against his chest, wanting to crush her body against his.

She barely registered that he'd lifted her in his arms and carried her into the house, slamming the door behind them. He stalked toward her bedroom, not pausing at his room, but she still wasn't certain what he was going to do. Leave her in her room alone so she could sleep? Join her in the bed?

He laid her on her bed and looked down at her with such longing that she was certain he wanted to stay with her as much as she wanted him to.

“Tell me I'm out of line and I'll leave without a whimper,” he said.

“I could never see you whimpering.”

“A growl, then.” He gave her the most devilishly sexy look.

“Stay with me,” she said, reaching for her zipper.

“Gladly.” His voice was filled with lustful need as he yanked his T-shirt over his head.

This was what she'd wanted as soon as he'd kissed her in Catherine's kitchen, black face paint and all.

Not a mating, she thought. But she wasn't wearing jeans and a shirt to bed. Naked probably wasn't a good idea either.

She unfastened her zipper, yanked down her jeans and tossed them aside, then climbed under the covers. She meant to pull off her shirt, but she hesitated.

He removed his boots, socks, and jeans. Wearing only his briefs, he climbed into bed with her.

She was going to take off her shirt, but he moved in next to her, ran his hand underneath the fabric, and cupped a lace-covered breast, making her feel sexy.

Especially when he pulled the lace down and exposed her breast, his hand rubbing against it and making her nipple grow erect. He suddenly stopped, and she nearly growled at him, but he lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it. And then he quickly unhooked her bra and pitched it over the side of the bed.

His mouth latched on to her nipple, and she was rethinking the mating scenario, whether he left her behind while he went on missions or not. Just his mouth closing around her nipple was enough to make her come off the bed, but then he used his wicked tongue on the sensitive flesh, and she groaned out loud.

“You shouldn't have run off,” he said, moving his seductive mouth to hers.

Before he could press his lips against hers, she said, “Ditto.”

He smiled against her mouth, and then he began kissing her possessively, yet waiting to ensure she wanted this as much as he did. She did. She cupped his head and held on for dear life, kissing him like this was the end of the world and they were meant to be together.

She wasn't sure what he had in mind to do, how far he wanted to take this, but she knew what she wanted. She slid her fingers underneath the waistband of his briefs and began stroking his ass.

His lips paused against hers with that wickedly hot grin, and then he was on his knees, pulling off her panties and tossing them aside.

She thought to say something about waiting to mate, or that she loved him, but she was afraid she was jumping the gun. Instead she soaked in the hot and sexy way he was making her feel as he licked at her nipple again, then lower, down her belly. His tongue curled into her navel, and she was about to come unglued. Until he took a deep breath of her aroused scent mingling with his and began to stroke her already swollen nub.

She was so keyed up with him touching her, so caught up in the feelings swamping her. She wanted all of him, not just a teasing simulation of where this could lead. The mating, the commitment for life, all of it, now.

Slow down, she told herself, but she was already yanking off his briefs so she could see the arousal that she had encouraged, loving the beautiful sight of him—all wolf in human form, strong, muscular, SEAL and wolf man combined. And what a devilishly hot combination that was.

He was hers, she decided. He'd never mate any other wolf. She wasn't letting him go.

“Lori,” he said, his voice husky, making her name sound as if it was the most beautiful word he could manage to get out. Then he was leaning down to kiss her mouth again and stroking her to completion. This time she let herself go, quit analyzing everything between them, and gave in to that happy conclusion that had her writhing at his practiced touch and crying out with release.

She wanted him to join her, to mate her in the worst way, her body thrumming with the most delicious climax. Yet, again she was torn, not wanting him to reject or put her off.

She sighed, wrapped her hand around his cock, and began to stroke him. He kissed her mouth, which was all he needed to do to let her know he wasn't willing to go any further. At least not yet.

Lori wasn't ready for a mating, Paul knew. Even if she smelled like she was, and her eyes and lips said she was.

Was he? He wasn't certain. For now, this was damned good. Even to get this close. This was near to heaven.

She appeared to enjoy stroking him and watching his expression as she worked him hard, pulling on his every sense, pushing him to the end, to completion, and making him spill his seed all over her.

She smiled at him. “Mmm.”

He smiled back and carried her into the bathroom to shower. Together.

* * *

Paul and Lori had cuddled the rest of the night in her bed after showering. He decided that if they didn't mate soon, he wasn't going to last. How would it sound for an alpha SEAL wolf to beg?

For now, he just loved being with her as her breath lightly caressed his chest. Then he began to wonder what they were supposed to do today. He didn't remember what was next on the agenda until he heard Allan drive up in the old Pinto—the one he left at the cabin until he returned from missions—and parked.

Both Lori and Paul groaned as he realized he had to leave the she-wolf behind and hurry while he grabbed his clothes and dressed. By the time he reached the front door to let Allan in, his SEAL buddy was grinning. “Looks like you had kind of a rough night.”

Paul should have run a comb through his hair. He heard Lori in the kitchen and was damn glad she was quick.

But then Allan's smirk turned to concern. “Not having nightmares still, are you?”

Hell no. Not with spooning Lori the rest of the night. He'd only had thoughts of her when he'd awakened. Hot, sexy, wanting-to-do-it-all-over-again thoughts.

“I'm fine,” he said, not wanting to discuss
why
he was fine.

Allan was studying him. They hadn't moved from the deck and Paul closed the door. “So how did your dates go?”

Allan smiled again. “Probably not half as great as being with Lori has been. I mean, working with her. You know.”

Yeah, Allan had guessed there was more going on than he was saying. Paul leaned over the deck and looked out across the water. He loved it here. He could see staying here with Lori. He could see… Well, he could see being mated to her. He realized he'd never thought there would be anyone else in her life, just like he'd never imagined anyone else in his.

“Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah, I am.” Paul didn't want to tell him that talking to Lori had made all the difference in the world to him, again.

“Okay. How about Lori? Emma? About Lee Greypaw?”

“They're fine. I talked to Emma and she's sad but relieved he's finally going to be put to rest with the others in the pack. We need to call her when we're ready to drive over there. She still has the pine casket she had made so long ago for him, stored in the storage shed. We'll go over after we get dressed, bury him, and say our good-byes to him.”

Lori poked her head out of the door and greeted Allan, though she still looked rather tumbled herself. So much for her being quick at getting ready in a hurry. Allan considered her thoughtfully, then smiled a little. “Morning. Heard you made some tasty, homemade huckleberry jam.”

They enjoyed breakfast and the company as Lori good-naturedly grilled Allan about his dates with the women the last two nights. Allan told about the fun he'd had, glancing at Paul from time to time. Paul knew he wanted to ask about how Lori and Paul were getting on. But he knew enough not to broach the subject as Paul eyed him with a warning look.

Allan smiled even more. “Food was delicious,” he said and finished the last bite of his egg.

“Thank you. We'll feed you again sometime, I promise.” She took their plates to the kitchen. “I'll clean up while you dive.”

Paul hoped she wouldn't be too upset when they brought her grandfather's bones up. It was one thing to rationalize it, another to see the evidence of his demise.

Everyone had been close to Lee Greypaw, had listened to him recalling the adventurous tales of his youth, including one of finding a wolf cub in a flooded den that the parents couldn't reach, rescuing it as a young boy, and then raising the cub. The rest of his tribe wouldn't permit the wolf to come into camp, so he had lived outside the camp. From then on, his kin had called Lee “Runs with Wolves.”

Every time Lee went on raiding parties against another Native American tribe to steal their horses, the wolf warned him when danger was near, saving his life twice when he was young. But wolves had to follow their natural inclinations, so the cub grew into a mature wolf and left Lee and found a mate. He still returned to visit Lee, but the female wouldn't approach. And then they had cubs of their own and left the area.

Lee had taught the children in the
lupus
garou
pack that they were brothers to the wolves and to treat them with respect. He'd been a storyteller at heart and Paul had loved to hear his tales. He missed Lee's stories and how he'd taught the children of the pack to fight and move stealthily through the woods as humans. He had been a wonderful mentor, patient and understanding.

Allan also was quiet when they walked down to the water, following Paul's lead, both of them carrying soft brushes, mesh diver bags, and their flashlights. They heard the roar of a motorboat headed in their direction, and Paul glowered at the driver who sped past, too close to shore for the rate of speed he was going. Paul couldn't make out who was in the boat, just three men with baseball caps on their heads, the two in the back looking away from the dock. The driver was focused on the front as the boat kicked up water and waves, and sent them crashing into the dock.

“If we weren't diving for bones, I'd call the sheriff's office and report them,” Allan said.

“You and me both.”

They got into the water and then made their descent. After swimming a short distance, Paul motioned to where the wolf's bones were. Allan nodded and swam over to their location, then began removing them from the sediment.

Paul swam over to where Lee's skeletal remains were and carefully, reverently began to collect his bones, knowing Lori's grandfather's spirit had long ago left them. Yet, Paul treated them with respect. When he had gathered all that he could find, he swam over to see if Allan was done. He motioned to the surface, indicating he'd also found all he could. Using up the maximum time they could safely spend on the dive, they headed for the surface, pausing every twenty feet for a couple of minutes to decompress properly. They were still ten feet from the surface when they heard the roar of a boat headed their way.