Second Chance Mates (11 page)

With hot awareness flooding her face,
she even remembered whispering she loved him.

Strange thing was, now she thought
about it, she was sure she'd known it was Cade all along only her
unconscious and conscious minds hadn't gotten quite up to speed and
her body was so busy enjoying itself at his touch that all her
inhibitions had gone out the window. Whatever happened to
no
way
and
not sure
that got turned into
yes, yes,
yes
,
more
,
please!?

Even worse if she hadn't suddenly fully
woken and screamed, Cade would be inside her right now, filling
her, pleasuring her, as they moved and ground against each other
and brought each other to orgasm. Her nipples tightened to aching
peaks at the thought of making love to Cade. Her clit throbbed, a
reminder of how worked up Cade had gotten her and how she wouldn't
get the release she wanted, the release her body needed.
Demanded.

"We'll see about that," she muttered.
Dropping the sheet on the floor, she strode towards the shower and
turned the water on, sliding under the spray just as it turned
warm.

It seemed an impossibly long time that
she'd given into her body's desires. For so long it had been
painful enough to sleep, wake, eat, to stumble through daily life,
never mind give in to her baser urges. And now all she could think
about was the sweet pleasure a climax at a man's hands, Cade’s
hands, would give her.

Starting at her breasts, cupping one in
each hand, Clara allowed her palms to drift in circular strokes,
squeezing slightly as she brought her thumbs and forefingers over
her stiff nipples. They tightened harder under her touch. What
would it feel like to have Cade touch her like this if she took him
to her bed wide awake? Would he lick her nipples? Suck them? Would
he take one in his mouth as his cock sought her core?

Running a hand down, over her stomach,
she lifted one leg and positioned her foot against the tiles. She
found her clit easily, the hard, swollen nub begging for attention.
She stroked it gently, almost guiltily at first because she wanted
sex badly and it was just another reminder that she had to move
forwards

As the heat grew inside her, more
impatiently until she panted under the hot, steady stream. God, she
could feel her climax building, wanted it. Wanted to send herself
over the edge. Wanted Cade to burst in and take her, to feel his
hard body behind hers, to feel his hands bending her forwards until
her hands had to plant against the cool tiles as he entered her
roughly. A moan escaped her mouth and her sex twinged as her climax
built.

A bang at the door made her
start.

"In case you wondered," came Cade's
voice, interrupting her solace. "That was my head."

Clara laughed, clapping a hand over her
mouth, while the other paused over her cleft. He wasn't amusing. He
was annoying, an interloper, a sexy-as-hell lycan
shifter.

"Yeah? You think that's funny? Jeez,
woman, you're killing me out here. I've got a boner that won't go
away and I can smell your arousal. Open the door."

"Not a chance," she yelled, but she
couldn't keep the smile off her face, even if she did give the air
a surreptitious sniff. Was it that obvious that not only had he
turned her on but she was having to take care of business
herself?

"Oh, baby, the lack of blood is making
me light headed," Cade groaned.

"So, pass out!"

"Maybe I'll just get busy in your bed.
Me and my right hand."

Clara gaped at the tiles. Get busy in
her bed? Of all the downright outrageous things he could suggest!
Bad enough that she was having to attend to herself in the shower
but that he was going to stretch out on her bed, thick, hard cock
in hand... argh! She clamped her eyes shut.

Turning off the water, she grabbed a
towel, tucked it about herself, wet hair streaming down her back.
Wrenching open the bathroom door, she prepared to scream blue
murder at Cade for defiling her pristine bed set. Instead she got
an eyeful of him sat on the edge of the bed, not naked as she
expected, but wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt that stretched
across his chest, cocky grin in place.

"Knew that would get you out," he said,
laughter in his eyes. "Didn't have you pegged as a perv though. You
should have said you wanted to watch." He got to his feet,
adjusting his belt as he skipped out of her way, laughing as he
retreated from the bedroom. With one last glance over his shoulder,
he said, "Breakfast in ten minutes. Come as you are."

And with an infuriating wink, he was
gone.

Chapter Nine

Clara's hike finished with her
scrambling up the small hill that bordered the edge of her
property. At the top of the grassy mound she spun around taking in
the peaceful scenery. In a fit of silliness, in a homage to the
burst of freedom she felt here, she opened her arms wide and spun
until she was dizzy, finally collapsing in a heap. After lying
still long enough for the dizziness to dissipate, she rolled onto
her stomach, pushed herself up on her elbows and glanced
around.

The house was far in the distance and
looked empty, even though she knew Cade and Luke were around there
somewhere. They had wanted to come on the hike after a breakfast
where none of them said anything about the earlier events, but she
insisted that she wanted to be alone. What she didn't tell them was
she came out here to talk to Colton. They would probably think it
was silly, but she wanted to talk to him out loud, even if it would
be a one way conversation.

There was something about the open air,
the land that stretched for miles, the land they both loved that
made her feel more connected to him here than anywhere else. They'd
often walked out this way, taking a picnic and, on a couple of
memorable occasions, making love in the open air knowing there was
no one else around for miles to witness their bodies
joining.

"Colton?" she whispered, then a little
more loudly. "Colton, are you there?"

The breeze lifted her hair, tickling
the nape of her neck. Of course, he couldn't answer but he could
listen. Hell, she had some talking to do.

"Colton," she started again, not quite
certain what she wanted to say. Instead she picked at blades of
glass, plucking them and letting the wind catch them from her
fingers. "I miss you so much," she whispered to the air. "I love
you and that will never stop, but I'm so lonely and I don't want to
be. I don't want to be miserable my entire life just because I
don't have you. I gave up when I lost you. I was angry and hurt and
sad and...I still am, sweetheart, I think a part of me always will
be but...I think it's time for me to move forwards.

"Colton, I've been given a second
chance and...I think I want to take it. Cade loves me. I know he
does. I know he always has. Pushing him away hurt me more than I
think any of you knew...Maybe things will work this time. Maybe if
I'd accepted him before, if I tried to love him, things wouldn't
have been so hard when you were taken away. And he's offering me a
second chance."

The breeze rushed through the grass,
lifting leaves with it that caught in her hair. She picked the
little grassy pieces out as she spoke. "I'm attracted to him. My
wolf wants him. And I...I don't want him to go, okay? He's my mate
and I care for him. I feel the same way about him now that I used
to with you, right at the beginning when we started dating. The
butterflies, the nervous feeling in my blood when I'm waiting for
him, the anticipation. Having him around makes me happy. I'm
actually happy with him.

"There's Luke too," she continued,
feeling stronger, more certain as she spoke. "I like him a lot.
Tons, really. He's so patient and kind and there's feelings there,
feelings that are growing." She rolled over, lay back on the grass,
her fingers shredding a leaf that planted on her chest, right over
her heart. "Why am I telling you this? I guess because I don't want
you to think that I'll ever forget you, even if I fall in love
again. I will always love you, Colton. Always."

The breeze seemed to stop and lay a
cold kiss at her cheek. She froze, closing her eyes, remembering
the last time Colton kissed her goodbye, the love that shone in his
eyes as he told her he would see her soon.

She lay there for a long time, just
watching the fat white clouds in the blue sky roll past long after
the afternoon sun started to dip.

Cade and Luke were probably wondering
where she was. She hoped they weren't worrying, perhaps imagining
she'd fallen and hurt herself. Actually, they idea of them worrying
about her was heartwarming. Hadn't they come because Cade had
worried about her?

It seemed to take her forever to climb
to her feet, but she felt peaceful now. Talking to Colton, the thin
air, whatever, had made her feel better.

Skidding down the hill, she stumbled to
a halt at the roses flowering on the bushes near the base. Smiling,
she picked one red bloom, dispensed it of thorns and tucked it
behind her ear. As she walked back to the house she noticed how
many flowers bloomed; roses of all colors, wildflowers of many
varieties. As she plucked a bouquet to take home, she had the
strangest feeling that maybe Colton had been with her after
all.

***

"Guys," Clara called as she stepped off
the deck into the house. It was strangely quiet, though the doors
had been wide open. For a brief moment, she had a horrible flash of
panic that they'd given up and gone. They wouldn't leave her would
they? She couldn't bear it. Not now she'd found the strength to
offer something of herself to them. "Hello?"

"Hey." Luke stuck his head out of the
kitchen and she had to blink at the sight of his shirtless body. "I
was fixing some pipes. There was a leak," he explained, holding a
wrench up for her inspection.

"Thanks," she said. "I appreciate it.
Listen, I..."

"Hey, it's no problem. Did you enjoy
your walk?"

"Mmm, yes." She followed Luke into the
kitchen and rooted through the cabinets for a vase.

"This what you're looking for?" Luke
asked, reaching for a glass vase from a shelf she could never
reach. When she nodded, he ran water and took the flowers from her,
popping them in the vase before handing them back. "Not quite as
pretty as you, but almost," he said, his usual cockiness
gone.

"Thank you." Blood crept to her cheeks
and she had to turn away before she blushed. "Sorry I was so long.
Maybe next time, you could come too?"

"I'd like that. Cade says you guys used
to swim on the lake. Is that the way you went?"

She inclined her head towards the doors
and he followed. On the threshold she pointed into the distance.
"No, I went that way today. The land inclines upwards and there's a
pretty view across the neighboring properties. Not that you can see
their homes though. It's like you're completely alone. The lake,
well, it's more of a pond really, is over that way." Clara turned
to point west, realizing that the movement made her press her back
to Luke's front. When she didn't move, he snaked an arm around her
waist. Trembling slightly, she placed her own arm over his, her
hand curling under his elbow. "If it stays as warm as it has been,
we could go swimming. I haven't been in forever."

A light tap on the top of her head told
her Luke rested his head there. With her body pulled against his,
it was warm, more than companionable. Again, she felt that ache to
be wrapped around a man's body. She inhaled deeply, pulling his
scent deep into her lungs. With surprise, she realized he was doing
the same.
Scenting her.
The first part of the mating bond.
Yes, they were definitely checking to see if each other was
available, responsive. Her wolf gave a low whine at the feelings
that surged through her. Though she'd never met a tiger shifter
before him, their reputation was well known. Strong, loyal, almost
undefeatable, he had the traits that would make him a prime mate.
With his personality, she knew he would be warm and funny, a good
companion. She suspected he would be passionate too, could only
imagine his strength.

"What are you thinking about?" Luke's
voice was a warm burr. "Your scent..."

She frowned at his hesitation. Where
was his bawdy comment? "Yes?" she encouraged softly.

"You're aroused," he murmured. "I like
your scent when you're aroused."

She opened her mouth to comment but
then Luke stepped away. Frowning she turned around, then her ears
caught the sound. Footsteps. A moment later Cade appeared around
the side of the house. "There you are," he said, a smile spreading
across his lips as he leapt onto the deck.

"We were talking about going swimming,"
Luke said, almost unnecessarily, but if Cade thought anything odd,
he didn't say.

"About damn time. Man, this heat is
something else. But you know what I want more than a swim right
now?"

Probably
, thought Clara, a laugh
bubbling in her throat as Cade leaned in. "I want to go into town
and have an ice cold beer at The Mill."

"The Mill?" Luke asked as she stepped
around them both, putting a little distance between them before
Cade caught the scent of her arousal and asked Luke what was going
on. Not that anything was going on. Except…something had definitely
shifted between them.