Stretching the Rules (8 page)

Jonah swore he heard Hank’s agreement, deep in his soul. He took Liv’s hand, wanting to calm her, focus on her. She shook, and her skin had that shocky paleness.

“Come shower with me, love.”

She nodded, following him silently. The bathroom did made her smile with its jewel tones, and she shook her head. “You really did this for me. My colors and everything.”

“I did. I wanted you here.” The feeling had torn him apart long enough. Jonah was willing to lose a lot to have her and Hank with him.

She nodded and began to strip, to bare herself to his eyes. Liv wore bruises as well, her skin marred with marks he hadn’t left there. Jonah growled, his wolf battering in his skull, trying to get out.

Her answering growl made his cock leap, jerk.

Jonah grabbed Liv and kissed her hard, needing to feel her mouth under his, to taste her deeply. He poured himself—all his need and fear, his desire and hope—into the kiss.

Liv clung to him, arms around his shoulders, her breasts pressed to his chest.

He drew her into the shower, turned the water on, and got the steam going. She needed to relax, to let go of what had happened. Jonah had her brand of body wash, too, and he lathered his hands before soaping her up, sliding his fingers over her skin in a gentle massage. He wanted her to feel something good, something right, to erase her fear.

“Jonah.” Her voice broke. “I almost lost him.”

“Never again.” He needed them more than he needed anything, and the pack would deal. “You’re with me, and I’ll keep you safe.”

“We’re together, and we’ll keep each other safe.” She said it fiercely, shaking him a little.

“Yes. Oh, love.” He pulled her up against him and simply held her while the water poured down on them.

She did wet better than anyone he’d ever known. Ever. Her black hair slicked back, all sleek, her pale skin all but glowing… God, she killed him. Magnificent.

She bit his bottom lip, teasing him, tugging at it. Her sharp teeth sent tingles all the way down his spine.

He grabbed the shampoo, began to wash Liv’s hair, and she leaned hard, face a study in bliss. Too many emotions swirled through Jonah, more than he could contain. He was a pack enforcer, but with the shower water streaming down his face, he could afford a few hot tears.

Chapter Four

Liv paced the balcony, back and forth, over and over. She was in the middle of pack land, in a wolf’s home, with her coyote lover.

Weird?

Not at all.

Christ.

Summer was in full swing, so she was in one of Jonah’s button downs, a pair of tiny shorts. In the early morning sun, it felt like the perfect temperature.

She’d put her show on hiatus, because it was a far stretch into Reno from Jonah’s place, and she was bored out of her skull. Two days Hank had been sleeping, and Jonah still had a job to do.

Fucking bored.

She’d explored every inch of Jonah’s house and hadn’t found a single secret, not a thing to get growly about. He was her lover, the same as he’d always been. Jonah liked bacon, collected custom knives, and enjoyed baseball more than football.

God, she adored him.

Down in the clearing a wolf appeared, huge and gray and not Jonah.

A low warning growl left her, and she backed toward the door, toward the bed where her Hank slept. The wolf glanced up at her, and his tail waved a few times, wagging in a friendly way.

She made a curious sound, stepped forward, sniffing. Not entirely unfamiliar. Maybe one of the wolves from the other night.

He barked once, then wagged again and settled on the front steps downstairs, facing out. Guarding them, she thought. Keeping people out, not keeping her in.

Interesting.

Hank’s hands wrapped around her waist, held her close. “Liv? Where are you?”

“Watching a wolf.” She chuckled. “We’re on pack lands, pup.”

“Oh, my God.” Hank growled low. “Inside. Inside, now.”

Oh, she didn’t think so. “I don’t take orders, pup. This is Jonah’s house.”

“But wolves—”

“It was coyote wolf hybrids who attacked us, pup. Jonah’s people examined the bodies.” She grinned a little. “What was left of them.”

Hank’s knees buckled, and she braced herself, held him up when his grip tightened on her.

“Shh.” She patted his hands. “They didn’t belong anywhere, so they made their own pack. Like feral dogs.”

“I don’t… am I okay?” His grip loosened, and Liv turned to face him, sliding her arms around him.

“You are amazing,” she said.

“I tried to protect you.”

“You did. You were perfect, except for the part where you didn’t listen to me. I’ll have to beat you for that,” she teased.

His cheek went hot against hers. “Promise? Maybe not today. But soon?”

“Promise.” She cupped his ass, squeezed him. “Jonah says he wants us to stay. Here. With him.”

“What about your show?”

“I don’t know. I can still choreograph and produce long distance.” She nibbled on his neck, unable to stop touching.

“You love performing.”

“I love you. I love Jonah.” She adored her life, her men. She would give up dancing if she could have them full time. Her boss would let her work from home. “Come see the house?”

She led him toward the amazing bathroom that was meant for her. The kitchen had been built with Hank in mind, but the bathroom was all hers.

“How long have I been out?” The bruises had mostly faded, Hank’s body recovering once he shifted.

“A few days. You’d been worked over.”

“Yeah.” Hank whistled. “Look at this. He really listened to you.”

“He did. Jonah really… He gives a shit.”

“He does. I mean, I always knew that, but— He brought us
home
.” Hank sounded so surprised.

“He told his alpha. The guys came to help us.”

“No shit?” Hank clearly didn’t remember that. “Where is he now? Jonah?”

“Working. I think that means he’s running around the woods peeing on things.”

Hank laughed out loud, a sharp but happy sound. “So, what does someone do out here? This is even more remote than our cabin.”

“You’ll be busy taking care of your demanding lovers.”

“Will I? Naked and serving?” Hank’s voice took on an eager note. Such a natural sub. She swatted him again, just because she could.

“You will, and you’ll love every second.”

“I will. I—” He lowered his gaze to the floor. “I’m a little afraid of the pack, Liv. What if they hate us?”

“Then fuck them.” She’d take Hank and Jonah and head somewhere else. After she kicked ass.

“Oh.” He chuckled. “You’re my brave lady.”

“Damn straight.” Although it killed her, how Hank had been the one to defend her, how she’d allowed it.

“Can we see the rest of the house?” he asked, always distracting her.

“If you’re up to it. I imagine you’re starving,” Liv murmured. Hank had a hollow leg, and could put away an amazing amount of food considering his lean form.

“God, yes.” They wandered into the kitchen, where Hank immediately began making happy noises. “Oh, look at this place.”

She found peanut butter, bread. That would do. Hank might cook something elaborate once they knew Jonah’s schedule…

A polite bark from outside the front door preceded a knock from the same direction, and she and Hank both jumped about a mile.

“Should we answer it?” Hank asked.

“Run upstairs and get dressed and come right back.” She went to the door, peeking out. “Hello?

“Hi!” A pretty blonde stood on the doorstep, her hand buried in the ruff of the wolf on the porch. “Uh, you’re Liv, right?”

“I am. You’re one of Jonah’s friends?” Liv didn’t want to jump to conclusions or growl. Yet.

“I’m Marnie. James here is my brother, and I’m mated with Boothe. The Alpha.” She said it off-handedly, not as if she was trying to impress. Liv knew family connections were super-important in wolf culture. “Jonah called this morning and asked me to bring groceries up since he’s on patrol today until sundown. I have a pot of stew and a bunch of stuff in my truck.”

“Oh.” She felt her cheeks heat. “It’s nice to meet you. That’s really nice, thank you.”

Marnie shrugged, offered her a smile. “We take care of our own. It’s our way.”

“I just didn’t think everyone would be all that accepting,” Liv said.

Hank appeared at her side, silent as a ghost.

Marnie looked at Hank, eyes widening for a second. “So you’re Hank?”

“I am.”

“I’ve never known one of your kind.”

“That’s a shame. I’m a nice guy.”

Marnie had the grace to flush. “Well, welcome. Are you up to helping me unload? James can borrow some of Jonah’s clothes if not. They’re of a size.”

“We can help. Let me grab some flip flops.” She didn’t have a bra on, but she was mostly decent.

“Cool.” Marnie headed back to her truck, and James, well, the big wolf went right to Hank and commenced to crotch sniffing.

Hank was wide-eyed, but allowed it, submitting.

“Be nice, he’s ours,” she warned.

James the wolf chuffed, a merry sound somehow, and she decided right then that she was going to like him. Liv headed out to help Marnie unload, relieved when she didn’t feel any other curious eyes on her.

She was stunned at Marnie’s generosity. There were bags of meat, of veg, of fruits and oatmeal and sweets. Maybe this was Marnie’s job, being nice to new folks, but it still warmed Liv’s heart.

“Jonah said you loved butter brickle,” Marnie told her. “And that Hank liked pistachio. I got everyone a pint. I know Jonah likes Rocky Road better than all the others.”

“He does. It’s more like an obsession than anything.”

Hank snorted. “If he didn’t run his ass off all day, he’d be big as a truck.”

Liv giggled, surprising herself with the sound. “Naughty naughty. I’ll have to tell on you.”

“I’d say it to his face, and you know it.” Hank winked at her, looking happier than she would expect, too.

Marnie chuckled softly, shook her head. “Lord have mercy, you two are a handful, I bet.”

“Us?” Hank chortled, and Liv laughed, both of them relaxing even more.

“Yes. Lord yes. You will have to come for dinner once everyone is whole and settled.”

“I’d like that,” Liv said. She even thought it was the truth.

“So would we. Jonah is dear to us.”

“I’m glad.” She definitely meant that. His pack meant the world to Jonah and no matter what he said, it would crush him to lose them.

“I am, too.” Hank’s words were soft, gentle, just like their lover. “He means the world to me.”

“Then we’re gonna get along great.” Marnie helped them put away the groceries and put the stew on the stove. “That’s supper solved for you. Oh!”

She tugged a piece of paper out of one of the bags and handed it to Liv. “My number is there, as well as James’s cell, and Boothe’s. Call the first if you need to chat, the second if you need a hand and the last only in an emergency, okay?”

The big wolf had positioned himself at the front door, obviously guarding. No one would come through the door without going through him.

Tears prickled at her eyes, and Liv blinked them away.

“It’s okay, honey. We all need a family who loves us.”

“It’s been a long time since we had anyone but us,” Hank said, coming to slide an arm around Liv. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome. Jonah is special.”

She nodded. She knew that. More than anyone but maybe her Hank, she knew that.

Marnie patted her on the shoulder, then jerked her chin at Hank. “Sorry about that, uh, stupid thing I said. If you need me, just call. I’m off to take some stew to Mrs. Simpson. Her gout is acting up.”

“Oh, tell her to put an ice pack on it. That’ll help.” Hank knew the weirdest things.

“I’ll do that.” Marnie gave them a warm and, Liv thought, genuine smile. “Don’t be strangers!”

Then she as off as quickly as she’d come, a whirlwind in cut offs and a flannel shirt.

“Okay, so…” Hank murmured. “Was that the weirdest thing ever or what?”

“I know! They were so nice.” She was expecting cold, growly. Terribly suspicious at the very least. Stand-offish.

“The sniffing thing was… odd.” Hank chuckled. “Maybe he was smelling Jonah on me.”

“Maybe he was smelling me on you.” She flicked one nipple.

Hank grunted, eyes going wide. “Maybe. It would have been way ruder to sniff you.”

“That wasn’t going to happen. It won’t happen again with you.”

“No?” Hank left the kitchen and peered out the front door. “He’s still out there.”

“Should we feed him?”

Hank shook his head. “Jonah wouldn’t want it.”

“Mmm. I guess so. I mean, not without him saying it was okay.” Territory was an odd thing. Liv wasn’t really jealous of her land since big cats had huge ranges. Her men, now? That she was crazy over. “I need to feed you, though. Peanut butter?”

“Please? God, yes. Please.”

“The stew can wait for supper.” Liv led the way back to the kitchen to make peanut butter sandwiches.

Looked like they were already getting used to the new normal.

****

Jonah grinned at James, who lay on his porch looking so sleepy he could barely keep his ears up. “Thanks, buddy. I know it was supposed to be your day off.”

James wagged.
They fed me. Good people.

James rose and stretched his furry wolf body, then reached over and grabbed Jonah’s hand with his teeth before trotting off toward home.

He smelled something earthy and beefy inside, stew maybe, Yum. Jonah headed inside, searching for Liv and Hank.

Hank was curled on the sofa, buried beneath blankets and Liv was doing yoga in front of the fireplace.

God. God, his family was home.

An enormous smile threatened to split his face in two. He ever so casually wandered into the front room and plopped down on the couch next to Hank’s feet. “Hey.”

Liv arched up into cobra pose, smiling at him, and Hank turned, head landing in his lap.

He stroked that golden hair, his long day falling away now that he was back with his lovers. “Smells like stew.”

“A lady brought it. She was sweet.” Hank was still mostly asleep, nuzzling his leg, humming for him.