New Beginnings (16 page)

She turned to him, her expression anguished.
“Shit, sorry. If I had known, if….”

“I know. I’m telling you now, so we can move
on.”

“Move on?” She threw up her hands. “I keep
trying to shut you out before you can hurt me, and you keep pushing
your way back in. Why aren’t you mad?”

He smiled a little, “This is new for both of
us. I guarantee that you are nothing like Clara was.”

She interrupted. “But is that good or
bad?”

“Good, because I need a woman to challenge
me, not one who will silently suffer until she snaps.” The truth of
that statement hit him and he swallowed hard.

“Slater,” she whispered and closed the
distance. She took his face in her hands. “You’re right. We need to
talk.” She rose up on her toes and placed one soft kiss to his lips
before taking a step back. “Let’s get dressed.” She plucked a pair
of jeans off a shelf and shimmied into them.

“You know?” He let his eyes caress her body.
“We could stay here and forget the clothes.”

“If we skip the clothes, we aren’t going to
make it to your house, and then we won’t talk.”

He stuck his lip out, “I can already tell
I’m going to have to get to the fact that you make one hell of a
point.”

“You do learn,” she licked her lips as her
eyes danced with wicked humor.

With a wink, he did as she wished and pulled
his clothes on. Challenge or not, she put him at ease. Slater knew
it would take time, but they would make it work.

“I didn’t really think about the wolves
being in the forest when we made love at the lake.” She frowned.
“Are they going to manage to keep a secret?”

He nodded and started dressing. Clint and
Mark already knew what was up but they knew better than to tell
anyone. “I wouldn’t worry about my enforcers. They are sworn to
secrecy.”

* * * *

Jess followed Slater to his place. He was
just opening the door when a thought struck her. She said, “I know
some werewolves can sense a bond, especially the older ones. Will
Liam know?”

He shook his head. “We have a handful of
people who may be able to sense it, but Liam isn’t one of them. The
few who feel a bond won’t be able to tell who, and are the type of
wolf to let things come out in their own time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. They have seen what happens when a
new wolf mates to someone other than their spouse and know it’s
better to let things come out in their own time.”

Jess winced. She’d seen similar twice, and
it was always ugly, but at least it didn’t happen often. “And do
you have any new wolves?”

“No, but don’t worry about that. They won’t
say anything, I guarantee it.”

“But Liam is still going to be a problem.”
She sighed and turned back to the trail.

“I could detain him. Maybe have one of the
witches cast a charm to weed through the fog in his head.” Slater
caught up to her. “Maybe Dakota could brew something.”

“No. I don’t think that’s going to work. I
saw it.”
Slater
’s tear streaked face as he looked down at
her. Blood splattered on his beard.

“We could try,” he said hopefully.

“Unfortunately, Slater, that’s not how it
tends to work. He’ll find a way to do it. Unless you can catch him
in the act or beforehand, He’ll find a way to slip through your
fingers. Trust me.” She had an idea to distract them both
though.

He opened the door for her but didn’t move
out of her way. She raised a brow and brushed past him before he
closed it.

“What do you want to do, Jess?”

She spun toward him with a wicked smirk.
“Let’s play a game.”

His voice went low as he looked back at her
with a tilted head. “A game? What kind of game.”

“I’ll ask a question, and if you answer
satisfactorily, I’ll reward you, and vice versa.”

“What kind of reward?” He stalked toward her
and she stepped back.

“Oh, nah-uh. You stay there, it’s my turn
first.”

“All right, we’ll play your way.” He seemed
to mean that because he took a step back and leaned against the
door.

“What’s your first name?” She was too
curious not to ask.

A twinkle lit his grey eyes. “How do you
know Slater isn’t?”

“Who the hell is named Slater?”

He chuckled. “Fair enough, but you will be
sworn to secrecy, and my reward better be good.”

Jess liked his playful side. “Oh, you’ll
enjoy the reward.”

One brow rose as the corner of his full
mouth tipped up. “Your oath you won’t tell a soul?”

“All right. Now don’t keep me waiting,” she
taunted.

He ducked his head and muttered, Clarence
Slater.”

She desperately bit back her laugh.

“Go ahead, I know its lame.” He didn’t look
up, just stared at the ground.

Finally, she swallowed back the humor and
closed the distance. “Nah, it could be worse.” She took hold of his
shirt and pulled it up until it got to his armpits.

He slowly met her gaze as he bent forward so
she could pull his shirt off before leaning back against the door.
She tiptoed up to brush a kiss across his lips, and then trailed
her fingertips down the flat planes of his abs. She loved the way
his muscles jumped at her touch. Unable to resist, she dropped her
head to lick his nipple, pulling a rumbling groan from him as his
head fell back. Then she bit down lightly.

“Jess, I’m hanging on by a thread, babe.”
The words were filled with desire and need, but she wasn’t ready to
give him everything. They had only just begun.

She stepped out of reach and licked her
lips. “Your turn.”

His head came up and there was fire in his
eyes. He slid down the door with heavy breaths as he stared back at
her. She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting.

“Is your goal to torture me?”

Kicking off her shoes, she shook her head
slowly. “No. It’s your turn though.”

“How far can I go? Trust me, love. I want to
know everything about you, but right now I
need
to know your
taste.” His eyes dropped to the junction of her thighs and he
licked his lips. “I want to savor.”

“Then ask a question.” His eyes narrowed, so
she gave him some incentive by opening her jeans and sliding them
down her legs. “We can do both, because I have a feeling I’m never
going to get enough of you.”

He stood up and walked toward her. “Tell me
what you want in a man.”

She froze, taking in his intensity. Her
first answer was Slater, but she swallowed that down to be more
specific. “A partner, one who will take my want’s and desires
seriously. A man who won’t put himself first every single time, but
will compromise and discuss instead of demand.”

“Done.” He swept her off her feet, and sat
her down in an overstuffed armchair. Then he pushed her thighs open
as he knelt between them. “Now, I’m going to savor,” he promised
just before he took a lick of her slick heat.

Jess eased back until his tongue curled
around her clit and his fingers dug into her thighs to hold her
open. Her back arched and his tongue pressed inside. She threaded
her fingers through his hair and held him there as he drove her
crazy with his mouth and tongue.

Before she knew it, everything erupted into
pleasure so intense she cried out and melted into a puddle on the
chair.

Everything around Slater was a blur, but she
watched as he sat back on his heels and licked her juices off his
lips. “Like honey,” he murmured. “I believe it’s your turn.”

She wasn’t sure if she would survive her own
game at the rate he played.

Slater woke up when Jess tried to slide out
of his embrace. He pulled her closer and she melted against him.
“Do you have to get up?” he whispered against her ear.

“I do,” she murmured. “I need to put some
finishing touches on things at the bar. I’m opening tomorrow.
Remember?”

He rolled on top of her, effectively pinning
her sweet little body to the bed. “I could be fast.”

She rolled her sassy blue eyes. “No, because
I already know you’re going to try to talk me out of opening
tomorrow night. It’s not going to work, so save your breath and
your thick-stick. Besides, I’m hungry and plan to make
breakfast.”

Using his best puppy dog eyes he pushed his
hard length against the heart of her heat. “I could skip
talking.”

Her thighs tightened and she pushed at him.
“Nice try wolf-boy. Now move. Off of me, in case I wasn’t
clear.”

With a sigh, he climbed off her and the bed.
She popped to her feet and narrowed her eyes as she slid past him
to the bathroom. “You’re staying out here. I have things to do and
I know you won’t let me get them done.”

“Can’t blame a man for trying to get inside
his woman,” he called.

“There’s time for that later.” She shut the
door and he heard the lock slide into place. As much as he wanted
to keep her in bed all day, he had to admire her work ethic and her
fire.

He knew for a fact she loved sex and was
insatiable.

She was wrong about one thing though.
Tempting as it may be to keep her from work, he already knew she
wouldn’t let him. Slater had never been big on fighting battles he
couldn’t win, and Jess wasn’t going to lose this round.

Shaking his head, he wandered down the hall
to the other bathroom for a quick shower.

* * * *

Jess loved Slater’s big kitchen, but then
she loved to cook, and she could come up with about a million
naughty things to do in a kitchen with Slater.

That would have to wait. Brody called to
find out if it was okay if he came by to talk to Slater. She had no
reason to say no, so she invited him to breakfast.

She still couldn’t believe that Slater let
her take her shower and get ready without so much as a complaint
for her plan. Granted, she hadn’t actually seen him arguing with
her, and now she just looked like an ass.

Oh well, she could make it up to him
later.

“Did I hear you right?” He asked from just
behind her.

“Hmm?” she asked innocently as she turned
around and batted her lashes at him.

“That Brody’s coming for breakfast.”

“Yes. Is that all right?” She smirked,
knowing the answer would be yes.

He nodded. “Sure. I’m only disappointed
because I have to wait to have you again.”

She started to apologize but he closed his
mouth over hers, backing her into the counter to kiss her long and
deep.

The doorbell rang and he took a step away
with a wicked little smile. “Don’t apologize. You have work to
do.”

Before she could respond, he left to answer
the door. She plated the food and set the table while Slater talked
with Brody in the living room.

It sounded like pack business so she did her
best to ignore it for the moment. At least until they got to her
living arrangements. Like she would stay anywhere except with
Slater, especially when his vampire ex-lover was in town and she
had yet to meet her. Jess trusted Slater, but not the vamp.

She marched up to him and crossed her arms
over her chest. “For the record, I’m staying here, unless you have
a damned good reason for me not to. By good, I mean,
irrefutable.”

Turning toward her, he smiled. “Don’t worry,
babe. I was only working out other arrangements in case
you
chose to do something other than stay with me. I’m not making
assumptions or demands if you haven’t figured that out yet.” Humor
danced in his grey eyes.

Brody’s brow lifted but he didn’t say
anything.

Jess nodded at Slater then waved at Brody.
“Hey. Breakfast is ready. Let’s eat so I can get back to work.”

She turned to go, Slater’s hands curved over
her shoulders to hold her back. Brody smiled a little as he went
into the kitchen. She turned to look up at Slater but he surprised
her with a gentle kiss.

“Jess,” he whispered, “I promise, we’ll work
everything out.”

“I know.” She rose up on her toes to kiss
him softly and went into the kitchen before she forgot that Brody
was just in the other room. Already, she regretted not letting
Slater have his way.

* * * *

Slater wanted to tell Brody to go home. She
was playing cool so he would too, even if it killed him. He bit
back his sigh and followed her into the kitchen where she had
everything set out. She took a seat and he sat next to her.

Brody asked, “Did you run with your pack in
San Francisco?”

She nodded. “I did. We had a few non-wolves
run with us.”

“Non-wolves?” Slater asked in confusion.

“Yeah. Sometimes casters can shift. Not
usually mages, but shaman and druids.” She shrugged like that
shouldn’t come as a shock. There were two shaman in Edenton, and he
knew they could shift into a single animal. He didn’t know any that
could take on a wolf form. He had one druid friend and they were
mostly out of touch. Gabriel didn’t really talk about his abilities
and Slater never pressed.

“How many druids do you know?” He couldn’t
help asking.

“Several. My best friend is, and then you
know Gabriel.” She glanced over at Brody and back at Slater. Had
she seen something? Now that was something he was curious
about.

Brody was staring off into space by then,
probably drowning in memories of his dead wife. He understood, but
it didn’t take Slater two years to move on. He had a feeling it
would take Brody even longer.

Jess winced and reached for her pocket. She
pulled her phone out and glared at it just in time for it to play
The Bitch Came Back by Theory of a Deadman. Slater shook his head
and tried not to laugh.

She growled into the phone “What?”

“Come back to San Francisco. It’s not the
same without you,” Gregory whined.

“What’s wrong Gregory? Your bar failing?”
she said with mock sympathy and a cruel twist to her lips.