Protect and Fur [3xtasy Lake 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (5 page)

Brenna watched as a couple of tourists gave the trio an odd look. The man looked away, but his wife stared at the Solfalvis, her lip curled in disgust as they went by. Mai was completely oblivious, but Brenna could tell that both Gaspar and Vencel noticed. They placed their bodies in the way, blocking the nasty look so Mai wouldn’t see, while glaring at the tourist themselves.

The woman must’ve realized she was being rude and looked away, but not before she nudged the man beside her and whispered furiously
. Nasty bitch.
Brenna was tempted to walk over there and give the woman a piece of her mind. She was judging the Solfalvis when she didn’t have a right to.
Like the way I’m judging the situation with Craig and Aiden without all the facts?
That thought diffused her anger quickly enough. There had to be a reason why Aiden wanted to keep her safe, other than because she was his Mate. But then, did Aiden know that she would be Craig’s Mate as well? If so, why did Craig wait so long to get close to her? He’d lived in the area for the better part of a year and had never done a thing. She didn’t have that kind of self-control. She’d jumped Aiden within moments of meeting him. Had her actions with Craig been any better? She could blame her inner wolf all she wanted, but it was her ego that was taking a bruising here.

Her looks were one of her positive attributes, and the plethora of attention she garnered tended to reassure her of that. She liked sex—
who didn’t?—
and perhaps she might’ve been a little quick on the draw for the most part, but why not? She didn’t have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. It felt good and was fun. Only sex with Aiden had rocked her to her very soul.

Closing her eyes, she allowed her thoughts to drift back to that day ten months before.
Her high maintenance sister had married the most patient man in the universe, as far as Brenna was concerned. If Ava bitched and whined, her husband would smile and run his fingers down her arm. Ava would shut up immediately and smile at her husband, and then all was right again.

Brenna knew it was natural to be worried about labour, but Ava’d been so dramatic about the upcoming event it was grating on Brenna’s nerves. One mild evening after Ava had gone to bed, Brenna had decided to get out for a while. Bill’d warned her not to wander too far from the house, but she’d figured it was because he worried about Ava going into labour.

She’d walked for over an hour when she saw a group of men hanging around outside a pool hall. She’d crossed the street and the group had watched her as if they were hawks and not wolves. The back of her neck had bristled, and her intuition had screamed for her to be careful. She’d felt the fur tickling the inside of her skin, wanting to burst out. If she’d stayed human, they’d be able to overtake her. Shifting was the only answer, and she’d been moments away from going furry when he’d stepped out of the pool hall.

He’d spoken to the other men and followed the way they’d pointed. At her. She’d stumbled the moment his eyes had met hers. She hadn’t been able to hear what he’d said, but even from a distance she’d felt the intensity of his gaze. He’d lifted his head and sniffed the air around him before snapping his gaze back to her. She’d imagined she’d felt the growl he emitted before he had started running for her. She’d taken off as fast as she could, running for what, she hadn’t known. Her wolf’d howled in her thoughts, but it wasn’t out of fear. She’d darted a look over her shoulder and saw nothing but empty street. A flash of disappointed that he was gone had filled her.

If they were trying to spook her, it’d worked. Deciding to go back to her sister’s, she’d looked forward only to being trapped in his gaze again. He stood a mere inch away from her. Wrapping his arms her waist, he’d hoisted her off the ground.

“Well, aren’t I the luckiest wolf alive?” He’d buried his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. His scent had pounded against her senses like a heartbeat. Her Mate! She’d found her Mate. He’d lifted his head and pressed his lips against hers in a drugging kiss that made her wolf want to expose her belly.

“I’m Aiden and you’re mine.”

“Brenna!” A high-pitched yell snapped her out of her memories. It was her only warning before a young girl pounced on her. The breath whooshed out of Brenna when her back hit the ground behind where she’d been sitting. “I got you and you didn’t know!”

“Lulu!” Brenna tickled her sister, sending the little imp into spasms of giggles. She’d been so lost in her own thoughts she hadn’t noticed her own sister sneaking up on her. Lula wriggled, and Brenna rolled them away from the uneaten food on the ground next to her. “What are you doing here, munchkin?”

“Daddy wanted a burger and Mom and Mommy said they needed a nap. So he brought me and Willow for a milkshake.”

“Where are they?” Brenna looked up but didn’t see her dad or baby sister. What she did see was Craig Walker walking toward them. He walked like a predator, loose limbed and graceful, but she could see the dangerous power rippling beneath his skin. Lulu chattered on about her favorite kinds of ice cream as Brenna fought to keep herself under control.

“Everything all right, ladies?”

“Hi, Officer Walker! I snuck up on Brenna and she didn’t even know.”

Craig squatted next to them and smirked at Brenna. She didn’t like lying there on her back in front of him, and she could tell by the tilt of his grin that knew it.

“Come on, kiddo. Let’s find Daddy.”

“Woo-hoo, milkshakes!” Lulu leapt to her feet and ran off toward the ice-cream hut. “Come on, Bren. Hurry.”

Brenna pushed herself up but hadn’t made it far when Craig blocked her way. Placing a hand on the ground, on either side of her waist, he leaned over her. The playful smile had melted, and hunger burned in his gaze, relighting the fire that had smoldered inside of her since the other day.

“You and I have some unfinished business.”

What else should she expect? He’d given her an incredible orgasm, but she’d known there was something wrong afterward. The tension had hung in the air between them and Craig had kept his wolf from her.
How else should I take that?
It’d felt like he hadn’t wanted to get that close to her after all, or hadn’t trusted her enough. That thought left her with a bitter taste in her mouth and a flash to her temper.

“Now, what could you be thinking about, Miss Roberts? I bet it’s nothing near what I have going on in my brain.”

“If I remember correctly, males think about sex every twenty seconds.”

“Not even close.” He leaned closer, invading her. “The moment your scent crosses my senses, I’m thinking about way more than simple sex. While I like the sight of you on your back, I was thinking we need to talk about something else.”

“Why do you think we need to talk?”

“Because you’re not a stupid woman. You and I both know that yesterday—”

“Was a mistake. It won’t be repeated.” She pushed up with the intention of making him move, but he stayed where he was. Her lips were a breath away from his, and she could feel the energy between them vibrating.

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

They both stayed where they were, in a standoff. She wanted to force him to look away first, but she should’ve remembered that Alphas like him loved the challenge of dominance. He let everything he felt for her bleed into his gaze, and she looked away. Her body vibrated with the need to tilt her head back and bare her neck to him, but she refused to give in to it.

“Promise me you’ll fight it as long as you can, Brenna. I love the anticipation of having you under me again.”

“Never.”

Craig stood up and offered his hand to her. For a moment Brenna considered ignoring the offer, but the amusement she saw on his face stopped her. He knew what she was thinking of doing. She clenched her teeth and slipped her hand into his outstretched one. He lifted her to her feet with ease and pulled her up against him. Off-balance, she fell the few inches against him and he caught her close to him. His arms wrapped around her, but he didn’t move to do more and she didn’t encourage it. He slid his hands along her spine and then over her hips.

She could feel his shoulder muscles bunching under her hands, and her inner wolf rolled over and exposed her belly.
Slutty puppy.

Brenna looked up. She wasn’t a short woman, but Craig was much taller than her. She could tuck herself under his chin if she wanted. He didn’t look like one of those pretty boys that strutted through town every summer or hung out on patios. Craig Walker had the look of someone who’d protect the woman he cared about. His rugged exterior made victims feel safe and thankful that he was there for them, but he easily intimidated the criminals he arrested. But then she’d thought Aiden had a similar look and look what happened there.

Thinking about Aiden caused a familiar pain to rip through her heart. She forced the emotion back with a rough shove, allowing the anger to come forward and smother the agony.

“And there it is again.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Craig tilted his head slightly as he spoke. “Whatever you’re thinking about makes you so angry I can almost feel it vibrating off your skin.” He shook his head and stepped back away from her. The blessed space between them made it easier for her to think, but she longed to beg him to pull her close and drive the anger away. “Your sister’s calling you.”

“What?” Brenna looked around. “I didn’t hear her.”

“Breeeeeeennnnnnnaaaaaa!”

How did I miss hearing that?

“Damn, that girl has a set of lungs on her.” Craig chuckled, and Brenna felt the bass note of his voice in her chest.

Oh, yeah, that’s why.

“We’re going to see each other sooner than later,” he stated as if it was a done deal.

“I think we should simply stay away from each other.” Brenna took a step past him, but Craig snagged her upper arm. He wrapped his fingers around her bicep and held on lightly.

“I can’t do that.” He let go and strode off toward the bus. Brenna looked toward where her sister’d run, and her gaze collided with her father’s. Her dad looked past her and watched Craig with a shuttered gaze.
Great, that’s what I need right now.

“There isn’t anything to know, Dad. No point in asking those questions I see in your expression.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Brenna.” He gave her a big smile and kissed her on the cheek. “Can’t a father keep an eye on a man who obviously wants to spend time with my daughter?”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Except, she could still feel exactly where Craig’s hand had wrapped around her arm with such a gentle grip. She already knew the rough man could be gentle when the situation called for it. When Jessica was in trouble, he had done everything he could to protect her and not frighten her at the same time. River thought he walked on water and often referred to him as the hottie cop.

“Do me a favor and let’s keep this between you and me for now, please. Don’t say anything to the moms yet.” Her moms would have a thousand questions, and if they ever found out what had happened ten months before, they’d hunt Aiden down and tear him to shreds.

Willow fussed and waved her chubby little hands. “Here, let me take her for a bit.” Brenna scooped her sister out of her father’s grasp. Lulu saw her dad’s arms free and ran over with hers wide open. Gordon leaned over and scooped Lulu up into his arms. She giggled and wrapped her arms around his throat. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too, princess.”

Brenna grinned, remembering when she used to do the same thing, only he’d called her “pumpkin.” He still did at times. Willow cooed in her arms and she kissed the baby on the nose.

“Look, Daddy, Brennie found her smile again.”

“I didn’t lose it, honey.” She tweaked her sister gently on the nose.

“Yes, you did, when you left for a while.” Lulu waved at someone walking behind Brenna.

“She’s right, you know.” Gordon arched an eyebrow, daring her to dispute him. She didn’t want to get into this argument in front of her sisters, so she dropped it for the moment.

“I think that Officer Walker found it for you,” Lulu continued to chatter away. “Is that why he wouldn’t let you get up right away? Did he try to kiss you to give it back?”

Oh, no.
She was going to get a phone call from one of her mothers now. There was no way Lulu would keep quiet on this one at home.

Her father wrapped an arm around Brenna’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Let’s go get some ice cream for my favorite girls.”

He paused as he opened the door to the ice-cream shop and looked over Brenna’s head. She followed his gaze and saw Craig leaning back against a picnic table with his arms crossed over his chest and his legs crossed at the ankle. Craig didn’t stop looking even though he’d been caught, and Brenna worried that her dad might get it into his head to go talk to him.

“You sure there isn’t something you want to tell me about, Bren?”

“Not right now, Dad.”

Gordon nodded and waved her into the air-conditioned ice-cream shop. Brenna couldn’t help but steal glances out the window at Craig. He must’ve been waiting for a burger, because she watched him accept a wrapped package from the window in the bus. Then he wandered off toward the road.