Shifter’s Surrender (15 page)

“Maybe.”

“Maybe? You will because I own you.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “You don’t own me, Kaylie.”

She sniffed in disdain. “Real mates don’t keep secrets from each other.”

His eyes glittered dangerously at the taunt. “A real mate wouldn’t let you out to roam in public while in the mating heat. You’re attracting far too much attention.”

By then they’d reached the short line to the Ferris wheel. As if uncaring, Kaylie hummed and said, “I wondered if that was the reason for the sudden interest from the opposite sex.”

Knowing the males weren’t even attempting to hide their interest, Dean crossed his arms over his chest, clenching his hands into fists as he fought the need to snatch Kaylie up and bolt out of sight. His gaze drifted back to her just in time to see her tongue dart out from between her lips to touch upon and melt a small piece of the cotton candy that clung stubbornly to the paper it had been wrapped around. Instantly every irritation was forgotten has he imagined his cock in place of that twirled up paper. Buttons pressed painfully into his sudden erection and he grimaced.

“Dean?” Kaylie placed a hand on his bicep and tugged impatiently. “Come on.”

It was their turn to slide into one of the cars, together. In close proximity.

Suddenly, the thought of riding in a Ferris wheel with Kaylie took on a torturous angle.

They settled in and began to move backward and up. To take his mind of her presence, her scent and those delectable pink lips, Dean blurted out, “I’m sorry for being a jerk.”

Her small hands rested on the safety rail. At his comment she slowly began to stroke the metal rod. He fixated on the motion. “Which time?”

Dean winced, knowing it was a legitimate question. He let out a harsh breath. “All of it. I’m just … Hell, Kaylie.” He fisted his hands on his thighs. “I’m just messed up.”

Kaylie turned slightly, her eyes soft with emotion. “We’re all a bit messed up, Dean. And I have to say you were right about,” she waved a hand in the empty space between them, “what’s going on with us. It only adds to the confusion.”

A knot he hadn’t realized was coiled in his gut loosened. “So you’re not mad at me?”

One brow hiked up. “Mad? No. Never could hold a grudge. Frustrated? Yeah. I am. Half the time I don’t know if I want to strangle you or kiss you.”

As for Dean, he didn’t know if he wanted to kiss her, or, well, kiss her. He’d known how important her acceptance of him was. Otherwise, why would his past matter so much? But now, sitting in the private car, having Kaylie so close, was escalating his need. He wanted his hands on her, and his mouth. Instead he wrapped his own hands on the safety rail to keep him from snatching up what he desperately wanted.

As they’d been talking, the ride had progressed, one jerking motion at a time. Then they were at the top of the wheel, gazing out over the fair grounds, the treetops and everything as far as the eye could see. Dean sucked in air. Kaylie was right. It was gorgeous.

“So? Am I right?”

Dean shot her a sheepish grin. “Yeah, you are.”

Kaylie opened her mouth to respond when the ride suddenly took off. They flew down and around and then back up again. Dean’s stomach dropped each time they descended, the momentum whipping the tail of his hair into his eyes. Gradually they slowed, only to soar in the opposite direction.

Kaylie, the little witch, laughed as she rocked the cage, sounding so carefree that he felt an answering chuckle rumble in his chest. It broke free as the ride attendant reversed directions once again.

When they at last came to a stop he turned his laughing eyes to Kaylie. “Wow.”

She giggled with a childlike pleasure that warmed his heart. “Told you.”

“So are we done?”

“It’ll take some time to unload and reload so we have a few more minutes.”

As they were currently five cars from the top, Dean guesstimated they had more than a few minutes to wait.

“So,” Kaylie sidled closer, her thigh brushing his. “What do you want to do while we wait?”

Dean choked as her hand covered the bulge in his jean. “What are you doing?”

“Passing time in a constructive manner.” Her hand squeezed gently.

He sucked in a lungful of air, eyes darting around frantically. “Christ, Kaylie. It’s broad daylight.”

The ride jerked up one car.

“Geez, Dean. I didn’t take you for a prude, especially after yesterday.” One handed, she popped open the top button. “Besides, the car tilts back and we’re high enough up, no one can see.”

Greedy lust swept over him, making him want to nip and lick. He closed his eyes briefly before covering her exploring hand with his. “There’s not enough time for that.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She leaned in so that her mouth was a bare inch from his. “After all, you’re already halfway there.”

He snarled. “So are you.”

Undaunted, she grinned. “But you’re easier to get off.”

Male pride demanded he refute that statement. But if he did, she might take her hand away. Two more buttons popped. Dean gritted his teeth. And there was no denying the fact he was already pretty damn close to losing his wad at this very moment. However, that wasn’t the point. The point was … hell. He didn’t know what the point was when she ripped open the final two buttons of his fly and wrapped her hand around his hard length.

The ride jerked up another car.

Dean cursed once and then, with a weak-willed groan, snatched her head with his left hand. “Lusty witch,” he rasped just before he slanted his lips over hers.

She tasted like cotton candy, the sugary sweetness mixing with Kaylie’s unique flavor. Their tongues plunged and tangled. Eager to feel the softness of her pussy, he slid his right hand down and opened her jeans.

Kaylie broke off the kiss. “What are you doing?”

Despite the hunger gnawing at him, he grinned. “Tit for tat, Kaylie darling.”

“But …”

But Dean’s mouth was back on hers and his hand tunneled under her panties to lay claim to the tiny bud at the top of her cleft. Her hand tightened on his cock as he spread her open with two fingers and used his middle finger to rub over her clit.

Kaylie jerked under his hand, her own palm stroking his rigid length faster. Their motions threw the metal car to rocking, which in turn increased the sensations. He bit back a groan. “Open your thighs for me,” he demanded. “I want to feel just how wet you are.”

This time it was Kaylie who sucked in air. But she did as requested, and then tilted back in her seat to give him more room to maneuver. “Dean, please.”

When he felt just how wet her folds were, his cock swelled to be inside. Instead he slid one long finger through her wetness to tease the tight ring of her entrance. Kaylie moaned and rolled her hips up in abandon.

And the ride moved up one more car.

The rising orgasm pulsed painfully in his shaft as he struggled to hold it back. He groaned and bucked his hips, shoving his cock through the circle of her soft hands. Somehow he managed to plunge a second finger into her tight sheath, shuddering at how hot and soft she felt against his skin. He curled the tips, stroking the ridged quarter-sized patch of delicate tissue that made her twitch in abandon. He shifted his free hand down over her belly, placing those fingertips at her clit while he worked her pussy with his other hand. Pressing firmly, he rubbed the engorged bud so fast that his fingers blurred. The rapid caress was akin to a vibrator, causing Kaylie to pant and squirm.

And the ride moved up one more car.

“That’s it. Squeeze my fingers. God you’re going to make me explode, Kaylie.” She whimpered and sucked on his tongue, her hands still busy twisting his cock in long strokes. Suddenly she let out a cry, muffled by his mouth. Dean felt her inner muscles tighten around his fingers and he let loose his control. The muscles in his neck stood out as he forced himself not to bellow as he came. His eyes went blind with pleasure and his seed spilled out, over and over with each heavy pump of his cock.

And the ride moved up one more car.

Both of them were panting heavily as they peered out once again over Woodcliff.

Reluctantly, Dean removed his hands from between Kaylie thighs and, enjoying the sleepy sated look of her eyes, slid his glistening fingers between his lips. He moaned, loving the taste of her on his tongue. “Better than any pie.”

She licked her lips as she watched him suckle her juices, her eyes heating with renewed hunger. Dean let out another groan as his easing cock began to swell once more. “Fuck, Kaylie. You’re going to be the death of me.” He tucked himself carefully back in his jeans and then shoved her to the other side of the car as they began their descent.

Kaylie eyed the porta-johns with such evident disdain that Dean nearly laughed. “Problem?”

Unabashed Kaylie responded. “Yeah. I need to use the restroom but I hate those things and the shops and restaurants that are open usually have a waiting line.”

Dean’s lips quirked. “Stick with me kid. I can get you what you need.”

A sudden gleam of awareness lit her eyes, making him want to take back the unintended double entendre. “Which you have already proven. What else did you have in mind?” The husky timbre of her voice did strange things to his libido. What popped in his mind was the idea of hightailing Kaylie out of the sunshine and into a cozy, private corner where he could strip her naked and devour every inch of her soft skin.

He couldn’t control the low rumble that started in his chest. Shaking his head to rid himself of the erotic image, he steered them toward one particular squat building. “I meant that I can get you inside town hall.”

“Really? How?” But before Dean could respond she laughed at herself. “Oh. That was dumb of me. You’re the mayor. Of course you have keys.”

Dean tossed her a grin as he glanced at their surroundings. When he surmised a lack of interest from those milling about, he clasped Kaylie’s hand in his own and quickly ducked between two red brick buildings. At the side entrance he dug out his keys and unlocked the door. Handing Kaylie the ring he said, “Lock it behind you once you’re inside and then again after you leave. We don’t want any tourists traipsing through.”

Kaylie wrapped her fingers around the appropriate key. “You’re not coming with me?”

A sharp wave of lust caught him in its greedy claws, and he knew his own eyes reflected the heat in hers. Their intimate interlude on the Ferris wheel might never have been considering how starved he felt for her at that moment. Baser needs warred with his conscience. He wanted nothing better than to toss Kaylie onto the closest flat surface and rekindle what they’d started. He didn’t even need a flat surface. A wall would do. Hell. He was a shifter. He didn’t even need that. He could easily hold her slight weight in his arms as he thrust his aching cock into her welcoming pussy.

Clenching his jaw, Dean took an unsteady step back. He had to leave. Not just to prove to Kaylie he wasn’t some uncivilized beast, but he also had some pack business to take care of. His nostrils flared. Though the scent of her arousal was making him think twice.

Kaylie cocked her head and looked at him with a frown. “Dean?”

He growled. “There’s nothing I would like more.”

When he remained still she raised a brow. “But …”

He barely managed to change the embarrassing whimper of need that escaped into a groan of frustration. “But I saw Henry Harkins out front and I need to check on him.”

Kaylie’s expression ebbed into one of understanding. “Really? Henry’s here. How odd. Of course you must go to him.” Surprising Dean, she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss, her hand lingering on his chest. “You’re a good Alpha, Dean Kinigos.” Then she slipped inside the building.

When Dean heard the bolt slid home he left the area, bemused by both the sweet kiss and the easy acceptance. It all felt so right, familiar even. And Dean found himself liking it, a lot.

His booted feet chewed up the distance to the front of the building. While a true mate would have gone inside for protection, whether necessary or not, as Alpha, Dean didn’t have that kind of luxury. His needs were secondary to those of his pack members. If he ever did mate, he would need a strong and understanding female. Someone like Kaylie.

Hhmmm. You think?
His wolf growled sarcastically in his head.

Dean couldn’t deny it. That was only another reason to claim her, and the pros were definitely outweighing the cons. Hell, there were no cons. It was only his fear that kept him from taking the final step. Fuck. He really was a coward.

Spying Old Henry sitting alone on one of the wooden benches in the grassy park situated across the street from city hall, Dean quickened his steps. He made his way through the throng of humans and shifters with agile grace, pondering what might have brought the curmudgeonly old shifter out into the crowded fair. Hiding his impatience, Dean responded to some of his pack’s exuberant greetings, and then took precious minutes to chastise a group of mischievous juvenile shifters he overheard contemplating teepeeing the school later that night.

Refraining from knocking their smaller heads together, Dean sent them on their way with a disapproving glare. At some other time he might have been amused, but right now he wanted to get any and all Alpha business taken care of so he could get back to Kaylie.

Finally reaching his destination, Dean settled next to the older shifter, stretching out his long legs and crossing his ankles.

“It’s good to see you Henry, but I have to say I’m a bit surprised. You normally shun these types of events.”

Henry shrugged his thin shoulders, his shaggy brows drawn together in a tight frown. “Too noisy, too many scents, too human. But I knew you would be here.”

Dean felt his lips twitch at the grumpy response. He’d learned fairly quickly upon arriving at Woodcliff that while Henry Harkins acted like a cranky old man, the ancient shifter knew more about what was happening in the town than anyone else. Dean also learned that Henry had some great advice, when he chose to share it. While Henry could have easily called Dean on the phone, Dean knew he preferred to make physical contact, suggesting that he either disliked technology or secretly enjoyed the results of his physical interactions with others. Dean leaned toward the latter.

“And lucky for me, here I am.” Dean responded without sarcasm to Henry’s comment. “Anything you need to tell me?”

“Death is upon us.”

While most humans, and shifters alike, would have rolled their eyes at Henry’s cryptic comment, Dean’s gaze remained fixed on the ease-way between the town hall and the library where Kaylie would appear.

Dean always wondered if shifters were created by God in love, or as a punishment for some evil deed executed by their ancestors. Because God knew that carrying the beast was both a blessing and a curse. As difficult as it was to walk that thin line between man and wolf, Dean had known a handful of shifters that grappled with even greater supernatural powers, one of visions. Henry was one such shifter. Which probably accounted for his grumpiness. Nothing like being treated as twisted in the head year after year to turn your mood sour.

Actually, Dean knew of another shifter that had visions, dreams actually. Tess Gentry. Caleb had told Dean about a dream she had back when the Frank Kolter and Matt West situation was going on. It could have simply been her subconscious working things out in her sleep. Or it might not. Either way, as a mythical being himself—because werewolves and vampires weren’t supposed to be real—how could Dean ignore the possibility of foresight? If he did, that would make him a hypocrite.

Because he knew better, Dean listened, and pondered and scanned the area, his eyes zeroing in on the passing people. Some laughing, some eating, some eagerly heading toward the rides or simply standing in twos and threes chatting happily. Finally he asked, “Can you be more specific?”

“It is aimed to hurt you.” Henry murmured, his tone gruff with weariness.

The response had Dean swinging his head around to stare at Henry in surprise. That sounded as if someone Dean cared about was going to be killed.

His claws extended, fangs burst from his gums as fury replaced the ball of fear. He’d rip anyone who dared touch what was his to shreds. “Kaylie.” It wasn’t a question.

At the mention of her name, a twinkle suddenly sparked in the old shifter’s clear brown eyes. “Little Kaylie Gentry,” he mused on a strangely approving tone. “She’s grown into a beautiful woman. Intelligent, strong. Full of vim and vigor. That one will make a good Lupa.”

Dean’s head flew back as if struck. “What?”

Henry finally turned to peer into Dean’s face. “You don’t know she is your mate?” he asked quizzically.

Dean shook his head but didn’t respond because really, what could he say? That he wasn’t going to claim her? That was sacrilegious to shifter thinking.

As if reading Dean’s thoughts, a very scary possibility, Henry stated with grudging honesty, “Despite her humanity she is a keeper. If you decide to renounce her than you are a fool.”

Uncomfortable, Dean leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “It’s complicated.” An explanation that was beyond worn out.

“Only if you make it.”

“You don’t understand.”

A sigh reached his ears, and Dean peered back to see Henry staring at him with a combination of disappointment and exasperation. And because it made him want to fidget in his seat, he forced himself to hold still under the older shifter’s gaze.

“And how might you have turned out had your blooded pack lived?”

That was so far from what Dean expected that he could only gape for a moment. “You knew my family?”

Henry’s eyes took on a hard glint. “The Kinigos line is extremely strong and fierce, but unnecessarily violent. The males were known to dominate to the point of brutality, subjugating their pack to their every sadistic whim. Even beating their women into submission, which is a sacrilege.”

Dean looked sharply away as flashes of remembrance tore through his mind through a filter of the frightened eyes of a child. “It’s not like I had it any different after my family was killed. I was turned into a slave.”

“Bah. You learned to hold your temper and gained the power of tact. Women became more than just instruments of use, and took on positions of power. Respect begat respect. Had your family won the battle, you would have been taught the ways of your pack and become a cruel taskmaster, doing unspeakable acts to your race just because you could. Instead, and due to your forced and unforced experiences, you turned into a strong, diplomatic man. A shifter that I am proud to call Alpha.”

Dean stared at the ground, moved, and at a total loss for words. He didn’t want to be like the horrible monster he remembered his father being. He didn’t want to force anyone to submit to him based on a mere whim. That’s not who he wanted to be.

Once able to speak, Dean tried to define his unprecedented decision to not claim Kaylie. “My bloodline or my period in … servitude are not the only things against me. I’ve made mistakes, Henry. My past.” He stopped and shook his head recalling Caleb’s declaration of one’s past. On the heels of that though followed Kaylie’s comment that everyone was messed up a bit. And now Henry? Either this was all a coincidence, or someone was trying to knock him over his stubborn head.

The sound out of Henry’s mouth could have been a growl or a snort of contempt. “We’ve all made mistakes, Dean. Things we’ve done that we regret. We are, after all, only flesh and blood. The thing is to learn from those mistakes, and to not regress or make more. If you think those regrets haunt you now, think how much worse your ghosts will be if you give up that which is most precious to you.”

Dean already knew giving up Kaylie would probably kill him, and he’d been waffling ever since he’d told Kaylie he would never take a mate, never keep her. One minute he was going to claim her, the next he didn’t want to chain her. He was sick to death of his own inconsistency.

“Kaylie, keeper of the keys.”

The odd comment caught Dean off guard. “Excuse me?”

“Kaylie means ‘keeper of the keys’. She is the key.”

Thinking of Henry’s earlier words and whimsical prophecies, Dean laughed without any merriment. “You’re not going to tell me she’s the key to my past.”

“Not your past, son, your future. If you don’t keep the keeper of the keys, your future, and possibly the future of the shifter race, could stay locked, stifled. Hidden away.”

Dean flinched. Thinking the old shifter really was crazy he scrubbed his hands over his face. But if he was right, which happened nearly every time they spoke, then Dean’s decision didn’t just affect his life, but possibly affected thousands.

He wanted Kaylie, there was no doubt about that. Wanted her in his life, in his future. But he thought that selfish. Now here was Henry, a grumpy old man who was rarely seen in public, stating with certain knowledge that Kaylie was not only the one to unlock Dean’s future but potentially the key to the whole shifter race. How was he to fight that kind of undeniable surety?

Suddenly, a slow smile crept up his face still hidden under his hands.

And why should he fight it?

It wasn’t just too incredible for words, it was perfect. He could claim Kaylie like he wanted, and not just because he would give his right paw for her, hell, his very life for her, but because his race needed her. Self-serving, perhaps, but the end justified the means. As Alpha his needs where secondary to those of his pack. If he had to keep Kaylie because of it, well, who was he to go against the grain?

The kernel of hope that began to bloom in his chest was mowed down when Henry suddenly blurted out in a stage whisper, “Tend to your woman. She comes in fear.”

Straightening, Dean watched as Kaylie approached, the fear Henry spoke of clear on her face. He reacted without thinking, meeting her at the edge of the grassy park and wrapping his arms around her in a protective hold. “What is it?”

Kaylie’s eyes were wide. “I saw Kyle Kolter.”

Dean’s fingers flexed as he went on high alert. “Where?” He growled out as he scanned their surroundings.

“Back behind Town Hall. In the woods.” Kaylie breathed in, her voice unsteady as she continued. “I was looking out the bathroom window and I saw him, staring between the buildings as if fixated on prey. Then he suddenly took off into the woods. Dean. He had blood all over him.”

“Shit.” Dean glared at the sunny walkway between the buildings Kaylie mentioned. “You stay right here. I need to go after him.”

“Forget it. He’s long gone.”

“I need to try. He’s a danger to everyone in this town, human and shifter alike.”

“Dammit. Don’t you think I know that?” She pleaded. “But you can’t just take off by yourself like a bat out of hell and—”