Austin’s eyes skidded over to mine.
“I’m fine,” I said. “If they have a place to sit, then I’m good.”
Reno’s badass motorcycle roared up the driveway, the engine throttling, but I couldn’t see around the cars. The blue truck belonged to everyone, but the gunmetal-grey Chevy Camaro belonged to Wheeler. It was a classic beauty and he’d spent many mornings washing mud off the tires.
A thrill moved through me every time Reno drove up on his Triumph. We hadn’t been intimate outside of a little friendly touching since my arrival. Lexi said Shifters respected privacy and, if asked, would travel to the other end of the house when they were doing the deed. I wasn’t about to announce to anyone we were doing anything. I was a guest in their home—what kind of impression would that make on a family I was trying to make amends with?
Reno appeared, looking dangerously handsome. I loved it when he wore all black. Today he had on black cargo pants with a tight shirt that fit his body so perfectly, and the way it outlined his sculpted arms was downright sinful. Long sleeves, of course. His jaw was covered with stubble and he had on his mirrored aviators. He kicked a small rock with his boot as he stalked forward and then stopped short, looking me over from head to toe. I could feel his hot gaze behind those glasses and my knees weakened.
“Is this how you take care of my girl?”
All eyes fell on me and then swung back to him, confused.
Reno peeled off his shirt.
“Oh, Jesus. I think I’ve had enough of family hour.” Jericho slid off the truck and swaggered off.
Reno slipped his shirt over my head, pulling my arms through the sleeves, which were still warm from his body heat. I dropped the horseshoe on the ground so he could roll up the sleeves, which went past my fingertips.
I could have objected. But that would have meant him covering up, and I loved staring at his bare chest. He was fit and strong—slender ropes of muscle along his arms and a broad torso with just a light dusting of hair. The chilly air hardened his nipples and I smiled at him.
He smiled back.
“You guys are a bag of nuts.” Denver tossed his horseshoe to the ground. “Eight o’clock, everyone. No excuses this time,” he said, his voice fading in the distance.
The pack dispersed and headed inside.
“What’s he going on about?” Reno asked.
“Laser tag.”
“Again?”
“He went with Jericho and Austin last week and they wouldn’t shut up about it. I think Lexi is itching to kick his butt Platoon style.”
“I could kick all their butts,” Reno said with a wry smile. “How’s your foot, princess?”
“Better. I tested my weight on it, and I don’t feel any pain.”
“Keep using the crutches,” he ordered, straightening my shirt and pulling the tips of my hair away from the collar. “Damn, I love the new color growing out. Are you keeping it?”
I shrugged lightly. “It’s looking that way.”
“Has someone been showing you how to play horseshoes?” he asked, brow slightly arched.
“I’m doing pretty good.”
He glanced over my shoulder at the horseshoe by the house and the other three feet away. Then he gripped my shoulders and turned me around. I hopped in a circle and he bent down and put the horseshoe in my hand.
Every inch of Reno was pressed behind me. His fingers curled around my wrist as he gently swung my right arm forward and back, left arm tight around my midriff and his mouth lightly grazing the back of my right ear.
“Like that,” he said in a caged voice. “It’s all in the release.” His words heated my body, and as if sensing it, he seductively ran his nose along my neck and inhaled deeply.
Tingles spread across the lower half of my body and when I shifted my hips, he moaned, tightening against my back.
Reno swung my throwing arm forward and I opened my hand. The horseshoe tumbled and hit the side of the house.
“You really suck at this,” I said, deciding I needed more lessons.
Then his mouth was on my neck, and the short bristles of whiskers on his jaw scratched my skin. “Do I?”
I leaned against him and threw my head back. “Yeah. You’re terrible.”
His right arm journeyed south and his fingers slipped inside my sweatpants. My breath caught.
Three hard claps sounded to our right and I jumped, straightening my shirt like a busted teenager when I saw Lynn on the porch with an oven mitt tucked beneath her arm.
Reno didn’t let go and I wriggled against him.
“Supper is almost ready,” she announced with a hard glare. “This isn’t a brothel, so let’s keep that behind closed doors.”
I snorted and turned around. “You are not going to get me on that woman’s good side if you keep this up. She used to like me until you started spending the night in my bed.”
“Good point,” he said, kissing my mouth. “Next time, you come to my bed.”
I placed a delicate peck on the tiny scar on his lip, something he hadn’t caught on to, but that was my special little place I’d claimed as mine.