chapter 11
As Michael lay next to her, breathing deeply, she decided there wasn’t anything better than falling asleep with the man you love. Fortunately, he didn’t snore.
She rolled to her side and looked at him in the darkness, her eyes adjusting to the bare light through the open windows. He was incredibly handsome, and she was still reeling from the knowledge that he was all hers. Wolves were possessive creatures, but the possession went both ways. Yes, she was his, but he was hers, too. Nothing would change that, and a caress of the love bites on her neck reminded her of his promise to mark her and that he meant to love her for the rest of his life. No one had ever made a promise to her like that, had shown her the love and adoration that he did, and every minute spent with him just deepened her love.
Her stomach rumbled, and she slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen to get something to eat.
He had a very male refrigerator. It was at least as old as she was, with a beat up golden exterior and dingy white interior. Raunchy magnets held up pictures of his family and friends, a glimpse into what made him tick. He wasn't really a complicated man, but he was intensely protective of those that he loved, and she was really happy to be in that small group.
Opening the refrigerator, she found packages of deli meat and cheese, an enormous jar of dill pickles, a shelf full of condiments, and two shelves full of beer. Pulling several things out, she set two plates on the counter and began to make sandwiches. She piled hers with lean turkey, thinly sliced pickles and dijon mustard, and then made three for Michael, filled with rare roast beef, swiss, and mayo.
When his warm fingers touched her bare hip she didn't start. Somehow, she was aware of him before he touched her.
"That's a lot of sandwiches, baby," he murmured, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke with a late night husky voice that made things low in her belly clench.
"I thought my mate might be a little hungry when he woke."
When she turned and handed him one plate, he gazed at the sandwiches in surprise and then gave her a smile that made her toes curl. He was so damn sexy.
They sat on the couch and ate, trading stories about the best meal they'd ever had. When they went back to the kitchen, she put the dishes in the sink and filled her glass with water. "Before you," he drew his fingertip down the center of her arm, rubbing delicately at her elbow, "I never ate naked."
"Naked's best, baby," she winked with a laugh.
The moment she rested the glass on the counter, he jerked her against his body, and the evidence of his appreciation for their naked meal pressed into her belly. "I've also never made love in the kitchen."
"Oh," she teased, "poor baby. Too bad you don't have a kitchen table. I've always wanted to have sex on the kitchen table."
He growled lightly and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her feet off the floor and stalking to the pool table. In one motion, he put her on her feet and spun her to the table, pressing her palms into the green velvet top. His voice tipped deeper, the hint of his beast rumbling underneath the teasing words, "I'll show you why pool tables are better than kitchen tables, Shyne."
He gathered her hair and pushed it over her shoulder, trailing his fingers down her back in lazy patterns that made her skin tingle. She arched as he reached the small of her back, pushing her ass towards him. His fingers slid around the swell of her hips and traveled up until he cupped her breasts, his fingers spreading so that her nipples were captured between two fingers that closed around the peaks with increasing pressure. Little jolts of pleasure speared through her as he tightened and released, tightened and released his hold on her nipples, and she found herself making small moaning sounds each time he held them tighter for a longer period. His lips pressed open mouthed kisses along her shoulder to her neck where he bit down gently.
His hard cock pressed against her lower back as his hands left the swell of her breasts and moved down the side of her body, tracing the smooth line of her hips with a hum of pleasure. Teasing fingers found the swollen nub of her sex, dipping inside to gather wetness on the tips before rubbing slowly up and down. With a gentle tug on her shoulder, he pulled her upright, splaying the fingers of his hand across her neck and securing her against him. His fingers continued a slow assault to her pleasure button while his mouth bit lightly at her shoulder.
He stroked her * with even motions, making her body tremble as she stayed just out of reach of the climax that loomed in the distance. Michael hissed into her ear, "Tell me, love, tell me what you want."
She twisted her hips, vainly attempting to get him to touch her the way she wanted, but he kept his steady pace. "Faster, Michael....oh...harder," she gasped as he did exactly what she needed, increasing the speed and force of his fingers on her body. His teeth raked gently down her neck as he held her still with his hand across her neck, her pulse beating wildly under his palm. The orgasm crashed through her, and she writhed against him but he didn't stop. His fingers continued to move over her as the pleasure ebbed away like the tide and steadily rose again. Her hips shifted back and forth of their own accord, the delicious friction of his calloused fingers on her sensitive bud driving her wild. Her voice cracked when she screamed as pleasure poured over her like a hot wave.
He pressed her forward until her cheek rested against the cool surface, and he slid his cock into her entrance. By slow inches he pushed into her, filling her completely as her fingernails dug into the velvet with a scratching sound.
"Perfect," he groaned, when he bumped the end of her, fully seated inside her depths. One warm palm pressed into her lower back, and the other clamped on her hip as he pulled his hips backwards with a swiveling motion until only the tip was inside her. For a heartbeat he stayed there, letting her feel the way he possessed her, before he slammed himself into her again and again. Her breath pushed out of her lungs in quick pants with his forceful thrusts, her cheek brushing over the fabric with each movement.
He leaned back, straightening, grasping both her hips with strong fingers as he slowed his movements to deliberate, slow thrusts. He flexed his hips as he pushed into her, going deep with each stroke. His hips swiveled, and his hands flexed on her body as he drove her slowly to madness with each perfect stroke.
As if a chain holding his restraint had suddenly snapped free, he slammed into her, pounding his cock into her body as he leaned forward and licked and nibbled on her back and shoulders, pulling and pushing her roughly as he pleasured them both. One hand slid around her hips and cupped her sex, his fingers parting her soaked p-ssy lips and pressing against her *. Little waves of pleasure pulsed through her, and she chanted his name, her fingers digging into the table beneath her.
His fingers pressed together, capturing her * in delicious friction as his cock thrust into her hard and fast. A mini-orgasm, just a taste, washed over her, and he groaned as her body writhed under him and her p-ssy tightened on his cock.
His wet fingers left her p-ssy and slipped back to her ass, delving the space between her cheeks and pressing against her tightest place. She cried out his name as he teased her, his fingers slipping in fast circles as he thrust harder and faster into her p-ssy. As he breached her with the tip of one finger, she arched up off the pool table and shoved herself backwards onto him, taking his whole finger into her body.
He finger f*cked her with the same intensity that his cock drove into her body, and a deep, hot pleasure bloomed in the center of her body. She begged him to take her harder, to never stop, and the whole world blurred as he gave her what she needed. She felt his body change slightly, his cock thickened, and the strength of his thrusts increased. His movements against her were hard and wild. She felt every inch of him as he drove into her again and again.
The ache in the center of her body pulsed and grew until it took over, pleasure racing through her veins like lightning as her vision dimmed, and her cry of pleasure shattered through the dark kitchen. His hands left her and landed on the table, his body tensing as he rammed into her. His hands dug into the top of the pool table until he roared his release, the sound of tearing fabric and splintering wood followed his throaty growl and their gasping breaths.
She slumped onto the table. On either side of her, the fabric on the pool table had been shredded, along with the wood underneath.
His forehead dropped to her shoulder, and he panted, "I didn't, I didn't get you did I? My beast came out at the end."
She took in a slow breath, warmed through and through that even in his frenzy he had kept himself from hurting her. "No, baby, I'm perfect."
He chuckled low in his throat. “Most definitely.”
Kissing the side of her neck, he pulled from her body, and she moaned the loss of him. Laid out on the pool table wasn’t exactly the most comfortable place to lay, but her body didn't want to listen to her mind's demands that she find somewhere else to fall asleep.
Michael scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the bedroom, settling her on the bed and returning a moment later with a tall glass of cold water. She drank it quickly and handed it back to him. He settled next to her on the bed and pulled her onto his chest with a yawn.
"Michael?" she said with a sleepy sigh.
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"I like pool tables now."
His smug chuckle was the last thing she heard.
Monday afternoon, Shyne dressed for her class while Michael was at work. His mother was going to ride with her, and while she liked Tina a great deal, she thought that everyone was overreacting. It wasn't as if the boys would do anything to hurt her. Although she'd grown increasingly uncomfortable the past few weeks in their presence, they'd never lifted a finger against her, and she had no doubt that they ever would. But Michael was insistent, and since he also had a day job, somehow Tina had become her bodyguard.
Tina knocked on the front door, and Shyne opened it for her. "I need to grab my bag, and we can go," Shyne said, stopping at the fridge to grab her water bottle before snatching her gym bag from the counter. Stowing the black metal water bottle in the bag, she grabbed her keys and cell, and they headed out.
They chatted idly as she drove them to the gym, the short drive passing quickly with Tina's funny stories about Michael's childhood antics. The more she got to know his family, the more she envied him his charmed life. She'd been loved once upon a time, but she had no memory of that love or the people who gave it to her. Now, though, Michael's love for her was like something she could feel and wrap around herself. And it wasn't just the spectacular sex, it was in all the little ways he showed her how he felt. She finally had what she'd dreamed about for many years.
"If you don't mind, Tina, after class I want to run up to my apartment and say hi to my bestie Trav and grab some things. I know it will be late, Michael said we could start packing up this weekend, but I'd like to use my own shampoo and stuff."
"It's no problem. I'm a night owl, personally. Peter's an early bird. Many of our fights when we were first married revolved around just what time was appropriate for bedtime."
She smiled, "I hope you won."
Tina beamed. "It's amazing what men will agree to when sex is involved."
Shyne could practically hear Michael complaining he didn't want to know about his parents' sex life, but Shyne had no compulsions about that. Having only had Trav to talk to for so long, it was nice to have women to chat with.
When she turned off the car in the parking lot of the gym, she was surprised to see Dante standing out in front of the double doors, a box by his feet. His arms were folded across his chest, and his face was a blank, expressionless mask.
She approached him slowly with Tina at her side. Her gaze dropped down to the box, and she saw her things from her locker. Tears sprang to her eyes immediately.
"Dante?" Her voice came out strained as she struggled to keep her composure.
"Shyne, we've canceled your classes and refunded the cost to your students. We've decided to take our focus off of the fitness classes, so we won't be replacing you."
Her mouth went dry. "You're firing me?"
He scoffed and reached for the box. He held it out to her but her arms wouldn't work. Tina took it from him and put her hand on Shyne's shoulder.
"You had to know that this was not going to work any longer, Shyne. Your mate made it very clear that he was not happy about your continued employment here. It was only a matter of time before you left us. We've given you a generous severance and a letter of recommendation for your next employer. Everything from your locker is inside the box. Mason, Cairo and I wish you well."
With a final look that contained absolutely no emotion, he turned and walked back into the gym. When the doors shut, her tears fell. She knew that Michael wasn't happy about her working with them, but she thought that everything had been settled on Saturday night and they were supposed to be able to work together.
Tina moved her back to the car and took the keys from her, opening the passenger door and pushing her gently into the seat. Tina put the box of her belongings in the back seat. Shyne managed to give Tina directions to the apartment, and she drove them.
Trav was at the mailboxes when they pulled into the parking lot, and his face split into a wide grin and then slid down into a confused frown. He opened her door, "Baby girl? What's wrong?"
Although she'd been tearing up the whole drive, she broke down in Trav's presence. After a fast introduction between Tina and him, he pulled her from the car and put his arm around her, helping her into the building. Tina followed behind and unlocked her apartment, explaining to Trav what happened.
Trav sat next to her on the couch. "Those guys are such f*ck-tards. Pardon my French."
"How could they just fire me like that?" she bawled. It was the first job she'd ever had that she felt like she was where she was supposed to be. She loved her classes, helping people get healthy and stay active.
Tina returned from the kitchen with a glass of water for her. "They're just protecting themselves, honey. They knew that it was only a matter of time before you became uncomfortable in their presence because of your relationship with Michael. Mated males don't like their females around unmated males. It's just a fact. Although Michael is supportive of you, it would eventually eat him alive to have you away from him every night."
"Mated?" Trav said in surprise.
Shyne wiped at her eyes and took a long drink of water. "Michael and I are together now, mated is just the word that werewolves use for when they've found their future spouse."
"Wow, you go away for a few days and the whole world is upside down. I'm happy for you, baby girl. But I'm damn depressed for myself. You're my best friend!"
Tina patted his knee. "We could use some help at the bar in Allen, and there are a few rentals in town."
"But I'm single. Won't Michael not want us hanging around anymore?" Trav's mouth pulled into a frown, and Shyne felt his anguish at potentially losing her.
She put her hand on his cheek, smiling through her tears. "You're gay, Trav. Michael and his wolf know that you're not a threat. And besides, you're my family. I don't want to lose you, either."
"Coolio." He blinked away sudden tears, and Shyne hugged him.
"What am I going to do? I'm unemployed!"
She slumped back against the couch and covered her eyes with her hands. She was sure the severance check was going to be generous, but it wouldn't last forever. Allen didn't have any gyms. If what Tina said was true, then Michael wasn't going to be thrilled with her working anywhere. What was she supposed to do?
"It'll all work out, honey," Tina promised. She reminded her that she wanted to pack some things. Trav followed the two of them back to her bedroom, pulling a suitcase from the tiny hall closet and unzipping it on the bed.
She filled the suitcase with clothes while he loaded her bathroom things into another small bag. Tina folded and organized, and within a half hour she was ready to leave. Tina gave Trav her cell number and asked him to call her if he was interested in working at the bar.
Trav followed them out to the car and held the door open for her. "Baby girl, I know you liked the boys, but they weren't going to ever be more than friends to you. They clearly cared about you in a more than friendly way, and knowing they couldn't ever have you had to be hell. They're protecting themselves; men do that."
She hugged her best friend tightly, holding onto his lean frame. He'd been there for her when no one else was. She was sure she could live without a lot of things, but not having Trav as a part of her life wasn't going to be one of them.
"Love you," she said, giving him an extra squeeze.
"Love you more," he promised, kissing the top of her head.
Although inwardly distraught, she kept her emotions in check and filled up the silence in the car by asking Tina about being a wolf and growing up in Allen. By the time she pulled her car up in front of the trailer, she'd learned a great deal about Tina and pack life. She was so thrilled to be able to share in this new life with Michael and his family. They had opened their homes and hearts to her without question, simply because Michael had chosen her. She'd never been so humbled.
Tina helped her carry her things into the house and said goodbye. Standing in the kitchen, she stared through the open doorway into the bedroom where her suitcase and bags waited to be unpacked. Michael wasn't due to be home for an hour, so she decided to take the opportunity of the quiet of the trailer and curled up on the bed and had a nice, private, self-pitying cry.
A half hour later, when she had put aside her hurt feelings and shaken herself from her grief, the front door slammed open, and Michael called her name with a worried tone. His heavy boots thudded towards her when she called out to say she was in the bedroom. He appeared in the doorway holding a gallon of chocolate ice cream and two spoons. He smiled in a lopsided way. "My mom called. I thought you'd like to eat something chocolately?"
If she wasn't already in love with him, she would have fallen completely head over heels right at that moment. Sitting up, she smiled and held her arms out for him. He joined her on the bed, and after a few spoonfuls of slightly melted ice cream, they put it aside and made love. Later, when they stood naked in the kitchen eating leftovers from the fridge, she said, "You must think I'm a total disaster."
He stopped mid-chew and looked at her. Swallowing, he put down the drumstick and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "What do you mean?"
"Everything that's happened because you met me...I'm like a bad luck magnet."
He tsked and pulled her into his arms, "Sweetheart, you're not a disaster or bad luck. I wouldn't change anything since we met."
"You were drugged and kidnapped."
"I got you."
"I punched you in the nose!"
Chuckling, he tilted her chin until she was forced to look into his beautiful eyes. "Do you honestly think I regret meeting you, loving you? I'd walk on broken glass to have you, sweet. Anything that happened is done now, and all we have to look forward to is our future."
She chewed on her bottom lip and said what had been bothering her, "I haven't ever lived more than paycheck to paycheck. The severance is enough to carry me for a bit, but unless I can get out of my lease —"
He silenced her worries with a kiss, his thumb stroking along her jaw and his fingertips playing across her neck. Slowly he pulled out of the drugging kiss and wrapped his arms around her tightly, molding her to his body. "Feel these arms, baby? I've got you. No matter what."
She had never been so thankful in her life for being fired.
* * * * *
Friday night, she was supposed to go with Michael to the bar for his shift. His parents were taking over the management of the bar, with the members of the new house band handling the actual running of the bar itself. Before they left for Jake's, Michael had gone totally caveman about her wardrobe, insisting that the skirt she wanted to wear was far too short, the top too tight, her boobs too big. She'd tried not to find it funny, but he was positively determined to cover up as much of her skin as he could. In the end, although she had enjoyed teasing him, she settled on a Michael-approved pair of Tommy jeans with a black fitted top with a sweetheart neckline.
In the parking lot, he pinned her against the door and began kissing her neck, sucking her flesh into his hot mouth hard enough to leave marks. He pressed himself against her, and she felt the evidence of his arousal against her belly, but all he seemed to want to do was give her hickeys.
Her nails dug into his shoulders, and she pushed him away so she could look at him. Her body throbbed as much as the bruises on her neck. "What are you doing?"
His hands played across her shoulders as a myriad of emotions flickered through his eyes. "Truth?"
Nodding, she promised, "Always."
"There are going to be a lot of single males in there, human and wolf. We're not fully mated yet, I haven't marked you, I..." His voice trailed off, and he seemed to be struggling to find the words to say.
She thought she understood. "You want to make sure that no one lays a finger on me."
He nodded and dropped his head with a sigh. "I don't like that you've had to see the more dangerous part of my life already, but being in a place like this, it's making my wolf go nuts. I don't ever want you to be afraid of me."
She ran her fingers across her heated skin, where he'd bruised her. "I'm not afraid of you, Michael, and I won't ever be. You're mine and I'm yours, and anyone that's stupid enough to try anything is going to get my right hook."
His eyes were glittering with amusement when he met her eyes. He touched the bridge of his nose, wincing dramatically, and told her he still had flashbacks about her fist flying at his face. The heaviness of the moment was lifted, and they kissed once more before heading into the bar through the back entrance.
Michael situated her on a stool behind the bar before heading off with his father to get stock for the night. It was still early, and there were only two bartenders getting the prep work done. She recognized one of them from the band, and the other she thought was human. Around the bar, Tina and another wolf from the band were cleaning off the tables and straightening up.
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Michael carrying two boxes of liquor on one shoulder. His muscles bunched nicely under his tight dark blue t-shirt, and her gaze wandered immediately down to his belt buckle and then lower. He was simply irresistible. Deliciously male and all hers.
"Stop that," he growled with a low voice, startling her from the sexy daydream involving him and not a stitch of clothing.
"Stop what?"
He put the boxes on the counter and moved to her, inserting himself between her legs and pressing his hands against the back wall on either side of her head. "Stop thinking whatever naughty things are running through that gorgeous head of yours. I can smell how turned on you are from halfway across the bar."
He was chastising her, but there was pride underneath that. How very male of him. Folding her arms, she said, "You're the one that horned me up in the parking lot. I can't help it if I'm thinking about you being naked."
He dropped one hand and fingered the bruises on her neck. "I'd love nothing more than to bend you over the bar, baby, and take you until your throat is raw from screaming out my name."
Swallowing, she lifted her eyes until she met his, the blue flickering like a fire lit them from within. "I would totally let you do that."
He barked out a laugh and placed a kiss to her mouth. "I love you, sweetheart. Don't tempt me into doing something we'll regret in the morning. We only have to be here for a few hours, and then we can duck out, okay?"
"And then you'll make sure my throat is raw tomorrow from all the screaming in pleasure?"
Smiling, he leaned down and licked the shell of her ear. "That's a promise."
She shivered and tried to turn her sexy thoughts to less sexy things, like counting the people that came into the bar or the number of beers ordered, but all she could really think about was Michael. It was so strange to be utterly consumed by him, but she was.
She'd never seen him at work, but he was efficient and thorough. Although she remembered him saying he didn't care for the job, he clearly took pride in it.
The band TrayneWrek took the stage for their sound check. The bar was about half-full, and it was only eight thirty. According to Michael, the bar was important to their pack because it allowed them to keep an eye on each other. Mixing alcohol with werewolves could apparently lead to problems, and if they were out in other towns where the police may not be as forgiving, then they would have problems. Here, in this small space, problems were set aside, and they all looked out for each other.
Every few minutes, Michael's gaze would find hers as if he was checking to make sure she was still there, still sitting where he wanted and not getting into mischief. The problem with that scenario was that she was growing bored, and boredom for her led to...mischief.
Deciding to have some fun teasing him, she slipped off the stool and headed to the bathroom. She passed a group of already giggling and probably drunk girls in the narrow hallway that led to the bathroom and found it empty. In the far stall, she toed off her shoes and stripped her clothes off. After redressing in only her jeans and top, she tucked her bra in one pocket and her panties in the other. Now...she just had to decide how to make him aware of what she'd done and see just how far she could push him with her teasing.
Body tingling in anticipation, she strode from the bathroom, intent on making Michael melt from the inside out.