Claimed by the Mate, Volume 1 (18 page)

He interrupted her. “Not sex, Cheraza. We've had this discussion. What Brad and you and I are doing is making love. Don't forget that. Sex is something people can walk away from. Making love is building a foundation that's rock solid. It has staying power. It's built to build upon. That's what this is, what we're creating.”

“You've said that.” She shook her head. “It's just hard for me to believe it.” She glanced up as Brad came out of the bathroom. “But it's getting easier all the time, I think.”

“What's getting easier?” he asked. “Turning me into a slavering beast?” He pounced on the bed and licked Cherry's throat. Then he pretended to bite her shoulder until she was giggling and trying to curl into a tight ball to get away from the mock assault.

Or was it all in fun? She still had her suspicions about these two and their wolfish ways, outlandish as they might be, but she went limp and lay there staring at him. There was a definite gleam in Brad's eyes, and then Cain laughed and punched him in the shoulder. Brad sort of shook himself and sat back on his heels, trapping her thighs beneath his butt, and the moment ended.

There was no doubt in Cherry's mind there had been “a moment.” One Cain had very neatly brought to an end. Instead of making her wary of the two of them, it made her heart go out to both guys. If her suspicions were correct, they had a terrible secret. What would it be like, to live a life in hiding? To be creatures people either didn't believe in at all or feared?

She didn't fear either Cain or Brad or any of the other men at Feral Passions. As unbelievable as it was, as impossible, she was coming to the very strong realization that every day she was here she believed in and accepted that other reality of theirs just a little bit more.

*   *   *

Wednesday

Cherry came awake when the mattress dipped. Blinking her eyes, she saw Brad in the morning's dim light, pulling on his pants.

“Brad?”

“Shhh, sweetheart. Go back to sleep. It's only a little after five, but I need to get coffee going and breakfast started.”

“But you were up all night.” She glanced at the other side of the bed. Cain was gone. “When did Cain leave?”

“Just now. You must have heard the door—probably what woke you. He's going to help me with breakfast.” Brad leaned over and kissed her.

She clung to him and hated that she felt the need to hold him close, but last night had been— She broke the kiss. “I'm going to miss you. Last night was amazing. I think you and Cain have wiped away all the horrible memories I've had for the last ten years.”

Brad brushed her hair back from her eyes. “I'd like to say that was our goal, but neither Cain nor I are all that altruistic. You're hot and we wanted your body.”

Smiling, she covered his hand with hers. “That works. I hope you'll want it again tonight, because I know I want yours. And Cain's.”

“I wish I could crawl back in with you right now, but duty calls.” He kissed her again and then finished dressing. “I'll see you later, after you get some more sleep. We kept you awake way too late last night.”

“I know. And I never did get that massage.” She pouted.

“You're right. We got sidetracked. Tonight?”

“If I have to wait that long.” Sighing, she scooted back under the covers. He kissed her once more and then he was gone. Cherry lay there for a few minutes, going over everything they'd done the night before. She'd had sex—no, make that “made love”—with two incredible men. They were sweet and caring and they'd put her needs first, but did they really mean it when they talked about forever? It was Wednesday already. She was leaving Saturday morning.

How could she possibly know for sure in just three more days?

*   *   *

Late that afternoon, Cherry wondered if she'd actually make it up the last few steps to the deck at the lodge, but Brad was standing in the doorway with a tray loaded with margaritas, and that was incentive enough. He gave her a kiss and handed her the icy, salt-encrusted drink. She wasn't sure which sounded better—the ice or the salt. “Don't stand downwind.” She took a big swallow and licked the salty rim. “I probably stink.”

“I heard Ronan was taking you to the bat cave.”

Christa was right behind her, and she giggled. “He did, though while I was thinking Batman, he was obviously thinking of little brown bats. Gazillions of them.” She grabbed a margarita off Brad's tray and sat next to Cherry.

Steph was right behind her. “And you know what you get with a gazillion bats? A gazillion tons of bat poop.” Brad laughed and handed her a drink.

“You gonna make it up the steps, Darnell?” He held the glass out, tempting her.

“Oh, yeah,” she said, staggering up the last two steps. “That was absolutely frickin' unbelievable.” She plopped down in the last of the chairs at the small table and sighed when Brad put one on the table in front of her. “Bless you. I think Ronan tried to kill us.”

“Was the near-death experience worth it?”

“Actually, yes. It was.” Darnell took a swallow of her margarita and sighed. Brad pulled up a chair from the next table over and sat beside Cherry. “What'd you think of the cave?”

“It was beautiful.” Shaking her head, Cherry took another sip. “I've never been in a natural cave before, and while the bat guano is pretty stinky, the cave was amazing. We could hear the bats squeaking, and Ronan used a shielded light that wouldn't startle them so we could see how many there were.”

“A lot.” Darnell looked at Cherry. “I am so glad you guys wanted to go see that. I'm pretty fed up with Suni and Fred. They haven't done any exploring at all.”

Brad shrugged. “They're having the kind of vacation that works for them—quiet time by the pool with drinks on demand and nothing they have to do—but I'm really glad you're enjoying the chance to see some of the country up here. It's a beautiful area.”

“I forgot to ask you.” Steph sipped her margarita and grinned at Darnell. “How was your head this morning? I saw Evan hauling your skinny butt back to your cabin.”

They all laughed when Darnell hid her eyes behind her hand. “Don't ever, ever let me drink a Long Island Iced Tea again. Never. They're evil. My head's fine, but Evan spent the night, and I didn't even know it. I woke up with him on top of the blankets, sleeping beside me on the bed. Can you imagine that? I wasted a perfectly good night with an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous guy, and all he did was babysit me.” She sighed.

“I was a perfect gentleman.” Evan bounded up the steps, grabbed a chair, parked his butt next to Darnell, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Tonight, however, I intend not to be quite so gentlemanly. I will, however, be sexy as hell.”

Everyone groaned, but Cherry laughed. So often she'd seen groups of friends sitting together, laughing, teasing each other, and just kicking back in the cafeteria at work or in the park near her apartment, but she'd never really experienced the sense of camaraderie she was feeling now. She sipped her drink and slipped into observer mode for a few minutes, watching how everyone interacted, but it wasn't long before she was drawn right back into the teasing.

A few minutes later, Ronan and Wils showed up, and Cain wasn't all that far behind. As the group grew and the laughter escalated, she knew she'd be taking home memories that would stay with her forever.

Except it was only Wednesday and she still had a massage coming. And more, if things worked out the way she hoped.

Trak wandered in a bit later, about the time Brad and Evan went into the kitchen to get dinner together. Cherry looked around for Suni and Fred, but they weren't with him. Trak leaned against the deck railing. “Where's Evan?”

“Inside helping Brad fix dinner.” Christa leaned back in her chair and looked at Trak upside down.

“Thanks. He's going to have to take over the bar at Growl tonight.” Trak went on into the lodge.

Darnell put her head down on her arms. “Damn. I was really hoping to get laid tonight.” She raised her head and stated at the others out of one eye. “Don't all go all teary eyed with sympathy, guys.”

They were all laughing when Trak came back outside. “Darnell, if you want to go hang out at Growl while Evan works his shift later tonight, I can give you a ride to the bar. It's only a quarter mile, but I understand Ronan took you ladies up to the bat cave. I bet your legs are all walked out.”

Darnell's head popped up. “They are, but I'd like that. Anyone else want to go?”

Steph and Christa shared a look. “Sure,” Christa said. “Cherry? What about you?”

“I don't know.” She finished her margarita and stood. “First I'm going to get a shower. The idea of sitting down to dinner reeking of bat poop doesn't really appeal.”

“Good point.” Christa stood and hauled Steph to her feet. “Shower and then dinner. And then we discuss a trip to the bar.” She glanced down at her dirty jeans. “Wonder if I should just burn my clothes?”

“You can use the laundry service here if you like. Leave them in the basket in your cabin and Housekeeping will take care of them.” Trak shoved himself away from the railing and turned to go back inside the dining room.

Christa, Steph, and Cherry all looked at one another and back at Trak. As far as Cherry was concerned, expecting one of these terrific guys to have to deal with her stinky clothes sucked. She shrugged. “Burning sounds like the best option.”

Laughing, he threw his hands in the air. “Whatever. How do girls do that? You just look at each other and know what the other one's thinking? No wonder guys never have a clue.”

Steph was the closest to Trak. She leaned over, wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, and pulled him close for a kiss. He blinked, but he obviously didn't object. Steph pulled away after a very long kiss and licked her lips. “You realize we do it just to keep you guys confused. I love that it's working.”

“Oh, yeah.” Trak looked a bit stunned. “Definitely working.”

Chapter 17

Darnell sat with the three of them for dinner, and Cherry was once again laughing more than not. It wasn't long before Suni joined them, but Fred stayed with Trak and another guy Cherry hadn't met. For some reason, though, he looked familiar.

Wils and Ronan ended up at their table before too long and she forgot about the man, and then Evan showed up with a plate loaded with steak and salmon and two baked potatoes along with servings of everything else that Brad had put out on the buffet.

Cherry had her salmon and a salad, which was more than enough, but watching the amount of food the guys put away was entertaining all on its own.

Brad joined them once everyone was served.

“Where's Cain?”

“He wanted to check on Mama and the pups.” Brad cut into his steak and took a bite. “They're growing really fast.”

Cherry glanced at the table across the room. “Who's the guy with Trak and Fred? He looks a lot like Trak.”

“Lawson. We call him Lawz. You're good—he's Trak's older brother.”

“I knew it.”

They were just finishing up dinner when Trak, Lawz, and Fred left. Cherry glanced up and smiled, but Fred glared at her as she left the dining room with the men.

Why would the woman give her such a dirty look?

Had to be her imagination. Cherry placed her utensils on her plate and turned her attention to whatever Suni was saying.

“… and I've really had it with her attitude. This is such a great place,” she said, “but all Fred does is find fault. There was a wolf on my front porch this morning and I was sitting out there on the step, petting him. He was so beautiful, I could have sat there all day with him, but Fred showed up and insisted I go to the pool with her.” She glanced at Darnell. “I really wanted to hike up to the cave with you guys, darn it.”

“You should have.” Darnell sighed. “She can be really bossy. You don't owe her anything. I mean, you're paying for the same vacation she is.”

“I know. I'm just not tough enough. I hate confrontation of any kind.”

“I'm the same way. I'll do anything to avoid it.” Laughing at herself, Cherry stood to take her plates over to the counter. She'd noticed that when she picked hers up the others did, too. It helped the guys out, if only a little, but then she thought of something totally out of context.

“Suni, what did the wolf look like? The one at your cabin? I'm trying to figure out how many different ones are around here.”

“He was beautiful, but really dark, like a charcoal gray with black tips and brown eyes. And he was really big, but when I stepped out of the cabin he rolled over on his back. Otherwise he might have scared me half to death.”

“It's hard to imagine them vicious when they do that.” Christa grabbed her plate and the others followed suit.

Brad stood with the others and carried his over, but he glanced up as the largest man Cherry had seen at Feral Passions entered the dining room. Like the others, he was absolutely stunning.

“Hey, Tuck. You're just in time. Kitchen's all yours.”

“You're too kind to me, Bradley.”

“Meet the ladies, smart-ass. And behave.” Brad took Cherry's hand, almost as if he were claiming her. She liked that. “This is Cherry, her sister, Christa, cohort in crime Stephanie, Suni, and Darnell. Ladies, this is Dr. Kentucky Jones, otherwise known as Tuck. He's our resident veterinarian, but he also has a practice that covers the whole valley. And tonight he's doing dishes, which is as it should be.”

“Pleasure to meet you, and you know how it is, Brad. I need to keep an eye on the kitchen, make sure you don't poison any of these beautiful women.” He grinned and rubbed the back of his neck, and his focus was on Cherry. “I've got to start hanging around this place more often.”