Cougar's Gift: Pacific Northwest Cougars: (Shifter Romance) (11 page)

“
L
unch time already
?” she asked him. She was pulling him towards the counter.

“Early, missed you,” he said low.

“Ahh, well that is awfully nice, Mr. Stryker,” she teased.

He snarled back. He kinda liked her calling him Mr. Stryker. Did things to his dick.

“Well, I could heat up some mac-n-cheese, I bet your gonna start to hate that,” she said with a laugh.

“Don’t care what I eat as long as I eat with you,” he said honestly. He’d eat fucking bark if it came with a side of her.

“Hmm, well I thought I’d thank you for being so sweet and generous and I had Martha’s diner send over their lunch special today. It’s meatloaf and mashed potatoes,” she said, hoping he liked those things.

“That was nice of you,” he said, liking that she was planning their lunch together.

“No problem, soon as the children’s mom comes back I can take a break. Why don’t you wait behind the desk and I’ll get the kids sorted,” she suggested.

Stryker just nodded. He dragged her halfway to the desk with him. He didn’t want to let go of her, he’d been Libby-less all morning. She laughed at him and managed to wiggle her hand out from his.

Stryker sat and watched her walk back into the children’s section. He looked around her desk noticing it was tidy and it looked like everything had been in the same location since the turn of the century.

He lifted up an old stapler and saw the outline of it worn into the finish on the wood. Yup, nothing had changed. Except he had to guess that the addition of cute pictures and sayings hidden from the public view were all Libby.

There was a cat dangling from a tree limb and normally had the saying “Hang in There” instead hers read, “Ahh lava!” It put a whole new spin on that poor cat.

There was another cartoon that had two Tyrannosaurus Rex’s trying to play patty cake. There were a few other funny, yet slightly irreverent comics.

This was where she sat, possibly daydreamed. This was her life, he thought, looking around. How much did he really want to disrupt her just to get what he wanted? His brain was the one asking that question.

His heart, his cougar, and for sure his dick all were booing and hissing at him. They wanted her locked tight in his cabin, preferably naked, and preferably under him.

A woman came through the front door smiling and stopped short when she spotted Stryker behind the desk and not Libby. Her brows drew together in instant confusion.

Stryker pointed towards the children’s section and didn’t bother saying anything.

The woman walked towards the room her eyes still on him. When she was out of sight, Stryker could hear hushed whispering. With the kids making noise at the arrival of their mother, he couldn’t make out what Libby and the woman were talking about.

A minute later the four of them walked out and the woman had a slight blush rising on her cheeks. Libby had a very naughty look on her face which made his dick go hard. Then he saw the kids waving at him. That put a quick cold shower on his thoughts of Libby’s look.

“Goodbye, Mr. Stryker,” the kids called out, giggling as the pushed each other through the door.

The mom gave Stryker a little wave, and Libby a knowing look, then they were gone.

Libby turned at the door and said, “Lunch time?”

“What did you say to her?” he asked, frustrated he couldn’t hear them.

“Oh you know, girl stuff,” she teased him.

He growled at her and it made her giggle.

“How do you do that? That growly thing?” she asked.

“Practice,” he said with a growl again. That caused her to giggle again.

“Okay then, lunch. Let’s use the computer room. I’ll grab the food,” she said, heading towards the stairs before he could stop her.

Stryker stood and walked towards the back of the first floor. Down a short hallway was a room with a door that was half window.

He pushed it open and saw a long conference table. Along the one wall opposite the door were a half dozen computers. They were the old style with big monitors and giant towers on the floors.

They seriously needed an upgrade he thought. Maybe he could be an anonymous donor and get them some much-needed computers. He added that to his to-do list.

Libby came in behind him with two handled bags and set them on the table. She started unloading them, setting out take-out containers, silverware, and sodas.

She pointed to a chair and Stryker sat down. She was about to take the seat next to him when he grabbed her and scooped her onto his lap before she could protest.

“You can’t eat with me on your lap,” she chided.

“Watch me,” he said, grabbing a fork and digging into the mashed potatoes. He offered her the bite while she was trying to wiggle off to her own seat.

“Mouse. Stop. Eat,” he ordered.

“So bossy,” she murmured. Of course she wanted to sit on his lap. She just was trying to not look so freaking easy. Not that he seemed to care about easy.

He was holding the fork out so she sighed and opened her mouth. He gave her the bite and grabbed one for himself.

She watched the fork travel from the food to his mouth and couldn’t help but stare as his lips closed around it and he chewed and swallowed. He even ate sexy.

Stryker knew she was watching him. He liked it. Offering her another bite, he kept alternating as they ate.

Occasionally he’d hand her a soda, since hand feeding someone a beverage was fraught with peril he let her handle that on her own.

When they had both eaten their fill, Libby gave up and let her head fall back on his shoulder. Stryker laid his head on hers and they sat in silence for a while.

“I missed you,” she whispered to him, and she had. It was one of the longest mornings she could remember. Not that her days were ever packed with excitement, but today dragged like a bad Twilight Zone episode.

“Missed you too, mouse,” he said into her hair. Stryker was already thinking about how he was going to get through the rest of the afternoon without her.

Knowing they had dinner together later also was on his mind. It had to go well. It had to be a hurdle for them to overcome so he could continue to convince her he was her One.

Sighing, he gave her a kiss on the head and helped her up to stand. Libby reluctantly got up and turned in his arms as he stood.

Wrapping her arms around him she squeezed him soaking in his scent. Stryker was doing the same hoping it would last long enough to appease his cat for a few hours.

“I’ll take you home tonight,” he said, walking her back out to the front door.

“I can walk you know, been doing it for years,” she reminded him.

“Now I’m here.” He said this like it was the answer to everything.

Libby wanted to argue with him, but who was she kidding? She totally wanted to be wrapped around him on the back of his motorcycle. Even if it was just for a few minutes.

Plus, she really wanted to try on her new jacket and helmet.

“Bye.” He gave her a rough kiss then walked out moving down the stairs to the street. He was across it and almost to the garage before Libby shut the door.

It had crossed Libby’s mind that his gift this morning was not only thoughtful, but must have cost him a pretty penny. Especially since he would have had to order it last night and have it early over-nighted to get to her that morning.

She knew mechanics made decent money. She didn’t want to assume he’d spent money he didn’t have.

Libby always thought it was the giver’s decision how much to spend on a gift. The recipient should accept graciously.

It did niggle at her brain a little thinking that he shouldn’t have spent that much on her. Maybe it was a one-time thing and he just felt like really splashing out.

Libby didn’t make a fortune at her job. In fact, since she lived at home she was able to save the majority of her pay. She was saving up to buy a little house in town someday.

She knew it didn’t come close to what he must have spent, but getting lunch was her little way of saying thank you again.

I
t was finally
time to leave. Libby hadn’t had anyone come in for the last two hours. That wasn’t uncommon and it let her sneak in some personal reading.

She was in the middle of an epic series about a detective agency and a bunch of smoking hot guys and the women who loved them. It was one of her favorites.

Closing up the back exit and turning off the lights Libby stopped short as she hit the entryway.

Stryker was standing, leaning back against the door. His feet were crossed at the ankles and his arms were crossed over his chest. He was staring at her like he was hungry.

Seeing his look made her lick her lips and she saw his gaze zero in on her mouth.

He pushed off of the door and closed the distance between them in a few large strides. She was in his arms and back against the wall by the hallway in the blink of an eye.

His mouth sealed over hers and he kissed her like it had been months instead of hours.

Libby kissed him back, she was getting better at it. She knew what he liked now and how to make him groan or moan. She loved wielding that power, it was intoxicating.

Stryker’s hands ran down her sides then one came back up and cupped over her breast. The other hand grabbed a handful of her ass and pulled up causing her to squeak into his mouth which gave him more room to play.

Libby was getting beyond riled up. Her panties were soaked, her breast felt swollen under his hand, and her mind was quickly thinking of ways she could get off. The most obvious was something she had been thinking of hourly since she met him.

She knew, deep down, that he would make her first time phenomenal. Probably earth-shattering and one to record in the annals of history. No pressure for him of course.

“I need to get you home,” he said in a very displeased tone when he finally pulled away from her.

He didn’t want to stop kissing her. But he also knew he could easily seduce her if he wanted. She was passionate and liked her pleasure. Stryker could close the deal in the hallway, on the floor, if he wanted to.

But he didn’t, he wanted her to tell him when. For her to make the choice that he was her One. He had to be the reasonable one, at least for now.

Once they were together, all bets were off. His first taste of her was going to be sweet, but he knew every time after that would be even sweeter.

Stryker was looking around for her jacket and spied it behind the desk. Grabbing her hand, he took her with him as he picked up the jacket and held it out to her to slip on.

Once he settled it on her shoulders he zipped up the front and grabbed the helmet that was uncovered when he picked up the jacket. Popping that on her head he was trying to focus on the fit and not those gorgeous little eyes staring up at him so trustingly.

Fucking hell, he couldn’t keep putting her on his bike. What if something happened? People didn’t see bikers all the time, road conditions could get hazardous in a second and they’d be stuck out on the road.

He needed to get something safer. He’d keep riding and maybe take her on special occasions, but he was starting to wonder if you could legally drive a tank on the road. That might keep her safe.

Seeing the helmet wasn’t fitting right he tried adjusting it again. Libby decided to take pity on him and reached around to pull out her ponytail.

Her hair fell around her in a mahogany cloud. The helmet sat itself properly on her head. Stryker grunted and adjusted the strap under her chin.

“Purse, mouse,” he barked.

Libby grabbed her purse and ran to keep up with Stryker pulling her towards the door.

His motorcycle was sitting on the curb and he performed the maneuver from yesterday to get on first then help her. In a blink they were cruising down the road towards her house.

There was a definite chill in the air. Sometimes if felt like the last days of summer were less than a week before autumn set in.

Pulling up to the house, Stryker turned off the bike and kicked out the stand before helping her off.

He swung off and grabbed her hand before she could lean up for what she expected was a goodnight kiss. Instead, she found herself being pulled up to the front porch.

“Stryker, what are you doing?” she said in a hushed whisper.

“Coming to dinner. Your dad invited me,” he replied, knocking on the front door. Stryker took in that the door was painted a bright green color.

The top half was a window that had a stained glass figure of a dragon. The dragon’s wings were spread, its mouth open belching plumes of red and orange flames. Above the door was a hand painted sign that said,
Beware all ye who enter here
. He’d have to contemplate the meaning behind that later.

Libby stood with her mouth hanging open. Her father? Stryker met her father? When and how did that happen? It had been like thirty-six hours. She was planning on introducing them, in say three to six weeks!

The door swung open and Libby’s dad stood there wearing his usual after work tie-dye t-shirt and jorts. Those were jean shorts that only people’s dads would normally be caught dead in.

“Stryker, nice to see you again. Hey, my Liberty Bell, how was work?” Her dad said this casually like they always had Stryker over for tea. She’d entered some alternate dimension for sure.

“Huh?” Libby managed, as her father gestured them in. Stryker gave a tug on her hand and she numbly followed.

Stepping into the living room, Libby’s dad closed the door. “Stryker, can I offer you some green tea or Kombucha? We homebrew our own and our
scoby
has quite a few fans.”

Stryker looked at Libby with a raised eyebrow then smartly chose, “No.”

“Let me go get Primrose,” he said, walking towards the kitchen.

“What is going on?” she said, pinching Stryker’s arm.

“Woman, don’t pinch me,” he growled.

“When did you meet my father?” she hissed.

“He came to see me today and invited me to dinner,” he answered.

“Why did you say yes?” she squeaked.

“Because, mouse, your parents need to know me. It’s happening so you might as well go with the flow,” he advised.

“I’ll teach you how to go with the flow,” she said, pinching him again on the arm.

“Woman,” he warned again.

He could growl all he wanted, she was pissed. Weren’t guys supposed to run screaming from meeting a girl’s parents? Oh no, she had to get the weirdo that wanted to join their little freak show.

Before she could pinch him again her mom and dad came out from the kitchen, her mother in her standard patchwork apron on, looking harried.

“Stryker, it’s very nice to meet you,” Primrose said, although she didn’t really sound like she meant it.

She reached for his hand and Stryker firmly grasped hers. Her mother let out a horrified gasp pulling his hand into both of hers.

“Oh my! Freedom, did you feel that?” she said, ignoring Stryker now and talking to Libby’s dad.

“I did. Wanted to get your take on it,” her father said, looking down at Stryker’s hand.

“Oh dear, dear, your poor aura! It’s all over the place. It’s green, it’s blue. My, my there is orange! We have to get you unblocked immediately! Liberty, go get my crystals. Freedom, we’ll need the candles,” she started barking out orders.

“Mom, for pete’s sake let him go. He’s fine and he doesn’t need his aura cleansed,” Libby moaned.

“My aura?” Stryker asked her.

Libby just shook her head at him like he really didn’t want to know.

“Liberty Moonlight Berkowitz, I’m not going to stand by while his confused soul is so conflicted. He must be torn up inside,” she said solemnly.

“Confused?” Stryker asked the room at large. Then he turned to Libby, “Moonlight?”

Libby took her turn and growled at him. That just made the big jerk smile.

Freedom had gone off to do his wife’s bidding. He returned with the candles and the crystals since Libby wasn’t going along with these shenanigans.

Her father being a naturopath usually tried to find out if there were outside reasons causing illness in someone.

He wasn’t opposed to traditional medicine; he just felt a more moderated approach was needed in dealing with people’s health.

Usually an upset stomach was more because someone was fighting with their spouse than some terrible virus. Headaches caused by stress and sleeplessness caused by way too much caffeine.

But her father was always seeking a deeper understanding of the unknown. Which meant being very lenient when his wife wanted to try new age practices on the unsuspecting.

“All right Stryker, why don’t you sit down here dear. We’ll see if we can get you fixed up,” her mother ordered him to the couch.

Stryker sat down and smiled at Libby, he was amused.

“Mom, just leave him alone! He was coming for dinner not an exorcism!” Libby whined.

“Oh hush, you know I do no such thing. This man is being torn apart inside. His aura is split right down the middle. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like he’s got two different souls inside him,” Primrose said.