Figure of Speech (Halle Shifters) (13 page)

Only Chloe gave him a smile, and it was a wan, weak thing compared to the earlier laughter over her ugly ceramic ball sack.

Jim held up his phone. “My mother doesn’t know anything about my life anymore. She’s too caught up in the divorce from my dad, who cheated on her. Now she sees me either as an extension of him, or the go-between for them. She’s…” It pained him, what he was about to say next, but it was the truth. “She’s not my mom anymore. Not the one I remember, anyway.”

“Told you.” Alex shook his head at Tabby.

Chloe took hold of Jim’s hand. “He told me some of this earlier. She’s being a pain about Spencer too.”

“Spencer?” Tabby’s eyes went wide. “Oh. Spencer. Sorry, Jimmy.”

And that easily, the women returned to their normal sunny (and slightly sweaty) dispositions.

“Anything we can do to help?” Cyn stood with her arms crossed over her chest, an Amazon ready to do battle.

“Nah.” Jim waved her help away. “Other than making sure the B-A-L-L S-A-C never again sees the light of day.”

Chloe smacked him on the arm before walking to the charity box. She sighed and shook her head. “Where is it?”

He’d never seen such bad acting in his life, as each one of them denied knowing what had happened to the horrible, misshapen sculpture. But it did the job, lightening the mood once more as they finished most of Chloe’s packing.

“How many books do you own?” Jim grunted as he picked up one particularly heavy box.

“Textbooks.” She grimaced. “Not sure I need them anymore.”

“You do. I’d hold on to them until you know what courses you need to take for your vet tech certifications.” He put the box down firmly by the front door. No way was she going to chicken out of going back to school.

She sighed happily. One of the things he admired most about his mate was her ability to bounce back quickly to her happy disposition after something had hurt her. It was a skill he wished he could master. “Good point.”

“So.” Alex clapped his hands together. “We move Chloe’s stuff out tomorrow, after Jim is done working? Or move most of it today and get the rest of it tomorrow?”

“I vote all of it tomorrow.” Tabby leaned against the small kitchen peninsula and rubbed her belly absently.

“I vote we get as much done today as we can since we’re all here. Afterward, Chloe can treat us to pizza and root beer.” Ryan rubbed his hands together. “I’ll take double meat.”

“I agree. Let’s get the majority of the boxes over to Jim’s place, eat there, then call it a day. The furniture can wait until tomorrow.” Julian hefted another box of textbooks. “We should have enough cars to make it in one go.”

And that was how it went, climbing up and down Chloe’s stairs as they put her life into their backseats. At one point Jim decided to pull her aside. As rapidly as things were moving he wouldn’t be at all surprised to find she was freaking out a little bit. “You all right with all of this?”

She stared at him like he’d grown a dick on his face. “I’ve been waiting for this, for
you
, for how long?” She grabbed his head and pulled him down for a quick, fierce kiss. “I’m
so
all right.”

“Yes’m.” He licked his lips, already pulling her closer for another kiss. “Okay.”

She giggled, but the sound became muffled as Jim gave her a scorching kiss.

“Jim, can I talk to you for a sec?” Cyn gestured toward the bedroom, the last place to be packed.

“Sure.” He was worried, because Cyn looked a little more serious than she had earlier. So he was surprised when she grabbed him by the ear and yanked his head down.

“I like you, you know,” she whispered in his ear. “I think you’re good for Chloe. But if you hurt her again I’ll rip your
cojones
off, grill them with some garlic butter and serve them up with a side of salsa and guac.
¿Entendido?
”

Jim gulped. “Understood.”

“Good.” Cyn patted him on the shoulder and sauntered out of the bedroom. “Now, let’s get you and your mate home.”

Jim followed meekly, shaking his head when Chloe shot him a questioning look. The best way to save his balls from the sauté pan was to keep her happy, and he intended to do just that.

Chloe shook her head at Cyn, but she couldn’t quite keep the smile off her face. She must have heard Cyn’s fierce whisper. “Leave my mate alone, Cyn.”

Cyn shrugged. “You’re family.”

“So is Jim.”

Cyn grinned. “Which is why I won’t kill him, just maim him a little.” She held up her hand, her forefinger and thumb barely half an inch apart.

Chloe tsk’d. “Don’t touch his man-bits. I need them.”

Cyn’s grin turned evil. “Super Bear could probably grow them back.”

Jim shuddered. He had no desire to find out if that was true. From the way Ryan and Alex were clenching their legs together they didn’t want to either.

Chapter Thirteen

“Welcome home.”

Chloe glanced around, barely able to speak. She was in Jim’s house, being welcomed as a mate.

She shuddered, holding back tears. She’d never thought they’d get to this point. She’d thought he’d never acknowledge her, that all her dreams were for nothing. Then he’d barreled back into her life and changed it forever.

No matter how much she wanted to cry with joy, she couldn’t. The last thing she wanted to do was look like a weak little girl in front of the man who’d once claimed she was too young for him. She stiffened her spine instead and turned to him with a smile. “Thanks.”

His brows furrowed as he stared at her. “Are you all right?”

Jim reached for her but she backed away, turning instead toward the stairs. “Just tired.” She’d head to the bathroom and get herself back under control, then deal with the fact that she was moving into her mate’s home. “Where’s the bathroom?”

He pointed toward a door right off the front, beside the coat closet. She darted inside, waited a moment or two, and then flushed. She started running water in the sink, splashing it on her face. She took a deep breath and toweled her face dry before giving herself a stern look in the mirror. “Okay, Chloe. You’ve bot this. You can do it.” She opened the door and squeaked.

Jim stood on the other side, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze filled with amusement. “Everything all right?”

She nodded. “Yup.”

“Mm-hm.” He shook his head and took her hand. “C’mon, Chloe. Let’s get you settled for the night.”

She let him tug her up the stairs, unable to look away from him. His scent filled her, so strong here in his home she felt wrapped in it.

“This is a spare bedroom I’m using for storage right now. It wouldn’t be hard to change it to a guest room.”

She blinked, trying to focus as Jim gave her a tour of the upstairs, but everything was a blur other than the feel of his hand in hers.

“This is the guest bath, and this is the second bedroom. I’ve got it set up for guests.”

“It would make a great…” She gulped and shot him a quick look.

“A nursery?”

She couldn’t tell how he felt about that from his neutral tone, but she wasn’t going to lie to him and say she didn’t want kids. No matter how terrifying the prospect was, today had reminded her that her family, and her mate, had her back. “Yes.”

He grinned back at her. “Good.”

The relief made her light-headed.

“And this is the master bedroom.” He opened a door wide, showing a very masculine, very bachelor bedroom. Dark cocoa walls, a king-sized bed with attached end tables and the biggest television this side of a movie theater were the only things in the room.

He seemed pleased by it. He waited for her reaction with a big grin on his face.

It was a good thing she was a shifter, because it was darker than the inside of a troll’s asshole in here. “Where’s the lights?”

He flipped a switch, and the ceiling fan she hadn’t noticed before lit up.

“Oh.” She bit her lip. “What about when you want to read in bed?”

His grin dimmed. “Kindle.” He glanced around, as if suddenly realizing she was less than enthused. “You don’t like it?”

It wasn’t the eclectic, kind of crazy room she adored, but she could work with what was in here. “Can I bring my afghan?”

He seemed relieved. “Yup.”

“Can I bring my pillows?” Because, God help her, this room needed color like a caffeine addict needed Starbucks.

“Sure.”

“Can I—”

He put his hand over her mouth. “Whatever you want, put it in here.”

She licked his palm until he removed his hand with a grimace. “Can we ditch the TV?”

“Fuck no.”

“But—”

“No.” He pointed to the wall-mounted entertainment center. “That’s where I do some of my relaxing.”

There was every game console she could think of on that wall, along with a ton of games. “Why not move it to the family room?”

“And let your brothers and cousins get at it?” He shuddered. “They’d delete all my saves.”

She wanted to think up a compromise. He was taking her into his home, but it was going to be
their
home. “How about we make an ‘us’ cave?”

He stared at the television. “An us cave?”

She nodded. “Pick a room—”

“—and put the TV and game consoles in there?”

“If you make it off-limits to guests your games won’t get messed up.” The more she thought about it, the more she liked it.

He put his arm around her, his gaze still glued to the television. “But what would you do?”

She stared at the controllers. “Learn to pray.”

“Huh?” He saw what she was looking at and laughed. “Oh.”

She shrugged, unfazed by his amusement. She knew enough gamers to know cursing and praying went with the territory. “Might be good therapy.”

“For your hands?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Nope. I’m training for the perfect swamp ass.”

He coughed, peering at her behind. “Two out of three ain’t bad.”

She blushed. “Shut up, you.”

He swung her around and picked her up around her waist. “Wanna play with my joystick?”

“That depends.”

“On?” He carefully put her down on the bed, then knelt and took off her sandals.

Chloe winked. “On whether or not you’re going to mash my buttons.” She wiggled as he pulled her pants down.

“I stroke keys. Caress them. I know which ones to press to get the achievement.” He looked at her through his lashes, his T-shirt joining her jeans. “But if you try going offline I might have to unleash an AOE to wake you back up.”

Okay, now he’d lost her. “What’s an AOE?”

He laughed. “It means area of effect, like a fireball spell.”

“Oh.” She tugged her own T-shirt off. “I really don’t want my tail singed.”

“But I like it when you get all hot and bothered.” He reached around and unhooked her bra. With a little wiggly help from her, he lifted it away and dropped it on the floor.

“There’s a difference between tanned and burnt.” Chloe unbuttoned his jeans, concentrating on that so hard she didn’t realize he’d frozen. “What?”

“Little Miss Chloe.” He nipped her neck. “Are we into kink?”

She snarled as her eyes changed color. “You are
not
turning my behind fifty shades of red.”

“Don’t worry,” he snickered, his five o’clock shadow brushing against her sensitive skin. “I only spank bad pups.” He flinched, rearing up as her hand smacked his ass. “Ow! What was that for?”

She wagged her finger at him. “Bad puppy.”

He grumbled under his breath, but instead of making love to her, like she’d thought he was going to, he yawned so wide she could see the bumps at the back of his throat.

“Tired?”

“I’m fine.” His lips clamped shut, but it wasn’t like she couldn’t see his chest expanding or his eyes squinting. He let the held-back yawn out in one long, slow breath. “See?”

“Bull pit.” She tugged him until he lay down next to her, then reached for the covers. “Moving and mad moms make you tired.”

He grimaced, his hand resting on her breast. “But, I want it.”

She patted him on the head like the little kid he resembled. “You can have it later.”

“Promise?” His voice was already fading.

She brushed his hair tenderly off his forehead, then kissed it. “Promise.”

“I’ve always wanted a tattoo.” Spencer glanced around Cynful with a gleeful expression and rubbed his hands together. “Can I have Grumpy Cat?”

Chloe laughed as Jim flicked the back of his brother’s head. “Dork.”

“What?” Spencer smacked Jim’s hand away when Jim went to flick him again. “Asshole.”

“At least get an animal that isn’t a meme.” Jim strode forward to shake hands with Ryan.

“Like what, a flamingo? Cause everything else is taken.” Spencer rolled forward too. “Hi. You must be Chloe’s brother, Ryan, right?”

Ryan blinked. “How’d you know?”

“You were snarling at Jim.”

Chloe glared at her brother. “He didn’t do anything bong, Ryan.”

“Reflex. Sorry.” Ryan held his hand out to Spencer. “You must be Jim’s brother, right?”

“What gave it away?” Spencer grinned.

“You smell similar.”

“That’s because I stole his body wash.” Spencer winked at Cyn, who stood behind the counter. “So, you’re a shifter?”

Ryan eyed Chloe then nodded. “A Grizzly.”

I’ve been dying to ask this.” Spencer’s eyes widened. “Can I be a wereskunk? That would be
awesome.
”

Ryan groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “There are no weremoles, wererats, wereskunks, werechipmunks, werebunnies other than Alex…”

Chloe giggled at that, then tuned them out. She’d heard a similar spiel before, when she’d questioned her parents about what kinds of shifters existed. Shifters were all mammals, omnivorous or carnivorous, no larger than a Grizzly and no smaller than a Fox. Those kinds of questions were common from those who were just learning about them, or from shifter children who either didn’t know any better or just wanted to see that vein pop on their parents’ foreheads.

“…and
no
, repeat,
no
werecapybaras.”

Cappy what?
Chloe shook her head as Spencer wheeled himself over to Cyn, talking quietly with her. From the expression on Cyn’s face the two of them were going to get along like peanut butter and chocolate. “What do you think he’ll choose?”

“I don’t know, but I’m kind of hoping Wolf.” Jim shrugged. “Still, I’ll be happy with whatever he wants.”

“You want my opinion?”

Jim nodded. “Always.”

Chloe smiled, pleased with his instant response. “I think he’s either going to choose the Pumas or the Bears.”

“Why?” Jim was staring at her curiously.

“The way he interacts with people. He’d fit in beautifully with either my family or the Pumas. He’s got the same sense of humor as Emma, but the tenacity of Ryan.” She watched as Cyn shook her head and gestured for Spencer to follow her into her work area. “Five clucks says he comes back with a pissed-off cat tattoo.”

“No bets.” Jim kissed the top of her head. “I know my brother better than anyone, and he’s in there right now getting a famous snowshoe Siamese inked somewhere on his body.”

“You think Cyn will explain Bears to him?” Chloe bit her lip and eyed the closed curtain. “She’s so new herself she might not be cable to answer all his questions.”

“We can go in there, make sure he gets all the information he needs.” Jim grimaced. “Or you can. It’s not like I know much more than she does.”

“I can get Ryan to talk to him after he drops me off tonight too.” Chloe was beginning to think bringing Spencer into the shop to talk about shifters might not have been the brightest idea. Anyone getting inked or pierced in one of the other rooms could overhear, and if they weren’t a shifter, it could be bad.

“Then let’s go see how Spence is doing before I head off to work.” He’d had last Saturday off, so today was his day to go in.

“Sure thing.” She followed him into Cyn’s workspace, grinning when she saw the beginnings of… “Is that a wheelchair?”

“Yup.” Cyn shook her head, smiling slightly. “Got him to change his mind. We’re putting something better on his leg.”

“Like?”

Spencer winced as Cyn inked a thick, rounded line. “Professor X, the most bad-ass wheelchair-bound superhero known to man.”

“Good call.” Jim patted Spencer’s shoulder, careful not to shake him and ruin the lines of Cyn’s work.

“I want the cat on his shoulder, though.” Spencer winked as Cyn rolled her eyes.

Cyn bit her lip and tilted her head, studying her design. “How about Nightcrawler perched on the back?”

“And have the Professor looking annoyed, while Nightcrawler looks smug?”

“I like the way you think.” Cyn began free-handing the professor, something Chloe hadn’t seen done before. Usually the design was done on transfer paper, placed on the skin, then the lines traced before color was added. Free-handing meant that Cyn was working without a template on the skin. It was something, watching Cyn work the ink into Spencer’s skin, the design taking shape before them.

“How’s your tattoo coming, little vixen?” Jim whispered in her ear, the brush of his lips sending shivers down her spine. “I haven’t seen it yet.”

That was because they hadn’t been naked together again since he’d claimed her in her apartment. She’d gotten up before him that morning, so he hadn’t had a chance to see it. “It’s coming.”

Jim coughed. “Really?”

The way he drawled that had her poking him with her elbow, hard. “Perv.”

He chuckled. “I want to see it.”

Since it was hidden under her T-shirt she’d have to practically remove it for him to see it. “Later.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Jim slipped his arm around her waist and tilted his head. “What say we leave Spence in Cyn’s hands and go get some coffee?”

The gagging sound from Tabby’s work area had Cyn shaking her head no at them with wide eyes.

Jim smirked. “Or, we could continue the family tradition of having sex in the break room.”

This time it was Ryan who gagged.

“I don’t think anyone here wants to see the Wolf moon today.” Spencer shuddered, earning a glare from Cyn. “The beaver moon, on the other hand…”

Both women stared at Spencer, then reached out and smacked him.

“Ow.” Spencer rubbed his head. “You two are no fun.”

“Ugh.” Chloe rolled her eyes and looked at Jim. “Maybe we should force Spencer to become a Wolf, because your brother is a dog.”

“Hey, now. Just because I have specific reasons for wanting to go to the beach this summer does not mean I’m a dog.”

Jim’s face became suspiciously blank.

Chloe glared up at him, but asked Spencer, “Why?”

“Butt cheeks and boobs.” He waved his hand slowly in the air, like Vanna White showing off a panoramic view of T&A. “Butt cheeks and boobs everywhere.”

“Oh yeah. His ass needs to Wolf out.” Cyn snorted and got back to work.

“Speaking of canines, George is well enough to come home tonight.” Jim steered Chloe away from a comically leering Spencer and back toward the front door. “He’s neutered, de-wormed, de-flea’d and out of the woods.”