Wolf With Benefits (11 page)

Reason fled and his wolf surged closer and closer to the surface with every luxurious stroke. Shi dug her nails into his shoulders as they found their rhythm. Her cries filled his ears, every sumptuous exhale and groan pushing him closer to the edge.

When his balls drew tighter, he fought the urge to come. Her pussy worked him like a vice. She broke their kiss, her back arching and her head tipping toward the pillows. Her bare throat beckoned him and he wanted to…

“Bite me, Matt.” The words were punctuated by harsh breaths as though she had to fight to get them out. His wolf lunged, but Matt fought to keep him in check.

“Are you sure?”

“About you?” She gripped him, her thighs tightening as he drove home over and over. “Yes…I’m sure.”

Loosening the leash, he sank his teeth into the soft juncture between her throat and shoulder even as he slid a hand between them to stroke her clit. She stiffened, then cried out. The world splintered as he bit down and he came with a ferociousness he’d never experienced. Shiloh filled the void he’d never known existed. His chest sparked with a burning as though they fused into one. Pure pleasure suffused him and they collapsed together.

Nuzzling her neck, he laved at the injury he’d created. One bite wouldn’t turn her, but that didn’t matter. His mate held him. His mate accepted him. Cradled in her arms and drenched in the scent of their love making, he let his awareness of her fill him. Her heart beat next to his—right where she belonged.

Mine
.

T
he next three
days passed in a blissful haze of interruptions, reunions and more lovemaking. Matt barely slept four hours in her arms before his phone summoned him to another emergency. Without his car, he packed what he needed into a waterproof bag and she strapped it on him so he could make the run. The only thing keeping her from worrying was the arrival of a Hunter to run with him. When he returned later that night, he dragged her into the shower with him and they made love all over again before crawling into bed to sleep.

Over and over again, the pattern repeated. Matt promised her it was only bad because of the fierce winter storm. When it finally passed, she helped him dig out the driveway and his parents’ lawn—ignoring his every entreaty to let him do it. Human or not, she wasn’t helpless. They retrieved her car, shopped, ice-danced—a better word than slip and slide—in the street and even had lunch at the local café after it opened again.

More than the weather began to thaw as the residents seemed more inclined to speak to her. Or maybe she wasn’t as sensitive to their disapproval. She could feel Matt, even when he wasn’t with her, and the sensation left her giddy. Linda and Will gave her a hug the first time they saw her. Oddly, she hadn’t had to say a word. Then she remembered the mark on her throat. It had deepened to a dazzling blue-purple, but despite the coloration, it didn’t hurt. Not even a little.

If she touched it or Matt grazed his fingers over it, shivers raced through her system.
Mated.
It was so weird and so right in the same breath. When she arrived at Mrs. Huston’s on Thursday—as ordered—for tea, she froze at the sight of her mother’s car in the driveway.

Her mother didn’t clean Tiffany’s house. Matt was off on another call, one he didn’t expect to take long at A.J.’s place. Vivian, a software developer, had installed some new computer equipment and overloaded the box. Matt planned to do some rewiring and add more grounders—whatever the hell that meant—and said he’d meet her after tea.

Though she’d parked, her heart raced and her palms went damp. Her mother would be furious, probably disappointed and hurt, too. She could live with her anger. Hell, she could live with the disapproval. She’d managed to for most of her life. But what if her mother cut her out the way she had Tiffany? What if she ended their relationship?

Shiloh could handle just about anything, but losing her mom as though she’d died? Not really an option she wanted to contemplate. Her cell phone rang. Desperate to delay leaving the relative safety of her car for the house and whatever reception awaited her, she answered.

“Shi, what’s wrong?” Matt’s voice helped allay some of the dread roiling in her stomach.

“How the hell did you know I needed to hear your voice?” He’d always had impeccable timing, but calling when she sat outside Tiffany’s was eerily accurate, even for him.

“Mate,” he said by way of explanation. “We’ll dig into that later. What’s wrong?”

“My mom is here.”

“Did she say something?” Bless him, he didn’t ask why her mother’s presence would upset her.

“No, I haven’t seen her yet. Her car is in the Huston’s driveway.” Swallowing hard, she tried to stop dwelling on the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Matt, I haven’t talked to her since I moved out. I haven’t even listened to her messages.”

“It’s going to be okay. Mrs. Huston is there, and Alexis. They’re on your side. Your mother being there might be a good thing, y’know?” Definitely one way to look at it.

“Or they could be ambushing her, too. In which case…” Her mother would be furious, hurt, and probably a whole host of other unpleasant reactions.

“Shi, whatever she is…it’s her problem, not yours to wrestle with. Love her. Accept what she is willing to give. Be who
you
are.” Absolute faith resonated within his every word. “We haven’t talked about it, but babe, I don’t expect you to change unless you want to.”

“If I don’t, we can’t have kids.” Matt had been extremely explicit on that point. He’d even offered to get a vasectomy to assure them both he could never endanger her. The generosity of spirit and wealth of love in the offer undid her every time she thought about it.

“Then we don’t have kids. I love
you
. I want to spend the rest of our lives together.” And hers would be shorter if she stayed human. Healthy wolves could live well into their hundreds, and rumor held some as old as two hundred, though she’d never met one. “Pita, you’re my mate. I will always put you first. You want to be human, then you’re human and you’re mine and anyone who doesn’t like it deals with me.”

“Good to hear, dog breath. And if I want to change? If I want to be a wolf so I can really share every part of your life?”
Damn
. As soon as the words left her lips, she knew them for the certainty they were true. She did want to change. She wanted to be a wolf, she wanted to be Matt’s partner in everything.

“Well,” he said with a long sigh. “Then you’re going to have dog breath, too.”

Laughter split her tension in two and the dread curdling her soul vanished. “I love you.”

“Damn straight you do.” A grin practically echoed in his deep baritone. “You can do this, Shi. If you need me, I’m there.”

“I know you are.” She did. His phone call more than proved how attuned to her he was. Would she be as lucky? Or luckier as the case may be. “Go fix A.J.’s power and get Vivian back to work. I can do this.”

“That’s my girl. Give her hell, Shi.”

They disconnected and she stopped hiding in the car. In her life, she’d made good choices and bad. She’d also willingly accepted the consequences of every action. Her mother didn’t have to like her choices, but she did have to respect them.
I want Mom in my life, but she doesn’t rule it. Not anymore.

The front door opened as she let herself out of the car. Her mother said something to Tiffany before turning. Mrs. Huston gave her a gentle smile and a nod of encouragement.

Delia Sullivan seemed to have aged in the five days since Shiloh had last seen her.
Five days?
It seemed eons. Bundled in her coat, she seemed even smaller somehow. The fierce mother reduced to a kind looking, older woman to whom smiles had never come easy.

“Shiloh.”

“Mom.”

Silence stretched between them. The cold air nipped at her nose and cheeks, but she settled for pulling her jacket tighter around her. The knit cap over her hair kept her ears warm. At least her mother couldn’t see the bite…the moment the thought crossed her mind, Shiloh relaxed her shoulders and stopped hunching into the jacket.

Let her mother see the mark. Shiloh had made her choice. She wouldn’t rub her face in it, but she refused to be ashamed, either.

“I hope you came through the storm all right.” Dad said they had, but she elected to not throw him under the bus in case he hadn’t mentioned speaking to her.
Their marriage. Their business.

“We did fine. We have a lot of work to catch up on now, houses we missed because we were snowed in. Fortunately, most of our clients are more than willing to accommodate our tight scheduling.” The sensible tone lacked any real emotion.

“That’s great.” Could they be anymore awkward? Her mother didn’t even seem to be looking at her directly, instead she rooted through her purse. “I don’t want to hold you up…”

“Are you and Matthew an item now?” The question froze her in her tracks.

“Yes.” It came out a lot lower than she intended, and considerably more strained, so she cleared her throat and went for take two. “Yes. We’re more than an item. I’m his mate. He’s mine.”

Nodding slowly, Mom couldn’t quite hide the disapproval in her eyes though she seemed to be struggling to smile. “I see.”

“I hope so. I love him, Mom. He loves me.” If she said one word about Matt—one damn, negative thing…

“Will Linda be throwing the party?”

The question caught her off-guard. “What?”

“The mating party. Usually when the wolves mate, they have a big party. Sometimes they even host a wedding, but the party is usually quite nice. Will Linda be hosting it for you?”

“I, um…I have no idea.” It hadn’t even occurred to her someone might want to give them a party. “We’ve been pretty much celebrating on our own when Matt isn’t working. I don’t know about a party.”

Dropping her keys back into the purse, Delia then fished out her phone. “I’ll make a note to call her. It’s my understanding the parents of both parties are usually involved and…I know what foods you like.”

Her heart squeezed at the olive branch. “Crab stuffed mushrooms?” She couldn’t quite keep the hope out of her voice.

“Of course. And marble cupcakes. I think I can even do a wedding cake, if you’d like one.”
Was that a hint?

“If we have a wedding…” Matt hadn’t asked her to marry him, but then mating was like marriage only far less formal and a whole lot more permanent. She chewed her lower lip. “Would you help me if we have a wedding? I’ve never planned one.” Her mother had done several.

“Indian summer,” Mom said, taking a step closer to her. “When the leaves have begun to turn, but it’s still so warm outside you want to go swimming in the lake. You love that time of year even if it meant going back to school. You and Matthew always used to run down to the lake and use the tire swing to see who could land the farthest out.” Then she added, “We could make a laurel out of autumn leaves and floral arrangements. I’m sure Tiffany would know what’s perfect for the time of year. A laurel would look amazing on you. Your dress doesn’t even have to be white, but I know the perfect fabric if you decide to go that way.”

Wow.
“Outdoor wedding sounds pretty great.” Even with five feet of snow on the ground like they had after the storm. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Maybe we can get together in a couple of weeks, after I get caught up with all the houses we’re behind on?” The uncertainty in her mother’s voice shocked her even more than the discussion of the wedding.

If she took the change, would she be ready in a couple of weeks? Or should she ease Mom into the idea? “I’d love that. Can I call you to try and pin down the best time for us?”

Her mother hesitated, then she took a step toward her and finally wrapped her arms around her. It was a tight, fierce hug over nearly as soon as it started. “I know you think I’m a foolish woman. I can’t say I approve of your choice to change, but I know Matthew is a good boy and I know he loves you. I will do my best to not…I will do my best.”

Catching her mom’s hands before she could pull away, Shiloh smiled. “Thank you, Mom. I mean that. Truly. Thank you.”

She nodded, her eyes suspiciously wet. “Forgive me, I have to get going or I’ll be behind again.”

“If you need help, I still remember how to clean.”

Her mother paused. “Aren’t you here to see Tiffany?”

Shiloh could ask her the same thing, but remembering Matt’s advice she let it go. “I am, but if you can give me a minute I’ll let her know I need to help my mom and reschedule.”

“I don’t want to intrude.”

Enough of that
. “Mom, family is the only one who is allowed to intrude and you’re not. I’m offering. I want to help.”

Not waiting for her to answer, Shiloh hurried to the steps and found Tiffany waiting for her at the door. “I’m going to help my mom. Would you and Alexis mind if I took a raincheck on our tea?”

Alexis peeked around her mother with a grin. Standing side-by-side with Tiffany, their alikeness shown. “Not at all. Moms are important.”

Tiffany laughed and wrapped her arm around Alexis. “So are daughters. We have lots to talk about, I’m sure. Congratulations to you and Matt.” She pressed a kiss to her cheek, then Alexis squeezed her with a quick hug.

“Definitely congrats to Matt, and yes, if you have any questions.” They didn’t need to say it. Yes, she wanted to change and yes, she had a dozen questions.

“Trust me, I will call.” She was halfway down the walk before she remembered Mason’s cryptic remark from a few days before. Pivoting she glanced back at Alexis. He’d known Matt would ask him for permission to turn her or that she would ask permission to turn.
Either way…
“Can you tell Mason we said thank you for his yes?”

“I’m pretty sure he knows,” Alexis grinned, adoration for her mate lighting her eyes. “But I will tell him.”

“Thanks.”

Fortunately, her mother had waited for her and Shiloh pointed to her car. “I’ll follow you, okay?”

The long, thoughtful look her mother gave her before glancing at the house then back again worried her. Her mother knew. All her fears and prejudices might keep them from ever crossing the bridge to each other again, but Shiloh wouldn’t give up. Matt was right, she could only be who she was—herself.

“Okay.” Her mother said, then smiled. “I have a feeling we have a lot to talk about as well.”

Relief swamped her and deep inside her heart, she felt Matt’s love. The warmth of it delighted her. He’d been right there with her, rooting for her. “Definitely.”

So much to talk about.

W
inter was his busiest season
, particularly since the two senior wolves made sure he picked up all the worst shifts and tasks. They’d done them for years and through worst conditions—as they often reminded him—he’d never had cause to complain before, but his
mate
was at his apartment more often alone than with him. The ease with which he’d moved her into his space and allowed her to inhabit it shouldn’t surprise him. Years of friendship offered them a level of blissful comfort, yet he didn’t want to be away from her.

Pack needs superseded his personal desires, however. Winter would end sooner or later, then he could turn the tables on his fellow electrical engineers. He’d let them take the majority of tasks while he escaped with Shiloh and helped her through the turn. Every conversation they’d had in the last several days circled back to the singular topic. His mate seemed intent on leaping off the fence and rushing headlong into the decision. So far, he’d delayed her rush.

The icy road conditions aggravated him, but he and the jeep had seen far worse. Fortunately, the call had been a simple one—two hours rather than what seemed to be the typical eight to ten he’d had recently. After turning onto his block, he slowed. Shiloh’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but her mother’s was.