At One's Pleasure (13 page)

When Rebecca
fell asleep she was curled up around Jacob.  When she awoke it was Griffin who
was spooned along her back with a steely arm latched around her waist.  She
knew Linc and Jacob were in the other room because she could hear them
murmuring through the walls.  She could smell bacon, butter, and yeast, so she
knew they had breakfast delivered.  She also knew the exact minute Griffin woke
up and it wasn't because his arm tightened.

"Why
can I smell and hear and feel you all more today than I did yesterday."

"Your
wolf is waking up."  His morning voice was lower and more gravely than
normal, which was saying something.  It made her shiver in a good way.  "I
told you your senses will be heightened."

Rebecca
sighed.

Griffin
pulled her over onto her back and under him while he leaned over her on an
elbow.  He brushed her hair back from her face.  "Did I hurt you last
night?"

"Hurt
me?  No."  She moistened her lips.  "You scared me a little.  But, it
must be said you certainly know how to make an impression.  Do you usually
repress all emotion until you blow?"

"Probably." 
His voice got even lower, his tone going steel hard.  "I'll never hurt
you."

She shook
her head, her body softening beneath him.  Her hands went to either side of his
face, pushing back his fall of hair so she could see his shuttered eyes. 
"I know that, Griffin.  I'm more worried about you.  You know, last night
you expressed emotion and the world did not end.  Nobody thinks any less of you
for having them.  You don't have to hide from what you feel."

"Maybe
I think less of me."

"Then
you're an idiot."  She smiled playfully.  "I thought it was
hot."

His brows
went up in surprise.  "You thought it was hot?"  His voice was pure
disbelief. 

She nodded
her head against the bed.  Her eyes twinkling with mischief.  "Well, you
were all intense and needy, then you ripped off your clothes and stood with all
those muscles rippling.  It was hot."

He lifted
his head, his brows lowering.  "You are joking.  You could have been
hurt."

She
snorted.  "Yeah right."  She rubbed her hand down the side of his
face.  Her eyes turning liquid.  "Big bad wolf.  Out of your mind with
rage and pain and you took the time to touch my face.  You're not so
tough."  She shrugged her shoulder, her tone switching from soft to
teasing once again.  "Though it was very impressive the way you and Linc
turned into giant wolves and leapt over the third floor balcony.”  She wiggled
her brows suggestively.  "Hot."  Then she smiled impishly. 
"Once I got over the bone numbing fear.  You are one freakishly large
wolf."

Griffin
shook his head, studying her smile and the way her green eyes lit from within
with her strange idea of humor.  "You never do what I expect.  I don't
know whether to paddle your ass for taking chances with an obviously unstable
wolf like myself, or thank my lucky stars you are so fearless with your own
wellbeing."

Her eyes
narrowed.  "Do I get a vote?"

"No. 
You clearly have no sense, otherwise you'd be trying to go over the balcony
today instead of smiling so fucking beautiful it makes my heart hurt to see
it."

Rebecca
blinked, the words struck a chord deep inside her and it wiped the humor off
her face.  She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, her mind was
blanked by both the words and the way he said them.  Like he meant them.

"Griffin." 
She whispered it, and he swooped down and took his name from her lips.  He
kissed her hard and deep, then his lips softened on hers and became the apology
he hadn't offered in words.  Sweet and tender, there was so much said with that
kiss that it brought tears to her eyes.  It was too much.  She broke the kiss
breathing hard and caught in his chocolate eyes.

He brushed
his hand down her cheek while he held her eyes with his.  "Looks like I'm
not the only one hiding."

***

Since Linc
had the superb timing to interrupt right then with a pile of clothes for her to
wear, Rebecca took the chance to escape into the bathroom as fast as she
could.  Griffin let her go, though she knew from the alpha waves reaching out
to her that he was only going to allow it so long.  She would just have to deal
with it then.  Right now, she was just grateful for the reprieve. 

She took a
shower and dressed in jeans and a thick wool/cashmere sweater that felt like a
dream and snuggled her from neck to hips in a cloud of turquoise warmth.  It
was by far the most beautiful sweater she had ever worn.  Linc had produced it
out of thin air this morning, along with silk long johns wool/silk socks and
new hiking boots.  How, she had no idea, she was just grateful for the warmth. 
Who knew she would need a Montana weather outfit when vacationing in the
Caribbean?  Her mother had been right all along.  Pack for
any
eventuality.  The jury was still out on the ‘always follow your heart’ bit.

She walked
into the main living area of the suite to Linc, Jacob, Logan and surprisingly
Cleo, who in her own outfit of jeans, tall boots and girl flannel, made Rebecca
feel downright dowdy, and really short.
  Sigh.

“Hey Becca. 
Wow, I knew when I saw it that sweater would look good on you but it makes your
eyes look crazy good, and you're all soft and curvy.”  She sighed.  "Makes
me feel like a gawky stick figure."

Becca smiled
her big smile, unaware of how her eyes lit up when she did it.  "Cleo, I
think...and I'm not exaggerating, that you are my new bestest bff, you give the
best compliments.  Not to mention you have phenomenal taste in sweaters."

"Cool,"
Cleo laughed.  "Just warning you though, I don't do manicures, or chick
flicks and long boring nights of guy bashing."

"What?" 
Becca opened her eyes in exasperated surprise.  Then shrugged.  "Okay, but
what about margaritas and chocolate parties?"  She held up a hand to halt
any arguments that might be forthcoming before she could finish.  "With a
possible minute amount of drunken ramblings, that might, or might not include,
some boyfriend bashing." 

Cleo's smile
went huge.  "I think I can handle margaritas, though I think I should
broaden your liquor horizon if that’s the best you can do."

"Sha-sha-sha." 
Becca wiped the air in front of her face as if she was wiping away that last
statement.  "Don't kill the love when we just started bonding.  I like to
think my margarita galas are all kinds of tough chick, hard drinking,
nights."

Cleo laughed
again.  "Then I would rename them something other than Galas, if I were
you.  But I think I can keep from laughing my ass off, at least until you pass
out."

Becca smiled
her big smile again.  Grateful for a minute of testosterone free teasing.  Plus
Cleo looked happy; Becca got the feeling she didn't have many female friends.

Rebecca
turned to Linc, raising an eyebrow.  “You let me think this sweater was your
great taste, you faker.”

Linc walked
over and pulled her in for a quick kiss.  “I never said I picked it out
personally.  But she’s right.  You look incredible in it.”

She studied
him for signs of sadness, and they were there but he was dealing with them so
she didn't pick at it.  “Well, you don’t look so bad yourself; did Cleo pick
out your sweater too?”  It was steal grey and cable knit.  His pants were black
corduroy, and his boots dark leather.  He looked like a well to do outdoorsman,
with a rockin’ body.  Whereas Jacob in his jeans, and battered thermal looked
like a college guy on a camping trip, with a rockin body. 

“She did
not.  Unlike you I was up early and had time to shop for myself.”

“The stores
here open that early?”

“Not as a
rule no, but the resort manager made an exception and allowed us access to the
shops in the lobby.”

Becca rolled
her eyes.  “Right.  Of course they did.  You know, it occurs to me there is a
reason you are all so sure of always getting what you want.”

 Logan now,
had clearly not shopped.  He had his normal cowboy wear and had just added a
Sherpa lined denim jacket that looked older than the hills.  Of course, it made
his shoulders look impossibly wide, and she wasn’t going to notice how great
his ass looked in those faded Levis. 

Rebecca
looked around the room shaking her head at them all.  Besides herself, if they
were trying for inconspicuous today they weren’t going to get it.  No way was
this group going anywhere without scores of drooling fans remembering it keenly
and with great affection.  They were definitely a sigh worthy sight.

Just then
Griffin walked in from the side room in blue/black flannel and denim.  Rebecca
lost her train of thought and stared.  He looked like a Mountain Man.  A hot,
ripped, mountain man with morning stubble, and sinewy forearms. 

Good Lord,
even the man’s arms are sexy. 

She was in
serious trouble, because Griffin in flannel revved her libido in a big way.  As
in, five seconds later every shapeshifter in the room, which was
every-dang-body, sniffed, and then immediately turned and looked in her
direction.

Well
Crapola. 

She crossed
her arms defensively.  “What?”  She tried really hard not to look at Griffin in
his flannel, and she was never going to look any of them in the eyes again,
ever.  It was just too embarrassing.  “Shouldn’t we be eating our breakfast
before it gets late?”

“I’ll check
in with the driver while you all eat.”  If Logan was trying to hide the humor
in his voice, he failed miserably.  “Cleo you’re with me until go time.”

"Right." 
Cleo's voice was sympathetic, which was almost worse than Logan’s humor. 
"Later Bec."

She didn’t
look at them, she was just happy they left without another word.  But then she
was alone with the wolves.  Not so good.

“That’s
quite the blush you have going there Babe.”  Jacob said, coming at her from the
side and running a finger down her fiery cheek.  “Wanna tell us what has you so
hot and bothered?”

“Nope.”  She
popped the word out, pushed his hand away, and headed for the breakfast set
up.  Unfortunately Griffin could move fast when he wanted to, and he was in her
way, as in she was suddenly face to blue black flannel and he smelled as
amazing as he looked, cotton and male animal in his prime.  She wanted to bite
him so bad she could feel her teeth aching with it.

What…
the… heck!  Since when do I have a flannel fetish?

She tried to
hurry around him even as she felt her womb contract between her legs, but he
grabbed her arm and held her to his chest.  “Becca?”  His gravelly voice on top
of hot mountain man flannel and denim was straight up sexy.  Any second now,
she was going to climb him like a monkey.  A sex crazed monkey.

Freaking
shapeshifter genes.  This was just not normal.

“What is it
sweetheart?”  Linc asked from the other side of Jacob.

“Nothing. 
Can we just eat breakfast?”

Griffin ignored
her, pulling her closer and sniffed around her neck.  He trailed the tip of his
nose from one side of her collarbone to the other.  “What has you smelling so
good, little bit?”  Then he growled.  “Good enough to eat.”

“You smell
fucking amazing.”  Jacob pressed in close behind her until she could feel his
hardening cock even through thick denim at her ass.  He pushed her hair away
and bit down at the back of her neck.  “Fuck, baby.” 

Crap.Crap...Crap! 
She face planted into Griffin’s flannel covered chest. 
Yep, still
smelled amazing.

  She
nuzzled into flannel that was warm from his skin and purred.

"Uh,
Becca?"  Griffin said, a slight growl to his voice.  "You keep that
up and we won't make it out of this suite today."

"Okay,"
she said, and bit down through the soft cotton right over his nipple.

"Fuck."

"He
means baby, that we will miss the funeral," Jacob said.  A laugh in his
voice.

"Right." 
Becca backed up, licking her lips.  Her cheeks even redder and her eyes out of
focus.  “We have to go to that.  Cause, well... we have to."

Jacob barked
out a laugh, while Linc choked on his own.  Griffin was not laughing.  He
growled low, then leaned down until his nose rubbed hers and she looked up at
him. 

"When
we get back tonight I want that look back on your face."

Becca
widened her eyes and swallowed.  "Um, what look?"

"The
one where you look at me like I'm the sexiest thing you've ever seen and you
want to rip off my clothes."

She cleared
her throat, squeezing her thighs together against the need.  "Will you be
wearing that shirt?"

He blinked,
clearly surprised.  "Probably."

"Then I
can guarantee I'll be looking at you just like that."

He threw
back his head and laughed.  He just let lose.  It was beautiful and Becca
watched mesmerized, until he was done and he leaned back down to kiss her on
the lips.

"All
right, little bit.  I'll make sure not to change, if you like the shirt that
much, hell, I'll have it bronzed, if you like it that much."

"No,
because what I like about it is that it’s on you.  Bronzing it would defeat the
purpose."  She spoke without thinking, but it made the smile fill
Griffin’s eyes with tenderness. 

"Good
to know."  He kissed her again, and then smacked her ass on the way to the
breakfast table.  "Let’s eat." 

Well,
someone's feeling smug this morning.

There wasn’t
much to laugh at the rest of the day.  It felt weird arriving for a meet the
family that was going to precede a funeral in jeans, but apparently
shapeshifter funerals are come as you are, at least the Montana ones are.  As
for the meetings, they were intense.  No one was worried about a dress code,
but you could cut the tension in that room with a knife.  Not to mention it was
a good idea to come armed anyway.

The house
where the meeting was to take place was deep in the Montana wilderness just
past the Bob nature preserve boundaries.  There were supposedly a whole slew of
houses around the place, but you wouldn’t know it from looking.  The road was a
bumpy dirt road with no street sign just off another dirt road with no sign. 
No way would you find your way here if you didn’t have precise guy
instructions.  Something like ‘go to the second rock and turn left’ kind of
thing.  Lucky for them, Griffin was driving and he had grown up here.

When they
turned into the final dirt track that served as the driveway to the house,
Becca was happy to see the two-story farmhouse that was their destination.

“Are we
still in Montana do you think?”  She asked looking around after the long
drive.  There was that absence of sound you get when you turn off the car after
a long drive.  As if you have come to the end of a moment and the world is
breathing.

It was a
lovely old house, with a wraparound porch and many windows.  The wood was
finished but not painted so it blended into the trees that surrounded it as if
it had sprung from the same roots.

“The
Canadian border is still a few hours away through the mountains, though as the
crow flies, its closer.”  Linc was watching the house over her shoulder as they
talked. 

She took his
hand in hers and smiled while she squeezed it to show she was teasing him. 
“Ooh, as the crow flies.  I always liked that saying.  Is that native slang
around these parts?”

“Only if
you’re an American Indian.”  Griffin’s voice was dry.  He was beside Jacob in
the front seat, with Cleo and Logan following in the second car.  He turned
around, already speaking.  “When we get in here, I want you two surrounding her
at all times.  The only one who gets close is Cleo and she’s her shadow.”

Becca
narrowed her eyes in Griffin’s direction.  “Was I the ‘her’ in that order? 
Because I’m sitting right here.”

Griffin
turned hard eyes her way.  “You are definitely the ‘her’, and you will follow
my orders today.  Don’t test me here Rebecca.  Stay with Cleo, stay with Jacob
and Linc.  Too many things could go wrong.  We can argue when you’re safe back
at the hotel.”

“Fine.”  She
pointed her finger his way.  “Just keep in mind I have a brain and I can use
it.  Tone down the talking over me like I’m a child thing.”  She crossed her
arms.  “I have no problem following your lead in this situation, especially
when I have no idea what to expect.”

He studied
her crossed arms with raised a brow.  “Yes, you look open to suggestion and
very meek.  What was I worried about?”

  Rebecca
rolled her eyes.  “Relax Griffin.  I’m not going to go in there and throw down
against a bunch of strange shapeshifters.”

He shook his
head.  “Relax.  Right,” he mumbled, finally opening his door.  Jacob got out
with a snort of his own and came around to help Becca out, Linc right behind
her.

In the time
they had talked, the front porch had filled up.  Presumably by Griffin’s family
whom she had yet to meet.  They were two massive mountain men from what she
could tell at a distance.

Wonderful. 
Testosterone overload imminent.

Flanked by
Linc and Jacob, who was lacking his usual happy vibe, Rebecca felt small and
fragile.  Especially because everyone seemed to be treating her that way.

Well,
this won’t do. 
She raised her chin a bit and squared her shoulders.  They
were just men after all, well sort of men…who could do the rampaging beast
thing…and Griffin’s mother, who chose that moment to join her brood on the
porch. 

“Hello
Margaret.”  Becca smiled at the older woman who was once again looking at
Griffin as if he might disappear any moment.

She turned
to Rebecca and smiled back a touch shyly.  “Rebecca.  I’m so happy you came. 
These are my sons, Griffin’s brothers.  Rhett is the oldest.”  The man she
introduced looked like his father, and consequently Griffin, though he was
older and had a smattering of grey in his short hair.  He was even more his
father’s son because he had the same eyes.  “And this is Nathan, the middle
brother.”

Nathan was
the spitting image of his mother, not as burly as his brothers or father, but
still ripped and about two inches shorter then both his brothers at a miniscule
6’3”.  To top that off they were all drop dead gorgeous in big bad mountain man
ways.  Too bad none of them knew how to crack a smile.

“They grow
them big around these parts,” Rebecca said, with a slight twang and a smile. 
No reaction and they were all looking at Griffin now, so she followed their
gazes and saw he was looking just as unhappy as the other Hale boys.

“Mother,” he
started, his hand going with proprietary intent to the small of Becca’s back. 
“Maybe we could finish the introductions inside?  Becca’s not used to the
weather here.”

“I suppose
living in the tropics can make a person weak blooded.”  This deep voice came
from Rhett, who was giving his best impression of a pit bull guarding his
territory.  His eyes piercing and on Griffin.  Clearly, he was not welcoming
them in with a nice warm fire and some cocoa.  Just as clearly, from the sudden
hot vibes at her back, Griffin didn’t care for it.

“Well, I don’t
know about weak blooded, but if I don’t get inside soon you’ll need a crow bar
to unfreeze my feet from this walkway.”  Rebecca backed up and to the side
until she was plastered with her back against Griffin's front.  She pulled his
stiff arms up and around her shoulders, cuddling back against his chest.  Jacob
and Linc moved to follow and they flanked Griffin on both sides with Becca at
his front.  It was a clear statement of solidarity.  It also had the added
bonus of keeping Griffin from jumping up the porch steps and ripping out his
brother’s throat, which from the steel hard feel of his arms he was ready to
do.

“Rhett.” 
His mother was clearly shocked.  “Get out of the way and let them through,
where are your manners?”

“Since when
do we allow strays in the house?”

That was the
way wrong thing to say.  Rebecca braced against Griffin, who was getting ready
to lunge and felt the emotions of all her men shoot towards nova status. 
Before tempers could fire and people died she jumped in.

“Well crap,
are you in charge?  ‘Cause I have to say if you’re in charge I’d as soon get
back in the car and skip the family meeting.”  She turned from the big man
blocking their way to his appalled mother.  “No offence Margaret, but your
oldest son’s a bit of a wanker.”

Margaret
blinked, and then her mouth tipped up slightly like she wasn't sure she should
smile.  She raised her chin and glared at her oldest son.  “He can be.”

The wanker
in question glared down at Becca.  “What did you call me?”

“She called
you a wanker.”  Cleo said from off to the side, making everyone shift their
focus that way.  He seemed to briefly get stuck on all that was Cleo before
looking back. 

Becca smiled
up at him.  “It literally means ‘one who wanks.’” 

Jacob, who
had been tensing for a fight, snorted on a laugh.  When Becca looked over at
him, he looked like he was struggling to keep a straight face.  In fact, all
the guys seemed to be having the same problem.  Except Rhett, he looked like he
was trying to decide if he could punch a girl.

Cleo jumped
in helpfully.  “It’s the gentile English way of calling you a dick.”

“Who the
fuck are you?”  Rhett was getting huffy, glaring Cleo’s way, but his brother
Nathan had a totally different reaction.  He was all about the love.

He stepped
forward from where he had been lounging across the porch, his smile directed at
Cleo.  “Now Rhett, don’t be inhospitable.  Let the ladies come in.”  He looked
away from Cleo long enough to give Becca a wink.  “My father was detained on
pack business, but we were meant to welcome you until he could come himself.”

Now, Rhett
could either fight his brother, openly defying his Alphas orders, which would
be bad for him, or he could move aside.  He growled, but moved aside.

“And
please,” Nathan said.  “Bring your lovely friends.”

With Cleo
and a very severe Logan flanking them to escort them inside, they finally
headed up the stairs.  Becca leaned between the guys towards Cleo, whispering
on a laugh.  “The gentile English way?”

Cleo gave
her wide eyes that twinkled with mirth.  “One who wanks?”

Before Becca
could say anymore, Griffin laid a hold on the back of her neck that had her
straightening with a wince.

“What
happened to you not throwing down against strange shapeshifters?”  He growled
directly into her ear as they moved up the stairs.  Then nipped her lobe with
sharp teeth.  “Remind me to blister your ass when we get back to the suite.”

“Right,
that’ll be my first priority.”  She snorted.  “Like you weren’t about to
eviscerate the jerk and start some crazy pack war.”

“Rebecca.” 
He drew out her name like a warning. 

Linc leaned
in from her other side.  “At least
try
to stay out of trouble.”

“I will if
you will.”

“You will. 
Period,” Griffin growled out then pulled her through the doors.  Followed by
Linc, a smiling Jacob and finally Cleo and Logan who was staying clear of the
drama but watching for other dangers.

Blissful
warmth. 
Rebecca thought, moving closer to the fire with her entourage. 
She had been only slightly exaggerating about the cold.  Right now she couldn’t
feel her feet, or her fingers.  Jacob took her hands and blew on them when he
noticed.  She smiled her thanks and moved closer to his body warmth.

He rubbed
her hands while he studied her pink cheeks and nose.  “You really are
freezing.”

“Aren’t
you?”  She shivered, even as his arms went around her and he pulled her closer.

“I’m cold
but it’s not too bad.  You’re wolf should be regulating your temperature better
than this.”

“Well she’s
new.  Poor thing probably has no idea what she’s doing any more than I do.”

Jacob kissed
the top of her head when she had burrowed her cold nose into his chest.  “I’d
say you are both doing just fine.”  She felt him smile against her hair. 
“Later, when we’re all somewhere safe, I’m going to remember the look on that
dumb asses face when you called him a wanker and laugh my ass off.”

Becca smiled
against the warmth of his cotton-covered chest.  She rubbed her nose up and
down.  “Glad someone’s not mad at me.”

“Oh I’m
pissed babe,” he said, rubbing his cheek on her hair.  “You don’t need to be
making enemies so blithely.  But it was funny as fuck.”

Becca
sighed.  “Would you believe I thought I was helping?”

“That I do
believe.”

“That’s
something anyway.”

There was a
commotion on the stairs and Becca looked up from where she was cuddled to Jacob
and right into the hungry eyes of a stranger.  He was standing beside the newly
arrived Alpha and from the way the men reacted tensing up and moving to stand
between her and the perceived threat, she was thinking this was the dreaded Malcolm.

“I hope my
sons made you welcome.”  Monteal looked at the stone faces of his sons and
narrowed his eyes.  “Nathan?”

“Let’s just
say they eventually made it in the house.  So no harm done.”

“Except that
your eldest son insulted your guests and refused to allow them in the house.” 
Margaret was still raring to go.  “I have never been so embarrassed of my
offspring than I am today.  It was appalling behavior.”

The Alpha
turned with narrowed eyes to his eldest.  “Is this true?”

Rhett
growled.  “They shouldn’t be here.  Besides they insult us by bringing a cat
and a mutt into our territory.”

“What are
you babbling about?”  Montreal snapped.  It was Linc who answered in his quiet
way.

“Logan
McCord and Cleo Gibbs are here to see to our mate’s protection when we cannot. 
It is well within our rights as visiting Alphas to do so.  And they are both
part of the Lionsgate pack, not mutts.  To say otherwise is an insult to them
and their pack, and might I suggest, a mistake you don’t want to make.”

Monteal
blinked.  “Lionsgate?”

“That’s
right.”

The Old
Alpha looked at Cleo.  “Did he say Gibbs?”

She nodded. 
He narrowed his eyes.  “Any relation to Lucas Gibbs?”

“My father
and head of our pack.”

He whipped
around to his oldest son.  His arm came out and Rhett went flying across the
room.
 

Must be
an Alpha thing,
Cleo thought, recognizing the move.

“You go
against my orders, and insult not only a visiting Alpha, but then in my face,
the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country.”  Monteal was
pissed.  “Get out!  Or I may kill you myself.”

Rhett went,
blood dripping from his nose and a look of fury in his eyes that Monteal
intercepted.  He growled, following his son, grabbing him by the arm to escort
him out forcibly.  “Excuse me just a moment while I handle this.  Margaret get
our guests some refreshments.”

Seeing the
look on Rhett’s face Becca was heartily glad they weren’t staying past the
day.  They’d have to watch their backs for a knife 24/7.  Speaking of hidden
dangers, Rhett seemed to be the least of their problems, because Rebecca could
feel the new arrivals eyes on her even from across the room.  She didn’t think
he’d taken his eyes off her once.  It was giving her the heebie-jeebies, and
she was not the only one who noticed.  She felt the rumble of Jacob’s growl
against her cheek.