Claimed by the Mate, Volume 1 (4 page)

“Well?” Steph laughed. “Did he cover his eyes?”

“Yes.” Cherry stared at her.

“No, he didn't.” Steph stared at her, and her eyes went wide. “He did? You're not kidding, are you?”

Cherry shook her head.

“He really covered his eyes?”

“With both paws. But then he peeked.”

“What?” Christa's shriek had all of them laughing.

“You heard me. He peeked. I turned around to see if he still had his eyes covered, but he was watching me. The moment I turned, he covered them again. It was just weird. I was laughing but I felt really exposed, ya know? I mean, he's a wolf, but he was obviously watching me, and he understood when I told him not to. He actually looked embarrassed that I'd caught him.”

Christa suddenly grabbed Cherry's hand. “Is that the same wolf? Look. Over by that big pine. Isn't he beautiful?”

“Yes! I think it's him.” Cherry walked down the steps and across the green area in front of the lodge. The wolf spotted her, trotted across the parking area, and sat at her feet.

He just stared at her, but she could swear he was grinning. “Okay, big guy. Now don't make me look stupid. I told them you were really smart. Will you come up on the deck and meet the girls?”

The wolf tilted his head and then nudged her hand. Taking the hint, Cherry placed her fingers in the thick fur around his neck, and the two of them walked back up to the deck. “Yep,” she said. “Same wolf. I think he's a voyeur.”

The wolf hung around while the women had their dinner inside the lodge. Two men they hadn't met had set out a beautiful buffet and the six women loaded their plates and sat at a large table inside. The service was quiet and unobtrusive, and Cherry couldn't remember an evening she'd enjoyed more. The three women from L.A. were funny and smart, though Fred could be a bit abrasive. Brad kept the wine and drinks flowing.

Time seemed to fly, but before long the L.A. contingent, as Darnell, Suni, and Fred were calling themselves, headed off to their cabins, following the trails lit by twinkling lights. Brad called them fairy lights, but they were really just white Christmas lights hidden in shrubs along the pathways, bright enough to make it safe for the women to find their cabins.

It wasn't much longer before Christa yawned and Steph joined in. Wide awake after her shower and a sense of excitement she hadn't expected, Cherry hated to see the evening end, but she wrapped her shawl around her shoulders and followed her sister and Steph out to the deck.

The lights twinkled and shimmered along the paths to the cabins. Christa hugged her sister and yawned again. “I hope you're having a good time. You okay going back to your cabin alone?”

Cherry hugged Christa and then Steph, too. “Are you kidding? Look.” She pointed toward the path that led to her cabin. The big silver and gray wolf sat there, waiting patiently. “With a bodyguard like that, what's there to be afraid of?”

Laughing, Steph and Christa left. The night seemed to close in around Cherry, but in a comfortable, soothing way. She leaned against the railing, feeling more at peace than she could remember. She'd only been here a few hours, and already she was having a better time than she'd thought she would. Maybe this week wouldn't be terrible after all.

Chapter 4

Brad heard the women telling one another good night. He'd really enjoyed all of them, but Cherry called to him. He wasn't quite sure what it was about her, but both he and Cain had felt drawn to her from the moment she crawled out of the car looking tired but delicious. Thinking about her swollen lips and the soft sounds she made when he kissed her, he finished wiping down the bar and checking the kitchen to make sure the stove was off and everything was ready for morning.

He'd just hung up the damp towel to dry when he sensed someone near, looked out the front window, and saw Cherry standing on the deck, staring at the twinkling fairy lights in the forest. She looked lost in thought, leaning against the railing, her hands clasping the top rail.

He realized he wasn't nearly as tired as he'd thought and spending some quiet time with Cherry was just what he needed. She had absolutely no idea how she affected him. Why was that so refreshing? It was definitely attractive. She wasn't a doormat as far as he could tell, but she wasn't hitting on him like he was some sort of male stud. She was more reserved than her friends, but he already knew she had a wicked sense of humor—he'd eavesdropped, and her story about the wolf in her cabin had cracked him up. He hoped Cain had heard her telling it.

Tucking some chocolate in his pocket, he poured a couple of glasses of dark port and carried them outside. Cherry glanced up and smiled at him, and he knew he'd never seen a lovelier woman. Her thick dark brown hair hung in glossy waves past her shoulders, and while she looked tired, he could tell she was still wound up, still excited about her first night here at Feral Passions.

He hoped she was having a good time. Hoped she didn't feel bad about him kissing her earlier tonight. He honestly hadn't been able to help himself. Kissing Cherry felt right, as if the wolf side of him wanted to claim her in some small way.

He'd heard a few of her comments, subtly self-deprecating, enough to know she thought she was overweight. She'd eaten very little tonight, and that bothered him. He hated to think that, even on vacation, she would be depriving herself. How did a guy tell a woman he barely knew that he thought she was absolutely perfect?

He walked out and leaned against the railing beside her. “Here. I brought you something.” It was a dark, rich wine, sweeter than the Chardonnay the women had been drinking earlier.

“Thank you.” She held up the goblet, admiring the dark, dark color, more purple than red. “What is this?”

“It's late harvest port—a friend of Trak's makes it. He's got a vineyard near the coast.”

She took a small sip and sighed. “Delicious.”

He pulled the chocolate out of his pocket—two small bars wrapped in a napkin from the bar. “Try this with it.”

She reached for the chocolate, paused, and curled her fingers into her palm. “I can't. But thank you.”

“You don't like chocolate?” He took a small bite of his bar and then sipped the wine. The melded flavors exploded on his tongue, and he wanted to share the taste with Cherry.

“I love it, but it likes me too well.” She patted her hip. “It likes to stick around.”

“I don't see that as a problem for you. I think you look pretty amazing.” He gave her a long look when what he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms, hold her against his chest so he could feel those full, tantalizing breasts, bury his hands in her beautiful dark hair. And kiss her. Kiss those luscious lips, nibble on her throat—tell her what he was, that he already knew she was perfect for them.

That he and Cain wanted her as their mate.

Except that wasn't going to happen—couldn't happen, at least not yet—though he loved the way she blushed over his simple observation.

They stood there, leaning against the deck, just talking. She told him a little about her life in San Francisco, he told her about going to college in Southern California and getting his degree in architecture, how he'd been asked to design the resort when Trak decided he wanted to build one on the preserve. Cherry seemed interested in everything. She was easy to talk to, with a sense of humor that synced way too closely with his.

He'd never met a woman before that he'd felt this comfortable with so quickly. He wondered what Cain thought of her, if he'd had time even to form an opinion.

He sensed movement, and turned just as Cain stepped out of the forest. He wore his faded blue jeans, beat-up moccasins, and no shirt. Brad knew the exact moment when Cherry noticed him walking toward the lodge.

Her heart rate picked up and the sweet scent of her arousal filled the air. He'd sensed it a while ago when he'd walked out onto the deck, and now for Cain? This was looking better by the moment.

“Hey, Cain. I wondered when you'd show up. Where've you been?”

“Checking on the den by the creek. Mama wolf has three beautiful new pups. Two females and a male.”

“Really?” Cherry's eyes actually sparkled. “Did you see them?”

“I did, sweet Cherry.” He took the steps up to the deck two at a time and stopped in front of Cherry. He looked to Brad and they shared a look; sometimes it was like Cain could read his mind. “I might even tell you about their birth and my heroic, lifesaving rescue … for a kiss.”

“A kiss?”

Her eyes went wide. Brad inhaled the addictive scent of her arousal. From the look of surprise on Cain's face, he'd caught it, too.

“Just a simple kiss,” he said. Then he leaned close and kissed her before she had time to duck, even if she'd wanted to. Brad didn't think she wanted to miss Cain's kiss, but he couldn't help throwing a rather possessive arm around her waist.

She gave him a sidelong glance that told him she knew exactly what he was doing, but she smiled.

Cherry was smiling, and Brad was falling hard and fast. But what if she wasn't right for them? What if he was reading all the signs wrong? It wasn't as if they'd had much contact with human women or even mated couples. Even in the old days, mated members of the pack lived in their own communities, raising their sons and doing their best to fit into the human population. That left the single males on their own. Now, except for a few much older mated couples, the guys here—both young and old— were all that were left of the Trinity Alps pack. Single males, surrounded by a whole pack of other single males.

“Thank you, Cheraza.” Cain stepped back after their kiss and leaned on the railing beside Brad. “I helped her deliver the first pup. It wasn't ready to leave such a nice, warm place.”

Cherry sighed, but Brad caught Cain's fear, the sense that if he'd not been there, they might have lost the pup, possibly the mother, and the entire litter. “She okay?”

Cain nodded. “She'll be fine. The pups look good.” Frowning, he said, “I did a little chest compression and mouth-to-snout resuscitation, and by the time the first one was breathing and squirming to find Mama she'd delivered the other two.”

“I'm glad you were there.” Brad clapped Cain's shoulder.

“Me, too.” Cherry watched him with her heart in her eyes. It appeared she was as big a softy as Cain. At least when he wasn't acting all badass. “How did you know she needed help?”

Cain merely shrugged. “We keep an eye on them, make sure everyone's healthy. This is her first litter, so I've been checking on her. Plus, they're used to us. We can get close enough to help when there's a problem.” He described the den under a fallen tree near the creek, the way the mother had licked her pups and nuzzled them close against her to nurse. Cherry hung on every word.

Brad leaned close and kissed her cheek. “Be right back,” he said, and stepped inside the lodge to grab a goblet for Cain. When he got back, Cain and Cherry had moved to the big picnic table, Cherry at the end, Cain on her left. Brad sat on the other side, across from Cain and next to Cherry, and poured a glass of port for Cain.

“Here's to new life,” he said, raising his glass. Cherry and Cain raised theirs. The crystal chimed softly when they touched glasses.

“Where's the chocolate?” Cain stared at Brad and shook his head. “Don't tell me you shared some of Trak's port with Cherry and didn't offer chocolate!”

Brad shrugged. “I did, but she didn't want any.” He dug it out of his pocket—only he'd added a couple of extra pieces and put one in front of Cain, another in front of Cherry, and kept one for himself.

“You're trying to sabotage my diet.” Cherry sipped her port, but she stared at the small piece of dark chocolate in front of her.

Cain picked up the chocolate and held it in front of her lips. “You don't need to diet. I love the way you look. Your breasts are begging for my attention and my hands really want to clasp those incredible hips You are a voluptuous woman, Cheraza DuBois. You would not be the same without your curves. They make you absolutely perfect.”

No man had ever said she was perfect. Not ever. Now, tonight, two hot as hell men had told her just that. “Just a taste,” she said, and she wasn't sure what gave her the courage, but she nibbled at the piece Cain held for her.

“Now the port,” Brad said, smiling at her over the rim of his glass.

She took a sip, closed her eyes, and moaned. And to think she'd almost missed this. “Amazing,” she said. Brad held a piece to her lips, and she nibbled that one as well, sipped her port, and then yawned. And blushed. Damn. She so wished she didn't blush over everything.

“I think someone's sleepy.” Cain stood. “I'm going to find one of the wolves, have him walk you to your cabin. Is that okay? I need Brad to help me with some stuff before he gets too cozy with the rest of Trak's port.” He leaned over and kissed her and, just as quickly, disappeared around the back of the deck.

Brad wrapped a curl of her long hair around his little finger.

Cherry'd never been with men who kissed and touched so easily, so naturally. She took a sip of port and merely enjoyed the slight tugging as Brad played with her hair.

“I hope you don't think we're running you out,” he said. “Cain asked me earlier to help him with a couple of projects tonight, and I totally forgot.”

“No. I think I just hit the wall, anyway.” She yawned again, covering her mouth with her hand, her skin flushing hot and probably beet red. Again. “Trak's port is better than sleeping pills.”

The silver and gray wolf trotted up the steps and sat beside Cherry and she quit worrying about blushing.

“It appears Cain found my escort. He's so beautiful.” She stroked her hand over his head and down his shoulders. The wolf rested his chin on her knee, but Brad leaned close and kissed her, pulling her to her feet with his strong arms wrapped around her, his lips moving over hers.