CoyoteWhispers (18 page)

“Come on, let’s get you inside and I’ll come back out and
deal with the truck in a minute.” He picked her up in his arms and walked
through the snow to the front door.

How he managed to get the door unlocked and open and both of
them inside without dropping her she didn’t know. She heard the door close
behind them and sighed in relief. The warmth of the house surrounded her and
she shuddered.

“Cold? Want me to turn the heat up?” He strode down the hall
to his room.

“No, it’s fine.”

“I’ll run a bath. The warm water will be good for your sore
muscles.”

Steve set her on the closed toilet and turned on the bath
taps. The tub was huge, made for two and the nozzles around the sides tempted
her beyond reason.

“Can I turn the Jacuzzi on?”

“Definitely.”

He helped her undress and into the bath. The water was warm
and she leaned back and let the heat seep into her skin and soothe her aches.

“I’ll be back in five minutes. Don’t let the water get above
here.” He pointed to the top of the jets.

“Okay.”

Steve left and for the first time since she’d come to in the
exam room she was completely alone. Her mind swirled with everything that had
happened. She tried to retrace her steps, tried to work out if there was some
other way things could have turned out. Gordie was relieved that Tatum and the
babies were okay. There was no way she could have coped with that on her
conscience.

She reached over to turn off the taps when the water rose
above the silver jets. Lying back, she closed her eyes and willed herself to
think of anything but today. Gordie hoped Steve returned soon or she’d fall to pieces.
Startled by a noise behind her she sat up, her eyes opening wide.

“Sorry, should have made more noise coming through the
bedroom. Didn’t mean to frighten you.” He stood next to the tub. Naked.

Gordie held up her hand. “Please.” She didn’t know what she
was asking for but he seemed to understand what she needed.

He climbed in behind her and cradled her against his chest.
When he pressed the button near his head the jets pulsed to life, the water and
bubbles surging through them to pummel her from all sides. It was a gentle
massage, rolling over aching muscles and tender bruises. Steve washed her with
a soft, soapy cloth. Gentle strokes over sensitive skin.

When she was clean they lay back and enjoyed the spa bath.
They stayed there until the water began to cool. The whole time he just held
her close and drew small circles on her stomach with his fingertips. Suddenly
the light touches weren’t enough, she needed to feel him inside her, around
her.

“Make love to me.”

“Are you sure?” He stilled his movements. “You’ve been
through a lot.”

“I want to forget. Help me forget, Steve.”

Steve stood, taking her with him. Water dripped from their
bodies as he stepped out onto the mat. He didn’t bother with towels, just
strode out of the bathroom and over to the bed. Her back hit the soft quilt and
Steve came down on top of her. She pulled his mouth to hers and thrust her
tongue between his lips. Gordie tried to rush. Tried to dive deep into the
mindless bliss being with him offered but he wouldn’t let her.

He slowed her movements. Controlled her tongue with his and
dragged her back to a leisurely pace. His hands stroked her body, soft,
sweeping actions that nudged her closer and closer to ecstasy. She tangled her
fingers in the hair at his nape, ran her nails over his scalp and let him have
his way.

They strolled up to the peak and when she fell from the edge
he held her close and let her land in his waiting arms. He wedged his knee
between hers and parted her legs. With a slow, easy glide, he slid inside her
wet heat until he was buried deep. The ride was a gentle, calm journey back to
the top. As they reached the summit he quickened the tempo, plunged harder,
withdrew faster. Gordie gripped his shoulders, her fingers digging in to the
tense muscles beneath his sweat-slick skin.

His mouth claimed hers in a kiss that mimicked the movements
of their hips. Gordie lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, the
change in angle allowing for deep penetration, more stimulation and she was
soon gasping for breath and rolling with the waves of her orgasm. Steve drove
his cock to the hilt and came with her name on his lips.

They collapsed, exhausted, sweaty and well satisfied. He
turned on his side, taking her with him, his softening length slipping from her
body to rest between them. She waited to catch her breath, waited for the
numbness to fade and real life to intrude once more but the day had taken a
toll and she drifted to sleep before she could think about it anymore.

Chapter Eight

Gordie rolled over and flinched in pain. In seconds,
memories from the day before came rushing back to drown her in fear,
desperation, anger and guilt. Emotions bombarded her, clouding her brain and
twisting her insides. Her stomach pitched and she jumped from the bed to race
for the bathroom. She made it just in time to dry heave into the toilet bowl.
Her hollow belly contracted again and again. Steve came in behind her.

“Go away.” She didn’t want him to see her like this,
couldn’t bear for him to watch her when she lost control. It was going to
happen. She could feel herself unraveling.

“No.”

A warm cloth wiped across the back of her neck, over her
forehead and she shivered at the contact. Her whole body trembled and her tummy
continued to convulse in a vain attempt to expel something that wasn’t there.
She couldn’t remember the last meal she’d eaten. All she knew for sure was
she’d eat again and Marcus wouldn’t.

“Don’t, Gordie.”

“Don’t what?” She struggled to her feet, stood on shaky legs
and tried to push past him.

“Blame yourself for Marcus’ death.” He blocked the doorway
with his body.

“Don’t blame myself?” She laughed, the sound harsh and
grating to her ears. “How do I do that when I’m the one who killed him?”

“He was on a path of self-destruction. It could have been
any one of us he came after with murder on his mind.”

“But it wasn’t.” Her voice grew louder. “It was me!”

“Gordie.” He reached for her but she brushed his hand aside.

“Don’t you see?” she screamed. “This isn’t me! It isn’t who
I am or what I stand for. I’m trained to save lives, not take them.”

Gut-wrenching sobs broke free. She bent double, the pain
ripping her in two. Her body shook violently as what she’d done tore at her
very soul. Her knees gave out and she tumbled to the floor, arms wrapped around
her middle in a desperate attempt to hold it together. Why now? Why did she
have to give in to the grief,
the guilt
, now? She didn’t want to lose
control and fall apart in front of the one person she couldn’t hide anything
from.

Steve slipped to the floor beside her and scooped her back
against his chest. Turning her, he cradled her in his warm embrace and rocked
her like a child. The gentle care, the understanding and love that he gave her
no matter how much she fought it enveloped Gordie and she cried harder for all
that she’d lost. They’d lost.

“I can’t stay,” she sobbed.

He stilled beneath her. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t live here. Can’t live through the whispers again.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”

“What whispers?”

“The pack. They’ll talk behind my back like last time, whisper
behind their hands whenever I’m near.” She hiccupped as she tried to stifle
another sob. “I couldn’t live with it when Anthony died. Barely coped when I
came back. Oh God.”

“Stop.” Steve tipped her face up and looked into her eyes.
“No one will whisper behind your back and if they do, stiff shit. Who cares
what they think or say? Your friends, your family,
me
, none of us will
ever judge you for what happened yesterday. And you can bet every one of those
men is wishing he’d been there to protect you. To save you from going through
what you did. Especially me.”

He closed his eyes, rested his forehead on hers and took a
deep breath. “Gordie, what you did yesterday would affect the toughest of men
and I know beyond a doubt that if there had been any other way to stop Marcus
you would have. Killing him was the last resort. The only choice when push came
to shove and it’ll haunt me to my dying day that I wasn’t there to do it for
you.”

His eyelids lifted. Moisture pooled in his eyes and sadness
so great she hurt for him swam in the dark depths of his gaze. “Steve—”

“No.” He placed a finger over her lips. “Don’t say anything.
Come back to bed and let me hold you for a while. I need to know you’re safe.
That you’re here.”

Gordie couldn’t hold out against his obvious need. He’d
given so much of himself and not just in the last few days. He’d been there in
the background for years and she doubted she could find the strength to get
through this without him. When they were together she was stronger, it seemed
logical he would feel the same. They’d only just begun to explore a future and
the idea of one without Steve made her heart ache—her stomach cramp.

“Take me back to bed.”

She wasn’t sure how she’d cope with the events of yesterday
but for now she’d put that aside and be what he needed. What they needed.

* * * * *

Steve held Doc while she slept. They’d been lying in the
dark for hours but the first rays of sun were lighting up the sky now. The
predicted storm had either missed them or not arrived yet. He glanced to the
side, the digital readout on his clock showed six twenty-four. Too early to get
up, too late to try for any more sleep. He sighed. Not that he’d been able to
rest after she’d broken down.

Fear that she’d leave the mountains consumed him. Gnawed at
his gut. He couldn’t live without her. Not now that they’d connected. But he
didn’t see himself living anywhere but here. Whispering Springs was his home,
building this house had been his dream, a dream he wanted to share with Gordie.
His arms tightened around her and she snuggled closer. Should he take her
acceptance of him in her most unguarded moment as a sign?

He stared through the skylight seeing nothing but dark
rolling clouds as the daylight did its best to break through. Snow began to
fall, light flurries that slid down the curved sheet of glass. Steve had
designed the skylight himself, had the panel of toughened glass specially made.
The majority of the house around them was handcrafted. From the timber beams
supporting the roof and floors, to the furniture filling the rooms, he’d taken
his dreams and turned them into reality.

“Why doesn’t the snow stick to the glass?”

Steve hadn’t realized Doc was awake. “The curved shape plus
the house’s heat rises to warm the panel from underneath. Small falls like this
don’t stick but if we get a good storm, more than a foot of snow on the ground,
it’ll cover the glass.”

“You’re not worried it will break?”

“No. That piece is specially designed, double glazed, you’d
have to break it with a jackhammer.”

“What else did you design?”

Her interest thrilled him but he didn’t just want to tell
her, he wanted to show. “Let’s get dressed. We’ll have something to eat and
I’ll give you the grand tour.”

“Are you cooking?”

A niggle of fear pecked at his gut. Her voice was flat, devoid
of any emotion and he wondered if it was an effect of the damage Marcus had
done to her throat when he’d tried to choke the life out of her or if she’d
clamped down on her feelings and shut him out again. “I’ll cook.”

He threw the covers back and rolled to the edge of the
mattress. Sitting up, he scanned the floor for his pants before he remembered
tossing the wet jeans in the wash last night. It suddenly dawned on him that
Doc had no clothes. She’d come home in a hospital gown and the last thing on his
mind had been to swing by her house to pick up the bag she’d packed. He hadn’t
washed in a week either, so the clothes she left the other day were still in
the hamper.

“Damn.” Steve stretched his back as he stood, glancing over
his shoulder at Doc.

She’d pulled the quilt up under her armpits and leaned back
on the headboard. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m running out of clean clothes.” He strode over to the
dresser and rummaged around in the drawers. “I’ve got exactly three t-shirts,
two pairs of jeans and one pair of sweatpants.”

“I’ll take a shirt and the sweatpants. I can put a load of
washing on while you cook breakfast.” She slipped from under the covers and got
out of bed. With no regard for her nakedness, Doc walked toward him.

Steve groaned as he watched her breasts bounce with each
step, his blood heated and his cock hardened. They’d made love twice during the
night, the last time only a few hours ago and yet his body wanted more. He
turned away, hoped “out of sight out of mind” worked. But it didn’t stand a
chance when her scent surrounded him and he could hear her pulling the shirt
over her head, and picturing those gorgeous breasts being covered up did
nothing to deflate his erection. He yanked on his jeans and carefully pulled up
the zipper.

“I take it you don’t have any clean underwear either?” Doc
pressed her lips to his back and slid her arms around his waist, her hands cool
against his skin. “It’s going to be awfully distracting knowing you’ve got
nothing on under these things.” She patted his cock through the thick denim.

“If you expect to eat any time soon you need to stop.” Steve
clenched his jaw and spoke through gritted teeth.

Gordie laughed and let go. “I need to use the bathroom. I’ll
meet you in the kitchen.”

He turned his head, watched her walk away in his t-shirt,
the sweatpants in her hand, and thought about following her. It wasn’t as if
they had to be anywhere. His stomach chose that moment to growl and remind him
he hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. With a mental and physical shake, he
cleared his mind of all sexy thoughts and finished getting dressed.